TM

If you were looking for either of the Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions sometimes abbreviated as TM, see EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua (TCG) or Triumphant (TCG).

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Using a TM in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

TM artwork for Pokémon Red and Green

A Technical Machine, or TM for short (Japanese: わざマシン Move Machine), is an item that, like an HM, is used to teach a Pokémon a new move that it might not learn otherwise. Prior to Generation V, TMs were single-use items, unlike Hidden Machines, which can be used over and over again on many different Pokémon. TMs can be found on the ground or bought at department stores or game Corners. Some are also given away by Gym Leaders as prizes for defeating them in addition to a Badge. Silph Co. has distributed a pamphlet containing information on TMs and HMs, indicating they are, at least partially, developed or produced by the company.

Prior to Generation VI, TM moves will also be passed down through breeding if the baby Pokémon can learn that TM (such as passing Flamethrower from a father Typhlosion to a baby Torchic). Prior to Generation V, there were also several Pokémon that could not learn certain TM moves directly from a TM but could learn them via breeding, such as Vulpix with Energy Ball.

The depiction of TMs has changed over time. In the TCG, they are shown as small boxes that the Poké Ball would be inserted into, but from FireRed and LeafGreen onwards, they have been depicted as compact discs that are inserted into the TM Case and the case itself teaches the Pokémon the move. In Pokémon Origins, TMs and HMs resemble floppy disks, but how they work is never shown.

For the in-game locations of TMs, see List of TM and HM locations.

TM by generation

Generation I

Generation I featured 50 TMs, with an additional five HMs. Move Tutors in FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald teach several of the moves that were removed from the TM list between Generation I and Generation III.

Generation II

Generation II introduced several new TMs, a majority of which were new moves introduced in this generation. There remained 50 TMs, as some Generation I TMs were removed. Several moves that were contained in TMs in Generation II but were no longer contained within TMs during Generation III can be taught by a Move Tutor in Pokémon Emerald.

Generation III

In Generation III, more moves were introduced, and the TM list was again adjusted. The 50-TM limit remained, and several older moves became TMs—including some that lost their TM status between Generations I and II.

Generation IV

Due to connectivity with the Generation III games, the 50-TM list was not redone in Generation IV. To include new moves and incorporate older moves as TMs, the TM list was expanded from 50 to 92, leaving the first 50 TMs intact. With the eight HMs, the number of machine-learnable moves in Generation IV was at an even 100.

Generation V

In Generation V, TMs have changed from being single-use items to having unlimited uses, making them akin to HMs. In this generation only, when a Pokémon learns a move from a TM or HM by overwriting an old one, the new move takes on the current PP of the forgotten move. This prevents repeated usage of machines for the purpose of PP restoration. The prices of the purchasable TMs are also much higher to reflect the fact they can be reused, and they can no longer be held or sold. (However, they can be sold in Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity.) In Pokémon Black and White, there are 94 TMs available normally; among the ones numbered 92 and lower, many of them teach different moves from their Generation IV counterparts. With the number of HMs reduced to six, there are once again an even 100 machine-learnable moves. In Black 2 and White 2, the previously undistributed event-only TM95 was made normally available, bringing the number of machine-learnable moves in Generation V to 101.

Generation VI

In Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, TMs continued to be multiple-use items. Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, however, has both types of TMs, where regular ones can only be used once, and rainbow colored ones have infinite use, and all HMs are TMs instead. Most TMs contained the same moves that they did in Generation V, with the exceptions of TM19, TM51, TM83, and TM88. Five more TMs were added, bringing the number of TMs up to an even 100. As there are only five HM moves in Generation VI, there are now 105 machine-learnable moves. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, two more HMs were added. Additionally, TM94 (Rock Smash) in X and Y was changed to Secret Power to reflect the fact that Rock Smash was an HM once again. This is the only time a TM has changed in the middle of a generation. As a result, there are now 107 machine-learnable moves.

