AKA Pokemon Fan
28th January 2004, 08:41 PM
Throughout the Pokemon series we've seen occassional examples of Pokemon using unusual moves for their kind (i.e Drake's Ice Beaming, Water Gunning, Thundering Dragonite, the Thunderbolting Persian, the Dragon Rage Arcanine), but on average, especially with the main group's Pokemon, they've stuck with showing the Pokemon use mostly fairly typical moves that they learn early on when levelling up.
However, in AG this seems to be changing, with many unusual moves showcased for Pokemon-of-the-day, and even some being learned by Pokemon in the main group. Examples include Pikachu's Iron Tail, Lotad's Razor Leaf and Water Gun, a Zigzagoon with Thunderbolt, a Steelix with Dragonbreath, a Torkoal (Flannery's) with Sludge Bomb, a Delcatty with an incredible assortment of moves (one summary saying it learned every move possible for it) and now even May's Skitty with Blizzard.
So if you had to choose one or more new unusual moves for the group's Pokemon to learn in the future what would you like to see? Below are my choices, be aware a few of the moves are naturally learned by levelling up (yet have not been showcased) but most are bred or TM moves in the games.
Treeko:
Dragonbreath: This would be a treat to see. I doubt they'll ever let Treeko learn Solarbeam due to intruding on Bulbasaur's usefullness.
Leech Seed: I just wonder how it would fire, possibly from the mouth and thus would connect nicely with Bullet Seed, although perhaps this invades Bulbasaur's territory too much.
Taillow:
Supersonic, Refresh, Mirror Move, Rage, Sky Attack, Steel Wing, Double Team, Endeavor, Aerial Ace, Agility etc. Let's face it, Taillow needs something to make it more useful in battle and there are so many potential moves. Brock no longer has Crobat so a Supersonic spot for the team is open, while Refresh could be useful. Mirror Move would be quite fun and has never been showcased before, even though there are literally hundreds of ways for it to be used in the show. Rage would go great with Taillow's "don't give up" attitude. Sky Attack is probably out of its league though at least until it evolves, even though it could technically use it. Steel Wing is a problem since Wing Attack now looks the same and could be redundant. None of Ash's Pokemon have ever learned Double Team and Endeavor and Aerial Ace are practically Taillow-line trademarks. Not to mention Pikachu never seems to use Agility anymore, just Quick Attacks that look like Agility. Whatever it is, Taillow needs some changes or it will end up being relegated even more than Pidgeoto and Noctowl were.
Torkoal:
Eruption: Given it already knows the super powerful Overheat, this is unlikely, even so it would be great to see.
Rock Smash: Torkoal has a pretty limited move pool and this one might be a bit awkward and not too useful. In the anime they made it appear that Rock Smash was best used only on rock fields.
Sludge Bomb: Ash could potentially remember Flannery's Torkoal and have it learn this.
Heat Wave: Again, Torkoal's movepool is limited and along with Overheat (merely because Flannery's knows it) and Smog/Smokescreen, this is one of Torkoal's signature moves.
Strength: It would be simple enough. Gary's Nidoqueen used Strength at the end of the Orange Islands and it consisted only of the Pokemon throwing its opponent high into the air with tremendous strength. I can see Torkoal doing the same using its shell as a catapault.
Corphish:
Swords Dance: Ash's Corphish already knows a decent assortment of moves but none of Ash's Pokemon have ever learned Swords Dance.
Guillotine: It's unpredictability (assuming it is a One-Hit-KO move in the anime, unlike Horn Drill) could be entertaining.
Body Slam: Could go well with Corphish's go-get'm battle style.
Ancientpower: Now this would be a treat and a surprise. Ancientpower has never been seen in the anime and Corphish would be a neat way to introduce it.
Mud Sport: Corphish looks like it would love to play in the mud.
Cut: Somewhat redundant as Corphish can already snip through things, but then the group doesn't have any Pokemon with a move that approximates Slash currently being used.
