The Moves Pokémon Know and Use

Pokémon are highly associated with the moves that they know. They're a key part of the gameplay in many Pokémon games, particularly the main series games and even popular spinoff games like Go. Given this state of affairs, however, it is also wise to think about just what kinds and varieties of moves Pokémon can actually perform. It's something that seems highly dependent on the Pokémon and the characteristics of certain moves.

Most Pokémon actually know a good deal of moves by some fashion. They can learn moves naturally as they level up or even through the process of breeding, something that is particularly evident in the main series. They can also learn moves by tutors and Technical Machines, which expands their repertoire. Sure, what they know is not all the Pokémon moves that exist, but it's not supposed to be that way; every Pokémon has some things they can do and others that they can't, and that's something typical to be expected of many Pokémon, no matter how varied their repertoire of moves are.

What makes things complicated is that some Pokémon can learn moves that let them use practically almost any move under certain circumstances. Smeargle, for example, knows the move Sketch, which allows it to learn and use almost any move with an exposure. Skitty knows the move Assist, allowing the Pokémon to use any other move that Pokémon in the party know, which may indeed be quite varied. A number of Fairy Pokémon also know the move Metronome, which means they can use just about any move that other Pokémon know. With any of these moves, it becomes possible for Pokémon to use any move beyond what they're supposed to only know. Perhaps that's the key point with these moves: they don't really "know" the moves that they use, but are just imbued with the knowledge temporarily (or almost permanently, in the case of Smeargle). Beyond that, they're just any other Pokémon with limits to what they can normally do.

Speaking of limits, some Pokémon only know a very small and fixed number of moves, and are unable to use anything beyond that. This would then be considered an extreme case, even atypical in some respects. But then it just goes back to what Pokémon can do, which in this case just happens to be not very much. This is still a worthwhile footnote.

So some Pokémon know many moves - not all, but a good number - and can use them well too. But then there are Pokémon that seem to be able to use many more moves than they know, as well as some that are severely restricted. Whatever they do, they're all still Pokémon, and they have to use moves to really do what they can do. And that is just a good part of what makes them what they are.

One year ago: Second Remakes?