Pokémon is no stranger to a bit of absurdity with its creative designs, but some Pokémon can learn moves that just don't make sense. While one can generally know what to expect from a Pokémon by looking at them, a few moveset decisions can take a player by surprise. While they may not always be logical, these moves can provoke a lot of interesting conversations.

A Pokémon's moveset is their most vital tool. Even if a Pokémon has good stats, a bad movepool can doom them. This was especially true before Generation 4's physical/special split. For example, Absol was barely useful due to all Dark-type move being coded as special attacks, which ignored Absol's phenomenal Attack stat. With few exceptions, a Pokémon will specialize in moves of their own type, but having coverage of other types is always a good thing. Even with some type combos still missing from Pokémon, it's good to keep a Pokémon ready for multiple situations.

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Some of Pokémon's most inexplicable moves are still useful on the Pokémon that learns them, even if the player is still left wondering how they could learn it in the first place. However, when the player has to wonder just how a Pokémon could possibly learn a specific move in the first place, then it may be a bit of a stretch. In particular, a few instances of this still have yet to make any sense at all.

Rhydon Can Learn Surf Despite Being A Heavy Rock Pokémon

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Rhydon was one of the most intimidating Rock-type Pokémon of the first generation, with powerful physical stats that contrasted its woeful special stats and speed. Although strong, its many weaknesses left it very vulnerable to being taken down before it had a chance to attack, especially against opponents who remember every Pokémon weakness. Ironically, Rhydon could not only learn a move that would likely knock it out in one hit, but a move that it has absolutely no business knowing. That move is Surf, one of the strongest and most iconic Water-type moves.

Rhydon learning Surf feels completely nonsensical for two reasons. First is that the move itself slams the opponent with a massive wave of water. How a massive rhinoceros made of rock could create such a wave, especially considering its quadruple weakness to Water-type attacks is not explained in the slightest. Even more bizarre is the fact that Surf is an HM that allowed players to travel across water in the overworld. This mean that this big heavy rock monster would somehow gain the ability to float across the water with the player on its back. With Surf being an exception to the Pokémon HMs that are better outside of battle, this bizarre concept is downright plausible.

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Unfortunately, despite the novelty of Rhydon learning Surf, there is little reason for the player to teach it the move. Even beyond not making sense, Rhydon's Special Attack is horrible, meaning that it will not have much effect despite the move's high power. However, the games themselves reference this phenomenon, as in Gold and Silver, the player receives the Surf HM from a man with a Rhydon.

Far Too Many Pokémon Could Learn Toxic

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Toxic was one of the most effective Poison-type moves introduced in the first generation. It introduced the concept of poison damage that increased every turn, a concept that has been used by very few moves even after eight generations, possibly to avoid overshadowing regular poisoning. The TM for Toxic was one of the most widely usable, giving most Pokémon access to the move, even when it didn't make any sense. With the primary exceptions being Pokémon that can't learn TM moves, almost every Pokémon in the first six generations could learn Toxic.

To put it simply, it doesn't seem logical for many of the Pokémon who could learn Toxic to have access to such a powerful poison. Even Pokémon who looked as far from poisonous as possible, such as Squirtle or Clefairy, could still learn it. While this made Toxic incredibly widespread, it also made the move feel like it was nothing special. It was a useful tool for stall tactics, but when almost every Pokémon could learn it, it felt more mundane, much to its detriment. There's no question that Toxic's strength in a stall build was impeccable, and almost every Pokémon that needed it could acquire it. However, the idea that any Pokémon could wield such a dangerous poison ultimately doesn't make much sense. It was the opposite issue of Pokémon's pointlessly obscure Phione, being very good, but far too available.

Snorlax Learning Self Destruct Is Pokémon's Weirdest Move Choice

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Snorlax has been around since the original Pokémon games, and it has always been the definition of a big, bulky powerhouse. With its incredibly high Attack and HP scores, it has been a powerful choice in almost every game where it is available. However, one move, while fitting with Snorlax's stat line, makes no sense as an option. Somehow, in a handful of instances, Snorlax could learn Self Destruct.

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Self-Destruct, at 200 power, is one of the strongest moves in the series, only outdone by its stronger counterpart Explosion. However, both have the cost of causing the user to instantly faint. It's a strategy even more niche than Pokémon's Rattata-based F.E.A.R. strategy due to the enormous cost involved. These moves are usually restricted to Pokémon made of inorganic material, such as Golem and Electrode. This is likely because it's easier to imagine them blowing up and reforming themselves. However, Snorlax is entirely organic, making its ability to explode on command far less explainable. Snorlax using Self Destruct is terrifying not only in concept, but mechanically as well. Between its high Attack and same-type attack bonus, the move would be absolutely devastating to any opponent who doesn't resist it.

To learn Self Destruct, the player would either need to use a Move Tutor in Pokémon XD, or TM36 in Red and Blue to teach the move to Snorlax. However, since Munchlax has Self Destruct as an egg move, it's possible for the player to have a whole team of exploding Snorlaxes. With Scarlet & Violet's Pokémon that fight independently, players should hope that their own Pokémon don't run into an exploding Snorlax.

It's easy to point and laugh at Pokémon's weirdest move choices, epecially when they aren't even good for the Pokémon in question. However, this oddness is another part of the series' charm, especially in a series with as many gimmicks as Pokémon. While Pokémon will likely see many more strange moveset choices in the future, these are the best examples of Pokémon knowing moves that they shouldn't.