Spotlight Hour: The Focus on Pikachu
This week’s Spotlight Hour shines a light on a frequent topic of discussion within the community. Contrary to complaints about Remote Raids or glitches in new features, this hour is dedicated to the beloved—yet often criticized—Pikachu, particularly in its charming cake hat form.
With a total of 62 costume variations available, Pikachu stands out as one of the most customizable Pokémon in the game. However, it appears that during this Spotlight Hour, trainers will encounter the same Cake Hat Pikachu that was previously introduced during the 6th Anniversary Event two years ago. This detail raises questions about originality in design within Pokémon Go, as many players have expressed concerns over the repetitiveness of events.
This week’s Spotlight Hour presents an excellent opportunity for players looking to catch a perfect Pikachu. However, it’s important to note that this specific costume cannot evolve, seemingly crafted out of Everstone—Cake Hat Pikachu remains forever in its current form.
While the excitement may wane as details of the event unfold, there is a silver lining. This hour features a bonus of double catch XP, allowing trainers to quickly accumulate experience points if they wish to capture even more Pikachu.
Perfect IV Stats for Pikachu
The current Spotlight Hour serves as a prime time to seek out a Pikachu with perfect IV stats. Achieving what is known as “perfect” in Pokémon Go entails obtaining a Pokémon with maximum Individual Values (IVs)—specifically, the coveted 15/15/15. This particular configuration is useful for battling in raids and the Master League.
Although the IV of a Pokémon is only revealed once it has been caught, players can identify a potential perfect Pikachu based on its Combat Power (CP). If a trainer is Level 30 or higher, they should look for Pikachu with the following CP values to find a perfect 15/15/15:
- Level 30 (maximum wild CP): 804 CP
- Level 35 (weather-boosted wild CP maximum): 871 CP
These CP values correlate to the Trainer Level, so players below Level 30 will find different values.
Pikachu’s Performance in PVP
Many may wonder if Pikachu can hold its own in Player vs. Player (PVP) matches. The answer is no; it is outclassed by its evolved form, Raichu. With a maximum CP of only 1060, Cake Hat Pikachu struggles to compete even in the Great League, rendering it virtually ineffective except for Pokédex completion.
The only advantage this costume provides is yielding Pikachu Candy, which may hypothetically assist in powering up PVP-worthy Raichu variants. However, both Raichu and Alolan Raichu currently lag behind in the competitive meta, falling short of making it into the Top-20 Electric-type Pokémon lists in either the Great League or Ultra League.
Shiny Pikachu Availability
Enthusiasts of shiny Pokémon will be pleased to know that shiny Pikachu options are available! The shiny Pokémon family was introduced five months after the shiny Magikarp family made its debut back in March 2017, and since then, all variants of Pikachu have been accessible in shiny form.
However, it’s critical to remember that during Spotlight Hours, the shiny rate isn’t boosted. The chances of encountering a shiny Pokémon remain the same as in the wild—what changes is the sheer volume of Pokémon spawning in a limited timeframe.
Appearance of Shiny Pikachu
Shiny Pikachu’s appearance differs only slightly from its standard version. The saturation changes are minimal, which is somewhat underwhelming considering that Pikachu is the franchise’s mascot. The same slight adjustments apply to its evolutions, Pichu and Raichu.
Tips for Maximizing This Spotlight Hour
In addition to aiming for shiny Pikachu, there are several strategic reasons to participate in this week’s Spotlight Hour:
Double Catch XP: Use this opportunity to focus on making Excellent Throws, as it can significantly enhance the XP accumulated. Players should consider waiting to catch their first Pokémon until the event starts to maximize XP gains.
Stackable Bonuses: Players can combine the double catch XP bonus with a Lucky Egg, effectively doubling the experience earned for all activities in Pokémon Go.
Candy Collection: For newcomers, this is an excellent chance to gather enough Pikachu Candy to evolve into Raichu for Pokédex completion.
- Catch Bonus Medal Progress: Catching Electric-type Pokémon like Pikachu during this hour will contribute progress toward related catch bonus medals.
The Spotlight Hour spans just one hour, from 6 PM to 7 PM local time. Don’t forget, next week features Spheal along with a double catch candy bonus. Wishing all trainers the best of luck in their quest for the perfect Pikachu!