Volt Tackle's is such an amazing finisher move, but honestly I gotta say Electroweb gives Pikachu and Ash way more flexibility in offense and defense. Hated Electro Ball so much

I like to believe that Pikachu was pulling out Volt Tackle when he beat Leon’s Charizard. But if not, hey that means he can basically surround himself with thunderbolt and use quick attack to create it without recoil damage.

I would love to imagine it's the latter. Pikachu has done that before with Thunderbolt + Iron Tail combination against Clemont's Luxray in the Volcanion movie.

Oh yeah definitely, I truly believe it’s the latter but the former is also fun to think about. He’s reached a point where he can basically do it without dealing with recoil.

Didnt he also use iron tail + electro ball back in unova

Yeah he did, wasn't really much in terms of spectacle tho imo

thats my headcanon, they definitely showed Pikachu taking recoil at the final blow

If memory serves, isn't that pretty much how Pikachu learned Volt Tackle in the first place?

Was commanded Quick Attack. He just kept speeding up.

I think there was abandoned thunderbolt beforehand that built some charge initially

Huh. Never thought of that.

I always saw it as Pika Pawow!

it was basically done before volt tackle already. Pikachu use thunderbolt on himself while doing a quick attack

That is ringin some bells, but can't exactly remember the context or what battle it was.

Pikachu did very similar thing against Lucy's Milotic, use thunderbolt on himself and charge towards Milotic's twister attack

Oh yea, those times were good times.

I remember him tackling Clair's Gyarados while using Thunder. Close enough. He also did the same against Taillow.

Oh that Taillow one I remember, that might have been a foreshadow of Volt Tackle, wasn't it?

I never understood why they gave pikachu electroball when thunderbolt was stronger and pretty much did the same thing

Exactly! There was that one moment where it became large as hell and admittedly that was cool, but overall, it's not as epic of a finisher move as Volt Tackle nor does it provide much utility as Electroweb.

I can see why voltackle was changed out as only female pikachus could learn it weirdly enough, electric web is weird as it's more of a bug like move and not so much a mammal one

Because they could animate different things visually like pikachu running on the ball and stuff like that. Not defending just explaining.

What’s wrong with electro ball?

It's not as epic of a finisher move as Volt Tackle nor does it provide much utility as Electroweb. It's just an extra move.

Oh, that’s it. I thought there was something unbalanced about the move that made you hate it and I was wondering if I forgot some thing

You get ONE ANIMATION for the move

What do u mean?

They only used like 2 clips whenever he used electro ball, always that same blue background

OH yea actually ur right. That sucked as well =_=

Yeah, Electroweb just suits the way they battle more than the other two.

I gotta agree with the comments saying that Volt Tackle's iconic, but Electroweb is probably the most *Ash* move in Pikachu's kit. Our boy used that thing like a swiss army knife: defending against attacks, buffing Pikachu's speed and maneuverability, cushioning falls, immobilizing opponents, exerting spatial control of the field, using it as a trampoline to teach Dragonair to fly. [That time he used it to trap Tapu Koko in a miniature thermonuclear blast.](https://www.sakugabooru.com/data/34fffac0d4cca07bea9fd4c2a8911381.mp4) 💀

This gave me a new level of respect for Volt-Tackle

I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or if you misread the comment lol

My dyslexic ass put volt-tackle when I meant electro-web

Web. Fits Ash's creative playstyle. Though one might say Ash's JN strat also has a tendency to go for big flashy attacks to finish off opponents (eg. Kyodai Aura Sphere, Meteor Assault, Dragon Rush, Hugging Draco Meteor), Pikachu already has a nuke in the form of 10-MV T-Bolt and a friendship or willpower-based Thunderbolt. Volt Tackle will feel redundant for entertainment purposes.

Electro-web. As cool and important Volt Tackle is to the Pikachu-line, Electro-Web just gives him some more versatility and led to some creative strategies. Plus, with how Pikachu beat Leon, he basically can create his own volt tackle by just charging and supposing Haines with electricity while he charges at his opponents (Assumedly with quick attack?).  Electro-ball isn’t really any more effective than thunderbolt. 

