Treecko: **is green, looks grass-like, literally has tree in the name** Ash: *iS iT a WaTeR tYpE?*

Team rocket : changes glasses Ash: *I've never met this man in my life*

That killed me, I forgotten that ash once thought treecko was a water type. Like what?

It would be halarious if it Turns out that Pikachu is actually Lv. 99 but the developers of the anime made Pikachu faint just for plot.

The snivy trainer gave him 95 rare candies off screen.

“Jessie MatPat isn’t real. It can’t hurt you.” Jessie MatPat:

Lets just be proud of this dude that watches EVERY episode for his viewers

I just love how you went from "Pikachu couldn't have lost against Snivy! His level is too high!" to "What was his level actually?" to "So how could he possibly lose to Snivy with such a high level?" to "HE COULDN'T HAVE LOST TO SNIVY! HIS LEVEL IS TOO HIGH!!"

Theory: Pikachu is smart enough to know how to pretend faint so other trainers can learn and feel better about themselves

Pikachu: looses to snivy Ash: "what how?" Matpat, pulling the doc: "ya got me, by all accounts this doesn't make sense"

After re-watching this one year later I think I’ve realized that Matt didn’t put in perspective the power boost that Pikachu gets throughout the series as well an example of this would be when Brock’s father uses the electric water generator to power a Pikachu that had to of accounted for some extra levels

I got the answer thanks your calculations Mat. What you neglect to calculate is that Snivy is actually level 16 because it cannot learn Leaf Tornado at level 5. Meaning Ash's level 59 Pikachu was battling a level 16 Snivy. And here's the direct damage calculations: Lvl 59 0 Atk Pikachu Quick Attack vs. Lvl 16 0 HP / 252 Def Snivy: 41-49 (91.1 - 108.8%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO This means that Snivy will not be guaranteed okoed by a neutral nature pikachu using quick attack. As for the return hit Snivy does very low damage back. Lvl 16 0- Atk Snivy Tackle vs. Lvl 59 0 HP / 0 Def Pikachu: 2-3 (1.5 - 2.3%) Lvl 16 252+ SpA Snivy Leaf Tornado vs. Lvl 59 0 HP / 0- SpD Pikachu: 7-10 (5.4 - 7.8%) Which shows that the maximum damage Snivy could do was 10% back. However Ash's pikachu had been injured and could have not fully recovered, or rather not recovered at all from the encounter with Zekrom. Thus it is entirely possible that Pikachu just has 10% of it's hp or 20% if both of Snivy's attacks were crits and so he was defeated. Now it makes perfect sense. Thanks for watching 600+ episodes of pokemon.

"Dad, what are you doing?" "Watching Pokémon." "Can I watch with you?" "No, I'm researching."

The professor must have gave that kid an over leveled Snivy by accident.

Not only is it possible that Pikachu went into the fight with low HP, but also it's perfectly possible that the anime 'verse works with a slightly more realistic logic in terms of health, namely that Pikachu could have simply had a serious off day with an unusually competent Snivy.

Now the last task for this topic is to calculate Pikachu's level by the end of Ash's journey in the Pokémon Journeys episode "Rainbow & the Pokémon Master"

Everyone: "Oh they reset the level" Matpat: "But what if..."

"Maybe he is better than everyone gives him credit for." "Nope, still an idiot."

The snivy could be level 16 for all we know as it knows leaf tornado but still it's win chances are low. Also that would make the snivy an illegal starter.

This is actually really simple. Ash just didn’t heal Pikachu before the Snivy battle. It was probably just pure negligence.

Gotta love how Pikachu’s final level wasn’t hidden at all when the document was shown at 7:41

I love how MatPat knows that he's actually insane for calculating all of the xp gains and losses by literally watching every episode of the anime

I love how mat just DOESNT take into account of healing before gymbattles, which He rarely did . pikachu could have also just been low health going into that fight

My head-canon was always that Ash was training Pikachu between battles. I don't think that Pikachu is lvl 100, but I think it's unlikely that his level is quite that low. The calculations do prove the minimum level it could be, though.

You should continue this to see what level Pikachu is now up to the current show.

