HM
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This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: restrictions on trading Pokémon that know HM moves |
A Hidden Machine (Japanese: ひでんマシン Secret Machine), HM for short, is an item that, like a TM, is used to teach a Pokémon a move. HMs can be used an unlimited number of times and cannot be disposed of. Moves taught by HMs, known as HM moves, hidden movesRSEFRLGDPPtHGSSBWB2W2, Hidden MovesFRLGB2W2, or Hidden movesFRLG (Japanese: ひでんわざ secret move; formatted in kanji as 秘伝技 secret move only at the Entralink and when using Poké Transfer in Generation V), cannot normally be forgotten. These moves have a use as field moves in games in which they are HMs.
In Japanese games, it is said that HMs are Key Items, according to the text that appears when the player attempts to delete them. However, this was lost in the localization, where it is simply said that some items are too important to be deleted.
Starting in Generation VII, there are no longer any HMs. Some former HM moves are instead TM or TR moves in these games. The field move uses of HM moves are replaced by:
- Poké RideSMUSUM
- Secret TechniquesPE
- Flying Taxi and Rotom BikeSwSh
- Pokétch (Hidden Moves app)BDSP
- Ride PokémonLA
- Flying Taxi and KoraidonS/MiraidonV's upgraded abilitiesSV
In the core series
Mechanics
HMs can be used any number of times, and cannot be tossed, sold, or held. This contrasts to TMs in Generations I to IV, in which TMs are single-use items that can be tossed, sold, or held. In Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, HMs cannot be stored in a PC.
Moves taught by HMs are all field moves in the games in which they are HMs, but some field moves are not HM moves. Like all field moves, they can be used outside of battle even if the Pokémon has fainted or no PP in that move (using it as a field move does not consume PP). Except for Generation V, the player can only use HM moves as field moves if they have the appropriate Badge or number of Badges (the exact requirements vary between games).
HM moves cannot be forgotten by Pokémon under normal circumstances in the games in which they are HMs, even if they are not learned via HM. They can be deleted by the Move Deleter, although Surf cannot be deleted in Pokémon Emerald if the Pokémon is the only one in the player's party or PC that knows the move. If a Pokémon learns a new move while in Pokémon Day Care, an HM move can be replaced if it is at the top of the list; however, in Generation I, the Pokémon Day Care will not accept Pokémon that know HM moves.
In Generation III and IV, a Pokémon knowing an HM move cannot be transferred to the next generation unless the HM move is removed (e.g. via Move Deleter). In Generation III, Dive prevents sending forward from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen despite not being considered an HM by those games; in Generation IV, since Dive is no longer an HM move, Pokémon with Dive can freely be sent into Generation V games. In Generation IV, Defog and Whirlpool only prevent Pokémon being sent forward from the games they are an HM in (e.g. a Pokémon knowing Whirlpool can be sent from Pokémon Platinum to Generation V); since Whirlpool is not an HM move in Generation III, Pokémon with Whirlpool can freely be sent into Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver from Generation III.
Unlike in previous inter-generational transfers, Pokémon transferred from Generation I or V via Poké Transporter that know HM moves do not require these moves to be deleted. Pokémon which know HM moves cannot be traded over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or the Nintendo Network, and also cannot be deposited in the GTS. Pokémon that know HM moves can also be freely deposited and withdrawn from Pokémon Bank.
In Generation V, Pokémon knowing an HM move cannot be traded via infrared communications if they are in the player's party, to prevent a player from potentially becoming stuck somewhere that requires an HM move to escape.
