Rotom Best Moveset
Electric/Ghost at 95 Sp. Atk and 91 Speed with AbilityLevitate granting Ground immunity. The moveset runs fast special dual TermStab from a typing with three immunities (Normal, Fighting, Ground). 77/77 balanced defenses provide moderate bulk. Tera Electric or Tera Ghost amplifies the primary TermStab. Functional in lower tiers as a fast defensive pivot.
Ghost/Electric with Levitate in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). The base form before the appliance forms split. Scarf Trick crippled walls. A fast utility option.
Best Moves
Best Build
Rotom best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Will O Wisp
- Trick
Recommended Teammates
All the Rotom forms took the competitive slots in Gen V (Black & White). Base Rotom had no secondary STAB to differentiate. Dropped when its own forms outclassed it.
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Volt Switch
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- Thunderbolt
Recommended Teammates
Two gens of decline by Gen VI (X & Y). Ghost/Electric was decent typing, but Rotom-Wash and Rotom-Heat did the same job with better coverage.
Special Tank Moveset
- Volt Switch
- Shadow Ball
- Will O Wisp
- Pain Split
Recommended Teammates
Three gens below the starting level in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). The base form was the worst Rotom. Every appliance variant offered something Ghost/Electric couldn't.
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Four gens of decline in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Outclassed by its own alternate forms for four straight generations. The original overshadowed by the variants.
Screens Setter Moveset
- Thunder Wave
- Hex
- Reflect
- Trick
Recommended Teammates
Five gens of irrelevance in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Base Rotom existed as a footnote while Wash and Heat carried the Rotom name competitively.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Volt Switch
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Rotom Weakness
Rotom's Electric/Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Ground, Water, and Rock. Ground hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It resists 8 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Levitate grants an additional Ground immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. With 50 HP and balanced defenses, Rotom can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Ground |
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Electric, Grass, Ice, Flying, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Steel |
What is Rotom Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Rotom
Urshifu threatens a KO with Close Combat (115-136%). Terrakion's Earthquake also KOs at 171-201%.
 Landorus Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves View Landorus builds →
| ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rotom View Urshifu builds →Close Combat115-136%KO Close Combat115-136%KO | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rotom View Terrakion builds →Close Combat76-90% Stone Edge 2x128-151%KO Earthquake 4x171-201%KO | ||
Evolution
What you see is what you get. Rotom sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and no compatible partners from one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Rotom is genderless and can only breed with Ditto. Part of the Indeterminate egg group.
Ditto onlyRotom Locations
moderate rates across 12 locations for Rotom in mid-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Best Locations to Catch Rotom in Scarlet & Violet
6 walking spots from Lv. 20-80 for Rotom. Sorted by game progression with rates on each row, so you can compare without scrolling through everything.
Rotom can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Bring it over from Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, or Scarlet & Violet instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Rotom cannot be caught in the wild in Legends: Z-A, but you can still get it via these paths:
Catch in the wild and trade from these games:
Then trade to Legends: Z-A.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
decent spawn rates for Rotom across 2 locations in late-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations to Catch Rotom in Legends: Arceus
Rotom doesn't appear in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Transfer it from Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, or Scarlet & Violet to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Rotom cannot be caught in the wild in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, but you can still get it via these paths:
Catch in the wild and trade from these games:
Then trade to Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Base Stats
Nothing fancy in Rotom's spread. It leans special with Defense out front. And you'll get 2 Sp. Atk and Speed EVs per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
This Rotom has possessed a convection microwave oven. It will sear the surrounding area with its burning heat, then smile in delight.
Rotom Guide
Rotom looks average on paper at 520 BST. But Levitate is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier attacker on our tier list.
Rotom gets Levitate. But Levitate is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Rotom is a special attacker with base 105 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 86 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the attacker role.
Run Volt Switch, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, and Will O Wisp on Rotom. Volt Switch is the most common pick at 0% usage. Thunderbolt provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Rotom appears in 14 games across 7 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through wild encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves