Game Theory: What Level is Ash's Pikachu? (Pokemon)

MatPat previously spent weeks researching and calculating Ash Ketchum's age from the Pokemon anime, which was an intense undertaking that drove him to exhaustion.

The new investigation began when Ash's Pikachu lost to a trainer's newly-obtained Snivy in the first episode of Season 14 (Black and White arc), despite Ash and Pikachu having traveled through five regions and earned 52 badges.

MatPat watched all 651 episodes of the anime and 13 movies to collect data on every battle where Pikachu defeated an opponent.

After completing the research, MatPat discovered that Pikachu's actual level was significantly lower than expected based on his accomplishments and victories.

• Only battles shown on screen where Pikachu fought and the opponent fainted are counted • Fainting is confirmed by spirals in eyes or referee declaring the opponent unable to battle • Team Rocket battles are excluded unless the pokemon clearly faints before blasting off

Moves are not used as evidence of leveling up because the English dub uses move names interchangeably and pokemon are sometimes shown using moves they cannot physically learn.

The flat rate experience equation from the games is used, accounting for factors like whether opponent is wild or trainer-owned, whether Pikachu is with original trainer, base experience yield, lucky egg usage, fainted pokemon level, exp power, affection rating, and exp share status.

• For wild pokemon, the median level from the route they are found on is used • For trainer pokemon, the average level of trainers on that route is used • Gym leaders and Team Rocket use in-game levels from their game counterparts • Pikachu's level is calculated from total experience using the cube root formula (medium fast exp group)

Pikachu begins his journey at Level 5, just like in Pokemon Yellow, when Professor Oak gives him to Ash as his starter pokemon.

• First win against a flock of Spearow on Route 1 with Thundershock, earning 1905 experience and reaching Level 12 in Episode 1 • Notable victories include Brock's Geodude, a wild Squirtle, Lieutenant Surge's Raichu, and various other trainers' pokemon

Pikachu defeats Ash's own Charmeleon, which had just evolved and would evolve again in two episodes, requiring an estimated level of 26 (midpoint of evolution range) for calculation purposes.

After 21 winning battles throughout Kanto, Pikachu reaches Level 30 by the end of the region, making his Pokemon League victories impressive considering opponents in the fourth round should be in their high 50s.

The Orange Islands have never appeared in any Pokemon game, requiring MatPat to use the Sevii Islands from Fire Red and Leaf Green as reference, located in a similar position on the world map.

Sevii Islands is a pun where 'Sev' is short for seven in Roman numerals, and the two 'i' characters at the end represent the other islands.

• Pikachu defeats Team Rocket's Arbok, Weezing, and Lickitung • Wins against a wild Rydon, a gym leader's Marowak and Alakazam • Crushes the Orange League Champion by defeating both his Ditto and Dragonite (both Level 73)

Despite winning the Orange League championship and being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Ash receives no recognition for this victory in or outside the show until he wins the Alola League much later.

Johto spans three seasons to complete one league, unlike the previous two regions which each had two seasons and leagues, resulting in more battles per region.

The start of a new canon region means pokemon levels reset despite Pikachu being at Level 35, making early route pokemon very low level to match game mechanics.

• Pikachu defeats Whitney's famous Miltank on second attempt • Defeats Jesse's Arbok and James's Weezing, requiring estimation of their growth since Orange Islands • Arbok estimated at Level 55, Weezing at Level 60 based on similar growth rates to Pikachu

After 21 winning battles across three seasons in Johto, Pikachu reaches Level 40, gaining only 5 levels but becoming more believable as a Pokemon League competitor.

MatPat watched 600 episodes and 13 movies to compile data for this analysis, making it necessary to split into two parts.

• Need to determine if Pikachu's level gets reset by certain events in the series • Must address calculation quirks from upcoming seasons like the Battle Frontier

Only halfway through covering all necessary episodes with three more regions to analyze before reaching the final answer about Pikachu's true level.

MatPat invites viewers to tune in next time for the final answer while acknowledging the significant research effort required compared to the viewing time needed.