In Generation III and IV, if the player attempts to release a Pokémon that is the only Pokémon in their party or PC that knows a certain HM move, it will immediately return. In Generation III, these moves are Surf and Dive. In Generation IV, they are Surf, Waterfall, and Rock Climb, as well as Fly in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
HMs by generation
Generation I
Five HM moves were introduced in this generation. Three HMs (Cut, Surf, and Strength) are required for completing the games.
| HM | Move | Location found | Badge required |
|---|---|---|---|
 HM01 |
Cut | S.S. Anne |  Cascade Badge
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 HM02 |
Fly | Route 16 |  Thunder Badge
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 HM03 |
Surf | Safari Zone |  Soul Badge
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HM04 |
Strength | Fuchsia City |  Rainbow Badge
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HM05 |
Flash | Route 2 |  Boulder Badge
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Four of them remain as HM moves even through Generation VI, while the fifth, Flash, retains the ability to be used outside of battle (to light dark caves in Generation V, or reduce encounters with wild Pokémon in Generation VI).
None of these moves are able to be forgotten in Generation I, and a Pokémon with these moves cannot be raised by the Pokémon Day Care on Route 5. Unlike in later generations, all of these moves must be selected from the Pokémon screen to be used.
Generation II
The five HMs from Generation I return, while a new move, Whirlpool, is introduced as an HM, and an old move, Waterfall, becomes one as well. Five HMs are required for completing the games: the same three from before (Cut, Surf, and Strength) and the two new HMs.
| HM | Move | Location found | Badge required |
|---|---|---|---|
HM01 |
Cut | Ilex Forest |  Hive Badge
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HM02 |
Fly | Cianwood City |  Storm Badge
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HM03 |
Surf | Ecruteak City |  Fog Badge
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HM04 |
Strength | Olivine City |  Plain Badge
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HM05 |
Flash | Sprout Tower |  Zephyr Badge
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HM06 |
Whirlpool | Team Rocket's Hideout |
 Glacier Badge
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HM07 |
Waterfall | Ice Path |  Rising Badge
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A Move Deleter was added to the games, mostly with the intention of making possible the ability to delete Generation II moves that a Generation I Pokémon had learned in order to be able to trade it back, though with the side effect of HM moves now being able to be forgotten.
From this generation on, Pokémon with HM moves are allowed in the Day Care, and fathers with HM moves will pass the moves down to their children as they would a TM move. HM moves can also be used just by checking the obstacle that the HM will clear, such as surfable water or a movable rock.
Generation III
Hoenn
Whirlpool lost its HM status, while Rock Smash gained HM status, and a new move, Dive, became an HM, raising the total number to eight. Five HMs are required for completing the games: Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Waterfall, and Dive. While Cut is not required anymore, it can still be used to access optional areas.
Kanto
In Kanto, due to a lack of use for Dive outside of battle, HM08 is unobtainable and can only be accessed through cheating. The first five HMs can be acquired through the same methods as in Generation I, while HM06 and HM07 can be found in the Sevii Islands later in the game.
Three HMs are required for completing the games: the same ones from Generation I (Cut, Surf, and Strength). In addition, Waterfall is required for finishing the Pokémon Network machine, which allows trading with the Hoenn games.
| HM | Move | Location found | Badge required |
|---|---|---|---|
HM01 |
Cut | S.S. Anne | Cascade Badge
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HM02 |
Fly | Route 16 | Thunder Badge
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HM03 |
Surf | Safari Zone | Soul Badge
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HM04 |
Strength | Fuchsia City | Rainbow Badge
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HM05 |
Flash | Route 2 | Boulder Badge
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 HM06 |
Rock Smash | Ember Spa |  Marsh Badge
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HM07 |
Waterfall | Icefall Cave |  Volcano Badge
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Generation IV
Sinnoh
For the first time, one of the original HMs, Flash, lost its status to a new move, Defog, while HM08 was brought back as Rock Climb.
Six HMs are required for completing the games: Cut, Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Waterfall, and Rock Climb.
Johto and Kanto
Defog lost its HM status in Johto for the return of Whirlpool; all other HMs retained their status from the prior Sinnoh games.
Six HMs are required for completing the games: Cut, Surf, Strength, Whirlpool, Waterfall, and Rock Climb.
Generation V
HMs were reduced to six in Generation V; HM07 and HM08 no longer exist in the coding of Pokémon Black and White. Dive returns for use in Unova. This generation marks the first and only time that HM moves do not require Gym Badges for use outside of battle. Although most HM moves cannot be obtained before earning certain Gym Badges, if the player obtains a Pokémon that has learned an HM move through other means (via level-up, trading, etc.) the player will be able to use the HM in the field without restrictions.
