In So Long, Sophocles!, Ash was looking for a farewell present for Sophocles due to the latter supposedly soon moving away, and decided to go look for a Charjabug at Rotom's suggestion. With the help of Pikachu, Rockruff, and Litten, he was able to track one down. Litten and Rockruff dug it up from its place underground. Charjabug shocked Ash as he impetuously reached to grab it from its burrow. After recuperating from his zapping, Ash and his Pokémon managed to capture it in a cage. He brought it along with him to Sophocles's farewell party, where he let it out of the cage and showed it off to Sophocles.
Sophocles was surprised by Ash's kindness and sent out Togedemaru to battle Charjabug. Charjabug was able to deflect one Zing Zap and fight back with Discharge. Togedemaru managed to weaken Charjabug enough for Sophocles to feel comfortable enough throwing a Poké Ball at it. Sophocles expressed so much excitement at the prospect of catching Charjabug that he nearly fell over while throwing the Ball, and expressed even more excitement at its capture, soon admitting that he was just moving to another house down the street.
In Mounting an Electrifying Charge!, Sophocles decided to enter the Charjabug race, a race where Charjabug are fit into electric-powered cars and made to drive through an obstacle-filled racecourse with the aid of a three-man team. Working together with Ash and Kiawe, Sophocles formed the Sophocles Lab team, with him working as the team director, Kiawe working as the team mechanic, and Ash working as Charjabug's "support runner", running alongside Charjabug during the race and helping it to get past obstacles. During the race, Sophocles struck a rivalry with Horacio's Red Comet team and his Shiny Charjabug. Thanks to their constant support to Charjabug and a little creativity in the face of obstacles, the Sophocles Lab team eventually won the race, winning a year's supply of Charjabug-themed merchandise as a prize.
In 10,000,000 Reasons to Fight!, Charjabug and Togedemaru used Discharge and Zing Zap, respectively, on Milotic. Although Milotic appeared to have been defeated by this move, Nihilego made it get back up and continue battling. The battle ended when Ash and Pikachu performed 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt to defeat Nihilego.
In SM104, Sophocles revealed that he planned to evolve Charjabug and learnt from Nurse Joy that he can do so over at Vast Poni Canyon.
Personality and characteristics
Charjabug and Sophocles
Comforting Togedemaru
When Ash tried to first capture Charjabug, it electrocuted Ash after he impulsively grabbed it, showing its defensive nature. However, it was also shown to be a weak battler. When it battled against Sophocles's Togedemaru, it was quickly defeated after only attacking Togedemaru with one Discharge attack. In addition to being weak in battle and relying on hiding as a defensive technique whilst living in the wild, it initially seemed to be a bit unsure about itself and its abilities, as evidenced by its reluctance to run on a running wheel, until further encouraged by its Trainer. However, thanks to the training done in preparation for the Charjabug race, it seems to have gained more self confidence and a deeper connection to its Trainer, happily hugging Sophocles after winning the race.
Sophocles's nine Charjabug appear in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon and help around the Hokulani Observatory. Though each has its own nickname, only Onejabug (Japanese: デンイチDen'ichi), Twojabug (Japanese: デンニDen'ni), Threejabug (Japanese: デンサンDensan), Sevenjabug (Japanese: デンナナDen'nana), and Ninejabug (Japanese: デンキューDenkyū) are named out loud. During Sophocles's trial, the device used to summon the Totem Pokémon malfunctions and begins attacking the Charjabug used as a part of the trial. Although Sophocles's Togedemaru uses its Lightning Rod to absorb the electricity fired by the device, it isn't able to fully absorb the attack, forcing Totem Togedemaru to step in and rescue it as well.
Trivia
Charjabug is the first Pokémon in the anime to have its Nature confirmed.
Charjabug is the last credited role for Unshō Ishizuka prior to his death in 2018.
Names
Due to the line revealing Ninejabug's nickname being re-written in the French version to simply list two examples of names, it is unclear which Charjabug have the names "Chry-Zeult" and "Chry-Zabeau".
