Electricity is the lifeblood of the world in real life, but in the Pokemon franchise, this power is harnessed through a variety of creatures. From electric sheep to legendary birds, Electric-type Pokemon can vary from being dangerously formidable foes to adorable little puppies with heart-shaped butts (looking at you, Yamper).
From the first games in the Pokemon franchise to its current generation, there are many Electric-type Pokemon to choose from – each with their own unique design based on various animals or mythological creatures. But there are only a handful that capture the true image of the power that electricity can produce in ways that players wouldn’t think were possible.
10 Zebstrika
It took a while before Game Freak finally graced players with a zebra Pokemon and did a fantastic job with Zebstrika. This equine's Electric-typing is pretty easy to spot, with its white stripes resembling lightning bolts. In addition, Zebstrika's jagged mane makes it look like it has bolt-shaped horns that flow down its mane to an explosive tail.
Zebstrika's thunderous speed matches its looks, as according to its Pokedex entry in Pokemon Black, "the sound of thunder reverberates" around this Pokemon once it's at full speed.
9 Zapdos
One of the three legendary birds of Kanto, Zapdos’ jagged yellow plumage makes it pretty obvious that it's an Electric-type. Evidently, the personification of lightning, “this legendary Pokemon is said to appear only when a thundercloud parts in two halves,” according to its Pokedex entry in Pokemon Silver.
Based on the Native American legend of the Thunderbird, Zapdos shares its traits by symbolizing “power and strength” while also conjuring the sound of thunder with the flap of its wings and the ability to shoot electricity from its body like lightning.
8 Mareep
An electric sheep like Mareep directly refers to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Philip K. Dick, the basis of the 1982 film Blade Runner. One player on Reddit noted a clever nod to the book in Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver, as the first trainer to have Mareep is called Philip, just like the author of the dystopian science fiction novel.
Mareep’s Electric-type makes sense outside this reference as wool can produce static electricity. The black and yellow stripes on its tail and ears look like a warning signal, accentuated by the orb that glows on its tail when the Pokemon’s electricity is fully charged.
7 Luxray
Known as the Gleam Eyes Pokemon, Luxray resembles a lion more than any other creature. However, due to the nature of its ability to see through objects, there’s a possibility the Pokemon may be linked to the lynx – a creature known to have “keen eyesight” and believed to be able to “see what others cannot see.”
While not obviously an electric Pokemon, the yellow and blue motif gives a sense of the power running through this Pokemon, in addition to the yellow-pointed star at the end of its tail like its pre-evolutions, Shinx and Luxio.
6 Yamper
One of the cutest designs in the Pokemon world, Yamper’s real-life counterpart is even more adorable. This puppy Pokemon is based on the Welsh Corgi, a breed of dog synonymous with British culture courtesy of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s fondness for them.
Yamper takes the delightful and loving presence of the Corgi to the next level, with a heart-shaped symbol at the base of its tail, which is a tiny lightning bolt. While Yamper’s coloration sticks with the Corgi’s typical cream and beige coat, it has additional accents of color related to electricity, being yellow and green.
5 Zeraora
The Thunderclap Pokemon Zerarora is a formidable legendary. Introduced in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon as an event Pokemon, Zeraora is known for its ferocious battle style thanks to the electricity coursing through its bright yellow fur.
Accentuated by the blue accents on its paw pads, lightning-shaped whiskers, and tufts of hair, Zeraora’s electric power enables it to tear its opponents apart, according to the creature’s Pokedex entry. This cat-like Pokemon shares a connection with Kane-Hekili, the Hawaiian god of thunder.
4 Miraidon
Following the release of Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet, it became pretty clear which box legendary was the fan favorite. There’s just something inherently cool about Miraidon – whether that’s down to its deep violet color or the influence of futuristic technology in its overall design – particularly the pixelated eyes.
Despite it being a Paradox Pokemon from the future, Moridion’s Electric-typing suggests that its design may partially be based on the Spanish legend of el Cuélebre, a “mythological serpent-shaped dragon from Asturian, Leonese, and Cantabrian mythologies,” according to @chibisake on Twitter.
3 Jolteon
Much like Zapdos and Zebstrika, Jolteon’s jagged fur displays its Electric-typing outright. And despite its relatively small stature, this Pokemon has the capability to “blast out 10000-volt lightning bolts” from the energy generated in its cells, according to Pokedex entries in Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue. On top of that, “by storing the electricity in its body, it can shoot its bristle-like fur like a barrage of missiles,” as explained in Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2.
Design-wise, Jolteon takes inspiration from the Raijū – a legendary creature in Japanese mythology that is said to be “the embodiment of lightning” in an animal form, which were thought to “look like wolves, dogs, tanuki, or even weasels and cats.”
2 Raikou
Raikou’s design is pretty convoluted at first glance, but players may not have noticed that the purple mane on its back represents a rain cloud, with a lightning strike as its tail. As highlighted in Pokemon Gold, “the rain clouds [Raikou] carries let it fire thunderbolts at will,” adding that the legendary dog is said to have descended from lightning.
Like Jolteon, Raikou’s design takes inspiration from Raijū, which is said to have lived in the sky and rode “bolts of lightning to earth when thunder claps,” creating “mayhem wherever they land.”
1 Toxtricity & Gigantamax Toxtricity
Toxtricity is the ultimate punk rocker Pokemon, taking its design cues from the British punk subculture and the instruments used in its genre. The organs protruding from the Amped and Low Key forms of Toxtricity represent the electric and bass guitar and are the Pokemon’s main source of its electric power when strummed. Toxtricity’s punk rock attitude is displayed via the spiked bracelets and belts on its bodies, in addition to its mohawk-like hairstyle and persona. Particularly the Low Key form, admired for keeping “its cool no matter what opponent it faces” in Pokemon Scarlet.
As for Toxtricity’s Gigantamax form, it takes the notion of punk rock and multiples it by ten. Both forms combine to produce a monstrosity of a creature that has the ability to vanquish its foes with electricity shaped like a guitar.