Can You Fly in Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu? The Complete Guide

Yes, you can absolutely fly in Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee!, though not in the traditional sense of using the HM Fly with a compatible Pokémon. Instead, the game introduces a unique mechanic called Sky Dash, which functions as the equivalent to the classic Fly move. This system, combined with the ability to ride certain Pokémon in the skies, offers a fun and efficient way to navigate the Kanto region. Let’s delve deeper into how flying works in these games.

Sky Dash: The Key to Fast Travel

How to Obtain Sky Dash

Instead of finding the HM for Fly, you’ll need to progress through the story until you reach Celadon City. Once there, look for a specific NPC outside the Game Corner. He is easily recognizable by the peculiar contraption he is standing next to – a contraption adorned with balloons. Talking to him will unlock Sky Dash for your partner Pokémon, Pikachu or Eevee. This will allow you to fast travel to any previously visited city.

How Sky Dash Works

Once you have Sky Dash, simply open your map and select a city you have already visited. Your partner Pokémon will then zip you across the Kanto region, effectively serving the same purpose as the Fly HM in previous games. This provides a quick and easy method for getting around, eliminating a lot of backtracking and making exploration more enjoyable.

Why is Sky Dash Important?

Sky Dash is not just a convenience; it’s a fundamental mechanic. Without it, traversing the large Kanto region could become tedious. It allows for swift travel between cities to heal at Pokémon Centers, purchase items, or continue your adventure. This method greatly enhances gameplay by promoting exploration and keeping the pace smooth.

Riding Pokémon in the Sky

Which Pokémon Can You Fly On?

While Sky Dash provides quick city-to-city travel, you can also ride certain Pokémon in the sky for a unique experience. After defeating the Elite Four and becoming the champion, you unlock the ability to soar through the sky on these three powerful Pokémon: Charizard, Aerodactyl, and Dragonite.

How to Ride Flying Pokémon

Once you are the champion, you will be able to access the “ride” function when selecting these Pokémon outside of battle. You can then explore the skies over routes and cities, viewing the Kanto region from a new vantage point. This is not fast travel like Sky Dash, but it allows you to explore new areas and find flying-type Pokémon not found on land.

What Can You Do While Riding?

Flying on Charizard, Aerodactyl or Dragonite doesn’t just provide a different view; it also presents new opportunities. You can:

• Encounter flying-type Pokémon: Certain flying-type Pokémon are exclusive to these aerial routes, which can be a good way to fill your Pokédex.
• Fly Over Obstacles: These Pokemon can fly over some smaller buildings and obstacles that would otherwise block you.
• Experience a unique gameplay element: This mechanic adds a fun and immersive element to the game after becoming Champion, rewarding players for their progress.

Related FAQs

1. Can Pikachu Learn Fly?

While your partner Pikachu learns Sky Dash for travel purposes, this isn’t the same as knowing the traditional Fly move. Flying Pikachu is a variant from the Trading Card Game, and in the main series, Pikachu cannot learn Fly as a typical move. However, event-exclusive Pikachu variants can sometimes know the move Fly.

2. What Other Pokémon Can You Ride?

Beyond flying Pokémon, you can ride many other Pokémon in Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee!. These include Rapidash, Tauros, Arcanine, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Persian, Onix, and more. Different Pokémon offer different movement speeds and experiences when riding.

3. Can You Ride Gyarados?

Yes, Gyarados is a rideable Pokémon in Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee!. Its large size makes it a fun Pokémon to explore Kanto with, and its Water/Flying typing makes it a versatile companion.

4. Can You Ride Haunter or Gengar?

Interestingly, Haunter is rideable, while its final evolution, Gengar, is not. This is one of the unique examples of mid-stage evolutions being rideable while the final form is not.

5. Can You Ride Alolan Forms?

While some Pokémon from Alola are available in the game, you cannot ride the Alolan Persian. Riding is limited to the standard Kanto forms of Pokémon.

6. Do You Need a Bike in Pokémon Let’s Go?

No, there are no bikes in Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee!. Instead, the riding system with Pokémon serves the purpose of faster and more engaging movement.

7. What is Different About Wild Encounters?

In Let’s Go, you don’t battle wild Pokémon to weaken them. Instead, you catch them directly using the motion controls of the Switch. This streamlines the process and provides a more engaging catching system.

8. How Do You Get Charmander?

You can obtain a free Charmander on Route 24 by talking to the man in the top left corner of the map, as long as you have caught enough Pokémon.

9. Are there Fairy Types?

Yes, Fairy-types are present in Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee!, making a total of 18 Pokémon types in the game.

10. Can Pikachu Evolve?

Yes, you can evolve Pikachu into Raichu using a Thunder Stone. This is consistent with past games. However, Ash’s Pikachu in the anime chooses not to evolve to show that it is strong enough without evolving.

11. What Pokémon Types Can’t Learn Fly?

Many Flying-type Pokémon cannot learn the traditional Fly move. These include Butterfree, Scyther, Natu, Rowlet and Dartrix, Hoppip, Skiploom and Jumpluff, Gligar and Gliscor, Archen, and Mantyke and Mantine.

12. What Are the Pure Flying-Type Pokémon?

There are only four pure Flying-type Pokémon: Rookidee, Corvisquire, and both forms of Tornadus. This is a very small portion of all Flying-type Pokémon.

13. Is Fly a Good Move?

While the traditional Fly move does have utility, its usage in Let’s Go is replaced by Sky Dash. However, in games where it is available, Fly is a good defensive move and can help to escape damage.

14. How Do You Get Galarian Rapidash?

To get Galarian Rapidash in Pokémon Go, you need to evolve a Galarian Ponyta. This form is a Psychic/Fairy type, a regional variant that looks very different from its original Kanto form. However, Galarian Ponyta and Rapidash are not present in Let’s Go.

15. Why Won’t Ash’s Pikachu Evolve?

Ash’s Pikachu from the anime does not evolve because it desires to prove itself without evolving. This shows a different kind of growth and strength, and it fits his personality. This is a canonical choice for Ash’s Pikachu.

Conclusion

Flying in Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee! is handled through Sky Dash for fast travel between cities and the ability to ride Charizard, Aerodactyl, and Dragonite in the skies after defeating the Elite Four. These methods offer a streamlined and enjoyable way to navigate the Kanto region, enhancing the gameplay experience and allowing players to explore more effectively.