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Signature move: Difference between revisions
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{{main|Terminology of signature moves}} | {{main|Terminology of signature moves}} | ||
From [[Generation VI]] onwards, the term "'''signature move'''" | From [[Generation VI]] onwards, the term "'''signature move'''" is often used on [[Pokémon.com]].<ref>[https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/internationals/2019/oceania/vgc-recap-gabby-snyder A Look at the 2019 Oceania Pokémon VGC International Championships - Pokémon.com]</ref><ref>[https://swordshield.pokemon.com/en-us/expansionpass/pokemon/galarian-articuno/ Galarian Articuno - Pokémon.com]</ref><ref>[https://swordshield.pokemon.com/en-us/expansionpass/pokemon/regieleki/ Regieleki - Pokémon.com]</ref><ref>[https://www.pokemon.com/us/strategy/train-legendary-pokemon-from-the-crown-tundra-for-ranked-battles-and-more Train Legendary Pokémon From the Crown Tundra for Ranked Battles and More - Pokémon.com]</ref><ref>[https://legends.arceus.pokemon.com/en-us/pokemon/palkia/ Palkia (Origin Forme) | Pokémon Legends: Arceus Official Website]</ref> It is also mentioned in {{g|Sword and Shield}}<ref> ''"My partner's '''signature move''' invites you to a subzero world!"'' ([[Melony]], referring to her [[Gigantamax]] {{p|Lapras}}'s [[G-Max Resonance]] in [[Pokémon Sword and Shield]]) | ||
</ref>, the English release of {{g|GO}},<ref>''"Great work saving Apex Shadow {{p|Ho-Oh}}, <player>! It looks like it knows {{m|Sacred Fire}}, Ho-Oh's '''signature move'''—yet this one's Sacred Fire is somehow even more powerful!"''</ref> and in {{g|Quest}}<ref>A tip displayed on the loading screen in {{g|Quest}} labeled "Signature Moves" reads: "There are apparently some moves that only certain Pokémon can learn".</ref>. | |||
While there is no consistent official definition, it is usually implied that, contrary to general fan usage, signature moves may be moves that, at the time of their introduction, were only usable by a single species or certain related species. For instance, {{m|Sacred Fire}} is still referred to as {{p|Ho-Oh}}'s signature move even after this move became available for {{p|Entei}} as well.<ref>[https://www.pokemon.com/us/strategy/vgc-2016-championship-series-preview 2016 Pokémon Video Game Championship Series Preview - Pokémon.com]</ref><ref>[https://www.pokemon.com/us/strategy/a-guide-to-training-legendary-pokemon-in-pokemon-sword-and-pokemon-shield A Guide to Training Legendary Pokémon in ''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Pokémon Shield'' - Pokémon.com]</ref> Conversely, there is no known official usage of the term to refer to moves that became available to a single species later than the move's introduction (such as {{p|Unown}}'s {{m|Hidden Power}}). | |||
{{m|Bolt Beak}} has also been mentioned as the signature move of {{p|Dracozolt}} and {{p|Arctozolt}}, and {{m|Fishious Rend}} as the signature move of {{p|Dracovish}} and {{p|Arctovish}}.<ref>[https://www.pokemon.com/us/strategy/battle-tactics-speed-control-in-double-battles-in-pokemon-sword-and-pokemon-shield Battle Tactics: Speed Control in Double Battles in ''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Pokémon Shield'' - Pokémon.com]</ref> These Pokémon are related via their [[Fossil]]s but not by [[Evolution]]. On the other hand, there is no known official usage of "signature move" to refer to moves usable by multiple Pokémon of the same evolutionary family (such as {{m|Volt Tackle}}, usable by {{p|Pichu}}, {{p|Pikachu}}, and {{p|Raichu}}) or by Pokémon of the same [[Groups of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon|group of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon]] (such as {{m|Sacred Sword}}, usable by the [[Swords of Justice]]). | |||
In | Signature moves have been casually mentioned a few times by [[Non-player character|NPCs]] in the Pokémon games with various meanings and contexts.<ref>In [[Pokémon Black and White Versions 2|Pokémon Black 2 and White 2]], the term "'''signature move'''" (Japanese: '''{{ruby|得意|とくい}}な {{ruby|技|わざ}}''' ''signature move'') is mentioned by the character who gives the [[Big Root]] to the player in [[Driftveil City]]: ''"Trainer... If my Pokémon was with me, I would've challenged you for a {{pkmn|battle}}. Instead, please accept this. It is...a [[Big Root]]! Have a Pokémon hold this, and it absorbs more [[HP]] from the target! This was a perfect item for my Pokémon's '''signature move'''..."'' It is unclear what his Pokémon is based on the information given.</ref><ref>In [[Pokémon X and Y]], a maid from the [[Hotel Richissime]] claims to have a '''signature move''' (Japanese: '''{{ruby|得意技|とくいわざ}}''' ''signature move''): ''"Our '''signature move''' is double-team cleaning!"'' (Japanese: {{ruby|私|わたし}}たちの '''{{ruby|得意技|とくいわざ}}''' ツープラトン クリーニング！)</ref><ref>In the "{{DL|Ticketed event (GO)|Straight to the Top, Machop!}}" event in {{g|GO}} (released January 16, 2021), [[Professor Willow]] mentions a '''signature move''' (Japanese: '''{{ruby|得意|とくい}}''' ''specialty''). The Japanese version of this dialogue does not refer to a specific move and lacks the kanji 「{{ruby|技|わざ}}」 (''move''). ''"Its four arms react more quickly than it can think, so {{p|Machamp}} can execute several punches at once! Hoo-hah! That was the movie Machamp's '''signature move'''."''?</ref> | ||
In the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]], several {{TCG|Pokémon}} cards have their own unique {{TCG|attack|attacks}} that are not shared with other cards. However, the term "signature attack" is usually not used officially in the Trading Card Game, with one known exception. According to the blurb of the {{TCG|Polar Frost}} {{TCG|Theme Deck}}, Lightning Strike is the '''signature attack''' of the {{OBP|Jolteon|Majestic Dawn 23}} card from {{TCG|Majestic Dawn}}.<ref>''"Plus, Jolteon charges in with a '''signature attack''' that rarely needs to hit twice—Lightning Strike!"''</ref> However, rather than Lightning Strike (Japanese: らいげき ''Lightning Strike'') being exclusive to this Jolteon card, this attack was already previously usable by other cards, such as {{OBP|Jolteon|EX Sandstorm 6}} from {{TCG|EX Sandstorm}}, {{OBP|Ampharos|Expedition 2}} from {{TCG|Expedition Base Set}}, {{OBP|Lanturn|EX Hidden Legends 38}} from {{TCG|EX Hidden Legends}}, and {{OBP|Raichu|Neo Revelation 21}} from {{TCG|Neo Revelation}}. | |||
==List of Pokémon and their signature moves== | ==List of Pokémon and their signature moves== | ||