Magnemite is a seemingly robotic Pokémon that has a gray, spherical metal body with blue-and-red tipped 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 one on top of its head that 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. If a wild Magnemite is approached, it may simply flee on rare occasions, as Magnemite does not care for interaction. However, if attacked, it will start retaliation with non-damaging moves. 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.
Magnemite 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. With modern electrical lines buried underground, Magnemite attacks on power plants have increased. To prevent power outages, these power plants deliberately send out signals Magnemite cannot stand to ward them off.
Magnemite debuted 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 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 fight them off.
Multiple Magnemite appeared in Get Along, Little Pokémon, under the ownership of Ethan. He used them to harness electrical energy from bolts of lightning during thunderstorms, with this energy being given to towns without power. One of the Magnemite, nicknamed Number 6, evolved into a Magneton to save Ash and Pikachu from Team Rocket.
Ten Magnemite appeared in Current Events, where they served as security guards for an electric company's power station. They first attacked Team Rocket, who had sneaked into the power station. Later on, Ash saw the door had been opened by someone, and upon investigation, he was also attacked by the Magnemite.
A Magnemite appeared in Watt's with Wattson?, under the ownership of Wattson. Much like Jasmine's Magnemite, this Magnemite battled Pikachu during Ash's Gym battle against Wattson. It was defeated when Pikachu became overpowered. Three wild Magnemite also appeared later on in the episode.
A Magnemite appeared in PK13, where 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 antagonist Zero. They were mainly used by Zero as a swarm to trap or capture targets. They were also able to contain people and Pokémon by linking together around them, preventing them from moving.
A Magnemite appeared in Camping It Up!, under the ownership of the Pokémon Summer Academy. Brock temporarily trained it, and unlike the rest of the group, he had no problems bonding with and educating his Pokémon.
A Magnemite appeared in Lights! Camera! Pika!, under the ownership of Frank. Frank used Magnemite alongside Swirlix and Heliolisk to provide the lighting whilst filming his movies.
Multiple Magnemite appeared in The Power of Us, with five under the ownership of different Trainers, one being wild, and the other two appearing during a flashback.
Multiple Trainers' Magnemite appeared in Securing the Future!, where they joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its true form.
A soldier's Magnemite appeared in The Redemption, during a fantasy of a story from the past. It was one of the many Pokémon fighting in the great war of Kalos 3,000 years previously.
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 used two Magnemite to act as chains to trap Red so he could 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 and a Magneton attacked Blue and Evan. After Blue's Machamp defeated the Magneton, the wild Magnemite escaped.
Later, in Magnificent Magnemite, Lt. Surge used 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.
Magnemite appears in the background of the Prism Tower stage in the 3DS version of the game.
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Instantly recognizable by the horseshoe magnets on either side of its body, this Magnet Pokémon uses electromagnetic waves to nullify gravity and float in midair. The sense of nostalgia it inspires has only been strengthened by the many years that have passed since its debut in the very first Pokémon games.
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 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, along with its evolution Magneton, were pure Electric-type Pokémon in Generation I, but became dual-type Electric/Steel in Generation II. This makes them the first Pokémon to ever change typing with the progress of generations.
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, so it is still affected by Ground-type moves. However, starting in Generation IV, Magnemite can learn Magnet Rise, which simulates Levitate for five turns.
Magnemite, along with Magneton, has appeared in every regional Pokédex. This is due to the Sinnoh Pokédex's expansion in Platinum and the Unova Pokédex's expansion in Black 2 and White 2.
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.
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.
In Generation V, Magnemite was 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 could 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 became popular worldwide.