Voltorb is a spherical Pokémon that resembles a buttonless Poké Ball with eyes. The top half is red, while the bottom half is white. Because of its resemblance to Poké Balls, it is thought that it was created when one was exposed to an energy pulse. This is supported by the fact that its components do not occur naturally.
Voltorb is generally found in power plants and other areas with electric fields where it feeds. It was first discovered in the plant where modern Poké Balls were invented. It has a volatile temperament and will explode if agitated or bumped by the slightest contact. Due to being constantly mistaken as a Poké Ball, Voltorb has reportedly zapped many humans as a result.
Hisuian Voltorb, like its modern counterpart, resemble the Apricorn-made Poké Balls of the time period — both appear to be made of a grainy, woodlike substance, with a glossy surface and a hole on top. On the inside, Hisuian Voltorb's body contains numerous seeds, but it has been impossible to examine its interior due to it being pitch-black.[1] Hisuian Voltorb has a distinctive red wooden unibrow. Despite its resemblance to a Poké Ball, it can be inferred that Hisuian Voltorb's existence predates the device's invention, as evidenced by the fact that the ancient hero of Hisui legend had an Electrode companion which would become the ancestor of the region's noble Electrode.
Hisuian Voltorb can store electric currents in its belly, which it discharges all at once from its hole. Unlike Kantonian Voltorb, Hisuian Voltorb have friendly and excitable temperaments, which leads them to cluster around people, causing them to be a nuisance when they discharge. It is known to let out a great, uproarious laugh whenever it discharges. There are stories of people temporarily plugging the holes of Hisuian Voltorb to prevent them from discharging before removing them from their settlements.[1]
In So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd, Keith used multiple Voltorb for a scheme. Team Rocket received them, thinking they were Poké Balls with rare Pokémon hidden inside them, as well as their Arbok, Lickitung, and Weezing. When Team Rocket found out they were not, the Voltorb started to explode in their balloon. They dumped most of the Voltorb on the thief, prompting Keith to quit his crime spree, but a single Voltorb sent them blasting off.
In Love, Pokémon Style, three Voltorb were rolling down a hill before they were caught by Ash's Kingler. However, they shocked and injured it in the process, leaving it too hurt to battle.
In the Hoopa's Surprise Ring Adventures short Ball Pickup, a Voltorb was thrown at Ash as part of a prank by Hoopa, but it then attacks the both of them, as well as Pikachu and Hawlucha, with Self-Destruct.
In the ending credits of Arceus and the Jewel of Life, a Voltorb disguised as a watermelon exploded when Jessie and James picked it up after falling for its disguise.
Voltorb. This mysterious Pokémon uses strong Electric attacks, and is often found near power plants. Use extreme caution; Voltorb may explode without warning.
In File 3: Giovanni, two Voltorb appeared, with one under the ownership of a Trainer being defeated by Red's Charmeleon in a battle, and a wild Voltorb at Silph Co., trapped with multiple other Pokémon that were later freed by Red.
Voltorb debuted in Danger: High Voltorb, where Red tried to touch one aboard the S.S. Anne, thinking that it was only a Poké Ball, but wound up being zapped by it.
Multiple Voltorb appeared in Go for the Golbat, under the ownership of Lt. Surge. They were used in conjunction with multiple Electrode to shock Red and as projectiles.
Pokémon Pinball: Three Voltorb appear on the Red Table and give the player points when hit. When Catch'em Mode is activated, they also reveal the silhouette of the Pokémon attempting to be captured upon being hit.
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump: A Voltorb may appear as part of the "Is It Treasure?" event, where it will explode (and thereby force the player's Magikarp to retire).
Voltorb was first sighted at a company that manufactures Poké Balls. The link between that sighting and the fact that this Pokémon looks very similar to a Poké Ball remains a mystery.
Voltorb is extremely sensitive - it explodes at the slightest of shocks. It is rumored that it was first created when a Poké Ball was exposed to a powerful pulse of energy.
It bears an uncanny and unexplained resemblance to a Poké Ball. Because it explodes at the slightest shock, even veteran trainers treat it with caution.
Voltorb was first sighted at a company that manufactures Poké Balls. The link between that sighting and the fact that this Pokémon looks very similar to a Poké Ball remains a mystery.
Voltorb is extremely sensitive - it explodes at the slightest of shocks. It is rumored that it was first created when a Poké Ball was exposed to a powerful pulse of energy.
An enigmatic Pokémon that happens to bear a resemblance to a Poké Ball. When excited, it discharges the electric current it has stored in its belly, then lets out a great, uproarious laugh.
Hisuian Voltorb has the same base stats as Kantonian Voltorb. Due to the different way stats are calculated in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, exact minimum and maximum stats are not shown in this table.
In the English and European versions of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, a game called Voltorb Flip is introduced in place of slot machines. The game is similar to Minesweeper and largely focuses on flipping over cards to multiply the coins currently earned. Some cards, however, have Voltorb on them which will cause the player to lose Coins when flipped.
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Voltorb will explode if the player walks too close to it and the Voltorb notices them.
The Shadow Voltorb in XD: Gale of Darkness is missable if players lose to Miror B in the first battle when he has the Voltorb in the Cave Poké Spot, as there is not a flag to make it respawn unlike other Shadow Pokémon. This will lock the player out of catching Voltorb, and as snagging Shadow Dragonite requires snagging every other Shadow Pokémon, the player will be locked out of Dragonite too.
Origin
Voltorb seems to be based upon the concept of a living Poké Ball, and is often mistaken for one. As such, its design is likely inspired by gashapon capsules, which often consists of a white half and a vibrant colored half. The idea of Voltorb and Electrode being mistaken for the standard Poké Balls that represent items is similar to a mimic, a monster archetype commonly found in RPGs. Its Shiny coloration is possibly based on a Great Ball.
Voltorb may also be based on a ball lightning, as hinted by its spherical shape, type, and explosive behavior. Given its tendency to explode and shape, it also shares similarities with common depictions of bombs. It may also be based on tsukumogami, where items acquire a spirit and come to life on their 100th birthday, which might be referenced by Voltorb's National Pokédex number, which is 100.
The expression on both Voltorb and Electrode may be a personification of the positive and negative charges associated with electric charge. For their Kantonian forms, Voltorb has a negative angry look, where Electrode has a positive happy look. The polarity of these expressions, or charges, are reversed for their Hisuian forms.
Hisuian Voltorb and its Grass typing may be based on the fact that Poké Balls were originally made from Apricorns, which may be based on Japanese chestnut or acorns. It may also be based on traditional Japanese fireworks: they are spherical in shape, with shells made of papier-mâché, charges inside that are often made with rice husks, and a hole where the fuse goes. The fact that it has numerous seeds inside its body may also be inspired by a seed ball (also known as a seed bomb), which are made by rolling various seeds with clay, forming a ball. The seed ball is then planted or thrown into the ground where vegetation is sparse, so that the seeds will germinate and grow. Hisuian Voltorb's Shiny coloration may be based on an Ultra Ball or a Heavy Ball.
Name origin
Voltorb may be a combination of volt and orb.
Biriridama may be a combination of ビリビリ biribiri (sound of electric shock) and 玉 tama (sphere).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Berry (100%)
Magnet (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Voltorb images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
