Animated series move errors
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.
Pokémon with moves that they cannot learn in the games
Japanese version only
| Artwork | Name | Move | First use | Notes | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ash's Starly | Gust | Two Degrees of Separation! | Changed to Whirlwind in the dub, a move that Starly can learn. However, after he evolved into Staravia, he began using Gust in the dub as well. | 
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Ash's Tranquill | Wing Attack | An Amazing Aerial Battle! | In the dub, Ash merely commanded Tranquill to "attack now", without specifying a move. | 
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Celosia's Manectric | Scratch | Meeting at Terminus Cave! | In the dub, Celosia tells Manectric to "Go after it!" | 
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Mentioned only
| Artwork | Name | Move | First use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sawyer's Treecko | Razor Leaf | Battling with Elegance and a Big Smile! | Clemont mentioned Treecko having used Razor Leaf during his Gym battle with Sawyer. In the dub, the move mentioned was changed to Mega Drain. |
Dub only
| Artwork | Name | Move | First use | Notes | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Ash's Bulbasaur | Whirlwind | The Ninja Poké-Showdown | This was a dubbing error, as Whirlwind's Japanese name is ふきとばし Blow Away. Ash was telling Bulbasaur to simply "blow it away" in the Japanese version rather than commanding the actual move. | 
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Brock's Vulpix | Agility | The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis | Quick Attack in the Japanese version, a move that Vulpix can learn. | 
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Morty's Gastly | Confusion | From Ghost to Ghost | No command given in the Japanese version, most likely a dubbing error. | 
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Ash's Totodile | Skull Bash | Dueling Heroes | Headbutt in the Japanese version, a move that Totodile can learn. | 
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Ritchie's Cruise | Take Down | The Mystery is History | Headbutt in the Japanese version, a move that Pupitar can learn. | File:Cruise Take Down.png |
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Hun's Steelix | Bite | The Legend of Thunder! | Crunch in the Japanese version, a move that Steelix can learn. | 
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Ash's Heracross | Fury Swipes | The Ties That Bind! | Fury Attack in the Japanese version, a move that Heracross can learn. | 
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Harrison's Steelix | Wrap | Playing with Fire! | Bind in the Japanese version, a move that Steelix can learn. | 
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Closed captions only
| Artwork | Name | Move | First use | Notes | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Surskit | Tackle | Dewpider Ascending! | Being a wild Pokémon, this Surskit's attack was not identified out loud in either the original or dub version of Dewpider Ascending!. However, the English version's closed captions identified the move as Tackle. | File:Surskit SM071 Tackle.png |
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. | 
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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. | 
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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. | 
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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. | 
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Mew | Barrier | Mewtwo Strikes Back | Mew uses Barrier in this movie. However, Mew was unable to learn Barrier until Generation IV. | 
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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. | 
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Ponyta | Flamethrower | Pikachu Re-Volts | A Ponyta used Flamethrower in the episode. However, Ponyta was unable to learn Flamethrower until Pokémon Crystal. | 
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Teddiursa | Charm | UnBEARable | A Teddiursa used Charm in the episode. However, Teddiursa was unable to learn Charm until Generation IV. | 
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Ursaring | Charm | UnBEARable | An Ursaring used Charm in the episode. However, Ursaring was unable to learn Charm until Generation IV. | 
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Parasect | Sleep Powder | For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll! | A Parasect used Sleep Powder in the episode. However, Parasect was unable to learn Sleep Powder until Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. | 
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Parasect | Sleep Powder | Hocus Pokémon | A Parasect used Sleep Powder in the episode. However, Parasect was unable to learn Sleep Powder until Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. | 
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Shiftry | Whirlwind | Jump for Joy! | A Shiftry used Whirlwind in the episode. However, Shiftry was unable to learn Whirlwind until Generation IV. | 
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Rhyhorn | Tackle | A Race for Home! | A Rhyhorn used Tackle in this episode. However, Rhyhorn was unable to learn Tackle until Generation VIII. | 
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Mentioned only
| Artwork | Name | Move | First use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Nidorina | Supersonic | Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon? | Ash's Pokédex mentioned Nidorina being able to use Supersonic. However, Nidorina was unable to learn Supersonic until Generation II. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 
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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. | 
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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. | 
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Ash's Charizard | DragonBreath | The Symbol Life | Ash's Charizard uses Dragon Breath, which, though impossible to have in Generation III, was available to teach to Charizard by TM24 in Generation II. | 
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Anabel's Espeon | Zap Cannon | Second Time's the Charm | Anabel's Espeon uses Zap Cannon, which, though impossible to have in Generation III, was available to teach to Espeon by TM07 in Generation II. | 
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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. | 
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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. | 
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Japanese version only
| Artwork | Name | Move | First use | Notes | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Mr. Moore's Typhlosion | Headbutt | Poetry Commotion! | Mr. Moore's Typhlosion uses Headbutt, which, though impossible to have in Generation III, was available to teach to Typhlosion by TM02 in Generation II and via Move Tutor in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
In the dub, the move was referred to as Tackle instead, a move Typhlosion could learn in Generation III. |
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See also
| Move errors in various Pokémon canons |
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| Animated series • Manga • Game • TCG |
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |