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Im trying to figure out the logic behind why almost every Pokémon used to be able to learn toxic. Maybe because it's described as a technique in RBY and FRLG, if I remember correctly. I know the Serebii website describes it as a technique in Gen 1. So maybe it's not the Pokemon emitting the poison themselves, but it's possibly some kind of ninja fighting technique, as sort of described by Koga (again, if I remember right.) Recent gens now have much fewer Pokémon learn toxic from TMs, which probably makes more sense imo.
Im trying to figure out the logic behind why almost every Pokémon used to be able to learn toxic. Maybe because it's described as a technique in RBY and FRLG, if I remember correctly. I know the Serebii website describes it as a technique in Gen 1. So maybe it's not the Pokemon emitting the poison themselves, but it's possibly some kind of ninja fighting technique, as sort of described by Koga (again, if I remember right.) Recent gens now have much fewer Pokémon learn toxic from TMs, which probably makes more sense imo.
I generally took it as a gameplay-first consideration. Passive damage felt like a significant part of how the battle system was designed, so the designers made sure that the player could access it's most basic form regardless of which mons they were using.
For a more in-universe perspective, it's worth remembering that toxicity is all over the map in nature. A lot of spices and the like were supposed to be poisonous defenses before humans decided they taste good (this is why you don't feed your pet chocolate). Even outside of apples containing cyanide, biology is a finely balanced mess with millions of points of failure, so it's absolutely possible to overdose on basic and essential substances like water or oxygen.
High
Poison: self-explanatory
Bug: frequent use of venom
Grass: frequent use of poison
Ghost: Mechanical identity is passive damage
Dark: archetypal dirty fighting
Steel: heavy metal poisoning is a common talking point
Mid:
Dragon: given the prevalence of venomous reptiles, shows up pretty frequently in mythos (e.g. Hydra's blood)
Fire: smoke inhalation
Rock: still several minerals, most notably Sulfur and Asbestos
Water: Tons of prominent aquatic species (e.g. urchins, jellyfish, stingrays, snails), with venom also showing up occasionally elsewhere (e.g. catfish, male platypi)
Normal: defined by high variability and access to aspects of other types
Ground: can share a decent amount with Rock
Fairy: witch's potions
Low:
Psychic: doesn't care for physical things
Fighting: too honourable
Ice: The type of chemistry not happening
Electric: Can definitely lead to corrosion, but doesn't show up as much when talking about biology
Flying: For the record, there are some birds with toxins, but they're rare.
I generally took it as a gameplay-first consideration. Passive damage felt like a significant part of how the battle system was designed, so the designers made sure that the player could access it's most basic form regardless of which mons they were using.
For a more in-universe perspective, it's worth remembering that toxicity is all over the map in nature. A lot of spices and the like were supposed to be poisonous defenses before humans decided they taste good (this is why you don't feed your pet chocolate). Even outside of apples containing cyanide, biology is a finely balanced mess with millions of points of failure, so it's absolutely possible to overdose on basic and essential substances like water or oxygen.
High
Poison: self-explanatory
Bug: frequent use of venom
Grass: frequent use of poison
Ghost: Mechanical identity is passive damage
Dark: archetypal dirty fighting
Steel: heavy metal poisoning is a common talking point
Mid:
Dragon: given the prevalence of venomous reptiles, shows up pretty frequently in mythos (e.g. Hydra's blood)
Fire: smoke inhalation
Rock: still several minerals, most notably Sulfur and Asbestos
Water: Tons of prominent aquatic species (e.g. urchins, jellyfish, stingrays, snails), with venom also showing up occasionally elsewhere (e.g. catfish, male platypi)
Normal: defined by high variability and access to aspects of other types
Ground: can share a decent amount with Rock
Fairy: witch's potions
Low:
Psychic: doesn't care for physical things
Fighting: too honourable
Ice: The type of chemistry not happening
Electric: Can definitely lead to corrosion, but doesn't show up as much when talking about biology
Flying: For the record, there are some birds with toxins, but they're rare.
That all makes sense! The gameplay first consideration makes a lot of sense to me! Interesting they changed this in later gens. Maybe because there are more options for passive damage now
If you mean Aerial Ace, that's just a generically distributed move. It just involves quickly slashing at the opponent. The flying type is likely just due to the real life move it's based upon.
