Plusle, The Cheering Pokémon. It cheers on friends with pom-poms made of sparks. It drains power from telephone poles. It absorbs electricity from telephone poles. It shorts out its body to create crackling noises. It always acts as a cheerleader for its partners. Whenever a teammate puts out a good effort in battle, this Pokémon shorts out its body to create the crackling noises of sparks to show its joy. When it is cheering on its partner, it flashes with electric sparks from all over its body. If its partner loses, this Pokémon cries loudly.

Overview

Plusle, one part of the destructive duo Plusle and Minun. Destructive if you're a paralyzed Wingull at least. Despite being the third generations generic cute yellow electric mice Plusle was cursed by the war-god Arcues with stats so bad that even Raichu completely outclasses it. Not only are its stats bad, its movepool isn't anything special either. Besides Baton Passing Nasty Plots (which many others can do) and maybe Sing there is basically nothing Plusle has going for it. Minun has better defensive stats (good for Baton Passing) and Pachirisu can run a decent support set (... kind of) meaning Plusle may very well take the title for the worst fully evolved electric rodent in Pokemon history.

Abilities

Plus: If its partner in a multi-battle has Minus or Plus as its ability, this Pokemon's Special Attack increases 50%. Obviously useless in singles but in doubles it can make Plusle hit reasonably hard. Something people often overlook is that you don't need to be partnered with a Pokemon with Minus to get a boost. Two Pokemon with Plus boost each other! This is all nice and well until you realize that Plusle is horrible in Doubles.

Movesets

Why can't we be together?

- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice] / Substitute / Sing
- Baton Pass
Item Attached: Focus Sash
Ability: Plus
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

Get it... together? Plus? No, that was awful... but so is Plusle. One thing Plusle CAN do that few other Pokemon can do is an offensive Nasty Plotting Electric type set. Ok sure, Mr Mime has Roar immunity, far superior defenses, comparable Speed, better Special Attack, better movepool, a few useful abilities, and a more reliable sleep move in Hypnosis... but Plusle has STAB Thunderbolt! Yes, Thunderbolt and Electric typing is essentially the only reason to ever use Plusle. Don't drop your guard though. With decent speed, Focus Sash, Substitute, and Sing Plusle has a reasonable chance of successfully Baton Passing to something. Plusle is more offensive than Minun so the EVs capitalize on this. If you pull off a Nasty Plot and are in a position to do some damage, go for it! However your sweep will always be cut short eventually which is when you Baton Pass to something else! Powerful Special Attackers like Choice Scarf Glaceon or Kadabra become destructive titans when boosted by Nasty Plot. Hidden Power Ice is useful for beating defensive Altaria who could Perish Song you but most of the time Substitute is better. Sing can be used to catch a counter off guard though.

Other Options

Choice Specs / Choice Scarf, Rain Dance / Thunder, Volt Switch, Signal Beam, Air Balloon and Electro Ball.
Plusle has the stats and movepool to run a Choice Specs or Choice Scarf set. The problem is that there are a lot of other Electric types that do the same thing, but have higher speed and offenses. In fact besides Minun and Pachirisu Plusle is probably the worst offensive electric type.
Plusle can use Rain Dance / Thunder but its too slow, and is largely outclassed by other Electric types at that.
Volt Switch is a lot of fun to scout out your counters and deal some damage to them. It doesn't hit very hard and Plusle is worse at Volt Switch spam than more bulky or offensive electrics like... literally all of them.
Signal Beam eradicates Exeggutor but doesn't really hit anything else.
Air Balloon turns Plusle's weakness into an immunity but Focus Sash is far more reliable. Earthquake is by no means the only type capable of wiping out Plusle.
Electro Ball gets a mention just to say you should never use it. If you use Thunder Wave then Electro Ball you will have 150 base power against most things but if you're going to spend two turns for one attack why not Nasty Plot then Thunderbolt and hit for 190 base power?

Double & Triple Battle Options

Ironically enough, very little. Plus is an ability not restricted to just Plusle anymore. Klingklang, Ampharos, and Manetric all can make use of it and they all are better offensively than Plusle. Remember Plus does not have to be paired with Minus. Two Plus Pokemon boost themselves so you can run Plusle alongside Ampharos. Or you know, you can always use something better than Plusle. Like Eviolite Kakuna or maybe even a Farfetch'd. If you absolutely want to try the "Plusle + Minun" thing maybe run Tailwind and Rain support and try to pound away with Life Orb Thunders. Plusle + Minun get a bunch of doubles support moves like Helping Hand and Discharge. Keep in mind that there Pokemon like Zapdos and Thundurus that hit about as hard as a Plus or Minus boosted rat and for the most part those Pokemon are superior at everything

