When does Pikachu learn Thunderbolt in Pokemon Yellow?

Partner Pikachu learns Thunderbolt at level 26 by level-up. TM24 from Lt. Surge can teach it earlier if levels lag.

Can Pikachu learn Surf in Pokemon Yellow?

Standard Yellow partner Pikachu cannot learn HM03 Surf from the normal TM/HM list. Surfing Pikachu is a special Beach House / Stadium-related case covered on the Surfing Pikachu guide.

Should I run Thunder or Thunderbolt on Pikachu?

Prefer Thunderbolt (95 power, 100% accuracy). Thunder is 120 power at 70% accuracy and is usually worse for story play. Keep Thunder only if you accept the miss risk for raw damage.

What TMs can Pikachu learn in Yellow?

Pikachu learns 21 TMs plus HM05 Flash, including Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Body Slam, Submission, Seismic Toss, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Swift, Rest, Thunder Wave, Substitute, and others listed on this page.

Pokemon Yellow Pikachu Moveset - Level-up, TMs & Stage Sets

Q: What is the best Pikachu moveset in Pokemon Yellow?

For a normal story run after level 26: Thunderbolt, Thunder Wave, Seismic Toss, and Body Slam or Swift. Thunderbolt is the main STAB; Wave controls speed; Seismic Toss deals fixed damage equal to Pikachu's level; Body Slam or Swift covers when Electric is resisted or immuned poorly.

Partner moves · 4-slot builder

Pokemon Yellow Pikachu moveset

Build partner Pikachu’s four moves for a Yellow story run. The page combines the full level-up learnset, the legal TM/HM package, and an interactive slot builder with early / mid / late presets. Default mid-game core: Thunderbolt · Thunder Wave · Seismic Toss · Body Slam.

STAB: Thunderbolt Lv.26 Control: Thunder Wave Fixed: Seismic Toss Coverage: Body Slam / Swift No standard Surf 22 machines

Fast Answer

Bolt + Wave + fixed damage + one filler

After level 26, drop Thundershock for Thunderbolt. Keep Thunder Wave for paralysis control. Teach Seismic Toss (TM19) so bulky Waters take predictable damage equal to Pikachu’s level. Fourth slot: Body Slam (TM08) for paralysis chance and Normal damage, or Swift if you hate missing. Do not waste slots trying to beat Ground types—pair a Grass/Water mon instead.

35HP

55Attack

30Defense

90Speed

50Special

Interactive

4-slot moveset builder

Open Team Planner Damage calculators

Click a slot, then pick a move from the pool. Presets load a full set in one tap. Choices save in this browser.

Slot 1 · STAB

Thunderbolt

Electric · Special · 95 · 100%

Slot 2 · Control

Thunder Wave

Electric · Status · para

Slot 3 · Stable damage

Seismic Toss

Fighting · Level damage

Slot 4 · Coverage

Body Slam

Normal · Physical · 85

Mid-game default loaded. Thunderbolt carries Water and Flying; Wave buys turns; Seismic Toss ignores low Special; Body Slam pressures neutrals and can paralyze.

By campaign phase

Recommended stage sets

Early (pre-26)

Brock → Misty → Surge

Thundershock — only STAB until 26
Thunder Wave — from level 8
Quick Attack — priority chip
Empty / Double Team — or early TM Wave if you skipped the level-up

Do not force Pikachu into Brock. Bring Fighting / Special answers from the Brock guide.

Mid (post-Thunderbolt)

Default story set

Thunderbolt — Lv.26 or TM24
Thunder Wave — keep forever
Seismic Toss — TM19 on Route 25
Body Slam — TM08 on S.S. Anne

Peak partner window: water routes, many Rocket fights, and general Flying coverage.

Late / League

Optional Thunder

Thunderbolt — still the accuracy pick
Thunder Wave — speed control
Seismic Toss — scales with level
Swift or Substitute — accuracy-proof chip / stall tools

Compare upgrades on Is Pikachu good? before burning rare TMs late.

Partner learnset

Level-up timeline

Live Pokedex entry

Yellow partner learnset from the game data. Highlighted rows are common keepers.

Lv. 1 Growl Normal · −Atk support

Lv. 1 Thundershock Electric · 40 · early STAB

Lv. 6 Tail Whip Normal · −Def

Lv. 8 Thunder Wave Electric · paralysis control

Lv. 11 Quick Attack Normal · 40 · priority

Lv. 15 Double Team Normal · +Evasion

Lv. 20 Slam Normal · 80 · 75% acc

Lv. 26 Thunderbolt Electric · 95 · main STAB

Lv. 33 Agility Psychic · +2 Speed

Lv. 41 Thunder Electric · 120 · 70% acc

Lv. 50 Light Screen Psychic · special wall

Machines

TM & HM compatibility

All TM locations Items archive

Pikachu learns 21 TMs + HM05 Flash. No Cut / Fly / Surf / Strength on the standard list. 22 shown.

