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Fast TMs, Charged TMs and Elite TMs Explained
How Fast, Charged and Elite TMs change a Pokémon's moves, the odds of rolling the move you want, and when to save an Elite TM for a legacy move.
A Pokémon in Pokémon GO battles with one fast move and one or two charged moves, and those moves often decide a battle more than a little extra CP does. Technical Machines, or TMs, are the main items that change them. There are four kinds, and the Elite versions are rare enough that it pays to know when to use a regular TM instead. If fast and charged moves are new to you, our guide to battle rules, fast moves and charged moves covers the basics first.
The four TMs side by side
| Item | What it changes | Can you choose the new move? | Can it teach legacy moves? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast TM | The fast move | No. It rolls a random fast move from the Pokémon's current pool, never the one it already knows | No |
| Charged TM | One charged move (you pick which, if it knows two) | No. Random, from the current pool | No |
| Elite Fast TM | The fast move | Yes, from a list | Yes, including many legacy and event moves, though not necessarily every one |
| Elite Charged TM | One charged move | Yes, from a list | Yes, with the same caveat |
A legacy move is one a species can know but can't get from a regular TM, either because it was removed from its move pool or because it was only ever available through an event such as Community Day. Regular TMs never teach them, so a Pokémon that already knows one is worth protecting.
How random TMs roll
A regular TM always gives a different move from the one being replaced, chosen from the moves that Pokémon can currently learn in that slot. If every result is equally likely, as is generally assumed, the size of the pool decides your odds. The table below assumes the Pokémon already knows one of the pool's moves in that slot.
| Moves it can learn in that slot (including its current one) | Chance per TM of getting one specific move | Average TMs needed |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Guaranteed | 1 |
| 3 | 1 in 2 | 2 |
| 4 | 1 in 3 | 3 |
| 5 | 1 in 4 | 4 |
A Pokémon can't know the same charged move twice, so if it already has two charged moves, the TM can only roll moves outside both slots. Read the row above the one you'd otherwise use.
Using a TM, step by step
- Open your item bag and tap the TM you want to use.
- Pick the Pokémon. If the TM can't be used on it, the game won't let you apply it.
- For any Charged TM (regular or Elite) on a Pokémon with two charged moves, choose which move to replace.
- For an Elite TM, choose the new move from the list.
- Confirm. The change is instant and can't be undone.
When not to use a TM
- The Pokémon knows a legacy move you want. A regular TM would overwrite it; getting it back usually takes an Elite TM, and only if the move is on that Pokémon's Elite list.
- It's a Shadow Pokémon and you want to get rid of Frustration. Frustration normally can't be replaced with a Charged TM. Some Team GO Rocket events have temporarily allowed it, so check the in-game news. Fast TMs work on Shadows as usual.
- It's a Purified Pokémon with Return you want to keep. Return comes from purification, and once it's replaced you shouldn't count on any TM, Elite included, to bring it back.
- It's defending a Gym. Pokémon in Gyms can't be changed until they come home.
- It's Smeargle. Smeargle learns its moves by copying them rather than through TMs.
- It's about to evolve. Evolving normally gives the new form a fresh set of moves, so evolve first and use the TM afterwards.
Where TMs come from
Regular Fast and Charged TMs turn up as raid rewards, research rewards and GO Battle League rewards. Elite TMs are much rarer: they have come from things like higher GO Battle League ranks, Special Research, event rewards and occasional event bundles. The exact sources change, so check the in-game news, and our page on GO Battle League ranks and rewards explains how league rewards work. Most of the other sources have their own guides on Trainer Hub.
Spending them wisely
- Check the second charged move first. If the move you want is in the pool, unlocking a second charged move with Stardust and candy may give you both options without a TM.
- Use regular TMs on small pools. A Pokémon with two or three options in a slot is the best use of a random TM.
- Save Elite TMs for legacy moves or big pools. One Elite TM on a Pokémon with five options saves several regular ones, and outside of special events a legacy move usually can't be had any other way.
- Invest in Pokémon you'll actually use. A weekly raid attacker or league staple deserves an Elite TM more than a collection piece.
- Remember moves get rebalanced. The game's developer adjusts move stats from time to time, so today's essential move may not stay that way.
Legacy moves can also make an ordinary Pokémon surprisingly useful in a particular cup; our guide to GO Battle League cup formats touches on why some players hold on to them.
TM questions
Does a TM change CP or IVs?
No. A TM only swaps a move. CP, IVs and level stay exactly the same.
Can I get a Community Day move with a regular TM?
Not normally. Evolving during the event window (and, often, a short time after it) teaches the special move; afterwards you'd usually need an Elite TM, unless the move is later added to the regular pool, which does happen from time to time.
Why can't I use a TM on my Pokémon?
Usually because of one of the cases above, such as trying to replace Frustration on a Shadow Pokémon, or a Pokémon that's defending a Gym. If none apply, check whether the Pokémon has any other move it could learn in that slot.