What are the best HM slaves for Platinum?

Question

Need a good hm slave for platinum.

Thank you

Comments

Bibarel is the best HM slave the game has ever seen, and you can get Bidoof the second you start the playthrough.

Answer 1

The best HM slave is definitely Bibarel because it gets access to Cut, Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Waterfall, and Rock Climb and only misses out on Fly and Defog. It's made even better thanks to Bidoof being catchable before the first Gym. Starly can learn both HMs that Bibarel can't and is also available before the first Gym, so it's a prime HM slave in conjunction with Bibarel.

A good "team" of HM slaves is two Bibarel and one Starly, which allows you to teach every available HM and manage experience in a smaller battling party of three members.

Hope I helped!

Comments

Why would you use Bibarel and Rhydon when you can use 2 Bibarels? Why would you use Skarmory when you can use Smeargle?

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Smeargle would take more effort than Skarmory, because it only learns Sketch. Skarmory can learn Fly by just using a TM. Ryhdon was for the sake of variety, but I suppose another Bibarel would be better.

Answer 2

Considering how many moves one can lean,
Prinplup learn 6 in 8, except rock climb and Fly
Empoleon is the best HM, learning 7 HMs except Fly

Considering the source and combo
Bibarel / Empoleon + Tropius will be the best.

Also, considering timeline as below:
> After 3rd Gym, Breed Empoleon at Solaceon City
> After 4th Gym, [Fly] available
> Before/After 5th Gym (Great Marsh), Catch Tropius
> Before 6th Gym, Move Deleter to delete HMs.

If one get a female Piplup and bad nature
Breed a better one and use the starter as HM slave will also make sense
The new Piplup will still catch up considering its just 3 gym.
And the starter Prinplup can level up and become Empoleon in breeding centre, which is quite simple as well.

Comments

Breeding and evolving an Empoleon is a lot slower than catching a wild Bibarel.