Top 10 Gen-1 Pokemon with the Worst Default Movepools
For those who don't know, a movepool is the full set of moves a Pokemon can learn. Depending on the game, that can include moves learned by leveling up, TM/HM, breeding, tutoring, or other methods. For this list, however, "default movepool" refers only to the moves learned by leveling up.
While playing through a Gen 1 ROM hack, I noticed that quite a few Pokemon gain next to no moves that help them in the long run. This list covers the Gen 1 Pokemon with the worst default movepools.
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Magikarp
Magikarp, known in Japan as Koiking, resembles an orange fish with whiskers and is recognized for its weak battle performance. It first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and was created by Ken Sugimori. Magikarp is a Water-type Pokémon that evolves into the powerful Gyarados at level 20... read more
Let's just go ahead and start with the obvious. Magikarp clearly cannot learn TMs or HMs, and its main moves are Splash, which is useless, and Tackle, which is basic. The next few Pokemon also fall under this category.
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Metapod
Metapod, known in Japan as Transel, evolves from Caterpie starting at level 7 and becomes Butterfree at level 10. It is best known for its highly defensive capabilities. Metapod typically uses the move Harden to increase its defense and protect itself until it evolves.
Wild Metapod and Kakuna only know Harden and nothing else.
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Kakuna
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Abra
Abra is a character from the Pokémon franchise. It was first introduced in Pokémon Red and Green (released as Blue in international markets) and was among the earliest Psychic-type Pokémon players could encounter.
Abra sleeps for about 18 hours a day and will teleport away if it senses danger... read more
Abra lucks out a bit more since it can learn TMs and HMs, but it still has only Teleport as a default move and doesn't gain any others through any other method.
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Rhyhorn
Yes, Rhyhorn in Gen 1 has an awful default movepool. Why? It only learns Normal-type moves in Gen 1, so no STAB. And it doesn't actually gain its second move until Level 30.
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Voltorb
Voltorb is an Electric-type Pokémon introduced in the Pokémon franchise's first generation. Resembling a Poké Ball, Voltorb often surprises trainers by self-destructing in battles. It is known for its unpredictability and is often found in power plants and other industrial locations.
Like Rhyhorn, Voltorb does not learn any moves that would benefit from STAB simply by leveling up, which is a huge problem, especially considering that it only learns Normal-type offensive moves. You'd have to give it a TM.
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Sandshrew
All Normal moves! Although it does get a Poison-type move in Poison Sting, Sandshrew's default movepool has no Ground moves that could benefit from STAB. It at least gets all attacking moves, though.
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Ponyta
Ponyta, known in Japan by the same name, is a Fire-type Pokémon. It first appeared in the original Pokémon Red and Blue games. Ponyta is recognized for its fiery mane and exceptional speed, which make it a visually striking and agile Pokémon in battles.
It gets STAB Ember, but a low-level Ponyta doesn't gain any other moves until Level 30, when it gains Tail Whip, and then Level 32, when it gets Stomp. The only other STAB move it would gain is Fire Spin, which is less powerful than Ember, and it doesn't gain anything better.
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Koffing
Like Ponyta, Koffing only gets two STAB moves, although it gets them earlier and already starts out with Smog. But it takes until Level 32 to reach Sludge, and by then it's only three levels away from evolving anyway. Its other offensive moves are Selfdestruct and Explosion, which aren't great to use in the long run.
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Grimer
Again, Grimer fares a bit better, but not by much, seeing as it starts with Pound and Disable and takes until Level 30 to learn the next move, the non-offensive Poison Gas. Then, one level before its evolving level of 38, it learns its only STAB attack move, Sludge.