To be the best trainer inPokémon, players need to know the best moves to teach their trusty companions. There are 915 moves for trainers to consider. Deciding which are best for their Pokémon is a challenge, especially considering they can only take four from that massive selection! Luckily, every Pokémon has a limit on what they can learn, based on their move pooland their respective types, which significantly decreases the number of moves they can use from 915 to around one hundred or so.
The real challenge thatPokémonpresents is determining what selection of moves is best, but deciding that demands players to ask which are the most powerful. This list features only the best in the game, whether because they deal a lot of damage, have a unique effect, play to a notably effective build, etc. However, some impressive moves are not on this list because of their exclusivity to specific Pokémon, which would be counteractive to trainers looking for something most of their companions can feasibly use.
Updated July 23, 2025, by Christopher Anaya:Despite being around for about 27 years, Pokémon shows no sign of slowing down, having released several new games in the past couple of years and showing a desire to create more. These additions to the long list of titles have done much for the franchise, but among the most notable were the many new moves added to the roster. Some of these moves featured in the latest Pokémon games stand above the rest, earning a place among the most powerful a Pokémon can learn.
While most moves can be powerful under the right circumstances, many of those featured on this list are undeniably strong — moves so impactful that it would be foolish not even to consider them for your Pokémon. Such moves hold such a high standing for one reason or another, but regardless, they can change a battle in one’s favor or set in motion the circumstances to overcome even the most overwhelming odds. Although they may not have a place in every Pokémon’s move setup, players should really consider these powerful moves.
20Acrobatics
Acrobatics is a Physical Flying-type move with 55 base Power and 100% Accuracy. This move does not appear to be that powerful at first glance, but two things about it make it overwhelmingly potent. One,it is a Flying-type move, and Flying is only resisted by Electric, Rock, and Steel, making it a very safe pick when attacking with it. Two, Acrobatics may only have 55 Power if the user has an item, but if they do not, its base Power is instead 110.
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These downsides are a laughably easy drawback to get around for a move with such high power and consistency. Even if the user wants this move and an item, they can hold an easily consumable item like a Berry or the White Herb, giving them both the effects of the item and the Power boost from Acrobatics. This move is so strong and easily clickable that any Physical Flying-type — or even non-Flying Pokémon — can see much use from it. This move can be learned by level-up or TM/TR.
19Boomburst
Boomburst is a Special Normal-type move that deals devastating damage to everyone around it, threatening all with its 140 Power and 100% Accuracy. Since it is Normal-type, it will not affect Ghost-types, which players can work around through some features or items. The only other Pokémon immune to the move are those with the ability Soundproof since it directly counters sound-based moves, making Boomburst ineffective.
Out of the moves on this list, this one has the fewest that can learn it. No TM/TR of it exists yet. Those that can learn it by leveling up are only Exploud, Vibrava, and Noivern. If trainers understand the intricacies of Pokémon breeding, however, they can hatch Chatot, Pikipek, and Taillow to learn the move. The reason so few can learn Boomburst may partly be because this move has only existed sincePokémon X and Y.
18Earthquake
Earthquake is a popular move that deals Physical Ground-type damage to any Pokémon but those of the Flying-type or with the ability Levitate. It has also existed since the first generation, remaining a staple among many because of its 100 Power and 100% Accuracy. Like Explosion, part of what makes Earthquake so good is that it affects every Pokémon on the field. Unlike Explosion, the user also does not take any damage. This move is excellent if the enemy Pokémon uses Dig, as it will still impact them.
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Pokémon that can naturally learn this move by leveling up include Mudsdale, Golurk, Krookodile, Mamoswine, and Flygon. As a TM, many more Pokémon can learn Earthquake, such as Charizard, Blissey, Wailord, Salamence, Gallade, and more.
17Eruption
Eruption is a Special Fire-type move with 150 base Power and 100% Accuracy. Eruption uses a rather interesting formula for determining damage, its damage is entirely dependent on the user’s HP, meaning the more health the user has, the more damage Eruption does. The damage output potential of this move is absurd, as 150 base Power moves with such a simple drawback are incredibly rare. Even in Doubles, where moves that hit multiple Pokémon get a 25% Power reduction, Eruption still hurts like crazy. When used at the correct time, it can shred through enemy teams like it’s nothing.
However, to the relief of some and the concern of others, Game Freak is fully aware of how strong this move is and, as such, has given it to very few Pokémon. The only Pokémon that can learn this move are Typhlosion, Entei, Camerupt, Torkoal, and Groudon, all through level-ups. Of these five, only Typhlosion, Camerupt, and Torkoal can use it notably well, but it still proves a solid option for others.
