Pokémon Movepool Oddities & Explanations

[Hugin]

I'm not convinced that there's an inherent association with bird Pokemon - just that those Pokemon that get the move happen to be bird-like. "Suggestion" is an odd word in this context but throws up associations with illusion and telepathy. Most of the Pokemon that get Psycho Shift tend to be ones which use their psychic (or Dark, Fairy, etc) powers for these purposes rather than manipulating the elements, and learn similar moves that mess with the opponent's stability or perceptions.
...
Though I'm surprised that the Ralts line doesn't get the move, nor Audino - they're strongly linked to empathic powers of that nature.

Thing is, it's not that the pokes that get it shouldn't. It's that plenty of ones that should get it don't. I'd expect a learnset like Wonder Room or Telekinesis, where basically any psychic type or magical poke* can get it. Instead it's basically only Psychic birds. Noctowl is fine, but Beheeyem has at least as much justification for the move and doesn't get it, and I can't see why that is.

*Ghosts, Delphox, Golduck, etc

 

[Pikachu315111]

Elgibility for Sky Battles is determined by the Pokemon's 3D model being actually off the ground. Hawlucha is probably the most infamous example of this; Gengar is another one despite having Levitate at the time (which counts for Weezing, Bronzong, etc.)

Ironically they then changed Gengar's Ability from Levitate to Cursed Body in Gen VII, like you're one gen too late there GF. Also another reason why I think they made is so you can't use Gengar in Sky Battles is more because of Mega Gengar who's design gimmick involves it phasing into the ground, harkening toward its species name being the "Shadow Pokemon". I'll skip the rant on the laziness of GF being with the models for flying Pokemon as we've heard variations of it already and this isn't the thread for it.

Well the birds that do get it I mostly understand why they get it it but I never noticed why its primarily birds....

Also Abra lost the ability to use it for some reason

Hmm... I notice that, until Galarian Articuno, the only Pokemon that naturally learned Psycho Shift all got it in Gen IV when the move was introduced. So, keeping in mind the idea behind the move is that the Pokemon uses it's mind powers to force status ailment shift, let's see what Pokemon in the DP Regional Dex matches that idea:

• Abra family does... except they don't really need it. While it can have Inner Focus of Magic Guard, if the Abra family is worried about status ailments than it has the Synchronize Ability which does the same thing Psycho Shift does but automatically instead of needing to waste a turn. Sure it got it via breeding for a few gens but I guess GF then remembered the original reason why they didn't give it to it.
• Hoothoot family is there and they're pretty smart so get it.
• Uxie you'd think would get it being the Pokemon that granted knowledge, it's even a defensive Pokemon that would probably like to shift status ailment off of it. Then again, Uxie knows Yawn so maybe they think it would rather put its opponent to Sleep than try and shift whatever random status ailment that gets onto it. Also another gimmick about the Lake Guardians is that they "remove" things from their opponent, the most status ailments they give is Sleep and Confusion as that can be seen as taking away consciousness/mental awareness.

And that's really it. There's really no other "brainy" Pokemon part of DP's Regional Dex. Well, there's also Cresselia which is a Gen IV Pokemon though not part of the dex, and I guess its power is "mental" enough it makes sense having it. Anyway, we explained away why Abra family and Uxie doesn't get it and why Hoothoot family does, but what about the Pokemon not part of Sinnoh's dex that did?

• Natu family likely got it because it's also a smart bird. Like, if non-Psychic Hoothoot is getting it, surely the actual smart Psychic bird should. And I said SMART, Lugia is a Psychic bird but it's more about power than mental capability.
• Speaking of Legendaries, the Eon Duo and Deoxys are likely the only other Psychic-type Legendaries/Mythicals they saw as brainy. Mewtwo is about power, Mew has Synchronize, Lugia is about power, Celebi's gimmick is time travel, Jirachi is granting wishes, & Lake Guardians gimmick is about them taking away attributes. The Eon Duo are intelligent the ability to comprehend human languages and disguise themselves as humans while Deoyxs is an alien being which are often portrayed having higher intelligence.
• Togepi is an oddball, but it could get it as they are empathetic and can change people's mood. Remember Egg Moves are allowed to stretch what Pokemon can get a move as it's not really natural for them to have it anyway, you're manipulating genetics to allow for that stretch to happen.
• Murkrow are smart but they aren't psychic, so for them to get it they need it via an Egg Move.

