Electrode, The Ball Pokémon. It is known to drift on winds if it is bloated to bursting with stored electricity. It is dangerous. If it has too much electricity and has nothing to do, it amuses itself by exploding. It stores an overflowing amount of electric energy inside its body. Even a small shock makes it explode.

Overview

Say hello to one of the coolest but most limited electric type in the game. With a cheeky grin and a boring design, Electrode brings almost nothing to the competitive Pokémon world (although it was my main electric Pokémon on my old red game) except for blistering Speed and... yeah, that's about it. I dunno. I love Electrode, it is such a boss, but it really isn't too useful.

Ability

Soundproof: there's a few moves that Soundproof stops, but this is literally about... five moves. It is cool to stop Roar and stuff, but you might want to go for the alternate ability.
Static: can inflict paralysis when hit with a direct attack. It's cool, but the chance of Electrode surviving more than one hit is pretty slim.

Move Sets

Probably the only Electrode you will see

- Taunt
- Rain Dance
- Thunder
- Explosion
Item Attached: Focus Sash / Damp Rock
Ability: Soundproof / Static
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk / 48 SAtk / 208 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)

Electrode is actually pretty effective in this role. Taunt works amazingly with Electrode's ridiculous Speed, as there is little to nothing that outspeeds it in the lower tiers. Rain Dance provides the most offensively powerful weather support to your team, and also helps with Electrode's own Thunder, which is its best STAB move for this set. Explosion is how you finish after setting up, and it can deal a surprising amount of damage.
Focus Sash is cool if you don't think you can survive the turns needed to set up, but Damp Rock gives your set up a lot more impact as you can destroy stuff for an extra three turns.

Offensive ball

- Explosion
- Thunderbolt
- Taunt / Signal Beam
- Hidden Power [Grass] / Hidden Power [Ice]
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Soundproof / Static
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 48 Atk / 252 SAtk / 208 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)

Electrode can actually be pretty threatening... sort of. Explosion is the best way to go out and combined with Life Orb, the damage can be quite good. Thunderbolt is the best STAB move you have access to when rain isn't around. Taunt stops status and healing which is all good, but Signal Beam wrecks Grass types that would want to switch in. Hidden Power [Grass] ruins bulky waters and Hidden Power [Ice] is another way of beating Grass Pokémon, as well as a massively strong hit on Flying/Dragon Pokémon.

EVs and Nature:

Probably the only Electrode you will see
You can run max Speed, but there isn't anything worth outrunning that beats 404 Speed. You can throw more into Special Attack, but max Attack makes Explosion a lot stronger and you will be trying to explode. Offensive ball
You could run max Speed, but it is pretty pointless. Because this set is designed for sweeping, run max Special Attack and dump the rest in Attack.

Other Options

Charge Beam, Light Screen, Magic Coat, Magnet Rise
Charge Beam is an option on the sweeping set, but really isn't worth it as you won't be able to set up enough to make it usable.
Light Screen is... an option for team support. Not really too good on its own.
Magic Coat could be used on a lead set.
Magnet Rise leaves Electrode with no weaknesses, but its defences are so awful it is going to lose to everything anyway.

Countering Electrode

Electrode has awful defences and less than ideal offence. It won't be hitting hard and it won't be taking hits. However, as a lead, Electrode is awesome. Choice Scarf Pokémon can beat Electrode to the punch, which really messes it up. Priority also wrecks it, as Electrode's best feature is its smile! I mean... its Speed! Bulky Grounds take care of Electrode really well. Donphan, Quagsire, anything like that. Scarf Dugtrio is a great choice as it outspeeds, kills, and is immune to Thunder! Protect can mess Electrode's Explosion up, considering how predictable it is. Really, there isn't a need to go through all the Pokémon that can beat Electrode. The list is too big. Electrode makes a good lead for setting up Rain Dance, but that's it. Play properly when it hasn't exploded and you won't be at any risk. Ideally, stopping it from setting up at all would be ideal, but at base 140 Speed... yeah, good luck.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald New Mauville Colosseum/XD Evolve from Voltorb (XD) Trade from RSEFRLG (Col) Fire Red/Leaf Green Cerulean Cave Diamond/Pearl/Platinum Evolve from Voltorb HeartGold/SoulSilver Cerulean Cave / Mahogany Rocket Hideout

Animé Appearences

Electrode has had a few Animé Appearences. Most notably, it was used by Danny in the Navel Island Gym Challenge Episode 33: The Flame Pokémon-athon Episode 37: Ditto's Mysterious Mansion Episode 67: Showdown at the Poke Corral Episode 95: Navel Maneuvers Episode 116: The Underground Round Up Episode 124: Flower Power Episode 171: Beauty and the Breeder Episode 201: Current Events Episode 317: What You Seed Is What You Get! Episode 355: Pearls Are A Spoink's Best Friend !?! Episode 372: Training Wrecks Episode 399: Deceit And Assist! Episode 464: Pinch Healing! Episode 501: All Dressed Up With Somewhere To Go!