Generation VII

In Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, HMs no longer exist. However Fly, Waterfall, and Surf, previously HMs, became TMs. The only TMs that were changed between Generation VI and Generation VII are TM01, TM28, TM59, TM67, TM70, TM76, TM94, and TM98. With HMs no longer existing and all new TM moves replacing old ones, the total number of machine-learnable moves is at 100.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, every TM differs from the Alola games, and there are now only 60 TMs. Like in the Alola games, there are no HMs.

Incompatible Pokémon

Although most Pokémon are able to learn a wide range of TM moves, there are 22 Pokémon who cannot learn any outside of their natural level-up moveset. Typically, these Pokémon are low in their evolutionary line or rely on a set moveset. Starting in Generation VI, several of these Pokémon that were able to learn TM moves by leveling up are now able to learn the moves through TM as well.

# Pokémon Type Compatible TM moves VI VII 010 Caterpie Bug — — 011 Metapod Bug — — 013 Weedle Bug Poison — — 014 Kakuna Bug Poison — — 129 Magikarp Water — — 132 Ditto Normal — — 201 Unown Psychic Hidden Power Hidden Power 202 Wobbuffet Psychic Safeguard Safeguard 235 Smeargle Normal — — 265 Wurmple Bug — — 266 Silcoon Bug — — 268 Cascoon Bug — — 360 Wynaut Psychic Safeguard Safeguard 374 Beldum Steel Psychic — — 401 Kricketot Bug Struggle Bug — 412 Burmy Bug Hidden Power Protect Hidden Power Protect 415 Combee Bug Flying — — 602 Tynamo Electric Charge Beam Thunder Wave Charge Beam Thunder Wave 664 Scatterbug Bug — — 665 Spewpa Bug Protect Protect 789 Cosmog Psychic N/A — 790 Cosmoem Psychic N/A —

Near-universal TMs

With few exceptions, all Pokémon who are compatible with TMs can learn the following moves:

Move Generation Other exceptions I II III IV V VI VII SMUSUM VII LGPE Attract — 45 45 45 45 45 45 — and all genderless Pokémon (except Mew, StaryuGSC, StarmieGSC, Cryogonal, Minior, and Dhelmise) Bide 34 — — — — — — — None Captivate — — — 78 — — — — and all genderless Pokémon (except Mew) Confide — — — — — 100 100 — Curse — 03 — — — — — — None Double Team 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 — Double-Edge 10 — — — — — — — Endure — 20 — 58 — — — — None Facade — — 42 42 42 42 42 12 Frustration — 21 21 21 21 21 21 — Hidden Power — 10 10 10 10 10 10 — Mimic 31 — — — — — — — None Natural Gift — — — 83 — — — — None Protect — 17 17 17 17 17 17 07 Rage 20 — — — — — — — None Rest 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 05 Return — 27 27 27 27 27 27 — Round — — — — 48 48 48 — Secret Power — — 43 43 — 94 ORAS — — None Sleep Talk — 35 — 82 — 88 88 — (only in XY) Snore — 13 — — — — — — None Substitute 50 — — 90 90 90 90 08 None Swagger — 34 — 87 87 87 87 — Toxic 06 06 06 06 06 06 06 27

TM-exclusive moves

In all seven Generations, there have been moves exclusively taught by TMs:

Generation I ThunderboltRB • BubbleBeam • Mega Drain • Fissure • Mimic • Bide Egg Bomb • Fire Blast • Softboiled • Psywave • Rock Slide • Razor Wind • Toxic Generation II Razor Wind* • Toxic • DynamicPunch • Icy Wind • Iron Tail • DragonBreath • Shadow Ball • Mud-Slap Sleep Talk • Attract • Thief • Nightmare • Fury Cutter • Rock Smash • Return • Frustration Generation III Return • Frustration • Shock Wave • Facade • Overheat • Secret Power • Skill Swap Generation IV OverheatDP • Secret Power • Skill Swap • Stealth Rock • Grass Knot • Drain Punch • Focus Blast Generation V Focus Blast • Snarl • Frost Breath Generation VI Frost BreathXY • Dazzling Gleam • Infestation Generation VII SMUSUM Smart Strike • Aurora Veil • Surf

Returning moves

Several moves taught by TM in an earlier generation returned as TMs later on after being absent but assigned with a different TM number.