This move is based on and named after Sasaki Kojirō's "Turning Swallow Cut" sword technique, so named due to its resemblance to the motion of a swallow's tail in flight, and is usually construed as a quick upward slash followed by a second one down the same direction, same as the move's animation.
Maybe the idea is that when fighting Seviper and other snakes, it can drain the poisonous venom out of them? Since Zangoose is immune to being poisoned.
Why do some Pokémon in Gens 3 and 4 (like Machop, Scyther) learn Light Screen only as an egg move, but not by TM? This is unusual, usually a Pokémon can learn an egg move by TM (if there is one for it).
Why do some Pokémon in Gens 3 and 4 (like Machop, Scyther) learn Light Screen only as an egg move, but not by TM? This is unusual, usually a Pokémon can learn an egg move by TM (if there is one for it).
That's possible. But I wonder if it could have been intentional because it only seems to be this way with both of the screen moves, Reflect and Light Screen. And it's like this for both generations 3 and 4.
That's possible. But I wonder if it could have been intentional because it only seems to be this way with both of the screen moves, Reflect and Light Screen. And it's like this for both generations 3 and 4.
It’s definitely intentional. During the earlier generations there were several examples of Pokémon that couldn’t learn moves by TM but the same move could be passed down as Egg Moves. The example I always remember is the Psyduck line being incompatible with the TM for Psychic in Gen 2 but it could hatch knowing it.
I’m pretty sure Earl’s Pokémon Academy in Stadium 2 even covers this with other examples in one of the lessons about Eggs.
It’s definitely intentional. During the earlier generations there were several examples of Pokémon that couldn’t learn moves by TM but the same move could be passed down as Egg Moves. The example I always remember is the Psyduck line being incompatible with the TM for Psychic in Gen 2 but it could hatch knowing it.
I’m pretty sure Earl’s Pokémon Academy in Stadium 2 even covers this with other examples in one of the lessons about Eggs.
In Generation 3, the Oddish line can learn Swords Dance through breeding. But the only eligible fathers that can pass the move down only can get it themselves through move tutor
In Generation 3, the Oddish line can learn Swords Dance through breeding. But the only eligible fathers that can pass the move down only can get it themselves through move tutor
This applies to the Bellsprout line too. This is due to the egg move being carried over from gen 2, where it could be taught to a father in gen 1 through TM
One that I just kind of noticed: Koraidon can learn Meteor Beam, but none of the other Past-Paradoxes can, nor can Miraidon.
It's an odd inclusion to me since, gameplay aside, Koraidon doesn't even make much use of its Special Attack or energy looking traits in its animations compared to Miraidon (excepting the generic Tera Blast). The Future Paradoxes are just kinda splashed about but they do at least include Iron Moth who is given Space Ties by speculation that it's a UFO.
My only guess is that it's a "Meteor killed the Dinosaurs" thing, but it still feels odd given Koraidon is the ONLY only Paradox with the move.
One that I just kind of noticed: Koraidon can learn Meteor Beam, but none of the other Past-Paradoxes can, nor can Miraidon.
It's an odd inclusion to me since, gameplay aside, Koraidon doesn't even make much use of its Special Attack or energy looking traits in its animations compared to Miraidon (excepting the generic Tera Blast). The Future Paradoxes are just kinda splashed about but they do at least include Iron Moth who is given Space Ties by speculation that it's a UFO.
My only guess is that it's a "Meteor killed the Dinosaurs" thing, but it still feels odd given Koraidon is the ONLY only Paradox with the move.
You know when mc squared didn't list bastiodon, I thought maybe it was just forgetting but no they really gave it to Bastiodon and only Bastiodon
SV sure has a lot of these kind of minor move issues, relatively speaking
e: Actually I guess it got it but not Shieldon for the same reason a lot of other "big bulky steel &/or rock types" get it only at their final stage: they're the biggest & bulkiest of rock types.
You know when mc squared didn't list bastiodon, I thought maybe it was just forgetting but no they really gave it to Bastiodon and only Bastiodon
SV sure has a lot of these kind of minor move issues, relatively speaking
e: Actually I guess it got it but not Shieldon for the same reason a lot of other "big bulky steel &/or rock types" get it only at their final stage: they're the biggest & bulkiest of rock types.