How did Ash lose to Snivy? Simple: *It was a cut-scene battle.*

honestly the fact that Pikachu is sometimes even crushing other pokemons that are twice or more of his level explains very well why team rocket is so obsessed with him

I feel like you forget that a trainer and his connection to their Pokemon affects the stats of the Pokemon. The fact that Pikachu follows Ash and doesn't sit in a ball like a captive pet makes the two very unique and should not be overlooked. This is key and perhaps you should consider it more closey in your theory. You must look deeper at an emotional level and consider the darker aspects of Pokemon that the Ash Pikachu dynamic rebels against.

Nurse Joy: "It seems that Chikorita is suffering from jealousy." Ash: "Jealousy? Is that some kind of Pokemon?!"

The “nope, never mind: still an idiot” cracked me up!!

I love how he tries to point out that its impossible for Pikachu to lose to snivy but when Pikachu pulls through in battles that would be impossible to win mat pat is just "I'm just gonna ignore that"

I love how at 7:39 he accidently spoils the entire episode on accident but still love ya matpatt🤣

I think MatPat has gotten back into more logical videogame theories, and the incredible amount of effort he went through to make tells the huge dedication and passion he still has for his content.

Personally I would have calculated any off-screen training by using the EXP Share formula, as it's basically a trainer's Pokemon sharing their experiences.

Did no one watch what happened before pikachu battled snivy??? Season 14 episode 1???? Pikachu was hit by lightning cause it to go weak. Pikachu was so weak it couldn’t even complete several of its attacks much less do a tackle due to being exhausted. It WASN’T a off screen battle or Region reset.

Matpat: "I am determined to NOT make this a three parter." Me: "Please do. I want this to be a three parter."

Plot armor: "Let me introduce myself"

I respect the effort that went into this video, awesome job mate!

I was really upset when Pikachu lost that battle, I was like HOOOOOOOWWWWW?! I'm glad you went through the trouble to show us what we figured before but wanted a definitive answer to. Pokemon is broken, but I guess was just really near faints door dwl. Ash need to always check the PC...

You might have accurately surmised Pikachus level, what you didnt account for Snivy having is something that is very crucial. Its the sole reason why it beat Pikachu, something that is often overlooked but its THE most powerful trait anyone could hope to obtain. Plot armor

This number actually makes sense most leveling on these games come from rare candies or painstaking grinding and Pikachu has rookie numbers

Leaves out the fact Pikachu tied with a ducking Latios at the end of the Sinnoh series

I love your vids man it sucks your leaving I’m rewatching all you vids as a tribute

Ash is a hacker and somehow still manages to goof up battling a level 5 Snivy.

What scares me is how Matt manages to look so good wearing Jessie's hair.

Technically I would say that the level 60ish is his minimum level because there's almost definitely some XP farming off screen.

Here is my very late take on how Pikachu lost against Snivy the first battle. What I think it is is how levels don't really matter in the anime. They exist sure, but they may not apply because obviously Pokemon learn moves that they wouldn't in game, like Pikachu learning Electro Web. The level could still be 5-61, but it probably wouldn't matter because in the end, Pikachu is a Pikachu. A weak statted Pokemon that has a base stat total of 320. Snivy's base stat total is 308. plus quick attack isnt stab, and stab DOES apply to the anime. I don't know for sure if low roles and high roles are in the anime, but if they are, quick attack would not do as much as killing Snivy in 3 different lives. And then to account for the possible high roles and crits for Snivy's tackle (I think its tackle) and stab Leaf Tornado, if I correctly put in the numbers, that would be just barely be enough to defeat Pikachu. Or it could just be a sympathy faint and Pikachu's acting has improved heavily

That guy who played James deserves a raise.

Plot twist: The Snivy had a focus sash, used endeavor, then used a quick attack.

Theory: Pikachu sometimes throws matches. Also Ash is a genius, but pretends to be stupid.

although the final lvl was revealed at 7:39 i stayed till the end, since you put so much work into this :D

POV: you saw the spreadsheet at 7:40 and pikachu’s final level was spoiled for you 😔😔

Theory: it never says that pikachu is at full health when they start fighting, so maybe Ash simply forgot to have him healed up and he was sitting at "low" hp...

