Altaria, the Humming Pokémon, is known for its graceful flight and melodious song. But can this Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon learn Surf? Let’s dive into Altaria’s movepool and find out.
Altaria, introduced in Generation III, evolves from Swablu at level 35. It’s a popular choice for trainers due to its elegant design and powerful Dragon-type moves. However, Altaria’s learnset primarily focuses on Dragon, Flying, and Fairy-type moves.
Altaria’s Movepool Analysis
While Altaria can learn a variety of moves through leveling up, TMs, and breeding, Surf is not one of them. Altaria’s natural typing hinders its ability to learn Water-type moves. Its strengths lie in aerial attacks like Sky Attack and Dragon-type moves like Dragon Pulse and Dragon Claw. It also benefits from Fairy-type moves like Moonblast after gaining its Mega Evolution in later generations.
Here’s a breakdown of how Altaria typically learns moves:
- Level Up: Altaria learns moves like Dragon Breath, Cotton Guard, and Moonblast as it levels up.
- TMs (Technical Machines): Altaria can learn moves like Fly, Earthquake, and Flamethrower through TMs, expanding its offensive capabilities.
- Breeding (Egg Moves): Altaria can inherit moves like Dragon Rush and Roost through breeding, providing more strategic options.
Mega Altaria, introduced in Generation VI, gains the Fairy typing and the Pixilate ability, transforming Normal-type moves into Fairy-type moves. This further enhances its offensive prowess with moves like Hyper Voice becoming Fairy-type and receiving a boost. However, even with this type change, Surf remains inaccessible to Altaria.
Why Surf Doesn’t Fit Altaria
Surf is a powerful Water-type move that allows Pokémon to travel across bodies of water and attack opponents. It’s typically learned by Water-type Pokémon or Pokémon with a clear connection to water. Altaria, as a Dragon/Flying-type (and later Dragon/Fairy-type), has no such connection. Its design and lore emphasize its aerial abilities and connection to the clouds, not water.
Furthermore, Altaria’s stats favor Special Attack and Special Defense. While Surf is a Special Attack move, Altaria’s movepool already provides strong Special Attack options that align better with its typing and abilities. Learning Surf would be inefficient and detract from its core strengths.
Conclusion: Altaria Cannot Learn Surf
Ultimately, Altaria cannot learn Surf. Its Dragon/Flying and Dragon/Fairy typing, along with its established movepool and lore, make learning Surf illogical and impractical. Trainers looking for a Water-type move should consider other Pokémon better suited for aquatic combat. Altaria excels in aerial and Dragon-type strategies, making it a formidable opponent in its own right. Focus on utilizing its strengths in Dragon, Flying, and Fairy-type moves to maximize its battle potential.
