The Advancement of TMs

Avid fans of the Pokémon games, specifically of the main series games, will know about Technical Machines or TMs as one of the two kinds of items needed to teach Pokémon certain moves. They've remained a mainstay of the games and have even "advanced" in a way, unlike Hidden Machines or HMs that at this point are essentially deprecated. Since I've discussed the latter in a post a couple of years ago, I figure I should do the same for the former in the same way, as a "historical overview" of sorts.

Evidently, teaching moves is what Technical Machines or TMs do. They're gotten from the field, from certain people, or even by purchase; unlike HMs, their sources are relatively less "obscure" and more evident. The moves that can be taught are also a lot more diverse and don't have the restrictions that HM moves. They are (relatively) free to be learned, used, and even forgotten in some cases, not being a hindrance to progression. Even so, TMs initially had the caveat that they cannot be used more than once, except if they could be regained in some form, most likely through purchase. This made them a lot less flexible and even precious in some cases, becoming a barrier to their use. But then they changed, "advancing" for the better.

Starting in the fifth generation onwards, TMs are no longer one-time in their usage, and can be used as many times as one wished, on par with the essentially deprecated HMs. This simple change removed the most important barrier to their usage - their situational "precious" quality as above - and made them more like portable Move Tutors; once the items are gained, they belong to a Trainer for good. In the generation prior, they even had already expanded from 50 to 100, allowing more moves than ever before to be taught. Both of these are important advancements, though it is certainly the first that is the most important.

Making TMs advance was the most natural thing to do. As the Pokémon games expanded, so did the list of available moves, and it would be great if many of them could be learned directly. Furthermore, greater flexibility was necessary; a unique and necessary move shouldn't be stuck with one Pokémon or else require great efforts (that is, breeding) to be transferred to another Pokémon. In those respects, the advancements as above are very much justified by the state of affairs.

Thus, in a way, unlike HMs that started out promising but became problematic over time, TMs started out mediocre and became great means for Pokémon to learn great moves. It's clear now that the deprecation of the former was at hand and the advancement of the latter was inevitable and necessary. But that also means great things for the Pokémon Trainer of today, in being provided the means to teach moves and attain great success with them, just like how those means have advanced to the current state.

One year ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: On with the Show

Two years ago: Friendship and Community

Three years ago: Gatherings for Blessings and Success

Four years ago: Reconsidering Trade Evolutions

Five years ago: What's Appenin' (Mobile Games)