The Pika Cup is the smallest tournament in Pokémon Stadium: the Pokémon entered must be between level 15 and level 20, and the three fighters in a match cannot exceed 50 levels in total. One division, eight opponents, no difficulty tiers: it is the ideal cup to get used to the rules of the Stadium. It also unlocks one of the ten trophies needed to make Mewtwo appear.
Rules and Allowed Pokémon
- Levels 15 to 20, with the sum of the three chosen levels equal to or below 50.
- Mew is banned. Mewtwo is never lent out and does not exist at these levels in the Game Boy games.
- Eight matches: six battles, the semifinal and the final, three Pokémon against three.
- The usual clauses apply: Sleep, Freeze and Self-KO.
The rental selection offers 91 Pokémon, all at level 15, or 45 levels for a trio: you are always within the limit. The rentals cover only 91 species out of 151: not the final evolutions of the three starters, nor Dragonite, Mew or Mewtwo, for example. For the complete list, see the 151 Pokémon in the game.
With your own Pokémon, the classic pitfall is the level: many evolved Pokémon cannot be that low in the Game Boy games. The advantage of rentals is that they offer evolved Pokémon at low levels, such as Starmie, Gyarados or Nidoking, which you could not field otherwise.
The Opponents in Round 1
Enemy levels range from 15 to 20, with an average slightly above 16. The last battles feature higher-level Pokémon, such as the level 20 Rhyhorn of the Hiker, which knows a one-hit KO move, or the level 20 Gyarados and Tentacruel of the Lass.
| Match | Trainer | Opposing team (6 Pokémon, you face 3) | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle 1 | Bug Catcher | Nidorina (16), Ekans (15), Venonat (15), Butterfree (15), Kakuna (15), Paras (15) | Sleep: Butterfree |
| Battle 2 | Youngster | Pidgeotto (15), Farfetch’d (15), Bellsprout (15), Ivysaur (16), Zubat (15), Geodude (15) | — |
| Battle 3 | Swimmer | Poliwhirl (16), Wartortle (16), Magikarp (15), Slowpoke (15), Staryu (15), Nidorino (16) | Sleep: Poliwhirl |
| Battle 4 | Burglar | Ninetales (16), Growlithe (16), Drowzee (17), Charmeleon (16), Vulpix (15), Sandshrew (16) | Sleep: Drowzee |
| Battle 5 | Engineer | Voltorb (16), Magnemite (15), Porygon (18), Mankey (15), Kingler (16), Raichu (18) | Explosion or Self-Destruct: Voltorb |
| Battle 6 | Hiker | Rhyhorn (20), Wigglytuff (15), Kadabra (16), Machop (16), Seadra (15), Gastly (18) | Explosion or Self-Destruct: Gastly; one-hit KO: Rhyhorn; Sleep: Wigglytuff |
| Semifinal | Lass | Gyarados (20), Mr. Mime (15), Arcanine (15), Tentacruel (20), Dewgong (15), Meowth (15) | One-hit KO: Dewgong |
| Final | Fisher | Dragonair (18), Slowbro (16), Clefable (16), Tentacool (16), Raticate (18), Golduck (16) | — |
The Engineer is the first Trainer to send out a Pokémon capable of Explosion: Voltorb. The Hiker lines up another with Gastly and adds a sleep-inducing Wigglytuff: he is the most dangerous opponent of the first half of the tournament.
The Opponents in Round 2
In Round 2, which unlocks after the victory against Mewtwo, the eight Trainers return with different teams, slightly higher in level (16.7 on average versus 16.0). The order changes: the Hiker comes before the Engineer. Pokémon capable of Explosion or Self-Destruct become more numerous (Onix, Exeggutor, Gengar, Electrode, Muk, Cloyster, Golem).
