(コイル '''Coil''' in
Japanese , '''Magneti''' in
French , '''Magnetilo''' in
German , and '''Koil''' in
Korean ) is a fictional species of
Pokémon , originally introduced in
''Pokémon Red'' And ''Blue'' . Magnemite is notable as one of the only two Pokémon to change types between
''Pokémon Red'' And ''Blue'' and
''Pokémon Gold'' And ''Silver'' , and as one of the first
Steel-type Pokémon .
Its name probably originated from
Magnet and
Mite , meaning small. Alternatively, it could be a play on ''
Magnetite ''. In the Japanese version of Pokémon and beta English-language version of
''Pokémon Red'' And ''Blue'' , it is named Coil, after the coil of wire in an
Electromagnet .
Magnemite is almost more of a machine than a creature, as it's a solid ball of metal with a pair of horseshoe magnets on either side, as well as a single, lidless eye. It has a pair of screws protruding from below the eye, and a large screw forming a sort of "cap" on top of its head.
It floats through the air, through a sort of electromagnetic
Antigravity field generated by the two magnets on either side of its body. When defending itself in the wild or fighting in a Pokémon battle at the orders of a
Pokémon Trainer , it can also generate powerful electric shocks.
Magnemites eat electricity, so they're attracted to power lines and electronic gadgets. Magnemites tend to crowd around generators and power plants, and an individual Magnemite might be attracted to someone with a pocket radio or a
Pokégear .
Despite their mechanical appearance, lack of gender, and alien tendencies, Magnemites are living things; they aren't built, they feel the need to eat, and they have something similar to a mating urge. A trio of Magnemites may come together to form their evolved form, , and two
Metang come together to evolve into
Metagross .)
In the
Pokémon Video Games , Magnemite doesn't see very much use, as a non-evolved Pokémon. But if it has the metal coat item, then the player can give it to an
Onix .If an Onix is traded while holding a metal coat, it will evolve into a
Steelix . Its evolution,
Magneton , is fairly popular as a counter to the very common
Skarmory , as a Magneton can "lock" a Skarmory into the battle with its Magnet Pull ability, then knock out the Skarmory (which is very weak against electric attacks) with electric attacks.
That's about all it is used for. Its stats before evolution aren't very high at all, and they don't learn many useful attacks or other moves, so few players use them.
As with
Beldum and its evolutions, in the games, Magnemites evolve normally. There's no need to catch three Magnemites to evolve a Magneton.
In the
Anime episode 30,
Sparks Fly For Magnemite, a Magnemite is attracted to Ash's
Pikachu after Pikachu comes down with a magnetic cold-like sickness, causing Pikachu to occasionally discharge electricity. The Magnemite helps Ash defeat and capture a
Muk which, with the help of a swarm of
Grimer s, had shut down the local power plant.
In episode 103, ''Get Along, Little Pokémon'', a rancher herds a pack of Magnemites in a desolate waste, herding them with a
Jolteon and feeding them on the electricity from passing storms.
In episode 228, ''Nerves of Steelix'',
Jasmine uses a Magnemite to tire out Ash's Pikachu, before sending out her
Steelix . Likewise, in ''Watt's With Wattson?'', episode 216,
Wattson has a Magnemite, as well as a
Magneton .
Ash rescues his
Torkoal from a
Skarmory and a pack of attacking Magnemites (as well as a
Magneton , later) in episode 334, titled ''All Torkoal, No Play''.
In ''
Pokémon Adventures '',
Lt. Surge and
Wattson both have multiple Magnemites.
As one of the original 151 Pokémon, Magnemite has made quite a few appearances in the
Pokémon Trading Card Game , both as an electric- and as a steel-type. Few of them have seen significant tournament play, and none of them have been part of any notable strategies or decks.
