Weird moves certain Pokemon can or cannot learn

[Pokefan_1987]

Charizard cannot learn Fly in Red/Blue which is honestly very weird.

Honestly, there's a lot of Pokemon that are flying type, but can't learn fly that I find odd. And Pokemon that can learn it that definitely shouldn't be able to carry a human person on their back. (But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to Learn fly, mind you). I think I mentioned in this thread Yanmega, a Pokemon that is said to be able to carry people on its back and fly cannot learn fly. I find it strange that Pokemon like Butterfree and Mothim cannot learn fly in later Pokemon games that remove it as a Field move, to be honest. They no longer have a reason to not know Fly, if I'm being honest.

Doduo is one of the weirdest ones. No wings on it to explain flying..

 

[MidnightHo-Oh]

Boomburst can be described as creating a sonic boom strong enough to break the sound barrier. In order for Flygon to create a sonic boom capable of breaking the sound barrier, it would have to be traveling faster than sound and moving approximately 750 miles per hour at sea level.

A better question is: Why can’t Galarian Zapdos or Kantonian Zapdos learn Boomburst?

Kantonian Zapdos should be able to learn Boomburst since a sonic boom is essentially the same thing as lightning and thunder. As for Galarian Zapdos, it’s confined to a limited area and can’t run 750 miles per hour at sea level or travel faster than sound.

Ummmm... if you look at the list of Pokémon who can learn Boomburst, absolutely none of them are known for being able to travel at supersonic speed and thus create a sonic boom induced shockwave via their speed... but they all (with only a few select exceptions) have designs/inspirations involving sound. Boomburst is also described as "The user attacks everything around it with the destructive power of a terrible, explosive sound," and is negated by the Soundproof ability, both facts further supporting the fact that Boomburst is simply an extremely loud and powerful sound generated by the user.

To go through every Pokémon capable of learning Boomburst, we can see that:

1. Exploud generates Boomburst from its 'speakers' and huge mouth
2. Vibrava, and in turn Flygon, generates Boomburst from the intense buzzing of its wings (also see Yanma and Sonic Boom)
3. Noivern generates Boomburst from its speaker-like ears
4. Kommo-o generates Boomburst from the loud clanging of its scales
5. Rillaboom generates Boomburst from beating upon its wooden drum
6. Toxtricity generates Boomburst from its guitar-like chest organs
7. Taillow & Pikipek (who learn it through breeding) generate Boomburst with the flapping of their wings (although I can presume that Pikipek's evolved forms, especially Toucannon, may instead use their beaks)
8. Chatot (also as a result of breeding) most likely generates Boomburst through its singing voice

There are plenty of moves that either grant or utilize their user's incredible speed, but Boomburst is not one of them. In fact, it's actually surprising Boomburst is not available to more sound-based Pokémon than those listed above.

Also... lightning and thunder are NOT the same thing, mate, nor are they identical to a sonic boom. -_-

 

[Palamon]

Doduo is one of the weirdest ones. No wings on it to explain flying..

I've seen how it flies in Stadium in a video and it's... ridiculous. I have no idea how Doduo can fly. This has to be a joke on Game Freak's part.

Like Final Gambit Shedinja. Why can it learn that? It won't do more than one damage!

 

[octoboy]

Most Dragon types can learn Surf so it’s not that weird for Hydreigon to learn it. Even several Pokémon who aren’t Dragon or Water types can learn Surf. (Tyranitar, Rhydon, Aggron, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Tauros, Lugia, etc.)

I've heard it suggested that pokémon in the monster breeding group might often be able to use surf as a reference to kaijus (which a lot of the pokémon in the monster breeding group resemble) causing natural disasters such as tsunamis. Lugia also lives underwater, so it getting a water move isn't all that weird.

No clue why tauros gets it though.

 

[Luthor]

Doduo is one of the weirdest ones. No wings on it to explain flying..

There is actually an explanation. With Dodrio its stated from Pokemon Snap "It can jump so high with its powerful legs, it may as well be flying!". Essentially its just so good at jumping it can "fly" (or fall with style). It's weird but its an explanation.

