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Move-of-the-Week Discussion #49: Poison Gas

winstein

winstein

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(Click picture to go to the Bulbapedia page)​

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, Poison Gas is chosen.

This week, we touch on a classic status move introduced in Generation 1. It have been around for a long time, but I don't blame you if you didn't hear of this move, because not many Pokémon learns it, and the majority of them are Poison-types (of course). So, this move has a simple effect, which is to cast Poison status on the opponent(s). Even though Koffing and Poison Gas are closely related (having similar names with one another in Japanese), it isn't until Generation 2 that Koffing could learn it.

This is one of the improved moves, believe it or not, gaining accuracy from 55% to 80% and hitting multiple opponents in Doubles in Generation 5, so it's a move to consider if you are battling three opponents. Interestingly, this means Poison Gas is now a variation of Dark Void, having a similar effect of casting status, same accuracy and area of effect. Maybe in Horde Battles, doing this to all five of them would come in handy too.

Here's the in-game description of this move:

In-game Description (BW) said:
Type: Poison (Status)
Base Power: --
Accuracy: 80%
PP: 40

A cloud of poison gas is sprayed in the face of opposing Pokémon. It may poison those hit.
Click to expand...

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):
  • A similar move is Smog, which also poisons the opponent. Besides being an attack, how is this move different from Poison Gas?
  • Drowzee and Hypno learns this move, despite not being Poison-types. How could they execute this move, and what purpose does it have for them?

Here are the current users of this move:
(Level-up)​
  • Grimer & Muk
  • Drowzee & Hypno
  • Koffing & Weezing
  • Gulpin & Swalot
  • Stunky & Skuntank
  • Trubbish & Garbodor

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The General Pokémon Forum Staff


Previous Move-of-the-Weeks:

Next Move-of-the-Week: Without a burden, this attack becomes more effective.​
 
I'm surprised to see that not all Poison-type pokemons can learn this as well. I always thought the Oddish family could learn it, especially since Vileplume is a rafflesia, a flower that smells very foul, like seriously rotten. Foul odor doesn't directly mean poisonous gas, but still, you get the idea.

As for why Drowzee and Hypno can learn it... I think it's because they feed on dreams. They'd naturally want to put people to sleep by hypnotizing, but in the real world, there are drugs and other things that can put people unconscious as well. In lab experiments were they dissect animals, they put them in a bottle full of ether first, and they'd faint after inhaling too much of the gas. It's similar to anesthetics. Weird it might seem, but I think Drowzee are using 'poison gas' as an alternative of ether to make their target faint so they can eat their dreams if they're starving.
 
Spectrum Achromatic said:
As for why Drowzee and Hypno can learn it... I think it's because they feed on dreams. They'd naturally want to put people to sleep by hypnotizing, but in the real world, there are drugs and other things that can put people unconscious as well. In lab experiments were they dissect animals, they put them in a bottle full of ether first, and they'd faint after inhaling too much of the gas. It's similar to anesthetics. Weird it might seem, but I think Drowzee are using 'poison gas' as an alternative of ether to make their target faint so they can eat their dreams if they're starving.
Click to expand...

If that is the case, why does it not give the sleep status?
 
User_Name said:
Spectrum Achromatic said:
As for why Drowzee and Hypno can learn it... I think it's because they feed on dreams. They'd naturally want to put people to sleep by hypnotizing, but in the real world, there are drugs and other things that can put people unconscious as well. In lab experiments were they dissect animals, they put them in a bottle full of ether first, and they'd faint after inhaling too much of the gas. It's similar to anesthetics. Weird it might seem, but I think Drowzee are using 'poison gas' as an alternative of ether to make their target faint so they can eat their dreams if they're starving.
Click to expand...

If that is the case, why does it not give the sleep status?
Click to expand...

There was no "Sleep Gas" move in Gen1, so no sleep status XDD
 
In contrast with Poison Gas, I see Smog as being more forceful and more of a spray. I would imagine Poison Gas would just leak gas into the air around the user, which wouldn't deal damage and would be easier to avoid, hence the pretty low accuracy. I think this would mostly be used as a defense mechanism for Pokemon in the wild. Perhaps this is why Drowzee can learn it. It puts its prey to sleep, but if it's attacked, it may not have a chance to hypnotize so it just releases a cloud of poisonous gas instead to ward off enemies.
 
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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.
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