Electric rodents
- Pikachu clone redirects here. For the Pikachu that is a clone, see Pikachutwo.
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The subject of this article has no official name. The name currently in use is a fan designator; see below for more information. |
Electric rodents is a fan term referring to a group of Electric-type Pokémon based on rodents.
This group is also referred to by fans as the Pikachu family, Pikachu clones, or Pikaclones, though these terms are sometimes used to include other Pokémon such as Marill or Mimikyu, which are not Electric types, but otherwise resemble Pikachu in design. An equivalent term used within the Japanese Pokémon fandom is 電気袋組 Electric Pouch Group, referencing the electric pouches on these Pokémon's cheeks.
The terms "electric mice" and "electric mouse Pokémon" are used informally to describe this group in a post on the official Pokémon Singapore Facebook page, promoting the "HOPPE DAISHŪGO" collection of Pokémon Center merchandise. HOPPE DAISHŪGO can be translated as Cheek Great Gathering, referencing the common trait these Pokémon have.
Character designer Ken Sugimori acknowledged the concept of the recurring "electric rodents" theme in an interview published in Volume 201 of the Nintendo Dream magazine.[1]
List of electric rodents
There are 13 Pokémon considered to be electric rodents, with every generation introducing at least one.
Design-wise, all of these Pokémon have big round heads, black or brown button-like eyes (except for Alolan Raichu, whose eyes are blue), and electric pouches on their cheeks. All are in the Fairy or Field Egg Groups, except for certain special forms and Pichu, which are in the No Eggs Discovered Egg Group. Additionally, all of these Pokémon have English names very close to being pure transliterations of their Japanese names. Prior to Generation VIII, this group included the only Pokémon capable of learning Nuzzle; Morpeko is the only member that cannot learn Nuzzle. Most of the electric rodents have an Ability that gives them an immunity to Electric-type moves out of Motor Drive, Lightning Rod and Volt Absorb except for Dedenne, Morpeko and Pawmi, although Pawmi's evolved forms Pawmo and Pawmot gain Volt Absorb as a possible Ability. Every electric rodent has a gender ratio of one male to one female, excluding special forms that are exclusively a single gender.
Pachirisu is the only member of this group revealed to actually be biologically related to Pikachu's evolutionary line.[2] Pawmi is the only one (aside from Pikachu itself) to have an evolutionary line, having three stages, mirroring Pikachu's — although Pikachu's evolutionary line includes a baby Pokémon, while Pawmi's evolutionary line lacks one.
The Pawmi family, being introduced in Generation IX, have yet to be directly grouped with the electric rodents officially, though they share the same design theme and other overall similarities. Alolan Raichu and other forms of the Pikachu family are also not typically depicted with this group.
Listed below are the 13 species included in this group, as well as Alolan Raichu.
Similar Pokémon
Marill and Mimikyu are often viewed as "Pikachu clones" by fans, although neither of them are Electric types.
Marill has similar design traits to Pikachu, being a cute, round Pokémon with black button-like eyes. Marill and Pikachu are also both in the Fairy Egg Group, and were both initially the first stage in a two-stage evolutionary line before gaining a pre-evolution in the next generation which is a baby Pokémon that evolves via a friendship Evolution. Prior to the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver, Marill was often referred to as "Pikablu" by fans, and it was erroneously referred to as such on the Topps trading cards for the first movie. However, Marill has never officially been acknowledged as related to the electric rodents. Similar to the electric rodents, Marill's evolutionary line shares the Hidden Ability Sap Sipper which provides it with a type immunity through an ability albeit not to Electric-type moves.
Mimikyu's design is directly inspired by Pikachu, and it is sometimes featured in official artwork showcasing these Pokémon. The Japanese web page for the "HOPPE DAISHŪGO" merchandise states: "よく見ると、でんきタイプではないポケモンが1匹、こっそり仲間入りしているね" ("If you look closely, you'll see that one Pokemon that is not an Electric type has secretly joined the group.") This references Mimikyu's behavior of pretending to be a Pikachu.
In the games
Pachirisu's Pokédex entry in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver states "It's one of the kinds of Pokémon with electric cheek pouches", which likely refers to this group.
In Pokémon X and Y, the "Stickers" battle menu background features all the members of the group that existed at the time.
In animation
In Pokémon the Series, Ash and his friends own a number of these Pokémon: Ash owns a Pikachu, Dawn owns a Pachirisu, Iris owns an Emolga, Bonnie cares for her brother Clemont's Dedenne, Sophocles owns a Togedemaru, and Goh owns a female Raichu that evolved from a Pikachu. Additionally, James of Team Rocket owns a Morpeko, and while it is not considered part of this group, Jessie owns a Mimikyu. Ash's friend Tracey also owns a Marill, though Marill has never been officially connected to this group.
In Pokémon Horizons: The Series, Friede owns a Pikachu named Captain Pikachu, who mans the flying ship Brave Olivine with him; a wild Pawmi also resides on the vessel. Additionally, Nemona owns a Pawmot that evolved from a Pawmo.
Pichu, Plusle, and Minun are the only members of this group that aren't owned or cared for by any of the major characters of the animated series, though it is confirmed in Enter Pikachu! that Ash's Pikachu used to be a Pichu before they met.
Trivia
- Emolga was the first electric rodent to be dual-type. After its introduction in Generation V, all subsequent generations have introduced dual-type electric rodents.
- Every unevolved dual-type electric rodent has a type immunity.
- Pawmo and Pawmot are the only electric rodents to share a type combination (Electric/Fighting-type), and subsequently, to have a type disadvantage against multiple electric rodents instead of one, those being Emolga, Dedenne, and Alolan Raichu. Due to being part Fighting-type, they are also the only electric rodents without a resistance to Flying-type moves.
- Pawmi is the first single-type electric rodent since Pachirisu, being introduced five generations later.
- Emolga is the only electric rodent without a weakness to Ground-type moves or a resistance to Electric-type attacks, due to being part Flying-type.
- Raichu is the only electric rodent with a regional form.
- Alolan Raichu and Pikachu are the only electric rodents with unique Z-Moves.
- Pikachu and Morpeko are the only electric rodents with transformations (Gigantamax and Hangry Mode, respectively).
- Pikachu is the only electric rodent to be a first partner Pokémon and to have a Gigantamax form.
- Morpeko is the first electric rodent since Pikachu's evolution line to have a signature move (Aura Wheel).
- Pichu is the only electric rodent to be a baby Pokémon.
- Togedemaru is the only electric rodent with double resistances.
- Pawmi and Pawmo are the first electric rodents since Pichu to evolve.
References
- ↑ Nintendo Dream Vol. 201, January 2011 (Translation by Dr. Lava)
- ↑ Pokédex entry: A species related to the Pikachu line. [...] (Pokémon Legends: Arceus)
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