* No other Pokémon has the same [[type]] [[List of Pokémon with unique type combinations|combination]] as Rotom.
* No other Pokémon has the same [[type]] [[List of Pokémon with unique type combinations|combination]] as Rotom.
* Rotom is one of three Ghost-types whose [[List of Pokémon by color|color]] isn't in the black or purple category. The others are {{p|Shedinja}} (brown) and {{p|Froslass}} (white).
* Rotom is one of three Ghost-types whose [[List of Pokémon by color|color]] isn't in the black or purple category. The others are {{p|Shedinja}} (brown) and {{p|Froslass}} (white).
* With the exception of {{p|Unown}}, and {{p|Spinda}}, Rotom has the most forms of any non-legendary Pokémon, with six in total.
* With the exception of {{p|Unown}} and {{p|Spinda}}, Rotom has the most forms of any non-legendary Pokémon, with six in total.
* Rotom is one of only two Ghost-types that cannot learn {{m|Psychic}}, the other being Shedinja.
* Rotom is one of only two Ghost-types that cannot learn {{m|Psychic}}, the other being Shedinja.
* When Rotom transforms, it learns a new move in the same way that other Pokémon may learn new moves upon evolving. The move is replaced by another if Rotom possesses another object, and is deleted when Rotom transforms back to its normal form. If the only move that Rotom knows right before reverting to its original form is exclusive to its alternate form, then that move will be replaced with {{m|ThunderShock}}.
* When Rotom transforms, it learns a new move in the same way that other Pokémon may learn new moves upon evolving. The move is replaced by another if Rotom possesses another object, and is deleted when Rotom transforms back to its normal form. If the only move that Rotom knows right before reverting to its original form is exclusive to its alternate form, then that move will be replaced with {{m|ThunderShock}}.
Rotom's basic body looks similar to Castform, but Rotom has no real relation to any other species, since it doesn't have any evolutions or pre-evolutions. Rotom has a body of plasma. It also has teeth, which are often seen. Rotom also have unique eyes that have a dividing line across them. Even though Rotom is classified as being an Electric/Ghost type, it possesses traits that aren't usually normal for something that's supposed to be a spirit, such as the need to eat, being able to faint and somehow reproducing. Rotom themselves are shaped like lightning rods, while the blue aura of electricity around them takes the appearance of lightning.
Rotom and the appliances
In Pokémon Platinum, Rotom also has five extra forms (each based on a household appliance), which can be transformed between using an event-exclusive item called the Secret Key. They are based on a refrigerator (Frost Rotom), washing machine (Wash Rotom), fan (Fan Rotom), lawn mower (Mow Rotom), and a microwave oven (Heat Rotom). Despite having visual characteristics of other types (Ice, Water, Flying, Grass and Fire, respectively), they share the original Rotom's Electric and Ghost types. Rotom's eyes and aura of electricity will change colors when it changes form, but the aura remains the same color if it's Template:Shiny2. In contrast, their base stats are far higher than those of the original Rotom, to the point of being analogous to evolutions.
Gender differences
Rotom is a genderless species.
Special abilities
Rotom can creep into machines and appliances and infiltrate them. It may also possess and take the form of them if it wishes. However, only 5 alternate forms have been discovered so far.
Rotom are mischievous, apparently wreaking havoc on electrical appliances just for the fun of it. They like to pull pranks on others, or just shock them. When not possessing any object and when possessing a fan, it levitates when moving. On the other hand, when possessing a refrigerator or a microwave oven, it bounces.
Habitat
They usually live in electrical appliances, sometimes in those of abandoned places. In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, a Rotom resides inside a television, where the player is able to catch it after obtaining the National Pokédex in Diamond and Pearl (in Platinum, this is not required).
Rotom will not appear in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time until a rescue mission involving it has been completed. This task can be completed by using the following Wonder Mail code:
8HTR MY9+ K6+@
NT=M 9Q6R 38@5
Objective: Escort Rotom to floor 4 of Tiny Meadow.
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When Rotom is encountered, the music is the same as legendary encounters although it is not classified as one. Rotom is, to date, the only non-legendary Pokémon to do this. Cresselia and Shaymin do the opposite, being the only legendaries encountered in Generation IV for which the normal wild battle music plays.
It is the only Generation IV Pokémon not in the original Sinnoh Dex that is neither legendary nor an evolution of a Pokémon from previous generations.
Rotom is one of three Ghost-types whose color isn't in the black or purple category. The others are Shedinja (brown) and Froslass (white).
With the exception of Unown and Spinda, Rotom has the most forms of any non-legendary Pokémon, with six in total.
Rotom is one of only two Ghost-types that cannot learn Psychic, the other being Shedinja.
When Rotom transforms, it learns a new move in the same way that other Pokémon may learn new moves upon evolving. The move is replaced by another if Rotom possesses another object, and is deleted when Rotom transforms back to its normal form. If the only move that Rotom knows right before reverting to its original form is exclusive to its alternate form, then that move will be replaced with ThunderShock.
Rotom is the only Pokémon with the ability to change its form by will that must possess another object in order to do so. Castform, Deoxys, Giratina, and Shaymin actually transform their bodies. However, Burmy is similar to Rotom in that it merely changes its surrounding cover. Like Deoxys and Burmy, players can have the six forms at one time.
Rotom is the only Pokémon whose alternate forms have a different base stat total than that of the original form. Other Pokémon with alternate forms may have different distributions, however.
Fan Rotom is the only form with a special move whose base power isn't over 100. It's also the only one with more than 5 PP.
As of the official Japanese tournament held in 2008, all Rotom forms have been banned from official tournaments. This is due to the special status of the alternate forms as event-exclusive Pokémon.
Rotom is, so far, the only Pokémon considered to be non-legendary to receive these distinctions.
Rotom is notable for being the only Pokémon to learn certain moves (while in different forms):
As Heat Rotom, Rotom is the only Pokémon that can learn Overheat without breeding or via TM.
Rotom appears to be based on Pulseman, who was actually designed by Pokémon designer Ken Sugimori, although it may also be inspired by the unexplained phenomenon of ball lightning. Its Pokédex entry brings to mind gremlins. Its possession of other objects may be based on poltergeists.
Name origin
In Pokémon Platinum, it is revealed that Charon discovered and named the first known Rotom. It appeared out of his toy robot, and Charon named it Rotom due to its origin. Rotom is the word motor backwards; this may refer to the fact that motors make many appliances function, while Rotom makes them fail.
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.
