Honestly, playing Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! in 2026 feels a bit like visiting an old childhood home that’s been renovated with neon lights and a giant flat-screen. It’s familiar. It’s Kanto. But the rules have shifted just enough to trip up even the most seasoned Red and Blue veterans. This isn't just a remake; it's a weird, beautiful hybrid of a core RPG and Pokémon GO.
If you’re looking for a Let's Go Pikachu walkthrough, you probably already know that the biggest hurdle isn't just beating Brock—it's managing your resources and understanding that catching is the new battling. You don't fight wild Pidgeys anymore. You pelt them with berries and hope your Joy-Con aim doesn't drift.
Starting Out and The Pikachu Factor
Your journey begins in Pallet Town. Standard stuff. Professor Oak stops you in the tall grass, you get your starter, and suddenly you realize your Pikachu is essentially a god. Unlike the fragile spark-plug from the 1998 Yellow version, this Pikachu has base stats that make it viable for the entire game.
Don't ignore the "Play with Pikachu" menu. It’s not just some cute gimmick to make you feel like Ash Ketchum. Feeding your partner Razz Berries and petting it increases its affection. High affection leads to "Pika Papow," a move that scales with your bond and can effectively one-shot most mid-game threats. It also gives Pikachu the ability to shake off status effects like paralysis or poison just because it loves you. It’s broken. Use it.
Viridian City to Pewter City
The early game is a sprint. You'll grab the Parcel from the Viridian Poké Mart, head back to Oak, and get your Pokédex. Once you hit Viridian Forest, start your first "Catch Combo." This is the secret sauce of any decent Let's Go Pikachu walkthrough. If you catch the same species repeatedly, your XP multipliers skyrocket. Catching 10-15 Caterpies in a row will level your team faster than any trainer battle in the forest ever could.
The Boulder and Cascade Badges
Brock is a joke if you picked up a Mankey on Route 22 or a Bulbasaur in Viridian Forest. Even if you didn't, Pikachu can learn Double Kick early on in this version. That’s a massive change from the original games where Pikachu was useless against Geodude. Smash through Brock, get the TM for Headbutt, and head toward Mt. Moon.
Mt. Moon is where you’ll run into Team Rocket for the first time. Jessie and James are here, looking exactly like they do in the anime. They aren't particularly difficult, but they give decent gold. Grab the Helix or Dome Fossil at the end—it doesn't really matter which, though Omanyte (Helix) usually has the edge in the late-game meta due to its typing.
Misty’s Cerulean Gym
Cerulean City is where the world opens up. You have the Nugget Bridge to the north, which is a goldmine for cash. Pro tip: Talk to the man in the house next to the Pokémon Center. If you’ve caught 30 total Pokémon, he’ll give you a Bulbasaur. This is a recurring theme. You get the starters for free in this game just by being a good collector.
Misty’s Starmie is fast. It uses Scald. If you haven't leveled your Pikachu or a stray Oddish, that Starmie will sweep you. Use the tall grass on Route 24 to grind out a few levels if you're struggling.
Mid-Game Momentum: Vermilion and Beyond
The S.S. Anne is less of a boat and more of a giant XP farm. Make sure you talk to the Captain to get the Secret Technique (HM replacement) "Chop Down." You need this to enter the Vermilion Gym. Lt. Surge uses a Diglett-heavy strategy despite being an Electric-type specialist, so bring a Ground-type or your own Ivysaur.
The Great Grind: Pokémon Tower and Silph Co.
Lavender Town is still depressing. To see the ghosts in Pokémon Tower, you need the Silph Scope from the Rocket Hideout in Celadon City. Celadon is also where you find the Department Store. Buy some Fresh Water. Give it to the thirsty guards. This is how you unlock the paths to Saffron and Fuchsia.
One thing most people overlook in their Let's Go Pikachu walkthrough is the move tutor in the Celadon City Pokémon Center. This guy teaches Pikachu "Zippy Zap." It’s a priority move that always crits. It is, quite frankly, disgusting. It makes the mid-game a breeze.
The Late-Game Gauntlet
Once you have the Secret Technique "Sea Skim" from the guy outside the GO Park in Fuchsia City, the world is yours. You can head to Cinnabar Island or clean up the remaining gyms. Koga’s gym in Fuchsia has invisible walls—just look at the floor for the faint puffs of smoke to find the path.
Saffron City and Sabina
Silph Co. is a slog. Eleven floors of teleporter puzzles. Just keep heading up until you find Card Key on the 5th floor. Once you have that, you can open every door. Beating Giovanni here gives you the Master Ball. Save it. Do not use it on a random Snorlax. Save it for Mewtwo in Cerulean Cave after the Elite Four.
The Final Stretch: Victory Road
Victory Road hasn't changed much in decades. It’s a strength-puzzle heavy cave filled with high-level Marowaks and Machokes. Use "Strong Push" to move the boulders onto the switches. Make sure your team is at least level 50-55 before stepping into the Indigo Plateau.
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The Elite Four is a marathon of typing:
- Lorelei (Ice): Use Pikachu’s Thunderbolt or a strong Fighting-type.
- Bruno (Fighting/Rock): Psychic or Flying moves will wreck him.
- Agatha (Ghost/Poison): She’s actually more of a Poison-type trainer. Ground moves like Earthquake (TM from Giovanni) are your best friend here.
- Lance (Dragon): If you picked up the Lapras from the Silph Co. NPC, use Ice Beam. If not, pray your Pikachu is fast enough to outrun his Dragonite.
What Most People Get Wrong About Catching
People think they need to battle to level up. They’re wrong. The most efficient way to finish your Let's Go Pikachu walkthrough is to master the "Excellent" throw.
A catch combo of 31+ not only guarantees four perfect IVs on the Pokémon you're catching, but it also increases the spawn rate of shiny Pokémon across the entire map. If you're struggling with the Elite Four, go to Seafoam Islands, catch 30+ Slowpokes, and watch your team's levels jump by 5 or 10 in twenty minutes. It’s significantly faster than re-battling trainers or searching for Rare Candies.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Journey
If you are currently sitting in front of your Switch, here is exactly what you should do to optimize your run:
- Check your Pokédex count: Go talk to the NPCs in Cerulean (Bulbasaur), Route 24 (Charmander), and Vermilion (Squirtle) once you hit 30, 50, and 60 total catches respectively. These starters have much better base stats than the ones you find in the wild.
- Head to Celadon City: Find the "Nature Lady" in the Pokémon Center. For 10,000 PokeDollars, she can guarantee the Nature of every Pokémon you catch for the rest of the day. If you're looking for a competitive Pikachu, set it to "Timid" or "Jolly."
- Don't sell your Candy: Use the specific candies (like Pikachu Candy) you get from sending duplicates to Oak. They boost your stats (AVs) far beyond what leveling alone can do. A "Fully Candied" Pokémon can have +200 in every stat, making even a level 40 Pokémon capable of crushing the Elite Four.
- Link with Pokémon GO: If you have the mobile app, use the GO Park in Fuchsia City to transfer Kanto forms or Alolan variants. It's the only way to get certain evolutions or rare spawns like Meltan without trading with other players.
The beauty of this game is that it rewards curiosity over grinding. Talk to everyone. Pet your Pikachu. Throw the ball straight. Kanto is yours for the taking.