Thread: Pikachu learns a new move!

I've just come hot-foot from TPMf with a hot tip from Pallette. Apparently the Japanese fans are currently saying that Pikachu uses a completely new move in a soon-to-be-aired episode. Which move? Iron Tail. It would make tactical sense for Ash to teach his Pika-buddy that move, as I'm sure that you will agree.

For now, this remains only a hot rumour rather than a confirmed spoiler. However, I think it is about time that Pikachu learnt a new move. Apparently the last time he used a totally new move was Double-Edge all the way back in the Kanto League.

I just want to add a little opinion of my own. IMHO, Iron Tail can only look good when used by a Pokémon with a really long tail. Pikachu has only that stiff, stubby little thunderbolt of a tail. A Raichu, with its' long streamer-like tail would look a lot better using the move. Could it be that learning this move is a sign of an impending Pika-evolution?

(Puts on flame-proof clothing )

Pikachu evolving? Never going to happen. It's far too much the symbol of Pokemon as a whole.

"Pikachu the Movie"
"Pikachu Project (insert year here)"
...


As for Iron Tail, do you have more definite information than what I found on Palette last night, when several people said they thought it had learned Iron Tail, but no one seemed quite certain?

It could actually use Iron Tail and not look dumb. Most likely, Pikachu would charge at the opponent, plant it's front feet into the ground, and then swing it's body around to strike.

Tactically, it'd leave Pikachu vulnerable if say, something swift were to jump and pop Pikachu on the noggin, but even Ash wouldn't be THAT dumb. ^^;

Ah, my first post here in years... its nice to have this place back.

I sure hope this is true! I've been waiting ages for Pikachu to use a new move and I'd almost given up hope. Pikachu knows a good repertoire of moves but it'd be great to see it start using things like Double Team and Light Screen. Iron Tail would also allow it to do even better against high defense types like the Rock/Grounds.

Not to mention it hasn't learned a new move since Kanto when that announcer guy said it used Double Edge on Richie's Butterfree Happy.

Marril's Iron Tail was cool (like a bolas) so I can just imagine what this would look like. One of my favorite Pikachu attack sequences was when it whipped Surge's Raichu across the face with it's electrified tail. If it looks like that I don't see a reason that it would look bad using Iron Tail. I mean Pikachu's tail may not be extremely long but it is as long or longer than its body and quite large.

http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/pokemon_ag/index02.html I think we could safely say it isn't just a rumor.

Cool. Iron Tail is even a decent move to have on Pikachu in the games. It's strong against Rock types, and since many of them are half-Grounds, it almost works as well as Surf (if the Pikachu isn't holding a Light Ball) since Pikachu's Attack is almost as good as its Special Attack. That's cool that we apparently finally have Pikachu using a non-Electric, non-Normal type move.

OK, let's see, Ash's Pokemon with TM moves now:

Pikachu (Iron Tail)
Muk (Body Slam)
Kingler (Hyper Beam)
Tauros (Fissure...I think)
Squirtle (Skull Bash--Totodile used it once too but it can't learn it)
Charizard (Seismic Toss, Submission, Fly at various times)

Yeah, yeah, I know that it's apparent that in the anime a Pokemon can use any move they're capable of learning at any time...but now we have another non-standard move to add to the list.

Originally posted by Rocketshipper
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/pokemon_ag/index02.html I think we could safely say it isn't just a rumor.

For some reason, I never said my other idea, which is what Pikachu is doing in that pic; flying into the air, and striking with it's tail. I'm glad. That looks cooler than just ground whipping. That'd be too much like Tail Whip.

Nice find.

Originally posted by Geodude
Cool. Iron Tail is even a decent move to have on Pikachu in the games. It's strong against Rock types, and since many of them are half-Grounds, it almost works as well as Surf (if the Pikachu isn't holding a Light Ball) since Pikachu's Attack is almost as good as its Special Attack. That's cool that we apparently finally have Pikachu using a non-Electric, non-Normal type move.

It would be a good move in the game if it wasn't so inaccurate... (75% is a gamble that's worth it on very few Pokemon I think).

OK, let's see, Ash's Pokemon with TM moves now:

Pikachu (Iron Tail)
Muk (Body Slam...I think...isn't that what it used against that "unbeatable" Bellsprout in the Indigo Competition?)
Kingler (Hyper Beam)
Tauros (Fissure...I think)
Squirtle (Skull Bash...I know Squirtle's gone but I seem to remember it using that move in a competition--Totodile used it once too but it can't learn it)
Charizard (Seismic Toss, Submission, Fly at various times)

Yeah, yeah, I know that it's apparent that in the anime a Pokemon can use any move they're capable of learning at any time...but now we have another non-standard move to add to the list.

Pikachu may have used Double Edge once.

Skull Bash is a move Squirtle learns naturally, and it used it fairly often during the series. The best looking one was when it used the move to beat Rudy's Thunderbolting Starmie in the Orange Islands.

Muk does know Body Slam, though its more like a Body Smother.

Snorlax knows Mega Punch, Mega Kick, and will learn Ice Punch in a future episode.

Totodile apparently learns Iron Tail at one point.

Pidgeoto/Pidgeot knows Double Edge.

I edited my above post after your clarifications, thanks.

Pikachu may have used Double Edge once.

It used it once at the Kanto League Championship, when Ash's Pikachu lunged off the sidelines into Richie's Butterfree, and the announcer can clearly be heard saying "It delivered a devastating Double Edge attack."

Also, in the Johto League, when Ash entered the grass Pokémon competition, Ash told his Bulbasaur to use Take Down once against Meowth dressed up as a Sunflora.

Ah that's right, I forgot about Bulbasaur's Take Down. Thanks for reminding me. Oh yeah and Ash's Bayleef knows Vine Whip, which it can only get through breeding. Even Brock and Misty have Pokemon with TM moves:

Geodude (Seismic Toss)
Staryu (Double Edge)
Psyduck (Water Gun--Misty's ordered it several times, but I don't think Psyduck has actually used it yet)

And, at one point in the Silver Convention, doesn't Ash battle some guy with a Houndoom that knows Counter? That's only available through breeding.

Originally posted by Geodude
Psyduck (Water Gun--Misty's ordered it several times, but I don't think Psyduck has actually used it yet)

You had to go and prove me wrong didn't you? (I don't mind...)

Hey thanks for saying those. For some reason, Vine Whip slipped my mind. Ash's Bayleef used Sweet Scent before. Charizard used Take Down vs Poliwrath, and Kingler used Water Gun. ;)

Ok, i'm gonna try to list the rest that haven't been mentioned yet. Gary's Arcanine used Fire Spin against Giovanni's Kingler, and seeing as it was Kanto, pretty strange. Nidoqueen used Mega Punch, and Strength vs Team Rocket before his first fight with Ash. Later it uses Hyper Beam.

Anyway. Here's the list of Ash's so far *again*:

Pikachu (Iron Tail-Double Edge)
Muk (Body Slam)
Kingler (Hyper Beam-Water Gun)
Tauros (Fissure)
Squirtle None, cause Skull Bash it can learn on it's own
Charizard (Dragon Rage-Seismic Toss-Submission-Fly-Take Down-Mega Punch{altho it never carried it out})
Bulbasaur (Take Down)

Didn't Charizard use Dragon Rage at one point as well?

Bayleef learns Sweet Scent on her own. As for that Psyduck thing, it was one of the most pathetic Water Gun attacks of all time. And he didn't realize that the order was for Squirtle!