Pichu: The Most Unnecessary Pokémon in the Pokémon Universe

While the concept of a Pokémon's usefulness in battles can be subjective, some Pokémon stand out due to their lack of utility or sheer redundancy. One such example is Pichu, also known as the useless Pokémon. Despite some efforts to justify its existence, Pichu often fails to prove valuable beyond its cuteness factor. In this article, we will explore why Pichu could be considered the most unnecessary Pokémon in the Pokémon series.

The Lowdown on Pichu

Pichu is the pre-evolution of Pikachu, a widely recognized starter Pokémon. Born as a cute, adorable baby Pokémon with large, floppy ears, Pichu's primary function seems to be to generate excitement among new trainers. However, upon closer examination, Pichu's shortcomings become clear.

Pichu's Evolution

Pichu evolves into Pikachu at level 22. However, it's worth noting that Pikachu is almost a starter Pokémon in its own right, given its prominence in the original games, particularly in Pokémon Yellow and Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu. As the starter Pokémon for our boy Ash, Pikachu already holds a significant place in the Pokémon universe. The existence of Pichu feels redundant and unnecessary.

The Case Against Pichu

Starter Evolution: Pikachu is almost a starter Pokémon, so it doesn't need a pre-evolution like Pichu. This goes against the natural flow of Pokémon evolution, where pre-evolutions are logically placed to introduce new trainers to the world of Pokémon. Exports and Imports: In the episode Snow Way Out, Pikachu is shown as one of the four starters in the Hoenn region. Additionally, the term "four" refers to the Kanto starters, where Pikachu is clearly the original. This reinforces the idea that Pikachu should be a first-stage Pokémon. Evolution History: It's interesting to note that there was an attempt to use a second-stage evolution for Pikachu called Goruchu, a move that was never utilized. Instead, the creators opted for Pichu, which remains redundant in the overall scheme of things.

Conclusion

While Pichu is undoubtedly cute and adorable, its role in the Pokémon universe feels more like an unnecessary inclusion. The existence of a pre-evolution for Pikachu, which is already a Starter Pokémon, is contradictory to the principles of Pokémon evolution and storyline development. As such, Pichu can be considered one of the most unnecessary Pokémon in the Pokémon series, despite its undeniable charm and cuteness.