Pokémon TMs (Technical Machines) have been a part of the series since the very beginning, and show no sign of going away considering they’ve stuck around for over twenty years. While in Sword & Shield TRs (Technical Records) would take over the old function of TMs, they’re still present as TRs break while TMs don’t.
With such a large pool of TMs, it can be hard to decide which ones are actually worth using and which ones should be sold off to the nearest PokéMart. Psychic Type Pokémon have access to incredibly powerful moves thanks to TMs, however, some TMs are absolutely useless and add nothing of value to the Pokémon’s moveset.
10 Useless: Imprison
Imprison is one of those moves that work much better on paper. The issue with Imprison comes with how incredibly specific circumstances must be for it to even affect the first place. Imprison prevents opposing Pokémon from using a move that the Imprison user also knows. This means that Imprison is limited to moves that it can learn, as well as to only three moves at a time. The odds of resolving Imprison in which it actively blocks a move is awfully low, making it one of the worst Psychic TMs.
9 Best: Psychic
A move named after an entire Pokémon Type just has to be good, and Psychic lives up to its name. Psychic is one of the most damaging Psychic-Type moves that don’t require any set-up. Its a Special Attacking move as well, and most Psychic Pokémon can utilize this incredibly well. It’s accurate as well, with a chance to lower its victim’s Special Defense to do even more damage the next turn. It even has a lot of PP, meaning that you’ll be able to use it as many times as you need in any given battle.
8 Useless: Stored Power
Stored Power is a set-up move where its power is based on how many stat boosts the Pokémon has had, doing 20 more damage per boost with a base power of 20.
While this might be good if your Pokémon gets a ton of stat boosts, more damage could be done with just one stat boost with another move that’s simply more powerful than Stored Power, such as the Psychic. Stored Power requires way too much set-up to make use of it, and other move combinations do way more for way less.
7 Best: Rest
Rest goes all the way back to the very first generation of Pokémon, and its use continues into the modern era. At the cost of its user being put to Sleep for two turns, the Pokémon will heal all of its health as well as get rid of any other Status Condition it may have. While the cost may seem steep, when paired with Sleep Talk going for a Rest has basically no downside since Sleep Talk allows for a move to be used (randomly) while its user is Asleep.
6 Useless: Future Sight
Future Sight is a two-turn move that has a high base power of 120. Despite its power, the flaw with Future Sight comes with the fact it takes two turns for the move to come out. While the attack of Future Sight is high, more damage can be done by simply using two strong Psychic-Type moves instead. Future Sight also leaves an entire “blank” turn where the opposing Pokémon gets not just a free attack but can switch out into a Pokémon that is resistant or even immune to Psychic Pokémon.
5 Best: Calm Mind
Calm Mind is one of the best stat-boosting moves in the game when it comes to Pokémon with good Special Attack and Special Defense stats. Calm Mind raises these stats, which make their devasting Special Attacks all the more damaging. Since it raises both, it benefits both offensive and defensive playstyles.
Aggressive Pokémon can potentially one-shot opposing Pokémon after a Calm Mind, and defensive Pokémon can set up more defense boosting moves like Light Screen and Reflect without worrying about getting one-shot themselves. Since most Psychic Pokémon have high Special stats, it makes Calm Mind the best stat-boosting move for the type.
4 Useless: Ally Switch
Ally Switch is a move that only works in Double Battles, and even then it doesn’t have much use there. All Ally Switch does is switch its user’s position with its partner Pokémon, meaning any attacks that targeted the two will be reversed and attack the other. This can be useful in a situation where an opponent is going to go for a Super Effective move, as you can Ally Switch and the Pokémon better suited to get hit by the attack will be. Ally Switch is way too situational for it to be good and more often than not is only used as a gimmicky surprise factor.
3 Best: Light Screen/Reflect
Light Screen and Reflect are both incredibly similar, hence why they share a spot on this list. Light Screen causes any Special Attack damage done to your team to be cut in half, while Reflect does the same although with Physical Attack. These both last for five turns, and apply to all of your Pokémon, not just the one that used it, meaning after setting it up the Pokémon that did can switch out without worry. This makes Light Screen and Reflect great set-up moves for powerful Pokémon that may not have the greatest defenses and a worthwhile addition to any Pokémon.
2 Useless: Psychic Fangs
Psychic Fangs isn’t a bad move by any means, its a simple 85 base power Physical move that will even destroy “Screens” such as Light Screen and Reflect. The reason Psychic Fangs is useless isn’t because of the move per se, it’s because of the type of Pokémon that use it.
Most Psychic Pokémon are well versed in the Special stats and weaker in Physical ones, meaning that there are little reasons to ever learn a Physical move. And for Psychic Fangs to reach its max potential, it has to be used by a Psychic Type. This is why there is no use for it, its almost always better to use that move spot on a Special move instead.
1 Best: Trick Room
Trick Room is a move that has seen so much play that entire teams are built around it. Trick Room will reverse the order in which Pokémon will attack, meaning the slower Pokémon will attack before the quicker ones.
This means Pokémon with low Speed and high Attack will be able to hold their own, and the downside of having slow Speed is mitigated entirely. Many strong Pokémon are balanced with being incredibly slow, and since Trick Room effects the entire game, all Pokémon benefit from Trick Room if the team is built for it.
NEXT: 13 Strongest Ghost Pokémon, Ranked