If you want weirder when it comes to Dodrio for me its how it uses Wing attack or Steel wing without wings.

 

[Trillion]

i was updating the movesets for some of my pokemon about three or so days ago and discovered that my cobalion can learn volt switch. seems like such a random move for it to be able to learn lol

 

[Pokefan_1987]

i was updating the movesets for some of my pokemon about three or so days ago and discovered that my cobalion can learn volt switch. seems like such a random move for it to be able to learn lol

Resolute Keldeo has access to Sunny Day but no other fire moves and i doubt it can get Hidden Power Fire

 

[Yveltal91057]

Resolute Keldeo has access to Sunny Day but no other fire moves and i doubt it can get Hidden Power Fire

With that logic, Keldeo should be able to use Max Flare, but can’t due to Sunny Day being a move that powers up Fire type moves for five turns and not being a move that damages the opponent.

 

[Pokefan_1987]

With that logic, Keldeo should be able to use Max Flare, but can’t due to Sunny Day being a move that powers up Fire type moves for five turns and not being a move that damages the opponent.

I just went over all of the swords of justice moves and one member stands out. Virizion, she learns Sunny Day as well. Keldeo is like a attempt to give it a possible backup role for setting up the sun to power up Virizion's solar blade and solar beam faster in double battles in the new games.

They have the same Speed of 108. But Keldeo has the 129 Sp. Attack compared to Virizion's 129 Sp Defense.

 

[Divine Retribution]

Resolute Keldeo has access to Sunny Day but no other fire moves and i doubt it can get Hidden Power Fire

Keldeo can have Hidden Power Fire in games where Hidden Power is still an accessible move (I.E. not Sword/Shield).

Besides in Sword/Shield, the only restriction on Hidden Power is that Pokemon in the Undiscovered egg group (I.E. Legendaries, Mythicals, and Ultra Beasts) who originated in Gens 6 or 7 can never have Hidden Power Fighting, as as of X/Y, all Pokemon encountered in that egg group are guaranteed to have at least 3 perfect IVs of 31, and Hidden Power Fighting requires at least 4 even IVs. So it's impossible to have, say, an Xerneas with Hidden Power Fighting, as Xerneas is guaranteed to have at least 3 perfect IVs in every game it has been available in.

 

[Pokefan_1987]

Just caught a Nihilego and sadly it gets very few rock moves in Gen 7

USUM Learnset: Power Gem Stealth Rock and Head Smash (Only good as a Z-Move)

TM: Only Sandstorm and Stealth Rock

Gen 8 TM (Level moves are unchanged) Rock Slide and Rock Tomb. And Meteor Beam with tutor.

But it never gets other moves like Stone Edge or Rock Blast. I'd say it is barely a Rock type despite it being it's first type.

 

[Sceptile Leaf Blade]

Nigilego shouldn't bother with physical attacks anyway, its special attack is way better. Power Gem is fine as a Rock move

 

[Luthor]

Just caught a Nihilego and sadly it gets very few rock moves in Gen 7

USUM Learnset: Power Gem Stealth Rock and Head Smash (Only good as a Z-Move)

TM: Only Sandstorm and Stealth Rock

Gen 8 TM (Level moves are unchanged) Rock Slide and Rock Tomb. And Meteor Beam with tutor.

But it never gets other moves like Stone Edge or Rock Blast. I'd say it is barely a Rock type despite it being it's first type.

Yeah I'll admit it probably should get more more rock type moves even if they aren't that useful. I'd give it ancient power as its the only special move option left it doesn't get and a status option like wide-guard. In general I think there should be more rock typed special moves.

 

[Pokefan_1987]

Yeah I'll admit it probably should get more more rock type moves even if they aren't that useful. I'd give it ancient power as its the only special move option left it doesn't get and a status option like wide-guard. In general I think there should be more rock typed special moves.

