Then there are signature moves, attacks and status moves that only one Pokemon, or Pokemon in its evolutionary line, are able to learn and often define that Pokemon, both in the anime and the video game series.
10 No Retreat
The signature move of Falinks, one of the stranger new Pokemon introduced in Sword & Shield, this move acts somewhat like Kommo-O’s signature move, Clangorous Soul, though without the heavy HP cost associated with it. In No Retreat’s case, it gives a one stage boost to all of Falinks’ stats at the cost of it not being able to switch out of battle. While, normally, this would be a massive downside, it shines best in the doubles format battles, where switching is far less common than in single battles, as well as allowing Falinks to tear through opponents with ease when No Retreat is combined with its hidden ability, Defiant.
9 Spirit Shackle
Unfortunately for Incineroar, its signature move, Darkest Lariat, is no longer a signature move in Sword & Shield, with many other Pokemon now being able to learn the Dark-type attack. Thankfully, Decidueye’s signature move, Spirit Shackle, remained solely under its control and helps it stand out among other Ghost-type Pokemon. This move deals decent physical damage, but the real reason to use this move is that it prevents any Pokemon that has been hit by it from switching out of battle. Although a Pokemon switching out happens before everything else in a battle’s turn, Spirit Shackle can ensure that you are in control of the process at least some of the time.
8 Psystrike
Psyshock is a fairly common move among Psychic-type Pokemon, as its ability to deal damage based on the target’s defense while attacking with a special move, rather than their special defense as would normally be the case, helps them defeat other special defense focused Pokemon that would normally be able to tank the attack. Psystrike functions in the exact same way, though with 20 extra points of power behind it.
This makes sense given that it has been the signature move of Mewtwo since generation five, giving it the most powerful Psychic-type attack that doesn’t take multiple turns to activate, such as Future Sight, or an additional status condition with Dream Eater.
7 Accelerock
Priority moves haven’t always been the best around, but since the introduction of Extreme Speed in Gold & Silver, the niche genre of attacks has slowly been getting larger, with moves like Aqua Jet, Mach Punch, Water Shuriken, and, most recently, Grassy Glide. Accelerock fits into this category and fits its Pokemon, Lycanroc, perfectly. Unlike just about every other Rock-type Pokemon, Lycanroc is a fast, physical sweeper, so giving it a signature priority move makes sense. Though it is somewhat let down by its low base power at 40, the fact that it isn’t a Normal or Fighting-type attack gives it the edge over the other more common priority attacks.
6 Dynamax Cannon
It’s fairly well known by now that the animation quality of moves in Sword & Shield isn’t the best the series has ever seen and is a large reason why so many gamers who once loved the series are turning away from it. That being said, signature moves in generation eight have some of the best animations in the entire series, and Dynamax Cannon is no exception. The signature move of Eternatus, this attack deals double damage to any Dynamax or Gigantamax Pokemon, making it an obvious choice in Pokemon if you are wanting to breeze through Max Raid battles.
5 Baneful Bunker
Not all signature moves are about dealing damage or buffing stats. Some moves, like Toxapex’s Baneful Bunker, are simply about stalling out the battle in the most annoying way possible. This move functions exactly like Detect and Protect, keeping Toxapex from taking any damage for one turn, but with one added caveat in that, if the opposing Pokemon makes contact with the shield, they will be poisoned. Although regular poison damage doesn’t deal all that much per turn, combined with Toxapex’s great defensive stats and access to Recover, there are few poison stallers in the game that can compete with Toxapex.
4 King’s Shield
Another signature Protect move, this time one that is far more infamous among the community, especially if they played online battles during the height of Pokemon X & Y and had to face down Aegilash before its stats were reduced. This move, while also protecting Aegislash, will cause it to change stances and, by extension, its stats to become more defensive.
The stance change aspect of Aegislash was already good, but the fact that King’s Shield also reduces the attack of the Pokemon that hits the shield by one stage makes it even better. While it has the same restrictions as Baneful Bunker, in that the attack needs to make physical contact with the shield, it’s still one of the better signature moves out there.
3 Surging Strikes & Wicked Blow
Moves that will always result in a critical hit are few and far between, largely because of how critical hits ignore all stat changes, on both sides of the field, as well as dealing 50% more damage. However, Urshifu is one lucky legendary, in that it gets not just one of these moves, but two, depending on which form it takes. Rapid Strike Urshifu gains Surging Strikes, which hits three times and deals a critical hit on every attack. Single Strike Urshifu instead gains Wicked Blow, which hits for more damage, but only hits one time. Although Wicked Blow deals more damage in total, Surging Strikes isn’t entirely useless, as the fact that it hits multiple times means that it is great against Pokemon with Sturdy or that are holding a Focus Sash.
2 Fiery Dance
While Volcarona has its shortcomings, with its once unique Bug/Fire-type combination being very weak to Rock-type attacks, including Stealth Rocks, it makes up for that with its signature move. Fiery Dance isn’t a particularly strong Fire-type attack at 80 base power, putting it behind the more commonly used Flamethrower, but it does come with an additional side effect that makes it well worth the move slot. After attacking, Fiery Dance has a 50% chance to increase Volcarona’s special attack by one stage, far higher than most other stat-boosting moves like Ancient Power.
1 Geomancy
Possibly the most infamous signature move in all of Pokemon, especially during the VGC formats where Xerneas was a legitimate team option, Geomancy became the bane of many players who couldn’t deal with the two-turn move quickly enough. While this move normally takes two-turns to boost Xerneas’ special attack, special defense, and speed by two stages, it can get around this by simply holding a Power Herb, which executes the move on the turn it activates. Because of how stat-boosting works in Pokemon, two stages are the equivalent of doubling its already impressive special attack and special defense, while doubling its speed means that it can outspeed most Pokemon that would threaten to defeat it.
