HM slave
An HM slave, also referred to as an HM mule, is a term for a Pokémon who is not trained for battle and instead stays on a player's team to use HM moves outside of battle to traverse the game. This is due, for the most part, to the fact that many of the moves learned through HMs deal little damage or have no worth on a powerful team of Pokémon.
Most HM slaves are common Pokémon, particularly those which can be captured early and can be taught many of the HM moves. This often falls into the hands of several extremely common Template:Type2 Pokémon, since the moves Cut, Strength, Flash and Rock Climb are their type, and they can usually learn the Template:Type2 HM move Rock Smash as well. Template:Type2 Pokémon are also common HM slaves due to the appearance of such HMs as Whirlpool, Waterfall and Dive. Because of these two trends, Bibarel is often considered the ideal HM slave by many fans.
Template:Type2 Pokémon also sometimes act as HM slaves, since the move Fly is possibly the most useful move for traveling and, while a better combat move than several other HMs, is not always desired on a trained fighter. This became more common with the introduction of Defog in Generation IV, which is considered by fans to be the least useful HM move to date, both in combat and in the field. Lugia, therefore, is a good HM slave, as it can learn all Flying- and Template:Type2 HMs; however, its legendary status makes it more likely to be saved for battle. A similar situation happens to Mew; it can learn every HM, but is super-rare and is best in battling. Hackers may use these two Pokémon as HM slaves, because they have an unlimited supply.
Common HM Slaves
Generation I
Perfect HM Slave Team: Based on the fact that they are the only Pokémon in Generation I who can learn Softboiled, and with that restriction this is the only combination of 2 Pokémon who can learn all the HM and field moves at the same time.
| # | Pokémon | Move 1 | Move 2 | Move 3 | Move 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113 | 
|
Chansey | Strength | Flash | Teleport | Softboiled |
| 151 | 
|
Mew | Cut | Fly | Surf | Dig |
- Team advantages:
- * All the "outside battle moves" of the game are concentrated in two Pokémon.
- * Mew can learn all the HM moves and field moves and also be exported to Generation II.
- Team disadvantages:
- * Two rare Pokémon difficult to obtain and not possible to find from the beginning of the game, unless traded in.
- * Mew is most often restricted to events.
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