__**General**__
**How do you play Pikachu**
Pikachu can function under many different playstyles, from aggressive rushdown to passive bait and punish, and just about everything in between. #bills_pc_resources has about all the info you need to get started with playing this character. Our pins in #sunyshore_gym_meta and #oaks_lab also has info about playing Pikachu.

**Who does Pikachu lose to?**
Pikachu has a relatively strong matchup spread, but he still has his flaws. Pikachu generally struggles against characters with better range, lingering hitboxes, and a way to negate Thunder Jolt or abuse it themselves. Due to this, most people agree that Pikachu loses to Ness and Mr. Game & Watch. Other characters Pikachu often struggles with are Mario, Peach, Snake, Yoshi, and Lucas, among others.

**Who are notable Pikachu players?**
ESAM is the most well known and best Pikachu player in the world. Other notable players to look for are DM, Kishiru, and Enki. While harder to find videos of, H4DS and Carvia are also strong Pikachu players.

**Is Pikachu's frame data located anywhere?**
All of Pikachu's frame data is documented in Micaelis's doc:
<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/1tfCCrjQ7cowGHh48KX1_sepu2R-eyS23TSM9N2tC9mA/edit?usp=sharing>
It is also located on other websites: <https://ultimateframedata.com/pikachu.php>

**I can't talk in #oaks_lab, how can I talk in there?**
#oaks_lab is our channel for posting new ideas and discoveries for playing Pikachu. In order to talk in there, you need to have the Lab Pass role. So, if you have any ideas you wish to share, feel free to ping one of the active mods to get the role.

**What should I learn first?**
There's a lot of things to learn to play Pikachu effectively, but the most important thing is knowing your Quick Attack angles, and being able to effectively recover from anywhere using different angles. One of Pikachu's greatest strengths is his edgeguarding and recovery, and you want to make as much use of that as possible.
If you have any other questions or want more specific details, feel free to ask us in #sunyshore_gym_meta. Asking more specific questions will get you better answers, but we can still try to give you general tips.

__**Combos and Gameplay**__
**How does Uair work?**
Uair has two main hitboxes: the strong, early hit, and the weak, late hit. The early hit starts behind Pikachu and goes above Pikachu, launching the opponent up and slightly away from Pikachu. The late hit is in front and slightly above Pikachu, launching the opponent weakly in front of Pikachu. Both hits have their own separate combo potential.

**How do you use Quick Attack?**
Quick Attack is made up of two different bursts. The first burst can go in nearly any direction, while the second burst has to be aimed at least 45 degrees away from the first direction. Due to this, Quick Attack can't be done twice in the same direction. However, Pikachu can slide along the ground during Quick Attack, so Pikachu can appear to go twice horizontally along the stage. For example, say you want to go to the right, the first burst is aimed directly to the right, then the second burst is aimed down and to the right, to slide along the stage and move forward.

**How does Thunder work, and how do you not die while using Thunder offstage?**
Thunder is made up of two lighting bolts that fall down and has three different hitboxes: the cloud, the bolt, and the explosion when it hits Pikachu, also known as Blue Thunder. The cloud hitbox spikes the opponent near the beginning of each lightning bolt, which starts where the cloud spawns. The bolt launches the opponent up and slightly away, depending on which side the opponent gets hit on. Blue Thunder launches the opponent based on which side of Pikachu they get hit on. If they are on the right of Pikachu when they get hit, they get launched to the right, and the same applies to the left.
To use Thunder offstage without dying, you have to hit yourself with Thunder. You need to have little to no horizontal momentum while using Thunder in order to hit yourself. The most reliable way to do this is to double jump straight up, then Thunder.

**How do you do Nair loops?**
Nair loops are done from either a DThrow or UTilt, into a short hop Nair to drag the opponent down into another DThrow or UTilt. To do this, you do the DThrow or UTilt, then short hop, wait for a moment, then Nair before you reach the top of the short hop. Fastfall between the second and third hit, then either regrab for a DThrow or UTilt to do it again. Doing it with DThrow works from about 0-30%, while doing it with UTilt works from about 25-60%, depending on weight and fall speed.
ESAM's Nair loop video: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiQTuMJovz0>
DM's Nair loop video: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0dZoADEDNg>

**What other combos does Pikachu have?**
Pikachu has a fairly freeform combo game, with his main combo starters being DThrow and UTilt. Both of these can lead to more aerials, which works on most of the cast.
Other combo starters are Bair, Fair, and DTilt, the latter especially if it trips.
- Bair > Bair/Uair
- DTilt > Grab/Dash Attack
- Fair > Fair/Uair
This isn't anywhere near all of Pikachu's combos. Due to how well his moves link into each other at low percents, it's generally impractical to list every possible combo. However, there are some videos of the more essential combos to know, besides Nair loops.
ESAM's DThrow combo video: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax15j-ETxPY>
DM's DThrow combo video: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAdRSonb0yg>

**How does Pikachu kill?**
Pikachu mainly kills through his great edgeguarding. Without it, he can somewhat struggle to get early kills. Despite that, Pikachu has a few kill options and confirms to end stocks.
- DTilt > Jab lock > FSmash
- UThrow/DThrow > Thunder
- Landing Nair > DSmash/USmash
- Landing Fair > Dash Attack
- Dash Attack
- UThrow

**How does Pikachu edgeguard?**
Pikachu's edgeguarding is one of his greatest attributes and can be incredibly difficult for your opponent to play around, due to his many tools and long recovery. Pikachu does well at covering different recovery options due to his lingering aerials, with Fair catching double jumps, Bair covering large areas for them to fall into, and Dair to catch them going below you. Using Thunder Jolt beforehand can force them to use these options for you to cover. Working around each character's recovery options, understanding them and covering them effectively will allow you to connect more edgeguards.