Pokemon already has a good number of humorous things, whether intentionally or unintentionally. These things can range from the Pokemon themselves, items, or even the moves and abilities they use. Although names like the Micle Berry and the ability Wimp Out can bring smiles to faces, most don’t consider the original language.
The series originates from Japan and thus must be translated for English-speaking audiences. While some names can be directly translated into what we know them to be, plenty got changed for one reason or another. Rest assured that some names in Japanese are just as funny, if not funnier than ones we have in English!
10 Pickpocket (Bad Habit)
Pickpocket has a unique status of only being available as a hidden ability currently. Whenever a Pokemon with Pickpocket uses a physical attack and they don’t have an item, it’ll activate. They swipe the opponent’s held item and keep it for themselves.
Bad Habit is the name this ability is directly translated as from Japanese. Maybe the Pokemon that do this don’t do so intentionally and it’s just a habit because of what they are. If so, it’s one they definitely need to work on to keep their Trainers from getting in trouble!
9 Frustration (Angry Outburst)
Frustration is a Normal-type move that can be learned by nearly every Pokemon out there. It’s got a rather sad mechanic to it, since its power increases the more unhappy the user is. Frustration is the polar opposite of Return in this aspect.
Angry Outburst doesn’t sound much better on that front but you could at least get some humor out of it. Just imagine the Pokemon using this exploding on someone and going off on angry rants. It’d be just like every Pokemon can turn into a Primeape and go crazy for a little bit!
8 Play Rough (Frolic)
Play Rough is a physical Fairy-type move that gives the impression the user gets a bit too physical with their opponent. They do rough play with them (as said in the name) and intentionally, or accidentally, attack them in the process.
What would the explanation be if it stuck true to its original name, Frolic? It’s no wonder they changed the name of the move to Play Rough. Otherwise, this move would imply that whichever Pokemon uses this takes a happy little skip all across their opponent’s face!
7 Bullet Seed (Seed Machine Gun)
Bullet Seed’s a move used by Grass-types in many entries among the franchise, most commonly during the early game. Pokemon that use it shoot out seeds in rapid succession at their foe, mostly by spitting them out or finding a way to throw that many. It’s anyone’s guess as to how Seedot manages to pull it off.
Seed Machine Gun couldn’t be any more on the nose with how this move works! It has the same kind of energy Bullet Seed does but presents it in a much more amusing fashion. Animations this move is given in every game does it justice, always being showcased as a barrage of seeds blasting enemies.
6 Blissey (Happinas)
Blissey is the lovable evolution to the equally lovable Chansey from the Kanto region. In the anime it’s always willing to lend a helping hand, although in games it’s never easy to deal with. Massive amounts of HP, bulk, and a vast variety of moves do not make for an easy target.
Despite the nightmare it is to actually fight one, you could never be mad at a Pokemon named Happinas! Pronounced like Happiness, Blissey is quite literally categorized as ’the Happiness Pokemon.’ Not to mention that high friendship is how you evolve a Chansey in the first place!
5 Beat Up (Gang Up)
Beat Up is a rather mean move, which is fitting thanks to its Dark typing. It’s very simple in concept and is very unique as far as current moves go. When used, the Pokemon calls upon its friends to come forth and start attacking the enemy together.
Gang Up is another entry that’s very literal compared to the translation it was given. At least with Beat Up, it can just be pictured that they’re pummeling something themselves. Gang Up doesn’t leave any doubt that they’re just calling their buddies to catch them in a back alley to dish out pain!
4 Unaware (Airhead)
Unaware, contrary to what some might think, is actually an incredibly useful ability. It means the Pokemon that has it is a bit oblivious to an extent and doesn’t notice when their foe’s stats increase. Because it doesn’t know they got stronger, it just ignores stat boosts and acts like nothing happened when it attacks!
Airhead takes the interpretation of being unaware to an entirely new level. It’s a little harsh compared to saying something is simply unaware. Calling a Pokemon outright stupid and mindless probably isn’t what they wanted to convey with this ability. Nobody would say that to a little Wooper’s face!
3 Cute Charm (Mad Love Body)
Cute Charm’s an ability that makes itself known on either cutesy or elegant Pokemon. When physical contact is made with any kind of move it has a chance to infatuate other Pokemon of the opposite gender. They’re bewitched by the sheer cuteness or elegance!
Mad Love Body takes it further than simply being distracted by how their opponent looks. They fall madly in love! It’d be putting the spirit of Brock from the anime inside of any Pokemon that falls under it. It’s hard to imagine him wanting to harm any of the ladies he’s laid eyes on, just as it is for infatuated Pokemon.
2 Gorilla Tactics (Obsessed Gorilla)
Gorilla Tactics is a very self-explanatory ability, belonging only to the snowy Galarian Darmanitan. It boosts its attacking power so it can execute its ’tactics’ more effectively. When it says tactic, it’s referring to throwing the same move out over and over until it works. The name is a pun on “guerilla tactics.”
It’s difficult to tell whether or not Obsessed Gorilla is funnier than Gorilla Tactics. Instead of considering a strategy or something to loosely consider a ’tactic’, it’s just obsessed — obsessed with the one move it picks to pound something into the ground!
1 Storm Drain (Pump Priming)
Storm Drain stays true to its real-life meaning, with the Pokemon with this ability carrying away all Water-type moves used. It can be obtained by the Finneon, Shellos, and Lileep evolutionary lines. Even Maractus can get it as a hidden ability! It’s not easy getting water as a desert cactus after all.
Pump Priming is a funny way to describe it while also being an unexpected reference. It can easily be described as priming suction valves with water in order to function, which was likely the inspiration. However, Pump Priming can also refer to when a government tries to boost the economy up. A Pokemon with this ability could either be good or bad for your spending habits!
NEXT: 10 Pokemon Attack Names That Were Better In Japanese
