While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, Rotom has the ability to possess the motors of certain appliances and change forms. It also learns a new move depending on which appliance it possesses. Rotom's form can be changed by allowing it to possess the appliances in Rotom's Room or from the appliances ordered from the Rotom Catalog.
When it has not possessed any appliance or is possessing a light bulb, it is dual-type Electric/Ghost, and learns Thunder Shock if the move it had in its other forms is the only one it knows.
Rotom is a small, orange Pokémon that has a body made of plasma. It is mostly spherical, with a bulb below its body and a long pointed protrusion on top, making it shaped like a lightning rod. There is a whitish blue aura of electricity around it that forms lightning bolt-shaped appendages. When moving quickly, these appendages tend to disappear, in favor of a long similar-looking trail of blue electricity. It has teeth, and its unique, blue eyes have a dividing line across them. In its base form, Rotom cannot be touched by anyone without the latter being shocked in the process. According to the Rotom Catalog, Rotom's base form is actually inhabiting a light bulb.
Rotom has the ability to enter and control electronic appliances. It typically uses its abilities to cause mischief, often using the household items it possess to pull pranks on unsuspecting people, as seen in the Pokémon the Series episode Get Your Rotom Running!. Despite this, some Rotom have taken to inhabiting electronics with the intent of helping others. The Rotom Pokédex, Rotom Phone, Rotomi, and Drone Rotom are some examples. Additionally, in Galar, the Rotom Phone is used to power the Rotom Bike. A Rotom called Rotie was shown inhabiting a headset. In the Pokémon the Series episode The Dex Can't Help It!, Rotom was shown possessing a Pokémon Center building. Some of these forms allow Rotom to speak human languages, and demonstrate that Rotom is highly intelligent. It tends to reside in abandoned buildings. It lacks any sort of circulatory system or pulse.[1] Research continues on Rotom and its ability to power unique motors. In the Pokémon the Series episode Rotom's Wish!, a Rotom was shown to have the ability to send people through time by possessing an elevator.
Rotom has five alternate forms in the core series: Heat Rotom, Wash Rotom, Frost Rotom, Fan Rotom, and Mow Rotom; all introduced in Pokémon Platinum. A sixth form, Stereo Rotom, was introduced in Pokémon Pokopia.
Rotom transforming
Rotom's forms can be accessed by possessing specific household appliances with a special motor. When Rotom changes forms, its eyes and electric aura change colors, and its aura appendages take on different shapes. In modern Sinnoh, Rotom's forms were said to have been first discovered and documented by Charon. However, Rotom and its forms existed in Hisui hundreds of years ago, being documented in the Hisui Pokédex by Professor Laventon. This was apparently a result of appliances being sent to the past via space-time distortions.
Heat Rotom
Rotom transforms into Heat Rotom by possessing a convection microwave oven. Its appendages turn into oven mittens, and its eyes and aura become red. It has an aptitude for manipulating flames, which it uses for mischievous purposes, such as happily scorching the surrounding are or burning people's favorite outfits. Heat Rotom will become lethargic if the oven it possesses is malfunctioning.
Wash Rotom
Rotom transforms into Wash Rotom by inhabiting a washing machine. Its appendages turn into clothespins, and its eyes and aura become blue. The washing machine model it possess has been discontinued, leading people to sell them at high prices. It enjoys playing water-based pranks, such as spraying cold water everywhere or flooding people's rooms, and blasts enemies with water to intimidate them and incite them to retreat.
Frost Rotom
Rotom transforms into Frost Rotom by taking control of a refrigerator. Its appendages are shaped like lightning bolts, and its eyes and aura become purple. It fights by spewing cold air, which it gleefully uses for practical jokes like freezing people's baths or its surroundings. The special motor within the refrigerator is the key to Rotom's ability to change forms.
