
The Lightning Rod is a Pokémon ability that draws in all Electric-type attacks and boosts the Special Attack stat of the Pokémon. In single battles, it will cause the Pokémon with this ability to always be hit by Electric-type attacks. In Double or Triple battles, it forces all single-target Electric-type attacks to strike the Pokémon with this ability, including those used by allies. It also gives the Pokémon immunity to all Electric-type attacks and raises its Special Attack by one stage whenever it is hit by one. However, it cannot redirect Electric-type Hidden Power or Judgement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effect on Electric-type moves | Draws in all Electric-type moves, boosting Special Attack |
| Effect on Electric-type Hidden Power | Can redirect in Generations 5 and above |
| Effect on Electric-type Judgment | Can redirect in Generations 5 and above |
| Effect on Thunder Wave | Forces Thunder Wave to strike the Pokémon with the ability |
| Effect on Triple Battles | Can redirect Electric-type moves if the Pokémon is within range |
| Effect on Ground-type Pokémon | Type-granted immunity takes precedence over the ability's effects |
| Effect on Pokémon with other Abilities | Abilities like Propeller Tail and Stalwart bypass the targeting effect |
| Effect on Multi-strike moves | Only activates the effect once |
| Effect on Cell Battery | Absorbs the move, preventing the Cell Battery's effect from triggering |
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What You'll Learn
- Lightning Rod forces all single-target electric-type moves to target the Pokémon with this ability
- The ability boosts the Pokémon's Special Attack by one stage when hit by an electric-type move
- In Triple Battles, Lightning Rod cannot redirect electric-type moves if the Pokémon is out of range
- In Generations III and IV, Lightning Rod did not increase Special Attack or give immunity to electric-type attacks
- In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the ability has no effect outside of battle

Lightning Rod forces all single-target electric-type moves to target the Pokémon with this ability
The Lightning Rod ability in Pokémon games has a unique effect on Electric-type moves. It forces all single-target Electric-type moves, used by any other Pokémon in the field, to target the Pokémon with this ability. This includes the status move Thunder Wave. The ability is especially useful in double or triple battles, where it can protect ally Pokémon from taking damage from Electric-type moves.
The Lightning Rod ability also grants the Pokémon immunity to all Electric-type moves. When the Pokémon with this ability is hit by an Electric-type move, it takes no damage and instead gains a boost to its Special Attack stat. This boost is applied even if the Pokémon is immune to Electric-type moves due to being a Ground-type. However, the Special Attack boost is not applied if the Pokémon is protected from the Electric-type move or if it is holding a Cell Battery, in which case the move is absorbed and the Cell Battery's effect is negated.
It is important to note that the Lightning Rod ability does not affect multi-strike Electric-type moves in the same way. These moves, such as those affected by Electrify or Parental Bond, will only activate the Special Attack boost once, regardless of the number of strikes. Additionally, in Triple Battles, the ability cannot redirect Electric-type moves if the Pokémon with the ability is out of range.
The Lightning Rod ability also has some interactions with other moves and abilities. For example, it can be overridden by moves like Follow Me or Rage Powder, which make another Pokémon the centre of attention, causing Electric-type moves to target them instead. Additionally, in Generations 3 and 4, the ability did not grant immunity to Electric-type moves or increase Special Attack, and it did not affect Hidden Power or Judgment.
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The ability boosts the Pokémon's Special Attack by one stage when hit by an electric-type move
The Lightning Rod ability is a powerful tool for Pokémon trainers to use. It forces all single-target Electric-type moves used by any Pokémon on the field to target the Pokémon with this ability, and with 100% accuracy. This includes the status move Thunder Wave. The ability is most useful in double or triple battles. When hit by an Electric-type move, the Pokémon with the Lightning Rod ability takes no damage and boosts its Special Attack by one stage. This boost can occur a maximum of six times, increasing the Pokémon's Special Attack stat by a maximum of +6.
In Generations III and IV, the Lightning Rod ability did not affect type immunity at all, but from Generation V onwards, it nullifies damage from Electric-type moves. In the Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team games, as well as Explorers of Time and Darkness, a Pokémon with Lightning Rod draws in and neutralises all enemy Electric-type attacks on the floor, including those that target multiple Pokémon. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, the effect is only room-wide.
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, if a Pokémon with Lightning Rod is in the first place in the party (even if it has fainted), there is a 51% chance the game will force an encounter with an Electric-type Pokémon. In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the chance of this happening is 50%. In Dynamax Raids, Lightning Rod will draw Electric attacks from ally Pokémon.
The ability is overridden by other Pokémon becoming the centre of attention from the moves Follow Me or Rage Powder. It is also bypassed by the abilities Propeller Tail and Stalwart, although they do not bypass Electric-type immunity.
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In Triple Battles, Lightning Rod cannot redirect electric-type moves if the Pokémon is out of range
In Triple Battles, the Lightning Rod ability in Pokémon cannot redirect electric-type moves if the Pokémon with the ability is out of range. The Pokémon with the Lightning Rod ability will draw in all electric-type moves, boosting its Special Attack stat and granting it immunity to electric-type attacks. However, this ability is limited by range in Triple Battles, where it cannot redirect electric-type moves if the Pokémon is too far away.