Rock Tomb: Again, unlikely and perhaps difficult to animate well with a Corphish. A Crawdaunt though would look good slamming its feet into the ground to cause pillars of rock to rise out of the earth.
Water Pulse: It looked cool when the Team Aqua member's Crawdaunt used it. Of course, if it only works over or under water it is less likely for the wirters to give to Corphish.
Torchic:
Mirror Move: It is in its moveset and Torchic would love this fun move that copies whatever attack was just used against it.
Slash: It would be neat to see a Slash done with the feet, assuming that is how a Torchic would use this move.
Reversal: Never seen in the anime, it would be a definate surprise for Torchic's foes.
Rock Slide: Now I'm just dreaming. On second thought, maybe all I should hope for is that May eventually gets it to learn a Fire attack besides Ember.
Beautifly:
Safeguard: It knows some good moves, but a shield is always nice to know. If only they'd let Ash's Nocotlw learn Reflect at some point...
Solarbeam: Would interesting and they've already had one bug (Shedinja) shown that can use it.
Psychic: Psychic type attacks are rare for the group, perhaps because they are too strong in the anime to appear much in typical battles... Noctowl only ever used Confusion in three or four episodes and Psyduck was... well Psyduck. ;)
No mention of Skitty here as it already knows Blizzard and is thus unlikely to learn more really special moves any time soon. Although, given how quickly it mastered Blizzard, perhaps I'm wrong.
Mudkip:
Whirlpool: Brock's Mudkip has rather redundant moves AFAIK, this would help make it more unique. None fo the group's Pokemon has ever known Whirlpool.
Rock Tomb: *imagines Mudkip slamming its little feet into the group to trap foes* Maybe it's not a good idea, greater size makes Rock Tomb look more impressive when performed.
Ice Ball: Now this could work, depending on how Ice Ball looks in the anime.
Mirror Coat: Misty's Corsola is gone so Mudkip could pick up the slack.
Lotad:
Nature Power: One of the Lotad lines signature moves, plus it would be entertaining giving all the different attacks it can produce depending on location. I can think of tons of interesting and/funny battle scenarios for it. Earthquake, Bubblebeam, Stun Spore, the possiblities are many.
Mega Drain: *imagines Lotad cutely latching onto the face or body of a foe and sucking away energy like a Heracross on wood* Maybe that would be too violent though, the draining moves get little representation int he anime.
Water Pulse: About the only other Water attack Lotad can learn unless it evolves.
Solarbeam: Now this would be something to see.
Ice Beam: Skitty may have the market cornered on Ice moves but maybe they'd let Lotad learn it. It would certainly be interesting, a partial Grass type using a Ice type move.
Synthesis: It already is said to know many special (in game bred) moves like Razor Leaf and Water Gun so why not this great restoration move that has yet to be seen in the anime?
Leech Seed: Another possibility.
I somewhat doubt they'll let Team Rocket's Pokemon learn any really special great moves but still there are possiblities:
Dustox:
Sludge Bomb
Shadow Ball
Silver Wind: It learns it as readily as Beautifly yet Jessie's hasn't.
Seviper:
Flamethrower: Now this would be cool, a fire breathing serpent. Plus, Seviper needs more fire power (no pun intended).
Snatch: I really doubt Jessie would be inventive or hard-working enough to bother teaching it this unusual move that steals the effect of an opponent's power-up, especially since the twerp trio's Pokemon don't use power ups much.
Dig: Arbok knew it so how come Seviper hasn't gotten it, that I know of at least?
Stockpile, Swallow, Spit Up combo: This would take so long to set up, and perhaps be hard to show in the anime, that it probably wouldn't be worth it. Though it would be funny to see Jessie lose matches while attempting to get Seviper to Stockpile a large amount of power.
Cacnea:
Focus Punch: Cacnea already knows a move that, although typical for its species, I'm surprised the writers let it learn, Sandstorm. It is quite proficient with its arms with Needle Arm so why not Focus Punch?
