Pokémon Movepool Oddities & Explanations

khlaylav said:
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.
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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.
 
Dire Dire Docks said:
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.
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*aggressive flailing*

You know those clips where a tall person holds a shorter one at arm's lenght and they flail their hands at them trying to punch? :blobuwu:
 
khlaylav said:
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.
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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?
 
green_typhlosion said:
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?
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Considering Drain Punch was introduced at the same time as the likes of Focus Blast and Aura Sphere, it's possible Drain Punch is part of the Fighting-type moves that involve the use of chi. Basically, a punch that steals part of the target's vital energy.
 
Drain 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
 
Lemingue said:
Drain 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
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Read it again: Slurpuff & Togekiss get Drain Punch, Machamp & Hariyama don't *and also* Togekiss did not get Draining Kiss


Honestly if you look through the drain punch learn list you see a lot of Pokemon punch you with their tiny little nub arms (slurpuff, togetic, vileplume, chansey, wigglytuff, etc) to the point where i think it's meant to be a joke.
 
R_N said:
Read it again: Slurpuff & Togekiss get Drain Punch, Machamp & Hariyama don't *and also* Togekiss did not get Draining Kiss
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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.

They probably just forgot about draining kiss on togekiss or though that togekiss didnt need more kissing moves/draining kiss in general :mehowth: I don't think its that deep.
 
Yeah, there just seems to be no rhyme or reason to what gets Drain Punch and what doesn't. Even if I came up with an explanation for each... than there would be the problem of, if that's the explanation, why don't some other batch of Pokemon learn it even though it seems like they would? To be a short list:

  • 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.

And from there there are some random Types that sneak in making you wonder why others of those Types aren't, not to mention learners of other punches like the Elemental Punches (most Iron Fist Pokemon get Drain Punch at least, Melmetal is the sole exception for some reason even though you'd think a Pokemon who "evolved" via a strong Meltan absorbing its brethren would know a little something about energy conservation).
 
Pikachu315111 said:
  • 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.
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Honestly by the looks of it, it just seems they've done a bit of both.
- Punching-types, as in, both phisical Fighting types and pokemon that can learn elemental punches for this or that reason, probably because of affinity (if you're able to learn a technique that sets your fists on fire, you probably can learn one that lets you drain life force)
- Grass types due to their affinity with draining. I'm assuming Bulu isn't getting it because it doesn't get other punching moves either, probably his "fighting style" is more about ramming into enemies since it's, you know, based on a bull after all, and amungus doesn't actually have hands to punch (his appendages are more akin to shields really). Yes there are other pokemon with no hands that learn punching moves, but these are just a product of "preevo can learn it so we can't make it disappear from evo".
- Fairy/Psychic/Ghosts usually learn it based on their affinity with life-draining magic, and i'll be honest, and as for Azumarill, he also doesn't really learn many punching moves other than the omnidistributd Mega/Focus Punch and Ice Punch (which can make sense as it's a water type) and uuuh... Dynamic Punch I guess? It's understandable as he also doesn't really strike me as being able to punch well with those short arms.
 
CPU said:
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.
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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". :blobthinking:

Lemingue said:
Blastoise isn't an amphibian, it's a mammal-reptile kaiju
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It's a turtle, which are indeed a reptile. Sorry about that, don't know why I thought that, I know tortoise are reptiles but for some reason my mind went "and thus turtles are their amphibian counterparts". :facepalm:
 
Lemingue said:
The only thing I can think of is that it has really big hands...? Don't know how frogs drain things though
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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.

EDIT: Forgot Drain Punch was introduced in Gen IV. :facepalm: So there goes the "Signature Move" theory.
But Seismitoad originally being Water/Fighting is still a possibility, including them changing it to Water/Ground to make it more different from Poliwrath. Heck, maybe it could still have been planned to have a "Vibration Punch", but once they changed it to part Ground they scrapped it but, still wanting it to have a punching move to match its dex entry, gave it Drain Punch cause why not?
 
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Pikachu315111 said:
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.
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Sorry but Drain Punch was introduced in DP.
 
I never thought about Drain Punch much because I just thought it was one of those moves that were weird with what Pokemon can learn them for no obvious reason, like Aura Sphere or Bounce, but I didn't realize every frog with arms could learn it. I think that actually makes a little bit of sense because frogs can absorb water through their skin. It's clever if that's why but still weird. (Edit: Ninja'd because I take way too long with even short posts... -_-)

A few moves were moved from Low Level to Egg Moves in SwSh like Astonish for Swablu or Peck for Torchic. I don't think weird that they didn't lose those moves, just interesting because of how they kept them. Speaking of Torchic, Peck and Brave Bird were replaced as Level Up moves with Aerial Ace and Bounce. Aerial Ace makes some sense after evolution because the Japanese name is a reference to a sword technique, but Bounce? Why?
 
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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.
 
Hugin said:
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.
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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.
 
Hugin said:
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.
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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.)

There's still a few odd ones like Dubwool, Shiftry, Absol, Zoroark, and Stunfisk. Even with the Splash+ theory, I refuse to believe Stunfisk, and is Dubwool's wool really as bouncy as the Pokedex says? I'd also like to point out Galvantula also learns Bounce. I'm not asking why it gets Bounce because of logic because I can see that. I'm questioning why because it wasn't be terrifying in real life already.

By the way there's a few Pokemon that can learn Splash but not Bounce. I'm not questioning some of them because I can think of good reasons, like Wobbuffet not getting any Non-Counter Attacks. Mimikyu can learn Splash but can't learn Bounce. A small hop would let others see what's under the rag, but jumping high enough would terrify its now former friends. Also, Cosmog learns Splash but its evolutions can't learn Bounce. I'm not questioning that. I'm just pointing out the mental image of Solgaleo using Bounce is funny and explains enough.

I'm stumped on explaining why Feebas doesn't get it though when so many other fish do and why is Politoad the only one in Poliwag's evolution chain that can learn Bounce?


All that said, I stand by saying Bounce being one of those weird moves that's hard to explain.


Pikachu315111 said:
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.
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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?
 
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