Onejabug
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
デンイチ Den'ichi
From デンヂムシ Dendimushi (Charjabug) and 一 ichi (one)
English
Onejabug
From one and Charjabug
French
Chry-Zack
From Chrysapile (Charjabug) and the name Isaac
German
Einakk
From ein (one) and Akkup (Charjabug)
Italian, Spanish
Charjauno
From Charjabug and uno (one)
Korean
전지일 Jeonji-il
From 전지충이 Jeonjichung-i (Charjabug) and 일 (一) il (one)
Chinese (Mandarin)
電寶一 Diànbǎoyī* 电一 Diànyī*
From 蟲電寶 / 虫电宝 Chóngdiànbǎo (Charjabug) and 一 yī (one)
Chinese (Cantonese)
電寶一 Dihnbóuyāt
From 蟲電寶 Chùhngdihnbóu (Charjabug) and 一 yāt (one)
Twojabug
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
デンニ Den'ni
From デンヂムシ Dendimushi (Charjabug) and 二 ni (two)
English
Twojabug
From two and Charjabug
French
Chry-Zabelle
From Chrysapile (Charjabug) and the name Isabelle
German
Zweiakk
From zwei (two) and Akkup (Charjabug)
Italian
Charjadue
From Charjabug and due (two)
Spanish
Charjados
From Charjabug and dos (two)
Korean
전지이 Jeonji-i
From 전지충이 Jeonjichung-i (Charjabug) and 이 (二) i (two)
Chinese (Mandarin)
電寶二 Diànbǎo'èr* 电二 Diàn'èr*
From 蟲電寶 / 虫电宝 Chóngdiànbǎo (Charjabug) and 二 èr (two)
Chinese (Cantonese)
電寶二 Dihnbóuyih
From 蟲電寶 Chùhngdihnbóu (Charjabug) and 二 yih (two)
Threejabug
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
デンサン Densan
From デンヂムシ Dendimushi (Charjabug) and 三 san (three)
English
Threejabug
From three and Charjabug
French
Chry-Zmène
From Chrysapile (Charjabug) and the name Ismène
German
Dreiakk
From drei (three) and Akkup (Charjabug)
Italian
Charjatre
From Charjabug and tre (three)
Spanish
Charjatres
From Charjabug and tres (three)
Korean
전지삼 Jeonjisam
From 전지충이 Jeonjichung-i (Charjabug) and 삼 (三) sam (three)
Chinese (Mandarin)
電寶三 Diànbǎosān* 电三 Diànsān*
From 蟲電寶 / 虫电宝 Chóngdiànbǎo (Charjabug) and 三 sān (three)
Chinese (Cantonese)
電寶三 Dihnbóusāam
From 蟲電寶 Chùhngdihnbóu (Charjabug) and 三 sāam (three)
Sevenjabug
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
デンナナ Den'nana
From デンヂムシ Dendimushi (Charjabug) and 七 nana (seven)
English
Sevenjabug
From seven and Charjabug
French
Chry-Zidore
From Chrysapile (Charjabug) and the name Isidore
German
Siebakk
From sieben (seven) and Akkup (Charjabug)
Italian
Charjasette
From Charjabug and sette (seven)
Spanish
Charjasiete
From Charjabug and siete (seven)
Korean
전지칠 Jeonjichil
From 전지충이 Jeonjichung-i (Charjabug) and 칠 (七) chil (seven)
Chinese (Mandarin)
電寶七 Diànbǎoqī* 电七 Diànqī*
From 蟲電寶 / 虫电宝 Chóngdiànbǎo (Charjabug) and 七 qī (seven)
Chinese (Cantonese)
電寶七 Dihnbóuchāt
From 蟲電寶 Chùhngdihnbóu (Charjabug) and 七 chāt (seven)
Ninejabug
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
デンキュー Denkyū
From デンヂムシ Dendimushi (Charjabug) and 九 kyū (nine)
English
Ninejabug
From nine and Charjabug
German
Neunakk
From nuen (nine) and Akkup (Charjabug)
Italian
Charjanove
From Charjabug and nove (nine)
Spanish
Charjanueve
From Charjabug and nueve (nine)
Korean
전지구 Jeonjigu
From 전지충이 Jeonjichung-i (Charjabug) and 구 (九) gu (nine)
Chinese (Mandarin)
電寶九 Diànbǎojiǔ* 电九 Diànjiǔ*
From 蟲電寶 / 虫电宝 Chóngdiànbǎo (Charjabug) and 九 jiǔ (nine)
Chinese (Cantonese)
電寶九 Dihnbóugáu
From 蟲電寶 Chùhngdihnbóu (Charjabug) and 九 gáu (nine)
Chry-Zeult
Language
Name
Origin
French
Chry-Zeult
From Chrysapile (Charjabug) and the name Iseult
Chry-Zabeau
Language
Name
Origin
French
Chry-Zabeau
From Chrysapile (Charjabug) and the name Isabeau
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Charjabug.