Robots are a hard sell in a game about living creatures, so every machine in the Pokedex comes with an excuse. One was molded from clay and still follows orders from its maker. Another is a prehistoric insect that a villain team rebuilt with a cannon.
Beldum, the Iron Ball Pokemon, is a magnetic robot based on a dumbbell. It also resembles a limb of a Metang or Metagross, a reference to how it evolves. The cells in its body are made of magnetic material, and magnetic forces flow through it instead of blood. A dumbbell with a bloodstream of magnets is already a better workout partner than most of us have found. It stands 0.6 m tall and weighs 95.2 kg.
#376
Metagross
#376
Type
SteelPsychic
Category
Iron Leg Pokémon
National Dex
#0376
Debut
Gen III
Base stat total
600
Metagross, the Iron Leg Pokemon, is based on a robot, and also on a supercomputer, given its mechanical structure and sheer intelligence, and on a spider. It is reminiscent of a UFO and a lander too. Its face may draw inspiration from the largest gear of the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient analog computer.
It is the result of the fusion of two Metang, and it defeats opponents with its supercomputer-level brain. It stands 1.6 m tall and weighs 550 kg.
#379
Registeel
#379
Type
Steel
Category
Iron Pokémon
National Dex
#0379
Debut
Gen III
Base stat total
580
Registeel, the Iron Pokemon, may be based on the golems of Hebrew legend, servants of higher powers that are said to have writing on their heads. When the writing is removed, the creature is weakened or even killed in some versions of the story. Given its metallic construction, it may also be based on a humanoid robot. The five legendary giants it belongs to may be themed after historical epochs, with Registeel standing for the Iron Age.
It is rumored to have been born deep underground in the planet's mantle and to have emerged onto the surface 10,000 years ago. It stands 1.9 m tall and weighs 205 kg.
#486
Regigigas
#486
Type
Normal
Category
Colossal Pokémon
National Dex
#0486
Debut
Gen IV
Base stat total
670
Regigigas, the Colossal Pokemon, is based on the golems of Hebrew legend, and it has parallels to the Golem of Prague, whose immense power intimidated people until it was subdued and sealed away. The seven eyes on its face may be based on the Braille alphabet, possibly alluding to the writing placed on the forehead of Hebrew golems.
According to legend, it pulled landmasses together and bound them with rope to create the continent of Hisui. It stands 3.7 m tall and weighs 420 kg.
#622
Golett
#622
Type
GroundGhost
Category
Automaton Pokémon
National Dex
#0622
Debut
Gen V
Base stat total
303
Golett, the Automaton Pokemon, draws inspiration from golems, and perhaps also from the Haniwa, terracotta funeral objects found in Japan. It may also be based on a cannonball, since it can tuck its limbs into its round body and its evolved form transforms into a cannon.
It was created from clay, and it received orders from its master many thousands of years ago and still follows them today. It stands 1 m tall and weighs 92 kg.
#623
Golurk
#623
Type
GroundGhost
Category
Automaton Pokémon
National Dex
#0623
Debut
Gen V
Base stat total
483
Golurk, another Automaton Pokemon, is based on golems. The crack and strap on its chest may refer to the golem in the Jewish story The Golem of Prague, which was controlled by a shem, a religious parchment, and went berserk when the shem was removed. That Golem could summon the spirits of the dead, which may be the reason for Golurk's Ghost type.
A theory holds that a perpetual motion machine inside it produces limitless energy, though the belief has not been proven. Golett and Golurk live in Unova, which is based on New York City. New York City has the highest Jewish population of any city in the world. It stands 2.8 m tall and weighs 330 kg.
#649
Genesect
#649
Type
BugSteel
Category
Paleozoic Pokémon
National Dex
#0649
Debut
Gen V
Base stat total
600
Genesect, the Paleozoic Pokemon, may be based on the giant insects of the Paleozoic era, and it lived 300 million years ago, making it as old as the cockroach. Its Steel-type features and robotic appearance come from modifications by Team Plasma, the villain group that attached a cannon to its back. These traits may also draw from cyborgs, alien robots or artillery-based mecha in science fiction. It stands 1.5 m tall and weighs 82.5 kg.
#990
Iron Treads
#990
Type
GroundSteel
Category
Paradox Pokémon
National Dex
#0990
Debut
Gen IX
Base stat total
570
Iron Treads, a Paradox Pokemon, is based on Donphan, and by extension possibly an elephant, as well as spherical robots and tire treads. The panels on its body resemble LED displays, and the way it curls its tread into a ring may reference monowheels, vehicles with one large wheel and a rider in the center.
Sightings have occurred in recent years, and it resembles a mysterious object described in an old expedition journal. It stands 0.9 m tall and weighs 240 kg.
#995
Iron Thorns
#995
Type
RockElectric
Category
Paradox Pokémon
National Dex
#0995
Debut
Gen IX
Base stat total
570
Iron Thorns is based on Tyranitar, and by extension on the idea of kaiju, specifically mecha kaiju. It may also refer to the Big Monster Series of movies from the Pokestar Studios in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, which feature mechanical versions of Tyranitar.
Some of its notable features match those of an object named Iron Thorns in an expedition journal. It stands 1.6 m tall and weighs 303 kg.
#1008
Miraidon
#1008
Type
ElectricDragon
Category
Paradox Pokémon
National Dex
#1008
Debut
Gen IX
Base stat total
670
Miraidon, the Paradox Pokemon and mascot of Pokemon Violet, may be based on a robotic serpentine dragon and on lizards such as the anole and the fan-throated lizards. Its robotic look might reference how futuristic cultures are often shown with the overuse of machines, as opposed to Koraidon's traditional look. Parts of its design may come from motorized vehicles such as sport bikes, with its casque resembling a motorcycle windshield and its shoulders similar to handlebars.
It seems to be the Iron Serpent of an old book, said to have turned the land to ash with its lightning. It stands 3.5 m tall and weighs 240 kg.
Four of the Ten Robots Are Golems, and the Legend Comes With an Off Switch
The golem of Hebrew legend is a servant that someone else controls through writing. In the Golem of Prague story the writing is a shem, a parchment, and when it is removed the golem goes berserk. Other versions have the creature weakened or even killed. Four of the ten Pokemon on this list borrow that idea: Golett, Golurk, Registeel and Regigigas. The writing shows up in their designs as the seven eyes on Regigigas, the crack and strap on Golurk's chest, and a broken seal on Mega Golurk with ghostly energy billowing from within.
Robot Pokemon FAQ
How many robot Pokemon are there?
There are 10 robot Pokemon, from Generation III to Generation IX.
What is the strongest robot Pokemon?
Regigigas and Miraidon, with a base stat total of 670 each.
Is Golurk a robot?
No. Golurk is based on the golem of Hebrew legend, though it may also be inspired by giant robots from mecha anime.
Which robot Pokemon was rebuilt by a villain team?
Genesect. Team Plasma altered it and attached a cannon to its back.
Is Metagross a computer?
Yes, in part. Metagross is based on a robot and also on a supercomputer, given its mechanical structure and sheer intelligence.
