Pokémon with moves they're not supposed to have

[NovaBrunswick]

Throughout the Pokémon series, most Pokémon learn moves honestly - that is, they learn them naturally (such as by level-up). But some Pokémon, whether by error or dishonest cheating, learn moves they're not supposed to learn in the first place. These are known as "illegal" moves (not that they're breaking the law, they're just not supposed to have them per canon!)

Here are a few well-known instances of illegal moves in the games:

• Lance's Dragonite having Barrier in the Gen 1 games.
• Lance's Aerodactyl having Rock Slide. In Gen 2, Aerodactyl could not legally learn Rock Slide. Lance, why are you such a cheater?
  
• Winona's Altaria having Dragon Dance... at level 33 (it doesn't learn it until level 35).
• Cooltrainer Dianne on Hoenn's Victory Road having a Lanturn who knows Earthquake. Lanturn cannot learn Earthquake in any way whatsoever.

Do you know any other 'mons who know moves they're not supposed to know? It can be in any medium of the franchise - the anime, manga or games.

 

[Sceptile Leaf Blade]

I think it's one of the Kommo-o in Sun and Moon's Battle Tree that has Shell Smash.

 

[Bguy7]

There's not really much of a need for this thread, Bulpedia already has all such instances cataloged here, here, here, and here.

 

[Nockturne]

I think the most iconic example of this has to be Ash's Bulbasaur using Whirlwind against Koga.

 

[Bguy7]

I think the most iconic example of this has to be Ash's Bulbasaur using Whirlwind against Koga.

More likely that was a translation error. The Japanese name for Whirlwind is Blow Away, so the original intent of the writers was probably to have Ash tell it to blow away the incoming attack, but dubbers translated it as Ash commanding it to use the move Whirlwind.

 

[nel3]

i believe i gave my Suicune thunder/thunderbolt, blizzard and hydro pump back in pokemon silver with the game shark ganeboy color back in the day before i messed up the game programming where the gameshark was in use. i lost that Suicune when the cartridge battery gave out long ago, cant turn the game off at that point as the battery is dead and restarting the gameboy would result in losing saved data. i still havent bothered to change out the battery ever since it died out though i still miss my younger days where i just had some fun with the game shark. at the very least i stopped using the game shark after the shortcuts with it were giving me missingno for more than a few actual pkmn with the codes. lesson learned there...

 

[NovaBrunswick]

More likely that was a translation error. The Japanese name for Whirlwind is Blow Away, so the original intent of the writers was probably to have Ash tell it to blow away the incoming attack, but dubbers translated it as Ash commanding it to use the move Whirlwind.

I think Dawn's Piplup also had Water Gun, which it cannot learn.

 

[Bguy7]

I think Dawn's Piplup also had Water Gun, which it cannot learn.

Nope. Perhaps you're thinking of Hydro Pump?

 

[NovaBrunswick]

Nope. Perhaps you're thinking of Hydro Pump?

It would make sense, because no way can an unevolved starter learn such a powerful move so early, unless it learned it by cheating.

 

[Bguy7]

It would make sense, because no way can an unevolved starter learn such a powerful move so early, unless it learned it by cheating.

Not really. Piplup can learn Hydro Pump naturally, it has nothing to do with evolving. The anime has never followed level-up move orders. Pokémon essentially learn moves at random, depending on what outside stimulus prompt them to learn a new move. Also, in Piplup's specific case, it could have evolved into a Prinplup, or maybe even an Empoleon, but Dawn gave it an Ever Stone.

 

[NovaBrunswick]

Not really. Piplup can learn Hydro Pump naturally, it has nothing to do with evolving. The anime has never followed level-up move orders. Pokémon essentially learn moves at random, depending on what outside stimulus prompt them to learn a new move. Also, in Piplup's specific case, it could have evolved into a Prinplup, or maybe even an Empoleon, but Dawn gave it an Ever Stone.

Levels aren’t really touched upon in the anime, except for one time when Meowth made a quip about Pikachu being level 100 (or something). Piplup never evolving was more to do with reasons of love, as seen in the episode Stopped in the Name of Love!

 

[Kirby Dragons]

I can remember multiple times levels are mentioned in the anime. But usually, learning moves at certain levels isn't discussed.

 

[Bguy7]

I can remember multiple times levels are mentioned in the anime. But usually, learning moves at certain levels isn't discussed.

Whenever they're brought up in the anime, it's more in the generic sense of power level, than it is RPG levels. So yes, they technically exist, but no, they do not dictate things like when a Pokémon learns a move or evolves.

 

[shoz999]

I remember in Victory Road there was a cool trainer that had a Lanturn in Gen 3, RSE. That Lanturn had Earthquake which was a surprise to me but this is also the same Pokemon game where Venusaur and Meganium can use Earthquake so I thought that was actually normal until later I found out years later Lanturn can't learn Earthquake... now I'm thinking. Someone give that Lanturn Earthquake!

 

[NovaBrunswick]

I remember in Victory Road there was a cool trainer that had a Lanturn in Gen 3, RSE. That Lanturn had Earthquake which was a surprise to me but this is also the same Pokemon game where Venusaur and Meganium can use Earthquake so I thought that was actually normal until later I found out years later Lanturn can't learn Earthquake... now I'm thinking. Someone give that Lanturn Earthquake!

I actually mentioned that Lanturn, I think. Meganium can still learn Earthquake by TM - my Meganium in SoulSilver knows it. It's great for dealing with Fire, Poison and Electric types.

 

[shoz999]

I actually mentioned that Lanturn, I think. Meganium can still learn Earthquake by TM - my Meganium in SoulSilver knows it. It's great for dealing with Fire, Poison and Electric types.

Oh yeah. I used a Sword Dance Meganium set with Earthquake for the most recent online competition.