Published: May 2026 | Last updated: May 21, 2026 | 7 min read
TL;DR
- HM Cut is found in the S.S. Anne ship available after you defeat Brock at Boulder Badge
- You get it from Captain Darren on the ship’s second deck in exchange for curing his Pokémon
- Bulbasaur, Oddish, Bellsprout, Exeggcute, Tangela, and Scyther can learn Cut from HM
- You need HM Cut to cut small trees blocking routes 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, and 24
- Total time to acquire: 15–20 minutes from the start of the game
What Is HM Cut and Why You Need It
HM Cut is a Hidden Machine move in Pokémon FireRed that teaches your Pokémon to cut down small trees and tall grass blocking pathways. Unlike regular moves you forget, HM moves stick with your Pokémon permanently unless you visit the Move Deleter in Forget House on Route 16.
Cut is essential for progression. The first instance you’ll encounter is on Route 3 — a small tree blocks the only path forward. Without HM Cut, you’re stuck.
This guide gets you Cut within the first few hours of gameplay, so you’re never roadblocked.
What You Need Before Getting HM Cut
HM Cut requires two things to access:
Prerequisite 1: Boulder Badge from Brock
You must defeat Brock, the Rock-type gym leader in Pewter City. His Pokémon are weak to Water, Grass, and Fighting moves. Bulbasaur (the Grass starter) trivializes this fight.
Expected level: Your Pokémon should be level 8–12 before you challenge Brock.
Prerequisite 2: Access to S.S. Anne
The S.S. Anne ship docks in Vermilion City. You reach Vermilion after passing through Viridian Forest and Route 3. The ship is free to enter — no items or badges required beyond the Boulder Badge for progression to this point.
That’s it. No rare items. No hidden requirements.
Step 1: Defeat Brock at Pewter Gym
Head north from Viridian City to Pewter City. The gym is the gray building on the west side of town.
Brock uses two Pokémon: Geodude (Rock-type, level 10–12) and Onix (Rock/Ground, level 14–16).
Strategy:
- If you have Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip repeatedly — it’s super effective against Rock types
- If you have Squirtle, use Water moves like Water Gun
- If you chose Charmander, catch a Mankey on Route 3 and teach it Low Kick before the gym
After you defeat Brock, you receive the Boulder Badge. This badge increases your Attack stat and allows you to use HM Cut outside of battle (once you obtain it).
Step 2: Move East Through Route 3 and Pewter Forest
From Pewter City, head east on Route 3. You’ll encounter wild Pokémon catch one if your team is weak, or ignore them and move forward.
Enter Pewter Forest to the north. This route has trainers and wild Pokémon. Your team should be level 12–15 by the time you exit.
Exit the forest on the eastern side. You’re now in Pewter Forest exit — you’ll see a single Poké Mart.
Step 3: Travel to Vermilion City
From the Poké Mart, head south onto Route 2. This is a short route with minimal trainers.
Continue south. You’ll pass through Viridian City again (nothing to do here — keep moving).
Head south from Viridian City onto Route 1. This connects directly to Pallet Town — your starting location.
From Pallet Town, head east onto Route 21. Continue north until you reach Cerulean City.
From Cerulean City, head south onto Route 5. Follow Route 5 all the way south until you enter Vermilion City.
The S.S. Anne ship is docked on the eastern side of Vermilion City. You can’t miss it — it’s a massive ship sprite.
Step 4: Board the S.S. Anne and Navigate to Captain Darren
Enter the S.S. Anne through the main gangway on the dock.
Once inside, you’re on Deck 1. Head forward and up the stairs to reach Deck 2.
On Deck 2, you’ll see several rooms. Captain Darren’s room is at the very top of the ship (northernmost room on the map). Enter it.
What you’ll see: Captain Darren is standing in his quarters. He looks sick and says he can’t enjoy a good battle because his Pokémon are ill.
Step 5: Cure Captain Darren’s Pokémon
Captain Darren’s Pokémon are poisoned. You need an Antidote item to cure them.
Where to get an Antidote:
- There’s a free Antidote on Deck 2 in one of the adjacent rooms
- Or buy one from the Poké Mart in Cerulean City (costs 100 Pokédollars)
- Or use a Full Heal or Full Restore if you already have one
Once you have an Antidote, use it on Captain Darren’s Pokémon while you’re in his room. The game will prompt you to use it.
After you cure his Pokémon, Captain Darren is grateful. He gives you HM Cut in exchange.
You now have HM Cut. Congratulations.
Step 6: Teach HM Cut to a Pokémon
You have HM Cut, but you need to teach it to a Pokémon before you can use it.
