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Magnemite is a seemingly robotic life form that has a gray, circular metal body with a horseshoe magnet on its left and right sides, and a single big eye. It has three Phillips head screws on its body; two are 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, they still have emotions, the need to eat, and a way of reproducing. Magnemite might also be related to Beldum and Bronzor because all of them are partially Steel-type that create electromagnetic waves to float in the air.
Gender differences
Magnemite is a genderless species.
Special abilities
The magnetic units on Magnemite's body create electromagnetic waves that allow it to defy gravity and can potentially disrupt various electrical equipment. The faster the units at its sides rotate, the greater the magnetic force they generate. However, it becomes incapable of flight if its internal electrical supply is depleted. Magnemite usually attack by using electrical attacks such as Thunder Wave and Zap Cannon. Magnemite can also focus magnetic energy into a homing-attack known as Magnet Bomb.
Behavior
Magnemite generally keep to themselves. They are quiet and do not bother people. However, if anyone gets near them with magnets or something that emits large amounts of electricity, they can be attracted to such an object. Magnemite are very neutral, but they are very eager to please their Trainers and will fight hard. If a wild Magnemite is approached, they will usually go away as they don't care for interaction; however, if attacked, they will retaliate with non-damaging moves such as Thunder Wave or Supersonic. If the attacker persists, they will start to use damaging attacks such as ThunderShock or Magnet Bomb, and in extreme cases, Zap Cannon.
Magnemite can usually be found around power plants or any rough terrain where there may be large amounts of metal nearby. As a result, they can be found in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova. Despite their modern, artificial appearance, carvings depicting Magnemite and Magneton have been discovered at the Ruins of Alph, indicating they have existed for at least 1,500 years.
Magnemite feed off electrical currents, which is why they are frequently found around power plants.
In the anime
Magnemite in the anime
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.
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.
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.
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.
Magnemite makes multiple cameos aboard the S.S. Anne in Danger: High Voltorb as many of the Pokémon ready to attack Red; however, it's not clear if they belong to Lt. Surge or to his Sailor. It debuts in the next round, Buzz Off, Electabuzz! searching in the ship for Red.
Later, in Volume 13, Lt. Surge uses a Magnemite to fight Morty's Misdreavus, using electromagnetism to shield attacks as well as fire Zap Cannon. The fight, however, ended in a draw due to Misdreavus using Destiny Bond.
Wattson's two Magnemite were first seen with his Electrike battling Pokémon belonging to certain children.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: A group of Magnemite are the clients of the game's second mission, sending the player to save their friend who is trapped in Thunderwave Cave. One of the Magnemite decides to join the rescue team a couple of days later.
Magnemite attaches itself to power lines to feed on electricity. If your house has a power outage, check your circuit breakers. You may find a large number of this Pokémon clinging to the breaker box.
Magnemite floats in the air by emitting electromagnetic waves from the units at its sides. These waves block gravity. This Pokémon becomes incapable of flight if its internal electrical supply is depleted.
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 a short period of time.
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 a short period of time, 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.
Magnemite is the first genderless Pokémon in the National Pokédex order.
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.
Some trainers have taken to using this trend to trade Magnemite infected with the Pokérus in order to spread the beneficial virus to others.
Generation II type change
Magnemite, along with its evolution Magneton, were pure Electric-type in Generation I, but became dual-type Electric/Steel in Generation II. This makes them the first Pokémon to gain an extra type, the others being Rotom'sother forms in Gen V. One could argue that this was purely because the Steel type had not been officially recognized by Pokémon researchers in Generation I; however, in FireRed and LeafGreen, they are Electric/Steel-type. The general consensus among fans is that the type change is simply a retcon, owing to the Magnemite evolution family clearly being metallic in origin, and the Steel type not existing until after they had 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.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.