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In the games, there will occasionally be a Pokémon that knows a move it cannot know when owned by the player. It is unknown whether most of these are actual mistakes on the part of the developers.

Pokémon with unobtainable movesets in the core series games

Unobtainable for the generation

Single unobtainable moves

Unobtainable combinations of moves

Due to mothers being able to pass down Egg Moves from Generation VI onward, all Egg Move combinations are possible from Generation VI onward.

Moves known at an early level

Due to the Move Reminder being able to teach moves the Pokémon would learn at higher levels in Generation VII, all moves can be taught at any level in Generation VII.

Unobtainable until a later game in the generation

Single unobtainable moves

Moves known at an early level

Errors in promotional material

Pokémon with unobtainable movesets in the side series games

Unobtainable for the generation

Single unobtainable moves

Unobtainable combinations of moves

Moves known at an early level

Unobtainable combinations of moves for the current level

Artwork Name Move Game Notes Youngster Bernie's Machop Vital Throw and Counter Pokémon Stadium 2 Youngster Bernie, the first Trainer in the Little Cup Round 2, has a level 5 Machop that knows both Vital Throw and Counter. While Machop can know both of these moves simultaneously if it is taught Counter as a TM in Generation I and transferred forward to Generation II to learn Vital Throw at level 31, this combination is impossible at level 5 because the only way Machop would be able to know Vital Throw at level 5 is by breeding, and Generation II moves cannot be traded back to Generation I for it to then learn Counter by TM. Due to the Move Tutor for Counter in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and Machop maintaining Vital Throw as a level-up move, this combination is possible at level 5 from Generation III onward.

Discrepancies in spin-off games

In spin-off games, sometimes Pokémon will know moves they wouldn't be able to know in the core games.

Super Smash Bros. series

Moves that were possible at one point in the core series games

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, several Pokémon may learn moves that they cannot learn in the core series games. While it is possible to transfer some Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, their moves are not transferred, so these moves cannot be transferred to the core series games.

As part of the August 19, 2016 server update, all moves of that type were removed from their respective Pokémon's move pools. However, later updates introduced additional cases where Pokémon can have moves that they cannot know in the core series games.

The following table lists moves that have been removed from the Pokémon's permanent move pools. Unlike most other legacy moves, and with the exception of Stomp for Hitmonlee, these moves cannot be learned using an Elite Fast TM or Elite Charged TM.

Moves that were possible in previous generations

The following lists moves that could be learned in prior generations, but not transferable to the Generation VI games, the most recent games at the time of Pokémon GO's release.

Pokémon Move Notes Seel Water Gun Seel obtained prior to August 19, 2016 can have Water Gun as a Fast Attack. Although Seel cannot learn this move from Generation III onward, it was possible to teach via TM12 in Generation I (which could not be transferred to the Generation VI games, the most recent games at the time of Pokémon GO's release).

Currently, Seel can only learn this move using an Elite Fast TM. Gyarados Dragon Breath Gyarados can have Dragon Breath as a Fast Attack. Although Gyarados cannot learn this move from Generation III onward, it was possible to teach via TM24 in Generation II (which could not be transferred to the Generation VI games, the most recent games at the time of Pokémon GO's release).

Former errors

Pokémon Move Notes Jigglypuff Play Rough Jigglypuff obtained prior to August 19, 2016 can have Play Rough as a Charged Attack, but could not know this move in core series games prior to Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (which had not been released when Jigglypuff was first able to learn this move in Pokémon GO). In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Jigglypuff can learn the move via TM44.

Currently, Jigglypuff can only learn this move in Pokémon GO using an Elite Charged TM. Omastar Rock Throw Omastar obtained prior to August 19, 2016 can have Rock Throw as a Fast Attack. Although Omastar cannot know this move from Generation III onward, it was available through an event in Generation II.

Omastar can learn this move through leveling up in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

Currently, Omastar can only learn this move in Pokémon GO using an Elite Fast TM.

Shadow and Purified Pokémon

Due to the mechanics behind Shadow Pokémon, the listed Pokémon will have Frustration as their Charged Attack and will have Return as their Charged Attack once purified, but these cannot learn either of these moves in the core series games.

As most of these moves can be obtained by the player, the errors also apply to their evolved forms as well.