Open your bag and go to the HM section. Select HM Cut and choose a compatible Pokémon. The most popular choices are:
- Bulbasaur/Ivysaur/Venusaur — learns Cut early, has good overall stats
- Scyther — learns Cut naturally, excellent offensive Pokémon
- Oddish/Gloom/Vileplume — solid Grass type, learns Cut
- Tangela — tanky Grass type, learns Cut later in the game
For early game, Bulbasaur is the obvious choice because you likely have it and it’s already trained.
The Pokémon will learn HM Cut immediately. It takes no move slot HM moves are separate from your normal move set.
Step 7: Return to Route 3 and Cut Your First Tree
Exit the S.S. Anne and return to Route 3 (north of Pewter City through Viridian Forest).
On Route 3, you’ll see a small tree blocking your path. Stand next to it and open your Pokémon menu.
Select the Pokémon that knows HM Cut. The game will ask if you want to use Cut. Say yes.
The tree is cut down. You can now pass through Route 3 and continue your adventure.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Darren won’t give me HM Cut | You haven’t cured his Pokémon yet | Use an Antidote on his sick Pokémon first |
| I can’t find the S.S. Anne | You haven’t reached Vermilion City | Travel east from Cerulean City through Route 5 |
| The tree won’t cut | Your Pokémon doesn’t know HM Cut | Teach HM Cut to a compatible Pokémon from your bag |
| The Antidote won’t work on Captain Darren’s Pokémon | You’re holding it instead of using it | Open your bag and select “Use” on the Antidote while in his room |
| I missed the Antidote on the ship | It’s still available on Deck 2 | Check all rooms on the second deck; it’s in one of the storage areas |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get HM Cut from the start of the game?
About 15–20 minutes. You need to progress from Pallet Town to Pewter City, defeat Brock, travel to Vermilion City, and board the S.S. Anne. This is doable in the first hour if you move quickly.
Can I get HM Cut before beating Brock?
No. The Boulder Badge is required to use HM Cut outside of battle. You can obtain the HM before beating Brock, but you can’t use it until you have the badge.
Which Pokémon learns HM Cut the earliest?
Scyther learns Cut naturally at level 21. Bulbasaur can learn it immediately when you teach it the HM. If you want Cut available as soon as possible, teach it to Bulbasaur or Oddish (which you can catch on Route 5 before reaching Vermilion).
Do I need HM Cut to progress in the game?
Yes. Route 3 has a tree blocking the path. You cannot proceed without HM Cut or a workaround (like going through other routes — there aren’t any). You must get HM Cut to continue.
Can I remove HM Cut from a Pokémon?
Yes. The Move Deleter in Forget House on Route 16 removes HM moves. You’ll need to teach HM Cut to another Pokémon if you want to use it again.
What if I accidentally teach HM Cut to a Pokémon I don’t like?
Use the Move Deleter to remove it, then teach it to a different Pokémon. You only get one HM Cut per game (unless you use cheat codes), so choose carefully.
Can Pokémon other than Grass types learn HM Cut?
Yes. Bug types, Normal types, and others can learn it. Scyther (Bug/Flying) is actually one of the best users. Check the full compatibility list in the Pokédex if you want to teach it to a specific Pokémon.
Is HM Cut required for the Pokédex?
Not directly. You don’t need to catch Pokémon behind cut trees to complete the Pokédex. However, some trainers are blocked by cut trees, and some items are easier to access with HM Cut.
Key Takeaways
- HM Cut is available from Captain Darren on the S.S. Anne after you cure his Pokémon
- You need the Boulder Badge from Brock to use Cut outside of battle
- Teach HM Cut to Bulbasaur or Scyther for the best early-game option
- Use HM Cut to clear routes 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, and 24 of blocking trees
- Total time to acquire: 15–20 minutes from game start
Progression After Getting HM Cut
Once you have HM Cut, you can progress to Cerulean City Gym and challenge Misty (Water-type leader). After that, you’re free to explore Routes 6 and beyond.
Cut also opens up new areas and shortcuts. Some paths have multiple small trees that, when cut, reveal items or alternate routes.
The game becomes significantly less linear once you have HM Cut. Use it to explore areas you couldn’t reach before, and you’ll find items, Pokémon, and trainers that weren’t visible on your first playthrough.
Summary
Getting HM Cut in Pokémon FireRed is straightforward: beat Brock, reach the S.S. Anne in Vermilion City, cure Captain Darren’s Pokémon, and take the HM he offers. Teach it to a compatible Pokémon, and you’re ready to cut trees.
The whole process takes less than 20 minutes and opens up the mid-game significantly. Don’t skip this HM it’s critical for forward progression and exploration.