Electric types have had their time in the sun thanks to the popularity of a certain yellow mouse. They’ve ended up being the face of the entire franchise; when most people think Pokemon, they think of an Electric-type first. But there are a lot of other strong Electric-types out there.
So, listen, Pikachu isn’t going to be on this list. We all love him, he’s adorable. But Ash’s Pikachu is an outlier, especially considering it often has the ability to outright ignore the rules of the games. We’re looking at the strongest Electric Pokemon in the series, primarily ones that aren’t legendary.
Updated December 23rd, 2020 by Tanner Kinney: Electric-type Pokemon aren’t really the most common at the highest levels of play. Electric is a solid defensive typing, but the offensive presence is lacking as a result. The problem here is that there aren’t very many bulky Electric-types, and those that do are mediocre at it. However, when you expand your horizons to include legendary and Mythical Pokemon, there’s a lot of variety of truly great electric-type Pokemon.
23 Xurkitree
The Ultra Beasts are certainly an interesting collection of Pokemon. Unlike other legendaries, which tend to have high, but balanced base stat totals, the Ultra Beasts focus more on extremely niche stats and movesets. This makes them more balanced than the average legendary, but still powerful with the right setup.
Xurkitree is one of those edge-cases. With an incredible 173 base special attack, it has the ability to become a terrifying wallbreaker, especially with Tail Glow. It can even break down some of the premiere walls of the highest tiers. However, it has an underwhelming speed stat combined with even more underwhelming defensive stats. Most teams can easily adapt around fighting Xurkitree. Still, it boasts incredibly powerful attacks and should be taken seriously.
22 Raikou
Arguably the least recognized of the Legendary Beasts of Johto, Raikou is at least not the worst of the three in battles. With high speed, special attack, and special defense, Raikou is able to make the most of either Calm Mind boosts or an Assault Vest to deal some serious damage.
Another thing Raikou has over other electric-types is an incredible movepool. It often has too many options to really do everything it wants to do, especially in sets that rely on Calm Mind. It’s a night-and-day difference between Raikou’s moveset and Pokemon like Raichu, as an example. There are tons of options for Raikou, and that unpredictability is power.
21 Zeraora
Zeraora is a mighty mythical Pokemon, boasting incredible speed and a powerful signature move. Its ability is great as well, even though Volt Absorb is still situationally useful. It lacks serious bulk, and its offense is worse than others like it, but it can still tear opponents apart in lower tiers of play.
Zeraora is designed to go all-out from the word go, not bothering with setting up for success. It has a wide pool of moves to choose from, but that means it becomes tied to its need to have these coverage moves. It especially is well equipped to handle Pokemon that would typically wall out other electric-types. For those who got the free Zeraora earlier in 2020, it’s worth trying it out.
20 Thundurus
Thundurus, like the other members of Pokemon Black and White’s Forces of Nature, is an incredibly powerful Pokemon. Both of its forms boast powerful special attack and great speed, with its Therian form trading some of its stats for raw power. It may not be as iconic to the OU metagame as Lando-T, but it’s still very effective.
Thundurus’s two forms function with the same skillset, but in a different way. In its normal form, it has access to the Prankster ability, allowing it to easily and quickly set up buffs to go for a sweep. Its Therian form has Volt Absorb, allowing it to safely switch into electric attacks, even if it isn’t as quick to get going.
19 Tapu Koko
All of the Tapus have their value in different team compositions, but one of the best is Tapu Koko. It’s fast as lightning, and Electric Terrain boosts its somewhat underwhelming Special Attack into seriously dangerous power. However, it trades this speed and power for mediocre bulk, making it certainly a specialist in destruction.
The weird part about Tapu Koko is that its attack is actually better than its special attack. However, there aren’t very many physical-based electric moves to make use of this strength. Even within its own movepool, it has much better special based options. Fortunately, its speed and ability to set free terrain make it incredibly strong.
18 Kantonian Zapdos
Unlike the other legendary birds, both of which are quickly torn apart by Stealth Rocks, Zapdos has been a useful selection for high levels of play since the very first game. It can be built both offensively and defensively, although its strong defensive typing makes it an easy selection for that role with Pressure and Static.
