Toxic monkeys and electrified beavers?

Started by Squirrel August 18th, 2013 6:29 PM
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Squirrel

Age 28
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Posted July 10th, 2021
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11.7 Years
Do you ever wonder why some Pokémon can learn the moves that they have access to? Pokémon like Aipom learning Toxic and Bidoof learning Thunder Wave have always confused me greatly - I see no reason at all for either of these pairings to make sense and yet it happens so often amongst the Pokémon 'kingdom'. How do you think the Pokémon gain the ability to use these moves and would you prefer a more accurate take on movesets, or do you like the nonsensical additions?
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Limbo
Seen July 5th, 2015
Posted July 5th, 2015
27 posts
9.8 Years
I think the acquisition of moves in this sense is more meta than canon. Meaning, the normal types can get a wide range of moves in their arsenal, without getting the STAB that the poison or electric type would get respectively. It's a play on the neutral side, jack of all trades, master of none.

But, that's what I think..
Take Snorlax for example, he can learn Psychic, Surf, Crunch, Solarbeam, Tbolt, Thunder, EQ, Flamethrower, and so on.
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Basically whenever I see a Pokemon that learns a questionable move, I always tell myself "it's ok, this is just Pokemon logic", but really it doesn't make sense and in some scenarios makes it seem too weird to even think about.

For example, there are many Pokemon that learn Fly, but shouldn't. Some of these Pokemon are Vullaby, Hoothoot, Doduo, and Dotrio. These are just the Pokemon that should't learn the move in the first place, but there are many more that learn it that look like they have the ability to fly, but in no way would be able to transport a human across the region such as Pidgey, Swablu, and Pidove. This has always bothered me because it makes the already impossible and makes it more confusing.


There are also many Pokemon that learn Toxic, but shouldn't. Nearly every Pokemon learns Toxic via TM and I really don't see the point. I would assume only Poison type Pokemon and maybe a few Bug types should be able to learn it because their real life counter parts might be considered poisonous. In no way does it make sense for a Aipom to learn this move. I mean look at it. That thing is way too adorable to be poisonous. You also have Pokemon like Bronzong learning it and it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Surf is another move that comes to mind when thinking of this because you have Pokemon with a 4x weakness able to use Surf such as Rhyhorn and Rhydon. You also have Nidoqueen and Nidoking that can use it and I don't see why.


These are just a few that I can think of right now and I will update this later with a more detailed post!
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Limbo
Seen July 5th, 2015
Posted July 5th, 2015
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I agree, but with Doduo and Dodrio, the question to why they are flying type to begin with is raised.
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I agree, but with Doduo and Dodrio, the question to why they are flying type to begin with is raised.

Well they are most likely flying type because they are based on an Ostrich, which is a type of bird. So their typing definitely makes perfect sense, but learning Fly doesn't. If you watch their animation if Pokemon Stadium it just looks....weird.

Khoshi

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Seen January 3rd, 2020
Posted October 16th, 2019
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I don't get how Pachirisu can learn Gunk Shot. I mean, isn't gunk shot like an icky ball of garbage? How does Pachirsu, a cute electric squirrel, gain the power to shoot such foul stuff? Also Tauros learns Thunder...since when can an ordinary bull gain the power to shoot lightning? o.o the Pokemon world is truly an oddite.
I don't get how Pachirisu can learn Gunk Shot. I mean, isn't gunk shot like an icky ball of garbage? How does Pachirsu, a cute electric squirrel, gain the power to shoot such foul stuff? Also Tauros learns Thunder...since when can an ordinary bull gain the power to shoot lightning? o.o the Pokemon world is truly an oddite.
Wow Pachisrisu can learn that? That certainly is one of if not the oddest ones out there haha. It's pretty interesting that you mention Tauros having Thunder in it's moveset as weird, but doesn't that apply to almost all Normal Pokemon? I am pretty sure that most can learn a lot of the elemental beams.

moon

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Yes, I certainly wonder sometimes. I guess it's mostly to make pokémon somewhat similar in strengths and weaknesses in the game. But if we are to move outside of that, I'd agree with Normal type being a sort of jack of all trades, knowing a little of everything but not having any STAB for them.

As for Toxic and other poison moves, maybe pokémon can develop poison somewhere inside their body and with a bit of practice or the help of a TM can learn to use it in an attack? Pokémon can change shape and typing radically in evolution, why wouldn't they be able to grow subtle electric sacks in their cheeks to learn some new move?

