From a game design perspective, this is probably to fit with the theme of draining the enemy's life force. From a biology perspective, I have no idea how they're punching anything with those stubby little arms.This really isn't an explanation, but I find ridiculously charming (and hilarious) the Pokemon that can learn Drain Punch. I remember being blown away that Gloom and Vileplume can learn it and still do; great for coverage in Soul Silver even though it was pretty weak.
*aggressive flailing*From a game design perspective, this is probably to fit with the theme of draining the enemy's life force. From a biology perspective, I have no idea how they're punching anything with those stubby little arms.
This really isn't an explanation, but I find ridiculously charming (and hilarious) the Pokemon that can learn Drain Punch. I remember being blown away that Gloom and Vileplume can learn it and still do; great for coverage in Soul Silver even though it was pretty weak.
I've always been curious as to how that move works. I can see how Vileplume pulls it off, but how do ordinary Fighting-types steal the foes' HP just by hitting them?
Read it again: Slurpuff & Togekiss get Drain Punch, Machamp & Hariyama don't *and also* Togekiss did not get Draining KissDrain kiss involves absorbing something, whether it be with grass roots or fairy power fuckery or just aura/chi. Machamp and Hariyama don't know how to do that.
Or its just a unneeded move in their movepool because its seen as complete
Slurpuff is just the fairy powers that gamefreak likes to use. Togekiss is the same except it inherits the punch from togetic and even though it doesnt have arms, removing moves from a pokemon like that isnt a good gameplay mechanic.Read it again: Slurpuff & Togekiss get Drain Punch, Machamp & Hariyama don't *and also* Togekiss did not get Draining Kiss
Blastoise isn't an amphibian, it's a mammal-reptile kaijuthough other amphibians don't like Blastoise
Honestly by the looks of it, it just seems they've done a bit of both.
- Fighting-types: At first you see Hitmonlee, Mienshao, and Marshadow learn it and think "ah, so Fighting-types that has a special way of fighting only get Drain Punch as it's likely a highly technical move", but then you find Poliwrath, Timburr family, Pancham family and Buzzwole get it and they're mostly just strongman/brawlers little different from Machamp, Hariyama, and all other Fighting-types who miss out on Drain Punch.
- Frog & Water: For some reason all the frog Pokemon (in Sword & Shield) get it, though other amphibians don't like Blastoise. Then we have some other Water-types that miss the train too such as Azumarill & Quagsire.
- Grass-types: Explanation would be, as plants, they naturally know how to absorb energy from the air. But, if that's the case, why doesn't the Snover family, Amoongus (a mushroom with the other Grass-type draining moves), & Tapu Bulu get it?
- Fairy-, Psychic-, & Ghost-types: Draining is due to a more magical nature with these Types? For Fairy's, once again, wheres Azumarill and Tapu Bulu? Psychic-types have Necrozma (especially strange considering what it does) & Metang/Metagross. Finally for Ghosts there is Dusknoir oddly missing.
- Mimikyu & Slashers: Sticking with Ghost-types for a bit, it's odd Mimikyu gets it as it's a slasher, not a puncher. I've skipped over some Pokemon like Barbaracle, Golisopod, Mawile, Hatenna family, Malamar, (Normal & Alolan) Marowak, & many others since they weren't exactly punching Pokemon, but it's not like they couldn't throw a punch and, even if not an expert in it, likely can throw a punch at least better than some Special Attackers would get Drain Punch.
Pikachu315111 a side note about amphibians learning Drain Punch is that Seismitoad has been able to learn it by level since its introduction. As of Gen 8, it is one of only five Pokémon to get it by level, the others being Hitmonchan (a new addition to SwSh), Mienfoo, Mienshao, and Marshadow.
