• Forum Moderator applications are now open! If you're interested in joining an active team of moderators for one of the biggest Pokémon forums on the internet, click here for info.

Move-of-the-Week Discussion #40: AncientPower

Winterdaze

Winterdaze

fight me
Joined
Feb 8, 2011
Messages
2,955
Reaction score
35
In Pokémon, there are lots of different moves used by different Pokémon. Every week, we shall focus the discussion on a different move, and there will be some base questions that would help you start this off. This week, AncientPower is chosen.


(Click picture to go to the Bulbapedia page)​

In-game Description (BW) said:
Type: Rock (Special)
Base Power: 60
Accuracy: 100%
PP: 5

The user attacks with a prehistoric power. It may also raise all the user's stats at once.
Click to expand...
AncientPower is a Rock-type move introduced in Gen II, as a pseudo-signature move for fossil Pokemon. Since then it has expanded into the movepools of many different Pokemon, and knowing it is an evolutionary requirement for three different Pokemon: Yanmega, Tangrowth and Mamoswine. Despite its low power and PP, it’s one of the few special Rock-type moves in the game, and boasts the lucrative side effect of occasionally boosting all of the user’s stats at one. All of them.

Here are the usual possible questions about this move:
  • How does certain Pokémon (who knows it) use this move?
  • What kind of purpose would this move have for them (in the Pokémon World)?
  • How could this move be used to aid a profession in the Pokémon World?
  • Could this move realistically be used by any Pokémon who doesn't learn it normally? If yes, please explain your choices.
  • How would this move be used in battling, realistically or video game-wise?

Other questions (You could ask other critical questions beyond the listed):
  • Why do so many Legendary Pokemon learn this attack?
  • How does this move cause Pokemon like Yanma to evolve?
  • Why is AncientPower able to boost all of the user’s stats at once?
  • Despite being an ancient Pokemon, Genesect cannot learn this move. Why?

Here are the current users of this move (spoilered, as there's a lot):
(Level-up)​
  • Tangela & Tangrowth
  • Omanyte & Omastar
  • Kabuto & Kabutops
  • Aerodactyl
  • Articuno
  • Zapdos
  • Moltres
  • Mew
  • Togepi, Togetic & Togekiss
  • Yanma & Yanmega
  • Slugma & Magcargo
  • Piloswine & Mamoswine
  • Corsola
  • Lugia
  • Ho-oh
  • Celebi
  • Baltoy & Claydol
  • Lileep & Cradily
  • Anorith & Armaldo
  • Kecleon
  • Relicanth
  • Regirock
  • Regice
  • Registeel
  • Kyogre
  • Groudon
  • Rayquaza
  • Cranidos & Rampardos
  • Shieldon & Bastiodon
  • Dialga
  • Palkia
  • Heatran
  • Giratina
  • Tirtouga & Carracosta
  • Archen & Archeops
  • Reshiram
  • Zekrom
  • Kyurem
    (Breeding)
  • Charmander, Charmeleon & Charizard
  • Diglett & Dugtrio
  • Krabby & Kingler
  • Exeggcute & Exeggutor
  • Cubone & Marowak
  • Lapras
  • Chikorita, Bayleef & Meganium
  • Totodile, Croconaw & Feraligatr
  • Wooper & Quagsire
  • Dunsparce
  • Swinub
  • Phanpy & Donphan
  • Larvitar, Pupitar & Tyranitar
  • Mudkip, Marshtomp & Swampert
  • Carvanha & Sharpedo
  • Numel & Camerupt
  • Mawile
  • Corphish & Crawdaunt
  • Sigilyph

    (Move Tutor Only, 4th Gen)
  • Geodude, Graveler & Golem
  • Onix & Steelix
  • Rhyhorn, Rhydon & Rhyperior
  • Shuckle
  • Nosepass & Probopass
  • Aron, Lairon & Aggron
  • Lunatone
  • Solrock
  • Shellos & Gastrodon
  • Bronzor & Bronzong
  • Regigigas
  • Phione
  • Manaphy
  • Arceus

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The Pokémon World Forum Staff


Previous Move-of-the-Weeks:
 
How does certain Pokémon (who knows it) use this move?

Fossil Pokemon are from the prehistoric times, so are able to use this very prehistoric attack. Their prehistoric power deep inside is able to release a powerful attack which also raises their stats.

What kind of purpose would this move have for them (in the Pokémon World)?

In battle, it would increase all stats on occasion so it would help them win the battle a lot easier.

Why do so many Legendary Pokemon learn this attack?
It could be possible that Legendary Pokemon are much older than people think in the Pokemon world, they probably go further back than the Fossil Pokemon with some of them..

Despite being an ancient Pokemon, Genesect cannot learn this move. Why?
It's probably because Genesect, like Mewtwo was created by humans and so couldn't learn the move.
 
Last edited:
Most prehistoric and legendary Pokemon have that power that when released, it is entirely powerful. That energy was stored in ancient times. For the boost-all power, it could be a residue from the power releasement.

Those Pokemon that evolve from this move? This move could unlock an ancient form of them, causing to evolve. If you look at it, they look prehistoric.
 
It's possible that this move was a standard move for all Pokemon in the past, similar to Tackle, but became less common as new Pokemon arose. That would explain why fossil Pokemon and "ancient" Pokemon can learn it.

I've always been curious as to how this move is intended to look. In the games, the user seems to levitate rocks and throw them at the opponent. In the anime, for some reason it's more of a generic energy sphere attack. I like to think of it more as the first option, since rocks it would make sense for ancient Pokemon to attack with the surrounding environment, which I'm sure would have been filled with many rocks back in the day.
 
How could it be used to aid a profession?

So old people could discipline their grandchildren XD

Here's a question. Unown are VERY old, why can't they learn it?
 
Ancient Power probably boost the user's stats occasionally probably because this move is what it says: a kind of power, and they call on their spiritual ancestry to help them in battle. I suppose that when the user received the blessings of their ancestors, they will boost their overall performance. As such, certain Pokemon that evolve by learning this move will adapt their ancestry image because they have that power of the ancients inside them, and those Pokemon are actually stronger after they evolve, similar to how Ancient Power give a boost in stats if it works. Only thing is Tangrowth is slower than Tangela.

I believe that the Pokemon that evolves by learning this move are based on prehistoric beings. Mamoswine is obviously a mammoth, Yanmega is a gigantic insect, and Tangrowth is either a wild plant or a caveman-based Pokemon.


Incoming Mortar said:
Here's a question. Unown are VERY old, why can't they learn it?
Click to expand...

If you ask me, I thought that Unown is only made to know one move only (Hidden Power). I suppose Hidden Power Rock is a substitute for Ancient Power, but then again, it doesn't boost its stats, so Unown is not made to boost its own power on its own? Even in the Dex, they will only have a greater power in numbers, although it's not relevant in the games since they don't have this perk anyway.

Thanks for reading.
 
Please note: The thread is from 13 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
Back
Top Bottom