Over the past 25 years, the Pokemon series has dramatically expanded its roster of Pokemon. The first generation of games included 151, but, as of the latest releases, that number has risen to a staggering 898. These Pokemon are separated into 18 unique types and it's this which typically dictates the moves and attacks that a Pokemon is capable of learning.
Sometimes, however, certain Pokemon are given access to moves that are outside of their elemental typing which can provide their trainers with a competitive edge. For those looking to add water-type moves into their arsenal without having to carry around a water-type Pokemon in their party, there really are some great options available.
10 Lugia
Much like Gen 2's other mascot Ho-Oh, Lugia has access to plenty of moves outside of its traditional typing. As well as rock and ice-type moves, the legendary Pokemon is able to learn several water-type attacks as it levels up. At level 65, it gains access to Rain Dance while nine levels later it is able to learn Hydro Pump.
With the aid of TMs and TRs, Lugia can also use several other water-type attacks, including Whirlpool, Dive and Brine. Compared to Hydro Pump, however, these moves are all fairly lackluster meaning that most players typically opt against teaching them to their Lugia.
9 Cubchoo
Given that ice is just another form of water, it's perhaps not too surprising that Cubchoo has access to one or two water-type moves. It learns Brine upon reaching level 15 and is also able to learn Surf and Rain Dance with the help of TMs and TRs. It also gains access to a few additional moves after evolving into Beartic at level 37.
In its newly evolved form, the Pokemon is able to learn Aqua Jet from a move relearner and can also use the Liquidation TR and the Dive TM; both of which are incredibly powerful physical attacks. In previous generations it was also able to learn Water Pulse, but those hoping to use the move in Gen 8 will need to transfer a Beartic that knows the attack from an earlier Pokemon title.
8 Dratini
Considering both Dratini and Dragonair are typically found in water and belong to the Water 1 egg group, it makes a lot of sense that they have access to water-type attacks. The dragon-type Pokemon learn both Aqua Tail and Rain Dance as they level up and can also learn Hydro Pump, Surf, Whirlpool and Waterfall with the aid of TMs and TRs.
This is also the case for the final stage evolution Dragonite, despite it being a dragon/flying-type Pokemon. Players who opt to breed their own Dratini rather than catching one can also gain access to either Water Pulse or Aqua Jet depending on which Pokemon they decide to breed.
7 Goomy
Another dragon-type evolutionary line with access to water-type moves is that of Goomy. It learns Water Gun at level 5, Water Pulse at level 25, Rain Dance at level 30 and Muddy Water at level 50. Sliggoo also has access to these moves, as too does the final stage evolution Goodra.
Upon evolving into its final form, Goodra will also learn the incredibly powerful Aqua Tail which can be useful for those looking to exploit the Pokemon's reasonable high physical attack stats. Alternatively, players can use TR03 to teach their Goodra the special attack based move Hydro Pump or learn the curative move Life Dew through breeding.
6 Eevee
Despite one of its eight possible evolutions being a water-type Pokemon, Eevee traditionally only has access to a single water-type move while in its unevolved form and it requires the use of a TM to learn it. Given that it's a move designed to increase the damage potential of other water-type moves, there's very little point in teaching Rain Dance to Eevee.
Thankfully, however, there is a fairly compelling reason to teach Eevee the move, although only in Let's Go, Eevee! In the game, it's possible to use move tutors to teach a selection of unique elemental moves to Eevee; one of which is the incredibly powerful Bouncy Bubble. Sadly though, this move doesn't exist in Gen 8 meaning that players can't transfer their Eevees over to the latest Pokemon games.
5 Stunfisk
Despite being a ground/electric-type Pokemon, Stunfisk has access to several water-type moves through leveling up. It starts out with Water Gun and can learn the powerful special attack based move Muddy Water upon hitting level 40. This is also true of the Galarian form of the Pokemon, which is instead a ground/steel-type Pokemon.
Both forms can supplement these moves with a few additional water-type attacks through the use of TMs and and TRs; with Scald, Surf and Rain Dance all amongst the Pokemon's learnset. In previous generations of Pokemon it was also possible to teach the regular form Aqua Tail and Water Pulse, but the only way to use these moves in Gen 8 is to transfer a Stunfisk that already knows them.
4 Accelgor
Although it's possible to teach Shelmet Rain Dance by using TM33, it's not until the Pokemon evolves into Accelgor that it's able to learn a damage based water-type move. Even then though, it's not a particularly useful one due to its low base power and variable number of hits.
Accelgor is one of only two Pokemon that can learn Water Shuriken; the other being Greninja. Players will need the help of a move relearner to teach it to the Pokemon though unless they're lucky enough to stumble across one that already knows the move in the wild. Without the Battle Bond ability, however, it's probably not worth the effort.
3 Hariyama
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the fighting-type Pokemon Hariyama primarily has access to fighting-type moves. It does, however, start out with the special attack based move Brine, which is a fairly decent option owing to its high power and accuracy. It can also learn Rain Dance and Surf through TMs and TRs as well as whirlpool prior to Gen 7.
Unfortunately for Hariyama fans, the Pokemon is yet to make an appearance in Pokemon Sword & Shield despite many of the missing Gen 3 Pokemon being added with the Crown Tundra DLC. Whether or not it will reappear in future DLC or the next generation of Pokemon games remains to be seen, although it's likely quite far down the list when it comes to the most requested missing Pokemon.
2 Anorith
Anorith is a fairly useless Pokemon when it comes to competitive battles, although its access to water-type moves at least given it a fighting chance when up against other Pokemon with a rock typing. It learns Water Gun at level 4 and goes on to acquire Brine 20 levels later. Upon evolving into Armaldo, the Pokemon can also learn TR98, Liquidation.
For those looking for a few more options, it's possible to use breeding to acquire an Anorith with access to Aqua Jet and Water Pulse. As neither of these are as powerful as Brine though, there's very little point in players going down this route unless they're for some reason trying to build an Anorith or Armaldo with an all water-type move set.
1 Lileep
Lileep is another Fossil Pokemon with access to water-type moves despite it not having a water typing. It learns Brine at level 24 or can instead acquire the move through the use of TM55. It's one of seven elemental attack types that the Pokemon can learn natively and this number rises to eight once TMs and TRs are taken into account.
Although the Pokemon does gain access to some additional moves upon evolving into Cradily, none of these are water-type. This makes it one of very few Pokemon in the series with access to only a single water-type attack; with the majority having either none or more than two.