From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Flash (Japanese: フラッシュ Flash) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was HM05 from Generations I to III and TM70 from Generations IV to VI, as well as in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Effect

In battle

Generations I to II

Flash decreases the target's accuracy stat by one stage. The accuracy of Flash is 70%.

In the Generation I and II core series games, when an in-game opponent outside of the Battle Tower uses Flash, the move has a 25% chance to fail in addition to its normal chance to miss.

Generation III

Flash no longer has an additional chance to fail when used by an in-game opponent.

Generation IV to VII

The accuracy of Flash changed to 100%.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Flash, the user's evasiveness is raised by one stage.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Flash cannot be selected in a battle.

Generation IX

Flash cannot be selected in a battle.

Outside of battle

In certain games, Flash requires a specific badge to use outside of battle; the Boulder BadgeRBYFRLG, Zephyr BadgeGSC, or Knuckle BadgeRSE.

Generations I to II

Flash will illuminate dark caves. The effect will last until the player exits the cave. When the player re-enters the cave, it will be dark again.

Generation III to V

Flash will only illuminate a large circle around the player to increase visibility in caves.

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and Pokémon Platinum, it will light up the entire screen as it did in Generation I.

Generation VI

In Pokémon X and Y, as there are no dark caves to be found, Flash will instead cause the screen to zoom out, revealing more of the surrounding area than normally is visible. In addition, it also decreases the chance of encountering wild Pokémon.

In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, dark areas where Flash can be used to light up the surroundings are present once again. However, in this game the dark areas are shown to be more dimly lit rather than completely dark, making the move even less needed than before.

Zoom out

In X and Y, Flash may be used to zoom out the perspective in the following caves:

Generation VII

Flash is no longer usable outside of battle. In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the player can use Secret Technique Light Up instead.

Generation VIII

In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Flash can once again be used outside of battle to illuminate dark caves.

Generation IX

Flash is no longer usable outside of battle.

Puzzles involving Flash

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM/HM

Special move

Generation IV

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Obtained with
0025				Field	Fairy	My Pokémon Ranch
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Flash lowers the target's accuracy by one stage.

Description

In the anime

Vivillon Solrock Umbreon Ampharos
The user emits a bright light, blinding the opponent or illuminating a dark area.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	The yellow rings on Umbreon's body light up and glow brightly, or the yellow ring on Umbreon's forehead shines brightly, giving off a bright light.
Gary's Umbreon	Power Play!		Debut
Virgil's Umbreon	Team Eevee and the Pokémon Rescue Squad!		None
	The ball on the end of Ampharos's tail lights up and shines brightly.
Jasmine's Sparkle	Fight for the Light!		None
Karsten's Ampharos	Drifloon on the Wind!		None
Workers' Ampharos	Genesect and the Legend Awakened		None
	The orbs at the end of Chinchou's antennae light up and glow brightly.
Dayton's Bright	Takin' it on the Chinchou		None
	The orb on Dragonair's neck shines light blue.
Clair's Dragonair	Fangs for Nothin'		Dragonair cannot legally learn Flash
	Beautifly's wings shine brightly.
Janet's Beautifly	All Things Bright and Beautifly!		None
	The black circle on Absol's forehead shines brightly, giving off a bright light. Sometimes its forehead glows with a white ball, and then launches streams of light out at the opponent.
Drew's Absol	Thinning the Hoard!		None
	Meditite raises its arms and creates a glowing white sphere above its head that glows brightly.
Meredith's Meditite	Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea		None
	Medicham raises its arms and creates a glowing white sphere above its head that glows brightly.
Meredith's Medicham	Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea		None
	Roserade's body shines brightly, giving off a bright light that blinds the opponent.
Gardenia's Roserade	The Grass Menagerie!		None
	A beam of light shines out from Bronzor's face, or Bronzor releases a circle of light from the middle of its body that grows outward. When the ring of light disappears, its whole body starts to glow brightly.
Saturn's Bronzor	Journey to the Unown!		None
Karl's Bronzor	Zoroark: Master of Illusions		None
	Heliolisk's collar extends and shines brightly, giving off a bright light that blinds the opponent.
Clemont's Heliolisk	The Moment of Lumiose Truth!		None
Frank's Heliolisk	Lights! Camera! Pika!		None
	Magnemite's body shines brightly, giving off a bright light.
Frank's Magnemite	Lights! Camera! Pika!		None
	Swirlix's body shines brightly, giving off a bright light.
Frank's Swirlix	Lights! Camera! Pika!		None
	Solrock's body shines brightly, giving off a bright light.
Baraz's Solrock	Hoopa and the Clash of Ages		None
	Manectric's body shines brightly, giving off a bright light that blinds the opponent.
Celosia's Manectric	Meeting at Terminus Cave!		None
	Vivillon's wings shine brightly, giving off a bright light that blinds the opponent.
Alvin's Vivillon	Battling with a Clean Slate!		None

In the manga

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Magical Pokémon Journey

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All

The user illuminates a dark area.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Pikachu's body becomes very bright.
Shu's Pikachu	GDZ59		Debut

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

In other generations

Warning: The battle animation for Flash in Generation I and Generation II contains several short, rapid flashes that may be capable of causing epileptic seizures.

In battle

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Outside of battle

Trivia

• Flash is never required to advance gameplay, as darkened caves are still navigable without the move.
• Flash is the only HM move that can be used outside of battle in Generation I, yet cannot be selected in battle in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

In other languages

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