View source for Animated series move errors

In the [[Pokémon anime]], there will often come up a Pokémon that knows a move it cannot learn legally in any of the {{pkmn|games}}. It is unknown whether these 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.

It should also be noted that occasionally [[Nintendo]] will make available Pokémon that can be transferred onto the games with a move that is not normally included in that Pokémon's moveset (a prime example being [[Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire]], which gave away four separate Pokémon with moves that were not normally available to that specific Pokémon).

==List of anime Pokémon with moves they can't learn in the games==

{| {{bluetable2|c sortable}} align="center"
|- style="background: #ccf;"
! [[List of Pokémon by National Dex number|#]]
! Icon
! Name
! Move
! Episode
|-
| 127
| {{MS|127|Pinsir}}
| [[Samurai]]'s {{p|Pinsir}}
| {{m|Tackle}}
| <span style="display:none">1004</span>[[EP004]]
|-
| 109
| {{MS|109|Weezing}}
| [[James's Weezing|James's Koffing]]
| {{m|Counter}}
| <span style="display:none">1006</span>[[EP006]]
|-
| 120
| {{MS|120|Staryu}}
| [[Misty's Staryu]]
| {{m|Counter}}
| <span style="display:none">1007</span>[[EP007]]
|-
| 020
| {{MS|020|Raticate}}
| [[Ash's Raticate]]
| {{m|Hi Jump Kick}}
| <span style="display:none">1015</span>[[EP015]]
|-
| 001
| {{MS|001|Bulbasaur}}
| [[Ash's Bulbasaur]]
| {{m|Whirlwind}}
| <span style="display:none">1032</span>[[EP032]]
|-
| 116
| {{MS|116|Horsea}}
| [[Misty's Horsea]]
| {{m|Sludge}}
| <span style="display:none">1040</span>[[EP040]]
|-
| 037
| {{MS|037|Vulpix}}
| [[Brock's Vulpix]]
| {{m|Agility}}
| <span style="display:none">1072</span>[[EP072]]
|-
| 004
| {{MS|004|Charmander}}
| [[Zippo]]
| {{m|Tackle}}
| <span style="display:none">1079</span>[[EP079]]
|-
| 055
| {{MS|055|Golduck}}
| {{p|Golduck}}
| {{m|Barrier}}
| <span style="display:none">1091</span>[[EP091]]
|-
| 055
| {{MS|055|Golduck}}
| {{p|Golduck}}
| {{m|Psywave}}
| <span style="display:none">1091</span>[[EP091]]
|-
| 006
| {{MS|006|Charizard}}
| [[Ash's Charizard]]
| {{m|Tackle}}
| <span style="display:none">1108</span>[[EP108]]
|-
| 182
| {{MS|182|Bellossom}}
| [[Bailey]]'s {{p|Bellossom}}
| {{m|Twister}}
| <span style="display:none">1122</span>[[EP122]]
|-
| 025
| {{MS|025|Pikachu}}
| [[Ash's Pikachu]]
| {{m|Leer}}
