What Pokemon Can Learn Cut? A Complete HM01 List by Game

Cut (HM01) is a Normal-type move that first appeared in Generation I of the Pokemon games. From Generation I to VIII, Cut was used to remove obstacles such as trees blocking your path. The move is useful not only for story progression but also for reaching hidden areas and finding items.

Cut can only be learned by certain Pokemon species, usually those with Normal, Grass, or Bug typing. These Pokemon typically have sharp body parts capable of slicing through objects, such as pincers, claws, or leaves. Notable examples include Bulbasaur, Oddish, Tangela, and Meowth.

Kartana and Farfetch’d (in some games) are the only Pokemon that can learn Cut by leveling up, while most other species can only learn the move through an HM or other game-specific methods.

If you want to add a Pokemon that can learn Cut to your team, this page will come in handy. It contains a complete list of Pokemon that can use the move across the different games.

Cut in Pokemon Games at a Glance

What Pokemon Can Learn Cut in Each Game

Keep in mind that HM01 Cut is only available from Generations I to VI. The move returned as a TM in Generation VIII, specifically in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

The games that won’t be mentioned in this section no longer feature HMs, including Pokemon Sun and Moon, Scarlet and Violet, and the Legends games.

Red, Blue, and Yellow

Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

HeartGold and SoulSilver

Black, White, Black 1, and White 2

Pokemon X and Y

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl

Best HM Slaves for Cut

An HM slave is a Pokemon assigned to learn most of the HMs needed for exploration and traveling, such as Cut, Surf, Strength, and Rock Smash.

Since HMs traditionally cannot be easily forgotten by learning new moves, players often teach these moves to a Pokemon they don’t plan to use in battles. This keeps the valuable move slots of their main team available for stronger and more useful moves.

Here are the top HM slaves that you can try for every game where HM01 Cut is available.

Cut (HM01) Locations

If you don’t have HM01 Cut yet, here are their locations per game.

Cut in Pokemon ROM Hacks

Cut can work differently in Pokemon ROM hacks, so you shouldn’t always rely on an official-game list to determine which Pokemon can learn it. Many ROM hackers modify a game’s Pokemon learnsets, meaning a Pokemon that can learn Cut in the vanilla games may not be able to learn it in a particular hack.

Some ROM hacks also change how HMs work. Pokemon Radical Red, Pokemon Unbound, Pokemon Gaia, and Pokemon Emerald Kaizo all retain Cut as HM01, but their HM systems and progression can differ from the core series games. For instance, Pokemon Unbound lets a Pokemon use an HM in the field as long as it can learn the move, without actually teaching it to that Pokemon, which is quite nifty if you’ll think about it.

Because of these changes, it’s always better to read the documentation or notes for the specific ROM hack you’re playing before choosing a Pokemon for Cut.

More resources:

• What Pokemon That Can Learn Fly
• Which Pokemon Can Learn False Swipe
• What Level Does Eevee Evolve
• How to Evolve Alolan Vulpix

Generations VII to IX: The HM system was replaced in Generation VII with new mechanics like Ride Pokemon in “Sun and Moon”, “Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon”, and “Scarlet/Violet”, and Secret Techniques in “Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!”.

These changes were made to make gameplay smoother by removing the need for HM moves to be carried by Pokemon in the player’s party for navigation and obstacle removal.

Related: Pokemon That Can Learn Flash

What If No Pokemon in Your Party Can Learn Cut?

If you don’t have a Pokemon that can learn HM01 Cut, your first goal should be to obtain one as soon as possible. Use our list above to see which species are available in your game and where you can find them.

You can also use cheat codes to unlock HMs immediately, so feel free to check the links provided on this page for a list of cheats for your chosen Pokemon game. In some cases, you don’t even need a Pokemon with Cut, as you can continue the story and access certain areas without using the move.

But of course, having a Pokemon with the move Cut is much better than not having one at all as you might miss on some great items and interesting places.

FAQs

Conclusion

HM01 Cut is one of the most useful moves for exploring older Pokemon games, especially when you need to clear trees blocking your path or reach hidden areas and items. While Grass-type Pokemon are common choices for learning Cut, plenty of other species can also use the move, making it easy to find a suitable Pokemon for your team or an HM slave.

Remember that Cut isn’t always required, depending on the Pokemon game you’re playing. If you do need it, our list above should help you find the best Pokemon that can learn Cut and where you can obtain them.

If you think we missed any important information about HM01 Cut or know of a useful Pokemon that should be added to our list, let us know in the comments below.