In Pokémon LeafGreen, you can catch Pikachu in two locations: Viridian Forest early in the game, or the Power Plant later on. To get Raichu, use a Thunder Stone on Pikachu — Raichu cannot be caught in the wild in LeafGreen.
Where to Find Pikachu in Pokémon LeafGreen
Pikachu appears in two locations, each suited to a different point in the game.
| Location | When available | Level | Encounter rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viridian Forest | Early game | 3–5 | ~5% | Getting Pikachu before Brock |
| Power Plant | Later game (requires Surf) | 22–26 | ~25% | Faster, easier Pikachu farming |
If you want Pikachu as early as possible, Viridian Forest is your only option. If you just want to catch one quickly and don’t mind waiting, the Power Plant is significantly better. These same locations apply to Pokémon FireRed — see our FireRed Pikachu location guide if you are playing that version.
How to Catch Pikachu in Viridian Forest
Viridian Forest sits between Viridian City and Pewter City along Route 2. It is the first area where Pikachu appears, and you can reach it before fighting Brock, the first Gym Leader.
The encounter rate here is low — around 5% — which means you may spend a while in the tall grass before one appears. A few tips to improve your odds:
- Repels do not target specific Pokémon, but they can reduce lower-level encounters if your lead Pokémon is set at the right level. For most players, the simpler method is to keep walking in the grass and expect several encounters before Pikachu appears.
- In Generation III, Static gives roughly a one-in-three chance of paralyzing a Pokémon that hits Pikachu with a contact move, so be careful using contact moves when weakening it.
- Have Poké Balls ready before entering — there is no shop inside the forest.
The Pikachu you find here will be between Level 3 and 5, which makes it easy to catch but means you will be raising it from scratch.
How to Catch Pikachu at the Power Plant
The Power Plant is reached from Route 10 by using Surf. This means it is a mid-to-late game location, only accessible after you have HM03 Surf and have progressed far enough to use it outside of battle.
The encounter rate here is around 25%, which makes finding Pikachu considerably faster than in Viridian Forest. Pikachu appear between Level 22 and 26, so they will already have several moves and will put up more of a fight. Bring a Pokémon that can inflict sleep or paralysis to make catching easier.
The Power Plant is also where you find Zapdos, the Legendary Electric-type, but for this guide, Pikachu is the target.
How to Evolve Pikachu into Raichu
To get Raichu in a normal LeafGreen playthrough, use a Thunder Stone on Pikachu. Raichu does not evolve from leveling up, and it does not appear as a wild encounter in LeafGreen.
Using the Thunder Stone works at any level. The evolution is permanent and cannot be reversed, so read the next section before you use it.
Where to Get a Thunder Stone in Pokémon LeafGreen
The easiest and most reliable source is the Celadon Department Store, located in Celadon City. Go to the fourth floor and buy a Thunder Stone for $2,100. This source is repeatable, meaning you can buy as many as you need.
You can also find a Thunder Stone as an item pickup inside the Power Plant, which is convenient if you are already there catching Pikachu.
Should You Evolve Pikachu Right Away?
This depends on what you want from Raichu.
Raichu has better base stats than Pikachu across the board — higher Attack, Special Attack, Defense, and HP — so evolving gives you a stronger Pokémon immediately in battle.
However, Pikachu learns moves by leveling up that Raichu does not learn naturally. If you evolve too early, you may miss moves like Thunderbolt, which Pikachu learns at Level 26. The safest approach is to wait until Pikachu has learned the moves you want, then use the Thunder Stone.
If you are catching a high-level Pikachu at the Power Plant, it will already know several useful moves, so you can evolve it sooner without much concern.
Can You Catch Raichu in Pokémon LeafGreen?
No. Raichu does not appear in the wild in Pokémon LeafGreen. In a normal LeafGreen playthrough without trading, the way to obtain Raichu is to catch Pikachu and evolve it with a Thunder Stone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get Pikachu before Brock? Yes. Viridian Forest is accessible before Pewter City Gym, so you can catch Pikachu before your first Gym battle. The encounter rate is low at around 5%, so be patient.
Is Pikachu rare in Viridian Forest? Yes. With a roughly 5% encounter rate, Pikachu is one of the rarer Pokémon in the forest. Caterpie and Weedle make up the majority of encounters.
Where is the best place to catch Pikachu in LeafGreen? The Power Plant. The encounter rate is around 25% compared to 5% in Viridian Forest, making it much faster to find one. The trade-off is that it requires Surf and is a later-game area.
How do you get Raichu in Pokémon LeafGreen? Catch a Pikachu anywhere and use a Thunder Stone on it. Raichu cannot be caught in the wild.
Where do I get a Thunder Stone? The easiest source is the Celadon Department Store, fourth floor, for $2,100. You can also find one as a pickup item in the Power Plant.
Should I evolve Pikachu into Raichu immediately? Wait until Pikachu knows the moves you want — particularly Thunderbolt at Level 26 — before evolving. Once you use the Thunder Stone, the evolution cannot be undone.
