Ash's Pikachu has become one of the most powerful Pokémon in the series but there are more moves that it could learn to potentially make it even stronger.
While Pikachu's Electric-type offense is second to none in the Pokémon anime, there are several moves, spanning different types and styles that could change Ash and Pikachu's battle approaches and strategies, potentially making them more formidable opponents.
Any move that can be taught to Pikachu as of Gen VIII of the games can thus be considered for potential improvements to Pikachu's move-arsenal.
10 Nasty Plot Is Out Of Character But Would Offer A Substantial Special Attack Boost
As of the Gen VIII games, Pikachu is able to learn Nasty Plot, a Dark-type move that significantly boosts the user’s special attack stat. Using this at the start of battles would allow Ash’s Pikachu’s already powerful offensive Electric-type attacks to pack even more of a punch, potentially finishing bouts sooner.
While there are moves of different types that could be useful for Pikachu such as Dig, Brick Break, and Thief, Nasty Plot allows for Pikachu to use its effective STAB moves for more damage, as opposed to adding more versatility instead.
9 Body Slam Would Hit Hard With The Right Momentum
In "Electric Shock Showdown", Ash and Pikachu faced off against Lt. Surge and his Raichu on two occasions, having lost the first battle. While Raichu missed when attempting to use Body Slam on Pikachu due to its lack of speed, it still became apparent how devastating this move could be if it actually landed.
Given Pikachu’s smaller stature than its evolved counterpart, the damage and effectiveness of Body Slam would perhaps not be as useful or devastating. However, in true Ash fashion, if he thought of a way to get Pikachu to build up speed and momentum before using Body Slam, it would surely hit hard.
8 Double Team Would Help Pikachu Become Untouchable
While the use of Agility is often used in the anime in a similar vein as Double Team in the games, Ash’s Pikachu could have benefited from using a move to help evasiveness rather than the focus being on its sheer speed to confuse opponents.
Double Team is often used in the games to frustrate opponents and if used enough times, making the user’s Pokémon virtually untouchable. A similar application with Pikachu in the anime would have made it even more unstoppable than it already is.
7 Electric Terrain Could Change The Battlefield In Pikachu's Favor
Electric Terrain is a move that covers the battlefield in electricity, thus powering up Electric-type moves considerably. If Ash was to have his Pikachu use this at the beginning of a battle, to give him more of an advantage, it would also make Pikachu's strength more believable.
It would make for an interesting change in dynamic for battles in the anime, as Ash’s opponents would in theory be warier of Pikachu and try to find counters to the now supercharged Electric-type moves.
6 Substitute Would Be A Perfect Ploy To Launch A Counterattack
Ash’s strategies tend to revolve around full offense and then using and adapting to the surroundings in creative ways. An alternative to this way of battling would be to have his Pikachu learn Substitute. As the name would suggest, Substitute has the user make a clone of itself, which will, in turn, take the incoming hit from the opponent before disappearing.
While it's not a move that can be used over and over again, it could well be used to absorb a powerful move during one of Ash’s tougher battles, allowing Pikachu to launch a counterattack having not taken damage, and therefore continue in the battle for longer.
5 Thunder Punch Would Add A Close Range Electric-Type Move To Pikachu's Arsenal
Ash’s Pikachu learning Thunder Punch wouldn’t necessarily add too much to its arsenal other than it having an Electric-type move for close quarters battling. The fact that it has little arms would suggest that while a Thunder Punch wouldn’t be too powerful, it could allow for a sneak attack if the opponent isn’t expecting a Thunder Punch from such a small Pokémon.
It would depend on the type of battle, but anytime that Pikachu has used Iron Tail on a Pokémon that could have been hit by an Electric move, Thunder Punch would have been a better alternative.
4 Play Rough Would Give Pikachu More Options
Play Rough is a 90 power Fairy-type move that was introduced in the games in Generation VI, the anime in Sun & Moon with Mimikyu, and was made available possible to teach to Pikachu in the Gen VIII games.
A severely damaging physical move that is not Normal, Steel, or Electric typing would add an interesting dimension to Pikachu’s offense. The introduction of the Fairy-type gave an additional counter for the powerful Dragon-type and Ash’s Pikachu possessing this option would make any battle against Dragon trainers such as Claire, Lance and Iris, that much more interesting.
3 Dig Could Make Pikachu More Unpredictable
In the X & Y series, in "Battling at Full Volume", Serena, disguising herself as Ash due to him being sick, and Pikachu face off against Jimmy and his Pikachu, Spike. Spike knows two moves that we haven't yet seen a Pikachu use in the anime, Thunder Punch and Dig.
Not only does Dig bring a different type of attack to the table, but it also adds an element of unpredictability to a battle, where the opponent doesn't know exactly where the user Pokémon will emerge. Ash's Pikachu knowing Dig could certainly help in many battle situations, and although the anime sometimes ignores Electric's weakness to Ground, this would add an interesting dynamic to Pikachu's move set in such a situation.
2 Volt Switch Could Allow For New Multi-Pokémon Strategies
Volt Switch sees the user attack its opponent with a surge of electricity before returning to its trainer, allowing for a free switch-in. It is comparable to the move U-turn, but the fact that it's Electric-type as opposed to U-turn’s Bug, in theory, makes it better offensively than its Bug counterpart.
It would allow for Ash to use some different strategies, luring an opposing trainer into preparing to face Pikachu before instantly bringing out a different Pokémon, all while inflicting a little bit of damage.
1 Thunder Wave Would Slow Opponents Down And Change The Tide Of Battle
Thunder Wave is a no-brainer in terms of moves that Pikachu should have learned in the anime. The ability to paralyze and slow down opponents would have been perfect for Ash in his toughest battles, against Gym leaders and Pokémon League foes.
While Ash does mainly just have his Pikachu use fully offensive moves, apart from occasionally using Agility, Thunder Wave would have added a new dimension to Pikachu and definitely would have helped to win some battles that went on longer than he would have liked.