TL;DR
- HMs return to their classic acquisition style requiring active exploration rather than story progression
- Each HM requires defeating specific gym leaders before becoming usable in the overworld
- Strategic HM distribution across your team prevents move slot overload
- Certain HMs like Surf and Fly provide both navigation and combat advantages
- Proper HM usage sequence unlocks access to hidden areas and rare items

The return of Hidden Machines in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl marks a significant departure from recent series conventions. Unlike modern titles where navigation tools are seamlessly integrated into story progression, BDSP revives the classic exploration-based HM acquisition system that defined the original Sinnoh experience.
Players accustomed to recent Pokemon generations may find the adjustment challenging. Where Ride Pokemon and automatic bike upgrades previously streamlined travel, BDSP demands deliberate hunting for essential movement abilities. This design choice intentionally recreates the challenge and satisfaction of discovering these crucial tools through exploration rather than scripted events.
The original Diamond and Pearl games allowed players to complete the main story without obtaining certain HMs, and this optional discovery approach returns in the remakes. Strategic players will recognize that thorough HM collection dramatically enhances both progression efficiency and post-game content accessibility.
How to get Rock Smash in Pokemon BDSP
Locating Rock Smash requires visiting the cave network west of Oreburgh City, where a knowledgeable hiker awaits to provide this essential tool. This HM serves as your primary navigation key for multiple cave systems during the early stages of your Sinnoh journey.

Rock Smash stands as the most critical early-game HM, unlocking alternate routes through Oreburgh Gate, Ravaged Path, and other crucial cave networks. While easily acquired through straightforward exploration, its overworld functionality remains locked until you defeat Roark, the Oreburgh City Gym Leader. In combat, this Fighting-type move provides decent damage output against Rock and Normal-type opponents you’ll encounter frequently.
How to get Cut in Pokemon BDSP
Cynthia presents players with Cut immediately following your victory over Gardenia in Eterna City. This timing ensures you receive the HM precisely when its navigation capabilities become relevant to your progression.
After securing the Forest Badge, proceed to Eterna City’s northern district where you’ll encounter an obstructing tree line. Approaching these barriers triggers an automatic encounter with Cynthia, who provides both the HM and corresponding TMs for battle usage.
The intelligent design here prevents frustration – you cannot acquire Cut until after defeating the required gym leader, eliminating any period where you’d possess the HM but lack authorization for its use.
How to get Fly in Pokemon BDSP
The Fly HM awaits discovery on the warehouse floor within Veilstone City’s Team Galactic facility. Similar to Cut acquisition timing, you’ll gain access to Fly only after defeating Maylene, the local gym specialist.
Upon conquering Maylene, your rival character appears requesting assistance against Galactic operatives who’ve stolen their Pokedex.

After successfully battling the Galactic grunts, enter the warehouse and locate the HM positioned near the entrance on your right side. While most warehouse areas remain inaccessible during this story segment, Fly acquisition occurs relatively early in your adventure.
Fly transforms regional navigation, enabling instant travel to previously visited cities. This capability proves particularly valuable for managing time-sensitive activities like berry cultivation cycles and honey tree Pokemon encounters that require regular checking.
How to get Defog in Pokemon BDSP
An ace trainer stationed at the Great Marsh Safari Zone entrance gifts Defog to players. This individual with distinctive green hair stands immediately to your right upon entering the Safari Zone.
Simply initiating conversation with this trainer rewards you with both overworld usage rights and battle-ready TMs. However, implementing Defog outside combat requires first defeating Crasher Wake, the water-type gym leader in Pastoria City.
How to get Surf in Pokemon BDSP
Cynthia’s grandmother in Celestic Town bestows Surf upon worthy trainers who’ve progressed sufficiently in their journey.
Your path to Celestic Town becomes accessible after clearing a route blocked by distressed Psyduck. Administering special medicine alleviates their condition, permitting passage. Upon arrival, confront and defeat a Galactic grunt before meeting Cynthia’s grandmother, who automatically receives the Old Charm artifact from your inventory.

Surf dramatically expands your exploration capabilities, revealing entirely new regions and previously inaccessible areas containing valuable hidden items. From a combat perspective, Surf represents arguably the premier Water-type attack available, making it exceptionally valuable for Water-type specialists like Empoleon, Gastrodon, Ludicolo, and Golduck, who can leverage its substantial power effectively.
How to get Strength in Pokemon BDSP
Ascending the Lost Tower’s summit rewards diligent players with Strength. This structure south of Solaceon Town may appear modest externally but contains multiple interior levels reminiscent of Kanto’s Lavender Town Pokemon Tower.
Navigating to the highest floor reveals two individuals paying respects at a gravestone. Engaging them in dialogue yields both a Cleanse Tag item and the Strength HM.
Overworld implementation of Strength becomes available after your victory over Byron, the steel-type gym leader. This HM enables manipulation of heavy boulders to solve environmental puzzles and access new areas.
How to get Rock Climb in Pokemon BDSP
Rock Climb rests unobtrusively along Route 217’s landscape. To locate this HM, first reach Route 216 then proceed northward to access Route 217.
Maintain course along the western perimeter while heading north until discovering a modest dwelling. Adjacent to this structure lies a Poke Ball containing both the Rock Climb TM for combat and overworld usage authorization.
True to its nomenclature, Rock Climb permits scaling mountainous pathways previously impassable. While absent from Pokemon Sword and Shield, this normal-type attack offers competitive battle utility as one of the category’s most powerful options while incorporating a confusion-inducing secondary effect.
How to get Waterfall in Pokemon BDSP
Jasmine, the renowned Johto region gym leader, presents Waterfall to champions who’ve defeated Volkner in Sunyshore City.

Following your triumph over Volkner, journey northward to the coastal area where Jasmine awaits. She’ll intercept your progress to commend your victory before transferring Waterfall usage capabilities.
As the ultimate HM obtainable in Pokemon BDSP, Waterfall serves as the final gateway to the Pokemon League. Strategic employment of each HM becomes essential throughout your journey, though wild Bidoof, Bibarel, and Staraptor populations offer reliable HM slave alternatives for trainers preferring not to allocate precious move slots on their main team members.
Action Checklist
- Obtain Rock Smash from hiker west of Oreburgh City after defeating Roark
- Receive Cut from Cynthia in Eterna City northern area post-Gardenia victory
- Collect Fly from Team Galactic warehouse floor in Veilstone City
- Acquire Defog from ace trainer at Great Marsh Safari Zone entrance
- Get Surf from Cynthia’s grandmother in Celestic Town after clearing Psyduck blockade
- Claim Strength at Lost Tower summit after Byron defeat
- Discover Rock Climb along Route 217’s western edge
- Receive Waterfall from Jasmine on Sunyshore City beach post-Volkner
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » How to get Defog, Fly, and every other HM in Pokemon BDSP Complete guide to finding all 8 HMs in Pokemon BDSP with strategic tips and optimal usage
