While it is not known toevolve into or from any other Pokémon, Rotom has the ability to possess the motors of certain appliances andchange forms. It also learns a newmove depending on which appliance it possesses. Rotom's form can be changed in by allowing it to possess the appliances inRotom's Room or from the appliances ordered from theRotom Catalog.
When it has not possessed any appliance or is possessing alight bulb, it is dual-typeElectric/Ghost, and learnsThunder Shock if the move it had in its other forms is the only one it knows.
Rotom is a small, orangePokémon that has a body made of plasma. It is mostly spherical, with a bulb below its body and a long pointed protrusion on top, making it shaped like a lightning rod. There is a whitish blue aura of electricity around it that forms lightning bolt-shaped appendages. When moving quickly, these appendages tend to disappear, in favor of a long similar-looking trail of blue electricity. It has teeth, and its unique, blue eyes have a dividing line across them. In its base form, Rotom cannot be touched by anyone without the latter being shocked in the process. According to theRotom Catalog, Rotom in its base form is possessing a light bulb. It lacks any sort of circulatory system or pulse.[1]
Rotom has the ability to enter and control electronic appliances. It typically uses its abilities to cause mischief, often using the household items it possess to pull pranks on unsuspecting people, as seen in thePokémon the Series episodeGet Your Rotom Running!. Despite this, some Rotom have taken to inhabiting electronics with the intent of helping others. TheRotom Pokédex,Rotom Phones,Rotomi, andDrone Rotom are some examples. Additionally, inGalar, the Rotom Phone is used to power theRotom Bike. Some of these forms allow Rotom tospeak human languages, and demonstrate that Rotom is highly intelligent. It tends to reside in abandoned buildings. Research continues on Rotom and its ability to power unique motors. In thePokémon the Series episodeRotom's Wish!, a specific Rotom was shown to have the ability totime travel.
Rotom has five alternate forms: Heat Rotom, Wash Rotom, Frost Rotom, Fan Rotom, and Mow Rotom.
Rotom's forms can be accessed by possessing specific household appliances with a special motor. When Rotom changes forms, its eyes and electric aura change colors, and its aura appendages take on different shapes. In modernSinnoh, Rotom's forms were said to have been first discovered and documented byCharon. However, Rotom existed inHisui and was also documented in theHisui Pokédex.
Heat Rotom
Rotom transforms into Heat Rotom by possessing a convectionmicrowave oven. Its appendages turn into oven mittens, and its eyes and aura become red. It has an aptitude for manipulating flames, which it uses for mischievous purposes, such as happily scorching the surrounding are or burning people's favorite outfits. Heat Rotom will become lethargic if the oven it possesses is malfunctioning.
Wash Rotom
Rotom transforms into Wash Rotom by inhabiting awashing machine. Its appendages turn into clothespins, and its eyes and aura become blue. The washing machine model it possess has been discontinued, leading people to sell them at high prices. It enjoys playing water-based pranks, such as spraying cold water everywhere or flooding people's rooms, and blasts enemies with water to intimidate them and incite them to retreat.
Frost Rotom
Rotom transforms into Frost Rotom by taking control of arefrigerator. Its appendages are shaped like lightning bolts, and its eyes and aura become purple. It fights by spewing cold air, which it gleefully uses for practical jokes like freezing people's baths or its surroundings. The special motor within the refrigerator is the key to Rotom's ability to change forms.
Fan Rotom
Rotom turns into Fan Rotom by taking over anelectric fan. Its appendages turn into air curls, and its eyes and aura become yellow. It can stir up powerful gusts of wind to blow away opponents, which it applies to its love for pranks by blowing away everything around it, such as important documents it finds. The electric fan that Fan Rotom inhabits was invented by a boy, and was the first Rotom-related appliance to be developed, leading to the creation of many other appliances like it.
Mow Rotom
Rotom turns into Mow Rotom by possessing alawn mower. Its appendages turn into a ripped strip, and its eyes and aura become green. focuses its antics on plants. As it mows down grass, it scatters the clippings everywhere and destroys flowers and trees. The lawn mower Mow Rotom possesses led to the development of theRotom Pokédex.
Multiple devices house a Rotom for functionality across multiple games:
Alola's ownPokédex, known as theRotom Pokédex, contains a Rotom. The Rotom itself, who can speak, is a minor character who often provides information and advice to the player throughout the story ofPokémon Sun, Moon,Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Rotom provides additional gameplay elements and buffs through theRotom Powers.
TheRotom Phone appears in theGalar andPaldea-based games, as well asPokémon Legends: Z-A. It serves a similar function to Rotom Pokédex, mainly through the Pokédex app, but is less present than its predecessor.
