Elgyem, the cerebral Pokémon, is a Psychic-type Pokémon introduced in Gen 5, and it’s the pre-evolution of Beheeyem.
Elgyem is based on the aliens; we can say that since it has an alien-like form and its origin, Elgyem was found for the first time in a desert. This Pokémon is basically a reference to all the mysteries behind Area 51, grey aliens with big heads, and the Roswell incident. People don’t know the origin behind both Elgyem and Beheeyem, and this is probably because these Pokémon can erase and confuse the memory and mind of the people and Pokémon.
Elgyem is a light blue Pokémon with a big head resembling the stereotypical form of an alien (a big head, dark eyes, grey humanoid). It has three gems in every hand, and it uses it to communicate with other Pokémon. It is said that it has a big and powerful brain that can be used to have psychic powers and control people’s minds.
Elgyem’s name comes from the corruption of LGM, the abbreviation of Little Green Man, a common term used to refer to an alien.
Elgyem Summary of Appearances in Pokémon Versions and Media (Games, Anime, Movies)
In the games, you can find Elgyem:
- Black, White, Black 2 and White 2: In the Celestial Tower.
- X and Y: Only by trading.
- Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire: Route 121 and Mt. Pyre (as a hidden Pokémon).
- Sun and Moon: Only by trading.
- Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon: Mount Hokulani.
- Sword and Shield: Bridge Field, Watchtower Ruins, Stony Wilderness.
Elgyem has an episode in the Anime dedicated to it named a UFO for Elgyem! Being the best friend of Professor Icarus. Elgyem was helping people by telling them when they were near an accident or a catastrophe when Icarus and Elgyem met Ash and his friends.
Ash thought that Elgyem’s visions were a lie until this Pokémon saved Ash’s life, telling him he was about to fall from a bridge. Later on in the episode, Professor Icarus’ Elgyem was kidnapped by Team Rocket, but Ash and his friends saved it.
Elgyem has another main appearance in the episode Climbing the Tower of Success! Ricky, a kid who self-claimed himself as a psychic, uses an Elgyem to cheat in the Wishing Bell Festival contest. Elgyem has two appearances in the Manga; in PS478 as an Elgyem owned by one of Castelia’s City residents and in PS483 being part of the Nimbasa’s Pokémon Musical using a smiley mask.
Elgyem has 8 different cards in the TCG, two commons in Noble Victories, one common in Next Destinies, a promo card in BW Black Star Promos, a common and an uncommon card in Plasma Storm, a common card in BREAKthrough and a common card in Unified Minds.
Elgyem Evolution Line: When Does Elgyem Evolve?
Elgyem evolves into Beheyeem at level 42. Beheyeem doesn’t have evolutions.
Elgyem Stats
Elgyem isn’t the best Pokémon ever to compete, but it can be used as a psychic-type offensive Pokémon in its tier, LC (Little Cup). Its best stat is the Special Attack, but it is weak compared to other Psychic-types in LC. Let’s take a look at its abilities because we are about to build a competitive Elgyem.
Abilities
- Telepathy: The Pokémon with this ability can avoid every attacking move from its allies. This ability only works on double battles and can avoid moves like Earthquake and Discharge.
- Synchronize: When the user of this ability gets paralyzed, poisoned or burned by other Pokémon, the attacker will get the same status condition. Synchronize also has an effect outside the battles; to make it work, you have to have your Synchronize user as your team’s lead; this will make every single wild Pokémon you’ll find have the same nature as your Synchronize user.
- Analytic (Hidden ability): If the user of this ability executes its move after all the Pokémon in the battle, the power of its move will be increased by 30%.
Natures
Elgyem is a Special Attacker, which means you have to have a nature that benefits this stat. These are the natures we recommend to Elgyem:
- Modest (Increases Special Attack, reduces Attack)
- Mild (Increases Special Attack, reduces Defense)
- Quiet (Increases Special Attack, reduces Speed)
- Rash (Increases Special Attack, reduces Special Defense)
The best one you can use for this Pokémon is Modest since you want Elgyem to handle at least one hit before fainting. Another one you can also use is Quiet, since Elgyem, regardless of its Speed, will be slower than most of the Pokémon on LC, so you can use that advantage mixing Quiet with Analytic to do a Special Sweeper out of an Elgyem.
Stats
Elgyem stats are the following:
HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed | |
Base Stats | 55 | 55 | 55 | 85 | 55 | 30 |
Favorable Nature | 314 | 229 | 229 | 295 | 229 | 174 |
With this table, we can know two things: Elgyem is a Special Attacker and also; this Pokémon is really slow. Thanks to that, we can think of some strategies using Analytic as its ability. Every time you defeat a wild Elgyem you’ll get 1 EV in Special Attack.