Fan Rotom
Rotom turns into Fan Rotom by taking over an electric fan. Its appendages turn into air curls, and its eyes and aura become yellow. It can stir up powerful gusts of wind to blow away opponents, which it applies to its love for pranks by blowing away everything around it, such as important documents it finds. The electric fan that Fan Rotom inhabits was invented by a boy, and was the first Rotom-related appliance to be developed, leading to the creation of many other appliances like it.
Mow Rotom
Rotom turns into Mow Rotom by possessing a lawn mower. Its appendages turn into a ripped strip, and its eyes and aura become green. focuses its antics on plants. As it mows down grass, it scatters the clippings everywhere and destroys flowers and trees. The lawn mower Mow Rotom possesses led to the development of the Rotom Pokédex.
Stereo Rotom
A particular Rotom, named DJ Rotom, has a unique spin-off form called Stereo Rotom. Rotom turns into Stereo Rotom by possessing a mini stereo system. Its appendages turn into a lightning bolt shape on top of its head, and its eyes and aura become pale green. It greatly enjoyed the synth-pop CD someone left inside the stereo, making it cheerful by nature. It can play the music CDs it swallows.
Multiple devices house a Rotom for functionality across multiple games:
Alola's own Pokédex, known as the Rotom Pokédex, contains a Rotom. The Rotom itself, who can speak, is a minor character who often provides information and advice to the player throughout the story of Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Rotom provides additional gameplay elements and buffs through the Rotom Powers.
The Rotom Phone appears in the Galar and Paldea-based games, as well as Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It serves a similar function to Rotom Pokédex, mainly through the Pokédex app, but is less present than its predecessor.
In addition to the Rotom Phone, Galar also has Rotomi and Rotom Drones as set pieces for the PC and Gym Stadiums. The Rotom Phone can be attatched to the Rotom Bike for travel purposes.
In the side series games
Rotie, a Rotom that lives inside a headset, accompanies the player and provides battle information in Pokémon Champions. Its advice is integrated into the battle UI.
A form in which Rotom lurks within a strange cauldron. The cauldron's origin is unknown. A bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble with the flames it spits.
A form in which Rotom lurks within an odd bureau. The bureau's purpose is unknown. A bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble by splashing cold water everywhere.
A form in which Rotom lurks within a bizarre cupboard. The cupboard's composition is unknown. A bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble by frosting everything over.
A form in which Rotom lurks within a mysterious contraption. The contraption's purpose is unknown. A bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble by stirring up powerful winds.
A form in which Rotom lurks within a misshapen wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow's mechanisms are bizarre. It's a bothersome Pokémon, causing trouble by mowing down grass and trees.
This Rotom entered a mini stereo system and was deeply moved by the synth-pop CD someone left inside. The experience gave this Pokémon an upbeat personality.
Complete a trade on the GTS for the 1st time (mobile)
Rotom will not appear in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time until a rescue mission involving it has been completed. This task can be completed by using the following Wonder Mail code:
8HTR MY9+ K6+@
NT=M 9Q6R 38@5
Objective: Escort Rotom to floor 4 of Tiny Meadow.
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Rotom
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Rotom
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Rotom
Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
Form change
When Rotom changes into an appliance form, it learns a new move in the same way that other Pokémon may learn new moves upon evolving; if Rotom would change from one appliance form to another and knows the special move of its current form, the old special move is automatically forgotten and Rotom learns the new one. If Rotom changes to its base form, it forgets the special move of the form it was in (if it still knows it); if the only move that Rotom knows right before reverting to its base form is the form's special move, then that move will be replaced with Thunder Shock. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, reverting to the base form will teach it Thunder Shock even if it knows another move. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the special moves appear through the move reminder following the form change. Heat, Wash, and Frost Rotom can also learn their respective special moves via TM.
Rotom has five alternate forms it can change between, in addition to its default form. To take on these alternate forms, Rotom possesses a different household appliance, and each has its own special move. These alternate forms were introduced in Pokémon Platinum.
In Generation IV, all forms of Rotom are Electric/Ghost-type; from Generation V onward, the appliance forms replace the Ghost type with the type of their associated move. All appliance forms have the same base stats, with a higher total than that of Rotom's default form; the only base stat of normal Rotom that is higher than its appliance forms is its Speed.
