Lightning Rod (Japanese:ひらいしんLightning Rod), formatted asLightningrod prior toPokémon X and Y, is anAbility introduced inGeneration III.

Effect

In battle

Lightning Rod forces single-targetElectric-type moves to target the Pokémon with this Ability.

If another Pokémon becomes thecenter of attention, Electric-type moves will be directed to it instead of the Pokémon with Lightning Rod.

InTriple Battles, Lightning Rod cannot redirect Electric-type moves if the Pokémon is out of range.

Generation III

Only the moves used by foes are redirected.

Lightning Rod cannot redirect Electric-typeHidden Power.

Generation IV

Moves used by allies are now redirected as well.

Electric-type moves used by foes and allies will now never miss the Pokémon with this Ability, unless it is in thesemi-invulnerable turn of a move such asDig orFly (Thunder will never miss a Pokémon in the semi-invulnerable turn ofFly orBounce).

Lightning Rod cannot redirect Electric-typeJudgment orNatural Gift.

Generations V and VI

Along with its previous effects, Lightning Rod also gives the Pokémon immunity to all Electric-type moves, and raises the Pokémon'sSpecial Attack by one stage whenever it is hit by an Electric-type move. Electric-typemultistrike moves (such as multistrike moves affected byElectrify or Electric-type moves affected byParental Bond) will only activate this effect once. If the Pokémon isprotected from the move or immune to the move due to beingGround-type, itsSpecial Attack will not increase.

If a Pokémon with Lightning Rod is targeted by an Electric-type move while holding aCell Battery, Lightning Rod absorbs the move, so the Cell Battery's effect is not triggered.

Lightning Rod can now redirect Electric-typeHidden Power,Judgment, andNatural Gift. However, it will not redirectSky Drop (if it was changed to Electric-Type by Electrify).

Generation VII onward

AGround-type Pokémon will now activate Lightning Rod and boost itsSpecial Attack.

The AbilitiesPropeller Tail andStalwart bypass the targeting effect of Lightning Rod but not the Electric-type immunity.

In Dynamax Raids, Lightning Rod will draw Electric attacks from ally Pokémon.

Outside of battle

Generation III

InPokémon Emerald, Trainers registered with thePokéNav's Match Call function will call twice as often if a Pokémon with Lightning Rod is in the first place in theparty (even iffainted).

Generation VIII

InPokémon Sword and Shield, if a Pokémon with Lightning Rod is in the first place in theparty (even iffainted), there is a 51% chance the game will force an encounter with aElectric-type Pokémon, if one is possible. InPokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the chance is 50%. It shares this effect withStatic.

Generation IX

InPokémon Scarlet and Violet, this Ability has no effect outside of battle, with its former field function effectively being replaced byMeal Powers.

Pokémon with Lightning Rod

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0025		Pikachu	Electric		Electric	Static	None	Lightning Rod
0025		Pikachu Cosplay Pikachu	Electric		Electric	Lightning Rod	None	None
0026		Raichu	Electric		Electric	Static	None	Lightning Rod
0104		Cubone	Ground		Ground	Rock Head	Lightning Rod	Battle Armor
0105		Marowak	Ground		Ground	Rock Head	Lightning Rod	Battle Armor
0105		Marowak Alolan Form	Fire	Ghost	Cursed Body	Lightning Rod	Rock Head
0111		Rhyhorn	Ground	Rock	Lightning Rod	Rock Head	Reckless
0112		Rhydon	Ground	Rock	Lightning Rod	Rock Head	Reckless
0118		Goldeen	Water		Water	Swift Swim	Water Veil	Lightning Rod
0119		Seaking	Water		Water	Swift Swim	Water Veil	Lightning Rod
0172		Pichu	Electric		Electric	Static	None	Lightning Rod
0254		Sceptile Mega Sceptile	Grass	Dragon	Lightning Rod	None	None
0309		Electrike	Electric		Electric	Static	Lightning Rod	Minus
0310		Manectric	Electric		Electric	Static	Lightning Rod	Minus
0311		Plusle	Electric		Electric	Plus	None	Lightning RodGen VI+
0464		Rhyperior	Ground	Rock	Lightning Rod	Solid Rock	Reckless
0522		Blitzle	Electric		Electric	Lightning Rod	Motor Drive	Sap Sipper
0523		Zebstrika	Electric		Electric	Lightning Rod	Motor Drive	Sap Sipper
0777		Togedemaru	Electric	Steel	Iron Barbs	Lightning Rod	Sturdy
0871		Pincurchin	Electric		Electric	Lightning Rod	None	Electric Surge
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

• InGeneration V games,Zapdos has Lightning Rod as its Hidden Ability, but it cannot be obtained by any legitimate means. It is replaced withStatic as its Hidden Ability inGeneration VI.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

The ability is known as "Lightningrod" inRed Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, as well asGates to Infinity. InExplorers of Time, Darkness andSky, the ability is referred to as "LightningRod". FromPokémon Super Mystery Dungeon onwards the ability uses its current name, "Lightning Rod".

