Signature move

File:Reshiram Zekrom Blue Flare Bolt Strike artwork.png
A **signature move** (Japanese: **専用技** *exclusive move*) is a move that can normally only be learned by a single Pokémon, evolutionary family, or Legendary group.

Most signature moves are learned by leveling up. Despite being signature moves of a particular species, other Pokémon can still sometimes learn the move through other means. Some signature moves can also be inherited via breeding or are known by certain gift or event Pokémon. Additionally, Smeargle can learn most signature moves via its own signature move, Sketch.

## Similar examples

### Teachable signature moves

The following are moves that can be learned only by a single Pokémon or evolutionary line via level up, but can be also taught to other Pokémon by TMs, HMs, or Move Tutors.

### Species-specific moves

The following is a list of moves that are specifically programmed for these Pokémon.

Other moves that work specifically for particular species that are not listed here are:

* Moves that are required for a Pokémon to evolve, a mechanic introduced in Generation IV.
* Evolution moves that a Pokémon will try to learn after evolving into another species, regardless of its level, starting in Generation VII.
* Moves that are required for a Pokémon to know so they could be upgraded into signature Z-Moves.

Similarly, Mega Gengar (except in Generation VI), Diglett, Dugtrio, Sandygast, and Palossand cannot be affected by the move Telekinesis, but a Pokémon that is transformed into one of these Pokémon can be affected.

## One-off signature moves

 File:Victini event moves.png
This is a list of signature moves that at one point, another Pokémon had the ability to acquire when obtained as a gift, or through event distributions:

* A Dratini that knows **Extreme Speed** is obtainable in

## Signature move

 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 since HeartGold and SoulSilver.
* An Egg will be given by the Day-Care Man in

## Signature move

 that hatches into a random baby Pokémon that knows **Dizzy Punch**.
* A Skitty with **Pay Day** can be obtained from a special Egg 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 **Psycho Boost** and **Feather Dance**. In Generation VIII, as Deoxys cannot be transferred, Lugia is the only Pokémon that can legally know the move.
* After Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres from Pokémon XD have been purified, they all learn **Extrasensory**.
* In Generation III, Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise are the only Pokémon that can learn the moves **Frenzy Plant**, **Blast Burn**, and **Hydro Cannon** via Move Tutor, respectively. However, a Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile that also know these moves, can be obtained in Pokémon XD by defeating 100 opponents in Mt. Battle.
* A Darkrai with **Roar of Time** and **Spacial Rend** was available as a special giveaway to commemorate the 10th movie.
* An Arceus with **Roar of Time**, **Spacial Rend**, and **Shadow Force** was available as a special giveaway to commemorate the 12th movie.
* A Victini with **Fusion Flare** and **Fusion Bolt** was available as a special giveaway to commemorate the 14th movie.
* A Victini with **Glaciate**, **Bolt Strike**, and **Blue Flare** was available as a special giveaway to celebrate Christmas 2012.
* Prior to Generation VIII, no Pokémon could learn **V-create** outside of event distributions. Victini was the first to gain access to it and is most often associated with the move. However, later, a Rayquaza 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, until it became part of Victini's level-up learnset in Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra.

## Generation AN-I through AN-VI

Main article: Signature moves in Generation AN-I to AN-VI

## Trivia

* Although they are not always signature moves, some Pokémon are capable of learning only one move. These Pokémon are Ditto (Transform), Unown (Hidden Power), and Smeargle (Sketch).
	+ Transform is almost a signature move, as it is only learned by one other Pokémon, Mew.
	+ Some other Pokémon rely on a very limited set of moves; these Pokémon generally cannot use TMs or TRs.
* Umbreon's Moonlight is a counterpart to Espeon's Morning Sun, though the former was never its signature move.
* Iron Tail is the only Steel-type move introduced in Generation II that was never a signature move, although it is heavily associated with Steelix.
* In Generation V, Sacred Sword was exclusively learned by the Swords of Justice, being the signature move of a Legendary group rather than an evolutionary family.
	+ Similarly, Fusion Flare and Fusion Bolt are exclusively learned by Reshiram and White Kyurem, and Zekrom and Black Kyurem, respectively (outside of events). Kyurem's forms are the result of absorbing Reshiram or Zekrom, and thus gain some of their traits and powers.
	+ Dracozolt and Arctozolt are the only Pokémon that can learn Bolt Beak, while Dracovish and Arctovish are the only Pokémon that can learn Fishious Rend.
* Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise are often associated with Solar Beam, Flamethrower, and Hydro Pump, respectively.
	+ In *One Trick Phony!*, Ash's Pokédex says Hydro Pump is Blastoise's special attack.
	+ In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Charizard's trophy says Flamethrower is its signature move.
	+ In *Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden*, Ash's Pokédex says Solar Beam is Bulbasaur's most powerful attack.
* The move Razor Shell isn't a signature move of Oshawott's evolutionary line, although it uses the shell of these Pokémon in its animation.
	+ Similarly, the move Steamroller appears to be designed for the Venipede family line, as they have the same type and the move is almost exclusive, also being learned by Golem and Guzzlord.
	+ On another similar note, the move Heart Stamp appears to be designed for the Woobat line, but it can also be learned by the Smoochum line.
	+ Lucario appears to be associated with Aura Sphere because it is the "Aura Pokémon".
	+ Metang and Metagross were the only legally available Pokémon to be able to learn Meteor Mash in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
	+ High Horsepower has the same type and theme as Mudbray and Mudsdale, but it was never their signature moves.

## See also

* Game-exclusive moves
* Signature Ability