Voltorb sits at the start of its evolution line — not yet at full power, but that changes fast. Most trainers push through to Electrode as fast as possible. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets. An original Gen 1 pick.
Speed and Sp. Atk carry most of Voltorb's stat budget. Attack's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Usually found in power plants. Easily mistaken for a POKé BALL, they have zapped many people.
Voltorb Weakness
AvgVoltorb is weak to Ground-type moves. Few weaknesses and 2 resistances make the typing clean. At base 100 Speed, Voltorb outspeeds most threats and doesn't need to tank what it can outrun.
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
Voltorb evolves into Electrode, but can't breed. At 330 stats as a Electric type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 160 stat points total.
How to Evolve
Best Build
Gen 1 build content has limited support (no abilities, held items, or natures).
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
TMs carry this one. Voltorb learns Thunder and Thunderbolt naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and beyond give it real matchup play.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Voltorb is available from early-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 4 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Best Locations
4 walking encounters at Lv. 14-23 for Voltorb across Blue and Red. A few locations are version-exclusive, so your copy of the game affects what's available.
Voltorb is meant to evolve into Electrode. At 330 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Voltorb's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. Voltorb's base 100 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.
Voltorb can evolve into Electrode and Hisuian Electrode depending on the method. Voltorb is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.
Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Voltorb is a special attacker with base 55 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits. Best used as a pivot.
Voltorb appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Voltorb has appeared in 20 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Hisuian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A