Pokemon GO: All Pikachu Variants Explained

Highlights

• Pikachu in Pokemon GO has an impressive 63 event forms, each with its own shiny variant, making it a challenge to catch them all.
• Some Pikachu event forms, like the Straw Hat and Halloween versions, cannot evolve, while others can evolve from Pichu into Pikachu.
• Pikachu’s variant prominence in Pokemon GO is clear.

Pokemon GO has no shortage of representation for the face of the franchise. Over the title’s eight-year history, Pikachu has received a huge number of variants in Pokemon GO.

Alongside a slate of shiny iterations and Pokemon in its evolution family, Pikachu has no shortage of looks in Pokemon GO. Thanks to his popularity, the little electric scamp has 63 different event forms, each with its own shiny variant. Many of these have been released for a special occasion and with a small availability window, making catching them all a tricky task. Luckily, many forms have gotten re-releases through repeat events, as well as forms that can evolve with a Pichu into the respective Pikachu.

Every Form Of Pikachu In Pokemon GO

Event Forms That Can’t Evolve

Below are the event forms of Pikachu that can’t evolve (as well as their introductory dates). The most recent among these is Pokemon GO‘s Cap Hat Pikachu, made available on March 5, 2024, via the Pokemon Horizons: The Series Celebration Event.

• Straw Hat (July 22, 2019)

• Halloween (October 17, 2019)

• Clone (February 25, 2020)

• Red Party Hat (February 25, 2020)

• Libre (March 13, 2020)

• Safari Hat (March 27, 2020)

• Spring Hat (April 9, 2020)

• Charizard Hat (May 1, 2020)

• Umbreon Hat (May 8, 2020)

• Rayquaza Hat (May 15, 2020)

• Lucario Hat (May 22, 2020)

• Flying Pikachu (July 3, 2020)

• Explorer (December 14, 2020)

• Holiday (December 22, 2020)

• Flying 5th Anniversary (July 6, 2021)

• Pop Star/Rock Star Pikachu (Both introduced July 17, 2021)

• Meloetta Hat (July 17, 2021)

• Halloween Hat (October 15, 2021)

• Karyushi (March 19, 2022)

• Flying Okinawa (May 3, 2022)

• Shaymin Flower (June 4, 2022)

• TCG Hat (June 16, 2022)

• Cake Hat (July 6, 2022)

• Worlds 2022 (August 18, 2022)

• Shaymin Scarf (August 27, 2022)

• Green Shirt (Berry) (October 14, 2022)

• Flying Green (October 14, 2022)​​​​​​​

• Purple Shirt (Flower) (November 11, 2022)​​​​​​​

• Flying Purple (November 11, 2022)​​​​​​​

• New Year’s 2023 (December 31, 2022)

• May’s Bow (February 18, 2023)​​​​​​​

• Brendan’s Hat (February 18, 2023)​​​​​​​

• Blue Shirt (Citrus) (July 28, 2023)​​​​​​​

• Flying Orange (July 28, 2023)​​​​​​​

• Amethyst Crown (August 4, 2023)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• World Championships 2023 (August 11, 2023)​​​​​​​

• Quartz Crown (August 26, 2023)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Pyrite Crown (August 26, 2023)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Aquamarine Crown (August 26, 2023)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Malachite Crown (August 26, 2023)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Halloween 2023 (October 26, 2023)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Lucas’ Hat (February 17, 2024)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Dawn’s Hat (February 17, 2024)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Rei’s Hat (February 17th 2024)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Akari’s Kercheif (February 17, 2024)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Ph. D. (February 29, 2024)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Batik Shirt/Flying Red (Both introduced March 2, 2024—exclusive to Bali, Indonesia)​​​​​​​

• Cap’s Hat (March 5, 2024)​​​​​​​

Pikachu’s variant prominence is evident from the above. The Pokemon poster child easily has the most event forms in Pokemon GO.

Event Forms That Can Evolve in Pokemon GO

Below are the event forms that can start as a Pichu and evolve into a Pikachu (as well as into a Raichu), such as Pikachu’s two detective outfits. These variants are mostly found earlier in the game’s life cycle, though they haven’t gone away (with three more having arrived in 2023).

• Santa Hat (December 25, 2016), Pikachu’s first event form.

• Party Hat (February 26, 2017)

• Ash Hat (June 6, 2017)

• Witch Hat (October 20, 2017)

• Summer Hat (July 5, 2018)

• Detective Hat (May 7, 2018)

• Fragment Hat (October 6, 2018)

• Flower Crown (February 26, 2019)

• Beanie (December 24, 2019)

• World Cap (October 6, 2020)

• New Year (December 31, 2020)

• Cherry Blossom (April 4, 2023)

• Detective 2023 (October 5, 2023)

• Holiday 2023 (December 18, 2023)