The Normal type moves in Pokemon have always been the most underwhelming of the move-sets. On average, the power and damage of Normal moves has always been on the low side when compared to other types – like fire or electric. The average attack power of Normal moves is about 60, and many of the stronger Normal attacks have a penalty of some sort when used.
About half of the Normal moves do not inflict damage, but are moves that instead remove/inflict changes in status or add/decrease one or more of the target’s stats. What’s worse is that many of the Normal attacks from the early generations were nearly identical in all instances, except in name.
Updated on December 14th, 2022, by Jeff Drake: Since the article's original publishing there have been many new Normal moves introduced into the official games. This has brought Normal moves more in line with other move types, in terms of damage anyway.
Normal moves are still excellent for granting buffs and causing status ailments. Even with the power creep in the Pokemon series, many of the rankings on this list remain unchanged. This update will add five new entries to the list and rank them accordingly. Many of these are new to the series, but all of them are among the best Normal moves in the game.
15 Baton Pass
A large percentage of fights in a Pokemon games are against wild Pokemon. These are short one-on-one fights that are typically easily handled by the player's main Pokemon. The harder fights take place against trainers, and trainers almost always have multiple Pokemon to throw into battle.
Baton Pass lets the player switch out the user for another Pokemon, but allow the new Pokemon to retain any stat changes. This applies to the usual Attack, Defense, and Speed type buffs. Auto-hit moves like Lock-on can be transferred as well. Negative effects, like from Perish Song, can also be transferred.
14 Covet
Covet isn't on this list for the damage it deals; although, it does a little above the average for Normal type moves. No, this item is here because it steals the item being held by the target, with some exceptions. The fact that this also does decent damage to the target as well as stealing their held item is just icing on the cake.
If the Pokemon using this move is already holding an item it cannot steal one. Items stolen during a trainer battle are returned after battle. A few items, like Arceus various plates and Mega Stones, cannot be stolen. Covet has a power of 65, an accuracy of 100, and a PP count of 25.
13 Lovely Kiss
Lovely Kiss causes the opposing Pokemon to go to sleep, but is needs to hit first. The accuracy rating is 75, and the PP count is 10. There is another Normal move (there are several that put the opponent to sleep) named Yawn that is always successful, but it takes two full turns before the target actually goes to sleep.
Putting the enemy to sleep almost guarantees a victory unless the opposing trainer switches the sleeping Pokemon for another. However, switching out a Pokemon does not remove the sleep status ailment from them – so when it re-enters battle it will still be asleep.
12 Hyper Voice
Hyper Voice was introduced in generation three and is designed for multi-Pokemon battles – that is, battles where teams of two or three Pokemon ace-off in the arena. The great thing about Hyper Voice is that it hits all opposing Pokemon, and the higher than average power rating of 90 is nice too.
This move has an accuracy rating of 100 and a PP count of 10. Hyper Voice doesn’t have a secondary effect, like causing paralysis or confusion. All it does is deal a lot of damage to an entire group of opposing Pokemon – which is enough to earn it a spot in this list.
11 Headbutt
Headbutt is one of the best standard Normal attacks, and has a secondary use that make it a must-have. This is one of those attacks that are great for weakening the opposing Pokemon enough to guarantee the follow-up attack does enough damage to make the opposing Pokemon faint.
Headbutt has a power rating of 70, an accuracy rating of 100, and a PP count of 15. This move also has a 30% chance of making the opponent flinch. In generation two this move can also be used to hit trees; which can initiate combat with a wild Pokemon.
10 Hyper Drill
This is a new move (as of generation nine) that has been given to a Pokemon from generation two, that frankly, needed some stronger moves to counter the power creep of newer Pokemon. This move is exclusively learned by Dunsparse and Dudunsparse.
Hyper Drill has an incredible 100 power rating, and a 100 accuracy. Hyper Drill hits hard and it rarely misses. The big problem with this move, other than it being exclusive to one Pokemon, is it has a PP count of only 5 (can be increased to 8).
9 Body Slam
Body Slam was introduced way back in generation one; Red, Blue, Green & Yellow (yes, there was a Green). After seven generations of Pokemon games it is still one of the best Normal moves. This move has a power rating of 85, an accuracy rating of 100, and a PP count of 15.
The power/damage is respectable, it always hits (barring extenuating circumstances), and the PP count is high enough that rationing them is not necessary. Additionally, Body Slam has a 30% chance to paralyze the opponent. Paralyzing an opponent is a great way to even the odds against a stronger opponent. Body Slam is also a TM (#08).
8 Judgment
This Arceus exclusive move is powerful. Its 100 power rating means the target won't have much health left after one hit - if they're not one-shotted. Judgment has an accuracy of 100, and 10 PP points. This would be enough to get Judgment on this list, but this move has a useful effect.
The type (Fire, Water, etc.) Of this move can be changed by the player. There are several plates which the player can give Arceus to hold. Each plate is tied to a set type, and when Arceus is holding a plate the Judgment move becomes that type.
7 Rock Climb
Rock Climb sounds like it should be a Rock type move, but no, it's a Normal move. It's one of the best Normal moves; at least one that in accessible to a wide variety of Pokemon. This was an HM in several Pokemon games. The HM moves are almost always good, even Flash was kind of useful at times.
The high power (90) of this move is offset by its 85 accuracy rating. The PP count of 20 is generous for a move with a power rating as high as Rock Climb. Every hit from Rock Climb has a 20% chance of giving the target the confused status ailment.
6 Extreme Speed
This is an excellent Normal attack that has saved many players’ Pokemon from fainting. Extreme Speed has a power rating of 80, an accuracy rating of 100, and a PP count of 5. The great thing about Extreme Speed is its high priority rating; ensuring it will strike before the opposing Pokemon gets its move for the turn.
This move has a higher priority than even Quick Attack (and a much higher power); which also allows for first strikes. If a player is unsure if their Pokemon will survive the turn, then using a first strike move like Extreme Speed will ensure one last attack to try and make the opponent faint.