Now, since Hoothoot is the only Pokemon that learns it in the Sinnoh Regional Dex, this means only Pokemon in the Flying-type Egg Group could have it passed down to them. I'm guessing that's the sort of logic they followed to allow Natu get it naturally, and why only Togepi and Murkrow get it as an Egg Move. Next gen seemingly keeps with that restriction by only allowing Sigilyph to get it. Gen VI is when a major change happens and allows not only Woobat to get it but also Abra & Spinda, both who need a parent Smeargle that knows it. Then it wasn't until Gen VII was Indeedee was added who can only get it via Togepi family.

So, oddly, it feels like the reason many other Psychic-types and smart Pokemon don't get it is because of this odd sense of keeping it within the Egg Groups of the Pokemon that naturally learned it, then only allowing a small selection via Smeargle and 2-step chain breeding.

#FreePsychoShift

Edit: Speaking of Galarian Stunfisk, why is Snap Trap (its signature move) a Grass type move? Its animation looks like a metal trap, even.

Foothold traps are usually effective when hidden in long grass?

 

[Pikachu315111]

Random Thought: Why can't Smeargle just learn every TM and Tutor Move from their TM and Move Tutor?

 

[ScraftyIsTheBest]

Random Thought: Why can't Smeargle just learn every TM and Tutor Move from their TM and Move Tutor?

I believe the entire gimmick of Smeargle is that it "sketches" moves from other Pokemon, so it can't actually be taught any move artificially by machine or through a person teaching it. It learns through mimicry and drawing the execution of moves that other Pokemon do, and that's how it can then use moves by seeing how other Pokemon do it and etch it into its memory.

Machinery or tutoring wouldn't work for it since they don't allow Smeargle to use its drawing/painting talents to capture the way another Pokemon would use moves, and Smeargle likely isn't built to be like that.

 

[Pikachu315111]

I believe the entire gimmick of Smeargle is that it "sketches" moves from other Pokemon, so it can't actually be taught any move artificially by machine or through a person teaching it. It learns through mimicry and drawing the execution of moves that other Pokemon do, and that's how it can then use moves by seeing how other Pokemon do it and etch it into its memory.

Machinery or tutoring wouldn't work for it since they don't allow Smeargle to use its drawing/painting talents to capture the way another Pokemon would use moves, and Smeargle likely isn't built to be like that.

I get that... but at the same time both TMs and Tutors are also artificial ways for a Pokemon to learn a move. What about the way a TM and Tutor ways of teaching a move that prevents Smeargle from just learning how to "Sketch" the move?

TMs: It's always been a mystery how TMs work since they're compact discs but we never see a machine which we put the disc in to teach the Pokemon the move. But eitherway, assumingly what we do with the TM puts the knowledge for how the Pokemon uses that move in its head thus how it learns it. So, it's a mental thing, thus shouldn't Smeargle be able to put that knowledge into a sketch?

Tutor: The way it's implied Tutor teach a Pokemon a move is exactly how Smeargle learns moves: the Tutor shows the Pokemon how to do the move, thus Smeargle should be able to Sketch it. If anything Smeargle would be an A+ student as it would be able to perform the Move first try, lol.

 

[Bakugames]

The real reason is probably they want to incentivize searching for pokemon with good moves to sketch, either wild or battle ones. Though i never used smeargle in gen 2 so idk how you'd get more than one sketch. How does the move relearner work there? Do heart scales exist in gen 2?

 

[jordanthejq12]

The real reason is probably they want to incentivize searching for pokemon with good moves to sketch, either wild or battle ones. Though i never used smeargle in gen 2 so idk how you'd get more than one sketch. How does the move relearner work there? Do heart scales exist in gen 2?

There's no Move Relearner in GSC, but Smeargle has always gotten an instance of Sketch every ten levels.

 

[Pikachu315111]

There's no Move Relearner in GSC, but Smeargle has always gotten an instance of Sketch every ten levels.

Only way to reteach a move to a Pokemon in Gen II (and Gen I via the Time Capsule) was if you had Pokemon Stadium 2. Defeating the Elite Four & Champion at the Gym Leader Castle to one of your Pokemon that was "involved with the battle".