The Lightning Rod ability is particularly useful in double and triple battles, where it can redirect electric-type moves from allies and foes towards the ability bearer, provided they are within range. This ability has been depicted in various Pokémon games and media, including the main series games, spin-offs like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, and manga like "Riddle Me This".
In generations III and IV, Lightning Rod did not affect type immunity or increase Special Attack. However, starting from generation V, it nullifies damage from electric-type moves and boosts the Special Attack stat when hit. This ability also interacts with certain items, such as the Cell Battery, which will not trigger while Lightning Rod is active.
While Lightning Rod is a powerful ability, it has some limitations. In addition to the range restriction in Triple Battles, it cannot redirect certain moves like Electric-type Hidden Power, Judgment, or Natural Gift. Additionally, if another Pokémon becomes the center of attention through moves like Follow Me or Rage Powder, electric-type moves will be directed towards it instead of the Pokémon with Lightning Rod.
Understanding the mechanics of the Lightning Rod ability is crucial for strategic gameplay in Pokémon battles, especially in Triple Battles where positioning and range come into play. By utilizing this ability effectively, players can redirect electric-type attacks towards their Pokémon with immunity and boost their Special Attack stat simultaneously.
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In Generations III and IV, Lightning Rod did not increase Special Attack or give immunity to electric-type attacks
In Generations III and IV, the Lightning Rod ability did not increase the Special Attack stat or grant immunity to Electric-type attacks. Introduced in Generation III, the ability forces single-target Electric-type moves to target the Pokémon with this ability. However, it is important to note that if another Pokémon becomes the center of attention, Electric-type moves will be directed to it instead of the Pokémon with Lightning Rod. This ability is particularly useful in double or triple battles.
While the Lightning Rod ability does not grant immunity to Electric-type attacks in Generations III and IV, it is still a valuable tool in battle. It ensures that Electric-type moves used by foes will never miss the Pokémon with this ability, providing a level of predictability and strategy in battle. Additionally, the ability can be overridden by certain factors, such as when other Pokémon use moves like "Follow Me" or "Rage Powder" to become the center of attention.
In later generations, the Lightning Rod ability evolved to include additional effects. Starting from Generation V, it not only redirected Electric-type moves but also nullified damage from them. This evolution in the ability provided Pokémon with Lightning Rod a form of immunity to Electric-type attacks, enhancing their resilience in battle.
It is worth noting that the effectiveness of the Lightning Rod ability can be influenced by various factors. For example, in Triple Battles, Lightning Rod cannot redirect Electric-type moves if the Pokémon with the ability is out of range. Additionally, Electric-type Hidden Power moves are not redirected by Lightning Rod, affecting its overall effectiveness in certain scenarios.
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In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the ability has no effect outside of battle
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Lightning Rod ability does not affect the chances of encountering wild Electric-type Pokémon outside of battle. However, during battles, the Lightning Rod ability 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. This includes Electric-type multi-strike moves, which will only activate this effect once. The ability also forces all single-target Electric-type moves to target the Pokémon with the Lightning Rod ability, with 100% accuracy. This can be useful in double or triple battles, as it can protect other Pokémon on the field from Electric-type attacks.
The Lightning Rod ability has been featured in various Pokémon games and generations, with its effects evolving over time. In Generations III and IV, the ability did not affect type immunity or increase Special Attack. Starting from Generation V, the ability nullifies damage from Electric-type moves and increases the Pokémon's Special Attack. In Gates to Infinity, Lightning Rod was revealed to be the ability of Crystal's Cubone, Bonee, and Silver's Rhyperior. In Riddle Me This, Pikachu uses its Electric attack to defeat Blaine's Rhydon, overcoming its normal immunity to Electric attacks due to its horn acting as a lightning rod.
While the Lightning Rod ability has been depicted in various Pokémon media, its in-game mechanics have evolved over different generations and versions. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the ability primarily affects Electric-type moves during battles, but it does not seem to have any impact on encountering wild Electric-type Pokémon outside of battle. This distinction is important for players to understand when strategizing and navigating the Paldea region in these games.
It is worth noting that the Lightning Rod ability can be overridden by certain moves, such as Follow Me or Rage Powder, which can redirect the attention of other Pokémon. Additionally, if a Pokémon with Lightning Rod is protected from or immune to an Electric-type move, its Special Attack will not increase. The ability also does not redirect Electric-type moves like Sky Drop, even if affected by Electrify. Understanding these nuances is crucial for players looking to utilize the Lightning Rod ability effectively in their Pokémon teams.
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Frequently asked questions
The Lightning Rod ability forces all single-target Electric-type moves to target the Pokémon with this ability. It 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 one.
If a Pokémon with Lightning Rod is holding a Cell Battery, the ability absorbs the move, so the Cell Battery's effect is not triggered.
In Generations III and IV, Lightning Rod did not affect type immunity. However, starting from Generation V, it nullifies damage from Electric-type moves.
In Pokémon Emerald, if a Pokémon with Lightning Rod is in the first place in the party, Trainers registered with the PokéNav's Match Call function will call twice as often.








