Blastoise isn't an amphibian, it's a mammal-reptile kaiju
Yeah, I don't get that. Get why the others get it level-up, but what about Seismitoad made GF go "oh yeah, this thing needs to learn this via Level-up".![]()
The only thing I can think of is that it has really big hands...? Don't know how frogs drain things though
Sorry but Drain Punch was introduced in DP.It's more about sound & vibrations than anything else. Some quick facts about it:
- Abilities are Swift Swim, Poison Touch, & Water Absorb. The most interesting one there, at least for flavor, is Poison Touch as that means its poisonous; not enough to be Poison-type but enough it can make those who attack it feel ill.
- Head bumps shoots paralyzing liquid.
- Can vibrate its bumps to increase its power, such as the ones on its fists that's able to turn boulders to rubble.
- Can also use the vibrations to cause earthquake-like tremors.
- Are related to the Croagunk species.
- Its vibrating bumps have been used to give massages, making it popular among the elderly.
- It learns Drain Punch as an "Evolution Move" (aka a move it gets upon evolving), otherwise it's a Level 1 move which would need the Move Relearner, TM/TR, or Move Tutor to get.
So, Drain Punch is a move it spontaneously learns upon evolving having reached a form it develops arms to punch with, punches it can power-up with its vibrating bumps. Looking at the design origin interviews, Sugimori didn't really say much about the Tympole line besides they started with Seismitoad and worked their way backwards. So I'm going to throw a theory out here: Seismitoad was originally a Water/Fighting-type. Looking at its design and dex entry concepts, nothing really says "Ground-type" but it using vibrations to increase its punching power? Hence, I'm also going to throw out a second theory: originally, Drain Punch was going to be its Signature Move. How does that make sense? It doesn't, because I'm going to guess Drain Punch itself went through some changes. It was probably called something like "Vibration Punch" and possibly even a different effect. However, not wanting to be an exact copy of the Poliwag family which it was a replacement for, they took the "vibration" concept a different direction relating it to tremors thus now a Water/Ground and not so punch-focused. Suddenly a Fighting-type vibrating punch move doesn't make sense to be its Signature Move. They likely tried reworking Vibration Punch a few different ways to keep with its theme, but ultimately nothing worked out. Eitherway it had become Drain Punch as we know it now ("Drain" likely because they were thinking of making it a Water-type move) or decided to go a different direction with it now that it was no longer a Signature Move but still wanted it be something unique that Seismitoad could have. Would also semi-explain why so many of the frog Pokemon get it, a bit of a development gag.
The only thing I can think of is that it has really big hands...? Don't know how frogs drain things though
At least for Buzzwole, getting drain punch makes perfect sense as it’s based on a mosquito so it getting draining moves is entirely justified.then you find Poliwrath, Timburr family, Pancham family and Buzzwole get it and they're mostly just strongman/brawlers
The list of mons that learn Bounce by level-up is basically a who's who of non-flying aerial mons. Wailord, Hoppip, Hawlucha...I don't agree with everything that can learn it(Cinderace, Maractus, and Politoed all stand out as odd), but there's at least a semblance of thought behind it.
I was going to say that about half of Bounce users are fish Pokemon, but I just remembered that the Japanese word for Splash also means Hop. Bounce could be seen as an upgrade to Splash if you think of Splash as Hop, so that may explain why most Water types that get it get it. Then again, maybe I'm thinking too hard. (Or both. I'm pretty sure about thinking too hard.)Bounce is because it's a move about getting high into the air, but not actually flying, which is pretty reasonable for the Torchic line where they all look like birds and none look capable of flight. The list of mons that learn Bounce by level-up is basically a who's who of non-flying aerial mons. Wailord, Hoppip, Hawlucha...I don't agree with everything that can learn it(Cinderace, Maractus, and Politoed all stand out as odd), but there's at least a semblance of thought behind it.
I'm starting to think you can explain any move on any Pokemon with real life trivia. Want to point out any other moves that don't make sense at first glance?Cinderace is a rabbit and Politoed is a frog. They're kind of known for jumping around.
Maractus could be a joke on the cactus it's based on: The Rabbit Eared Cactus. There's also a species of cactus nicknamed the "Jumping Cactus" as, if you're not careful around it, you can easily brush against it and pieces of it will come off and attach to you.