When a move is replaced by an HM, the HM move takes on the current PP of the replaced move until healed or replenished. The same also applies for replacing old moves with TMs.
Of all the HMs, only a single use of Cut is required at the Dreamyard for completing Pokémon Black and White. Only Surf and Strength are required for completing Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Cut, Surf, Strength, Waterfall, and Dive can still be often used to access optional areas. Strength may also often be optionally used to make shortcuts.
| HM | Move | Location found Black and White |
Location found Black 2 and White 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
HM01 |
Cut | Striaton City | Virbank City |
HM02 |
Fly | Driftveil City | Route 5 |
HM03 |
Surf | Twist Mountain | Route 6 |
HM04 |
Strength | Nimbasa City | Castelia Sewers |
HM05 |
Waterfall | Route 18 | Victory Road |
HM06 |
Dive | Undella Town | Undella Town |
Generation VI
HMs have returned to requiring a Badge to use them.
When a move is replaced by an HM, the HM move takes on the current PP of the replaced move until healed or replenished. The same also applies for replacing old moves with TMs.
Kalos
HMs were reduced to five in Kalos like in Generation l. The HMs are the same as Generation V, except HM06 was removed.
Surf and Strength are required to complete the game. Cut, Surf, Strength, and Waterfall can be often used to access optional areas. Strength may also often be optionally used to make shortcuts.
Though Rock Smash is not an HM, it can still be used outside of battle, unlike in Generation V.
| HM | Move | Location found | Badge required |
|---|---|---|---|
 HM01 |
Cut | Parfum Palace |  Bug Badge
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 HM02 |
Fly | Coumarine City |  Plant Badge
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 HM03 |
Surf | Shalour City |  Rumble Badge
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HM04 |
Strength | Cyllage City |  Cliff Badge
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HM05 |
Waterfall | Route 19 |  Iceberg Badge
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Hoenn
HMs were increased to seven in Hoenn. Rock Smash and Dive regained their HM status.
Seven of the eight original Hoenn HMs are available in the remakes. Flash is the exception, which is still usable outside of battle as usual, but is not an HM anymore since Generation IV.
Like in the original Hoenn games, five HMs are required for completing the games (Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Waterfall, and Dive), while Cut can be used to access optional areas.
| HM | Move | Location found | Badge required |
|---|---|---|---|
HM01 |
Cut | Rustboro City |  Stone Badge
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HM02 |
Fly | Route 119 |  Feather Badge
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HM03 |
Surf | Petalburg City |  Balance Badge
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HM04 |
Strength | Route 112 |  Heat Badge
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HM05 |
Waterfall | Sootopolis Gym |  Rain Badge
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 HM06 |
Rock Smash | Mauville City |  Dynamo Badge
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HM07 |
Dive | Mossdeep City |  Mind Badge
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HM-exclusive moves
Due to the nature of HMs, these moves are often exclusively taught by them.
| HM moves | Generation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | |
| Cut | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fly | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Surf | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Strength | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Flash | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Whirlpool | ✔ | |||||
| Waterfall | ||||||
| Rock Smash | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Dive | ✔ | |||||
| Defog | ✔ | |||||
| Rock Climb | ✔ | |||||
In spin-off games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
Prior to Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, HMs can be used an infinite amount of times and are colored differently to TMs. HMs cannot be used inside dungeons and are more difficult to obtain than TMs. In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, each HM can only be found once in specific dungeons, while in Explorers of Time and Darkness and Sky, they can only be found in Destiny Tower or Final Maze. They play a particular role in Red and Blue Rescue Team, where the player must either have a specific HM in the Toolbox or have a party member that knows the move taught by that HM in order to access certain dungeons.
In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, HMs are treated more or less the same as TMs. Like TMs, they can only be used once and have the same bag sprite as TMs. Despite this, when a HM is dropped in a dungeon, the color of the HM differs from that of a TM.