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Rotom Catalog appears as a Key Item that allows the player to change Rotom's form at will wherever they are. In Sword and Shield, it can be obtained in a house in Wyndon from a League Staff member after defeating him in battle. In Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the Rotom Catalog is automatically obtained after letting Rotom enter an appliance in Rotom's Room. Rotom must have been in a form at least once to unlock that form in the Rotom Catalog. In Scarlet and Violet, it can be purchased from an auction in the Porto Marinada Market if the player owns a Rotom.
Using these locations, Rotom can also return the appliance to change back to its default form. In Generation IV, Rotom changes back to its default form when taken into the Union Room or Wi-Fi Club, or when deposited in the Pokémon Day Care.
Hatched Rotom will always be in their standard form.
Upon changing into an appliance form, Rotom will learn the special move associated with the form, and upon changing from an appliance form, it will forget that special move. When changing forms, if Rotom knows four moves but not the special move of its previous form, the player will be prompted to replace a move with the new exclusive move (Rotom cannot change to an appliance form unless it does). If Rotom's only known move is its special move and it changes to its default form, then the Rotom will learn Thunder Shock. If Rotom forgets the move that is tied to its appliance form, it remains in its appliance form.
Rotom's appliance forms first appeared as silhouettes in August 2008, shortly before the Japanese release of Pokémon Platinum, with a statement that indicated that these Pokémon would be in the game. Days before the game's release, it was revealed that these Pokémon were the alternate forms of Rotom. These new forms made their debut in Pokémon Platinum, and have been included in every core series game since.
In Generation IV, there are five separate appliances and changing Rotom's form temporarily removes that appliance from the room, so the player can never have more than one of each form. From Generation V onward, this limitation is removed. In Hisui, five separate appliances are again depicted, but changing Rotom's form does not remove that appliance from the room.
A Rotom inhabiting Ash's AlolanPokédex debuted in Loading the Dex!. As a Pokédex, Rotom has access to data about many different Pokémon species, but it often hurts itself and others by trying to see a Pokémon do a certain action after reading its information. In Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!, it remained in Alola to work with the Aether Foundation while Ash returned home.
In The Dex Can't Help It!, a Wash Rotom was involved in an accident caused by Ash's Pikachu that ejected it from the washing machine and caused it to get swapped with the Rotom Pokédex. Eventually, the Rotom were swapped back to their original places.
A Mow Rotom appeared during a flashback in HZ123, under the ownership of Hamber. It reappeared in HZ130, when Hamber used it to battle Coral, Sidian, and Chalce, only to be defeated.
Rotom, the Plasma Pokémon. An Electric and Ghost type. Rotom play pranks by inhabiting electrical appliances. When one inhabits a washing machine, it's called Wash Rotom.
Wash Rotom, the Plasma Pokémon. An Electric and Water type. This Rotom has entered a washing machine. In this form, it enjoys coming up with water-based pranks.
Rotom first appeared in Robust Rotom, where it caused havoc for Diamond and Pearl at the Old Chateau until Diamond understood that it only wanted to return in its plasma television and led it there.
During the subsequent fight against Charon and Giratina, Rotom initially joined the battle transforming into its five forms, then left the fighting to the other legendary Pokémon only to strike at the very last, destroying Charon's device that allowed him to control every Pokémon and thus putting an end to his evil plans. After that, Rotom decided to stay with Diamond.
A Drone Rotom appeared in Rising!! Opal of Ballonlea, where it is called by Opal during her match against Henry, using it to announce her upcoming retirement.
A Rotom Phone belonging to Violet, named Old Roto, first appeared in Speeding! Paldea's Prince of Speed!!. This Rotom Phone uniquely houses an AI copy of Violet's deceased butler, possesses the ability to speak, and sports a bushy mustache similar to said butler's mustache.