Otherwise you'd have to plan in advance what moves you wanted your Smeargle to have and how it was going to get them.

 

[CPU]

Everything about Snap Trap honestly feels desgined for Stunfisk-G specifically except the typing.

The animation is literally an iron trap! The name references it specifically (the japanese name is even foothold trap). I feel if they were trying to future proof it, they'd either keep it more vaguely trap ish (I'm thinking akin to the Genius Sonority bite animations) or even go for a more venus fly trap visual. Maybe even change the name to something like "Hidden Trap"

Galarian Stunfisk is a Pokémon with literally none of its signature aspects (or distinct ones, when comparing it to Unovan Stunfisk) really working for it. Okay, it gets Mimicry! That's cool! Except it doesn't get any Grass/Electric/Psychic/Fairy moves aside from Snap Trap (lol), and it doesn't get Nature Power. It DOES get Terrain Pulse, which is something, except it overlaps pretty heavily in function with Nature Power (which isn't snapped), and Galarian Stunfisk's Special Attack stat is lower than its Unovan counterpart, so it can't make that great of use of it.

Speaking of other attacks, you know how many Physical Steel moves it gets? One. Metal Claw.

 

[R_N]

Galarian Stunfisk is a Pokémon with literally none of its signature aspects (or distinct ones, when comparing it to Unovan Stunfisk) really working for it. Okay, it gets Mimicry! That's cool! Except it doesn't get any Grass/Electric/Psychic/Fairy moves aside from Snap Trap (lol), and it doesn't get Nature Power. It DOES get Terrain Pulse, which is something, except it overlaps pretty heavily in function with Nature Power (which isn't snapped), and Galarian Stunfisk's Special Attack stat is lower than its Unovan counterpart, so it can't make that great of use of it.

Speaking of other attacks, you know how many Physical Steel moves it gets? One. Metal Claw.

Looking through its moves it doesn't even get any bite moves except Ice Fang. Only Ice Fang

 

[CPU]

Looking through its moves it doesn't even get any bite moves except Ice Fang. Only Ice Fang

Probably a result of it still learning Water moves, just as Unovan Stunfisk does. The only Electric move it gets is the non-damaging Thunder Wave, and Fire Fang would be kinda weird.

It does get Crunch actually!

 

[R_N]

Probably a result of it still learning Water moves, just as Unovan Stunfisk does. The only Electric move it gets is the non-damaging Thunder Wave, and Fire Fang would be kinda weird.

It does get Crunch actually!

Oh you're right, looked over that like 3 times. Only as a TR, really?

It still seems like it should've learned Bite, Thunder Fang (which wouldn't be that weird for a metal critter) & Psychic Fangs, personally.

 

[Hugin]

Okay, let's look at Drill Peck. First off, why do Delibird and Empoleon get it? Those are not considered birds with large beaks, compared with something like Unfezant or Swanna that don't get it. Second, did GF just forget this move exists in general? A decent handful of gen 1 and 2 mons get it, sure, but then nothing in 3, 5, or 6, literally only the Empoleon line in 4, Toucannon in 7, and Corviknight and Cramorant in 8. It went from being the go-to move to give lategame birds to not even existing in 3 gens and barely being around in the other 3.

Also, wow, Flying-type gets no love. Dual Wingbeat is the first non-signature Flying move introduced since Gen 5.

 

[Pikachu315111]

Galarian Stunfisk is a Pokémon with literally none of its signature aspects (or distinct ones, when comparing it to Unovan Stunfisk) really working for it. Okay, it gets Mimicry! That's cool! Except it doesn't get any Grass/Electric/Psychic/Fairy moves aside from Snap Trap (lol), and it doesn't get Nature Power. It DOES get Terrain Pulse, which is something, except it overlaps pretty heavily in function with Nature Power (which isn't snapped), and Galarian Stunfisk's Special Attack stat is lower than its Unovan counterpart, so it can't make that great of use of it.

Speaking of other attacks, you know how many Physical Steel moves it gets? One. Metal Claw.

Hmm, looking its Bulbapedia page, I believe I see the problem with Galarian Stunfisk: it's an idea which sound goods on paper but not in practice.

1. So, we take Stunfisk from being an Ground/Electric Special-oriented electric land mind and change it into a Ground/Steel Physical-oriented foothold trap. So far so good.
   