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, as well as Explorers of Time and Darkness, a Pokémon with Lightning Rod draws in all enemyElectric-type attacks on the floor, completely neutralizing them. Unlike the main series, Lightning Rod is capable of attracting moves that target multiple Pokémon.

In Explorers of Sky, the effect is now only room-wide.

Starting from Gates to Infinity, Lightning Rod now also increases the Pokémon's Special Attack.

Description

In animation

Pokémon animated series

Rhydon Mega Sceptile Togedemaru Beheeyem
The Pokémon draws in Electric-type moves. Sometimes, it can use the absorbed electricity to power itself up.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	Rhydon draws incoming Electric-type moves towards its horn.
A Scientist's Rhydon	Tag! We're it...!		Debut
	Mega Sceptile takes no damage when it is hit by an Electric-type move.
Sawyer's Sceptile	Valuable Experience for All!		None
	Togedemaru absorbs incoming Electric-type moves, taking no damage and powering up its own Electric-type moves in the process. If Togedemaru is not the intended target, the move will be redirected towards it.
Sophocles's Togedemaru	The Guardian's Challenge!		None
	Pikachu draws in incoming Electric-type moves, taking no damage and powering up in the process.
Friede's Captain Pikachu	The Rising Volt Tacklers vs. The Explorers!		None
	Beheeyem absorbs incoming Electric-type moves, taking no damage and powering up in the process. When it is hit, a ring of yellow electricity surrounds its pupils. If Beheeyem is not the intended target, it will teleport in front of the move and take the hit.
Spinel's Beheeyem	The Rising Volt Tacklers vs. The Explorers!		Acquired viaSkill Swap
	Plusle takes no damage when it is hit by an Electric-type move, instead powering up its own Electric-type moves.
Lacey's Plusle	HZ115		None

In the manga

Be the Best! Pokémon B+W

Zebstrika
When the opponent uses an Electric-type attack, the attack is sent to the Pokémon instead.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	When the opponent uses an Electric-type attack, the attack is redirected to Zebstrika.
A Ranger's Zebstrika	The Battle for More Friends!		Debut

Pokémon Adventures

Manectric Rhydon Electrike
When the opponent uses an Electric-type attack, the Pokémon redirects the attack to itself.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	When the opponent uses an Electric-type attack, Electrike raises its tail in the air and can redirect the electric attack to hit its tail instead.
Wattson's Electrike	Plugging Past Electrike II		Debut
	When the opponent uses an Electric-type attack, the attack is redirected to Rhydon's horn instead.
Blue's Rhydon	Double Dealing with Deoxys		None
	Manectric raises its tail in the air and can redirect the electric current near it to hit its tail instead.
X's Élec	Pyroar Breathes		None

• Involume 42,Crystal'sCubone,Bonee, was revealed to have Lightning Rod as his Ability.
• Involume 42,Silver's Rhyperior was revealed to have Lightning Rod as his Ability.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

Rhyperior
When the opponent uses an Electric-type attack, the Pokémon redirects the attack to itself.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	When the opponent uses an Electric-type attack, the attack is redirected to Rhyperior's horn instead.
Saturn's Rhyperior	The Battle Rages On		Debut

Trivia

• InRiddle Me This,Pikachu is able to defeatBlaine'sRhydon by aiming hisElectric attack at the Rhydon's horn, with it being stated that the horn acts as a lightning rod, apparently allowing Pikachu to overcome Rhydon'snormal immunity to Electric attacks. However, in Generations III and IV, it didn't affect type immunity at all, and now nullifies damage from Electric-type moves starting fromGeneration V. InTag! We're It...!, the ability Lightning Rod and type-effectiveness of Electric-type moves on Ground-types have been correctly depicted.
  • Similarly,Pikachu's feat inElectric Shock Showdown! of insulating himself fromLt. Surge's Raichu'sThunderbolt with his tail is similar to the Electric attack nullifying effect of Lightning Rod as ofGeneration V, where it became the evolutionary line'sHidden Ability. Despite this, Pikachu'sAbility is canonically revealed to beStatic inBalance of Power, and has consistently remained so afterward.
• Prior to becoming an Ability, Lightning Rodappeared as a TCGattack.

In other languages

This article is part ofProject Moves and Abilities, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.

• Abilities
• Abilities introduced in Generation III
• Abilities that alter damage taken
• Abilities with field effects
• Move-drawing Abilities
• Stat raising Abilities
• Ignorable Abilities
• Abilities that affect appearance of wild Pokémon
• Abilities that affect appearance of wild Pokémon of specific types
• Abilities with negative effects