Magnemite is a seemingly robotic life form that has a gray, spherical 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 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, Magnemite has been depicted in carvings discovered at the Ruins of Alph, and has been present in AZ's retelling of the Kalos war, indicating it has existed for at least 3,000 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.
In the main series
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 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.
A Magnemite appeared in Pikachu's Summer Festival, in which it attacked Meowth and Wobbuffet with Thunder Wave, but it was quickly defeated by Wobbuffet's Counter.
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 wild Magnemite made an appearance in Expedition to Onix Island!, when it attacked Iris and Axew with an electric attack.
Clemont owns a Magnemite that appeared in Clemont's Got a Secret!. It stays at the Lumiose City Gym.
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.
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 investigation, was also attacked by the Magnemite.
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.
Some Magnemite, their evolved form Magneton, a Steelix, and a Skarmory appeared in All Torkoal, No Play!.
A Magnemite appeared in A Fan with a Plan! under the ownership of a Pokémon Coordinator competing in the Rubello Contest.
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.
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 Dawn of a Royal Day! under the ownership of a Pokémon Coordinator competing in the Arrowroot Contest.
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!.
Two Magnemite appeared in Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!, including one of them wearing a pink ribbon.
A Magnemite appeared in Summer of Discovery! on a video icon.
A Magnemite appeared in A Campus Reunion!.
Multiple Magnemite appeared in The Future Is Now, Thanks to Determination!.
A Magnemite appeared in Lights! Camera! Pika!, under the ownership of Frank.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP030
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Magnemite
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Ash's Pokédex
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Magnemite, a Magnet Pokémon. Its means of floating through the air are not understood. This very mysterious Pokémon is of the Electric type.
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Original series entries continue below.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP101
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Magnemite
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Ash's Pokédex
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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.
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In Pokémon Origins
A Magnemite appeared in File 3: Giovanni imprisoned at the Rocket Hideout.
In Pokémon Generations
A Magnemite under the ownership of an International Police SWAT team member appeared in The Chase.
A Magnemite made an appearance in The Lake of Rage under the ownership of a Team Rocket Grunt.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Magnemite makes their debut 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.The appeared later in Buzz Off, Electabuzz! searching in the ship for Red.
A Magnemite under the ownership of a Team Rocket Grunt appeared in Holy Moltres where it was used to battle Blaine's Arcanine and Rapidash.
Lt. Surge uses two Magnemite to act as chains to trap Red so he can attack him in Go for the Golbat.
In Lapras Lazily a wild Magnemite appeared in the abandoned Power Plant in Blue's flashback of how he met Agatha. Later in Electro Magneton three wild Magnemite along with a Magneton attack Blue and Evan after Blue's Machamp defeated the Magneton the wild Magnemite escaped.
Lt. Surge used a Magnemite in to get Morty's attention, so he could help located two boys in Hello, Lickitung.
Later, in Magnificent Magnemite, Lt. Surge uses a Magnemite to fight Morty's Misdreavus, using electromagnetism to shield attacks as well as to fire Zap Cannon. The fight, however, ended in a draw due to Misdreavus using Destiny Bond.
Another Magnemite appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to help the fight in Ilex Forest.
Wattson's two Magnemite were first seen with his Electrike battling Pokémon belonging to certain children.
In Pangoro Poses a Problem multiple Magnemite were among the Electric-type Pokémon that charges the Prism Tower during a blackout.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Green caught a Magnemite before participating in the sports meet in Pokémon Sports Meet!!.
Giovanni sent out Magnemite in an attempt to battle Squirtle in Squirtle, the Crybaby Pokémon.
In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga
Black owns a Magnemite in The Golden Boys manga.