Lightning Rod (Ability)

Lightning Rod	ひらいしん
	Lightning Rod
Flavor text Generation III Draws electrical moves. Generation IV The Pokémon draws in all Electric-type moves. Generation V Draws in all Electric-type moves to up Sp. Attack. Generation VI Draws in all Electric-type moves to boost its Sp. Atk stat. Generation VII The Pokémon draws in all Electric-type moves. Instead of being hit by Electric-type moves, it boosts its Sp. Atk. Generation VIII The Pokémon draws in all Electric-type moves. Instead of being hit by Electric-type moves, it boosts its Sp. Atk. Generation IX The Pokémon draws in all Electric-type moves. Instead of taking damage from them, its Sp. Atk stat is boosted.

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.

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.

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	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.

Pokémon that formerly had Lightning Rod

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0145		Zapdos	Electric	Flying	Pressure	None	Lightning RodGen V
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

Games Description MDRB Attracts Electric-type moves. MDTDS Draws Electric-type moves to the Pokémon without harm. BSL でんきタイプの わざを あつめて そのわざの こうかをうけない Conq. Absorbs all Electric-type moves to raise Attack. MDGtI Draws Electric-type moves from nearby foes, absorbs them, and raises Special Attack.* The Electric-type moves of enemies in the room are drawn to the Pokémon and absorbed, which also raises its Special Attack!* SMD The Electric-type moves of enemies in the same room are drawn to the Pokémon and absorbed. When the Pokémon absorbs Electric-type moves, its Sp. Atk goes up! MDRTDX The Electric-type moves of enemies in the same room are drawn to the Pokémon and absorbed. When the Pokémon absorbs Electric-type moves, its Sp. Atk goes up.

In animation

Pokémon animated series

Rhydon Mega Sceptile Togedemaru
The Pokémon draws in Electric attacks.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	When Rhydon's opponent uses an Electric attack, the attack changes direction and hits Rhydon's horn instead.
A Scientist's Rhydon	Tag! We're it...!		Debut
	When Mega Sceptile is hit by an Electric-type move, it takes no damage.
Sawyer's Sceptile	Valuable Experience for All!		None
	When Togedemaru's opponent uses an Electric attack, the attack changes direction and hits Togedemaru instead, who takes no damage from that attack. Togedemaru can then use the absorbed electricity to power up its own Electric-type moves.
Sophocles's Togedemaru	The Guardian's Challenge!		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

• 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

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 避雷針 Beihlèuihjām Mandarin 避雷針 / 避雷针 Bìléizhēn Danish Lightning Rod* Lynafleder Dutch Bliksemstaaf Finnish Ukkosenjohdatin French Paratonnerre German Blitzfänger Hindi Bijli Ka Rod Italian Parafulmine Korean 피뢰침 Piroechim Norwegian Lightning Rod* Lynavleder* Polish Piorunochron Portuguese Para-Raios Russian Громоотвод Gromootvod Spanish Latin America Caña de luz Spain Pararrayos Swedish Lightning Rod* Åskledare* Thai สายล่อฟ้า Vietnamese Cột thu lôi

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.