   
2. First fumble comes with Moves. Now regional forms don't completely change their movepools, just swap around a few moves that fit the new Pokemon's typing and design. With G-Stunfisk its out with the Electric moves and in with the Steel-type moves (... mostly, we'll get to it), a change of a total for 4 moves. Thunder Shock was swapped with Metal Claw, a fair trade. Charge with Metal Sound... not good, Metal Sound decreases Special Attack which G-Stunfisk can't really bank on, I think this is maybe where they should have placed its Signature Move Snap Trap as Level 20 is probably when you should start enforcing the theme of the Pokemon. Electric Terrain is replaced with Iron Defense, I guess a fine swap here. And finally, at Level 45, Discharge with Snap Trap... alright, let's talk about Snap Trap and why this doesn't work.
   
   Why wasn't Snap Trap Steel-type? And why is it just 35 Power? "Well they're probably thinking of future distribution and want Carnivine to get it". Okay... that doesn't answer the question. As of right now Carnivine doesn't have it, it's not even in SwSh, right now this move was designed for G-Stunfisk therefore should be Steel. Note, I'm not saying that may have been the mindset... I'm saying it's a STUPID mindset that sabotages the current Pokemon for a possible decision they'll do later. Also, why wouldn't Carnivine be able to get it if it was Steel-type? Since when did it matter? If it's because it has 35 Power, well, MAKE IT STRONGER! It should be stronger, this is not an appropriate replacement for Discharge! Iron Head would be an appropriate replacement for Discharge. As I said, I think Snap Trap should have been placed at Level 20 as an enforcement of its theme. Not saying all Siganture Moves should be like that, but I think a Pokemon which is based foothold trap probably should have a trapping move early on cause what else is it doing otherwise? Heck, you encounter it by it chomping down on you, yet in-battle it has no biting or trapping moves!?
   
   Also, G-Stunfisk needed more moves changed around then just the Electric ones. Notably, the Special moves. Water Gun should have been changed with Bite and Muddy Water with Crunch. It can keep Mud Shot and Mud Bomb as it gets STAB from them and keeps the reference to its mud habitat (though maybe they should have has it get out of the mud), then again exchanging Mud Bomb for Spikes I think would have been a better decision. It's not like it couldn't learn Muddy Water and Mud Bomb again, they're both TM/TR in Gen VIII!
   
   Speaking of which, another reason why the swap from Electric to Steel didn't work. Well, maybe it could have; GF, one question: WHERE IS IRON HEAD?! Are you really being THAT picky? It makes sense, G-Stunfisk attacks you by leaping at you and closing down with its iron spikes, so it using Iron Head would be the leaping part but maybe not with the closing down (though it'll still likely hit you with its spikes). Come on now. Also, I'll note that normal Stunfisk gets a lot of Electric-type TMs/TRs incase Discharge isn't your style. G-Stunfisk gets rid of them... and replace them with nothing. And considering its Ability, this would have been the chance to teach it Electric (Thunder Fang, Volt Switch, Wild Charge), Grass (Bullet Seed, Seed Bomb), Fairy (Play Rough), and Psychic (Zen Headbutt, Psychic Fangs) moves.
   
   
3. That leads to its Ability and moves connected to it. And I sort of get why it gets it, you can place foothold traps in all sorts of terrain... but the problem is it can't make use of it because of several DUMB decisions. You made a version of Forecast yet completely missed what you did to make Forecast (sort of) work! First, Forecast's charm wasn't the Type changing but the gimmick connected to it, Castform changed forms along with its Typing. G-Stunfisk does not do this, so that little charm factor is out (you could have at least had the footprints on its back change color...). Second, just so Castform always had a STAB move, it was also given Weather Ball. Not only did you wait till the DLC to give it a similar move for Terrains(?!), you made Terrain Pulse a Special move so it's going off its weakest stat(?!?)! Oh, and not to mention while Castform learned all the weather summoning moves so it could at least have some control, G-Stunfisk learns none of the Terrain summoning moves(?!?!?)! Also, I would have given it a whole batch of biting moves and made it possible to get Strong Jaw, I'd imagine a Pokemon with a foothold trap would be very good at biting *looks toward Drednaw*.

