Pokemon Go: How to get Pikachu as your starter Pokemon

Pokemon GO will let you bypass the starting Pokemon and catch the beloved Pikachu instead. Be like Ash!

Pikachu, I choose you – as my starting Pokemon GO character.
Going by current app store charts, most of you are probably playing Pokemon GO right now, assuming it hasn't completely drained your phone battery. It seems everyone is genuinely excited about catching them all, but for some fans there's one Pokemon they want more than any other – Pikachu, the beloved franchise mascot and star of the TV series.

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So… what if I told you there was a way for Pikachu to become your starting Pokemon? You too can channel your inner Ash Ketchum.

When you first begin playing, you'll notice the traditional starting Pokemon (Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle) located somewhere nearby. Originally reported by the folks over at IGN, all you have to do in order to catch Pikachu instead is to ignore those three.

Because of how Pokemon Go works, ignoring them involves you getting off your rear in real life. Stand up, walk away from those three. They'll eventually spawn in front of you again. Ignore them again. After three or four times of you rejecting them and walking away (how many exactly can vary, it seems), Pikachu will spawn with them, offering you another option as your very first Pokemon. Doing this trick means you'll have to catch Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander later on by yourself, however. Choose wisely!