16Explosion
If trainers want a powerful move that deals Physical Normal-type damage, Explosion is it. This move has been around since the first generation and remains relevant through its insane 250 power and 100% Accuracy. Pokémon that can naturally learn this move by leveling up include Golem, Forretress, Drifblim, Turtonator, Ferrothorn, and Claydol. Using a TM, a wide variety of other Pokemon such as Gengar, Steelix, Metagross, and Camerupt can learn it.
While the move does kill the user in the process, it deals a ton of damage to those around it. Do not try it on any Ghost-types, though, as it will not affect them!
15Focus Blast
Pokémon have little in the way of Special Fighting-type attacks, which is why Focus Blast is such a valued move, that and its 120 Power and 70% Accuracy. It is a hard-hitting move that any high Special Attack Pokémon can benefit from, especially if they need coverage against formidable Steel-types. But devastating damage is not all Focus Blast has to offer, for it has a 10% chance of lowering the target’s Special Defense stat by one stage. Although not as likely to happen, it proves a game changer when it does. The only downside of Focus Blast is its poorer Accuracy, which leaves a considerable margin for failure.
Focus Blast can be learned through level-up or TMs/TRs by a wide variety of Pokémon. Those that would benefit most from Focus Blast include Charizard, Lucario, Reuniclus, and Sceptile, but any should consider this powerful move.
14Focus Punch
Introduced in the third generation of games, Focus Punch is known to be one of the strongest Physical Fighting-type moves, standing at 150 Power and 100% Accuracy. What makes using the move a bit tricky is that a Pokémon has to give up a turn to build up focus, but when it finally hits, it hits hard. So, while it demands some luck and careful planning to use, Focus Punch proves a devastatingly powerful move worth taking for most.
The most glaring detriment of using Focus Punch is that, as the name suggests, it requires a Pokémon’s concentration, which can be interrupted. If a player’s Pokémon is hurt while building up focus, it loses concentration and cannot use Focus Punch. Fortunately, trainers have figured out various ways to avoid that, using moves that debilitate opponents, putting them to Sleep or Paralyzing them, and only trying this move against slower Pokémon.
13Foul Play
Foul Play, introduced inPokémon Black and White, has become known as one of the best Physical Dark-type moves in the series for its 95% Power, 100% Accuracy, and unique effect. This move uses the target’s Attack stat when calculating damage rather than the users. While such an effect does not seem significant, it is vital to note that Foul Play proves a saving grace when pitted against an opponent that hits harder while still proving an effective move even when not, granting a safe yet powerful option for players.
The Pokémon that can naturally learn this move include Dark-types such as Zoroark, Houndoom, Honchkrow, and others. There are a few exceptions that are not Dark-type, yet learn Foul Play by leveling up, like Klefki and Oranguru. Through a TM or Move Tutor, many more Pokémon from other types can learn Foul Play, which is helpful for those needing a good Dark-type move to counter specific opponents.
Head Smash is a Physical Rock-type move with 150 base Power and 80% Accuracy. Besides its lesser Accuracy, Head Smash suffers from a significant downside, which is massive recoil. The user will lose health equal to one-half of the damage done to the opponent, which can be enough for opposing Pokémon to finish them off.
The absolute best Head Smash users are Sudowoodo, Relicanth, Aggron, and Tyrantrum because they have access to the ludicrous combination that is STAB Head Smashwith the frightening Rock Head Ability. Rock Head has a very simple yet powerful effect: it negates recoil damage from all of the user’s moves, meaning that the only drawback these Pokémon see from using this move is its imperfect Accuracy. They all get Head Smash by level up — minus Aggron, who gets it from breeding — so the move is not even difficult to obtain, leaving little reason for these Pokémon not to take it.
11Hidden Power
On the surface, the Special Normal-type move Hidden Power seems lackluster, with its 50 Power and 100% Accuracy, but it holds potential in its unique effect. This move changes type based on the user’s IVs, granting it access to types — besides Normal and Fairy — it would otherwise not have access to, like an Ice-type move for a Fire-type Pokémon. That alone makes Hidden Power — a deceptively strong move — powerful, as it grants much more coverage to those with limited or uninspired move pools. Pokémon with this move will always surprise opponents and gain an unexpected advantage against them.
Every Pokémon, excluding a rare few, can learn Hidden power by leveling up or using a TM/TR, making it an option most players should consider. Any Pokémon can benefit from this move, but it is best used to counter any type a trainer’s team does not account for. For instance, a team without anything to oppose Psychic-types should have one member learn Hidden Power with the Dark-type.