Some pokémon are born with strange Egg moves - that's obviously a mutation depending on parents and whatnot. But maybe HMs and TMs actually work by inducing some kind of growth inside the body or an additional gland or something that allows a pokémon to physically perform a move? Not impossible :3

Another take on the whole thing is that pokémon who can learn strange attacks and seem to lack the necessary body parts or something to actually do it, they rely on Aura or the kind of power that pokémon get their strength from in the first place. They somehow conjure the attack up from pure energy and turns it elemental.

That's only for special moves though. Physical moves, I don't know :x Energy-wings lifting Doduo up into the air?
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The Usa
Seen January 24th, 2020
Posted June 9th, 2018
340 posts
14.8 Years
Toxic icky goop style moves being learned by cute little 'mon is because it's actually fecal matter.

A variety of things learn thunder wave because - imagine if that critter bites you at the right spot on your spine, it'd feel like electricity and leave you partially paralyzed.

Doduo/drio learns wing based moves because it has wings! While not always used, they are still totally functional appendages.

Unborn pokemon learning odd moves, in the egg, is in fact due to genetic mutation, and that's why it happens more often when the parents are of different species.

That's all I've got for now.

Aeroblast

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Basement
Seen February 25th, 2017
Posted February 25th, 2017
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Well, in a world where there is free healthcare, human can ride on pidgeys, Wailord x Skitty is possible, controlling and capturing a legendary Pokemon, evolving by trading (If you think about it carefully, giving away a Pokemon to make it evolve makes no sense whatsoever)...

Toxic monkeys? Electric beavers? Oh please, That's nothing compared to majority of Pokemon logics.

Amore

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True. Aipom learns Toxic because he's got awesome tekkers and makes up a poison from natural ingredients, then hits your pokémon wih it.

Bidoof learning Thunder Wave? Static electricity, perhaps? I get electric shocks all the time, luckily I haven't been paralysed yet though.

Hikamaru

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Posted September 4th, 2018
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I don't get how Pachirisu can learn Gunk Shot. I mean, isn't gunk shot like an icky ball of garbage? How does Pachirsu, a cute electric squirrel, gain the power to shoot such foul stuff? Also Tauros learns Thunder...since when can an ordinary bull gain the power to shoot lightning? o.o the Pokemon world is truly an oddite.
Pachirisu uses Gunk Shot? That's one oddity indeed, especially given the movepool of it I'm familiar with is mainly Electric moves. But yeah I always question the movepools of certain Pokemon and why some learn moves that I think they wouldn't.

I agree, but with Doduo and Dodrio, the question to why they are flying type to begin with is raised.
Yeah, a flightless bird that can use Fly, but its Japanese name doesn't even say Fly which is odd. I guess it like, just leaps into the air? Same could also be said for Delibird, which is based on a penguin yet it learns Fly. And even Vullaby's Pokedex entries say it can't fly but again, it has Fly in its learned movepool.

Yes, I certainly wonder sometimes. I guess it's mostly to make pokémon somewhat similar in strengths and weaknesses in the game. But if we are to move outside of that, I'd agree with Normal type being a sort of jack of all trades, knowing a little of everything but not having any STAB for them.

As for Toxic and other poison moves, maybe pokémon can develop poison somewhere inside their body and with a bit of practice or the help of a TM can learn to use it in an attack? Pokémon can change shape and typing radically in evolution, why wouldn't they be able to grow subtle electric sacks in their cheeks to learn some new move?

Some pokémon are born with strange Egg moves - that's obviously a mutation depending on parents and whatnot. But maybe HMs and TMs actually work by inducing some kind of growth inside the body or an additional gland or something that allows a pokémon to physically perform a move? Not impossible :3

Another take on the whole thing is that pokémon who can learn strange attacks and seem to lack the necessary body parts or something to actually do it, they rely on Aura or the kind of power that pokémon get their strength from in the first place. They somehow conjure the attack up from pure energy and turns it elemental.

That's only for special moves though. Physical moves, I don't know :x Energy-wings lifting Doduo up into the air?
Rika definitely has a point there, especially with Normal-type Pokemon who tend to learn loads of different attacks of varying types. Most can learn the Ice Beam/Thunderbolt/Flamethrower trio or even its stronger counterparts Blizzard/Thunder/Fire Blast.