Move Generation I II III IV V VI VII SMUSUM Dark Pulse — — — 79 — 97 97 Dream Eater 42 42 — 85 85 85 85 Endure — 20 — 58 — — — Explosion 47 — — 64 64 64 64 Psych Up — 09 — 77 77 77 77 Rock Slide 48 — — 80 80 80 80 Roost — — — 51 — 19 19 Secret Power — — 43 43 — 94ORAS — Sleep Talk — 35 — 82 — 88 88 Steel Wing — 47 47 47 — 51 51 Substitute 50 — — 90 90 90 90 Swagger — 34 — 87 87 87 87 Swords Dance 03 — — 75 75 75 75 Thunder Wave 45 — — 73 73 73 73 Work Up — — — — 83 — 01

In the spin-off series

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, most TMs that exist in the corresponding core series games of that generation also exist in the Mystery Dungeon games. After use, a TM becomes a Used TM; a Used TM can be turned back into a usable TM by a Pokémon with the move Recycle, except for a Used TM of Recycle, which will remain a Used TM permanently.

In Sky, TMs can be sold to Kecleon for 250 Poke.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, all TMs are infinite use. Special TMs for moves usually learned through a move tutor in the core series games are also present.

In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, regular TMs are one-use only and disappear after being used, while rarer rainbow-colored TMs can be used infinitely. Rainbow-colored TMs can be bought from Kecleon shops from certain post-game dungeons, and can also be bought from Kecleon shops in towns after Kecleon has been recruited, which unlocks the "Treasures" section in the shop.

Appearance

TM from Rescue Team and Explorers series	TM (used from bag) from Rescue Team and Explorers series	Used TM from Rescue Team and Explorers series	TM from Mystery Dungeon (Wiiware)	TM from Gates to Infinity	TM (for tutor moves) from Gates to Infinity	TM from Super Mystery Dungeon	Rainbow TM from Super Mystery Dungeon	TM (for tutor moves; unused) from Super Mystery Dungeon	Rainbow TM (for tutor moves; unused) from Super Mystery Dungeon

Model of TM from Gates to Infinity	Model of TM (for tutor moves) from Gates to Infinity	Model of TM from Super Mystery Dungeon	Unused model of a used TM from Super Mystery Dungeon	Unused model of TM (for tutor moves) Super Mystery Dungeon	Unused model of used TM (for tutor moves) from Super Mystery Dungeon

Artwork

TM

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, there are two kinds of TMs: Fast TMs and Charged TMs. TMs were introduced to Pokémon GO on June 22, 2017.

Using a Fast or Charged TM on a Pokémon randomly changes its Fast or Charge move (respectively) to a different move in the Pokémon's current move pool. Moves that no longer available to the Pokémon, such as Dazzling Gleam for Alakazam, are not possible.

If a Pokémon only has one possible Fast or Charge move, the player will not be able to use a respective TM on it. TMs also cannot be used on Smeargle.

Image	English name	Japanese name	Description
	Fast TM	わざマシンノーマル Normal Move Machine	This Technical Machine teaches the Pokémon a new Fast Attack.
	Charged TM	わざマシンスペシャル Special Move Machine	This Technical Machine teaches the Pokémon a new Charged Attack.

Acquisition

Fast and Charged TMs can be repeatedly obtained from

• Winning a Raid Battle (starting Lv. 15 for Fast TMs and Lv. 25 for Charged TMs)
• Participating in a Trainer Battle
• Completing certain Field Research tasks (formerly)

Both TMs are also rewards for completing various Special Research tasks.

In the anime

In the main series

Although TMs have not appeared in the anime, they were mentioned once in the Japanese version of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!. While talking with the Kecleon Brothers, Charmander of Team Go-Getters mentioned TMs among other things the Kecleon Shop was sold out on. This reference was not included in the dub.

