How do you evolve Pikachu in Fire Red?

Go to Celadon City, buy a Thunderstone at the Department Store, and use it on Pikachu. It will instantly evolve into Raichu.

How do you stop Pikachu from evolving in Fire Red?

Simply avoid giving Pikachu a Thunderstone, or let it hold an Everstone to prevent evolution.

What are some tips for playing Pokémon Fire Red?

Train Pokémon strategically, use Ultra Balls instead of wasting a Master Ball on Mewtwo, and explore Birth Island to capture Deoxys.

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Pokémon Fire Red Guide (2025): Pikachu Evolution, Tips & Hidden Secrets

Q: What level should I evolve Pikachu in Fire Red?

You can evolve Pikachu at any level using a Thunderstone, but it's best to wait until level 26 so Pikachu learns Thunderbolt first.

Alice MJ

Aug 27, 2025 • Filed to: Virtual Location Solutions • Proven solutions

Pokémon Fire Red is one of the most popular remakes of the original Pokémon Red. Many trainers still revisit this classic because of its updated graphics, Sevii Islands content, and the chance to relive Kanto adventures. Below, we explore differences from older versions, Pikachu’s evolution, and hidden gameplay tips.

Part 1: About the Pokémon Go Fire Red
Part 2: Pikachu Evolution in Fire Red
Part 3: Fire Red Gameplay Tips
Bonus: Playing Pokémon Go?

Part 1: About the Pokémon Go Fire Red

Pokémon Fire Red vs. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow

The main differences that Pokémon Yellow has versus Red and Blue are changes that aid the game in reflecting the first seasons of the Pokémon anime. Here are the main changes:

Enhanced GBA graphics and smoother animations.
Access to Sevii Islands and Johto Pokémon.
Compatibility with Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald for trading.
Balanced battle mechanics and more replay value.

Part 2: What level should I evolve Pikachu in Fire Red?

The Pikachu that you get when you start playing Pokémon Fire Red cannot evolve until it has passed level 24. If you try to evolve it before, you will lose a TM when you are trying to teach it to use Thunderbolt. The best level to evolve Pikachu, especially into Raichu is Level 26.

When Should You Evolve Pikachu?

You can evolve Pikachu at any time with a Thunderstone. However, trainers usually wait until level 26, when Pikachu learns Thunderbolt, before evolving it into Raichu.

pokémon fire red pikachu

How to Evolve Pikachu

Travel to Celadon City.
Visit the Department Store and purchase a Thunderstone.
Select Pikachu in your party and use the stone to evolve it.

How to Stop Pikachu’s Evolution

If you prefer to keep Pikachu as it is, simply avoid using a Thunderstone, or let it hold an Everstone.

Pikachu will only evolve when they are given a thunderstone. That is it. If you do not want your Pikachu to evolve, then make sure that you do not give it a thunderstone at any time.
If you feed it a thunderstone by mistake, then hit the “B” key and then let it hold the “Everstone”. This will stop the evolution and let it stay as Pikachu. You have to be very fast to stop it in this way, and you must have an everstone.

Basically, if you want to keep Pikachu from evolving, make sure that you keep the thunderstones away from him.

Part 3: Fire Red Gameplay Tips

Pokémon Fire Red is an exciting version of the Pokémon Go game. Although it is a remake of the original Pokémon red, it has some extra challenges. Here are some tips on how to lay and progress in Pokémon Go FireRed.

Don’t waste your Master Ball on Mewtwo. Use Ultra Balls and save the Master Ball for harder-to-catch roaming Pokémon.
Visit Birth Island to encounter Deoxys. Bring high-level Pokémon and plenty of Ultra Balls.
Build a balanced team to counter Gym Leaders’ Pokémon types.

There are very many tips and secrets that you can use when you join in the chat with other players of Pokémon Go Fire red. Simply select a Fire Red forum, join us, and get more tips on how to go about this.

Bonus: Playing Pokémon Go?

While Fire Red is a GBA classic and separate from Pokémon Go, many trainers enjoy both. If you play Pokémon Go, you can use tools like Dr.Fone - Virtual Location (iOS/Android) to explore regions, catch rare Pokémon, and simulate GPS movement without leaving home.

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Using Jump Teleport mode, you can easily jump to rare and legendary Pokémon.
Enable you to use a joystick or keyboard to simulate GPS movement flexibly in Pokémon Go.
Besides Pokémon GO, it also works smoothly with location-based apps and games, like Jurassic World Alive, Minecraft Earth, Snapchat, etc.

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In conclusion

Pokémon Go Fire Red is one of the best ways to experience the original versions of Pokémon Go without really going backwards. In the traditional game, you start off with a Pichu, which becomes a Pikachu, and the evolution continues. In Fire Red, the Pichu is left out, and you start off with Pikachu. You need to know how to evolve Pikachu to make the best of the game. Other characters can be captured as shown above, and many forums will give you more tips and tricks.

It is time that you took up the Fire Red challenge and saw how the game started, without really going back to the beginning.