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If you played old Pokémon games, you probably remember walking into a dark Cave and not seeing anything around you. The screen became black, your path disappeared, and moving one step felt difficult. That is why the move Flash became so important in the Pokémon video game series.
Many players still search for answers like what pokemon can learn flash, which pokemon can use flash in emerald, and what pokemon can learn flash in ruby because Flash was one of the most useful hidden moves in classic Pokémon adventures.
In this complete guide, I will explain everything about Flash in Pokémon games. You will learn:
- What Flash does
- Where to find HM05
- All pokemon that can learn flash
- The best pokemon to learn flash
- Which Pokémon games use Flash
- Pokémon that can learn Flash in Emerald, Fire Red, Sapphire, Ruby, and more
- The difference between HM05 and TM70
- My own favorite Pokémon choices for using Flash
As someone who played Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and even Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire many times, I still think Flash is one of the most nostalgic moves in the entire series.
What Is Flash in Pokémon?
Flash is a special move in Pokémon. In older games, it was mostly used outside battle. Players used Flash to light up dark caves and hidden areas.
The move first appeared as HM05 in older Pokémon games. Later games changed Flash into TM70.
When you use Flash inside dark caves, the screen becomes brighter. This makes exploration easier.
Flash in pokemon also had a battle effect. During battle, Flash lowers the target’s accuracy. Some trainers used it in strategy battles because reducing the target’s accuracy made enemy attacks miss more often.
That is why Flash was useful both for exploration and battle.
Why Flash Was Important in Older Pokémon Games
Modern Pokémon games are easier to navigate. Older Pokémon games were very different.
Dark caves were truly dark.
Without Flash, players could barely see anything. This created a huge challenge in games like:
- Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
- Pokémon Crystal
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
I still remember entering Granite Cave in Pokémon Ruby for the first time. I forgot to teach Flash to my Pokémon. The screen was almost completely dark. I kept hitting walls for nearly twenty minutes.
That experience taught me how important the right pokemon was for field moves.
Where to Get Flash in Pokémon Games
Different Pokémon games give Flash in different places.
Pokémon FireRed Flash HM Location
In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, HM05 Flash is found near Route 2.
You need:
- Cut HM
- At least 10 Pokémon registered in the Pokédex
Talk to Professor Oak’s aide near Diglett’s Cave. He gives you HM05 Flash.
If you are replaying the game, this guide may also help:
Many players searching pokemon fire red flash hm usually want to know the easiest Pokémon to teach Flash. I often use Pikachu or Abra early in FireRed.
Where to Get Flash in Pokémon Emerald
A lot of players search where to get flash in pokemon emerald because Granite Cave becomes difficult without it.
In Pokémon Emerald:
- Go to Dewford Town
- Visit Granite Cave
- Speak with the Hiker near the entrance
- He gives HM05 Flash
This is one of the earliest HMs you receive.
If you enjoy replaying Emerald with cheats and fun modifiers, you can also check:
What Pokemon Can Learn Flash?
Now let us answer the biggest question.
What pokemon can learn flash?
Over the years, many Pokémon became Flash compatible. Some learned it naturally while others learned it through HM05 or TM70.
Here are some famous pokemon that can learn flash:
- Pikachu
- Abra
- Clefairy
- Jigglypuff
- Voltorb
- Exeggcute
- Ralts
- Lotad
- Bulbasaur
- Psyduck
- Slowpoke
- Jolteon
- Ampharos
- Chansey
- Electabuzz
- Wigglytuff
- Exeggutor
- Beautifly
- Dustox
- Gallade
- Gardevoir
- Golduck
- Slowbro
- Slowking
- Bronzor
- Bronzong
- Luxio
- Shinx
- Flaaffy
- Meganium
- Torterra
- Grotle
- Leafeon
- Watchog
- Ferrothorn
- Virizion
- Meloetta
- Eelektross
- Golurk
- Chespin
- Chesnaught
- Avalugg
This list shows how many Pokémon across generations could use Flash.
Pokémon That Can Learn Flash in Emerald
Many players ask what pokemon can learn flash in Pokemon emerald because Hoenn has several dark caves.
The best pokemon that can learn flash in emerald include:
Ralts
Ralts is one of my favorite choices. It evolves into the powerful Gardevoir and later Gallade in future generations.
Ralts is useful because:
- Learns Flash easily
- Strong Psychic typing
- Helpful throughout the game
Lotad
Lotad is another great option. It is available early and works well as a support Pokémon.
Shroomish
Shroomish is one of the smartest choices in Pokémon Emerald.
It can:
- Learn Flash
- Learn status moves
- Evolve into Breloom
- Help during Gym battles
Beautifly and Dustox
These early-route Bug Pokémon can also learn Flash.
They are not always used late game, but they are very useful during early exploration.
Voltorb and Electabuzz
Electric Pokémon often learn Flash because of their connection to light and electricity.
Voltorb and Electabuzz are strong examples.
Which Pokemon Can Use Flash in Emerald?