TMs and HMs do exist after all, to give Pokemon several options to cover certain types. You could even count Move Tutors in this as well given the interesting moves they have on offer and the variety of Pokemon that learn said moves.
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In a Rabbit
Seen July 13th, 2022
Posted June 9th, 2022
824 posts
9.8 Years
Not usually. It just annoys me when some pokemon are blessed with moves that don't make sense, whereas others... let me skip to the example in mind:

Emboar learns Grass Knot and Scald, yet is a physical attacker that never uses these.
Yet Typhlosion, another fiery mammal starter, a special attacker which would actually benefit from these, does not.

What gives, Gamefreak?
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Seen August 3rd, 2016
Posted June 14th, 2014
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9.8 Years
the versatility of Rhydon has left me speechless for years, especially how it can be taught Surf. like....why?

and how some Pokemon's anatomy would obviously conflict with its ability to learn a certain move BUT NOPE. we got Torchic -who has no arms or even fists- and can learn DynamicPunch and Mega Punch.
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Seen November 29th, 2013
Posted November 19th, 2013
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9.8 Years
The fact that Doduo and Dodrio can learn Fly while having no visible (or invisible)wings and yet Scyther has baffled Pokemon fans to this day. A couple of my friends and I were discussing this one day and we came to the conclusion that they actually use Bounce instead of Fly (even though this move didn't exist in Generations I and II)

While we're on the subject of the move Bounce, have you seen some of the Pokemon that cn learn this move?? For example, the more likely Pokemon to use it are Buneary, Loppuny, Politoed, Azumarril, Jumpluff, Hoppip, Skiploom, Spoink, etc. Right? Those Pokemon are based off of real animals with powerful hind legs, right?

So, humor poor little me: Why in blue blazes would Wailord be able to learn Bounce? The poor Pokemon that has to take that attack!! I can see it all now...:
The foe's WAILORD used BOUNCE!
JOLTIK fainte- Excuse me. JOLTIK died!
PLAYER must now make a trip to LAVENDER TOWN!


My poor Joltik...


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moon

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Not usually. It just annoys me when some pokemon are blessed with moves that don't make sense, whereas others... let me skip to the example in mind:

Emboar learns Grass Knot and Scald, yet is a physical attacker that never uses these.
Yet Typhlosion, another fiery mammal starter, a special attacker which would actually benefit from these, does not.

What gives, Gamefreak?
My guess is, they don't want to make all pokémon very strong or good competitively. If all pokémon were able to learn perfect attacks, they would all know those and no others. Without super-great attacks, one is forced to build different movesets to sneak around the lack of pure strength... maybe, haha.

Yea... makes no sense sometimes
I think that is pretty obvious, yes. If you want to post in a thread like this, I think you should try to contribute a little more ;)
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xseed

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Miississippi
Seen December 3rd, 2013
Posted November 13th, 2013
441 posts
9.7 Years
*cough* chansey leanrs flamethrower *cough* nuff said. how can a medic pokemn gain the abillity to breath fire. Yes I know dat normals are versatile but stilll.......but screw moves. some pokemon evos are strange. what still gets me to this day is remoraid-octillery. speakin of which how can most waters learn ice moves anyway? They must have super cold stomachs are something
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I can get that Pidgey is a bird and all but how does it even support trainers on its back? The poor thing would get crushed. Then there's a variety of other Pokemon that can learn all sorts of moves. Rattata can Thunderbolt for one. Is Joey's statement about top percentage Rattata really true? I mean how does a rat even do such a feat, if someone could explain in depth with logic then I might be convinced. But regardless it doesn't make sense. How does Chansey poison when all its meant to do is heal? How do Granbulls get presents, why can Durant produce stones out of nowhere? How does a computer-made duck defy gravity? How does a Slaking shoot Hyper Beams out of its foot?

There are many moves that don't make sense in the Pokemon series. As for why they implemented this, it might of possibly been to give certain Pokemon the chance to shine. It could possibly also help with the competitive metagame where Toxic, Stealth Rock and various other useless in-game moves run wild. The overall vibe I get from this though is the fact that it was implemented just for the sake of imagination. If it was all logic then it wouldn't be fun! Sure the game would be a bit harder but Pokemon is a creative series meant to let imaginations run wild. Just seeing ghosts throw blobby shadows isn't enough entertainment nowadays.
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