That was an interesting video! I'm sorry you had to grind your way through all those episodes. I can barely get past the collective stupidity of Ash and friends in the advanced battle series. Your pain is real. With the Snivy battle, I'm still calling shenanigans! Pikachu couldn't use his electric attacks and had only iron tail and quick attack. Snivy had leaf tornado, a move that can not be an egg move (unlike leaf storm) and can only be learned at level 16. And I know this because snivy happens to be my favorite pokemon, so I've bred a few to gain egg moves and almost always use ones in my black and white playthroughs. I'm not a math person, though, so I'm not sure if a weakened, low 60's or 59 level pikachu with only two none STAB moves could still match up against a strong level 16 snivy. I mean, it sounds like he definitely could with his attack stats, though pikachu are not (in my experience, anyways) very defensive. They're kinda brittle, actually. Snivy can take more hits (than a pikachu, at least) because they're more on the defensive scale (adding leech seed, coil and an eviolite can greatly help with the defense, too. I can proudly say that my IV trained snivy, with those moves and item, in an online battle, took a spacial rend from a palkia, defeated it, then took a jugdement from an arceus and defeated it, too.) ....Not sure if that adds anything. I'm just a huge nerd. XD

matpat and head editor dan as team rocket is smth i never thought i would see

"Nope, still an idiot." *Basically how to sum up the series*

Theory: Pikachu was just going mega soft on Snivy and pretended to faint because he was tired of beating up newbie trainers or the writers just threw consistency out the window

Pikachu was at least level 30 when ash got him. You can tell, on account of him refusing to obey orders.

you mentioned like three movies though not to mention you only calculated up to unova but we are in galar so thats another 3 regions and movies including hoopa and the clash of ages where he defeats dialga, unbound hoopa, palkia and im pretty sure giratina which if we do game level all of them are seventy (except hoopa since its an event) and they give an unknown amount in the thousands meaning pikachu should be around level 70 or mid 80 since he did this three times and also mega gengar before megas were a thing in the anime so if i wagered a guess it would be 87. (Of course I'm probably wrong and matpat if you see this don't worry I love your content so don't stop

ash's pikachu: literally beats a latios. also ash's pikachu: faints to a level 5 snivey edit: sorry guys i thought it was a latias ill edit this

There are theories that Trip’s snivy was actually massively over levelled before being given to him I.e. Juniper caught a really high level snivy

It might be something to do with how each region's levels work differently for all of the newer species that appear, meaning that adaptation could just be shown through the regions

To answer your question about Snivy surviving Pikachu's hit and defeating him; there are 2 things that you didn't take into account: 1. Snivy could have been wearing a Focus Sash, which is an item that enables the wearer to survive a hit (1HP) if its HP was 100% before taking the blow. 2. Pikachu had some kind of injury (reduced HP) and Ash didn't go to the Pokemon center to heal him.

Another quote that shows Ash as a dunce: Giant Alakazam- "ALAKAZAM!" Ash- "Is that a Kadabra?!" Brock- "No! It's an Alakazam!"

"You're WRONG About Ash's Pikachu!" I don't even have any strong opinions on his Pikachu!

Although writers make Pikachu like this in the anime, he still remains as one of my favs

Assuming it had sturdy and somehow also gained rocky helmet then it might stand a chance although idk how rocky helmet calculates dmg

You’re biggest mistake was not taking the Zenkai boost Pikachu gets from every battle he lost.

Ash's Pikachu: *exists* MatPat: *_"Peace was never an option"_*

I just realized Mat pat just speed ran everyone’s childhoods by watching every Pokémon series.

Could you do up to the current journeys series as well? I think Pikachu likely is a lot closer to 70 by now.

I’m just realizing that you can see the final level when he’s showing us the dock around 7:50

"Snivy shook it off so its trainer wouldn't worry." * floaty hearts *

Pikachu has the same stats as the one in LG and it probably has a light ball. Even at lower levels, because the attack becomes just as powerful as that of a legendary, that is why Pikachu wins many battles. As for Snivy, Trip’s Snivy clearly had a Focus Sash, Endeaver, and Quick Attack. The FEAR tactic is very common for many users to have on lower level Pokémon.

