From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
In the Pokémon anime, there will often come up a Pokémon that knows a move it cannot learn legitimately in any of the games.
It is unknown whether these instances are actual mistakes, a writing policy of not having to stick to the games too closely, or merely the Pokémon using an attribute that shares the name of a move in the games. In Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!, Professor Oak states that in times of need, Pokémon can call upon power that had never been known to them previously, such as Ash's Bulbasaur learning Dig.
List of anime Pokémon with moves that they cannot learn in the games
Japanese version only
Mentioned only
Dub only
Former errors
Artwork
|
Name
|
Move
|
First use
|
Notes
|
Picture
|
|
A.J.'s Sandshrew
|
Defense Curl
|
The Path to the Pokémon League
|
A.J.'s Sandshrew used Defense Curl. However, Sandshrew was unable to learn Defense Curl until Generation II.
|
|
|
James's Koffing
|
Poison Gas
|
The Ghost of Maiden's Peak
|
James ordered his Koffing to use Poison Gas. However, Koffing was unable to learn Poison Gas until Generation II.
|
|
|
James's Weezing
|
Poison Gas
|
The Song of Jigglypuff
|
James ordered his Weezing to use Poison Gas. However, Weezing was unable to learn Poison Gas until Generation II.
|
|
|
Gary's Arcanine
|
Fire Spin
|
The Battle of the Badge
|
Gary's Arcanine uses Fire Spin in this episode. However, Arcanine was unable to learn Fire Spin until Generation II.
|
|
|
Ritchie's or Assunta's Tentacool
|
Bubble
|
Friends to the End
|
A Tentacool belonging to either Ritchie or Assunta uses Bubble in this episode. However, Tentacool was unable to learn Bubble until Generation V.
|
|
|
Ponyta
|
Flamethrower
|
Pikachu Re-Volts
|
A Ponyta used Flamethrower in the episode. However, Ponyta was unable to learn Flamethrower until Pokémon Crystal.
|
|
|
Teddiursa
|
Charm
|
UnBEARable
|
A Teddiursa used Charm in the episode. However, Teddiursa was unable to learn Charm until Generation IV.
|
|
|
Ursaring
|
Charm
|
UnBEARable
|
An Ursaring used Charm in the episode. However, Ursaring was unable to learn Charm until Generation IV.
|
|
|
Shiftry
|
Whirlwind
|
Jump for Joy!
|
A Shiftry used Whirlwind in the episode. However, Shiftry was unable to learn Whirlwind until Generation IV.
|
|
|
Mewtwo
|
Psywave
|
Genesect and the Legend Awakened
|
Mewtwo uses Psywave, which, though impossible to have in Generation V, was available to teach to Mewtwo by TM46 in Generation I. Mewtwo can learn the move by level up starting in Generation VII.
|
|
Mentioned only
Similar examples that are not anime move errors
Pokémon which can know the move in a previous game
Artwork
|
Name
|
Move
|
First use
|
Notes
|
Picture
|
|
Andi's Nidoqueen and Oscar's Nidoking
|
Submission
|
The Bicker the Better
|
Andi's Nidoqueen and Oscar's Nidoking use Submission, which, though impossible to have in Generation III, was available to teach to Nidoqueen and Nidoking by TM17 in Generation I.
|
|
|
Skarmory
|
Whirlwind
|
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!
|
Skarmory uses Whirlwind, which though impossible for Skarmory to have in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, is available as an Egg Move for Skarmory in the core series games.
|
|
|
Ash's Charizard
|
DragonBreath
|
The Symbol Life
|
Ash's Charizard uses Dragon Breath, which, though impossible to have in Generation III onwards, was available to teach to Charizard by TM24 in Generation II.
|
|
|
Anabel's Espeon
|
Zap Cannon
|
Second Time's the Charm
|
Anabel's Espeon uses Zap Cannon, which, though impossible to have in Generation III onwards, was available to teach to Espeon by TM07 in Generation II.
|
|
|
Virgil's Vaporeon
|
Bubble Beam
|
Team Eevee and the Pokémon Rescue Squad!
|
Virgil's Vaporeon uses Bubble Beam, which, though impossible to have in Generation V, was available to teach to Vaporeon by TM11 in Generation I.
|
|
Japanese version only
See also