In addition to the Rotom Phone, Galar also hasRotomi andRotom Drones as set pieces for thePC and Gym Stadiums. The Rotom Phone can be attatched to theRotom Bike for travel purposes.
A form in which Rotom lurks within a strange cauldron. The cauldron's origin is unknown. A bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble with the flames it spits.
A form in which Rotom lurks within an odd bureau. The bureau's purpose is unknown. A bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble by splashing cold water everywhere.
A form in which Rotom lurks within a bizarre cupboard. The cupboard's composition is unknown. A bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble by frosting everything over.
A form in which Rotom lurks within a mysterious contraption. The contraption's purpose is unknown. A bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble by stirring up powerful winds.
A form in which Rotom lurks within a misshapen wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow's mechanisms are bizarre. It's a bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble by mowing down grass and trees.
Complete a trade on theGTS for the 1st time (mobile)
Rotom will not appear in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time until a rescue mission involving it has been completed. This task can be completed by using the following Wonder Mail code:
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must bechain bred onto Rotom
Bold indicates a move that getsSTAB when used by Rotom
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Rotom
Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
Form change
When Rotom changes into an appliance form, it learns a new move in the same way that other Pokémon may learn new moves upon evolving; if Rotom would change from one appliance form to another and knows the special move of its current form, the old special move is automatically forgotten and Rotom learns the new one. If Rotom changes to its base form, it forgets the special move of the form it was in (if it still knows it); if the only move that Rotom knows right before reverting to its base form is the form's special move, then that move will be replaced withThunder Shock. InPokémon Scarlet and Violet, reverting to the base form will teach it Thunder Shock even if it knows another move. InPokémon Legends: Z-A, the special moves appear through the move reminder following the form change. Heat, Wash, and Frost Rotom can also learn their respective special moves via TM.
Rotom has five alternate forms it can change between, in addition to its default form. To take on these alternate forms, Rotom possesses a differenthousehold appliance, and each has its own specialmove. These alternate forms were introduced inPokémon Platinum.
InGeneration IV, all forms of Rotom areElectric/Ghost-type; fromGeneration V onward, the appliance forms replace the Ghost type with the type of their associated move. All appliance forms have the samebase stats, with a higher total than that of Rotom's default form; the only base stat of normal Rotom that is higher than its appliance forms is its Speed.
InPokémon Sword and Shield,Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, andPokémon Scarlet and Violet, theRotom Catalog appears as aKey Item that allows the player to change Rotom's form at will wherever they are. In Sword and Shield, it can be obtained in a house inWyndon from aLeague Staff member after defeating him inbattle. In Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the Rotom Catalog is automatically obtained after letting Rotom enter an appliance in Rotom's Room. Rotom must have been in a form at least once to unlock that form in the Rotom Catalog. In Scarlet and Violet, it can be purchased from an auction in thePorto Marinada Market if the player owns a Rotom.
Using these locations, Rotom can also return the appliance to change back to its default form. In Generation IV, Rotom changes back to its default form when taken into theUnion Room orWi-Fi Club, or when deposited in thePokémon Day Care.
Hatched Rotom will always be in their standard form.
Upon changing into an appliance form, Rotom will learn the special move associated with the form, and upon changing from an appliance form, it will forget that special move. When changing forms, if Rotom knows four moves but not the special move of its previous form, the player will be prompted to replace a move with the new exclusive move (Rotom cannot change to an appliance form unless it does). If Rotom's only known move is its special move and it changes to its default form, then the Rotom will learnThunder Shock. If Rotom forgets the move that is tied to its appliance form, it remains in its appliance form.
Rotom's appliance forms first appeared as silhouettes in August 2008, shortly before the Japanese release ofPokémon Platinum, with a statement that indicated that these Pokémon would be in the game. Days before the game's release, it was revealed that these Pokémon were the alternate forms of Rotom. These new forms made their debut in Pokémon Platinum, and have been included in everycore series game since.
In Generation IV, there are five separate appliances and changing Rotom's form temporarily removes that appliance from the room, so the player can never have more than one of each form. From Generation V onward, this limitation is removed. InHisui, five separate appliances are again depicted, but changing Rotom's form does not remove that appliance from the room.
A Rotom inhabiting Ash'sAlolanPokédex debuted inLoading the Dex!. As a Pokédex, Rotom has access to data about many different Pokémon species, but it often hurts itself and others by trying to see a Pokémon do a certain action after reading its information. InThank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!, it remained in Alola to work with theAether Foundation while Ash returnedhome.
InThe Dex Can't Help It!, a Wash Rotom was involved in an accident caused byAsh's Pikachu that ejected it from the washing machine and caused it to get swapped with the Rotom Pokédex. Eventually, the Rotom were swapped back to their original places.
