HM slave

An HM slave, sometimes referred to as an HM mule (known in the Japanese fandom as 秘伝要員 Secret Agent), is a Pokémon which is in the party not to be used in battle, but to provide the use of HM moves or other moves usable outside of battle that typically are not suitable for a powerful team. An HM slave itself is usually considered to be a Pokémon that can have all four of its moves taken up by HMs, and occasionally by any move usable outside of battle.

Most HM slaves are common Pokémon, typically those which can be captured on the first routes of a given game. A majority of them are Template:Type2, which is fitting, considering that this type is shared with several HMs, and Rock Smash, though it is Fighting, is also usually available to them as well. Template:Type2 Pokémon are also common, as they also have three HM moves which share their type, and many are also able to use at least one or two of the other five. Because of these two tendencies, as well as its typing, Bibarel is often regarded as the ideal HM slave.

Due to both Fly and Defog sharing the Template:Type2, Pokémon of this type are also considered to be good HM slaves in Generation IV, especially considering Defog's effect does nothing to harm the opponent directly at all (while Flash lowered the opponent's accuracy, causing moves to sometimes miss, Defog merely lowers their evasiveness). HM slaves like Tropius and Pelipper are ideal for these roles since they are capable of using other HM moves along with Fly and Defog.

Typically, legendary Pokémon like Lugia, Mewtwo, and especially Mew and Arceus can learn many HM moves. Smeargle, Mew and Arceus are the only Pokémon that can learn all HM moves, and Dragonite can learn all HM moves in Generation V.

For Generation III, an example of two Pokémon learning all eight of the HMs and are available in the Hoenn region are Tropius (Cut, Fly, Strength and Rock Smash) and Psyduck (Surf, Flash, Waterfall and Dive).

Pokemon that can learn four or more HM moves

The following pokemon are capable of learning a full set of four HM moves, and thus may be of particular use as HM slaves.

Generation V

#	Icon	Name	HM1 (Cut)	HM2 (Fly)	HM3 (Surf)	HM4 (Strength)	HM5 (Waterfall)	HM6 (Dive)
007		Squirtle	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
008		Wartortle	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
009		Blastoise	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
054		Psyduck	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
055		Golduck	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
061		Poliwhirl	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
062		Poliwrath	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
098		Krabby	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
099		Kingler	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
130		Gyarados	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
131		Lapras	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
134		Vaporeon	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
149		Dragonite	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
151		Mew	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
159		Croconaw	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
160		Feraligatr	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
183		Marill	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
184		Azumarill	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
186		Politoed	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
195		Quagsire	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
249		Lugia	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
258		Mudkip	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
259		Marshtomp	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
260		Swampert	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
271		Lombre	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
272		Ludicolo	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
319		Sharpedo	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
320		Wailmer	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
321		Wailord	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
340		Whiscash	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
341		Corphish	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
342		Crawdaunt	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
363		Spheal	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
364		Sealeo	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
365		Walrein	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
380		Latias	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
381		Latios	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
382		Kyogre	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
384		Rayquaza	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
394		Prinplup	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
395		Empoleon	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
400		Bibarel	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
418		Buizel	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
419		Floatzel	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
423		Gastrodon	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
484		Palkia	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
493		Arceus	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
503		Samurott	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
564		Tirtouga	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
565		Carracosta	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
614		Beartic	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

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