Partners

Plusle is offensively almost a non-entity. Its +2 Thunderbolts will do solid damage but that at worst will make your opponent switch to something that has a type advantage over you. What Plusle is actually useful for is Baton Passing to better sweepers. Partner Pokemon like Kadabra, Glaceon, Trick Room Beheeyem, Haunter, Gorebyss, Rotom and any number of other Special Attackers are great to take +2 Nasty Plots. Pokemon with Suction Cups, Magic Bounce and Soundproof are great partners as they are not bothered by something using Roar. Soundproof Pokemon are also immune to annoying Perish Songs that could make Plusle's Baton Pass useless.

Countering Plusle

The act of actually fainting Plusle is not difficult. Its defenses are comparable to Pikachu's and offenses aren't THAT strong. The big issue is stopping Plusle before it Baton Passes. Cinccino can easily wipe Plusle out with Skill Link Tail Slap, blowing it apart even through its Focus Sash. Pokemon with Clear Smog can wipe out the Nasty Plot boosts, but Clear Smog does not get past Substitutes and many of the Pokemon that learn it will not take a +2 Thunderbolt very well. Haze works as does Perish Song. Altaria sponges +2 Thunderbolts easily and can get rid of Plusle either with Dragon Pulse or Perish Song. Roar gets rid of whatever Plusle Baton Passes to as long as they aren't "soundproof". Don't be worried about Plusle though. It isn't a threat that people normally uses. Unless it manages to Baton Pass to the PERFECT thing your team is weak to you will probably have no problem bringing the little mouse down.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Route 110 .

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald/Colosseum

Colosseum/XD:
Obtained from Duking in Pyrite Town (Colosseum)
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald (XD)

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Trophy Garden.

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Route 1, Route 2, Route 3, Route 4, Route 5, Route 7, Route 8, Route 11, Route 14, Route 15, Route 16, Route 17, Route 18, Route 29, Route 33, Route 37, Route 36, Route 37, Route 38, Route 39, Route 46, Route 48, National Park .

Black/White:
Route 6 (Black)
Trade from other games (White)

Black 2/White 2:
Route 6 (Black 2)
Trade from other games (White)

Animé Appearences

Plusle has made a few appearances. In most of its appearances, it was teamed up with Minun. An example of this was it being used by Dawn's rival, Ursula, and Dawn hating it. # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 314 A Different Kind of Misty! Plusle & Minun! The Mountain Lighthouse! Pics 328 Cheer Pressure! Plusle & Minun! Road Assitance! Pics 353 A Fan With A Plan Formidable Enemy!? Mother Coordinator Enters! Pics M7 Destiny Deoxys Visitor of the Space Fissure - Deoxys Pics P7 Not Aired Pikachu's Summer Festival Pics 362 Lights, Camerupt, Action The Film's Riding on Camerupt! Pics S21 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out Of The Gate Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Setting Out: Pokémon Rescue Team Ganbarus! Pics 432 Green Guardian Pokémon Ranger Appears! Celebi Rescue Operation! Pics 448 Pokémon Ranger! Deoxys Crisis! Pokémon Ranger! Deoxys Crisis! Pics M9 Pokémon Ranger & The Temple of the Sea Pokémon Ranger & The Prince of the Sea - Manaphy Pics 629 Yes, in Dee Dee It's Dawn Pokemon Contest! Asatsuki Tournament!! Pics 630 Playing the Performance Encore Double Battle! VS Plusle & Minun! Pics 642 Last Call, First Round! Grand Festival! The Art of Flame & Ice! Pics M13 Zoroark - Master of Illusions Phantom Champion Zoroark Pics M15 TBC Meloetta's Sparkling Recital Pics 865 The Future Is Now, Thanks to Determination! Protect the Future of Science! The Labyrinth of Electricity!! Pics 883 Performing with Fiery Charm! Braixen and Pancham! An Entrancing Fire Performance!! Pics 894 A Performance Pop Quiz! The Happy Dance Comes After a Quiz!? The Anistar Festival Showcase!! Pics 908 Party Dancecapades Ash and Serena! Getting One at a Dance Party!! Pics 915 Master Class is in Session! The Master Class Begins! A Maidens' Fight Where Sparks Fly!! Pics 1150 Searching for Service With a Smile! Leave It To Us! The Plusle and Minun Handymen! Pics 61 TBC Resound, My Soul! Challenging Ryme! Pics 67 TBC Shine, Terastallization! Liko VS Roy!! Pics