Here's How to Catch Pikachus Before They Become Super Rare in 'Pokémon Go'

If you haven't yet caught a Pikachu in Pokémon GO, now is the time to try to find one. With the next update, Pikachu is going to be a rare Pokemon.

Update: Pikachu will be a "rare" Pokemon at the new update which means it will be hard to find. Go get one now!— Pokemon Go Tech (@PokemonGoTech) July 26, 2016

Considering Pikachu is regarded as the most popular Pokémon to come out of the franchise, he's already highly sought after.

How To Catch A Pikachu Before It's Rare

Probably the easiest way to catch a Pikachu is not even catch it at all. If you haven't started playing Pokémon GO yet, you'll be able to pull this one off. You can actually start with Pikachu if you just wait and walk away. Don't pick the first three starters that the infamous Professor Willow initially gives you (Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander). If you have a tad bit of patience, you can grab Pikachu after a bit as your starter Pokémon.

However, if you didn't grab Pikachu with that trick, you'll have to catch one yourself either by hatching Pikachu from a 2 km Lucky Egg, or by finding it yourself.

Since Pikachu is an electric Pokémon you're going to have to find him in industrial areas where there's a lot of power. This can include areas near power plants, schools and college campuses, business parks, science museums, industrial districts, and other places of industry.

The fastest way to find a Pikachu is to use one of the various Pokémon GO map apps. These will show you where so-called 'nests' of Pokémon and give you an overview of where the closest Pikachu is so you can go find it! If only Team Rocket had access to these...

Why Pikachu Becoming Rare Is A Big Deal

Since Pokemon's inception in the mid 90s, Pikachu has been at the forefront. Though he wasn't a starter Pokémon in the original versions of the game, he soon found fame as Ash's stubborn Pokémon companion in the TV show and quickly became a beloved fan favorite. He even starred in the Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition of the Gameboy Games in 1998, which more closely resembled the storyline of the show.

Finding him after the update will have trainers competing to catch him, and we'll have more scenes like out of Central Park in New York.

Now go find Pikachu and add a new entry to your Pokédex before he's rare if you really want to "Catch 'em all" for yourself!