G-Stunfisk could have worked. But GF both had too many ideas going on with it and also not willing to go outside their comfort zone. So what we end up with this regional variant that feels like it hasn't fully adapted to its new life. *heavy sigh*

Okay, let's look at Drill Peck. First off, why do Delibird and Empoleon get it? Those are not considered birds with large beaks, compared with something like Unfezant or Swanna that don't get it. Second, did GF just forget this move exists in general? A decent handful of gen 1 and 2 mons get it, sure, but then nothing in 3, 5, or 6, literally only the Empoleon line in 4, Toucannon in 7, and Corviknight and Cramorant in 8. It went from being the go-to move to give lategame birds to not even existing in 3 gens and barely being around in the other 3.

Also, wow, Flying-type gets no love. Dual Wingbeat is the first non-signature Flying move introduced since Gen 5.

Well Empoleon's beak also compromises of the trident horns. Not that it or Delibird make use of it, they're Special Attackers,

As for why not that many of the bird Pokemon get it, notably the ones who could make use of it like Unfezant and Swanna, if I had to guess I'd probably say cause GF forgets about it time to time. Drill Peck is very much exclusive to bird Pokemon, has no secondary effect, and when you think of strong bird/Flying-type moves you probably think Brave Bird.

We've discussed in length the problem with Flying-type moves, that GF is so focused on the user needing wings or bird parts. Got Flying-types without any strong Flying-type moves because GF seems to auto think birds or other winged animals when thinking about Flying-types.

 

[DrPumpkinz]

Well Empoleon's beak also compromises of the trident horns. Not that it or Delibird make use of it, they're Special Attackers,

An extra ten points of Special Attack do not make you a special attacker. Especially not when you have Hustle.

It may not make much sense for Delibird or Empoleon to get it, because their beaks aren't very drill-like, but it makes no sense for Swanna to not get it. With the long beak and long neck, it's got the same basic shape as Fearow, the premier Drill Peck mon.

 

[CPU]

That leads to its Ability and moves connected to it. And I sort of get why it gets it, you can place foothold traps in all sorts of terrain... but the problem is it can't make use of it because of several DUMB decisions. You made a version of Forecast yet completely missed what you did to make Forecast (sort of) work! First, Forecast's charm wasn't the Type changing but the gimmick connected to it, Castform changed forms along with its Typing. G-Stunfisk does not do this, so that little charm factor is out (you could have at least had the footprints on its back change color...). Second, just so Castform always had a STAB move, it was also given Weather Ball. Not only did you wait till the DLC to give it a similar move for Terrains(?!), you made Terrain Pulse a Special move so it's going off its weakest stat(?!?)! Oh, and not to mention while Castform learned all the weather summoning moves so it could at least have some control, G-Stunfisk learns none of the Terrain summoning moves(?!?!?)! Also, I would have given it a whole batch of biting moves and made it possible to get Strong Jaw, I'd imagine a Pokemon with a foothold trap would be very good at biting *looks toward Drednaw*.

Heh, I forgot it doesn't even get any Terrain moves.

As I brought up earlier, I don't really see the point of Terrain Pulse when Nature Power exists and is functionally very similar to Terrain Pulse; it trades a bit of base power for secondary effects and actually doing something interesting without any current terrain. Not really relevant to G-Stunfisk but it's notable IMO. I suppose the two moves have different learners, but still. Why?

At the very least, G-Stunfisk has very high stats for where you catch it and has surprisingly diverse coverage (Ground, Water, Rock, Fighting, Dark, Flying, Steel ), and some snappy animations.

Fun concept that plays off of Stunfisk's original idea well but doesnt manage to make anything of it.

 

[spookysocialist]

Hmm, looking its Bulbapedia page, I believe I see the problem with Galarian Stunfisk: it's an idea which sound goods on paper but not in practice.

1. So, we take Stunfisk from being an Ground/Electric Special-oriented electric land mind and change it into a Ground/Steel Physical-oriented foothold trap. So far so good.

Minor point, but why do you say Unovan stunfisk is based on a land mine? It doesn't appear to be based on anything other than flatfish and electric eels and bulbapedia doesn't mention anything related to land mines.

 

[Pikachu315111]

Minor point, but why do you say Unovan stunfisk is based on a land mine? It doesn't appear to be based on anything other than flatfish and electric eels and bulbapedia doesn't mention anything related to land mines.

