Find out where to get Surf in Pokemon FireRed and explore the seas and ponds of Kanto!
Surf allows you to ride your Pokemon over bodies of water, unlocks important places on the map, and lets you progress through the game’s story.
Surf can also be a powerful move in battles with its 95 base power and 100% accuracy, making it one of the strongest Water-type moves in FireRed.
However, it can be trickier to acquire compared to the other HMs in this region. If you’re struggling to find HM03, this guide will teach you where to get Surf in Pokemon FireRed.
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Where to Get Surf in Pokemon FireRed
Surf can be obtained from the NPC inside the Secret House of Safari Zone in Fuchsia City.
The house is located in the final area of the Safari Zone, and you will receive HM03—Surf as the reward for being the first to reach it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting this Hidden Machine.
Step 1: Go to Fuchsia City
The Safari Zone is our destination, and it is located in Fuchsia City. To get there, take the west exit from Celadon City and go down Route 16 where all the bikers are.
Keep going down until you reach the southernmost part. Then, head east to Route 18 and keep going till you reach Fuchsia City.
Step 2: Enter the Safari Zone
The Safari Zone is located in the northern part of Fuchsia City.
Once you go inside the building, you will have to pay an entrance fee of 500. This will give you access to a wide safari with all kinds of rare Pokemon, and you will also be given 30 Poke Balls to capture any Pokemon you want.
But don’t get too distracted by the wild Pokemon since you cannot remain inside the zone for a long time.
You are only limited to 500 steps before you run out of time and are automatically recalled back to the entrance. Since Surf is our main objective, I suggest you use repels to avoid wild Pokemon and get to the secret house as fast as possible.
You don’t want to pay another 500 and make the trip all over again.
Step 3: Go to the Secret House
The Secret House is located in the final area of the Safari Zone. Here’s how you get there:
From the entrance, head north and take the eastern path from the pond.
Enter the next area and proceed east through a patch of grass. Climb the first stairs you see and go west.
Head north to another set of stairs. Head up and go down the stairs right beside it. Go right a bit to the patch of grass, then take the path heading west to the next section of the Safari Zone.
After reaching the next area, keep heading west and ignore the first stairs you see, and continue to the patch of grass. Then, head upwards to another pair of stairs and make your way through them.
From there, head upwards, then make a right turn through a few more grass patches. Once you reach the uppermost part of this area, make a left turn.
Keep heading south and follow the path straight ahead.
Now you are in the final area of the Safari Zone. Head west, and you should find the Secret House.
Step 4: Get Surf from the Secret House Attendant
As you arrive inside the Secret House, you’ll find a lone attendant. Talk to him, and he will congratulate you for being the first to arrive in the hidden house. As a reward, he will give you HM03 or Surf. Congratulations!
Which Pokemon Can Learn Surf in FireRed?
Now you can open up your bag, fire up that HM, and teach it to a Water-type Pokemon. Here are some of the best surfers in the game:
- Blastoise: It should be a no-brainer if you got Squirtle as your starter Pokemon. With its solid bulk and special attack, Surf will be a great STAB move for Blastoise.
- Lapras: Red’s surfer Pokemon, Lapras, can be found in Silph Co. as a gift. It can also learn Ice Beam and has great special defense and HP.
- Vaporeon: One of my go-to surfers because she has the chunkiest HP in FireRed and comes with a high special attack.
- Tentacruel: This Pokemon has high Special Defense and a decent Special Attack, making it a reliable companion for overworld travel and battling. Toxic and stalling are my favorite strategies with Tentacruel.
How to Use Surf Outside of Battle in FireRed?
Before you leave Fuchsia City with your Surf HM, there’s a crucial stop you need to make first. The Fuchsia City Gym is home to the Poison-type Gym Leader, Koga, and his disciples.
In order to use Surf outside of battle, you must defeat him and earn the Soul Badge.
After beating him, you can now Surf in the overworld. Go to a body of water and interact with it by pressing the A button. Use Surf and you can now “surf” or walk above water.
Conclusion
Now that you know where to get Surf in FireRed, you can finally travel through the bodies of water in Kanto. From the tiny ponds to the vast oceans.
Now, you can access islands and previously unavailable locations such as the Power Plant, Cinnabar Island, Seafoam Islands, and more.
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