Lightning Rod (Ability)

Lightning Rod (Japanese: ひらいしん Lightning Rod), formatted as Lightningrod prior to Pokémon X and Y, is an Ability introduced in Generation III.

Effect

In battle

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

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

In Triple 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-type Hidden 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 the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly (Thunder will never miss a Pokémon in the semi-invulnerable turn of Fly or Bounce).

Lightning Rod cannot redirect Electric-type Judgment or Natural 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's Special Attack by one stage whenever it is hit by an Electric-type move. Electric-type multistrike moves (such as multistrike moves affected by Electrify or Electric-type moves affected by Parental Bond) will only activate this effect once. If the Pokémon is protected from the move or immune to the move due to being Ground-type, its Special Attack will not increase.

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

Lightning Rod can now redirect Electric-type Hidden Power, Judgment, and Natural Gift. However, it will not redirect Sky Drop (if it was changed to Electric-Type by Electrify).

Generation VII onward

A Ground-type Pokémon will now activate Lightning Rod and boost its Special Attack.

The Abilities Propeller Tail and Stalwart 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

In Pokémon Emerald, Trainers registered with the PokéNav's Match Call function will call twice as often if a Pokémon with Lightning Rod is in the first place in the party (even if fainted).

Generation VIII

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

Generation IX

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, this Ability has no effect outside of battle, with its former field function effectively being replaced by Meal Powers.

Pokémon with Lightning Rod

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0025		Pikachu	Electric		Electric	Static	None
0025		Pikachu Cosplay Pikachu	Electric		Electric		None	None
0026		Raichu	Electric		Electric	Static	None
0104		Cubone	Ground		Ground	Rock Head		Battle Armor
0105		Marowak	Ground		Ground	Rock Head		Battle Armor
0105		Marowak Alolan Form	Fire	Ghost	Cursed Body		Rock Head
0111		Rhyhorn	Ground	Rock		Rock Head	Reckless
0112		Rhydon	Ground	Rock		Rock Head	Reckless
0118		Goldeen	Water		Water	Swift Swim	Water Veil
0119		Seaking	Water		Water	Swift Swim	Water Veil
0172		Pichu	Electric		Electric	Static	None
0254		Sceptile Mega Sceptile	Grass	Dragon		None	None
0309		Electrike	Electric		Electric	Static		Minus
0310		Manectric	Electric		Electric	Static		Minus
0311		Plusle	Electric		Electric	Plus	None	Gen VI+
0464		Rhyperior	Ground	Rock		Solid Rock	Reckless
0522		Blitzle	Electric		Electric		Motor Drive	Sap Sipper
0523		Zebstrika	Electric		Electric		Motor Drive	Sap Sipper
0777		Togedemaru	Electric	Steel	Iron Barbs		Sturdy
0871		Pincurchin	Electric		Electric		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.

• In Generation V games, Zapdos has Lightning Rod as its Hidden Ability, but it cannot be obtained by any legitimate means. It is replaced with Static as its Hidden Ability in Generation VI.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

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

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: 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 via Skill Swap

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

• In volume 42, Crystal's Cubone, Bonee, was revealed to have Lightning Rod as his Ability.
• In volume 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

• In Riddle Me This, Pikachu is able to defeat Blaine's Rhydon by aiming his Electric attack at the Rhydon's horn, with it being stated that the horn acts as a lightning rod, apparently allowing Pikachu to overcome Rhydon's normal 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 from Generation V. In Tag! 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 in Electric Shock Showdown! of insulating himself from Lt. Surge's Raichu's Thunderbolt with his tail is similar to the Electric attack nullifying effect of Lightning Rod as of Generation V, where it became the evolutionary line's Hidden Ability. Despite this, Pikachu's Ability is canonically revealed to be Static in Balance of Power, and has consistently remained so afterward.
• Prior to becoming an Ability, Lightning Rod appeared as a TCG attack.

In other languages

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