Rotom, the Plasma Pokémon. AnElectric andGhost type. Rotom play pranks by inhabiting electrical appliances. When one inhabits a washing machine, it's called Wash Rotom.
Rotom first appeared inRobust Rotom, where it caused havoc forDiamond andPearl at theOld Chateau until Diamond understood that it only wanted to return in its plasma television and led it there.
During the subsequent fight against Charon andGiratina, Rotom initially joined the battle transforming into its five forms, then left the fighting to the other legendary Pokémon only to strike at the very last, destroying Charon's device that allowed him to control every Pokémon and thus putting an end to his evil plans. After that, Rotom decided to stay with Diamond.
A Drone Rotom appeared inRising!! Opal of Ballonlea, where it is called byOpal during her match against Henry, using it to announce her upcoming retirement.
A Rotom Phone belonging toViolet, namedOld Roto, first appeared inSpeeding! Paldea's Prince of Speed!!. This Rotom Phone uniquely houses an AI copy of Violet's deceased butler, possesses the ability to speak, and sports a bushy mustache similar to said butler's mustache.
Rotom's alternate forms, along withArceus's forms, were the only alternative forms of a Pokémon not featured inPokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. However, despite being introduced a year before the game was released like Rotom,Shaymin andGiratina's alternate forms made an appearance in the game.
Rotom is the only Pokémon to have its type changed to a type that was not newly introduced.
No other Pokémon has the sametypecombination as Rotom's base form or Heat Rotom, making Rotom the only Pokémon with more than one unique type combination.
Despite becoming partFlying-type, Fan Rotom retains theAbilityLevitate, being the only Flying-type Pokémon with this Ability. As its Flying type already makes it immune toGround-typemoves, its Ability is effectively useless under normal conditions.
InInverse Battles, Fan Rotom is still protected from Ground-type moves due to Levitate, making it the only Flying-type Pokémon to not be affected by Ground-type moves in these battles by default.
All of Rotom's appliance forms (except Mow Rotom) are tied for or have the fewest weaknesses of all Pokémon of their secondary types.
All of Rotom's alternate forms (except Mow Rotom) are also the lightest Pokémon of their secondary typing.
one of the only Ice-type Pokémon, the others being Snom andChien-Pao, to not be able to learnIce Beam.
Origin
Rotom appears to be based onpoltergeists ortsukumogami, a type of ghost that possesses household items. Many of its Pokédex entries are reminiscent ofgremlins. Its Pokédex entry fromPokémon Legends: Arceus specifically calls it a "will-o'-the-wisp powered by electricity"; will-o'-the-wisps are typically ghost-like lights that inhabit marshes. Usually will-o'-the-wisps appear as balls of fire, another form ofplasma. Rotom may also be an embodiment ofball lightning or electronic "magic smoke".
Each of Rotom's forms appears as an electronic object with arms made out of electric sparks. Its regular and most common form seems to be based on alight bulb, as listed in theRotom Catalog. The other forms directly possess a household object:
Heat Rotom possesses amicrowave oven, with its arms also resembling the rounded hands ofoven mitts, cooking wear to take out hot foods from anoven.
Wash Rotom possesses awashing machine, with its arms resembling a pair ofclothespins, a type of peg used to hold up wet clothes to dry.
Frost Rotom possesses arefrigerator. Its lower drawer resembling a freezer. While its arms resemble that of lightning bolts, they could also be a depiction of fractured ice.
Fan Rotom possesses anelectric fan, particularly a desk or table fan. Its arms resemble a cartoonish depiction on gusts of wind.
Mow Rotom possesses alawn mower. Its rounded face and wheels makes the species resemble a reel mower with a bag used for storing grass attached to its back. Its teeth and arms become pointed, bringing to mind thesaw or blade of a lawn mower.
Among its other forms, theRotom Bike resembles anelectric bicycle, a type of bike that use an electric motor. The Rotom Bike's Water Mode may be based on the concept of apaddle boat, sometimes called a water bike, that is used to traverse water by pedaling. TheRotom Dex,Rotom Phone andRotomi may be based onvirtual assistants or forms ofartificial intelligence used to assist the usage of electric devices and software.
This Pokémon article is part ofProject Pokédex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please seeRotom images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
Heat Rotom
Wash Rotom
Frost Rotom
Fan Rotom
Mow Rotom
Rotom Pokédex
Rotom Phone
Drone Rotom
Rotomi
Heat Rotom
Wash Rotom
Frost Rotom
Fan Rotom
Mow Rotom
Heat Rotom
Wash Rotom
Frost Rotom
Fan Rotom
Mow Rotom
Rotom Phone
Drone Rotom
