Thread: Why can almost everything learn Toxic?

Even though they lack the Poison-typing, or any poisonous features, the majority of pokemon are all able to learn Toxic, and so, can perfectly demonstrate the ability to poison their opponent despite lacking the two features mentioned earlier.

How? Or maybe... Why?

No clue.

I've heard reasonings along the lines that all creatures have some form of toxins in their body, or something like that, but that doesn't really fit since the Japanese name is "Excessive Poison" which seems like something only the hardcore Poison Pokemon could learn.

It's always bugged me just how many Pokemon can learn the move. Poison-types would've had a huge niche if it had been exclusive to them, as logic would have mandated. :/

I know Lickitung can learn it, so I have an explanation for it: its tongue is poisonous, and sometimes they poison, but they can also paralyze (the attack Lick can paralyze).

They're Pokemon. As long as they can learn the move, they can use it. How does a Butterfree or Beedrill Harden? Or a Primeape use Iron Tail? Though why they can learn it is beyond me.

Originally Posted by RuBoo

They're Pokemon. As long as they can learn the move, they can use it. How does a Butterfree or Beedrill Harden? Or a Primeape use Iron Tail? Though why they can learn it is beyond me.

Butterfree and Beedrill know Harden because of their cocoon stages, and Primeape learns Iron Tail because it was a Mankey at some point. Do we really have to wonder why they learn it?

There is a positive side to this though, we can let our imaginations explain things to us. The Japanese name for Harden is 'Stiffen', so Butterfree and Beedrill can just stiffen their bodies. Bugs have hard exoskeletons anyway. And Primeape could well have a tiny tail hidden in his fur. I know Rhyhorn has a tiny tail and is able to learn Tail Whip. We can use our imagination for Toxic too.

@Isamu Akai; Then how about this explanation?
Every Pokemon has some toxins in its saliva, when they concentrate it they can cause poisonous effects?

Or maybe Toxic is actually an attack that tricks the opponent into believing they are poisoned so they damage themselves. A reverse placebo effect, or something of the sort?

/spitballin'

I don't think it'd work like that Syn, only a few Pokemon would have psyches that complicated for this to work

Originally Posted by Neon Shades

@Isamu Akai; Then how about this explanation?
Every Pokemon has some toxins in its saliva, when they concentrate it they can cause poisonous effects?

Sounds good to me. I also once saw mention of Pikachu being able to use its tail spikes to jab toxins into an opponent at some rp. But I like the saliva idea more, especially considering in Pokemon Stadium 2, they all look like they're spitting poison.

I'm an advocate of the theory that Toxic is Poke-vomit.

Originally Posted by Kaustic

I'm an advocate of the theory that Toxic is Poke-vomit.

Kinda like this?

Hmm. That image makes me think Toxic could be Poke-Rabies. XD

I based the Toxic = Pokesaliva theory on that image, actually

Maybe almost all pokemon just severely infected from unchecked battle moves and they are just trying to stop from spreading it but they just stop trying to prevent it when we tell them.