Thunder Wave (move)
| Thunder Wave でんじは Electromagnetic Wave | ||||||||||||
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Target
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Availability
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Thunder Wave (Japanese: でんじは Electromagnetic Wave) is a non-damaging Electric-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM45 in Generation I before losing its TM status in Generation II. It regained its TM status, albeit as TM73, in Generation IV onwards.
Effect
Generation I
Thunder Wave paralyzes the target. Thunder Wave cannot affect Ground-type Pokémon or targets that already have a non-volatile status condition. Thunder Wave can affect a target behind a substitute.
In Pokémon Stadium, Thunder Wave cannot affect a target behind a substitute.
Generations II and III
Thunder Wave now cannot affect a target behind a substitute.
Generation IV
Thunder Wave now cannot affect Pokémon with the Ability Volt Absorb or Motor Drive.
If Thunder Wave is used by a Pokémon with Normalize, it cannot affect Ghost-type Pokémon but can affect Ground-type Pokémon.
Generation V
Thunder Wave now cannot affect a target with the Ability Lightning Rod.
Thunder Wave can affect a Ground-type target if that target is holding a Ring Target.
Generation VI
Thunder Wave now cannot affect Electric-type Pokémon, as they cannot be paralyzed.
In Inverse Battles, Thunder Wave can affect a Ground-type target.
Description
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Learnset
By leveling up
| # | Pokémon | Type | Level | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | |||||||||||
| 025 | 
|
Pikachu | Electric | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 13 18 | ||||||
| 026 | 
|
Raichu | Electric | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 081 | 
|
Magnemite | Electric | Steel | 35 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 13 | |||||
| 082 | 
|
Magneton | Electric | Steel | 38 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 13 | |||||
| 125 | 
|
Electabuzz | Electric | 19 | 19 | |||||||||||
| 135 | 
|
Jolteon | Electric | 40 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 57 | 57 | 33 | 33 | |||||
| 145 | 
|
Zapdos | Electric | Flying | 13 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |||||||
| 147 | 
|
Dratini | Dragon | 10 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |||||||
| 148 | 
|
Dragonair | Dragon | 1, 10 | 1, 8 | 1, 8 | 1, 5 | 1, 5 | 1, 5 | |||||||
| 149 | 
|
Dragonite | Dragon | Flying | 1, 10 | 1, 8 | 1, 8 | 1, 5 | 1, 5 | 1, 5 | ||||||
| 170 | 
|
Chinchou | Water | Electric | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||
| 171 | 
|
Lanturn | Water | Electric | 1 | 1 | 1, 6 | 1, 6 | 1, 6 | |||||||
| 172 | 
|
Pichu | Electric | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 13 18 | ||||||||
| 179 | 
|
Mareep | Electric | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 4 | |||||||
| 180 | 
|
Flaaffy | Electric | 18 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 1, 4 | 1, 4 | |||||||
| 181 | 
|
Ampharos | Electric | 1, 18 | 1, 18 | 1, 14 | 1, 14 | 1, 4 | 1, 4 | |||||||
| 239 | 
|
Elekid | Electric | 19 | 19 | |||||||||||
| 299 | 
|
Nosepass | Rock | 22 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 15 13 | ||||||||
| 309 | 
|
Electrike | Electric | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 1 | |||||||||
| 310 | 
|
Manectric | Electric | 1, 4 | 1 | 1 | 1, 4 1 | |||||||||
| 311 | 
|
Plusle | Electric | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 1 | |||||||||
| 312 | 
|
Minun | Electric | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 1 | |||||||||
| 417 | 
|
Pachirisu | Electric | 33 | 33 | |||||||||||
| 462 | 
|
Magnezone | Electric | Steel | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 13 | ||||||||
| 466 | 
|
Electivire | Electric | 19 | 19 | |||||||||||
| 476 | 
|
Probopass | Rock | Steel | 25 | 25 | 15 | 15 13 | ||||||||
| 479 | 
|
Rotom | Electric | Ghost | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| 522 | 
|
Blitzle | Electric | 15 | 15 | |||||||||||
| 523 | 
|
Zebstrika | Electric | 1, 15 | 1, 15 | |||||||||||
| 595 | 
|
Joltik | Bug | Electric | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||
| 596 | 
|
Galvantula | Bug | Electric | 1, 4 | 1, 4 | ||||||||||
| 602 | 
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Tynamo | Electric | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 603 | 
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Eelektrik | Electric | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 694 | 
|
Helioptile | Electric | Normal | 31 | |||||||||||
| 698 | 
|
Amaura | Rock | Ice | 5 | |||||||||||
| 699 | 
|
Aurorus | Rock | Ice | 5 | |||||||||||
| 702 | 
|
Dedenne | Electric | Fairy | 23 | |||||||||||
| Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation. | ||||||||||||||||
By breeding
| # | Pokémon | Type | Father | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| II | III | IV | V | VI | ||||||||||
| 223 | 
|
Remoraid | Water |
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| Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation. | ||||||||||||||
By TM
By Move Tutor
In other games
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U
Pikachu uses Thunder Wave as its custom neutral special 2, replacing Thunder Jolt. Thunder Wave does less damage than Thunder Jolt, but it leaves the opponent stunned for a short period of time.