With it being added back in Sword and Shield, it gets access to the Heavy-Duty Boots, allowing it to serve a more offensive role that makes use of its great speed and special attack. Static, especially, is a great ability to have since it can get free paralysis onto physical attackers given enough luck. If RNG is in your favor, Zapdos is the right bird for the job.
17 Regieleki
A new legendary added in Sword and Shield’s new DLC, The Crown Tundra, Regieleki is clearly a powerful Pokemon. Speed is a vitally important stat for a Pokemon’s success, and Regieleki having a base 200 speed and an incredible offensive ability makes it an easy fit for a Choice Specs user.
Interestingly, as data is getting gathered, another set uses this incredible speed to set up walls and then blow itself up, which is kind of hilarious. Regardless, Regieleki has the tools to be an incredibly powerful Pokemon in the current metagame, but its usefulness will have to get tested over time. Maybe, finally, one of the Regis can be viable for competitive play.
16 Rotom-Mow
Not all Rotom are created equal. Rotom-Fan, for example, is a flying-type that has Levitate for reasons unknown to human understanding. Sending out a floating fridge is funny, but unfortunately just ruins the solid defensive typing with ice’s many weaknesses. Rotom-Mow, on the other hand, is just good enough to still be considered a strong electric-type.
Aside from being one of the goofier looking Rotom models, Rotom-Mow has serious power. Rotom-Mow has the specialty attack of Leaf Storm, which is an incredibly powerful move despite its drawbacks. It also gets solid type-coverage with the grass-type attack, giving it an edge on other Rotom. It doesn’t quite cut it compared to Rotom-Heat and especially Rotom-W, but as an alternative option it’s worth to give it a shot.
15 Luxray
Unlike most Electric-type Pokemon, Luxray is more of a physical attacker than a special one. Its Attack stat sits at 120, but also has a respectable 95 Sp. Atk. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have very good Speed or Defense, and doesn’t see a lot of use in competitive battling.
However, Luxray can be a useful member of a team while playing through the games. Players usually encounter its pre-evolution, Shinx, very early on and then have access to a heavy-hitting Electric Pokemon that boasts strong dark-type moves on their journey to take down the gym leaders.
14 Vikavolt
Vikavolt is a bug/electric-type Pokemon hailing from the Alola Region. It has quite a few resistances to threats, has a useful ability in levitate, and can use moves like Roost in order to stay healthy throughout any match. Unfortunately, its a pretty mediocre Pokemon stat-wise. It’s slow and frail.
However, with a monstrous base 145 special attack stat, it can deal some hefty damage. Vikavolt is pretty situational, sure, but it has a lot of advantages that can be used to take down opponents. It’s up to the trainer to decide if they want to stick with Vikavolt.
13 Galvantula
Galvantula is a speedy bugger. It’s a good addition to a team when the opposing player might plan on using Grass-type Pokemon to endure Electric-type moves. Galvantula’s Bug-type gives it STAB (SameType Attack Bonus) to the move Bug Buzz, which is not only super-effective against Grass, but also has a chance to lower the target’s Special Defense.
Still, it isn’t the beefiest Pokemon out there. Its real utility is the move Sticky Web. This slows down opposing Pokemon as long as they’re not Flying-type. That makes Galvantula a great partner for for a slower heavy hitter, since Sticky Web would give it a chance to strike first.
12 Lanturn
This little anglerfish is a useful team member primarily due to its versatility. It can fill a few different niches in varied team compositions. Its greatest advantage is its high base HP of 125. Combined with the ability Volt Absorb, which makes Lanturn regain 1/4 of its health when hit by an Electric-type attack, this fish is a pretty sturdy customer. Plus it only has two weaknesses, Grass and Ground.
Lanturn also has a respectable move pool. It can be used as a support member because of its access to moves like Heal Bell. It can also deal some damage; it has a pretty good Special Attack stat and can use moves like Scald and Volt Switch to control the flow of battle.
11 Electivire
Electivire has a very specific niche that make it extremely useful in certain situations. While it tends to be outclassed by other high-Attack Electric-types, it has a lot of moves at its disposal.
