By Type:
Normal:
Slash. I'm a bladey person, what can I say.
Tri-Attack and
ExtremeSpeed are also pretty damn awesome. As far as non-damaging moves go,
Swords Dance is another favorite, and then there's
Shell Smash, which makes certain Pokemon (did someone say Carracosta?) much deadlier than they really should be.
Less so ingame and more in my mind/in writing I have an appreciation for
Nature Power and
Secret Power because of the whole effect alternating by environment thing. I really should write them more. I should write more in general. Blüh!
Fighting:
Brick Break. It's the first fighting move that was really,
really good and it continues to be so. Runners-up include
Sky Uppercut (Although its slightly lower accuracy and rather limited distribution makes it rather rare on my teams),
Close Combat (although its lacking PP and detrimental effect on certain stats, again, makes me use it rarely) and
Aura Sphere (Which is pure amazing on the few special attackers that can learn it). Again, more in my mind than actually ingame I have an appreciation for
Force Palm (if only because it's pretty much the attack equivalent of 'Talk to the hand!' or, well,
SHINING FINGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!)
Flying:
Aerial Ace. It never misses and it has a decent power. Gen V brought us
Acrobatics, though, which in conjunction with a Flying Gem and Archeops is a freaking
Force of Nature.
Air Slash can be awesome on special attackers, too. Again, moreso in my mind, I have an appreciation for
Mirror Move if only for the sheer diversity it allows.
Poison: Whooboy. There are quite a few good moves there. On the physical range we have
Poison Jab and
Cross Poison. The
Sludge Bomb is pretty effective as a special attack, and then there is
Coil, which again makes certain snakes much, much deadlier than they have any right to be.
Ground: Derp.
Earthquake. It's a love-hate relationship, though. I love having it around, but I really hate it when the enemy uses it. XD
Earth Power is a close second, I guess.
Rock:
Rock Slide and
Power Gem for Physical and Special respectively.
Ancient Power is also awesome, although again, it tends to be more of an RP/fic move for me.
Bug:
Megahorn,
X-Scissor and
Bug Buzz. DEFINITELY. The three Order moves for Vespiquen are also incredibly nifty, but since they're so restricted, they don't quite count.
Ghost:
Shadow Ball. It's been kind of a favorite since its introduction. I like
Shadow Claw too.
Steel:
Flash Cannon,
Iron Head and
Meteor Mash. Yup.
Fire:
Fire Dance, no fucking contest.
Flamethrower and
Fire Punch are there too, and
Flame Charge is incredibly useful.
Water: Hmm...
Aqua Tail,
Razor Shell,
Water Pulse and
Waterfall. Maybe
Brine. Maybe.
Aqua Ring is also nifty.
Grass:
Leaf Blade. I love Leaf Blade to subatomic fragments.
Leech Seed,
Seed Bomb and
Energy Ball as well. Some props go to
Horn Leech and
Magical Leaf as well.
Electric:
Thunderbolt and
Thunderpunch.
Electroweb gets some props due to being pretty damn useful until you get Thunder on Compoundeyes Galv and
Magnet Rise is freaking awesome in concept/writing/whatever.
Psychic:
Psychic,
Psycho Cut and
Calm Mind.
Ice:
Ice Beam and
Ice Punch. The most useful ones. XP
Dragon:
Dragon Claw and
Dragon Pulse.
Dragon Dance and
Outrage get props for fic/RP use. I know Dragon Dance is pretty useful ingame too, but I'm not usually one to waste time with non-damaging moves ingame and don't do competitive battling, so.
Dark:
Crunch,
Dark Pulse and
Night Slash. No nonsense, low risk, high reward attacks. Heh.