| <span style="display:none">1150</span>[[EP150]]
|-
| 202
| {{MS|202|Wobbuffet}}
| [[Jessie's Wobbuffet]]
| {{m|Bide}}
| <span style="display:none">1167</span>[[EP167]]
|-
| 001
| {{MS|001|Bulbasaur}}
| [[Ash's Bulbasaur]]
| {{m|Dig}}
| <span style="display:none">1225</span>[[EP225]]
|-
| 047
| {{MS|047|Parasect}}
| {{p|Parasect}}
| {{m|Sleep Powder}}
| <span style="display:none">1225</span>[[EP227]]
|-
| 219
| {{MS|219|Magcargo}}
| [[Egan]]'s {{p|Magcargo}}
| {{m|Withdraw}}
| <span style="display:none">1258</span>[[EP240]]
|-
| 246
| {{MS|246|Larvitar}}
| [[Ash's Larvitar]]
| {{m|Harden}}
| <span style="display:none">1258</span>[[EP258]]
|-
| 208
| {{MS|208|Steelix}}
| {{jo|Harrison}}'s {{p|Steelix}}
| {{m|Wrap}}
| <span style="display:none">1271</span>[[EP271]]
|-
| 299
| {{MS|299|Nosepass}}
| [[Roxanne's Nosepass]]
| {{m|Hyper Beam}}
| <span style="display:none">2016</span>[[AG016]]
|-
| 296
| {{MS|296|Makuhita}}
| [[Brawly's Hariyama|Brawly's Makuhita]]
| {{m|Slam}}
| <span style="display:none">2020</span>[[AG020]]
|-
| 385
| {{MS|385|Jirachi}}
| {{an|Jirachi}}
| {{m|Teleport}}
|[[Jirachi: Wish Maker|*]]
|-
| 371
| {{MS|371|Bagon}}
| [[Michelle]]'s {{p|Bagon}}
| {{m|Skull Bash}}
| <span style="display:none">2043</span>[[AG043]]
|-
| 397
| {{MS|396|Starly}}
| [[Ash's Staraptor|Ash's Starly]]
| {{m|Gust}}
| <span style="display:none">3002</span>[[DP002]]
|-
| 269
| {{MS|269|Dustox}}
| [[Jessie's Dustox]]
| {{m|Stun Spore}}
| <span style="display:none">3008</span>[[DP008]]
|-
| 414
| {{MS|414|Mothim}}
| [[Cheryl's Mothim]]
| {{m|Supersonic}}
| <span style="display:none">3060</span>[[DP032]]
|-
| 436
| {{MS|436|Bronzor}}
| [[Saturn]]'s {{p|Bronzor}}
| {{m|Teleport}}
| <span style="display:none">3060</span>[[DP060]]
|-
| 446
| {{MS|446|Munchlax}}
| [[Kylie]]'s {{p|Munchlax}}
| {{m|Giga Impact}}
| <span style="display:none">3076</span>[[DP076]]
|-
| 376
| {{MS|376|Metagross}}
| {{p|Metagross}}
| {{m|Lock-On}}
| <span style="display:none">3076</span>[[DP117]]
|-
| 477
| {{MS|477|Dusknoir}}
| [[Dusknoir (Mystery Dungeon 2 character)|Dusknoir]] 
| {{m|Rapid Spin}}
| {{an|Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky|*}}
|-
| 487
| {{MS|487|Giratina}}
| {{an|Giratina}}
| {{m|Dragon Rage}}
| [[Giratina and the Sky Warrior|*]]
|-
| 493
| {{MS|493|Arceus}}
| {{an|Arceus}}
| {{m|Seed Flare}}
| [[Arceus: To a Conquering Spacetime|*]]
|}

