

This is really disappointing. XY ended, but Pikachu did not use Volt Tackle a
single time in the whole series, not even once. Did Ash start using Electro
Ball so often that he forget about such an important move of Pikachu?


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pokemon
Did Ash forget that Pikachu can use Volt Tackle?


According to some users in [this
thread](http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/661226-pokemon-black-
version-2/64659829), Ash's Pikachu forgot Volt Tackle to learn Electro Ball,
which makes sense, as the series seems to follow the games with Pokemon only
knowing 4 moves at a time.

> Because they just had to have him learn a Gen V move. He forgot it so he
> could learn Electro Ball.

According to the [wikia page for Ash's
Pikachu](http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ash%27s_Pikachu), this checks
out.

The last instance of Pikachu using Volt Tackle was in BW013 (Minccino - Neat
and Tidy!).

> As Pikachu headed forwards he got hit by Pignite's Take Down, followed up by
> a powerful Heat Crash. Pikachu managed to get up and countered Pignite's
> Flame Charge with Volt Tackle.

The first instance of Pikachu using Electro Ball is in BW020 (Dancing with the
Ducklett Trio!). The synopsis for this episode even states:

> After unintentionally shocking himself with Thunderbolt, because he was
> stuck in a beach umbrella, Pikachu couldn't use Electric-type attacks.
> Eventually his anger caused him to learn Electro Ball.

After this point, it appears that Pikachu no longer knows Volt Tackle.


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I was watching _Pokemon Sun and Moon_ season 1 episode 34 (subbed). In the
middle of the episode, the subtitle said that Ash told Pikachu to use Volt
Tackle. Either this was a mistranslation or that he can use more than 4 moves
now.


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Though the question already cleared I have a more creative way to answer it.

In the Anime, Ash' Pikachu learned Volt tackle in the Battle Frontier season
ep05 (425) though not entirely learned (by the following episodes when used
it's soon failing) by Ash orders Pikachu to use quick attack, though using
quick attack Pikachu soon combine it's electricity in the quick attack
creating volt tackle.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/HX4Zv.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/HX4Zv.jpg)[![enter
image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/DnipG.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/DnipG.jpg)[![enter
image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pN8IW.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pN8IW.jpg)

If this assumption is correct, though in the games I don't remember the attack
summary, it's seems from the above that in the anime ver. volt tackle is
simply a combination of quick attack and electricity powers, **making volt
tackle a "speed attack"**.

Now, in the games the summary of electro ball says:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fe3Tp.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fe3Tp.jpg)

To explain and expand that summary I will give a little introduction: in the
games mechanic, speed is how sooner the Pokemon will hit the foe, the more the
Pokemon have more speed than the foe, it will hit first, electro ball takes
more advantage of the speed mechanic - the more the pokemon is faster, it will
not just hit sooner than the foe (since he's faster) but will have more damage
on the foe, so it's been clarified that electro ball has 3 advantages: it will
hit first, it will be much more damage that way and if the foe is weak against
electric attack it will be much stronger. in short: **the electro ball attack
is a "speed attack" like volt tackle in the anime ver.**

Now, though in the anime ver. electro ball don't have much explanation on its
mechanics and _how it is better_ than regular thunderbolt and thunder attacks
if we say Pikachu _didn't forget_ volt tackle and the anime ver. is like the
game mechanic in electro ball it makes much more sense - volt tackle whether
in the game ver. or the anime ver. though being a strong electricity attack
has a huge disadvantage - **it's hurting the Pokemon using it** and not to
mention a physical attack, electro ball, on the other hand, **don't hurt the
user** and is a special attack and not physical, so when we compare each other
electro ball is sure much more useful and smart to use than volt tackle and
Ash sure understand **that electro ball is sure much more electricity speed
attack useful than volt tackle so it stopped using it** (and that's, again, if
we go by the assumption that in the anime ver. Pokemon do not forget their
move as noted here).

Though Ash in Best Wishes/Black and White series returned to "not to think
strategy" after the Diamond and Pearl series it's still safe to say that Ash
is not that moron to use volt tackle over electro ball.


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