How do TMs and HMs really work?

[moon]

They are called "machines", technical and hidden (secret in Japanese). In the TCG, they were shown as some kind of machines into which the pokéball containing a pokémon was inserted, and thus teaching it the move. In later games, they are shown to be shaped like discs and stored inside a case, and Bulbapedia suggests that it is the case that teaches the pokémon the move while the disc (TM/HM) is inserted. The games show the disc being placed on top of the pokémon, and the move being learned.

How do you prefer to think that TMs and HMs look like? How do they teach a move to a pokémon? What makes TMs break after one use? (in the earlier generations, at least) Why are they called "hidden" machines? How come a machine can teach a move to a pokémon just like that, anyways?​

 

[No Worries]

Just GAMEFREAK logic, I guess...

I honestly have no idea, lol. I always had the impression that they just ate it.

 

[Zeffy]

I honestly have no idea, lol. I always had the impression that they just ate it.

This was my initial impression as well lol

However, it has come up to me that each trainer's bag has a TM/HM pocket. Perhaps in this pocket, a small machine is located that could be attached to a Pokémon and the TM/HM can be attached to the machine and it, somehow, teaches the Pokémon the move.

My other thought is that they are DVDs that you make the Pokémon watch until they learn the move. That is just silly, however, but I do think it is plausible.

 

[Fujiko]

My other thought is that they are DVDs that you make the Pokémon watch until they learn the move. That is just silly, however, but I do think it is plausible.

Maybe it is a little silly but after I saw TMs & HMs in the form of discs I had accepted this xD

In Black and White versions the TMs & HMs can be used indefinitely so maybe in those games the discs teach the trainer how to teach the Pokemon.

 

[moon]

My other thought is that they are DVDs that you make the Pokémon watch until they learn the move. That is just silly, however, but I do think it is plausible.

lmao totally! I wish this was canon.

I usually simplify everything by saying that pokémon are half-matter, half-energy creatures. And TMs and HMs are imbued with, or programmed to be able to release a certain sort of energy upon contact with a pokémon. So when a pokémon is touching a HM or TM and concentrating or something, they will gain the power to use the move. Then, maybe some practice will still be necessary to make it perfect ^^ But just like pokémon can learn new moves just like that by growing in power from leveling up, they can learn them just like that by gaining a finely tuned kind of power from a TM.

But the idea of there being a special sort of disc case that is the real machine and having it hold the TMs and HMs sound maybe a bit better. Why would they be shaped like discs if they wouldn't be inserted in some machine, kinda? Just for easy storage?

In Black and White versions the TMs & HMs can be used indefinitely so maybe in those games the discs teach the trainer how to teach the Pokemon.

That sounds interesting. One more point for the watch-DVD-to-learn-theory xD


EDIT: this panel from a pokémon comic is a so very relevant illustration here.