There’s an entire library of Pokemon moves out there. There are elemental blasts or stat-boosting incantations and all that make battles infinitely exciting.
But while Flamethrower and Hyper Beam might steal the spotlight with its raw power, it’s the signature moves that often live in our memories longer. These are exclusive, themed moves that are tailor-made for specific Pokemon, capturing their essence both combat power and lore.
What Are The Top 10 Best Signature Moves in Pokemon Video Games?
Our list of best signature moves in Pokemon includes Sketch, Thousand Arrows, Spectral Thief, and many more.
These moves are the flashiest, the strongest, the most epic and lore-perfect signature moves in the video games. These aren't just moves, they're personality-filled punchlines to unforgettable fights.
Sketch (Smeargle)
Let's start sharpening our coloring pencils with one of the most unexpectedly creative concepts ever put into a Pokemon, Smeargle. Its signature move, Sketch, is more than just a gimmick, it’s art imitating life or rather, art imitating moves.
Smeargle, a literal artist with a paintbrush for a tail, can easily copy any move it sees or the last move used by the target. Sketch doesn’t just fit its lore, it is its entire lore. From a competitive perspective, it’s also wildly viable. Copy Earthquake, Spore, or even Transform, and you’ve got a colorful wildcard on your team that breaks strategies.
It always hits and ignores Protect-style shielding moves. You can't block art.
Last Respects (Houndstone)
If Smeargle paints the battlefield with versatility, Houndstone buries it with vengeful wrath. Its signature move, Last Respects, starts with a decent 50 base power. But here’s the thing, it adds another 50 for every fainted ally.
That means by the time your last Pokemon leaves the field, it could be dropping a 300 power tomb drop on your opponent. And yes, this includes Pokemon that have been revived from the fainting.
Houndstone is literally being powered by the defeated souls of the fallen, fitting its spectral mutt design and dropping a new level of pain to late-game sweeps. It’s a move that shows how some eulogies can be painful, physically.
Geomancy (Xerneas)
On the brighter side of the emotional spectrum, we have the dazzling, glamorous Xerneas with its signature move Geomancy. Watching this move play out feels like stepping into a Broadway garden setpiece with nature's glow and god-tier buffs.
It takes two turns to fully charge, but once it does, Xerneas' Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed all get boosted. And if you equipped it a Power Herb or a Z-Crystal? All stats will be elevated.
It’s a move that majestically embodies Xerneas’ grace and simplicity, transforming it into a full-blown fairy-type boss battle on the spot.
Rage Fist (Annihilape)
Let’s turn things up with something far less elegant but infinitely more deadly with Annihilape’s Rage Fist. This signature move screams lore integration. Annihilape, a Pokemon that ascended through sheer rage, gets stronger every time it gets hit.
And not just by opponents because friendly hits count too. The more damage it takes, the more Rage Fist damages in return. It’s like a revenge plot wrapped in ghostly punches.
It starts with 50 base power and climbs from there with every punch Annihilape takes to the face. This move is the emotional pay-off for all of Annihilape's anger and we are all for it.
Thousand Arrows (Zygarde)
Speaking of incredible payoffs, let’s talk Zygarde and its signature move, Thousand Arrows. Just the name alone paints imagery of mythical war arrows from the heavens.
But this Ground-type move is different because it hits Flying-type Pokemon or Pokemon with Levitate. That’s a direct counter to what would normally be Zygarde’s problems with Flying-types.
With that single feature, Thousand Arrows flips the battle and disregards type advantage expectations. Also, the battle animation looks like it came from an anime finale. It’s a move that defies and redefines physics.
Gigaton Hammer (Tinkaton)
Now let’s talk about pure metallic power. Enter Tinkaton and its hilariously devastating move of Gigaton Hammer. This signature move packs an eye-watering 160 base damage. One hundred percent accuracy. Too darn broken.
You can’t use it twice in a row, sure, but to be honest? You probably won’t need to. Tinkaton’s adorable power party is backed up with the kind of force that ends games before they begin. It’s like being hit by a kid with an extremely heavy rattle.
Spectral Thief (Marshadow)
Then we have the eerie glory of Marshadow’s Spectral Thief signature move. Don’t be easily fooled by its 90 base power. What makes this move absolutely criminal is that Marshadow steals any of the opponent’s positive stat changes before dealing damage.
So if your opponent spent two turns bulking up, well, too bad. Marshadow is coming in like a shadowy assassin and stealing all that progress for itself. It’s a perfectly sneaky and irritating power move.
Stone Axe (Kleavor)
Stone Axe from the ancient Kleavor is next, and it’s a sleeper signature move in more ways than one. A 65 base damage Rock-type move doesn’t sound like much, right? But wait, every time you use it, it also sets up Stealth Rocks on your opponent’s side of the field. That’s right, it’s a damaging move and a hazard setup in one.
In competitive circles, Stealth Rocks are a game-defining move and Kleavor gets to toss them out while still slicing your Pokemon's HP. Add the Sharpness ability for a 50% damage boost and this move turns from practical to lethal. This Pokemon should've stayed in Hisui.
Dragon Ascent (Rayquaza)
When it comes to theatrical drama, no signature move outshines Dragon Ascent from Rayquaza. A soaring 120 base damage Flying-type attack with the added twist of lowering Rayquaza’s defenses, this move is already cinematic.
But it’s not just about brute force. It’s also the requirement to trigger Rayquaza’s Mega Evolution. That’s right, use Dragon Ascent and you unlock Rayquaza’s true ultimate form in the middle of the battle. The Pokemon move is both a delta power and a key to transformation, giving Rayquaza one of the most iconic power surges in games' history.
Fishious Rend (Dracovish)
Then there’s the peculiar Dracovish and the ridiculously notorious and punishing Fishious Rend. It’s a simple signature move in theory: 85 base power doubled to 170 if Dracovish strikes first.
Add its Strong Jaw ability into the mix and that 170 becomes more like a Poke-tsunami. With the right setup, this Pokemon move becomes so devastating that opponents build entire strategies just to outspeed or avoid it. Fishious Rend has risen in fishy notoriety and it's not hard to see why.
And that brings us to our final note. Signature moves aren’t just about battles or rising through the competitive ranks. They’re love letters to the Pokemon that can wield them. Expressions of lore, personality, and identity and with each generation, Game Freak gets more creative, marrying move design with lore and game animation.
It sounds impossible but there's a hope that someday, every single Pokemon will have its own signature move. A move that captures who they are, where they came from, and how they fight. Because that’s what turns a good battle into an unforgettable one.
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