Hm, could have sworn I read it somewhere. Made sense to me, while it is based on a flatfish, the fact the dex puts focus on people stepping on it and it then giving off a shock sounded like they had an idea of it being an electric land mine. And while still no proof of it, G-Stunfisk being made into another land trap, this time a foothold trap, maybe points to it being a possibility?

 

[Volt-Ikazuchi]

Okay, let's look at Drill Peck. First off, why do Delibird and Empoleon get it? Those are not considered birds with large beaks, compared with something like Unfezant or Swanna that don't get it. Second, did GF just forget this move exists in general? A decent handful of gen 1 and 2 mons get it, sure, but then nothing in 3, 5, or 6, literally only the Empoleon line in 4, Toucannon in 7, and Corviknight and Cramorant in 8. It went from being the go-to move to give lategame birds to not even existing in 3 gens and barely being around in the other 3.

Also, wow, Flying-type gets no love. Dual Wingbeat is the first non-signature Flying move introduced since Gen 5.

That's nothing. Take a look at Water-type moves. Scratch off the signature ones and the HMs.
I'll wait.

Spoiler

XD made the problem very obvious.

 

[Hugin]

That's nothing. Take a look at Water-type moves. Scratch off the signature ones and the HMs.
I'll wait.

Spoiler

XD made the problem very obvious.

Flip Turn and Life Dew in 8, Liquidation in 7, nothing in 6. That's better than Flying, sadly.

The problem in XD wasn't lack of good/passable moves that gen(Hydro Pump/Water Pulse/Water Spout/Muddy Water/Bubble Beam all existed), it was that the distribution was terrible because everything assumed you'd be teaching it Surf ASAP. Why give Seel dual STAB by level when it'll be getting a 90BP water move that you can't delete at lvl 30?Unless you don't get Surf, then it's miserable. XD should have revised the learnsets to compensate, but...GF doesn't always think things through.

 

[R_N]

Flip Turn and Life Dew in 8, Liquidation in 7, nothing in 6. That's better than Flying, sadly.

The problem in XD wasn't lack of good/passable moves that gen(Hydro Pump/Water Pulse/Water Spout/Muddy Water/Bubble Beam all existed), it was that the distribution was terrible because everything assumed you'd be teaching it Surf ASAP. Why give Seel dual STAB by level when it'll be getting a 90BP water move that you can't delete at lvl 30?Unless you don't get Surf, then it's miserable. XD should have revised the learnsets to compensate, but...GF doesn't always think things through.

Wouldn't really blame GF on not reworking movesets for a game they didn't make, there....

e: Also the XD Seel does get Surf as one of its moves, albeit locked behind purification.

 

[Volt-Ikazuchi]

Flip Turn and Life Dew in 8,

No 90BP move. Flip Turn is pretty dope tho.

Liquidation in 7,

And that is it. This is why I brought up XD.

Spheal does not get Surf on purification. This means Spheal gets Water Pulse as its ONLY Water STAB for the entire game.

To twist the knife further, for obvious reasons, mons do not learn Surf via level-up in the games where it's a field move. So unless you got a sig move or Scald via level-up, you're well and truly borked.

Here's an example: Gen 7 Pelipper. You're holding on to Brine for dear life until you either find the Scald TM or get to Lv. 50 for Hydro Pump. Oh yeah, Surf is post-game. For reasons. Enjoy that USUM experience.

An even worse example? Sharpedo doesn't even get WATER GUN in Gen 3.

Horrible design all around.

 

[Celever]

I think it's fine for new moves to just not be introduced to types that don't need it. Many of the more recent high distribution moves for certain types have basically just replaced an old move that was functioning fine. E.G. Liquidation obsoleting Waterfall; Bug Buzz obsoleting Signal Beam (to the extent that it got cut); Knock Off when buffed obsoleting literally every other physical Dark-Type move besides Sucker Punch; Poltergeist basically obsoleting every other physical Ghost-Type move besides Shadow Sneak. The only time you see any of the other moves used is on Pokémon who don't get access to the better versions, which usually just makes them worse than similar options who do get the moves.

Though this isn't saying that those new moves shouldn't have been introduced, either. They've all done good things for their types' identities -- Bug Buzz being sound-based is a neat perk for Bug-Type Pokémon, Knock Off removing the item is good dirty play and Poltergeist relying on the item is finally a good characterisation of how an immaterial Ghost-Type could deal good physical damage. They result in interesting counters like Colbur Berry for Knock Off, or no item at all for Poltergeist, too. Moves that give types more unique identities are cool, and it's fine when they're good.

