How to get Rotom in Pokémon Go, from Wash Rotom to all other Rotom forms explained

The elusive Rotom has been a significant presence in Pokémon Go, with players eagerly awaiting its appearances. Initially, the Pokémon was absent during the launch of Gen 4, but its status changed in July 2020 when Rotom debuted during the Go Fest 2020 celebrations. The Wash Rotom variant made its return during the Sixth Anniversary event in July 2022, while Mow Rotom made its debut at Go Fest 2022 in-person events. Following that, Frost Rotom was introduced in August 2023 during the Go Fest 2023 events, with Regular Rotom becoming available in 2024 during the Go Tour: Sinnoh.

Despite these appearances, Rotom remains one of the rarest Pokémon in the game. This guide will detail how to catch Rotom through photobombing, the available Rotom forms, and other forms known from the mainline Pokémon series.

How to get Rotom in Pokémon Go

During the Go Tour: Sinnoh event in February 2024, players could catch Regular Rotom by completing the Ghost in the Machine Timed Research quest. To unlock this quest, players needed to use the code 0HY0UF0UNDM3. Instructions and challenges for this quest can be found in dedicated guides.

Aside from this event, Rotom can appear as a photobombing Pokémon in the Snapshot mode, similar to Smeargle. Although Rotom’s appearances are rare, when it does show up, players can catch it by following these steps:

1. Open Snapshot mode with any Pokémon.
2. Take pictures of the Pokémon (turn off AR+ for easier capturing).
3. Exit Snapshot mode to review the images taken.
4. Look for Rotom in one of the photos.
5. If Rotom appears, it will spawn on the map for capturing.
6. If it does not appear, repeat the steps above.

Continue using the Snapshot feature until Rotom appears. With persistence, players might be able to catch multiple Rotom using this method.

Available Rotom Forms in Pokémon Go

Rotom, known as the Plasma Pokémon, can transform into various electrical appliances, each with its own unique form. The first form introduced in Pokémon Go was Wash Rotom, an Electric/Water-type, released on July 25th, 2020, during Pokémon Go Fest. This form returned again during the Sixth Anniversary event in July 2022.

Wash Rotom’s official Pokédex entry describes it as enjoying water-based pranks, cautioning players to be careful to avoid flooding their rooms.

The second form, Mow Rotom, was introduced two years later during the Go Fest 2022 Berlin in-person event. It was also available at Go Fest 2022 Seattle and Sapporo events. Mow Rotom is an Electric/Grass-type Pokémon, and its Pokédex entry notes that it takes control of a lawn mower, scattering clippings as it goes.

At the time of writing, Mow Rotom was exclusive to attendees of these in-person events and could only be obtained via photobombing in Go Snapshot. Its future availability to the wider player base remains uncertain.

Frost Rotom, the third Rotom form, was introduced exclusively for players who attended the Go Fest 2023: Osaka event. It later appeared at the New York and London Go Fest events, meaning only attendees of those events currently possess this form. Like previous forms, Frost Rotom can only be obtained through photobombing Go Snapshot. It is an Electric/Ice-type Pokémon, known for joyfully using cold air to freeze its surroundings.

The fourth form released was Regular Rotom, the original Electric/Ghost-type variant. This form, along with its shiny version, became available during the Go Tour: Sinnoh event in February 2024. Unlike previous forms, Regular Rotom was available to all players, provided they completed the Ghost in the Machine Timed Research quest using the designated code.

Rotom Forms Explained

First introduced in Gen 4, Rotom can possess various electrical appliances, changing its appearance and type accordingly. Here are the Rotom forms known from the mainline entries:

Rotom

Type: Electric / Ghost

Heat Rotom

Type: Electric / Fire

Wash Rotom

Type: Electric / Water

Frost Rotom

Type: Electric / Ice

Fan Rotom

Type: Electric / Flying

Mow Rotom

Type: Electric / Grass

If you happen to miss out on any Rotom form, don’t worry—Rotom is expected to return eventually, though you may need to be patient to catch them again.