Pretty sure Water is right up there as the most common types alongside Poison.
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Pokémon Movepool Oddities & Explanations
- Thread starter Kurona
- Start date
It is, but look at the availability, they are almost all via fishing or Surfing, and a new player (expecially in gen 1) would easily miss the Rods (other than Old Rod only giving Magikarps which were significantly hard to get to level 20 and evolve and would easily have discouraged people)
Wow, never noticed that before. Besides Squirtle (starter), the easily encountered things that can Surf are just Snorlax (mandatory), Vaporeon and Lapras. Maybe because I talk to everyone in RPGs so I never see this as an issue before.
Snorlax isn't even mandatory in fact: you can accidentally kill em both as well.
I would agree that the apparently completely random Lapras gift was probably put in there to make sure the player has a relatively easy way to obtain Surf (which you cannot progress without at that point).
I would agree that the apparently completely random Lapras gift was probably put in there to make sure the player has a relatively easy way to obtain Surf (which you cannot progress without at that point).
The scene of Godzilla emerging from the sea is so famous in Japanese and global pop culture it's hard to think that it wasn't an intentional reference, especially since most if not all of the Pokemon that people find weird they are able to use Surf share a pretty explicit Kaju theme. Besides, even in nature, rhinos, as well as kangaroos, are great swimmers.
Maybe... but Mega Punch is the only example I gave that Alakazam could actually learn in Gen 1. It got the Elemental Punches and Dynamic Punch in Gen 2, and continued to learn those on top of Focus Punch in Gen 3. Not to mention Knock Off and Drain Punch, either. So while usually Gen 1 is to blame - and in fact it exclusively learns Submission and Dig there - this is a strange case of mostly originating in later gens.
I don't know about you, but I think that a pokemon with a 3000 IQ should be able to know how to dig or how to punch. You're forgetting that Alakazam is incredibly smart so it only makes sense that it would teach itself moves that would greatly increase its chances of winning in battle ( ala Knock Off) even if it doesn't do damage because of how weak it is. It probably knows Dig by using its mind to remove the ground underneath it. I'm sure that Alakzam can just use Psychic powers to repeatedly batter a pokemon, which explains Submission
As for my theory on why it can learn the elemental punches, I think it has something to do with the spoons it possesses. Like it probably knows how to heat the spoons with intense friction or psychic powers which results in a ball of fire which allows it to use Fire Punch. It probably knows also how to cool off the spoon using the wind or using its psychic powers on the cold water vapor in the air to freeze the spoon. As for Thunderpunch, you know what happens when you stick a fork in an electric socket, same process probably happens here ( Alakazam can also use its thunder wave powers on it as well). That way, Alakzam isn't really punching but jabbing the enemy with the Spoon alit with its Elemental power. And because there's no physical body part of Alakazams involved, Alakazam can effectively use the Elemental punches. Alakazam probably can use the spoons to hit pressure points for Dynamic Punch as well, and just enhance its spoon jabbing powers with its psychic abilities for Mega Punch
As for Drain Punch, the same thing occurs, except Alakazam probably uses its spoons for its ... "real-life" function and drains the enemy pokemon
Yes, I just insinuated pokemon cannabalism. Just deal with it
A Physical Electric-type not having Swords Dance is the least of their problems, them having basically no to limited physical physical Electric-type moves is more of a major problem. There's 4 non-Signature Physical Electric-type moves: Spark (60 Power), Thunder Fang (65 Power), Thunder Punch (75 Power), Wild Charge (90 Power but 25% recoil).
I just noticed that girafarig can learn razor wind, which doesn´t make sense to me.
Most of the pokemon that can learn razor wind either have wings or scythes to whip up a whirlwind. Some pokemon (helioptile, treecko) whip up the whirlwind by just running around real fast I suppose, which still makes some sense.
Girafarig has neither of these things. It doesn't even anything even remotely related to wind. The only possible explanation would be its tail that counts as the 'scythe', which would be pretty stupid imo.
While I'm at it, bulbasaur and totodile were able to learn razor wind as well, but only in gen II. I guess in bulbasaur's case he cuts the air with leafs or something, and totodile uses his claws. Still, a lot of pokemon can abuse leafs or have claws, so this isn't a very solid explanation. thematically, it doesn't fit the bulbasaur and totodile lines either.
Most of the pokemon that can learn razor wind either have wings or scythes to whip up a whirlwind. Some pokemon (helioptile, treecko) whip up the whirlwind by just running around real fast I suppose, which still makes some sense.
Girafarig has neither of these things. It doesn't even anything even remotely related to wind. The only possible explanation would be its tail that counts as the 'scythe', which would be pretty stupid imo.
While I'm at it, bulbasaur and totodile were able to learn razor wind as well, but only in gen II. I guess in bulbasaur's case he cuts the air with leafs or something, and totodile uses his claws. Still, a lot of pokemon can abuse leafs or have claws, so this isn't a very solid explanation. thematically, it doesn't fit the bulbasaur and totodile lines either.
I was thinking that it might just do that with its psychic powers, being a Psychic-type and all, but then again, it would probably have Magical Leaf instead if that were the case, so... I got nothing, sorry. :(
Kartana learning Smart Strike is rather odd. Smart Strike is supposedly performed by stabbing the opponent with a horn, and as such, almost all Pokemon that learn it have a horn. The three exceptions are Necrozma, Celesteela, and Kartana. Necrozma is pretty pointy and jagged, so I guess it gets a pass. Celesteela's head and shoulders(?) are pointy as well, so it kinda works. But Kartana? Sure, it's sharp, but it's not pointy. It's built for slashing, not for stabbing. They probably gave it Smart Strike so would have some form of Steel STAB. However, they could have just as easily given it Steel Wing, which is incredibly similar to Smart Strike in that it's a 70 power Steel move taught through TM. True, Kartana may not have proper wings, but its arms have a wing-like shape, and it would pay homage to paper airplanes and origami swans.
