While plenty of people got to know Pokemon through the large variety of games, the anime also brought many into the franchise. Inconsistencies between video games and their anime adaptations aren’t new, which certainly applies to Pokemon as well. A good amount of these entries can’t learn things you’d think they would be able to.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it permits more freedom on the end of the writers and animators. Having to adhere strictly to what the game allows might dampen their creative freedom, which is likely why they don’t sometimes. Regardless, the fact remains that each of these Pokemon have moves you’d never see them use in the games.

10 Pidgey - Peck

Pidgey is the first entry on this list with the use of a move it should realistically have. In the episodes ‘Love, Totodile Style’ and ‘Carrying On!’, several Pidgeys can be seen using Peck. As it’s a bird using Peck it isn’t really something that’d make people raise eyebrows.

When it comes to the video games it’s actually impossible for Pidgey to learn Peck. Flying types typically learn either Gust or Peck as their first move starting out. With Pidgey, it so happens to be the former with no method currently to give it Peck.

9 Charmander - Tackle

Charmander is a fan favorite as the most classic Fire-type Starter out of them all. In the episode ‘Friend And Foe Alike’ a Charmander is seen using one of the most basic Normal-typed moves, Tackle. It doesn’t stop there as a Charizard also does it in another episode.

Each Starter Pokemon of every generation starts out with one of three basic Normal-type moves: Scratch, Tackle, or Pound. Charmander is the one in its group that was given Scratch. There’s currently no way for it to obtain Tackle in-game, so even a move this simple is illegal for it to have.

8 Starmie - Bubble

Starmie is a Water/Psychic Pokemon well known for being Misty’s ace in the hole in the Kanto entries. In the episode ‘Bye Bye Psyduck’ a Starmie is seen using Bubble, a simple and popular move for low-leveled Water-types.

Bubble can’t be learned by Starmie or its previous stage Staryu, making this move an anime-exclusive for this Pokemon. In an ironic twist, it’s entirely possible for Starmie to obtain Bubble Beam but not the simplified, weaker version of it.

7 Munchlax - Giga Impact

Munchlax is the adorable pre-evolution to the fan-favorite Snorlax, introduced with many other Baby Pokemon in the Sinnoh region. In the episode ‘A Full Course Tag Battle!’ there’s a Munchlax that manages to pull off Giga Impact!

Giga Impact is a tremendously powerful move so strong it takes a turn to recharge after use. Despite its strength, it can be learned basically across the board for fully-evolved Pokemon. While Snorlax would have no issue learning this, Munchlax has some in-game growing to do before it can handle this kind of power.

6 Gulpin - Water Gun

Gulpin is a Poison-type Pokemon from the Hoenn region. While not spectacular itself, its evolution Swalot has formidable defenses that make it tough to take down. In the episode ‘Defending the Homeland!’ several Gulpin can be seen shooting out Water Guns.

While it’s not uncommon for Pokemon of different types to learn other kinds of moves, this one simply isn’t possible. Gulpin’s only available Water-type moves are limited to Rain Dance and Water Pulse. It would never need Water Gun in-game as Water Pulse is the better move out of the two, so it’s not a big loss on Gulpin’s part.

5 Dustox - Stun Spore

Dustox is the earliest Bug/Poison-type Pokemon that can be obtained during one’s journey through the Hoenn region. Its type combination and diverse moves make it very useful against several trainers and gym leaders. In the episode ‘Gymbaliar’ it can be seen using Stun Spore.

Stun Spore is a very common move among Grass- and Bug-types, even being learned by Beautifly at a very early level. In the games, however, Dustox does not get access to this move, learning Poison Powder in its place instead. That way, each of the two has their own move they bring to the table.

4 Skitty - Fury Swipes

Skitty is an adorable Normal-type cat Pokemon. In the episode ‘Big Meowth, Little Dreams Part 2,’ Skitty can be seen using Fury Swipes.

It’s nothing new for a cat to be known to scratch at things, yet for Skitty, it happens to be far from the truth. In the games, not only is it impossible for Skitty to learn Fury Swipes, but it can’t even learn Scratch. Instead, Skitty prefers to bash into things with its head or paws to use moves like Tackle or Double Slap.

3 Sableye - Lick

Sableye was the first and only Ghost/Dark-type until the Sinnoh region. Joined by Spiritomb, these two were Pokemon that lacked any kind of weakness until the Fairy-type was introduced. In the episode ‘Ready, Willing, and Sableye,’ it can be seen using Lick.

In the games, Sableye can learn a variety of moves meant to hinder enemies more than damage them. Lick, with its paralysis chance, wouldn’t be out of the question, and yet it’s not in Sableye’s arsenal. Perhaps the one that used Lick was an exception because it was an especially mischievous one.

2 Lotad - Hydro Pump & Psybeam

Lotad is in the only known Pokemon family to possess the unique type combination of Water/Grass. This particular set gives it plenty of advantages, including the ability to learn moves from both types. In the episode ‘A Diamond in the Rough!’ Lotad can be seen using two moves that are illegal: Hydro Pump and Psybeam.

Hydro Pump is an extremely powerful Water-type move used often used by its final evolution, Ludicolo. Lotad is the only member of its family that cannot get Hydro Pump, making this move illegal until it evolves at least once. In contrast to that, it’s outright impossible for any of them to get their hands on Psybeam.

1 Dragonite - Whirlwind

Dragonite and its evolutionary family are the original Dragon-types from the Kanto region. It’s also the very first pseudo-Legendary Pokemon to make an appearance in the franchise. In the episode ‘Talkin’ ‘Bout an Evolution,’ Dragonite is seen using the move Whirlwind.

Dragonite is no stranger to learning moves that can take control of wind like Twister and Hurricane. Considering its access to those, it’s not unreasonable to think that Dragonite could also use Whirlwind. Though it’s an illegal move, Dragonite also has Dragon Tail, another move with roughly the same purpose as Whirlwind — switching their foes out.

NEXT: 10 Pokémon That Learn Moves That Make No Sense