Bulbapedia:Speculation policy/List of moves with unique animations

This article is an official process on Bulbapedia.

Its contents outline a formal process used when handling disputes and other such situations on Bulbapedia.

This is a list of moves that have been deemed to have a consistent and uniquely identifiable animation in the animated series. If a move is on this list, it can be positively identified in the animated series even if no verbal or other explicit identification is made. Any move not on this list must be explicitly acknowledged by the characters or script, per the speculation policy.

Basic guidelines

The contents on this page are judged on a case-by-case basis by staff. If you think a move has a unique animation, please create a new section on this page's talk page asking for it to be considered. Below are some guidelines about what moves are eligible for being unique.

For an animation to be considered unique, its animation must be distinct enough to set it apart from the rest (as in the case of Solar Beam's charge). A move should be used more than once to verify a consistent animation across uses and, as appropriate, users. In most cases, a move must be explicitly identified at least once in the current series before it can be considered. However, if a Pokémon with a signature move uses a move that is unidentified but has animation consistent with the in-game animation or description of that species' signature move (such as Blacephalon’s Mind Blown), the move can be taken under consideration without needing verbal identification.

Moves

Generation I

Move Type Animation description Series
OS AG DP BW XY SM JN HZ
Fire Punch Fire The user's fists becomes engulfed in flames and punches the opponent Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: XY
Ice Punch Ice The user's fists becomes engulfed in ice or blue energy and punches the opponent Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Thunder Punch Electric The user's fists becomes engulfed in electricity and punches the opponent
Vine Whip
(must be used offensively)
Grass The user attacks the opponent with a green vine
Surf
(must be used offensively)
Water The user creates a large wave and rides it. It then crashes it down on the target. Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: XY
Seismic Toss Fighting The user grabs the opponent, jumps into the air and spins them around before throwing them towards the ground. Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: XY Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon Move was not used in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Leech Seed
(only if it has made contact)
Grass Vines comes out of the seed and absorbs the opponent's HP Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon Move was not used in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Solar Beam Grass The user absorbs sunlight before firing a bright beam of light.
Poison Powder Poison The user scatters poisonous purple dust towards the opponent, poisoning them Move was not used during the Original series
Stun Spore Grass The users scatters yellow or orange dust towards the opponent, paralyzing them
Sleep Powder Grass The user scatters blue or green dust towards the opponent, causing them to sleep
Petal Dance Grass The user unleashes a storm of pink petals towards the opponent, causing confusion upon contact Move was not used during the Original series Move was not used in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
String Shot
(must be used offensively)
Bug The user fires a string of silk towards the opponent
Metronome Normal The user wags its fingers and summons a random move

Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Black & White Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: XY Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Fire Blast Fire The user fires a flame that takes the shape of the kanjī 大 (Dai)
Swift Normal The user fires multiple golden colored stars towards the opponent
Transform Normal The user transforms into the opponent Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Black & White Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: XY
Rock Slide Rock The user manifests a cluster of rocks and drops them onto the opponent Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
Tri Attack Normal The user fires three multicolored beams simultaneously Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: XY

Generation II

Move Type Animation description Series
OS AG DP BW XY SM JN HZ
Rollout Rock The user curls into a ball and rolls towards the opponent at high speed. Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Attract Normal The user winks at the opponent, as hearts are released from its body and towards the opponent. The opponent then becomes infatuated with the user. Move was not used during the Original series Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Dragon Breath Dragon The user inhales air and releases a blue or white beam towards the opponent Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Sweet Scent Normal The user releases pink powder towards the opponent, making them more relaxed.
Rain Dance Water The user summons dark clouds which causes rain.
Shadow Ball Ghost The user fires a black or purple ball of darkness towards the opponent.
Whirlpool Water The user creates a fast, vicious whirlpool and traps the opponent in it. Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Black & White Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: XY

Generation IV

Move Type Animation description Series
DP BW XY SM JN HZ
Thunder Fang Electric The user's mouth is engulfed in electricity and it bites the opponent. Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon Move was not used in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Ice Fang Ice The user's mouth is engulfed in ice and it bites the opponent. Alternatively, the user creates a set of blue teeth and the teeth bites the opponent. Move was not used in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
Fire Fang Fire The user's mouth is engulfed in fire and it bites the opponent.

Generation VII

Move Type Animation description Series
SM JN HZ
Mind Blown Fire Blacephalon grabs its head and tosses it in the air. It then starts to glow and explodes in midair into something resembling fireworks
Move was not used in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Sunsteel Strike Steel The user jumps into the air and an image like the sun appears behind them while they transform into the Radiant Sun phase, and they fire a large beam of energy which they also travel through to attack the target
Move was not used in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Moongeist Beam Ghost A circle of solid blue energy glows around the user and several lines of energy spiral towards the center until they meet and a large beam of energy is fired
Move was not used in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
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