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An '''HM slave''', sometimes referred to as an '''HM mule''' (known in the Japanese fandom as '''{{tt|秘伝要員|ひでんよういん}}''' ''Secret Agent''), is a Pokémon which is in the party not to be used in {{pkmn|battle}}, but to provide the use of [[HM]] moves or other {{cat|moves usable outside of battle}} that typically are not suitable for a powerful team. An HM slave itself is usually considered to be a Pokémon that can have all four of its moves taken up by HMs, and occasionally by any move usable outside of battle.
[[File:HM Slave Bibarel.png|thumb|right|220px|A Bibarel that knows four field moves]]
'''HM slave''' is a term used within parts of the fandom to refer to a Pokémon in a Trainer's party that is not used for battling, but to provide navigational support through the use of [[field move]]s—generally those taught by [[HM|Hidden Machine]]. HM slaves will typically have all four move slots occupied with field moves, allowing smooth passage through caves, across oceans, or past other obstacles at the expense of their battling capabilities.


Most HM slaves are common Pokémon, typically those which can be captured on the first [[route]]s of a given game. A majority of them are {{type|Normal}}, which is fitting, considering that this type is shared with several HMs, and {{m|Rock Smash}}, though it is {{t|Fighting}}, is also usually available to them as well. {{type|Water}} Pokémon are also common, as they also have three HM moves which share their type, and many are also able to use at least one or two of the other five. Because of these two tendencies, as well as its typing, {{p|Bibarel}} is often regarded as the ideal HM slave.  
Many Pokémon are able to learn a wide array of HM moves. Some trends persist throughout regions and games: {{type|Normal}} Pokémon are commonly used as HM slaves because of the abundance of Normal-type HMs. {{t|Water}}- and {{type|Flying}} Pokémon may be suitable HM slaves in some regions, depending on the HM distribution. {{p|Bibarel}} is considered by some players as one of the best HM slaves, with the ability to learn six out of eight HM moves in Sinnoh, seven out of eight in Johto, five out of six in Unova, four out of five in Kalos, and six out of seven in Hoenn. While infrequently used for these purposes, [[Legendary Pokémon]] can also typically learn many HM moves. Through {{m|Sketch}}, {{p|Smeargle}} can learn any HM move.


Due to both {{m|Fly}} and {{m|Defog}} sharing the {{type|Flying}}, Pokémon of this type are also considered to be good HM slaves in Generation IV, especially considering Defog's effect does nothing to harm the opponent directly at all (while Flash lowered the opponent's accuracy, causing moves to sometimes miss, Defog merely lowers their evasiveness). HM slaves like {{p|Tropius}} and {{p|Pelipper}} are ideal for these roles since they are capable of using other HM moves along with Fly and Defog.
As Pokémon cannot learn more than four moves, Trainers may require two or more HM slaves in order to achieve sufficient coverage.


Because of the fact that many HM slaves are not well-versed in both normal and water HM moves as well as the four-move limit, most choose to have a pair of HM slaves, typically one for the more common tasks such as Rock Smash, {{m|Cut}}, etc. and another for less commonly-needed HMs such as {{m|Waterfall}} or {{m|Flash}}. The latter are often set in anticipation of a cave or other obstacle that requires several uncommon HMs. Some moves, however (typically Fly and {{m|Surf}}) are needed so frequently and are powerful enough that some Trainers choose to simply add them to their team's moveset rather than have a slave for them.
HM slaves may also be known as '''HM mules''', among other variants. A term used within the Japanese fandom is '''{{tt|秘伝要員|ひでんよういん}}''' - {{tt|秘伝|ひでん}} from {{tt|秘伝マシン|ひでんマシン}} ''[[Hidden Machine]]'' followed by {{tt|要員|よういん}} ''personnel''. HM slaves usually are Normal types and are left underleveled behind their main team, at the level they were caught or evolved from their previous forms.


Typically, [[legendary Pokémon]] like {{p|Lugia}}, {{p|Mewtwo}}, and especially {{p|Mew}} and {{p|Arceus}} can learn many HM moves. {{p|Smeargle}}, Mew and Arceus are the only Pokémon that can learn all HM moves, and {{p|Dragonite}} can learn all HM moves in [[Generation V]].
==See also==
* [[HM|List of HMs by generation]]
* [[List of Pokémon by field move]]


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[[de:VM-Sklave]]
[[de:VM-Sklave]]
[[ja:移動要員]]

Revision as of 04:41, 3 July 2015

File:HM Slave Bibarel.png
A Bibarel that knows four field moves

HM slave is a term used within parts of the fandom to refer to a Pokémon in a Trainer's party that is not used for battling, but to provide navigational support through the use of field moves—generally those taught by Hidden Machine. HM slaves will typically have all four move slots occupied with field moves, allowing smooth passage through caves, across oceans, or past other obstacles at the expense of their battling capabilities.

Many Pokémon are able to learn a wide array of HM moves. Some trends persist throughout regions and games: Normal-type Pokémon are commonly used as HM slaves because of the abundance of Normal-type HMs. Water- and Flying-type Pokémon may be suitable HM slaves in some regions, depending on the HM distribution. Bibarel is considered by some players as one of the best HM slaves, with the ability to learn six out of eight HM moves in Sinnoh, seven out of eight in Johto, five out of six in Unova, four out of five in Kalos, and six out of seven in Hoenn. While infrequently used for these purposes, Legendary Pokémon can also typically learn many HM moves. Through Sketch, Smeargle can learn any HM move.

As Pokémon cannot learn more than four moves, Trainers may require two or more HM slaves in order to achieve sufficient coverage.

HM slaves may also be known as HM mules, among other variants. A term used within the Japanese fandom is 秘伝要員 - 秘伝 from 秘伝マシン Hidden Machine followed by 要員 personnel. HM slaves usually are Normal types and are left underleveled behind their main team, at the level they were caught or evolved from their previous forms.

See also


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