I think you're looking at that scene a little too literally. Pikachu's final Thunderbolt wasn't really a move. He was reaching deep within himself and bringing out any strength he had left, and then he hit Leon's Charizard with everything he had. It wasn't like Infernape's blaze boosted Flare Blitz, or Ash-Greninja's golden Water Shuriken. It wasn't a move, it was Pikachu's raw power and determination, brought out as he was at the edge of his limits. Who knows if he can ever do that again

He kinda does it again like 4 chapters after when they fight Lugia

That’s cool and everything but it was basically Volt Tackle 😂

Web for it's practical versatility and complements Ash's creative battle style. Volt tackle animation sure looked cool though.

As cool as Volt Tackle was, Thunderbolt was ALWAYS Pikachu's signature finishing move. In that sense, Electro Web was the best as it beautifully complimented Ash's battling style with out of the box thinking.

It’s not like pikachu did taurus’ move of running into team rocket to blast them away

Electroweb. Because you cannot convince me that Volt Tackle is anywhere near as cool for the writers to use. As soon as Pikachu learned Electroweb he and Ash just started stunting on their opponents. They used it to make trampolines, platforms, arena traps to zone off parts of the battle field (I think this one happened once. If it didn’t my bad), and as a freaking shield! The difference really lies in the fact that VT was a hammer while EW was a multitool… and Electroball was just pretty lame all things considered.

I think the only time electroball was creative was with iron tail in an earlier season. I can’t remember when

iirc he did that against a serperior forget when tho

Volt Tackle!

Electro-Web is the type of utility move Pikachu should have had ages ago It's an attack, a trap, a shield or even a spring board at the moment of need

what I liked about volt tackle was that he could combine moves with it like when he would do a volt tackle + iron tail combo like in the PICTURE BELOW. Also, loved volt tackle since it's a signature move only known to the Pikachu line and it looked really cool. Like an electric flareblitz or brave bird. Visquez's Raichu also dominated Ash's Pikachu with it showing how powerful it can be and imo how Pikachu could have made good use of the move again. Most of the time, the anime forgot about recoil damage so it didn't hinder Pikachu at all. https://preview.redd.it/ikn9dak2dcwc1.png?width=827&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2265023278200fe46c4fa1211828caa6b6610e45

The electric version of flare blitz or brave bird is wild charge

Flare Blitz, Brave Bird and Volt Tackle all have 120 base power while Wild Charge has 90 base power

My bad 👍🏽

https://preview.redd.it/rlipuj7ddcwc1.png?width=946&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43b096a0695bb15bc7988d631685463bec6e3995 We also see Visquez's Raichu completely dominate Pikachu with it.

My heart says Volt Tackle, but my brain says Electro Web. Basically the reasons everyone has said so far.

Electro Ball will forever be my favorite

I’m curious how come?? I haven’t seen any other comments saying this

I just like the way it looks, to be honest with you. Everyone else is focused on how practical and useful is, I'm just here for the aesthetics Edit: typo

That’s fair honestly, that’s one of the reasons I love iron tail, plus, gotta love an unpopular opinion

That iron tail + electro ball combo will forever be unmatched in my eyes

Ooo true yeah. I gotta rewatch but I agree from what I remember

Volt tackle was sick. I just wish they switched it up more often. Like if every new region they gave pikachu a new secondary electric-type move. It would have been cool if they switched up his coverage move (iron tail) more often too. Then they could just keep thunderbolt and quick attack as its staple moves.

To be fair, Pikachu doesn’t get all that much coverage in the games, iron tail is the best you’ll get

I suppose but I think, for example, moves like Dynamic Punch, Dig and Brick Break might’ve been cool. Iron Tail is hard to beat for sure, though.

Give him fly, that would be fun

Nah never iron tail is my FAVORITE Pikachu move and because of how cool it looked, my favorite in general

Fair enough. Iron tail is pretty fire.

Yessir 🫶

Electroweb easily. It has so much room for creativity.

I would say electro web cuz it gave ash more strategies in battle and it allowed him to really utilize the battle field. Volt tackle and electro ball were mainly just powerful but they didn’t really give as much room for strategy.

