Get All Of The HMs On Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen
Embarking on your journey through the Kanto region in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen is an adventure filled with discovery, challenging battles, and the ultimate goal of becoming the Pokémon League Champion. To navigate this vibrant world effectively, and to unlock all of its secrets, you’ll need to master the use of HMs – Hidden Machines. These special moves are not just powerful battle techniques; they are essential tools that allow you to traverse obstacles, access new areas, and interact with the environment in ways that ordinary Pokémon moves cannot. Understanding where to find and how to utilize each HM is crucial for any aspiring trainer looking to truly catch ’em all.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of acquiring and using every HM available in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, ensuring you have the knowledge to overcome every hurdle the Kanto region throws your way.
Unlocking the Kanto Region: Your Essential HM Checklist
Before diving into the specifics of each HM, it’s important to have a general understanding of why they are so vital. HMs are learned by specific Pokémon and can be used both in and out of battle. While they can be taught to any Pokémon that can learn them, it’s wise to have a dedicated HM user in your party, as HM moves often have lower base power in battle compared to TMs. However, their utility in exploration far outweighs this drawback.
Here’s a breakdown of the HMs you’ll encounter and their functions:
HM01 Cut: Allows you to cut down small trees blocking your path.
HM02 Fly: Enables you to instantly travel to any town or city you have previously visited.
HM03 Surf: Lets you travel across bodies of water.
HM04 Strength: Grants you the ability to push large boulders.
HM05 Flash: Illuminates dark caves.
HM06 Rock Smash: Breaks small, cracked rocks.
HM07 Waterfall: Allows you to ascend waterfalls.
HM08 Dive: Enables you to dive into underwater areas and re-surface.
Get All Of The HMs On Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen with the following detailed locations and requirements.
Navigating Kanto: Your Comprehensive HM Acquisition Guide
HM01 Cut:
Your first essential HM, Cut, is given to you by the Captain of the S.S. Anne after you help him find his medicine. To get to the S.S. Anne, you’ll need to head to Vermilion City. Once aboard the ship, you’ll need to navigate its maze-like corridors to find the Captain’s cabin. After a short battle, he’ll reward you with HM01. Cut is essential for clearing paths in Viridian Forest and various other routes throughout your journey.
HM02 Fly:
Fly is a game-changer for efficient travel. You’ll receive HM02 from a girl in a house in the northeast corner of Fuchsia City after you’ve obtained the Silph Scope from Lavender Town. This allows you to quickly revisit towns and cities, saving you a significant amount of backtracking time. It’s a move that every trainer will appreciate having in their arsenal.
HM03 Surf:
Surf is arguably one of the most important HMs, opening up vast areas of the Kanto region by allowing you to travel across water. You’ll obtain HM03 from the owner of the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City. To get it, you must successfully retrieve the Gold Teeth from the Safari Zone’s deepest area and return them to him. Remember, you’ll need the “Go-Away” charm from the Warden, which you get after finding his dentures, before you can even enter the Safari Zone.
HM04 Strength:
Strength is necessary for pushing boulders, which is required to access certain areas and caves, most notably in the Rock Tunnel and Victory Road. You’ll be rewarded with HM04 by the old man in the house east of Fuchsia City after you help him find his teeth. These teeth are located within the Safari Zone, so completing that task is a prerequisite for obtaining Strength.
HM05 Flash:
Flash is crucial for navigating dark caves like the Rock Tunnel and Victory Cave. You’ll receive HM05 from a man named Oak’s Aide in a building on Route 2, just north of Viridian City. However, there’s a condition: you must have caught at least 10 different species of Pokémon. Once you meet this requirement, the aide will happily bestow upon you the gift of light.
HM06 Rock Smash:
Rock Smash is used to break small, cracked boulders that block pathways. You’ll get HM06 from a man in the house west of Cerulean City. This man is initially blocked by a wild Pokémon; you’ll need to defeat the Misty’s Gym Leader in Cerulean City to progress and clear the path to him. Once you have the Cascade Badge, you can access him and receive the HM.
HM07 Waterfall:
Waterfall allows you to ascend waterfalls, which is key to accessing new areas, particularly in the later stages of the game, such as the Victory Road. HM07 is obtained in Mt. Coronet (though in FireRed/LeafGreen, it’s located in Icefall Cave on the Sevii Islands). You receive it from a Scientist after defeating the Elite Four and becoming Champion. He will give it to you in the Icefall Cave on One Island after you have defeated the Elite Four and the Champion.
HM08 Dive:
Dive enables you to swim underwater and explore hidden spots where you can find rare items and even Pokémon. HM08 is only available in Emerald, but in FireRed and LeafGreen, it’s replaced by a similar mechanic tied to specific areas. For FireRed and LeafGreen, there isn’t a dedicated HM08 Dive. The underwater exploration mechanic is integrated into the Surf HM, allowing you to enter specific underwater patches to find hidden items and areas.
Strategic HM Utilization for Maximum Advantage
When it comes to using HMs effectively, consider creating a dedicated HM user. This Pokémon can carry multiple HM moves, freeing up valuable move slots on your main battling Pokémon for more powerful offensive or strategic moves. Pokémon like Vaporeon, Lapras, Starmie, or even certain Water/Flying types can be excellent candidates, as they can learn a good variety of HMs. Alternatively, many Pokémon can learn useful TMs that complement their battling style while still allowing them to carry an HM or two.
Remember that HMs cannot be deleted by the player once they are taught to a Pokémon. If you wish to remove an HM move, you’ll need to visit the Move Deleter found in Lavender Town. He can remove any move, including HMs, but he only operates after you’ve progressed far enough in the story.
By strategically acquiring and utilizing these HMs, you’ll be well-equipped to explore every corner of Kanto, overcome every challenge, and ultimately achieve your goal of becoming the Pokémon League Champion. Happy adventuring!