If you want a quick answer for which pokemon can use flash in emerald, these are the most popular:
- Ralts
- Lotad
- Shroomish
- Pikachu
- Abra
- Voltorb
- Electabuzz
- Psyduck
- Slowpoke
- Exeggcute
These Pokémon are easy to obtain and fit naturally into most teams.
What Pokemon Can Learn Flash in Ruby and Sapphire?
Players also search what pokemon can learn flash in ruby and what pokemon can learn flash in sapphire because the Hoenn games have several dark areas.
Pokemon that can learn flash in ruby include:
- Ralts
- Beautifly
- Dustox
- Pikachu
- Abra
- Electabuzz
- Voltorb
- Psyduck
- Slowpoke
- Exeggcute
Pokemon that can learn flash in sapphire are mostly the same because Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire share similar learnsets.
In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Flash became TM70 instead of HM05.
That change made things easier because players no longer needed an HM slave.
Which Pokemon Can Learn Flash in Fire Red?
The question which pokemon can learn flash in fire red is very common among Kanto players.
The best options are:
Pikachu
Pikachu is one of the easiest and most famous choices.
Many players catch Pikachu in Viridian Forest and immediately teach Flash.
Abra
Abra is another classic choice.
Although Abra struggles early because it only knows Teleport, it evolves into a strong Psychic Pokémon.
Clefairy
Clefairy is surprisingly useful.
It learns many support moves and becomes powerful after evolving.
Jigglypuff and Wigglytuff
These Pokémon have flexible move pools.
Many trainers teach Flash to Jigglypuff because it already serves as a support Pokémon.
Bulbasaur and Ivysaur
Bulbasaur is a fantastic starter.
Its evolution Ivysaur can also use Flash in some games.
What Pokemon Can Learn Flash in Leaf Green?
Players asking what Pokémon can learn Flash in Leaf Green can use nearly the same list from FireRed.
Top choices include:
- Pikachu
- Abra
- Clefairy
- Psyduck
- Slowpoke
- Jolteon
- Chansey
- Exeggcute
- Electabuzz
These Pokémon help players travel through Rock Tunnel and other dark caves.
Pokemon Silver Flash Compatible Pokémon
Many fans still love Pokémon Crystal and Generation 2 games.
Pokemon silver flash compatible Pokémon include:
- Flaaffy
- Ampharos
- Bayleef
- Meganium
- Ledian
- Girafarig
- Quagsire
- Shuckle
- Lugia
Ampharos is one of the best choices in Pokémon Crystal Working Codes and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
It is powerful, friendly, and useful throughout the entire adventure.
Best Pokémon to Learn Flash
Many players simply want the best pokemon to learn flash.
In my experience, the best choices are Pokémon that remain useful throughout the game.
You do not want to waste a move slot on weak Pokémon.
Here are my personal recommendations.
Gardevoir
Gardevoir is one of the smartest Flash users.
It begins as Ralts and becomes a strong Psychic-type Pokémon.
Ampharos
Ampharos is amazing in Johto games.
It can battle well while also supporting exploration.
Pikachu
Pikachu is simple, fun, and iconic.
Many younger players love teaching Flash to Pikachu.
Golduck
Golduck is underrated.
Psyduck evolves into a balanced Water Pokémon that stays useful late game.
Slowbro and Slowking
Slowbro and Slowking combine strong defense with utility.
Gallade
Gallade became one of my favorite Pokémon after Pokémon Omega Ruby.
It can battle strongly while also carrying support moves.
Pokemon Able to Learn Flash Across Generations
Over time, many more Pokémon joined the Flash learnset.
Some famous examples include:
- Tangrowth
- Arceus
- Gastrodon
- Abomasnow
- Bronzor
- Bronzong
- Turtwig
- Kricketune
- Luxio
- Drapion
- Electivire
- Leafeon
- Dusknoir
- Dialga
- Darkrai
- Blissey
- Meloetta
- Galvantula
- Morelull
- Shiinotic
- Serperior
- Reuniclus
- Ferrothorn
- Virizion
- Zekrom
- Eelektross
- Golett
- Golurk
- Quilladin
- Chesnaught
- Bergmite
- Avalugg
Some Legendary Pokémon like Dialga, Darkrai, Lugia, Virizion, and Zekrom also became Flash compatible in later generations.
How Flash Changed in Later Pokémon Games
Flash slowly became less important.
Older games needed Flash for exploration.
Newer games became brighter and easier to navigate.
Eventually:
- HM05 disappeared
- TM70 replaced Flash
- Some games removed Flash completely
In Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, players no longer needed traditional HMs.
This made team building much more flexible.
HM05 vs TM70
Older Pokémon games used HM05. Newer games used TM70.
Here is the difference are shown in figure.
Feature | HM05 | TM70 |
Older games | Yes | No |
Newer games | No | Yes |
Removable easily | No | Yes |
Used outside battle | Yes | Sometimes |
Permanent move issue | Yes | No |
This was a huge quality-of-life improvement.
Back in older Pokémon games, removing HM moves required special NPCs.
That is why many players used an HM slave.