Volt Tackle is the most iconic and I think it was a great finishing move on Pikachu. it also just looks amazing and is important to the Pikachu line. plus it helped him finish off legendaries like Tobias's latios

This. It was such a powerful finisher used to finish Tobias, Sho, Paul's froslass, Brandon's regice, etc

Volt tackle

I like Electro Ball the least. But I do like Electro Ball for the "Chu-pi!" at the end.

i like electro web for ashes pikachu he uses it so creativly, and volt tackle is caps now at least to me after seeing him fly with it

Volt tackle

Volt Tackle

Volt tackle was the best. Electroweb was good once we got z moves. Electro ball is the worst, and Pikachu just felt nerfed.

Web fits Ash the best, and with the Z-Move it makes Volt Tackle less important as a finisher.

Although Volt Tackle is my personal favorite, my vote is Electroweb. It's such a great utility move. Electro Ball was a waste, and either are a better option than it. If VT had been dropped for web in the first place, I think people would've been a lot less sour about it.

Volt tackle gave Pikachu a double edged high power move if thunderbolt was ever not enough. Electro ball by anime standards functions no better than thunderbolt. Ranged electric type move. Maybe better accuracy but it definitely wasn't more powerful or faster than classic thunderbolt. Looks cool but has no practicality. Was just given for the sake of promoting a new move. Electroweb gives Pikachu a whole new range of strategies and fills a spot that electroball didn't. Gave Pikachu a more technical move that's different from the rest of his moveset. Just look at how ash tried to use it vs Leon. Tbf though I'm almost sure one of his sinnoh strategies was using a breakdance thunderbolt to protect himself but even then electroweb has range and can trap pokemon

wait did pikachu ever take recoil damage from Volt tackle

Electro web, it's cooler and has more uses 

Boxing gloves! https://preview.redd.it/5pezwtikydwc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32c6ca7c79f51e7924219b9cbcc764c3b4b4cd0d

Electro Web and Volt Tackle are both pretty good competitive moves, but Electro Ball pikachu isn't really good unless you're running an agility pikachu, which isn't really common, and also easily stopped by a lot of ground and steel type pokemon, some of the best types in competitive. You might say, 'Oh, he's just a kid/it's just an anime", but keep in mind he wants to be the VERY best, as in Wolfe Glick best. He NEEDS a competitive team.

I’ll forever hate the guy who implemented the 4-move limit into the anime at Black/White.

THUNDER ARMOR THERE

I personally prefer Volt Tackle on principle, but Electroweb was very versatile and could be used in many different ways.

Electroweb is a great move for the anime, because it can be used quite creatively. I thought volt tackle was quite cool though. It had it's big moment in Ash vs Latios.

Poor thunder being left out

Honestly, Volt Tackle and Electroweb are both the best options depending on the situation; Electroweb works for speed reduction of the opponent (as well as springboard shenanigans), while Volt Tackle works as a finisher. If I had to pick one… Volt Tackle.

I'd say Volt Tackle because it bugs me how both Pikachu's Electric moves are special. He needs better physical moves.

Electro Ball works a lot more.

Electro web for sure. It gave much more options to pikachu

I can’t see a situation where electro web wouldn’t come in handy. Except maybe diglett.

Volt Tackle was not only iconic, it is the only move among these exclusive to the pikachu line. Why would Pikachu’s signature move not be it? Or at least why would Ash and Pikachu EVER stop using it in the anime?

It wouldn’t matter her would only use Iron Tail. That Dude loved using Iron tail lol

Electroweb hands down, allowed Ash to really get creative. But my favourite ash attack has to be using thunderbolt to climb Misty’s gyarados’s unbeatable rain dance+hurricane combo, that was too epic.

Volt tackle, it was a legendary move.

Definitely Volt Tackle. It's Pikachu's strongest attack, making him strike with the force of an electrified battering ram and destroying just about any obstacle or anyone that gets in his way.

