Pokemon Pokopia Moves & Abilities Guide — Every Move Explained
In Pokemon Pokopia, moves are not just for battling. They are essential field abilities that let you interact with the environment, clear obstacles, access hidden areas, and gather resources more efficiently. Understanding every move, which Pokemon can teach it, and when to use it is the key to unlocking the full map and building the best habitats.
How Moves Work in Pokemon Pokopia
Unlike traditional Pokemon games where moves are primarily used in battle, Pokemon Pokopia treats moves as field abilities. Each move corresponds to a specific interaction with the overworld. When you approach an obstacle or resource node, the game checks whether any Pokemon in your party has the required move. If so, you can activate it with a single button press.
Each move is taught by a specific teacher Pokemon. You do not learn moves through leveling up or TMs. Instead, you must find and befriend the teacher Pokemon, who will then teach the move to your entire party. This means progression is tied directly to which Pokemon you have encountered and befriended.
Complete Move List
Here is every move currently available in Pokemon Pokopia, along with its effect and teacher:
Cut
Cut allows you to chop down small trees and thick bushes that block paths. This is typically the first move you unlock in the game, and it opens up large portions of the early map. Without Cut, many pathways in the starting areas remain inaccessible. Cut is also useful for gathering wood resources from certain tree types that cannot be harvested with your bare hands.
Surf
Surf lets you travel across water surfaces. Rivers, lakes, and coastal areas that previously acted as impassable barriers become traversable once you learn Surf. This move is essential for reaching water-locked islands, accessing the Bleak Beach area's outer zones, and discovering hidden resource nodes that only spawn on small water-surrounded platforms.
Rock Smash
Rock Smash breaks cracked boulders that block paths and cave entrances. This move is critical for accessing the Rocky Ridges area and its deeper mining tunnels. Smashing rocks can also yield valuable materials like Iron Ore, Gold Ore, and occasionally rare fossils.
Glide
Glide allows you to soar across gaps and reach elevated platforms. The Sparkling Skylands area relies heavily on Glide, as many of its floating islands can only be reached by launching from designated glide points. Glide is also a faster way to travel downhill across large elevation changes.
Leafage
Leafage interacts with plant-based obstacles and growth points. You can use Leafage to clear overgrown vine barriers and to encourage plant growth in specific garden spots within your habitat. Pokemon with Leafage are particularly useful in the Withered Wasteland area, where restoring greenery is a key gameplay mechanic.
Rototiller
Rototiller prepares soil for farming and planting. This move is essential for the agricultural side of Pokemon Pokopia. With Rototiller, you can turn ordinary ground tiles into plantable farm plots where you can grow ingredients for cooking recipes. The more farm plots you create, the more self-sufficient your camp becomes.
Water Gun
Water Gun lets you water planted crops and interact with fire-based puzzles. Crops planted via Rototiller need regular watering to grow, and Water Gun handles that automatically when a Pokemon with this move is assigned to your farm area. Water Gun is also used in certain environmental puzzles where you need to extinguish flames or activate water-powered mechanisms.
Move Progression Strategy
The order in which you unlock moves determines how efficiently you can explore the world. Here is the recommended progression:
- Cut — unlocked early in the story, opens up the majority of the starting area and is required to progress past the first chapter.
- Rock Smash — unlocks mining areas and cave systems where you find metal ores needed for mid-game crafting.
- Surf — opens water routes and island areas, dramatically expanding your exploration range.
- Glide — grants access to elevated zones and the Sparkling Skylands, home to some of the rarest Pokemon.
- Leafage / Rototiller / Water Gun — these utility moves enhance habitat building and farming, and can be unlocked in any order based on your playstyle.
Moves and Habitat Building
Moves are deeply connected to the habitat building system. Many habitat components require materials that are only obtainable through specific moves. For example, building stone structures requires materials from Rock Smash nodes, while water-themed habitats need resources gathered via Surf. Planning your move unlocks around your habitat goals can save significant time.
Additionally, Pokemon with field moves assigned to habitat tasks work more efficiently. A Pokemon with Cut assigned to a lumber station will chop wood faster, and a Pokemon with Water Gun near your garden will keep crops watered without manual intervention. Check our complete moves database for detailed information on each move, including teacher Pokemon and unlock requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can multiple Pokemon know the same move? Yes. Once a teacher Pokemon teaches a move, all Pokemon in your party can use it. You do not need to assign the move to individual Pokemon.
- Do moves have levels or upgrades? Moves themselves do not level up. However, Pokemon with higher friendship levels perform move-related tasks faster when assigned to habitat stations.
- Can I use moves in battle? Pokemon Pokopia does not have a traditional battle system. Moves are exclusively used for field interactions and habitat tasks.
- What if I miss a teacher Pokemon? Teacher Pokemon are always available in their designated locations. You cannot permanently miss any move — just return to the area and befriend the teacher when you are ready.