==Less blatant examples==

* During {{AP|Caterpie}}'s battle with {{AP|Pidgeotto}} in ''[[EP003|Ash Catches a Pokémon!]]'', {{Ash}} tells Caterpie to use {{m|Counter}}; however, Caterpie cannot learn Counter, yet this doesn't stop it from attempting (and failing) to use it anyway.
* In ''[[EP037|Ditto's Mysterious Mansion]]'', [[Duplica]] tells her {{tp|Duplica|Ditto}} to use {{m|Constrict}} on [[Ash's Bulbasaur]] after {{m|Transform}}ing into said Bulbasaur.  {{p|Bulbasaur}} cannot learn Constrict by any means.  However, Ditto obeyed, implying that Ash's Bulbasaur may know Constrict.
** Similarly, in "[[EP174|Imitation Confrontation]]", when [[Mini-Dit]] {{m|Transform|transforms}} into Totodile, Duplica tells it to use {{m|Tackle}} on Totodile. But [[Ash's Totodile|Totodile]] cannot learn Tackle at all. However, it attacked, showing that Ash's Totodile probably knows Tackle.
* In ''[[EP050|Who Gets to Keep Togepi?]]'', [[Misty]] gets stuck with {{TP|Misty|Psyduck}} in her battle with Ash. Ash doesn't battle seriously and has {{AP|Bulbasaur}} simply lick Psyduck's head and tickle it with its vines. This is not to be confused with the actual moves {{m|Lick}} and {{m|Tickle}}, the latter of which was later introduced in [[Generation III]]. Bulbasaur still cannot learn Lick or Tickle.  It is worth noting, however, that Ash's specific words were "Use Tickle!".
* In ''[[EP104|Bound for Trouble]]'', {{AP|Pikachu}} and {{TR|Meowth}} fight against the giant {{p|Rhydon}}. When Meowth jumps on Rhydon's back, he states that he should try a {{m|Tickle}} attack, and then acts like he would. However, Meowth cannot learn Tickle in any generation yet, and as mentioned with Bulbasaur, Tickle was not introduced until Generation III.
* In ''[[EP271|Playing with Fire!]]'', a {{p|Steelix}} uses {{m|Wrap}}. Steelix cannot learn Wrap, but it can learn {{m|Bind}} (a slightly less accurate version of Wrap with the same effect).
* In ''[[AG016|Winner By a Nosepass!]]'', [[Roxanne]] commands her {{p|Nosepass}} to use {{m|Hyper Beam}} which it cannot in the game. However, these errors were picked up on in the dub, and the references to Hyper Beam were replaced with {{m|Thunder Wave}} and {{m|Zap Cannon}} (which can be learned by Nosepass).
**However, there is evidence that the original version made a mistake and called it Hyper Beam when it was supposed to be an electric attack. This is seen in {{AP|Pikachu}} being able to absorb Hyper Beam as if it were an electric attack. It also had physical similarities to an electric attack and did not look like a typical Hyper Beam.
* In ''[[AG026|Turning Over a Nuzleaf]]'', a wild {{p|Nuzleaf}} blew on a leaf to make Ash and {{ashfr|his friends}}' Pokémon drowsy. This attack is strikingly similar to {{m|GrassWhistle}}; a move that Nuzleaf can't learn in the games.
* In ''[[AG170|Second Time's the Charm]]'', {{FB|Salon Maiden|Anabel}}'s {{p|Espeon}} uses {{m|Zap Cannon}}, which, though impossible to have in [[Generation III]] or {{gen|IV}}, was available to teach to Espeon by [[TM07]] in [[Generation II]].
* In ''[[DP003|When Pokémon Worlds Collide!]]'', Paul mentions that two of his {{p|Starly}} know {{m|Sand-Attack}}. However, Starly can't learn Sand-Attack.
* In ''[[DP028|Drifloon on the Wind!]]'', some {{p|Drifloon}} were used to fly around the area. However, they did not use the actual move {{m|Fly}} (which is just as well, as they are unable to learn the said move). The Pokédex specifically states that a Drifloon can't carry the weight of children - however, three are used at any given time. It is also, however, possible for Drifloon to carry players across short distances in {{g|Ranger: Shadows of Almia}}.
* A group of {{p|Combee}} in ''[[DP032|An Angry Combee-nation!]]'' appear to be using {{m|Psybeam}}; however, this is actually the anime representation of {{p|Vespiquen}}'s {{m|Attack Order}}.
* In ''[[DP060|Journey to the Unown!]]'', the fact that {{p|Bronzor}} cannot learn {{m|Teleport}} was also picked up by the producers of the dub, and the appearance of it using Teleport was cut from the episode.
* ''[[DP071|Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 1)]]'' and ''[[DP072|Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! (Part 2)]]'' feature a {{p|Riolu}} that can use {{m|Aura Sphere}}. This is due to its unique ability to manipulate aura prior to evolution.  This episode is directly based on a mission from {{g|Ranger: Shadows of Almia}} featuring a similar Riolu. This is the only way a Riolu that knows Aura Sphere is available in the games.
[[Category:Anime]]