Most rock types are as physicals But Nihilego not getting a lot of rock moves? It could have been created as a poison type and the maybe rock type is just to give it defensive resistance?

 

[Pokefan_1987]

New oddity why can Emboar learn Scald, a water move? is he just spitting flammable alcohol?

 

[SoraFan23]

I find it weird how Gyarados can learn Flamethrower despite the fact its literally a Water type Pokemon and I also find it really shocking how Yanmega cannot learn fly despite it LITERALLY has wings on it.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

I find it weird how Gyarados can learn Flamethrower despite the fact its literally a Water type Pokemon and I also find it really shocking how Yanmega cannot learn fly despite it LITERALLY has wings on it.

Gyrados learning Flamethrower I’ve always believed was because it is based on a Chinese dragon which is said to have elemental powers.

 

[Luthor]

Gyrados learning Flamethrower I’ve always believed was because it is based on a Chinese dragon which is said to have elemental powers.

Plus while it is a mainly inspired by a Chinese dragon I could also see it having some influence from western dragons (who often breath fire) as pokemon can take inspiration from multiple sources and in more modern of interpretations of Chinese dragons they have been more commonly depicted associated with fire for similar reasons.

I find it weird how Gyarados can learn Flamethrower despite the fact its literally a Water type Pokemon and I also find it really shocking how Yanmega cannot learn fly despite it LITERALLY has wings on it.

To be honest having wings and flying does not mean a Pokemon can use the move fly. There seems to be additional requirements, especially for bug types, as there are only 3 bug type Pokemon which can learn the move at time of writing despite how many bug/flying Pokemon there are . Volcarona, Genesect & Vikavolt. Volcarona (which while not legendary was considered to be a deity), Genesect (which can do so via artificial augments) and Vikavolt (which has levitate rather than being a flying type). Notably not a single Bug/Flying type can learn it. While I personally would give Yanmega the move (as I personally think its at least as capable as Vikavolt) my guess is they don't think most bug types can soar high enough, breath at those heights or their exoskeleton can't take the force. In my opinion now Fly is no longer used as a HM i personally would give a few more strong bugs the move.

 

[Pokefan_1987]

Plus while it is a mainly inspired by a Chinese dragon I could also see it having some influence from western dragons (who often breath fire) as pokemon can take inspiration from multiple sources and in more modern of interpretations of Chinese dragons they have been more commonly depicted associated with fire for similar reasons.



To be honest having wings and flying does not mean a Pokemon can use the move fly. There seems to be additional requirements, especially for bug types, as there are only 3 bug type Pokemon which can learn the move at time of writing despite how many bug/flying Pokemon there are . Volcarona, Genesect & Vikavolt. Volcarona (which while not legendary was considered to be a deity), Genesect (which can do so via artificial augments) and Vikavolt (which has levitate rather than being a flying type). Notably not a single Bug/Flying type can learn it. While I personally would give Yanmega the move (as I personally think its at least as capable as Vikavolt) my guess is they don't think most bug types can soar high enough, breath at those heights or their exoskeleton can't take the force. In my opinion now Fly is no longer used as a HM i personally would give a few more strong bugs the move.

Speaking of Vikavolt, the pokedexes say it is very fast but in the game it has a base speed of 43 base speed. Why did they literally lie about it's speed? You'd have to EV train it and still give it a Trick Room coverage partner. Poor little bug *gets zapped*

 

[Luthor]

Speaking of Vikavolt, the pokedexes say it is very fast but in the game it has a base speed of 43 base speed. Why did they literally lie about it's speed? You'd have to EV train it and still give it a Trick Room coverage partner. Poor little bug *gets zapped*

Speaking of dubious Pokedex Entries Vikavolt has base speed slower than Arctozolt (even without its ability) . Arctozolt has Pokedex entries claiming it's slowness was the cause of its extinction and while those Pokedex entries are supposed to be false its not exactly supposed to be naturally fast and yet it can outspeed Vikavolt. At the very least I think Vikavolt should have got quick attack so that its dex entry makes some sort of sense.