Description
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In the anime
 Heliolisk  Magnemite  Plusle  Nosepass | |||
| The user releases a charge of electricity at the opponent which causes paralysis if it hits. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Used In | Notes | |
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Yellow or blue sparks surround Jolteon's body. | ||
| Ethan's Jolteon | Get Along, Little Pokémon | Debut | |
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Mareep releases thin streams of electricity from its body. | ||
| Dr. Anna's Mareep | Hassle in the Castle | None | |
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Chinchou releases a thin stream of electricity from its antennae orbs at the opponent, or Chinchou's antennae light up and its body becomes surrounded in yellow sparks. | ||
| Dayton's Bright | Takin' it on the Chinchou | None | |
| Multiple wild Chinchou | Takin' it on the Chinchou | None | |
|
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Magnemite releases light blue electricity from its body at the opponent, or Magnemite releases blue static electricity from the tips of its magnets at the opponent. The electricity can hold the opponent in the air. | ||
| Jasmine's Magnemite | Nerves of Steelix! | None | |
| Multiple wild Magnemite | All Torkoal, No Play | None | |
| A wild Magnemite | Pikachu's Summer Festival | None | |
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Dragonite releases a stream of blue electricity from the ends of its antennae at the opponent. | ||
| Lance's Dragonite | Rage of Innocence | None | |
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Dragonair releases a blue stream of electricity from its horn that wraps around the opponent like a rope. | ||
| Clair's Dragonair | Great Bowls of Fire! | None | |
| Magneton | Magneton releases blue bolts of electricity from the ends of the magnets on its body. The electricity curves around and ties around the opponent, preventing it from moving. | ||
| Jackson's Magneton | Tie One On! | None | |
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Nosepass's nose glows yellow and it fires a massive electrical blast from it at the opponent, or Nosepass's body becomes surrounded by blue electricity and it fires static shock waves at the opponent, paralyzing it. | ||
| Roxanne's Nosepass | Winner by a Nosepass | Referred as Hyper Beam in the Japanese version | |
| Hank's Nosepass | Aipom and Circumstance! | None | |
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Blue sparks surround Electrike's body, or Electrike releases multiple blue bolts of lightning at the opponent. | ||
| Wattson's Electrike | Watt's with Wattson? | None | |
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The top of Manectric's head sparks with blue electricity, then it releases multiple blue bolts of lightning at the opponent. When Manectric is charged up, yellow electricity rises from the yellow fur on its body and forms together in the air to form a blue ball of electricity that fires as a beam at the opponent. | ||
| Wattson's Manectric | Manectric Charge | None | |
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Aggron's claw becomes surrounded in sparks of yellow electricity. | ||
| A mirage Aggron | The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon | None | |
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Plusle releases bolts of yellow electricity from its body at the opponent. | ||
| Solana's Plusle | The Green Guardian | None | |
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Heliolisk releases rings of yellow electricity from its tail at the opponent, paralyzing it. | ||
| Clemont's Heliolisk | The Moment of Lumiose Truth! | None | |
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Meowstic releases rings of yellow electricity from its hands at the opponent, paralyzing it. | ||
| Olympia's Meowstic | All Eyes on the Future! | None | |
- In Watt's with Wattson?, Wattson mentioned that his Magnemite knows Thunder Wave. However, it has never been seen using the move.
In the manga
In the Phantom Thief Pokémon 7 manga
 Magnezone
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| The user paralyzes the opponent with electricity. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
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Magnezone shoots a small blast of electricity at the opponent, paralyzing them. | ||
| Team Galactic's Magnezone | Showdown With An Assasin | Debut | |
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
| A weak electric charge is launched at the foe. It causes paralysis if it hits. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
|
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Pikachu releases a stream of electricity at the opponent from the tip of its tail or its body, paralyzing it. | ||
| Red's Pika | ...But Fearow Itself! | Debut | |
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Voltorb fires a stream of electricity from its body at the opponent, paralyzing it. | ||
| Lt. Surge's Voltorb | Danger: High Voltorb | None | |
|
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Dragonite's antennae start to glow, and it fires a beam from the middle of its antennae at the opponent. | ||
| A wild Dragonite | What a Dragonite | None | |
|
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Dragonair fires a blast of electricity from its horn at the opponent. | ||
| Clair's Dragonair | The Last Battle II | None | |
|
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Manectric rises up on its hind legs and fires a powerful beam of electricity from its chest at the opponent. | ||
| Wattson's Manectric | The Beginning of the End with Kyogre & Groudon VI | None | |
In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga
 Minun
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| The user paralyzes the opponent with a weak shot of electricity. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
|
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Minun shoots out a weak electric shot with paralyzes the opponent. | ||
| Hareta's Minun | Hareta's Excellent New Partner...Minun?! | Debut | |
In the Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!! manga
 Rotom
| |||
| Unknown | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
|
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Rotom. | ||
| Yū Shirogane's Rotom | PBK8 | Debut | |
In the Set Out!! Pokémon Ranger manga
 Plusle | |||
| The user paralyzes the opponent with a weak shot of electricity. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
|
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Minun shoots out a weak electric shot with paralyzes the opponent. | ||
| Lunick's Minun | Set Out!! Pokémon Ranger | Debut | |
|
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Plusle shoots out a weak electric shot with paralyzes the opponent. | ||
| Solana's Plusle | Set Out!! Pokémon Ranger | None | |
In other generations
In other languages
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| Generation I TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 | |
| Generation I HMs | |
| 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 | |
| Generation IV TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 • 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 74 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 78 • 79 • 80 • 81 • 82 • 83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 | |
| Generation IV HMs | |
| 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 (DPPt • HGSS) • 06 • 07 • 08 | |
| Generation V TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 58 • 59 • 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 74 • 75 • 76 77 • 78 • 79 • 80 • 81 • 82 • 83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 93 • 94 • 95 | |
| Generation V HMs | |
| 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 | |
| Generation VI TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 • 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 74 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 78 79 • 80 • 81 • 82 • 83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 93 • 94 (XY • ORAS) • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 • 99 • 100 | |
| Generation VI HMs | |
| 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06ORAS • 07ORAS | |
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This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games. |