It can pick up good coverage attacks like Earthquake and Flamethrower to break down enemies that might otherwise resist its attacks. It also has decent Speed, which gives it an edge over slower tanks. There are some better options, but there’s no denying Electivire’s a powerful ally.
10 Manectric
The first Pokemon on the list with a mega-evolution, Manectric has incredible Speed and Special Attack. Mega Manectric takes what was already good about Manectric and makes it even better. It’s one of the fastest Pokemon in the entire game. It also has the ability Intimidate, which lowers the opposing Pokemon’s Attack, allowing it to survive the few attacks that can out-speed it.
Manectric isn’t very bulky and can be easily taken out by certain teams, but it makes up for that with its offensive capabilities. Not only can it use its own Electric-type moves, but it also has access to some good Fire- and Ice-type coverage that can help it pick up the slack for Pokemon that resist Electric. It’s unfortunate that without Mega Evolution, Manetric just gets outclassed by other, better Pokemon.
9 Rotom-H
While not as powerful as its wash counterpart, Mr. Rotom But Make It Oven is a useful Pokemon, holding down the fort in UU. Rotom-H has a fire/electric typing that allows it many resistances. Rotom can usually slot into a support role that sees is spreading Toxic and removing hazards.
Along with that, it can Volt Switch in and out. There are quite a few other strategies that can be used as well. While its mediocre speed isn’t particularly great to see, its a useful Pokemon overall that can employ a variety of different strategies.
8 Ampharos
Poor Ampharos is a very slow Pokemon, and that means it tends not to get a lot of attention competitively, where getting a hit off first can mean everything. Most will also want to mega-evolve it before doing anything else, to take advantage of its insane 165 Sp. Atk. However, if you’re willing to sacrifice a turn to get Mega Ampharos on your side, you’re going to end up with a beast.
Like we said, it’s Sp. Atk. stat is incredible, and it also has great Def. and Sp. Def. as well as good HP. This is a Pokemon than can take it and dish it out. Its Mega also has the unique advantage of gaining the Dragon type and the ability Mold Breaker (which nullifies opposing Pokemon’s abilities), meaning it can cover an even wider number of foes than without. However, like Manetric, Ampharos has lost its Mega Evolution and any semblance of viability as a result.
7 Toxtricity
Toxtricity is one of the new Sword and Shield Pokemon that has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. Depending on its nature, the pathetically weak Toxel can evolve into one of two different types of Toxtricity, Low Key and Amped. These two forms mainly differ with their movesets.
Either way, Toxtricity’s poison typing gives it immunity to being poisoned, and its wide moveset allows it to work as a nice special attacker. Its meta-position will be determined, but for now, it’s a good member to have on the team.
6 Eelektross
What really sets Eelektross apart from its competition is the combination of its type (pure Electric) and its ability (Levitate). These two together mean that Eelektross has essentially no type weaknesses. Levitate makes it entirely immune to Ground-type attacks.
Not to mention it’s a good offensive pick as well, with a wide movepool that gives it access to moves like Giga Drain and Flamethrower. It competes directly with Lanturn, which has more versatility, but Eelektross’ resistances and offensive capabilities give it a step up.
5 Arctozolt
Another new addition to the Galar Region, Arctozolt is a strange Pokemon that has a lot of potential, but just as many drawbacks. It has a new move called Bolt Beak, which has 85 base power, but can deal double the damage if the move is used before the target moves. Arctozolt is pretty slow, so setting up a Trick Room might help make Arctozolt a fantastic Pokemon to put on the team.
Overall, its stats are pretty mediocre. It’s also got the hidden ability Slush Rush, which could double this dual ice-type’s speed in a hailstorm upon release. There’s certainly some potential for Arctozolt to make a splash in the competitive scene.
4 Rotom-W
Rotom-W is the form Rotom takes when possessing a washing machine. This gives it the excellent Electric/Water typing which is further improved by it’s ability Levitate. The only weakness it has in this form is Grass-type moves.
It doesn’t have a lot of HP and very few ways to recover any hit points, but it does compensate somewhat with its high Def. and Sp. Def. It’s able to go up against powerful Ground-type Pokemon with its STAB Hydro Pump and its Electric-typing make it a dangerous enemy for hard-hitting Flying types as well.