| Match | Trainer | Opposing team (6 Pokémon, you face 3) | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle 1 | Bug Catcher | Butterfree, Ekans, Venonat, Scyther, Ivysaur, Farfetch’d (all level 16) | — |
| Battle 2 | Youngster | Tangela (16), Wartortle (16), Cubone (18), Poliwrath (18), Pidgeotto (16), Pinsir (16) | Sleep: Poliwrath |
| Battle 3 | Swimmer | Fearow (20), Seadra (17), Kingler (15), Slowbro (17), Wigglytuff (15), Dewgong (16) | One-hit KO: Dewgong; Sleep: Wigglytuff |
| Battle 4 | Burglar | Ninetales (18), Onix (17), Tentacruel (15), Drowzee (15), Dugtrio (18), Nidoking (17) | Explosion or Self-Destruct: Onix; Sleep: Drowzee |
| Battle 5 | Hiker | Mr. Mime (15), Golduck (15), Exeggutor (20), Gengar (20), Lickitung (15), Raticate (20) | Explosion or Self-Destruct: Exeggutor, Gengar; Sleep: Exeggutor |
| Battle 6 | Engineer | Electrode (15), Muk (15), Porygon (20), Charmeleon (18), Lapras (17), Raichu (17) | Explosion or Self-Destruct: Electrode, Muk; Sleep: Lapras |
| Semifinal | Lass | Gyarados (20), Cloyster (15), Arcanine (20), Rhydon (15), Jynx (15), Clefable (15) | Explosion or Self-Destruct: Cloyster; Sleep: Jynx |
| Final | Fisher | Dragonair (20), Kangaskhan (15), Golem (15), Alakazam (20), Machamp (15), Starmie (15) | Explosion or Self-Destruct: Golem |
Our Recommended Team
Based on the moves actually lent out and the makeup of the opponents (roughly one Pokémon in four is Water-type, one in five Poison-type, followed by Normal, Psychic and Flying), here is a complete rental team. Electric for the Water and Flying Pokémon, Psychic for the Poison types, Ground for broad coverage.
| Pokémon | Types | Lv. | Rental moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starmie | Water/Psychic | 15 | Surf, Thunder, Substitute, Tri Attack |
| Drowzee | Psychic | 15 | Hypnosis, Psychic, Dream Eater, Flash |
| Nidoking | Poison/Ground | 15 | Double-Edge, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Water Gun |
| Slowpoke | Water/Psychic | 15 | Psychic, Surf, Dig, Thunder Wave |
| Gyarados | Water/Flying | 15 | Surf, Reflect, Body Slam, Fire Blast |
| Raichu | Electric | 15 | Growl, Thunder, Seismic Toss, Thunder Wave |
- Starmie: Surf and Thunder hit Fire, Ground, Rock, Water and Flying types super effectively; Tri Attack rounds it out.
- Drowzee: Hypnosis to neutralize an opponent, within the limit of one sleeping Pokémon at a time, Dream Eater to punish it and Psychic against Poison types.
- Nidoking: Double-Edge, Earthquake and Rock Slide, three physical attacks of different types, plus Water Gun.
- Slowpoke: Psychic, Surf and Thunder Wave, a good base for trios dominated by Water or Poison.
- Gyarados and Raichu: two offensive substitutes, Surf for one, Thunder for the other.
Then choose your three fighters based on the preview. Against Water and Flying Pokémon, lead with Starmie and Raichu; against a Poison or Fighting trio, Drowzee and Slowpoke; against Rock or Ground Pokémon, Gyarados or Slowpoke.
Tips for Winning the Trophy
- Beware of Explosion: a low-HP Pokémon that explodes can wipe out one of your fighters. Swap it out before it is too late.
- When you see Hypnosis, Sleep Powder, Lovely Kiss or Sing on the opposing team, keep a Pokémon ready to take the sleep: the clause protects the rest of your trio.
- Win the first six matches without a KO if you can: unused continues are valuable for the semifinal and the final.
- The Pika Cup trophy is also an element of the Victory Palace: your team is registered there upon victory.
The Pika Cup is one of the tournaments you must finish in each round to reach Mewtwo, then redo in Round 2 to complete the game at 100%.
