20 Things Only Pokémon Fans Will Understand

17. Picking Your Team's 'HM Slave' Was Risky Business

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Nintendo

Back before HM techniques became readily changeable in generation six, choosing which of your Pokémon would carry these essential and near-permanent moves was a heck of a challenge. While the likes of Surf was useful in and out of battle, most others were certainly not worth taking the chance on.

So, in order to carry all of the necessary moves in the overworld, a 'HM Slave' had to be designated. Most often these would be the symbolic seventh member of your six Pokémon team, being traipsed out from the PC to help you pass through each new cave or cross each new body of water.

But choosing who this unfortunate soul would be for your team was a tough choice. Was it worth training them well enough to hold their own in an emergency battle situation, or would a level 3 Bidoof with four HM moves simply be good enough?

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Gareth is 28 years old and lives in Cardiff. Interests include film, TV and an unhealthy amount of Spider-Man comics and Killers songs. Expect constant references to the latter two at all times. Follow on twitter @GJCartwright.