Machine	Move	Type / cat	Power	Where
TM01	Mega Punch	Normal · Physical	80 · 85%	Mt. Moon / CeladonSituational physical
TM05	Mega Kick	Normal · Physical	120 · 75%	Victory Road 2F / CeladonHigh power, shaky accuracy
TM06	Toxic	Poison · Status	— · 85%	Fuchsia Gym rewardStall package
TM08	Body Slam	Normal · Physical	85 · 100%	S.S. Anne 1F RoomsPrime coverage pick
TM09	Take Down	Normal · Physical	90 · 85%	Silph Co. 5F / CeladonRecoil—usually skip
TM10	Double-Edge	Normal · Physical	100 · 100%	Rocket Hideout B3FHeavy recoil
TM16	Pay Day	Normal · Physical	40 · 100%	Route 12Money gimmick
TM17	Submission	Fighting · Physical	80 · 80%	Victory Road / CeladonRecoil Fighting option
TM19	Seismic Toss	Fighting · Physical	Level · 100%	Route 25Best non-Electric damage
TM20	Rage	Normal · Physical	20 · 100%	Route 15Niche lock-in
TM24	Thunderbolt	Electric · Special	95 · 100%	Vermilion GymSkip if already Lv.26
TM25	Thunder	Electric · Special	120 · 70%	Power PlantOptional; accuracy risk
TM31	Mimic	Normal · Status	—	Copycat’s House 2FSituational
TM32	Double Team	Normal · Status	—	Safari West / Celadon · also Lv.15Evasion stall
TM33	Reflect	Psychic · Status	—	Power Plant / CeladonHelps frail Defense
TM34	Bide	Normal · Physical	Variable	Pewter Gym rewardUsually skip
TM39	Swift	Normal · Physical	60 · never miss	Route 12 Gate 2FAccuracy-proof chip
TM40	Skull Bash	Normal · Physical	100 · charge	Safari Zone NorthCharge turn tax
TM44	Rest	Psychic · Status	—	S.S. Anne B1FHeal + sleep
TM45	Thunder Wave	Electric · Status	— · 100%	Route 24Also level 8
TM50	Substitute	Normal · Status	—	Game Corner prizeAdvanced stall
HM05	Flash	Normal · Status	— · field	Route 2 GateField light; permanent HM

Track it

Moveset checklist

Thunder Wave onlineLevel 8 or TM45 on Route 24. Thunderbolt onlineLevel 26 level-up or TM24 after Surge. Seismic Toss taughtTM19 on Route 25—best stable damage. Body Slam or SwiftTM08 on Anne, or Swift for never-miss chip. Drop ThundershockOnce Thunderbolt is in the set. Ground plan on the teamGrass/Water/Ice partner for Giovanni & Brock walls. Flash policy decidedHM05 is permanent—use a mule if you hate locked slots. Late Electric reviewStay on Pikachu or pivot to Jolteon / Zapdos.

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Field notes

Moveset tips

Special STAB, frail body

Electric is Special in Gen 1. Pikachu’s 50 Special is modest—overlevel and paralysis matter more than raw base power. See the Special & crits guide.

Ground is a team problem

No honest Electric move hits Ground. Submission helps a little vs pure Normal/Rock stacks, but Giovanni still wants a real Ground answer on another mon.

Surfing Pikachu is separate

Standard partner TM/HM list has Flash only among HMs. Surf sprite / Beach House rules live on the Surfing Pikachu page.

FAQ

Pikachu moveset questions

What is the best Pikachu moveset in Pokemon Yellow?

Mid-game default: Thunderbolt, Thunder Wave, Seismic Toss, Body Slam. Swap Body Slam for Swift if you want never-miss Normal damage, or Substitute for stall play.

When does Pikachu learn Thunderbolt?

Level 26 by level-up. TM24 from Lt. Surge teaches it earlier if you are behind on levels—details on the Thunderbolt guide.

Is Thunder better than Thunderbolt?

Rarely for story play. Thunder’s 120 power is undercut by 70% accuracy; Thunderbolt’s 100% accuracy wins more fights overall.

Can Pikachu learn Surf or Fly?

Not via the standard Yellow HM list (only Flash). Surfing Pikachu is a special case, not the default partner moveset path.

Should I keep Pikachu just for this moveset?

If you like the partner fantasy and hit Thunderbolt on time, yes through mid-game. For pure optimization, re-evaluate once Jolteon or Zapdos is available—see viability notes on Is Pikachu good?.

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