The Gengar in Mystery Dungeon 1

[wraith89]

Something's terribly odd about his moveset...

- Scratch
- Leer
- Taunt
- Quick Attack

Tell me... was this intended for Absol or Sneasel? If not, then why is that Gengar with ridiculous moves when he's with you?

[Aarux]

That sure looks like the weasel's moveset.

Can a Gengar even learn Scratch or Quick Attack? I don't think it can...

[wraith89]

No. That's the strange thing. I was expecting something like Hypnosis and Dream Eater or Shadow Punch and its usual moves... but it gets that bizarre set.

[Aarux]

I guess Game Freak just decided to slap on some random Pokemon's attacks rather than Gengar's.

That's pretty awkward. And pretty weak for a Gengar. They're already fast enough, and then they give it Quick Attack? :|

[wraith89]

It's Chunsoft doing this... and Mystery Dungeon works differently from the original games. A LOT more differently. You look at Blissey and you wonder where half her HP and Special Defense went :-/

[Aarux]

Whoops. Chunsoft.

Yeah, been there... done that. My starter, Eevee, taking down the 3 birds... that's not right.

Since Gengar used to be a person, though, maybe those attacks represent what he was like as a human?
He scratched, taunted, glared, and dashed. Hmm...

[wraith89]

Yeah, I picked Eevee too. She ended up a Vaporeon in the end. I just like that bunny thing... don't ask

Right, folklore. But when you fight Team Meanie, doesn't he have other moves?

[Aarux]

Yep. He knows Curse, Hypnosis, Lick, and Spite.

Now that makes sense.