The Ball Pokemon. Voltorb disguises as items in Yellow's Power Plant. Fast and evolves into Electrode at level 30, though both are one-trick Electric types.
330HP40Attack30Defense50Speed100Sp.Def55Sp.Atk55
Voltorb
Electrode
Weak to
Special
Pivot
100Speed · Fast

Is Voltorb Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Found in the Power Plant. Voltorb is fast but that's about it. The damage output is low and the bulk is nonexistent. Exists to become Electrode.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTEETGTETGEGEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7VoltorbCatchableElectrodeEvolveGiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Voltorb's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Voltorb trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Even
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Voltorb trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's typing presses Voltorb's defenses.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Voltorb has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Tough

Sabrina's typing presses Voltorb's defenses.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Risky
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Voltorb trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Tough

Giovanni's team hits Electrode's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Risky
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Risky
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Avoid
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

Electrode has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

Easy KO
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Easy KO
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Easy KO
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Electrode trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Risky
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Risky
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Electrode has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Easy KO
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Electrode trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Electrode trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Risky
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Risky
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Risky
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
You Win
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 7
Type
Electric
Tier
F

Catch Voltorb in the Power Plant (walking, Lv 33-37, uncommon).

View Voltorb locations

Evolve Voltorb to Electrode

Level 30
Type
Electric
Tier
C

Voltorb evolves into Electrode at Level 30. Your Voltorb should hit Level 30 before you reach Giovanni, at typical leveling pace.

View Electrode locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Voltorb in Yellow

Voltorb sits at one uncommon spot in the 30s, easy to mistake for an item ball until it explodes. Nowhere else on the map turns one up.

1 location to catch Voltorb

Badge 7

Where To Catch Voltorb in Y

Voltorb is where the line starts, caught through fixed and walking encounters at Lv. 33-40. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

To plan your throws, open the Yellow catch rate calculator with Voltorb preloaded.

Voltorb Weakness

Voltorb is weak to Ground. 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.

Voltorb Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ground
0.5x (Resist)Electric, Flying
Gen I Type Chart
  • 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

What is Voltorb Weak Against

Avg
1Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Voltorb Strong Against

2Strong
3Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
2xStrong
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Voltorb

Sandslash
Sandslash
Ground
C
Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
S
Nidoking
Nidoking
PoisonGround
C
Nidoqueen
Nidoqueen
PoisonGround
C
Graveler
Graveler
RockGround
C

Voltorb Evolutions

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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Voltorb
Electric
Electrode
Electric
HP
40
60+20
ATK
30
50+20
DEF
50
70+20
SP.ATK
55
80+25
SP.DEF
55
80+25
SPE
100
150+50
BST
330F-Tier
490C-Tier+160
ROLE
Pivot
Pivot
TYPE
Special
Special
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Voltorb Best Moveset

100 Speed without the Special to back it up. MoveThunderbolt at 55 Special chips rather than threatens. MoveExplosion deals surprising physical damage from a Pokemon nobody expects to self-destruct. Goes first against most things, but the damage options are either weak or terminal.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Voltorb
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • ExplosionCoverage
  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • Thunder WaveSTAB
  • ThunderSTAB

Moves List

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

Lv 1
Screech
D—8540Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 17
Sonic Boom
——9020Normal
Lv 22
Self-Destruct
C2001005Normal
Lv 29
Light Screen
D——30Psychic
Lv 36
Swift
D60—20Normal
Lv 43
Explosion
S2501005Normal

TM Moves

All 17 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM47
ExplosionVictory Road 3Fnot until badge 8
S2501005Normal
HM05D—7020Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
A——10Psychic
TM36
Self-DestructSilph Co.badge 5
C2001005Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
A——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
A908520Normal
TM30
Teleport-6Route 9badge 2
———20Psychic
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
A1657010Electric
TM45
Thunder WaveRoute 24badge 1
B—10020Electric
TM24B14210015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Voltorb can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP40
D
Attack30
F
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk55
D
Sp. Def55
D
Speed100
B
Total330
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.5 m
Weight10.4 kg
Base XP66
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

It is said to camouflage itself as a POKé BALL. It will self-destruct with very little stimulus.

Pokemon Yellow

Voltorb Yellow Guide

  • Voltorb is a static encounter at Power Plant in Yellow. Voltorb appears at level 40. Prerequisite: Disguised as an item ball in the Power Plant. Save before the encounter. These one-shot Pokemon don't respawn if you knock them out or run out of Poke Balls.

  • For Yellow, you can run Voltorb through the first few routes without issues. 330 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Electrode as fast as you can.

  • Yes. Hisuian Voltorb is a regional variant with different typing and a reworked stat spread. Introduced in Gen 8. Plays completely differently from the original.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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