Best HM Slave Pokemon Heartgold

From my years of experience playing Pokémon, I’m well aware that Hidden Machines (HMs) are an integral part of the game. You’ll need them to teach your Pokémon important story-based moves in a Pokémon game, including Pokémon Heart Gold.

Like many players, however, I don’t like having HMs on all my Pokémon to maintain their performance by not wasting their attack moves with an HM move. As such I always choose one or two Pokémon in my party to be my HM slave.

So, before playing Pokémon Heart Gold, I first did my research to find out the best Pokémon to use as HM slaves. I’ll be sharing that information with you in this article, therefore read till the end to find out all the best HM slaves in Pokémon Heart Gold.

Best HM Slave Pokemon Heartgold

HM Slave	Ability to Cut	Ability to Surf	Ability to Strength	Ability to Whirlpool	Availability	Other HMs
Nidorina/Nidorino	Yes	No	Yes	No	Available after evolution from Nidoran	Rock Smash
Nidoking/Nidoqueen	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Available only after evolving from Nidorina or Nidorino	Rock Climb, Rock Smash
Ursaring	Yes	No	Yes	No	Available everywhere after trading	Rock Smash, Rock Climb
Tropius	Yes	No	Yes	No	Only available at Pokewalker	Fly, Rock Smash, TM Smash
Poliwrath	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Available after evolving from Poliwhirl	Waterfall, Rock Smash, Rock Climb
Furret	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Available at Safari Zone	Rock Smash, Rock Climb
Sandshrew	Yes	No	Yes	No	Available at Safari Zone	Rock Climb, Rock Smash
Kabutops	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Available after evolving from Kabuto	Waterfall, Rock Climb
Golduck	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Available everywhere after evolution from Psyduck	Rock Smash, Waterfall, Rock Climb
Azumarill	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Available everywhere	Rock Smash, Waterfall
Dragonite	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Available after evolving from Dragonair	Waterfall, Rock Smash, Fly
Rhydon	Yess	Yes	Yes	No	Available except in Victory Road and Safari Zone	Rock Smash, Rock Climb

Nidorina/Nidorino

This is a light purple, four-legged Pokemon that evolves from Nidoran. Nidorina is the female species, and Nidorino is the male. This is a great HM slave that I love because he/she is strong, independent, and fierce. I would even call it violent and quick to anger which makes for a good Pokemon. In Heartgold, its ears are its sensory organs; immediately it senses danger, it attacks. As for HM moves, Nidorina and Nidorino can learn how to cut, strength, and rock smash. The only downside of this Pokemon is that they cannot surf and Whirlpool. Once exposed to Moon Stone, they evolve into Nidoqueen and Nidoking.

Pros

• Good fighter
• Has heightened senses
• Can cut, strength, and rock smash

Cons

• Cannot Whirlpool
• Cannot surf

Nidoking/Nidoqueen

This is the final form of Nidoran. After exposure to Moon Stone, Nidorino and Nidorina evolve into Nidoking and Nidoqueen. With being the final evolution stage of Nidoran, Nidoking and Nidoqueen are superb HM slaves. They can do everything Nidorino and Nidorina can do and much more! Aside from being able to rock smash, cut and strength, they can also whirlpool, rock climb, and surf. The only con to these slaves is that they are unavailable until Nidorina and Nidorino get to Moon Stone. But from there, it’s pretty smooth sailing. In Heartgold, these slaves use their big tails in combat.

Pros

• Has all the abilities of Nidorino and Nidorina
• Can Whirlpool, rock climb, and surf
• Good fighters

Cons

• Only available after evolution.

Ursaring

Ursaring is another fantastic HM slave that I have used in Heartgold. It is a brown grizzly-like Pokemon that mainly lives in the mountain forests and eats berries and fruit. It is a Normal type. It has padded paws, which makes it a great tree climber. I like that Urasing can cut, rock smash, rock climb, and strength, but unfortunately, it is not a water type HM slave; therefore, it can’t learn how to Whirlpool and surf. Ursaring can evolve into Ursaluna.

Pros

• Good climber
• Can cut, rock smash, strength, and rock climb

Cons

• Is not a water type

Tropius

This is an interesting HM slave that is not known to evolve from or into any other Pokemon. I love that this Pokemon can fly. It can also learn other HM moves like cut, strength, and rock smash. The only downside is that it is not a water type; it’s a grass/flying type. It is also only available at Pokewalker (Big Forest) after transfer.

Pros

• Highly accessible
• Can cut, strength, and rock smash

Cons

• Is not a water type

Poliwrath

Poliwrath makes the list for being a dual HM slave. This Pokemon is a water type and a fighter too. It evolves from Poliwhirl when exposed to Water Stone. This is a skilled swimmer in Heartgold and, in my opinion, is the best! Poliwrath is very muscular and never gets tired. It can swim for miles with ease. It also can strengthen and knows martial arts, which makes it a good combat fighter. Poliwrath can Whirlpool, Waterfall, surf, and rock smash. This HM slave cannot rock climb, however. It is also rarely found in the wild and lives mainly on dry land near water bodies.

Pros

• Good swimmer
• Good fighter
• Can make all HM moves needed for Heartgold

Cons

• Not easily available in Heartgold

Furret

In Heartgold, I can recommend any Pokemon player to try out this HM slave. It’s a long slender Pokemon that ironically mimics a real-life ferret. Furret builds nests that act as a shield to protect it from other Pokemon. That has to be my favorite feature of this slave. It can also perform all of the needed HM moves in Heartgold. They include surf, cut, Whirlpool, strength, rock smash, and rock climb. The only thing that takes away from this perfect HM slave is that it is only available in Safari Zone and needs to evolve from Sentret.