Appearance
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| Sprite of HM from Rescue Team series |
Sprite of HM from Explorers series |
Sprite of HM from Gates to Infinity |
Unused sprite of HM from Super Mystery Dungeon |
Unused sprite of rainbow HM from Super Mystery Dungeon |
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| Model of a HM from Gates to Infinity |
Model of a HM from Super Mystery Dungeon |
Unused model of a Used HM from Super Mystery Dungeon |
In the anime
Pokémon Origins
HM01 (Cut) appeared in File 2: Cubone. Much like in Pokémon Red and Blue, it was given to Red by the captain of the S.S. Anne after helping him recover from his seasickness.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Red, Green & Blue arc
In What a Dragonite, Red was revealed to have already obtained HM01 (Cut) for his Ivysaur, HM04 (Strength) for his Snorlax, and HM05 (Flash) for his Pikachu, one of which he had won in a bike race in Wake Up—You're Snorlax!. When he tried to get his hands on HM03 (Surf), he ran into some trouble with a wild Dragonite, eventually leading to the Hidden Machine getting destroyed. To help him, Misty gave Red her Gyarados in exchange for his Krabby, since it already knew Surf.
It was also revealed that Blue had found HM03 before Red, fueling the young Trainer's determination of finding it too.
Pokémon Zensho
In Vermilion City, after defeating Lt. Surge, Satoshi received the HM for Cut from the captain of the S.S. Anne, whom he had met earlier.
Trivia
- In the core series, Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and all Generation IV games have the highest number of HMs available (each game has eight HMs), and all Generation IV games have the most HMs required for completion (with six HMs required in each).
- Of all the core series games with available HMs, the Generation I games and the Kalos (Generation VI) games are the ones with lowest number of HMs (they have five HMs), and Pokémon Black and White are the ones with fewest HMs required for completion (with only Cut needed).
- Flash and Defog are never required to finish a game. Flash and Defog remove obstacles (darkness and fog, respectively) that make it difficult to see; areas affected can still otherwise be normally explored with these obstacles present.
- With the exception of Flash, Fly, and Defog, all HMs are required to finish the games where they first gained their HM status.
- In the core series, the only methods that can remove an HM move are Move Deleter and the Pokémon Day Care. However, HM moves can be replaced as normal in games in which they are not HMs.
- The only then-current HM moves that were also able to be learned by Pokémon by level-up were Fly and Waterfall. Former HMs Flash, Whirlpool, Defog, Rock Smash, Rock Climb, and Dive are also learnable by level, but only since their loss of HM status. Moves that regained their HM status, like Whirlpool and Dive, remained learnable by level-up. Waterfall remains the only HM move that has been learnable by level-up since it was introduced as a move, prior to gaining HM status.
- Rock Smash is the only HM with a unique type. All other HM moves share their type with at least one other HM move.
- As of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, all HM moves have been available by TM at some point.
- In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, on Route 20, Swimmer Lori states "Surf is no longer the only HM move you use in water" when she is defeated. This is a reference to Generation I, where the only HM usable in the water was Surf.
- In Generation IV, all moves that were at one time an HM can be taught via some method, with Flash being available by TM70 and Dive being available by Move Tutor. Defog and Whirlpool, which replace each other in the Sinnoh- and Johto-based games, are both HM05.
- Generation IV is the only generation in which two moves share the same HM number.
- Dive is the only HM in Generation V that is not found in a different location between Pokémon Black and White and Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
- In Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra, Sun, and Ultra Moon, Swimmer Girls Kylie and Ashlyn, two Kalosian HM-makers encountered at Poni Breaker Coast during the post-game, explain that HMs are not only difficult to make, they also cannot legally be sold for money in most regions.
- Tracey's Scyther is the first Pokémon belonging to a main character of the anime to have used a then-current HM move, Cut. It wasn't until Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl that one of Ash's Pokémon used a then-current HM move; Ash's Grotle used Rock Climb.
In other languages
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HM move / Hidden move
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See also
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This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games. |