TM34 in Pokémon Origins

In Pokémon Origins

TM34 (Bide) appeared in File 1: Red. Much like in Pokémon Red and Blue, it was given to Red by Brock as a reward for defeating him in a Gym battle.

Another TM, TM28 (Dig), also made a brief appearance in File 2: Cubone, where Red retrieved it from a Team Rocket Grunt who had stolen it.

In the manga

Two early kinds of TMs in Pokémon Adventures

TM31 in The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

In To Evolve or Not to Evolve, That Is the Question!, Ash used TM31 to teach Mikey's Eevee Mimic, allowing it to win a battle against Sparky's Jolteon and thus let Mikey join the Knights of the E Stone.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In Wartortle Wars, a fake TM was seen amongst the many fake items sold to Red by Green.

In Omega Alpha Adventure 10, it was explained that TMs are machines that contain the essence of the move they teach to a Pokémon. Before this technology existed, other items served the same purpose. Such items are the rings Ultima carries on her staff, which contain the ultimate moves Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon, and a scroll held by the Draconids, which contains the move Dragon Ascent.

In the TCG

In the TCG, Technical Machines are types of Trainer cards. Unlike the games, they do not follow any specific numbering.

Technical Machines Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Falkner's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		103/141
Falkner's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		104/141
Bugsy's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		105/141
Bugsy's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		106/141
Whitney's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		107/141
Whitney's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		108/141
Morty's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		109/141
Morty's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		110/141
Jasmine's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		111/141
Jasmine's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		112/141
Chuck's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		113/141
Chuck's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		114/141
Pryce's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		115/141
Pryce's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		116/141
Clair's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		117/141
Clair's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		118/141
Janine's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		119/141
Janine's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		120/141
Will's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		121/141
Will's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		122/141
Bruno's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		123/141
Bruno's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		124/141
Karen's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		125/141
Karen's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		126/141
Rocket's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		127/141
Lance's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		128/141
Lance's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		129/141
Multi Technical Machine 01	T [TM]	Expedition Base Set		144/165	Base Expansion Pack		062/128
		POP Series 2		09/17	Master Kit		009/012
Alto Mare Cube	T [TM]				Theater Limited VS Pack		018/018
Darkness Cube 01	T [TM]	Aquapolis		119/147	The Town on No Map		086/092
Fighting Cube 01	T [TM]	Aquapolis		121/147	The Town on No Map		085/092
Fire Cube 01	T [TM]	Aquapolis		122/147	The Town on No Map		081/092
Grass Cube 01	T [TM]	Aquapolis		124/147	The Town on No Map		080/092
Lightning Cube 01	T [TM]	Aquapolis		127/147	The Town on No Map		083/092
Metal Cube 01	T [TM]	Aquapolis		129/147	The Town on No Map		087/092
Psychic Cube 01	T [TM]	Aquapolis		132/147	The Town on No Map		084/092
Water Cube 01	T [TM]	Aquapolis		140/147	The Town on No Map		082/092
Miracle Sphere α	T [TM]	Skyridge		129/144	Mysterious Mountains		081/088
Miracle Sphere β	T [TM]	Skyridge		130/144	Mysterious Mountains		082/088
Miracle Sphere γ	T [TM]	Skyridge		131/144	Mysterious Mountains		083/088
Mystery Plate α	T [TM]	Skyridge		133/144	Split Earth		083/088
Mystery Plate β	T [TM]	Skyridge		134/144	Split Earth		084/088
Mystery Plate γ	T [TM]	Skyridge		135/144	Split Earth		085/088
Mystery Plate δ	T [TM]	Skyridge		136/144	Split Earth		086/088
Team Aqua Technical Machine 01	T [TM]	EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua		079/95	Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions		077/080
					Aqua Deck Kit		031/033
Team Magma Technical Machine 01	T [TM]	EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua		084/95	Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions		076/080
					Magma Deck Kit		031/033
Ancient Technical Machine [Ice]	T [TM]	EX Hidden Legends		084/101	Undone Seal		075/083
Ancient Technical Machine [Rock]	T [TM]	EX Hidden Legends		085/101	Undone Seal		076/083
Ancient Technical Machine [Steel]	T [TM]	EX Hidden Legends		086/101	Undone Seal		077/083
Technical Machine TS-1	T [TM]	Legends Awakened		136/147	Cry from the Mysterious
Technical Machine TS-2	T [TM]	Legends Awakened		137/147	Temple of Anger
Team Galactic's Invention G-107 Technical Machine	T [TM]	Rising Rivals		95/111	Bonds to the End of Time		077/090
					Charizard Half Deck		014/016