Acid: Arbok knew it, Seviper can't use it, here's a solution and set-up for more water gags.
Teeter Dance: Cacnea seems the type who would love a dancing attack.
Dynamicpunch: See explanation for Focus Punch.
However, in AG this seems to be changing, with many unusual moves showcased for Pokemon-of-the-day, and even some being learned by Pokemon in the main group. Examples include Pikachu's Iron Tail, Lotad's Razor Leaf and Water Gun, a Zigzagoon with Thunderbolt, a Steelix with Dragonbreath, a Torkoal (Flannery's) with Sludge Bomb, a Delcatty with an incredible assortment of moves (one summary saying it learned every move possible for it) and now even May's Skitty with Blizzard.
So if you had to choose one or more new unusual moves for the group's Pokemon to learn in the future what would you like to see? Below are my choices, be aware a few of the moves are naturally learned by levelling up (yet have not been showcased) but most are bred or TM moves in the games.
Treeko:
Dragonbreath: This would be a treat to see. I doubt they'll ever let Treeko learn Solarbeam due to intruding on Bulbasaur's usefullness.
Leech Seed: I just wonder how it would fire, possibly from the mouth and thus would connect nicely with Bullet Seed, although perhaps this invades Bulbasaur's territory too much.
Taillow:
Supersonic, Refresh, Mirror Move, Rage, Sky Attack, Steel Wing, Double Team, Endeavor, Aerial Ace, Agility etc. Let's face it, Taillow needs something to make it more useful in battle and there are so many potential moves. Brock no longer has Crobat so a Supersonic spot for the team is open, while Refresh could be useful. Mirror Move would be quite fun and has never been showcased before, even though there are literally hundreds of ways for it to be used in the show. Rage would go great with Taillow's "don't give up" attitude. Sky Attack is probably out of its league though at least until it evolves, even though it could technically use it. Steel Wing is a problem since Wing Attack now looks the same and could be redundant. None of Ash's Pokemon have ever learned Double Team and Endeavor and Aerial Ace are practically Taillow-line trademarks. Not to mention Pikachu never seems to use Agility anymore, just Quick Attacks that look like Agility. Whatever it is, Taillow needs some changes or it will end up being relegated even more than Pidgeoto and Noctowl were.
Torkoal:
Eruption: Given it already knows the super powerful Overheat, this is unlikely, even so it would be great to see.
Rock Smash: Torkoal has a pretty limited move pool and this one might be a bit awkward and not too useful. In the anime they made it appear that Rock Smash was best used only on rock fields.
Sludge Bomb: Ash could potentially remember Flannery's Torkoal and have it learn this.
Heat Wave: Again, Torkoal's movepool is limited and along with Overheat (merely because Flannery's knows it) and Smog/Smokescreen, this is one of Torkoal's signature moves.
Strength: It would be simple enough. Gary's Nidoqueen used Strength at the end of the Orange Islands and it consisted only of the Pokemon throwing its opponent high into the air with tremendous strength. I can see Torkoal doing the same using its shell as a catapault.
Corphish:
Swords Dance: Ash's Corphish already knows a decent assortment of moves but none of Ash's Pokemon have ever learned Swords Dance.
Guillotine: It's unpredictability (assuming it is a One-Hit-KO move in the anime, unlike Horn Drill) could be entertaining.
Body Slam: Could go well with Corphish's go-get'm battle style.
Ancientpower: Now this would be a treat and a surprise. Ancientpower has never been seen in the anime and Corphish would be a neat way to introduce it.
Mud Sport: Corphish looks like it would love to play in the mud.
Cut: Somewhat redundant as Corphish can already snip through things, but then the group doesn't have any Pokemon with a move that approximates Slash currently being used.
Rock Tomb: Again, unlikely and perhaps difficult to animate well with a Corphish. A Crawdaunt though would look good slamming its feet into the ground to cause pillars of rock to rise out of the earth.
