TM

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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).


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 move. A TM is a machine used by Pokémon Trainers 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. 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

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Generation VII

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 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 and 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.

List of TMs


Incompatible Pokémon

Although most Pokémon are able to learn a wide range of TM moves, there are 15 Pokémon who cannot learn any. Typically, these Pokémon are low in their evolutionary line or rely on a set moveset.

# Pokémon Type
010 Caterpie Caterpie Bug Poison
Caterpie
Caterpie
Caterpie
Caterpie
Caterpie
011 Metapod Metapod Bug Poison
Metapod
Metapod
Metapod
Metapod
Metapod
013 Weedle Weedle Bug Poison
Weedle
Weedle
Weedle
Weedle
Weedle
014 Kakuna Kakuna Bug Poison
Kakuna
Kakuna
Kakuna
Kakuna
Kakuna
129 Magikarp Magikarp Water Poison
Magikarp
Magikarp
Magikarp
Magikarp
Magikarp
132 Ditto Ditto Normal Poison
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
235 Smeargle Smeargle Normal Poison
Smeargle
Smeargle
Smeargle
Smeargle
Smeargle
265 Wurmple Wurmple Bug Poison
Wurmple
Wurmple
Wurmple
Wurmple
Wurmple
266 Silcoon Silcoon Bug Poison
Silcoon
Silcoon
Silcoon
Silcoon
Silcoon
268 Cascoon Cascoon Bug Poison
Cascoon
Cascoon
Cascoon
Cascoon
Cascoon
374 Beldum Beldum Steel Psychic
Beldum
Beldum
Beldum
Beldum
Beldum
415 Combee Combee Bug Flying
Combee
Combee
Combee
Combee
Combee
664 Scatterbug Scatterbug Bug Poison
Scatterbug
Scatterbug
Scatterbug
Scatterbug
Scatterbug
789 Cosmog Cosmog Psychic Poison
Cosmog
Cosmog
Cosmog
Cosmog
Cosmog
790 Cosmoem Cosmoem Psychic Poison
Cosmoem
Cosmoem
Cosmoem
Cosmoem
Cosmoem


Formerly incompatible Pokémon

In Generation VI, several Pokémon that were capable of learning TM moves only by leveling up now are able to learn those moves through TM as well.

# Pokémon Type
201 Unown Unown Psychic Poison
Unown
Unown
Unown
Unown
Unown
202 Wobbuffet Wobbuffet Psychic Poison
Wobbuffet
Wobbuffet
Wobbuffet
Wobbuffet
Wobbuffet
360 Wynaut Wynaut Psychic Poison
Wynaut
Wynaut
Wynaut
Wynaut
Wynaut
401 Kricketot Kricketot Bug Poison
Kricketot
Kricketot
Kricketot
Kricketot
Kricketot
412 Burmy Burmy Bug Poison
Burmy
Burmy
Burmy
Burmy
Burmy
602 Tynamo Tynamo Electric Poison
Tynamo
Tynamo
Tynamo
Tynamo
Tynamo


Near-universal TMs

140Kabuto.png This article contains old or outdated information, or has not been updated in a while.
Please check the content of this article and update it as required.
Reason: Generation 7 universal TMs.

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

TM-exclusive moves

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

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.

Changed TMs
Move Gen I Gen II Gen III Gen IV Gen V Gen VI Gen VII
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 94
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

MDBag TM Sprite.png

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 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, all TMs are infinite use.

In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, regular TMs are one-use only and disapears after being used, while rainbow colored TMs can be used infinitely.

Pokémon GO

Fast TM
Charged TM

TMs were introduced to Pokémon GO on June 22, 2017. There are two different TMs: Fast and Charged. Players can obtain TMs exclusively by winning Raid Battles. Fast TMs are available to Level 15 and higher players, and Charged TMs are available to Level 25 and higher players.

Using a TM on a Pokémon replaces its move of the same category (Fast or Charged) to another possible move of that category for that Pokémon. TMs can only result in the Pokémon learning a move wild Pokémon of the same species can currently have; moves that are no longer available to the species cannot be learned. TMs cannot be used on Pokémon that currently know the only currently available move of that category for that Pokémon.