7:39 Lol you can see the level count next to matpat spoiling the entire thing for me

Plot twist: Trip's and Snivy's friendship level went up by so much when they first met

Theory: Pikachu didn't want to absolutely smite him, so he took the dive

Just watching that clip at the start, I'm positive that Snivy used Leaf Tornado, which it learns at level 15 or 16. I should know; I picked it almost a decade ago. It could've been Leaf Storm, but that's being extremely generous, lol. My point is that there's no way that Snivy was just level 5. Edit: Just checked the gen 5 movepool. Snivy doesn't learn Leaf Tornado via TM, only level up. That Snivy was beefed up prior to that battle at the very least.

Mat Pat, did you forget that in pokemon sword and shied pokemon are able to gain xp by playing with the owner and being fed. I am sure that would boost it up a bit.

7:40 when you realize the final reveal of Pikachu’s level happened halfway through the video

Ash: *sees green pokemon* Also Ash: "Is it a water type?"

12:30 but when a player make a runtrough they catch more Pokémon and gain more exp not like ash who catches ca.5 Pokémon every region And always need a Pokédex to make out what a Pokémon is called though they say their names try to play the games where they only squeak

The only conclusion I can draw on how a snivey beat pikachu is that ash didn’t rest pikachu up before battle and it’s hp was low from the start. That and that snivey got lucky.

Your mistake was to assume that Pikachu went into the battle at full HP though.

How about a theory on why ash sounds like he's smoked for the past 40 years

We love you work and we are happy to support your work 😀

You teased the final level all the way to the end of the video but revealed it in the Docs at 7:40 lol.

“I JUST LOVE A GOOD J E L L Y F I L L E D D O N U T” -Rock man at whatever time.

7:45 Matpat spoils Pikachu's level early in the graph lol

something that might be possible is that the Snivy had a Focus Sash... a held item that would leave Snivy with one HP if it is hit with a an attack that would cause them to faint. something else is that maybe pikachu wasn't restored from it's prior battles and had less then 32 hp. That said in speculation, a trainer might think "oh level 5? this should be fine for Pikachu even though he is pretty beat up." but focus sash gives Snivy the opening and ash's lack of knowledge and arrogance got Pikachu fainted.

I love how they got the team rocket thing on point,

The respect for watching every show Pokemon ever released ✊

"The person who'd win in a fight is the person that the script writer wants to win!" ~ Stan Lee

It’s so impressive the way you figured it all out. Crazy! 😅

Meowth as well as the other TR pokemon level cannot be so , as if we are counting only on screen battle they really haven't won many and it takes a pokemon to first win a battle to gain ex: and level up , as such there levels shouldn't much higher than as it was seen in their first appearance .

Can we all just have a moment of silence to appreciate the sheer amount of pain that Matt put himself through for this theory? Not just watching all of those episodes, movies, and specials, while *also* compiling data on each one; but for actually sitting through, and having to listen to The Pokémon Company's voice cast replacements for that many more episodes. Personally, I could barely make it through the new cast's debut in The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, and lost interest in the anime solely due to the abysmal new cast, so huge kudos to Matt for sticking it out all the way to Unova. 👏🏻👏🏻 You, sir, are both a scholar, and a true champion.

Theory: Snivy was a higher level would be 17 when it learns leaf tornado.

ash's pikachu has gained more than enough exp to be lvl 100 when even 1 region is enough to get you to at least 60 and he's been through multiple however apart from johto he's been reset to lvl 1 every new region he's been to, it's been stated the creator does this to give the viewers the illusion that ash's is starting from scratch in every region.

different types of foes would also factor in. like he wouldnt take the same amount of damage from all types of pokemon. judging his level by comparing his ability to battle oponants just by their level is totally ignoring the fact that two different foes AT THE SAME LEVEL would be a DIFFERENT DIFFICULTY because of the different types! so a level 30 water pokemon would be a different difficulty than a level 30 fire or electric type depending on what advantage/disadvantage they have against pikachus type

"What does toad taste like?" OH MY LORD I NEED TO KNOW THIS