Signature move

A signature move (Japanese:  exclusive move) is a move that can only be learned by a single, or its evolutionary relatives usually in the same evolutionary line, as well as usually by using. Most signature moves are learned by leveling up, but some can be learned through other means when no Pokémon can learn the move through the aforementioned process. Additionally, some of these signature moves can be passed down via to other Pokémon or are known by certain event Pokémon.

One-off signature moves
This is a list of signature moves that at only one point, another Pokémon had the ability to acquire:


 * A that knows  is obtainable in,  after correctly answering a quiz in the Dragon's Den. Any Dratini received in this way is capable of passing down Extreme Speed since it is also an egg move for Dratini.
 * An Egg will be given by the Day-Care Man in that hatches into a random baby Pokémon that knows .
 * A with  can be obtained from a special  after depositing 500 Pokémon in Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire from a Game Boy Advance game pak.
 * After Lugia from Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness has been purified, it learns ' and '.
 * After, , and from Pokémon XD have been purified, they all learn .
 * A with ' and ' was available as a special giveaway to commemorate the 10th movie.
 * An with ', ', and  was available as a special giveaway to commemorate the 12th movie.
 * A with ' and ' was available as a special giveaway to commemorate the 14th movie.
 * A Victini with ', ', and  was available as a special giveaway to celebrate Christmas 2012.

TM/HM or Move Tutor that are exclusive by level-up

 * In Generation I, and its evolutionary relatives are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM40.
 * In Generation I, and its evolutionary relatives are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM30.
 * In Generation I, and its evolutionary relatives are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM17.
 * In Generation I, and its evolutionary relatives are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM42.
 * In Generation I, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM18.
 * In Generation I, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM50.
 * In Generation I, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM43.
 * and are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through HM from Generation II onward.
 * Prior to, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM32.
 * In, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn in through TM24.
 * In Generation II, and  are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM36.
 * In Generation II, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM10. Hidden Power is also the only move Unown can learn.
 * Prior to Generation III, and  are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM28.
 * In Generation III, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM09.
 * In Generation III, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM41.
 * In Generation IV, and  are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM72.
 * is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM21.
 * is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM27.
 * In, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through Move Tutor.
 * Prior to Generation V, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM01.
 * Prior to Generation V, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM42.
 * In Generation V, and  are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM55.
 * In Generation V, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM86.
 * In Generation V, and  are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM51.
 * In Generation V, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM72.
 * and are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through Move Tutor in, , and.
 * Prior to Generation VI, was the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM47 (Except in Generation V).
 * Prior to Generation VI, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM92.
 * is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM52.
 * is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM100.
 * Prior to, and  are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM60.
 * Prior to, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM95.
 * In, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM94.
 * Since, and  are the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM79.
 * Prior to Generation VII, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM05 and Move Tutor in Generation I and, respectively.
 * Prior to Generation VII, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through HM05/TM70.
 * Prior to Generation VII, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM94/HM06 in Generation V and VI.
 * Prior to Generation VII, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through TM98.
 * In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, is the only Pokémon to learn  by leveling up, but other Pokémon can learn it through Move Tutor.

Moves commonly associated with certain Pokémon

 * ,, and are often associated with ', ', and , respectively, due to them frequently being depicted using those moves in various Pokémon media (such as the anime).
 * In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, 's trophy states that  is its signature move.
 * Although several Pokémon have been able to learn since its introduction, the move is heavily associated with  due to the  in the anime.
 * Although serveral Pokémon are capable of learning, and its evolutions are most commonly associated with it.
 * Electrode are most commonly seen using, with it being shown to use it most in the.
 * Until Generation III, and  were the only Poison-type Pokémon capable of learning , and prior to Generation VII were the only Poison-type Pokémon to learn the move by level-up.
 * and 's signature moves are said to be ' and ', respectively. Both abilities are alluded to in both Pokémon's various Pokédex entries. However, many Pokémon learn both moves by leveling up, and some through.
 * Likewise, 's ' matches 's ', though others can learn it even in its introductory generation.
 * has  as its only move and is most associated with it; however, is also able to learn it.
 * In the, have been commonly seen to be using the move .
 * Although  was no longer 's signature move starting in Generation III, it was still the only Pokémon that could learn the move prior to Generation V.
 * , being known as the Aurora Pokémon, is associated with the move .
 * Although  was no longer 's signature move from Generation III, it remains the only Fire-type Pokémon to learn it by level up.
 * was the only Pokémon capable of learning  prior to Generation IV. However, due to Shadow moves only being present in Generation III, it remains the only Pokémon capable of taking advantage of Weather Ball's effect during.
 * Although can learn  by leveling up in any Generation III game, the only Pokémon that could have it legitimately before release of  were  and its evolved form,.
 * is usually associated with ' and ', but eleven Pokémon (including Lucario) can learn Aura Sphere in total plus two with from Almia and  from an event, in addition to the  family through breeding. Twelve Pokémon (including Lucario) can learn Force Palm. In Generations V, VI, and VII, Lucario and the Mienshao family are the only Fighting-type Pokémon to learn Aura Sphere by leveling up.
 * Lucario no longer learns Force Palm in Generation VI (although can still learn it).
 * Each of 's forms has its own signature move that cannot be carried over to any of its other forms. However, none of these five moves are exclusive to it.
 * No Pokémon can learn  outside of event distributions. was the first to gain access to it and is often associated with the move. However, later, a  with V-create was available as the winner of a popularity poll held in Japan in 2011, making it no longer Victini's signature move.
 * The move  is tied to 's evolutionary line, although it can also be learned by, , , , , and.
 * The family are the only Pokémon besides  and  which can learn .
 * In Generation V,  was exclusively learned by the Swords of Justice, being a signature move of a Legendary group rather than an evolutionary family.
 * Similarly, ' and ' are exclusively learned by and White, and  and Black , respectively. Kyurem's forms are the result of absorbing Reshiram or Zekrom, and thus gain some of their traits and powers.

In the anime
In the, it is uncommon for specific moves to be explicitly stated to be exclusive to a certain Pokémon species.

Although some moves were occasionally referred to as a Pokémon's "special attack" during the original series, in most of these cases, the move in question actually wasn't that Pokémon's signature move. A notable exception to this was in Holiday Hi-Jynx, where 's Pokédex correctly referred to as the "special attack" of.

The concept was also mentioned during a quiz challenge in Classroom Training!, where Candice stated that could only be learned by.