Togetic does not have a horn either (though Togetic is another matter, as neither Togepi nor Togekiss can learn the move).
My assumption is that Kartana merely stabs with one of its arms. But then again... shouldn't the Honedge line learn it as well?
Togetic actually does sort of have horns in the form of the spikes on its head. They may not look like much, but they're apparently pretty important, as "toge" is Japanese for "spike" and Togepi is even classified as the Spike Ball Pokemon. Why Togekiss can't learn it is anyone's guess, along with Shiinotic and Sunny Day.
The Honedge line would definitely be more qualified than Kartana to learn Smart Strike, as swords are better at stabbing that paper, though it would only further rub salt on No Guard being pretty useless on them. Seriously, the least Game Freak could do is give them Will-o-wisp like so many other Ghosts.
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Brought up in another thread but I think belong here.
Zubat family can learn Bite and Poison Fang. Makes sense, they got those big ol' mouths, so what's the problem? Why don't they also learn Crunch? And while I can sort of see why they don't get Ice Fang and Thunder Fang, why can't it learn Fire Fang from Move Tutors?
Continuing from there, while I don't think all Pokemon that learn Bite should learn Crunch, there are some which I think should and Pokemon that learn Crunch should learn Bite early on:
Ekans: While Arbok learns Crunch, Ekans doesn't for some reason.
Zubat family: Talked about above.
Eevee family: While not all members of the Eevee family can use Crunch, there are some who could.
Snorlax family: They learn Crunch, but not Bite. You'd think Bite would be a move it starts out with.
Girafarig: Another Cruncher but not Biter, despite its Dex description.
Entei: So, for some reason Raikou learns Crunch but not Entei, what?
Bidoof family: Learns Crunch but not Bite.
Gabite family: The only biting move any of them learn is Garchomp which learns Crunch... And yes, even their Japanese name are biting based...
Archen family: Crunch but not Bite despite that beak full of teeth.
Litleo family: A cub should learn to Bite first before it gets to Crunch.
Furfrou: Sure it's more meant to be a wall, but its a wall that can Bite so why not also let it Crunch?
Teddiursa family: Only gets Crunch as an Egg Move.
Zubat family can learn Bite and Poison Fang. Makes sense, they got those big ol' mouths, so what's the problem? Why don't they also learn Crunch? And while I can sort of see why they don't get Ice Fang and Thunder Fang, why can't it learn Fire Fang from Move Tutors?
Continuing from there, while I don't think all Pokemon that learn Bite should learn Crunch, there are some which I think should and Pokemon that learn Crunch should learn Bite early on:
Ekans: While Arbok learns Crunch, Ekans doesn't for some reason.
Zubat family: Talked about above.
Eevee family: While not all members of the Eevee family can use Crunch, there are some who could.
Snorlax family: They learn Crunch, but not Bite. You'd think Bite would be a move it starts out with.
Girafarig: Another Cruncher but not Biter, despite its Dex description.
Entei: So, for some reason Raikou learns Crunch but not Entei, what?
Bidoof family: Learns Crunch but not Bite.
Gabite family: The only biting move any of them learn is Garchomp which learns Crunch... And yes, even their Japanese name are biting based...
Archen family: Crunch but not Bite despite that beak full of teeth.
Litleo family: A cub should learn to Bite first before it gets to Crunch.
Furfrou: Sure it's more meant to be a wall, but its a wall that can Bite so why not also let it Crunch?
Teddiursa family: Only gets Crunch as an Egg Move.
You'll note only Eevee gets Bite and since it had it in gen 1 it had it going forward even after it became a Dark type move. It's one thing to have no qualms giving Eevee access to things like Shadow Ball & Iron Tail, but they probably drew the line at giving Eevee what was basically the best dark type move when they had a dark type eeveelution.
Some what arbitrary? Probably, especially since there's weird things like Flareon, Espeon & Umbreon learning Zap Cannon by tm in gen 2 . But such is the way of gamefreak.
The real question is why Umbreon doesn't naturally learn Bite in addition to why it, specifically, doesn't learn Crunch, I'd say.
Raikou has some big ol' teeth
(ignore the way actual sabretooths used their teeth)
It's implied that in the Pokemon world, aura is life force energy which probably takes a lot of power and discipline in order to use without killing yourself in the process:
Mewtwo & Mew: Powerful Pokemon and Mew is considered the origin of all Pokemon with Mewtwo being its clone.
Lucario: A species that just has natural aura controlling powers once properly trained. Also Lucario's design could be based on the Egyptian God of death Anubis, one of his duties being guiding souls to the afterlife (not the Japanese name for "aura" is "wave-guiding").
Togekiss: It seems to be full of life energy. To peaceful regions if gives gifts of kindness and sweet blessings via the life energy, so I could imagine any hostile threat would receive this life energy in a more painful way.
Creation Trio: In addition to being powerful they're responsible for causing the expansion of space, flow of time, and creating balance which are essential for life to exist.
Mienfoo family: Spiritual Pokemon who practice martial arts which involve exact and graceful movements.
Clawitzer & Squritle: They get the Ability Mega Launcher (well, Mega Blastoise does).
Magearna: It literally absorb the life energy of defeated foes to become stronger...
"Then why don't Xerneas and Yveltal learn it? Or how about the Meditite family? Odd the Creation Trio can learn it but not Arcues? And how about all those Ghost-types? Or..."
Because GF didn't think of it. Also it could be a balance thing for the Ghost-types.
Criteria for Aura Sphere: vague control of life energy OR just big ol cannons. just giant bazookas.