Moves list per level
Elgyem can learn the following moves by leveling up:
Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
1 | Confusion | Psychic | Special | 50 | 100% | 25 |
1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 40 |
6 | Imprison | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
12 | Teleport | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 20 |
18 | Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 | 100% | 20 |
24 | Power Split | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
24 | Guard Split | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
30 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100% | 15 |
36 | Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90% | 15 |
43 | Recover | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
48 | Calm Mind | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 20 |
54 | Wonder Room | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
60 | Psychic | Psychic | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 |
Moves list per TM/TR
Elgyem can learn the following moves through TM/TRs:
TM/TR (GEN VIII) | Move | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
TM14 | Thunder Wave | Electric | Status | — | 90% | 20 |
TM16 | Screech | Normal | Status | — | 85% | 40 |
TM17 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 30 |
TM18 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 20 |
TM19 | Safeguard | Normal | Status | — | —% | 25 |
TM21 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TM22 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90% | 10 |
TM23 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100% | 25 |
TM24 | Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100% | 15 |
TM25 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TM30 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90% | 25 |
TM31 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 15 |
TM33 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | —% | 5 |
TM39 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100% | 20 |
TM44 | Imprison | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TM48 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95% | 15 |
TM60 | Power Swap | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TM61 | Guard Swap | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TM70 | Trick Room | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 5 |
TM71 | Wonder Room | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TM76 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100% | 15 |
TR08 | Thunderbolt | Electric | Special | 90 | 100% | 15 |
TR11 | Psychic | Psychic | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 |
TR12 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 30 |
TR20 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TR25 | Psyshock | Psychic | Special | 80 | 100% | 10 |
TR26 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TR27 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TR33 | Shadow Ball | Ghost | Special | 80 | 100% | 15 |
TR35 | Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 |
TR38 | Trick | Psychic | Status | — | 100% | 10 |
TR40 | Skill Swap | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TR44 | Cosmic Power | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 20 |
TR49 | Calm Mind | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 20 |
TR58 | Dark Pulse | Dark | Special | 80 | 100% | 15 |
TR65 | Energy Ball | Grass | Special | 90 | 100% | 10 |
TR68 | Nasty Plot | Dark | Status | — | —% | 20 |
TR69 | Zen Headbutt | Psychic | Physical | 80 | 90% | 15 |
TR82 | Stored Power | Psychic | Special | 20 | 100% | 10 |
TR83 | Ally Switch | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 15 |
These moves lists are significant, but this is good since we can think of many good strategies with moves like Trick Room, a buffing-like move like Calm Mind to get a better Special Defense and Attack, and the key of the moveset, which has to be Psychic. Now, let’s check out which are Elgyem’s strengths and weaknesses.
Elgyem Strengths
Elgyem is a Psychic-type Pokémon, which means it is strong against the following types:
- It gets only ½ of damage against Fighting-type.
- It gets only ½ of damage against Psychic-type.
Most of the Pokémon of the LC tier can potentially hurt Elgyem. Nonetheless, it can handle some good Pokémon of this tier, like those fighting-types that use Swords Dance or Bulk Up to buff their Attack. Also, Psychic-type moves are strong against Fighting and Poison-types, so you can consider it against some menaces like Ekans, Foongus or Gastly.
Elgyem Weaknesses
- It takes x2 of damage against Dark-type.
- It takes x2 of damage against Ghost-type.
- It takes x2 of damage against Bug-type.
Elgyem problem, as well as all the Psychic-type Pokémon are the Dark-types, since every one of them is immune to Psychic-type attacks. Also, Steel and Psychic-types are strong against Psychic-type attacks. This makes Pokémon like Deino, Carvanha, Alolan Grimer, Shelmet, Dewpider, Inkay, Aron, Pawniard, and Alolan Meowth a big menace against our Alien-like Pokémon.
There is another problem for Elgyem to be useful in this tier: There’s a lot of Pokémon that can be way more useful than Elgyem. You can choose: Spritzee, Abra, Munna, Solosis, Woobat, and other Special Sweeper Pokémon.
Elgyem Moveset
This is what we recommend to use with Elgyem:
- Trick Room
- Nasty Plot/Calm Mind/Cosmic Power
- Psychic or any other Special Attack depending on the team you are fighting against
- Rock Tomb/Recover
With Eviolite as its item, Quiet as its nature, and Analytic as its ability.
EVs: 236 HP / 240 SpA
We will try to explain this strat in two phases, the first one will be using Trick Room, and the second one will be using Analytic and attacking its rivals.
Firstly, we are gonna use Trick Room, like that, in the next turn you’ll attack first then your rival. You can buff your Defenses and your attacks with Nasty Plot, Calm Mind, and Cosmic Power with this advantage. You can start attacking before the Trick Room ends, but the best option you have is to wait for the Trick Room to finish; this way, you can take access to Analytic, your ability (Because you are slow) to sweep out every single Pokémon of the rival’s team.
We selected Rock Tomb for the fourth move to try to outplay the Bug-types, but you can choose any other attack that you like. You can also use Recover to handle the damage and try to be on the battlefield for a long time.
Elgyem in a video
As you can see here, Elgyem uses its team to set the Trick Room and some Toxic Spikes, after that, it went out to the battle and then started to buff itself. After Trick Room ended, Elgyem started to sweep out every single Pokémon of its rival’s team. This is the best example of this strat.
FAQs
Question: In which Generation was Elgyem introduced?
Answer: Elgyem, as well as its evolution, Beheyeem, were introduced in Generation 5. They were one of the rarest Pokémon of the game, and catching one was difficult back then.
Question: Which is the best strategy for Elgyem?
Answer: Elgyem can work with basically any strat, but the best by far is using Trick Room to buff itself up and then start sweeping up every single Pokémon of its rivals.
Question: What is Elgyem based on?
Answer: Elgyem is based on the alien conspiracy culture. It has almost the same form as the Grey Aliens, the most popular thinking of an alien. Even its name is based on the abbreviation of LGM, which means Little Green Man, a common motto to the aliens.
As we said before, Elgyem isn’t the best Special Sweeper on the LC tier, but that doesn’t mean it is fun to use it while the rival’s team is trying to get it down with everything they can do. Elgyem isn’t the first option, but you’ll not regret using this Pokémon. There’s something about Elgyem you can take advantage of; It isn’t known. So, you can use any tactic, and only the most experienced Pokémon trainers will know what you will do.