Almost allPokemonplayers are familiar with the concept of signature moves: attacks and battle maneuvers that can only be learned by one evolutionary line. They’re often associated with legendary Pokemon, but even the most common creatures can have a signature move.
RELATED:Pokemon: The Best Water Moves, Ranked
Each new generation of games has introduced a couple newPokemonwith signature moves; however, not all of them have remained signatures forever. Some moves were only learnable by one Pokemon family when they were introduced, but over the years, others have managed to pick up the skills. Here are a few widely-used Pokemon moves that fans may not know were once highly exclusive.
10Glare — Ekans and Arbok
At the time of its introduction in Gen I, only these two Pokemon could paralyze their opponents with Glare. It’s still not the most common move, as only eight total Pokemon could learn it through level up, but as of Gen II it is no longer a signature move.
Most Pokemon that can use Glare are snakelike in their design; this likely reflects the move’s Japanese name, which translates to Snake Glare. Perhaps iffuture generationssee more snakelike Pokemon added to the game, Glare’s learnset will continue to grow.
9Petal Dance — Oddish’s Line
This erstwhile signature move has become a staple for several Grass-type users. Though only Oddish and its evolutions could learn Petal Dance in Gen I, later games branched out and allowed others to learn it as well.
Each generation introduced new Pokemon with Petal Dance in their movepool: Sunflora in Gen II, Roselia in Gen III, and so on, with Gen VII’s Comfey as the latest addition. Most Pokemon who know Petal Dance have a floral aspect to their look — which is interesting, considering Oddish’s line features a more fungal design (except for Bellossom, who came around in Gen II).
8High Jump Kick — Hitmonlee
Though it’s not the most widespread of moves even now, lots offantastic Fighting-typesare now capable of learning this attack. High Jump Kick has undergone a lot of changes since its introduction in Gen I, mainly to do with changing the move’s power and the crash damage the user takes when it misses.
Most notably, of course, it’s no longer exclusive to Hitmonlee. This began with Meditite and Medicham in Gen IV, and the past few generations High Jump Kick to more learnsets. Favorite Fighting-types like Scrafty and Mienshao count it among their most powerful — and risky — attacks.
7Icicle Spear — Shellder
Over 40 Pokemon can now learn this move (including almost 90% ofall Ice-types!), but when it was first introduced, only Shellder had access to this attack. Introduced in Gen III, this move has the user fire icicles at its opponent 2-5 times in a single turn.
With the introduction of Vanillish and its evolutions in Gen V, Icicle Spear gained a few more users. Gen VIII expanded the learnset even farther with the introduction of an Icicle Spear TM. Now, almost no Ice-type’s opponent is safe from being skewered by this move.
6Leaf Blade — Grovyle and Sceptile
Gen III introduced this attack solely forits Grass-type starter, but the next generation of Pokemon instantly wiped its status as a signature. Today, Leaf Blade is still far from the most widely available Grass-type move, but every generation from IV onwards have brought in a few more Pokemon that can learn it.
RELATED:Pokemon That Deserve Evolutions In Gen 9
Gen VIII made it much more widely available, introducing a Leaf Blade TR. Still, since TR’s break after using, players can only teach this attack to one Pokemon. Choose carefully — it’s a powerful physical move, worthy of a powerful Grass-type!
5Beat Up — Sneasel
Introduced in Gen II, wicked little Sneasel’s former signature rallies every Pokemon in the party to attack the opponent. Beat Up enjoyed its signature status until Gen IV, when Houndour and Houndoom joined in on Sneasel’s dirty tricks.
Gen VII and VIII introduced a couple who could learn Beat Up via leveling, but it was Gen VIII that really brought the attack to a wide variety of Pokemon with a Beat Up TM. Dozens of Pokemon have access to this move now, and considering the nature of the attack, it’s actually pretty fitting that it’s more widely known.
4Extrasensory — Nuzleaf
Now a common weapon in Psychic-type arsenals, when it was first introduced, Extrasensory couldn’t even be learned by any Psychic Pokemon. That’s right — this Gen III move was originally the signature of Nuzleaf, a Grass/Dark type.
Thankfully, it seemed that Gen IV recognized this bizarre choice and incorporated Extrasensory into the movepools of several other Pokemon, and Gen V followed suit. In every game since, thanks to its high attack power and chance to make foes flinch, Extrasensory has beena favorite among Psychic-type users.
3Night Shade — Gastly’s Line
Since Night Shade is such a common staple of the Ghost-type movepool, it’s mind-boggling to think that it was once exclusive to one evolutionary line. But considering that Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar were the only Ghost-type Pokemon in Gen I, it makes sense for the time.
RELATED:The Most Horrifying Pokedex Entries Across The Pokemon Games
Generations that followed brought in progressivelymore Ghost Pokemon(as well as those of other types) who could learn Night Shade. Gen III and Gen V boosted the move’s abundance the most, both introducing common yet beloved Ghost-types — such as Duskull and Litwick, respectively — who counted Night Shade among their most reliable early-game attacks.
2Outrage — Dratini’s Line
Like the Ghost-type, the Dragon-type was only represented by one evolutionary family in Gen I. However, Dratini and its evolutions didn’t have this move from the beginning. Rather, they got their signature in Gen II — and Outrage immediately lost that status in Gen III, when Rayquaza was introduced.
Still, the move remained relatively rare until Gen V, whenseveral Dragon-type Pokemonlines were introduced that could learn Outrage. InLet’s Go, PikachuandLet’s Go, Eevee,it appears as a TM, and has a TR in Gen VIII. Both of these allowed dozens more Pokemon the ability to learn Outrage.
1Waterfall — Goldeen and Seaking
Since it hasn’t held the status since Generation I, it’s no wonder that few today remember that this was once a signature move. In every generation since, though, it has been a Machine move, and can be taught to plenty of Pokemon. What’s more, in Gen II-VI it was necessary for players to access specific areas, as its out-of-battle use allowed Trainers to travel up and down waterfalls.
This change in usage is likely why Waterfall is no longer a signature move today. Considering its necessity in the field, players would be vastly limited if only two Pokemon were capable of using such an essential move. Even though the latest games have not incorporated this use, it still allows plenty of Water-types to deal considerable damage to opponents.
