Magnemite is a seemingly robotic life form that has a gray, circular metal body with horseshoe magnets on each side, and a single, large eye. It has three Phillips head screws on its body; two near the bottom of its body, and the other is on top of its head and looks similar to an antenna. The two bottom screws serve no noticeable purpose, although they may be its feet as the Pokédex identifies a footprint similar to that of the screw's "head". Even though Magnemite and its evolved forms are mechanical creatures, the anime has shown that it has emotions and a way of reproducing. It has even exhibited the need to eat, although its main form of nutrients is electrical currents. It is commonly found in locations such as power plants or caves with a strong magnetic field. Despite its modern, artificial appearance, it has been seen in carvings depicting Magnemite have been discovered at the Ruins of Alph, indicating they have existed for at least 1,500 years.
The magnetic units on Magnemite's body create electromagnetic waves that allow it to defy gravity and can potentially disrupt electrical equipment. Magnemite is not known to be unnecessarily aggressive, but may approach trainers with little notice. It can be attracted to anything emitting electricity or a magnetic field, including gadgets such as a Pokétch. It has even been shown to be attracted to electric Pokémon producing such fields. In the care of a Trainer, it can be a devoted fighter. However, it has been demonstrated that it may be deterred unless a strong bond is formed with its Trainer. If a wild Magnemite is approached, it may simply flee on rare occasions, as Magnemite do not care for interaction. However, if attacked, it will start retaliation with non-damaging moves.
Major appearances
Magnemite first appeared in Sparks Fly for Magnemite. Ash and his friends were in Gringey City while the power went out. When they were looking around for the cause of the power outage, a lone Magnemite showed up and was feeling attracted to Ash's Pikachu, who had a cold. When a group of Grimer and its Muk leader were chasing Ash and his friends, a group of Magnemite and Magneton helped to fight them off.
In Get Along, Little Pokémon, Ash, Misty and Tracey met a man named Ethan who used Magnemite to harness electrical energy from bolts of lightning during thunderstorms and then the electrical energy would be given to towns that were without power. Magnemite #6 evolved into a Magneton to save Ash and Pikachu from Team Rocket.
A group of Magnemite and a Magneton appeared as security guards in Current Events as they first attacked Team Rocket who sneaked into a power station guarded entirely by Pokémon. Ash saw the door had been opened by someone, and upon investigatation, was also attacked by the Magnemite.
A Magnemite belonging to the Olivine City Gym Leader, Jasmine, makes its debut in Fight for the Light! riding on Jasmine's shoulder through the whole episode. It is later used in her Gym Battle with Ash in Nerves of Steelix!, sending it out against Ash's Pikachu.
Ash has battled another Gym Leader with Magnemite: Wattson in Watt's with Wattson?. Many wild Magnemite also appeared later on in the episode.
Some Magnemite, their evolved form Magneton, a Steelix, and a Skarmory appeared in All Torkoal, No Play!.
An army of Magnemite and Magneton, led by a Magnezone, appeared in Giratina and the Sky Warrior under the ownership of the main villain, Zero. They were used by Zero as a swarm to trap or capture, as well as being able to contain people and Pokémon by linking together around them, preventing them from moving.
Brock temporarily trained a Magnemite belonging to the Pokémon Summer Academy in Camping It Up!. Unlike the rest of the group, Brock had no problems bonding with and educating his Pokémon.
A group of Magnemite served as guards for the Valley Windworks in Gone With the Windworks!.
A Magnemite belonging to Professor Kodama appeared in Sticking With Who You Know!.
A Magnemite appeared in Expedition to Onix Island!.
Multiple Magnemite appeared in Iris and the Rogue Dragonite!.
A Magnemite belonging to a Team Plasma Grunt appeared in Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!, Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry! and Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!.
Minor appearances
Two Magnemite appeared in Lights, Camera, Quack-tion, acting as lighting technicians for the film "Pokémon in Love".
Four Magnemite were among the Pokémon controlled by Cassidy and Butch in Pikachu Re-Volts.
Multiple Magnemite also appeared in The Power of One.
Three Magnemite belonging to a group of Phony Pokémon interpreters appeared in The Poké Spokesman where they were convinced by Simon to cease their attacks.
Several Magnemite were among the Electric Pokémon that were lured by the "Miracle Crystal" that Attila and Hun were using in The Legend of Thunder!.
Magnemite is one of the Electric-type Pokémon that was seen in the lake with crystal in As Clear As Crystal.
A Magnemite was partnered with two Team Rocket trainees in Training Daze.
A Magnemite appeared in the opening of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
A group of Magnemite also appeared in Steeling Peace of Mind! and Saving the World From Ruins! along with numerous other Steel-type Pokémon (including some Magneton) on Iron Island.
Another Magnemite appeared in Dawn of a Royal Day!.
Pokédex entries
Episode
|
Pokémon
|
Source
|
Entry
|
EP030
|
Magnemite
|
Ash's Pokédex
|
Magnemite, a Magnet Pokémon. Its means of floating through the air are not understood. This very mysterious Pokémon is of the Electric type.
|
Original series entries continue below.
|
|
Episode
|
Pokémon
|
Source
|
Entry
|
EP101
|
Magnemite
|
Ash's Pokédex
|
Magnemite, the Magnet Pokémon. It's able to float through the air and leave its Thunder Wave through its magnet shaped units located on its sides.
|
|
- In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Magnemite was originally known as "Coil", from its Japanese name.
- Magnemite is the first Steel-type Pokémon in National Pokédex order.
- Despite most of Magnemite's Pokédex entries saying they are able to float through the air by employing powerful electromagnetic waves or even anti-gravity, Magnemite does not have the Ability Levitate, and so they are still affected by Earthquake or other Ground-type moves. However, as of Generation IV, Magnemite can learn Magnet Rise, which simulates Levitate for five turns.
- Magnemite and its evolutionary line have twelve resistances and one immunity, making them the most resistant Pokémon to date. With the addition of Magnet Rise, which makes them immune to Ground-type attacks for five turns, their only double weakness is negated.
- Due to their inclusion in Platinum's extended Sinnoh Pokédex and the Unova Pokédex in Black 2 and White 2, Magnemite and Magneton have appeared in every regional Pokédex.
- Magnemite and its evolution Magneton are two of the few Pokémon that had their cry changed slightly in Generation III. This was due to Generation III utilizing a better sound effects game engine and newer game system.
- Magnemite and its evolutions are the only dual-type Electric Pokémon that are part of a three-stage evolutionary line.
- Pokémon Snap is the only form of a Pokémon canon that shows two Magnemite bonding, similar to a Magneton. However, when a picture is taken, they are still called Magnemite.
- Magnemite is currently the most traded Pokémon on the GTS. This is probably due to what is known as the Magnemite chain/coil: a scheme by which players can increase the number of visitors to their Join Avenue in Black 2 and White 2 by trading Magnemite on the GTS. The scheme originated with Japanese players and has spread around the globe.
Generation II type change
Magnemite, along with its evolution Magneton, were pure Electric-type Pokémon in Generation I, but became dual-type Electric/Steel in Generation II, since the Steel type did not yet exist when they debuted. Due to this type change, Magnemite is the first Steel-type Pokémon in National Pokédex order. However, it was unable to learn any Steel-type moves until Generation III.
Origin
Magnemite seems to be based on a magnet. It may also be based on the objectification of electromagnetism, one of the four fundamental interactions of nature.
Name origin
Magnemite may be a play on magnetite.
Coil is literally coil, perhaps referring to the fact that a coil with electric current generates a magnetic field.