A frustrating bug in Pokémon GO has made it impossible for players to catch one of the game’s rarest Pokémon—PhD Pikachu. According to reports, this special Pikachu flees the encounter as soon as a Poké Ball is thrown, preventing players from catching it despite it being part of a guaranteed achievement. PhD Pikachu is tied to a Pokémon GO Medal, which is supposed to ensure a successful catch, but players are currently left empty-handed due to the bug.
PhD Pikachu, known for its unique event-exclusive outfit, is one of the hardest Pokémon to obtain. Players are required to win 100 PokéStop Showcases to earn the chance to catch this elusive Pokémon. The challenge is compounded by the fact that Showcases are time-limited events, and competition can be fierce.
PokéStop Showcases, introduced as part of Pokémon GO’s 7th Anniversary Event, have become a hit among players. This feature allows trainers to display their special Pokémon and compete against others for top rankings and rewards. However, the current bug is undermining the experience for those aiming to catch PhD Pikachu, a Pokémon highly prized for its rarity.
In a widely circulated post on the Pokémon GO subreddit, user FitzRigo18 shared their frustration with the issue. They described how the glitch causes PhD Pikachu to flee during every encounter, wasting valuable items such as berries and Poké Balls in the process. Despite eagerly working toward the achievement, they expressed disappointment at being unable to complete the capture.
Given the difficulty of earning a chance to catch PhD Pikachu, players hope Niantic, the developers of Pokémon GO, will address the issue swiftly. With hundreds of players likely affected, the bug is not just a minor inconvenience but a major barrier to completing one of the game’s toughest goals.
As Niantic has yet to release a fix, players remain on edge, hoping for a resolution soon so they can finally add the coveted PhD Pikachu to their collections.