But that's why saying something like "poor Flying-Type, they haven't had a new move in ages" doesn't make much sense. Flying-Type is designed in an interesting way, with inaccurate moves on the special side and very accurate moves on the physical. It has a niche move in Acrobatics which has a wide distribution and also does something fun with items -- doubling in power if the user doesn't have one -- in particular synergising well with Unburden (and most Unburden Pokémon learn Acrobatics, from memory the only exception is Hitmonlee?). The physical side also just received Dual Wingbeat -- essentially a needed power-upgrade to its predecessor Aerial Ace -- with a cool consistently 2-hit effect that actually hasn't been done before to play around Focus Sash and Sturdy. On the special side, Flying-Type Pokémon have the classic choice of special moves between a really powerful but inaccurate option (Hurricane) or a weaker but more accurate one (Air Slash). Both of these have an interesting Flying-Type aspect, where actually almost every special-based Flying-Type move has a pretty useful secondary effect, in Air Slash's case being a high flinch chance and in Hurricane's a high confusion one. And Hurricane even synergises with Rain Dance.

I don't see what move the Flying-Type is lacking. At most they could copy Water-Type and have an inbetween of Air Slash and Hurricane as its version of Surf (in this case Hurricane is Hydro Pump and Air Slash is Scald due to its secondary effect). But it's nowhere near where some types have been at until recently -- Ghost-Type having no powerful physical moves, for instance -- and where Fairy-Type is still at. Moonblast and Play Rough are uncontested as the best moves and Dazzling Gleam is a downgrade for Pokémon who don't learn Moonblast. It means that players don't have to put any thought into what STAB to use on their Fairy-Type Pokémon, which is pretty sad. Misty Explosion was the biggest disappointment of the new tutor moves, honestly.

Also, Stunfisk-Galar was doomed from the get-go due to Steel-Type having a poor catalogue of moves as well. It's meant to be the defensive type, but in that case it really needs more utility moves. Spikes ended up being Ground-Type (though thankfully it didn't stop them giving it to many Steel-Type Pokémon), and so the only Steel-Type utility moves that might ever see play are Iron Defense for Body Press and... idk Metal Sound in Doubles on a speedy utility Pokémon? Attacking-wise you have Iron Head which is serviceable but underwhelming, Heavy Slam which ranges between amazing and awful based on the opponent, and Flash Cannon. Nothing else -- it's actually worse than Fairy-Type on second look, because at least Fairy Type has Dazzling Gleam as a fallback for Pokémon without an association with the moon. Stunfisk-G has pointed out that if Iron Head doesn't fit, you're stuck with Metal Claw. Moves-wise, the Steel-Type really doesn't have an identity. It at least gets Bullet Punch in terms of competitiveness, but even that feels a little dissonant flavour-wise. I mean, the tanky type moving speedily enough for a priority move?

 

[CPU]

Only going to focus on one move mentioned in your post, Celever, but Bug Buzz only "obsoleted" Signal Beam as a STAB option (and that's mostly because Bug Buzz's distribution makes zero sense on a few pokes, mostly Accelgor). It was made a tutor move in the same generation Bug Buzz was added, and it offered Psychic and Electric types (among others) a nice coverage option. It's not like Signal Beam was a big move before, anyway; it had rather limited distribution among native learners and was only added a generation prior. Nowhere near as egregious as Liquidation to Waterfall (though neither move is really ever seen as coverage, so in this case my defense of Bug Buzz only obsoleting Signal Beam as a STAB option doesn't really apply) or Knock Off after the buffs.

 

[Worldie]

Nowhere near as egregious as Liquidation to Waterfall (though neither move is really ever seen as coverage,

I'd point that water moves have a odd case of very few non-stab learners.
Outside of early generations Surf which has a weird distribution due to being a HM in early games thus kinda needing to be easily available, and Water Pulse that for some reason everyone and their mom seems to learn, the "main" water attacks of
- Surf
- Scald
- Liquidation
- Waterfall
- Hydro Pump
Are almost exclusively learned by stab users and some dragon types (which realistically won't really want water as coverage)