Water Pulse: It looked cool when the Team Aqua member's Crawdaunt used it. Of course, if it only works over or under water it is less likely for the wirters to give to Corphish.
Torchic:
Mirror Move: It is in its moveset and Torchic would love this fun move that copies whatever attack was just used against it.
Slash: It would be neat to see a Slash done with the feet, assuming that is how a Torchic would use this move.
Reversal: Never seen in the anime, it would be a definate surprise for Torchic's foes.
Rock Slide: Now I'm just dreaming. On second thought, maybe all I should hope for is that May eventually gets it to learn a Fire attack besides Ember.
Beautifly:
Safeguard: It knows some good moves, but a shield is always nice to know. If only they'd let Ash's Nocotlw learn Reflect at some point...
Solarbeam: Would interesting and they've already had one bug (Shedinja) shown that can use it.
Psychic: Psychic type attacks are rare for the group, perhaps because they are too strong in the anime to appear much in typical battles... Noctowl only ever used Confusion in three or four episodes and Psyduck was... well Psyduck. ;)
No mention of Skitty here as it already knows Blizzard and is thus unlikely to learn more really special moves any time soon. Although, given how quickly it mastered Blizzard, perhaps I'm wrong.
Mudkip:
Whirlpool: Brock's Mudkip has rather redundant moves AFAIK, this would help make it more unique. None fo the group's Pokemon has ever known Whirlpool.
Rock Tomb: *imagines Mudkip slamming its little feet into the group to trap foes* Maybe it's not a good idea, greater size makes Rock Tomb look more impressive when performed.
Ice Ball: Now this could work, depending on how Ice Ball looks in the anime.
Mirror Coat: Misty's Corsola is gone so Mudkip could pick up the slack.
Lotad:
Nature Power: One of the Lotad lines signature moves, plus it would be entertaining giving all the different attacks it can produce depending on location. I can think of tons of interesting and/funny battle scenarios for it. Earthquake, Bubblebeam, Stun Spore, the possiblities are many.
Mega Drain: *imagines Lotad cutely latching onto the face or body of a foe and sucking away energy like a Heracross on wood* Maybe that would be too violent though, the draining moves get little representation int he anime.
Water Pulse: About the only other Water attack Lotad can learn unless it evolves.
Solarbeam: Now this would be something to see.
Ice Beam: Skitty may have the market cornered on Ice moves but maybe they'd let Lotad learn it. It would certainly be interesting, a partial Grass type using a Ice type move.
Synthesis: It already is said to know many special (in game bred) moves like Razor Leaf and Water Gun so why not this great restoration move that has yet to be seen in the anime?
Leech Seed: Another possibility.
I somewhat doubt they'll let Team Rocket's Pokemon learn any really special great moves but still there are possiblities:
Dustox:
Sludge Bomb
Shadow Ball
Silver Wind: It learns it as readily as Beautifly yet Jessie's hasn't.
Seviper:
Flamethrower: Now this would be cool, a fire breathing serpent. Plus, Seviper needs more fire power (no pun intended).
Snatch: I really doubt Jessie would be inventive or hard-working enough to bother teaching it this unusual move that steals the effect of an opponent's power-up, especially since the twerp trio's Pokemon don't use power ups much.
Dig: Arbok knew it so how come Seviper hasn't gotten it, that I know of at least?
Stockpile, Swallow, Spit Up combo: This would take so long to set up, and perhaps be hard to show in the anime, that it probably wouldn't be worth it. Though it would be funny to see Jessie lose matches while attempting to get Seviper to Stockpile a large amount of power.
Cacnea:
Focus Punch: Cacnea already knows a move that, although typical for its species, I'm surprised the writers let it learn, Sandstorm. It is quite proficient with its arms with Needle Arm so why not Focus Punch?
Acid: Arbok knew it, Seviper can't use it, here's a solution and set-up for more water gags.
Teeter Dance: Cacnea seems the type who would love a dancing attack.
Dynamicpunch: See explanation for Focus Punch.