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) made an appearance in the Pokémon Origins episode 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 Uncommon 103/141
Falkner's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 104/141
Bugsy's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 105/141
Bugsy's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 106/141
Whitney's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 107/141
Whitney's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 108/141
Morty's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 109/141
Morty's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 110/141
Jasmine's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 111/141
Jasmine's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 112/141
Chuck's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 113/141
Chuck's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 114/141
Pryce's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 115/141
Pryce's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 116/141
Clair's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 117/141
Clair's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 118/141
Janine's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 119/141
Janine's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 120/141
Will's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 121/141
Will's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 122/141
Bruno's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 123/141
Bruno's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 124/141
Karen's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 125/141
Karen's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 126/141
Rocket's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 127/141
Lance's TM 01 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 128/141
Lance's TM 02 T [TM]       Pokémon VS Uncommon 129/141
Multi Technical Machine 01 T [TM] Expedition Base Set Uncommon 144/165 Base Expansion Pack Uncommon 062/128
POP Series 2 Uncommon 09/17 Master Kit   009/012
Alto Mare Cube T [TM]       Theater Limited VS Pack   018/018
Darkness Cube 01 T [TM] Aquapolis Uncommon 119/147 The Town on No Map Uncommon 086/092
Fighting Cube 01 T [TM] Aquapolis Uncommon 121/147 The Town on No Map Uncommon 085/092
Fire Cube 01 T [TM] Aquapolis Uncommon 122/147 The Town on No Map Uncommon 081/092
Grass Cube 01 T [TM] Aquapolis Uncommon 124/147 The Town on No Map Uncommon 080/092
Lightning Cube 01 T [TM] Aquapolis Uncommon 127/147 The Town on No Map Uncommon 083/092
Metal Cube 01 T [TM] Aquapolis Uncommon 129/147 The Town on No Map Uncommon 087/092
Psychic Cube 01 T [TM] Aquapolis Uncommon 132/147 The Town on No Map Uncommon 084/092
Water Cube 01 T [TM] Aquapolis Uncommon 140/147 The Town on No Map Uncommon 082/092
Miracle Sphere α T [TM] Skyridge Uncommon 129/144 Mysterious Mountains Uncommon 081/088
Miracle Sphere β T [TM] Skyridge Uncommon 130/144 Mysterious Mountains Uncommon 082/088
Miracle Sphere γ T [TM] Skyridge Uncommon 131/144 Mysterious Mountains Uncommon 083/088
Mystery Plate α T [TM] Skyridge Uncommon 133/144 Split Earth Uncommon 083/088
Mystery Plate β T [TM] Skyridge Uncommon 134/144 Split Earth Uncommon 084/088
Mystery Plate γ T [TM] Skyridge Uncommon 135/144 Split Earth Uncommon 085/088
Mystery Plate δ T [TM] Skyridge Uncommon 136/144 Split Earth Uncommon 086/088
Team Aqua Technical Machine 01 T [TM] EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua Uncommon 079/95 Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions Uncommon 077/080
      Aqua Deck Kit   031/033
Team Magma Technical Machine 01 T [TM] EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua Uncommon 084/95 Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions Uncommon 076/080
      Magma Deck Kit   031/033
Ancient Technical Machine T [TM] EX Hidden Legends Uncommon 084/101 Undone Seal Uncommon 075/083
Ancient Technical Machine T [TM] EX Hidden Legends Uncommon 085/101 Undone Seal Uncommon 076/083
Ancient Technical Machine T [TM] EX Hidden Legends Uncommon 086/101 Undone Seal Uncommon 077/083
Technical Machine TS-1 T [TM] Legends Awakened Uncommon 136/147 Cry from the Mysterious Uncommon  
Technical Machine TS-2 T [TM] Legends Awakened Uncommon 137/147 Temple of Anger Uncommon  
Team Galactic's Invention G-107 Technical Machine Pokémon G T [TM] Rising Rivals Uncommon 95/111 Bonds to the End of Time Uncommon 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.
  • 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
Denmark Flag.png Danish Teknologisk maskine
French Canada Flag.png Canada Machine technique*
France Flag.png Europe Capsule Technique (CT)
Germany Flag.png German Technische Maschine (TM)
Italy Flag.png Italian Macchina Tecnica (MT)
South Korea Flag.png Korean 기술머신 Technical Machine
Brazil Flag.png Brazilian Portuguese Máquina Técnica (MT)
Spain Flag.png Spanish Máquina Técnica (MT)
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Teknisk maskin
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Máy học chiêu thức

See also

Lists of TM, HM, and TR locations
In the core series: Generation IGeneration IIGeneration IIIGeneration IVGeneration VGeneration VI

Generation VII • Generation VIII (SwShBDSP) • Generation IX (SV)

In spin-off games: Mystery Dungeon series
Consumables: FoodGummisSeedsBerriesHealth drinks
Held items: GlassesScarvesRecruitment-affecting items
Miracle and Wonder ChestsSeven Treasures
Space GlobeIQ BoosterFlagsLooplets
Objects: Wonder OrbsThrowing itemsHMsUsed TMsTMsKeys
Link BoxGabite ScaleGracideaFriend GiftsDevices
EmerasProgress DevicesWandsDjinn's Bottle
Special: Rescue Team Starter SetToolboxExploration Team Kit
Treasure BagTreasure CollectionMystery Dungeon evolutionary items
Teleport GemColored WingsWishing StoneMusic BoxVortex Stone
Treasure BoxesMystery PartSecret SlabExclusive items
Relic FragmentWonder EggLost LootSky Gift
Lookalike ItemsPrize TicketsGates to Infinity exclusive items
ManualsEntercardsLucha TokenConnection Orb


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