From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
In the Pokémon anime, there will often come up a Pokémon that knows a move it cannot learn legally in any of the 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.
Occasionally, in-game event Pokémon that can be transferred onto the main series games have 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 cannot learn in the games
Japanese version only
Dub only
Former errors
Similar examples that are not anime move errors
Pokémon which can learn a move in a previous generation
Pokémon performing an action which resembles a move
Sprite
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Name
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Resembled move
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First use
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Notes
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Picture
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Tentacool
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1019Tentacool & Tentacruel
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Multiple Tentacool are seen using an unidentified red beam attack. Tentacool's Pokédex entries state that it absorbs sunlight and converts it into beam energy, similar to SolarBeam. However, not only does this attack bear no resemblance to SolarBeam, Tentacool has never been able to learn this move. In fact, the only Beam moves Tentacool can learn are BubbleBeam, Ice Beam and Aurora Beam*, none of which resemble this attack.
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Ash's Bulbasaur
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Lick and Tickle
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1050Who Gets to Keep Togepi?
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Ash has Bulbasaur "lick" Psyduck's head and use its "tickle attack" with its vines. This is not to be confused with the actual moves Lick and Tickle, the latter of which was introduced in Generation III. Bulbasaur cannot learn either move.
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Meowth of Team Rocket
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Tickle
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1104Bound for Trouble
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Pikachu and TRMeowth ([[{{{2}}} (move)|{{{2}}}]]) fight against a giant Rhydon. When Meowth jumps on Rhydon's back, he states that he should try a Tickle attack. However, Meowth cannot learn Tickle in any generation yet, and Tickle was not introduced until Generation III.
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Lugia
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1104.5The Power of One
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Lugia uses an unidentified Psychic-type attack to break free of ice. The only Psychic-type attacks Lugia could learn when it eventually appeared in Gold and Silver are Dream Eater and Future Sight, which this move is unlikely to be, and Psychic, though the anime version of Psychic usually involves controlling an opponent. It is possible that Lugia is using Recover, a move Lugia can learn, and instead smashing the ice physically.
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File:Lugia Psychic.png
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Entei
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Hypnosis
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1155.5Spell of the Unown
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Entei hypnotises Delia in Spell of the Unown. However, Entei is unable to learn Hypnosis. This could be due to the fact that this Entei was merely an illusion, not a real Pokémon.
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File:Entei Hypnosis.png
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Politoed
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Lick
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1249I Politoed Ya So!
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Misty's Politoed uses its tongue to attack. However, it did not use Lick.
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Nuzleaf
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GrassWhistle
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2026Turning Over a Nuzleaf
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A wild Nuzleaf blew on a leaf to make Ash and his friends' Pokémon drowsy, though Nuzleaf cannot learn GrassWhistle. However, some of Nuzleaf's Pokédex entries do state that it uses the leaf on its head as a flute.
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File:Nuzleaf GrassWhistle.png
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Lunatone
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Moonlight
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2087Crazy as a Lunatone!
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A Lunatone is seen using the moonlight to restore itself, though it cannot learn Moonlight. However, Lunatone's Pokédex entries do state that it gains its power from the moon.
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File:Lunatone Moonlight.png
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Drifloon
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Fly
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3028Drifloon on the Wind!
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Some Drifloon were used to fly around the area. The Pokédex states that a Drifloon cannot carry the weight of children. However, three are used at any given time. Similarly, it is also possible for Drifloon to carry players across short distances in Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia.
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See also