Rotom's alternate forms, along with Arceus's forms, were the only alternative forms of a Pokémon not featured in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. However, despite being introduced a year before the game was released like Rotom, Shaymin and Giratina's alternate forms made an appearance in the game.
Rotom is the only Pokémon to have its type changed to a type that was not newly introduced.
No other Pokémon has the same typecombination as Rotom's base form or Heat Rotom, making Rotom the only Pokémon with more than one unique type combination.
Despite becoming part Flying type, Fan Rotom retains the AbilityLevitate, being the only Flying-type Pokémon with this Ability. As its Flying type already makes it immune to Ground-typemoves, its Ability is effectively useless under normal conditions.
In Inverse Battles, Fan Rotom is still protected from Ground-type moves due to Levitate, making it the only Flying-type Pokémon to not be affected by Ground-type moves in these battles by default.
All of Rotom's appliance forms (except Mow Rotom) are tied for or have the fewest weaknesses of all Pokémon of their secondary types.
All of Rotom's alternate forms (except Mow Rotom) are also the lightest Pokémon of their secondary typing.
one of the only Ice-type Pokémon, the others being Snom and Chien-Pao, who cannot learn Ice Beam.
Origin
Rotom appears to be based on poltergeists or tsukumogami, a type of ghost that possesses household items. Many of its Pokédex entries are reminiscent of gremlins. Its Pokédex entry from Pokémon Legends: Arceus specifically calls it a "will-o'-the-wisp powered by electricity"; will-o'-the-wisps are typically ghost-like lights that inhabit marshes. Usually will-o'-the-wisps appear as balls of fire, another form of plasma. Rotom may also be an embodiment of ball lightning or electronic "magic smoke".
Each of Rotom's forms appears as an electronic object with arms made out of electric sparks. Its regular and most common form seems to be based on a light bulb, as listed in the Rotom Catalog. The other forms directly possess a household object:
Heat Rotom possesses a microwave oven, with its arms also resembling the rounded hands of oven mitts, cooking wear to take out hot foods from an oven.
Wash Rotom possesses a washing machine, with its arms resembling a pair of clothespins, a type of peg used to hold up wet clothes to dry.
Frost Rotom possesses a refrigerator. Its lower drawer resembling a freezer. While its arms resemble that of lightning bolts, they could also be a depiction of fractured ice.
Fan Rotom possesses an electric fan, particularly a desk or table fan. Its arms resemble a cartoonish depiction on gusts of wind.
Mow Rotom possesses a lawn mower. Its rounded face and wheels makes the species resemble a reel mower with a bag used for storing grass attached to its back. Its teeth and arms become pointed, bringing to mind the saw or blade of a lawn mower.
Stereo Rotom possesses a home stereo system, or boombox, having two large speakers on its sides, with the main "head" showing an audio interface. The appendage above its horn resembles an eighth note. When expanded, this appendage resembles another volume interface. This appendage may also resemble the antennae of portable radios. DJ Rotom's own behavior and English localized name brings to mind the act of DJing, an artist who plays music for an audience using a DJ mixer.
Among its other forms, the Rotom Bike resembles an electric bicycle, a type of bike that use an electric motor. The Rotom Bike's Water Mode may be based on the concept of a paddle boat, sometimes called a water bike, that is used to traverse water by pedaling. The Rotom Dex, Rotom Phone and Rotomi may be based on virtual assistants or forms of artificial intelligence used to assist the usage of electric devices and software.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Rotom images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
Heat Rotom in Pokémon the Series: Black & White
Wash Rotom in Pokémon Horizons: The Series
Frost Rotom in Pokémon the Series: Black & White
Fan Rotom in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Mow Rotom in Pokémon Horizons: The Series
Rotom Pokédex in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Rotom Phone in Pokémon Horizons: The Series
Drone Rotom in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Rotomi in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Heat Rotom
Wash Rotom
Frost Rotom
Fan Rotom
Mow Rotom
Heat Rotom
Wash Rotom
Frost Rotom
Fan Rotom
Mow Rotom
Rotom Phone
Drone Rotom
