How can Pokémon take so many powerful attacks without dying?

[Sweet Serenity]

Pokémon have the ability to conjure various types of moves, many of different elements and extreme power levels that can easily kill a human in real life, but the worst that happens to them is that they faint and could be revived in a Pokémon Center or with items such as Revives. For example, a Pokémon being hit with Z-Move or Dynamax attack from another Pokémon that maxed his or her Attack and/or Special Attack stat should be dead on impact, but somehow, Pokémon can always seemingly survive the most brutal attacks. How is this possible? Have any Pokémon, whether in the show, games, manga, or so on, ever died from Pokémon attacks?

 

[Sheep]

I feel like logically it would make sense for Pokémon to die after being hit with strong/lethal attacks but the only reason we don't see it happen is because it'd be too dark. No one would like having their Pokémon die from battle, especially if you worked hard on training it until that point.. not to mention it's pretty sad. :x I guess in typical battles they don't usually fight to the death (even if some moves look crazy strong) since they are smart enough to understand battling is more for fun/is a sport but when battling out in the wilds.. they probably do die off screen when fighting for food, resources, territory, etc. Just the way nature would work.

 

[Devalue]

Imagines Pokemon battles like Boxing. Involves two parties beating each other up. Results in death sometimes, but not frequently. Presumably heals up Pokemon much easier than humans too.

Knows of no deaths due to attacks offhand. Tends to be light on details in-game, such as Cubone's mother in Generation 1. Never read the manga or watched more recent anime episodes, however.

Remains susceptible to death outside of battles, certainly. Remembers the Hau'oli Cemetery scene in Sun/Moon. Barely saved a Machamp from a car accident by recalling it into its Pokeball. Definitely kills out in the wild too, as mentioned by Sheep. Look no further than Cramorant's Shield Pokedex entry for that:

"This hungry Pokémon swallows Arrokuda whole. Occasionally, it makes a mistake and tries to swallow a Pokémon other than its preferred prey."

 

[Palamon]

Pokemon are stated to not die in battle, so it's just the rules of the world, really. I don't think it's that deep.

 

[Sweet Serenity]

Imagines Pokemon battles like Boxing. Involves two parties beating each other up. Results in death sometimes, but not frequently. Presumably heals up Pokemon much easier than humans too.

Knows of no deaths due to attacks offhand. Tends to be light on details in-game, such as Cubone's mother in Generation 1. Never read the manga or watched more recent anime episodes, however.

Remains susceptible to death outside of battles, certainly. Remembers the Hau'oli Cemetery scene in Sun/Moon. Barely saved a Machamp from a car accident by recalling it into its Pokeball. Definitely kills out in the wild too, as mentioned by Sheep. Look no further than Cramorant's Shield Pokedex entry for that:

Great analogy with boxing, but imagine if prime Mike Tyson were boxing, Dynamaxed, and hit his opponent with a boosted Max Knuckle. Shouldn't his opponent's family be making funeral preparations?

 

[Devalue]

Great analogy with boxing, but imagine if prime Mike Tyson were boxing, Dynamaxed, and hit his opponent with a boosted Max Knuckle. Shouldn't his opponent's family be making funeral preparations?

Grows in size, but not necessarily strength. Hits harder with Dynamic Punch outside of Dynamax, for example. Must be awkward to control a body undergoing a temporary size boost. Probably scraped his fist along the canvas too.

Never really accounts for size well in Pokemon. Should be able to flatten most Pokemon with Wailord. Winds up being Seismic Tossed by a Chansey instead.

 

[colours]

you know, i actually gave this some thought.

in a typical pokemon battle, i'd imagine each pokemon shows enough restraint to only land enough powerful attacks to cause a KO, nothing further. i'd imagine if a pokemon had actual intent to kill with one of its attacks, then it's more than capable enough to. wouldn't make for great family-friendly viewing though, as sheep stated.