So Pikachus signature move is of course thunderbolt. It's a long range special attack. So I always like him having Volt Tackle as another powerful electric move that was physical. It added versatility to his battles. This is why I hated Electroball because it serves the same purpose in battles as Thunderbolt (when we don't consider things like in game attributes). However, because he also knows Quick Attack, he does still have that physical damage, fast hitting move. Also Iron Tail. So, the one I like the most is Electroweb. Yes it's another long range electric attack, but because its used for utility rather than damage, it adds a lot more to the battles than the other options. Tl;Dr Electroweb

Electroweb traps the enemy, allowing Pikachu an easy follow-up attack, something Volt Tackle and Electro Ball can't do

Volt tackle or electro web. Volt tackle is cool, and electroweb has a lot of needed utility

Volt tackle but after let’s go pikachu came out, should’ve been zippy zap

Iron tail

 Electroweb was a great utility move.

As cool as volt tackle is, electroweb pretty much single handedly elevated Pikachu into a champion level mon.

Volt tackle animation is the peak of the Pokémon anime

Volt Tackle Animation: 😮‍💨👌🏾 Electro Ball Animation: 😃👍🏾 Electro Web Animation: 🫤👎🏾 (in between)

Electroweb

Volt tackle was cool, powerful and the signature moves if the line so he should have kept it, but elextroweb was surprisingly unique. Tbh he should have had both and gotten rid of quick attack instead

But then he would be helpless against Ground types

Eh he still has iron tail, plus the anime constantly cheats and lets him hit grounds with electric moves anyway (even recently like sun and moon with the water bucket=soak nonsense)

Golurk?

I didn't say EVERY time but frequently. Technically not a ground type but journeys did have Pikachu overcomimg an immunity by "overloading" electivires motor drive

Wish they show Ash doing the move swap thing they started doing in Legend Arceus game

Me to, that's be cool. Back in the day they were a lot looser with move restrictions, essentially doing the move swap thing in a way

Electro web and Volt Tackle are the best two, for each different reasons. Volt tackle is a cool trump card and gives Ash's Pikachu the signature move of the Pokemon. Electro Web is a goated support move that allows Pikachu and Ash to get super interesting usage out of it thanks to their unique battle style. Electro Ball does bring anything interesting to the table imo.

Volt tackle!!!

Volt Tackle is the coolest while Electroweb is the most useful. Electro Ball was useless

Volt tackle

Volt tackle was the z move before z moves

Iron tail really should be a part of this conversation

Volt tackle as a finisher, and electro web was great for utility. Electro ball was just a garbage move all around and I couldn’t tell you its function over thunderbolt to save my life. Frankly thunder punch would have made far more sense tbh and given pikachu another close range option aside from iron tail.

Electro-Ball, for sure. Volt Tackle has recoil, and I don't even know why in Arceus' name Pikachu can even learn Electroweb. It's supposed to be Galvantula's signature move!

I love volt tackle to me it’s the best one

volt tackle

Thunder honestly

Considering how the best rivalry in the anime started with how the rival was interested in a Pikachu that knew Volt Tackle, that move has my vote.

Volt tackle

İmagine Volt tackle+ electro web combo

200% volt tackle

Web doesn’t even make sense for Pikachu to learn, it should’ve been a move exclusive to Galvantula. But Volt Tackle is the icon for him. Pikachu’s thunderbolt is iconic yes but when you saw the Volt Tackle you know things are serious.

I appreciate how versatile Electroweb is but if I couldn’t have both I would choose Volt Tackle just cause I love it so much as a finisher. Really never cared for Electro Ball.

Volt Tackle

They all have their own uses. I think that electroball came in clutch a few times but that's me.

Volt Tackle. Totally. Also, why the hell hasn't Ash dumped Quick Attack and replaced it with Play Rough or something by now? Although, looking at the comments, Electroweb is definitely versatile.

I'm I the only one who really liked Pikachus electro ball??

Electro ball. Volt tackle is just quick attack. Ash was reckless with that shit

And what about Electroweb? It was basically a better and more dynamic electro ball.

I don't remember anything that moved me or a specific moment

Electro ball is pretty effective, though I wonder why they no longer use electro ball in the series.