Trivia

• 170 different moves have been available as a TM, adding together the TMs from every generation.
• Gym Leaders who give out a TM on their defeat typically give out one containing a move of their specialty type. However, in their respective first generation of an appearance each, Brock and Falkner do not, giving out TM34 (Bide) (a Normal-type move) and TM31 (Mud-Slap) (a Ground-type move), respectively. This is rectified in the remakes of their debut games with Brock giving away TM39 (Rock Tomb) while Falkner's prize is TM51 (Roost). Likewise, Cilan, Chili, and Cress do not give out TMs matching their specialty type, instead giving out the Normal-type TM83 (Work Up), regardless of which of the three is battled.
  • Prior to Generation III, TMs given out by the starting region's Gym Leaders teach moves that no Pokémon learns naturally. There is one exception: in Pokémon Yellow, Pikachu learns Thunderbolt in place of Swift.
• TMs 06, 14, 15, 22, 25, 26, 29, 32, 38, and 44 have contained the same move in all seven generations.
• Generation IV is the first generation in which there is at least one TM that teaches a move of each Pokémon type.
  • Generation I had no TMs for Bug- or Ghost-type moves, Generation II had none for Flying, and Generation III had none for Bug.
• Generation VI and VII are tied for the most TMs, with 100, and Generation I, II, and III are tied for the fewest TMs, with 50.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 招式學習器 Jīusīk Hohkjaahphei Mandarin 招式學習器 / 招式学习器 Zhāoshì Xuéxíqì Danish Teknisk maskin Teknologisk maskine* Dutch Technische machine* French Canada Machine technique* Europe Capsule Technique (CT) German Technische Maschine (TM) Italian Macchina Tecnica (MT) Korean 기술머신 Technical Machine Portuguese Brazil Máquina Técnica (MT) Portugal Máquina de Técnica* Máquina Técnica* Spanish Máquina Técnica (MT) Swedish Teknisk maskin Tekniskt fordon* Vietnamese Máy học chiêu thức

See also

• HM
• List of all Technical Machine Cards
• Move Tutor
• List of TM and HM locations in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

Lists of TM, HM, and TR locations In the core series: Generation I • Generation II • Generation III • Generation IV • Generation V • Generation VI Generation VII • Generation VIII (SwSh • BDSP) • Generation IX In spin-off games: Mystery Dungeon series

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series items Consumables: Food • Gummis • Seeds • Berries • Health drinks Held items: Glasses • Scarves • Recruitment-affecting items Miracle and Wonder Chests • Seven Treasures Space Globe • IQ Booster • Flags • Looplets Objects: Wonder Orbs • Throwing items • HMs • Used TMs • TMs • Keys Link Box • Gabite Scale • Gracidea • Friend Gifts • Devices Emeras • Progress Devices • Wands • Djinn's Bottle Special: Rescue Team Starter Set • Toolbox • Exploration Team Kit Treasure Bag • Treasure Collection • Mystery Dungeon evolutionary items Teleport Gem • Colored Wings • Wishing Stone • Music Box • Vortex Stone Treasure Boxes • Mystery Part • Secret Slab • Exclusive items Relic Fragment • Wonder Egg • Lost Loot • Sky Gift Lookalike Items • Prize Tickets • Gates to Infinity exclusive items Manuals • Entercards • Lucha Token • Connection Orb

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.