Pokemon Go: What are Elite TMs and where to get them?

Paul Cot

Elite TMs finally allow you to take full control over what moves your Pokemon learn in Pokemon Go.

Unlike traditional Technical Machines (more commonly known as TMs), you can actually select which move you want your Pokemon to learn with Elite TMs. That means no more hoping for the Pokemon gods (Arceus?) to give you the right move.

That’s not all though, as Elite TMs will open up the move pool to not only Community Day exclusive moves but Legacy Moves. This is a game changer for GO Battle League players, although might disgruntle some owners of those rare moves.

Psystrike Mewtwo Elite TM
Teaching Mewtwo Psystrike will be among the popular exclusive moves trainers want to teach their Pokemon…

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Pick your Pokemon moves

The ability to select what moves you can learn takes a page out of the mainline Pokemon game’s handbook. Until Pokemon Go, it would have been unthinkable for a lot of trainers to not be able to pick which move a Pokemon can learn.

Not only will it potentially save wasting several Fast TMs and Charged TMs, but it will make PvP battling a lot more even. Mewtwo with Psystrike and Swampert with Hydro Cannon are just two examples of exclusive Charge Moves that give a huge, often unassailable advantage.

As a result we can expect to see more GO Battle League matches featuring Pokemon with these exclusive moves. After all, there’s a reason they have been so rare until now, and that’s because they’re very powerful!

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How to earn Elite TMs

Much like traditional TMs in Pokemon Go, there are two forms of Elite TMs – Elite Charged TM and Elite Fast TM. As their names give away, they differentiate between Charge and Fast Moves.

The best way to get an Elite TM is by reaching Rank 7 in GO Battle League. A lot of trainers have since reached Rank 7 and many are already there but have yet to receive one. This is because it is an end of season reward and therefore won’t be given out until May 1.

You might be thinking this means Elite TMs are going to be hard to come by. Well, you’re right, they are supposed to be rare and valuable, which makes sense given the moves they bring to the table.

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These super rare TMs can also be sometimes found in the Pokemon Go Shop boxes. Most recently it was available within the Abra Community Day special box. These won’t often be seen however, and may cost real money. Elite TMs cannot be purchased as individual items either – at least not now.

Elite TMs will certainly shake up the PvP scene in Pokemon Go. Just make sure when you’re using one you do so astutely because it might be a while before you get your hands on another.