My Favorite Flash Memories in Pokémon Games
As a long-time Pokémon fan, Flash always feels nostalgic.
I still remember exploring:
- Granite Cave in Pokémon Ruby
- Rock Tunnel in FireRed
- Dark Cave in Pokémon Crystal
- Ice Path in Johto
Those moments felt like real adventures.
Modern games are smoother, but classic exploration had charm.
Using Flash made you feel prepared for danger.
It also encouraged players to build balanced teams.
Flash and Strategy Battles
Most players used Flash for caves.
But Flash also had battle value.
The move lowers target’s accuracy.
Some trainers used repeated Flash attacks to make opponents miss moves.
This strategy worked especially well in older games.
Bulky Pokémon like:
- Slowbro
- Slowking
- Blissey
- Meganium
- Quagsire
could survive longer while lowering enemy accuracy.
This made battles safer and more tactical.
Learnset Changes Across Pokémon Generations
Every Pokémon generation changed move compatibility.
That means some Pokémon learned Flash in one game but lost it later.
This happened because of learnset balancing.
For example:
- Jolteon learned Flash in some games
- Leafeon gained support utility later
- Bronzor and Bronzong received wider TM access
- Gallade became more flexible in later games
The Pokémon series constantly updates mechanics.
Pokemon That Can Use Flash and Still Fight Well
One mistake many new players make is teaching Flash to weak Pokémon.
A better strategy is choosing Pokémon that remain useful in battle.
Great examples include:
Ampharos
Strong Electric attacks and good stats.
Gallade
Excellent Attack and support options.
Gardevoir
Powerful Psychic-type moves.
Torterra
Torterra is bulky and reliable.
Electivire
Electivire combines speed and offense.
Serperior
Fast and smart support Pokémon.
Ferrothorn
One of the best defensive Pokémon.
Flash in Pokémon ROM Hacks and Fan Games
Flash also appears in fan-made games and ROM hacks.
If you enjoy custom Pokémon adventures, you may enjoy:
https://pokemonjoy.com/pokemon-guide/pokemon-go/best-pokemon-nds-rom-hacks/
Many ROM hacks redesign dark caves and exploration mechanics.
Some even remove Flash entirely.
Helpful Pokémon Guides for Trainers
If you enjoy strategy guides and Pokémon tips, these helpful articles from Pokemon Joy may also help your adventure.
Learn more about evolution items here:
https://pokemonjoy.com/pokemon-guide/pokemon-go/how-to-get-a-sinnoh-stone-in-pokemon-go/
You can also explore this guide about Sun Stone evolution:
https://pokemonjoy.com/pokemon-guide/pokemon-go/how-to-get-sunstone-in-pokemon-go/
Want more powerful teams and Legendary captures?
https://pokemonjoy.com/pokemon-guide/battle-strategies/catch-legendary-pokemon/
You can also explore fusion gameplay ideas here:
https://pokemonjoy.com/pokemon-guide/pokemon-infinite-fusion/
If you love Johto games, this walkthrough is also useful:
https://pokemonjoy.com/pokemon-guide/game-walkthrough/pokemon-heartgold-and-soulsilver-walkthrough/
And if you enjoy older cheats and replay fun, try:
https://pokemonjoy.com/cheat-codes/pokemon-firered-cheats-rare-candy/
FAQs:
What pokemon are able to learn flash?
Many Pokémon can learn Flash depending on the generation. Popular examples include Pikachu, Abra, Clefairy, Ralts, Ampharos, Psyduck, Golduck, Gallade, and Gardevoir.
Which pokemon learn flash most easily?
Pikachu, Abra, and Ralts are among the easiest and most popular choices.
What pokemon can learn flash in emerald?
Ralts, Lotad, Shroomish, Pikachu, Psyduck, and Voltorb are great choices in Pokémon Emerald.
What pokemon can learn flash in ruby?
Most Pokémon from Emerald also work in Ruby because Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire share similar mechanics.
Which pokemon can learn flash in fire red?
Pikachu, Abra, Clefairy, Psyduck, and Jigglypuff are strong options.
Is Flash still an HM?
No. Older games used HM05. Later games changed Flash into TM70 or removed it entirely.
What does Flash do in battle?
Flash lowers the opponent’s accuracy, making attacks miss more often.
Conclusion
So, what pokemon can learn flash?
The answer is surprisingly huge.
From Pikachu and Abra to Gallade, Ampharos, and even Arceus, many Pokémon across generations learned Flash.
Some players used Flash only for caves. Others used it in strategy battles. Either way, Flash became one of the most memorable utility moves in Pokémon history.
Classic games like Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Crystal, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver made Flash feel important and exciting.
Even today, longtime fans still remember the feeling of entering a dark Cave and lighting the path with Flash.
That small moment became part of the magic of Pokémon.
As someone who has replayed these adventures many times, I still believe Flash represents classic Pokémon exploration at its best.
Whether you are revisiting Hoenn, exploring Kanto, or replaying Johto, choosing the right Pokémon that can learn Flash will always make the adventure smoother and more enjoyable.
