Is Rotom a Legendary Pokémon? Let’s Clear Up the Confusion (and Maybe Your Appliances)
Are you wondering if Rotom, that little Pokémon that likes appliances, is a Legendary? Let’s be clear: Rotom is not a Legendary Pokémon. It is officially a regular Pokémon. It is special, but not Legendary.
Why the confusion? Rotom has mystery. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, you encounter one Rotom per game. This leads some players to think Rotom is extraordinary. Its battle music is the same as Legendary battles. Even the Diamond and Pearl Pokédex called it Legendary. However, many other errors exist in that book, so we can forgive this one.
Although not Legendary, Rotom is unique. It loves to inhabit household appliances. This is more than just a hobby; it’s its main trait. By possessing appliances, Rotom changes forms, alters its type, and gains new moves. This makes it versatile in battles. A fridge turning into an Electric/Water type powerhouse is just one example.
Each Rotom form is unique. There’s standard Rotom (Electric/Ghost), Wash Rotom (Electric/Water), Heat Rotom (Electric/Fire), Frost Rotom (Electric/Ice), and Fan Rotom (Electric/Flying). Each form learns a signature move. For example, Heat Rotom has Overheat, while Wash Rotom has Hydro Pump. The form-changing capability offers diverse strategies. Trainers favor Rotom-W for its typing and varied moves. Its ability, Levitate, grants immunity to Ground-type attacks, making it a strong choice in battle.
Want to catch Rotom? In Pokémon Sword and Shield, find it in the Lake of Outrage during thunderstorms. Its spawn rate is low, about 2%. After catching Rotom, you can change its forms in the Rotom Room. You can use the Rotom Catalog to switch forms anytime. For a guide on finding Rotom in Sword and Shield, Polygon has helpful information.
How about Pokémon GO? Trainers ask if they can get Rotom. Yes, you can! To get Rotom in Pokémon GO, complete a Special Research task called “Ghost in the Machine.” This research was time-limited and required a specific code. Shiny Rotom also appears for shiny hunters. However, Rotom isn’t a strong battler in Pokémon GO. Its defensive typing is decent, but its stats do not fit the Player vs Environment meta. It’s more of a collector’s gem than a battler.
Rotom has rarity in some games, but it can breed too. In main series games, it belongs to the Amorphous Egg Group and can breed with Ditto to create Rotom Eggs. Finding one might feel rare, but you could create many more Rotoms.
Let’s discuss Rotom’s strengths. Trainers like its unique typing and ability combinations. Heat Rotom, an Electric/Fire type, has the most resistances of all Rotom forms. This makes it sturdy despite weaknesses to Water and Rock types. Remember, Rotom has strong moves in its forms, but none can learn “Fly,” even Fan Rotom.
For more details about Rotom in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, IGN’s guide is ideal. Curious about the best Rotom forms? TheGamer ranked all Rotom Appliance Forms in Pokémon Sword & Shield.
Speaking of rarity, in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), a Wash Rotom card from Space-Time Smackdown is common. This shows Rotom’s non-legendary status despite its quirks.
Legendary vs. mythical Pokémon can confuse players. For example, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf from the Sinnoh region *are* Legendary Pokémon. In contrast, Pokémon like Genesect and Arceus are Mythical. Arceus is known as the “creator of the Pokémon world” and is powerful, yet it’s still Mythical. Keldeo is another Mythical Pokémon, rare in Pokémon GO. What of other popular Pokémon like Absol and Zoroark? They are not Legendary either. Absol is a strong Dark-type, while Zorua and Zoroark are excellent non-legendary Pokémon. Distinguishing between Legendary, Mythical, and regular rare Pokémon can be tough, but Rotom sits firmly in the “uniquely special but not Legendary” box.
In Pokémon GO, rarity gains levels with categories like Shiny Legendary Special Background Pokémon and Shiny Costume Special Background Pokémon. Then there are Shiny Shadow Pokémon and ultra-rare accidental Shiny Shadows. You have Shiny Glaring Birds from Daily Incense and Clone Pokémon as well as Shiny Detective Pikachu – the list endless! Through this tier of rarities, Rotom remains in its niche as an appliance-loving Pokémon. It is memorable and versatile, just not a Legendary one.
