Pikachu is not considered a legendary Pokémon for several key reasons:
- Rarity and Availability
- Pikachu is ubiquitous and can be found in multiple regions throughout the Pokémon games
- Unlike legendary Pokémon, which are typically unique and appear only once per game, Pikachu can be caught, bred, and encountered multiple times.
- Game Mechanics
- Legendary Pokémon are typically:
- One-of-a-kind creatures
- Often central to game storylines or myths
- Have significantly higher base stat totals
- Cannot be bred in most game scenarios
- Pikachu, by contrast, is a standard electric-type Pokémon that follows standard breeding and capture mechanics
- While Pikachu is the most famous Pokémon (especially as Ash's companion in the anime), it's not a world-changing or mystical creature
- Legendary Pokémon are usually presented as powerful, mythical beings that shape the world's ecosystem or have extraordinary powers
- Evolutionary Line
- Pikachu is part of an evolutionary line (Pichu → Pikachu → Raichu), which further disqualifies it from legendary status
- Legendary Pokémon typically do not have evolutionary stages
Despite not being legendary, Pikachu remains an incredibly significant and beloved Pokémon in the franchise's history.