In Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, there are seven HM moves that are required for progression. While some of these HMs are quite strong, making them suitable for battling Pokemon, others are almost entirely useless, making HM slaves a necessity.
HM slaves are Pokemon whose only role in the team is to learn HM moves so that battle-ready Pokemon don’t have to waste their move slots on them. The best HM slaves are the Pokemon that can be taught multiple HMs, are easy to catch, and can be found early in the game. Here are some of the best options in FRLG.
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Best HM Slaves in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
There are seven HM moves in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen: Cut, Fly, Surf, Strength, Flash, Rock Smash, and Waterfall. Due to the restriction of four moves per Pokemon, players need to find, at minimum, two HM slave Pokemon for complete coverage.
Mew is the only Pokemon in FireRed and LeafGreen that can learn all seven HM moves, but due to its rarity and legendary status, it is obviously not a viable option as an HM slave.
Here are some of the best HM slaves players can choose from in FRLG.
|
HM Slaves |
HMs |
Version |
|---|---|---|
|
Pikachu |
Strength, Flash, Rock Smash |
FRLG |
|
Paras, Parasect |
Cut, Flash, Rock Smash |
FRLG |
|
Krabby, Kingler |
Cut, Surf, Strength, Rock Smash |
FRLG |
|
Nidoran♀, Nidoran♂ |
Cut, Strength, Rock Smash (Surf as Nidoking/Nidoqueen) |
FRLG |
|
Gyarados |
Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Waterfall |
FRLG |
|
Lapras |
Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Waterfall |
FRLG |
|
Psyduck, Golduck |
Surf, Strength, Flash, Rock Smash, Waterfall |
FR |
|
Staryu, Starmie |
Surf, Flash, Waterfall |
LG |
|
Slowbro |
Surf, Strength, Flash, Rock Smash |
FRLG |
|
Kabutops |
Cut, Surf, Rock Smash, Waterfall |
FRLG |
|
Poliwhirl, Poliwrath |
Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Waterfall |
FRLG |
|
Tentacool, Tentacruel |
Cut, Surf, Waterfall |
FRLG |
|
Rhydon |
Cut, Surf, Strength, Rock Smash |
FRLG |
|
Farfetch’d |
Cut, Fly |
FRLG |
Fly, Surf, and Waterfall are some of the best moves of their type, despite being HMs. Fly is an extremely strong physical Flying-type move, Surf is the most reliable special Water-type move, and Waterfall is the best physical Water-type move there is. Having your main party Pokemon learn these moves will not be a loss.
Best HM Slave Combinations in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
|
HM Slaves |
HMs |
|---|---|
|
Paras, Parasect |
Cut, Flash, Rock Smash |
|
Gyarados |
Surf, Strength, Waterfall |
|
Farfetch’d |
Fly |
All three of these Pokemon can be obtained very easily in both Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. In fact, all three can be obtained before you get your hands on any HMs.
Paras can be found in Mt. Moon, Magikarp can be bought for 500 from the NPC in the Pokemon Center in Route 4 (evolves into Gyarados at level 20), and Farfetch’d can be obtained by trading a Spearow to an NPC in Vermillion City.
You can replace Gyarados with Poliwhirl or Lapras, but both of these Pokemon are harder to get than Gyarados, and are less useful besides.
Alternative HM Slaves Combination for Pokemon LeafGreen
|
HM Slaves |
HMs |
|---|---|
|
Nidoran♀, Nidoran♂ |
Cut, Strength, Rock Smash |
|
Staryu, Starmie |
Surf, Flash, Waterfall |
|
Farfetch’d |
Fly |
Similar to the previous combination, all three Pokemon here can be obtained very easily in the early game. However, since Staryu and Starmie are only available in LeafGreen, this combinatioon does not work in FireRed.
Alternative HM Slaves Combination for Pokemon FireRed
|
HM Slaves |
HMs |
|---|---|
|
Psyduck, Golduck |
Surf, Strength, Flash, Rock Smash |
|
Tentacool, Tentacruel |
Cut, Waterfall |
|
Farfetch’d |
Fly |
Psyduck and Golduck are Pokemon FireRed version exclusives, which means this combination is not possible in LeafGreen without some trading.
Fly is simultaneously the hardest and easiest HM to find a Pokemon for. This is because the Pokemon that can learn Fly are, by and large, quite powerful, and not Pokemon you would typically want to use as HM slaves. These are Pokemon like Charizard, Aerodactyl, Dragonite, Mew, and the three legendary birds of Kanto. Among “weak” Pokemon that can learn Fly, Farfetch’d is the only one that can learn an additional HM move (Cut), making it the best option for this move if you are not planning on having a main party Pokemon learn it.
- Released
-
September 7, 2004
- ESRB
-
e
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
