Field move

If you were looking for the special moves usable in the Pokémon Ranger series, see Field Move (Ranger).

Using Cut outside of battle

A field move is a move that can be used outside of battle in the core series games.

Overview

All HM moves have a field move effect, and several other moves do as well. Field moves that are required to bypass certain obstacles in particular games are usually taught by HMs in those games.

From Generations I to IV and in Generation VI, the player must have earned a particular badge before they can use each HM move as a field move.

Starting in Generation III, whenever a field move is used by a Pokémon, a short animation showing the Pokémon will play. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, if a field move is used by a walking Pokémon, this animation will not play; the Pokémon will instead be shown moving and using the move in the overworld.

From Generation VII onwards (except in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl), it is not possible to use any moves outside of battle.

• In Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, Ride Pokémon serve a similar purpose to field moves from previous games.
• In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Secret Techniques are equivalent to the HM field moves from the Generation I games.
• In Pokémon Sword and Shield, there is no direct equivalent to field moves, with the Flying Taxi replacing Fly and the Rotom Bike Water Mode replacing Surf.
• In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the eight HM field moves can be used with the help of a new Pokétch app that calls on wild Pokémon for assistance, eliminating the need to teach them to the player's own Pokémon. Field moves make a return in these remakes, with moves such as Teleport being able to be used outside of battle once more.
• In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, any Pokémon can be sent out to do various things like destroy rocks and shake trees, and there are summonable Ride Pokémon that can be ridden. The player can also select and instantly travel to previously visited locations using the Arc Phone, similar to the functionality of Fly.
• In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Koraidon^S/Miraidon^V can be ridden and is able to glide, surf, and climb. The Flying Taxi also returns.

List of field moves

Field move	Type	Generation							Effects	Teach method
		I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VIII BDSP
Cut	Normal	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		Cuts down cuttable plants Cuts down tall grassI-III Opens the door to the Dotted HoleFRLG	HM01
Fly	Flying	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		Transports the player to any previously visited significant location Opens the door in the Ancient TombRSORAS	HM02
Surf	Water	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		Allows the player to travel across water	HM03
Strength	Normal	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		Allows movable boulders to be pushed around Opens the door in the Desert RuinsRSORAS	HM04
Flash	Normal	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	Illuminates darkness Opens a door in the Ruins of AlphCHGSS Opens the door in the Ancient TombE Zooms out the player's perspective in certain cavesXY	HM05I-III TM70IV-VI and BDSP
Dig	Ground	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	If used in a dungeon, transports the player to: The most recently visited Pokémon CenterI The entranceII-VI and BDSP Opens a door in the Sealed ChamberRSEORAS	TM28 Leveling up
Teleport	Psychic	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	Transports the player to the most recently visited Pokémon Center	TM30RBY Leveling up
Soft-Boiled	Normal	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	Transfers 20% of the user's HP to another Pokémon in the party	TM41RBY Move TutorFRLG Leveling up
Whirlpool	Water		✔		✔HGSS				DispelsGSC/crossesHGSS whirlpools	HM06GSCHGSS Leveling up
Waterfall	Water		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		Ascends waterfalls Descends waterfallsIV-VI	HM07II-IV HM05V-VI Leveling up
Rock Smash	Fighting		✔	✔	✔		✔		Breaks breakable rocks Opens the door in the Desert RuinsE	TM08II HM06III-IV plus ORAS TM94V and XY
Headbutt	Normal		✔		✔HGSS				Shakes wild Pokémon from Headbutt trees	TM02GSC Move TutorHGSS Leveling up
Sweet Scent	Normal		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	If used in tall grass, in a cave, or on water, triggers a wild battle (always a Horde Encounter if possibleVI)	TM12GSC Leveling up
Milk Drink	Normal		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	Transfers 20% of the user's HP to another Pokémon in the party	Leveling up
Dive	Water			✔RSE		✔	✔ORAS		Dives underwater	HM08RSE HM06BWB2W2 HM07ORAS
Secret Power	Normal			✔RSE			✔ORAS		Opens an entrance in a big tree, shrub, or wall to create a Secret Base	TM43III-IV TM94ORAS
Defog	Flying				✔DPPt				Dispels fog	HM05DPPt
Rock Climb	Normal				✔				Ascends/descends rocky walls	HM08DPPtHGSS
Chatter	Normal				✔	✔			If used by a Chatot, allows the player to record a new cry for it	Leveling up

Gallery

• 

  Artwork of Cut

• 

  Artwork of Fly

• 

  Artwork of Surf

• 

  Artwork of Strength

• 

  Artwork of Flash

• 

  Artwork of Whirlpool

• 

  Artwork of Waterfall

• 

  Artwork of Rock Smash

• 

  Artwork of Dive

• 

  Artwork of Defog

• 

  Artwork of Rock Climb

Trivia

• Some field moves share their effects with certain items that can be used by the player in the field.
  • Dig shares its effect with the Escape Rope.
  • Sweet Scent shares its effect with Honey.
• Flash has had a greater number of different effects than any other field move.
• Milk Drink and Soft-Boiled are the only field moves not to have unique effects, sharing their effects with each other.
• Generation V is the only generation featuring field moves not to introduce either any new field moves or any new effects for existing field moves.
  • In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, the player can help clear a section of boulders in Clay Tunnel if a member of their party knows Rock Smash, though Rock Smash is not a field move in Generation V.

Related articles

• Lists of Pokémon by field move:
  • Generation I
  • Generation II
  • Generation III
  • Generation IV
  • Generation V
  • Generation VI
• Poké Ride
• Secret Technique
• Flying Taxi
• Rotom Bike
• Pokétch
• Arc Phone
• Koraidon (game)
• Miraidon (game)

References

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.