[encounters]
A few steps after entering Oreburgh Gate, a Hiker will take note of your Pokétch and he’ll give you a Hidden Machine, HM06 Rock Smash. Hidden Machines are similar to Technical Machines (TMs), but they can be used an unlimited number of times. They also have effects when used outside of battle, although you need to have the respective Gym Badge in order to use the HM move outside of battle.
One important thing to note about HM moves: they cannot be forgotten once they’ve been learned! This is very important, as not every HM move is a good move. Rock Smash is… not really a very good move, although it’s not terrible at this point in the game. It’s a 40-power Physical-based Fighting-type move that has a 50% chance of lowering the target’s Defense by one stage, so at this point in the game, it’s pretty good, but the problem is you won’t be able to remove it until around the time you get your sixth Gym Badge, as that’s when the only way to remove an HM move becomes available—the Move Deleter in Canalave City.
[info title=”Get Yourself an HM Buddy!”]Not every HM move is good, that’s a fact, in fact some are really bad, and since Pokémon can only learn up to 4 moves, you may not want to lose precious move slots to these underwhelming moves. Rather than teaching them to your main Pokémon that you use in battle, instead consider teaching them to a dedicated “HM Buddy” that doesn’t generally participate in battle but can be used to store your HM moves so you can progress through the game.
Bidoof and its evolution Bibarel make excellent HM Buddies as they are capable of learning a good selection of HMs. Starly or Zubat also work very well later on for learning situational moves like Fly (which, to be fair, is excellent to have around at all times) and Defog (which is without a doubt the most useless HM move for in-game purposes). Quagsire, available later on, is also a good option.[/info]
See those lighter, more pixelly rocks dotting the southern part of the path through the cave? Those are rocks that can be smashed with Rock Smash, but you’ll need the Coal Badge before you can actually smash them outside of battle—again, you can still use the move inside of battle, just not outside of battle until you’ve gotten the Badge.
There’s a path to the north, but ignore it for now, as it’s a dead end until you are able to smash rocks. Be sure to check it out on your return trip, though!
[trainertable]
[trainer c=”Camper” n=”Curtis” p=112]
[tpoke p=shinx l=7 g=m]
[/trainer]
[trainer c=”Picnicker” n=”Diana” p=80]
[tpoke p=budew l=5 g=f]
[tpoke p=psyduck l=5 g=f]
[/trainer]
[/trainertable]
In the meanwhile, head to the east, choosing to fight the two Trainers blocking your path or walking behind them to avoid them without much trouble.
That’s actually it! Head out the exit to arrive in Oreburgh City.
[link to Oreburgh City]