Is Pikachu Overused?

[Kirbychu]

Does Ash use Pikachu too often? What do you think?

I'd have to say yes. Come on Ash, Pikachu isn't going anywhere. You have plenty of other Pokemon with you. On top of that, these Pokemon will be Oak'd for life once Unova's done and over with.

What bugs me the most is that Pikachu is normally the only Pokemon in the movies who Ash uses. >.<

 

[Kenshin5]

He used Pikachu in 2 of the first three gyms. I don't know why they didn't use Tranquill but it is above me. Pikachu is definitely over used and especially versus TR when it seems to land the "blasting off" blows to them all the time. I wish they would give Pikachu a status were he only fights when he needs to, that way they don't nerf him and give Ash a change to use his other captures.

 

[Mew~]

Heh, well I wouldn't say so as much in Unova, since he hasn't used Pikachu in much battles at all, including second and third gyms, but other than unova - yes I do think so, but I think it's primarily based on that Pikachu is his most trusted Pokémon and starter so yeah, I'm not gonna go on about how much it's been used in battles though, so I have no more to add to that at all.

I guess another reason would be that Pikachu still is the Mascot for the franchise, so they need to advertise him a lot.

 

[Richard Nixon]

Ash is obssesed with pika's power. He never gives him a rest.:(

 

[tough]

Pikachu is Ash's first pokemon after all. I do argee that he is Ash's overused pokemon.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Ash used Pikachu quite a lot in the early series, but I don't see him use it that much in B/W. I think that Ash uses Pikachu just as much as the others.

 

[PearlShipper4Life]

Yes, however I like Pikachu so I don't care :P

 

[Ducklighter]

I voted yes but there's a reason why he's used so extensively.

It's fair to say that Pikachu is Ash's favourite Pokemon and like anyone, you tend to lean on your favourite things. You would play your favourite current song over and over because you love it. I guess it's the same thing for Ash. I think he may be overused but it's not it's a random thing.

I would say that they should focus more on other characters more, perhaps but it's not an annoyance to have Pikachu being the center Pokemon, especially since that is his role. The starter. Every starter is essentially the closest to the trainer, usually because they went through a lot at the beginning.

But I don't think it hinders any other Pokemon's character development too severely.