Pros

• Has a protective defense mechanism
• Can do all Heartgold necessary HM moves

Cons

• Only available in Safari Zone

Sandshrew

Sandshrew, as the name suggests, is a ground-type Pokemon that evolves from Sandslash in Safari Zone. It also has bug type features, so it spends most of its time burrowed underground. Sandshrew has self-sustaining abilities and can go long without food and water. It is excellent on terrains because it can survive great falls and hits. As for HM moves, I taught this Pokemon how to cut and strength in Heartgold. Since it is not a water type, whirlpooling and surfing are unavailable for this HM slave.

Pros

• Has great self-preservation features
• Can cut and strength

Cons

• Is not a water type

Kabutops

Another great Pokemon for Heartgold would have to be Kabutops. I love this water and rock type slave since it can cut, strength and Whirlpool. This Pokemon has excellent swimming skills and is also a good fighter. It has really sharp scythes for cutting opponents and is notorious for feasting on other Pokemon after a battle.

Pros

• It is a rock and water type Pokémon
• Good swimming skills
• Good fighter
• Can strength, Whirlpool, and cut

Cons

• Has to evolve from Kabuto after exposure to a Dome Fossil

Golduck

One of the most popular Pokemon in the game is Golduck. This is a famous water-type HM slave that evolves from Psyduck and, in Heartgold, comes in handy because it’s available virtually everywhere and can make all HM moves except for cutting. That means it can rock smash, climb, surf, Whirlpool, Waterfall, and strength. Golduck has webbed feet, making it a fast swimmer. It mainly resides in water bodies like lakes and rivers.

Pros

• Is very accessible
• Is a water type Pokemon
• Can do all HM moves except cutting
• Fast swimmer

Cons

• Cannot cut

Azumarill

This is a water type slave with fairy features in Heartgold. It is a blue aquatic leporine with the ability to camouflage in water. What’s impressive about this HM slave is its hypersensitive hearing. In water, it easily detects other Pokemon after a bit of concentration. This slave can also rescue drowning Pokemon by creating life-saving bubbles around the Pokemon in danger. It lives in water bodies and can stay there all day. This HM slave can surf, strength, Whirlpool, rock smash, and Waterfall. The only thing I do not like about this HM slave is that it is not a good fighter, in my opinion.

Pros

• Is a water type Pokemon
• Can surf, Whirlpool, rock smash, and Waterfall
• Can camouflage in water

Cons

• Not a skilled fighter

Dragonite

Another famous Pokemon would have to be Dragonite. I have used this Pokemon as a HM slave in many versions away from Heartgold, and it does not disappoint. It is a flying dragon Pokemon that evolves from Dragonair and can evolve into Dratini. It is said that in Heartgold, this Pokemon flies over lakes and rivers to rescue drowning people. What makes this slave perfect for Heartgold is that it can learn all HM moves needed for the version and much more. It can also waterfall, rock smash, and fly.

Pros

• Can do all Heartgold HM moves
• Can fly, Waterfall, and rock smash

Cons

• Has to evolve from Dragonair

Rhydon

Finally, Rhydon is another HM slave that you should consider using in Heartgold. This is a ground type Pokemon that evolves from Rhyhorn and can evolve to Ryperior when exposed to a Protector. I love the enormous size of Rhydon, as it makes it a fierce fighter with the ability to crush buildings and shatter diamonds. It is also heat resistant and can easily pass lava. Rhydon can cut, surf, strength, rock smash, and rock climb. The only thing this HM slave can’t do in Heartgold is Whirlpool.

Pros

• Is a fierce fighter
• Heat resistant exterior
• Can cut, surf, strength, rock smash, and rock climb

Cons

• Cannot Whirlpool

Conclusion

To sum it up, HMs are the best way to smooth out one’s Pokemon game and progress while overcoming obstacles. For a HM slave to be good, it must be versatile in the moves it can learn. Aside from versatility, it is also paramount that be available. Your slave should be able to get you to the Post Game in one go. Also, you want a Slave that can perform well. There’s honestly nothing worse than a HM slave that has average to bad moves, especially if you use it all the time. With that being said, from the HM slaves, I’ve suggested above, you will be able to find the best one for you to train. They are the most versatile, durable, and teachable HM slaves you can use in Heartgold. So, go out there and become the world-class Pokemon trainer you were meant to be!

FAQs

What are HMs?

HMs or Hidden Machines are special moves that can be taught to Pokemon to beat obstacles and overcome challenges in the game. They include moves such as Defog, Surf, Fly, Rock Smash, and many others.

What is a HM Slave?

A HM slave is a Pokemon that has been taught and is capable of one or more HM moves.

Which HM moves are best in Heartgold?

Cut, Waterfall, Whirlpool, Surf, and Strength are some of the best HM moves to use in Heartgold.

Which HM slaves are best to use in Heartgold?

Tropius, Golduck, and Furret are some of the best HM slaves to use in Heartgold. Nidorina or Nidorino and Dragonite are also popular choices for Pokemon players.

How many types of Pokemon are there?

There are 18 types of Pokemon: Normal, Fire, Flying, Water, Grass, Electric, Psychic, Rock, Bug, Ghost, Ice, Dark, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Fairy, Steel, and Dragon.

What are water type HM slaves?

These are HM slaves that do HM moves using water. They could also live in water.

Why are water type HM slaves considered superior in Heartgold?

Water type HM slaves are considered superior in Heartgold because the most vital HM moves needed are water types. For example, Surf and Whirlpool. Water type HM slaves also tend to have the most variety of moves making them very versatile.