There are plenty of similarities between the Pokémon games and the anime, from the various locations, Gym Leaders, and general Pokémon available, but there are also many differences. One such difference comes in certain moves' presentation and impact. In the games, moves are given base power numbers, which are then manipulated by the user Pokémon's own attack stats and the opponent's defense stats, before dealing the finalized amount of damage.
In the anime, some of these moves have received major increases compared to their game counterparts, but there are also those moves that deal more damage or another form of affliction, compared to their different original purpose.
10 String Shot Reduces & Restricts More Than Just Speed In The Anime
In the Pokémon games, String Shot is seen as a simple move for early-game Bug-types to have and subsequently forget when they learn better moves. It lowers the opponent's speed slightly without doing any subsequent damage but can affect a battle if used enough times.
In the anime, however, it is used to tie up and almost engulf opponents. While this does reduce the opponent's speed, it arguably reduces their mobility and ability to attack as well. Pokémon such as Ariados are even seen using it to tie up humans in the anime, with it often requiring a strong or sharp attack to break it, a testament to how underrated this move actually is.
9 A Screech Managed To Knock Out Ash's Pikachu
While Screech can be rather scary in the early parts of the games due to it lowering the target's defense stat by two stages, when everyone's stats are already at a weak stage, it has been given an even better representation in the anime.
The anime obviously has the advantage of having extra sound, animation, and creative license to make the moves look good, but Screech actually appears to cause opponents genuine pain and irritation. Ash's prized and reliable Pikachu was even defeated by the move, when Oreburgh Gym Leader Roark's Onix used it in the Diamond & Pearl series, with Pikachu being completely overpowered by it.
8 Water Gun Is Seen As A Formidable Move In The Anime
In the games, Water Gun is simply the basic Water-type move, dealing 40 power. At this early stage of the game, Bubble is often considered more desirable due to it having a chance to lower the opponent's speed.
In the anime, however, Water Gun is considered to be one of the strongest Water-type moves and its power seems to be on par with the likes of Surf and Hydro Pump. While it makes sense that such a move would scale depending on how strong the user is, this isn't really the case in the games, with it still just being among the weakest offensive moves.
7 Agility & Double Team Are Much More Dynamic & Useful
In the games, Agility and Double Team are moves to increase speed and evasiveness respectively, having to be spammed or at least used more than once to have an actual impact on a battle.
In the anime, Agility seems more powerful than just barely increasing speed as various users have been seen momentarily disappearing while using the move, and appearing in a more strategically beneficial position to launch a counterattack. Double Team also has a different twist put on it in the anime, with the user making multiple clones of itself and the opposing Pokémon very rarely being able to attack the correct form.
6 Will-O-Wisp Becomes A Devastating Fireball-Throwing Move For Non-Fire-Types
Will-O-Wisp first and foremost is a Fire-type move that, in the games, can be learned by a wide range of Pokémon, but mainly Fire-types. The game version also simply burns the opponent, which in turn deals damage gradually until the foe's burn is healed or they are eliminated.
The anime seemingly twists the move around somewhat, with it being used more by Ghost-types rather than Fire-types, and the move becoming a more intimidating and threatening fireball-launching attack that deals direct damage. This would make it another formidable move to add to any Fire-type's arsenal but very few seem to utilize it, opting for more traditional Fire-type damage-dealing moves instead.
5 Water Shuriken Is More Reliable & Deadly In The Anime
In the games, Water Shuriken is a move that can be used by both Greninja and Accelgor. At base level, it has 15 power per hit but can hit between two and five times. With a 15 percent chance of hitting five times, it hardly seems worth it for just 75 power.
In the anime, it is a move used exclusively by Greninja and becomes the main Water-type move for Ash's Greninja, as it surpasses the likes of Water Pulse and Bubble in terms of battle proficiency. Not only is it a satisfying move to see animated in such a way that Greninja molds water to make a weapon, but it is generally a more powerful offensive move than it would be in the games, even if it hit five times.
4 Whirlwind Does More Than Just Switching Out The Opponent
In the Pokémon games, Whirlwind has only ever been used to flee wild battles or to switch out specific enemy Pokémon, having the same premise as the move Roar.
The anime takes this premise and makes it more powerful and useful in general, rather logically being able to blow away moves and Smog effects, Smokescreen, or even any special attacks that could potentially cause any grievous damage. Whirlwind in the anime is essentially used as damage and crisis control, often being used to try to thwart Team Rocket and their getaway plans.
3 Rapid Spin Can Actively Block Opposing Moves In The Anime
Rapid Spin is a useful enough move in the games. Any move that can deal a decent amount of damage with 50 power and can also break through the likes of Bind, Spikes and Leech Seed, is a useful weapon to have in any arsenal. Later generations even included a speed boost for the user, giving it even more potential to be a great move.
However, the anime went even further, with it even being able to deflect and power through enemy attacks. Rapid Spin was turned into an attack that could defend, attack, counter-attack, and eliminate any binding moves, with no apparent adverse effects to the user.
2 Sabrina's Kadabra Sent Pikachu's Own Move Back At It With Confusion
Confusion has a base power of 50 in the games and is often the first Psychic-move learned by those capable of using the mysterious typing. The possibility of confusing the opponent can sometimes tempt players to use it later in the game than they should.
In the anime, Psychic-type moves are shown to utilize all manner of telepathic and mind-control manipulation moves and tricks, making most of them really powerful. Despite the likes of Psychic being a better move than Confusion, the latter is still given a strong showing with Sabrina's Kadabra using it to deflect Pikachu's attack back at it, and Misty's Psyduck using it to defeat Ash's formidable Kingler. While it's arguably Psychic-type moves in general that are given a buff and a better showing in the anime, Confusion is one that especially outperforms its game counterpart.
1 Quick Attack Becomes More Of A Viable Option In Most Battles
Tackle and Quick Attack are among the first basic Normal-type moves that Pokémon will learn at the start of any game, both having a weak 40 power. Quick Attack instantly becomes favored over Tackle due to its priority move status.
In the anime, Quick Attack is used in a similar fashion to Agility's anime version, with the user sometimes disappearing due to its increased speed. Quick Attack is often used as a spirited comeback-move, with it having the user dart through or towards an oncoming attack. The move does surprisingly well when used in head-on collisions and has been a valuable part of Pikachu's arsenal for years, especially if it is unable to use Electric-type moves or even Iron Tail.