What Pokémon BDSP’s Best TMs Are (& Where To Find Them)

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl have finally released for the Nintendo Switch, and the long-awaited remakes of the Sinnoh games have brought back numerous features from the originals, including the use of Technical Machines, or TMs. These are used to teach Pokémon moves they may not get, or otherwise teach them moves they would get early. Many of these powerful TMs will be familiar to those who played the original games on the Nintendo DS, but alongside many other changes seen in BDSP, locations of certain TMs and the manner in which they’re acquired has been changed.

Pokémon BDSP marks the return of single-use TMs. Prior to Pokémon Black & White, TMs were a single-use item, meaning once players taught their Pokémon a move using a TM, the item was removed from the player’s inventory. This change in Black & White, unlike the BDSP remakes, allowed for players to use their TMs as much as they wanted, allowing for further experimentation in movesets. However, it does remove some of the value in finding a TM, as players no longer needed to decide which Pokémon would be the recipient of a rarer move and could simply give the move to every member of the party that would benefit having it. After experimenting with TRs in Pokémon Sword & Shield, single-use TMs are back in full force in BDSP, hailing back to the originals.

Many powerful moves are locked behind TMs for most Pokémon. Not all Pokémon learn each move that players may want them to know by leveling up and learning naturally, and similarly, not all Pokémon can learn TMs. In order for trainers to best prepare their Pokémon team for the difficult battles present in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, knowledge on where to find some of the more powerful moves in the Sinnoh region can end up being a massive boon. TMs are available throughout the Sinnoh region from certain shops, and can also be found in locations across the overworld. TMs may be gifted to a given player from various NPCs too, providing a decent range of ways for them to receive their benefits.

BDSP’s Most Powerful Veilstone Department Store TMs

The Veilstone City Game Corner was removed, with the location replaced in BDSP with an outfit shop to change clothes. The Game Corner was once an instrumental facility in Pokémon games, as many of the most powerful TMs were available as prizes for gaining enough coins from the games on offer. Thankfully, the TMs once offered by the Game Corner were moved to the Veilstone Department Store in the same city, as well as a few other desirable TMs.

Three of the most prized TMs among trainers are the fire-type Flamethrower, the electric-type Thunderbolt, and the ice-type Ice Beam. These three moves not only each boast 90 power and 100% accuracy in their respective elemental types, but also have a 10% to inflict burn, paralysis, and freeze respectively. Ice Beam is a particularly sought-after TM in these games, as the Champion Cynthia fight’s Garchomp in BDSP is incredibly weak against ice-type moves, and Ice Beam provides the best power for its accuracy. These moves can also be found outside of the Veilstone Department Store. Players can find Flamethrower at Fuego Ironworks, north of Floroma Town, Thunderbolt behind Valley Windworks east of Floroma Town, and Ice Beam on a cliffside on snowy Route 216.

Additional TMs that can be found at the Veilstone Department Store include Swords Dance, a move that raises the Pokémon’s attack by two stages each use, perfect for setting-up physical attacking Pokémon for massive damage. Dazzling Gleam is also available, providing a fairy-type TM to BDSP’s Sinnoh region, and a powerful move to assist in combating the dangerous dragon-type Pokémon of the region. Moves such as Reflect and Light Screen are also available, boosting an entire team’s defense against physical and special moves respectively for five turns.

Where to Find BDSP’s Strongest TMs In The Wild

BDSP does a lot to help trainers along the way as far as providing many TMs for purchase from the Veilstone Department Store, but the game doesn’t skimp on harder to find TMs that can only be found or rewarded throughout the game. Pokémon Gyms still provide TMs as rewards for defeating the Gym Leader, and in this game, Gym Leaders provide five TMs, to better allow players to swap moves in and out without risking losing their one chance at using the TM. Several powerful TMs are acquired this way.  Drain Punch, a fighting-type move that restores health equal to half the damage dealt is received from beating Veilstone City’s Gym Leader in BDSP. Shadow Claw, a physical Ghost-type move that has a high critical hit chance is received from defeating Hearthome City’s Gym Leader.

Many TMs are found just out in the overworld, whether along the player’s way on a route, or tucked away in one of the game’s dungeons. Toxic, a TM that causes lethal poison to the target that gets worse each turn, can be found on Route 212. Earthquake, one of the most powerful Ground-type moves in the game, can be found in Wayward Cave, alongside where rare Pokémon Gible can be found. Scald, a powerful water-type move that can inflict the burn status effect on targets, can be found in Team Galactic’s base in Veilstone City.

Several powerful moves came from Hidden Moves in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and in the remakes, HM overworld moves are now accessed by Pokétch. Moves that were originally HMs, such as Fly, Surf, and Waterfall, are still available to players in the form of TMs. Surf is a high-power Water-type move that is rewarded in Celestic Town. Waterfall is a physical Water-type move that can cause the target to flinch and is available upon completing Sunyshore City. Fly is found in the Galactic Warehouse, allowing flying-type Pokémon to avoid damage for a turn by taking off before landing for massive damage.

TMs have always been a major part of the Pokémon series, allowing for further customization options for players. Although many Pokémon can get by on the moves they gain on level-up, knowledge on when and where TMs are available can make all the difference in major battles. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl provide a surplus of options for TMs throughout each player’s journey, allowing them to fine-tune their teams to cover all bases needed in the difficult end-game battles. 

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