Physiology
Voltorb are spherical Pokémon with no arms or legs. They look like a Poké Ball with a face, minus the button; their top half is red, while their bottom half is white. They were first seen in the plant where modern Poké Balls were invented. Voltorb and their evolution, Electrode, could be forms of energy, but it is unknown where that energy came from or how it created them. Because of the similarities with the Poké Ball, it has been suggested that Voltorb are artificial Pokémon, created with some form of human involvement.
Gender differences
Voltorb is a genderless species.
Special abilities
If agitated, Voltorb may explode. They can also wield powerful Template:Type2 moves.
Behavior
Voltorb are easily agitated, and are known to self-destruct due to anger.
Habitat
Voltorb are generally found in power plants and other areas with electric fields, and due to their volatile temper and habit of exploding out of anger are generally considered pests. They are also found on farms guarding the crops and fruit there, and are usually painted the same color as the fruits they guard. It is common in Kanto, Johto and Hoenn, but has been seen in Sinnoh from time to time.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
Major appearances
Voltorb first appeared in The Ninja Poké Showdown. Koga kept a bunch of these in his Gym as booby traps.
Voltorb also appeared in So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd. Team Rocket received them from the Backpack-switching thief, thinking they were Poké Balls with rare Pokémon in them, as well as their Arbok, Lickitung and Weezing. When Team Rocket found out they were not, the Voltorb started to explode in their balloon. They dumped most of the Voltorb on the thief, prompting him to quit his crime spree, but a single Voltorb sent them blasting off.
A sole Voltorb lived amongst the Electrode in The Underground Round Up. Although Misty was terrified of it, the Template:Type2 befriended her Togepi, and the Baby Pokémon was sad when it had to leave.
Minor appearances
Ash is shown to have a clock that is shaped like a Voltorb in Pokémon - I Choose You!. The clock can open up across the middle, showing the time and making a Pidgey pops out of it.
In Ditto's Mysterious Mansion, Voltorb comes on stage in Duplica's flashback as her Ditto tries to transform into one.
In A Chansey Operation, a Voltorb was stuck in a Weepinbell's mouth which Misty and Jessie had to pull out from.
Voltorb also appeared in The Power of One.
A Voltorb also appeared in Celebi: Voice of the Forest.
Voltorb is one of the Electric-type Pokémon that was seen in the lake with crystal in As Clear As Crystal.
A Voltorb was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.
A Voltorb made a small appearance in Pearls are a Spoink's Best Friend. Spoink mistook it for a pearl.
In May's Egg-Cellent Adventure, two Voltorb attack May as they are trained to do so when anyone steps foot on Nicolette's property.
A Voltorb disguised as a watermelon appeared in the credits of Arceus and the Jewel of Life. It exploded when Jessie and James picked it up after falling for its disguise.
In Bucking the Treasure Trend, several Voltorb attacked Ash and his friends.
Pokédex entries
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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EP114
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Voltorb
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Ash's Pokédex
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Voltorb. This mysterious Pokémon uses strong Electric attacks, and is often found near power plants. Use extreme caution; Voltorb may explode without warning.
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- Although Voltorb is an Template:Type2, it could not learn any Electric attacks via level-up until Generation III.
- Though it is said that Voltorb are often mistaken for Poké Balls, Voltorb is over one foot in height, far larger than any modern Poké Ball.
- In the English and European versions of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, a game called Voltorb Flip is introduced in place of slot machines. The game is similar to Minesweeper, and largely focuses on flipping over cards to multiply the coins currently earned. Some cards, however, have Voltorb on them which will cause the player to lose coins.
- Voltorb and Electrode exist in Oblivia's past, despite both Pokémon being brought into origin in more recent times. Whether this was an oversight or not is unknown. A similar situation occurs with Porygon-Z.
- Due to their almost identical appearance, Voltorb was often confused with Electrode by the dub voice actors. The same situation happened with Poliwhirl and Poliwrath.
Origin
It seems to be based upon the concept of a living Poké Ball (with its shiny form possibly being based on a Great Ball). The idea of them being mistaken for the standard Item Balls is similar to "Mimic" monsters found in other RPGs. Given its tendency to explode, it could also be based on a bomb.
Name origin
Voltorb is a combination of volt and orb.
Biriridama may be a combination of びりびり biribiri (like an electric shock) and 玉 tama (sphere).