Do You Need Waterfall to Navigate Victory Road 2? Guide on HM Requirements

Ah, Victory Road. A proving ground for Pokémon trainers. It’s not just a name; it’s a maze of tough trainers, tricky puzzles, and wild Pokémon. Hidden Machines, or HMs, are essential for navigating this beast.

Waterfall HM in Victory Road: Your Vertical Ascent Pass

Is Waterfall HM necessary in Victory Road? It depends. In some games, it’s a VIP pass for goodies and shortcuts. In others, it’s nice, but not essential for getting to the Pokémon League. You’ll want it.

Black, White, Black 2, and White 2: Waterfall – Optional but Oh-So-Useful

In Unova’s Victory Road, specifically in Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, Waterfall isn’t strictly required for reaching the Elite Four. It’s more of a tool for exploration. You can push through without it but might miss shortcuts and items that make your journey smoother. Strength and Surf? They are your tools for optional areas. You’ll need Flash to reveal secrets in darker areas.

Platinum: Waterfall – The Exit Strategy

In Sinnoh’s Platinum, Waterfall plays an important role at Victory Road’s climax. Imagine reaching the peak, ready to heal at the Pokémon Center, only to find you can’t! In Platinum, Waterfall is needed to reach the Pokémon Center. Miss it? You face a long climb again.

Emerald: Waterfall – Smoothing the Path

Emerald‘s Victory Road in Hoenn is a puzzle-filled cave. Strength, Rock Smash, and Surf help navigate it. Now, Flash and Waterfall aren’t required, but they really ease travel. Why struggle when you can flow through easily?

Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (ORAS): Waterfall – For the TM Hunter

Victory Road in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (ORAS) is a multi-level maze leading to the Pokémon League. Surf and Strength are your trusty HMs. But Waterfall? It’s not just about travel; it leads to valuable TMs. TM collectors will find it indispensable.

HeartGold and SoulSilver: Victory Road – The Classic Challenge

HeartGold and SoulSilver keep it simple. Johto’s Victory Road tests your team and puzzle skills. The IGN guide gives tips. As for HMs, these games suggest a classic approach with fewer reliance on them.

General Victory Road HM Wisdom

Victory Road tests your HM skills. Strength is the VIP pass for most areas. Surf often appears for water routes. Rock Smash clears rubble. Waterfall is your upgrade for vertical movement. Flash lights dark areas. Some regions require Rock Climb for added vertical puzzles.

Waterfall HM: Beyond Victory Road

Obtaining Waterfall: Wallace’s Sootopolis Souvenir and Sunyshore Serendipity

How do you get Waterfall HM? In Hoenn (Emerald, ORAS), impress Gym Leader Wallace in Sootopolis City. Beat him, and he gives you Waterfall. It’s simple. In Sinnoh (Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl), go north from Sunyshore City to find someone who gifts you this move.

Uses of Waterfall: Scaling to New Heights (and Leagues)

What does Waterfall do, besides looking cool? It lets you and your Pokémon swim UP waterfalls. This isn’t just aesthetics. It unlocks new areas, hidden items, and is often key for progressing toward the Pokémon League. To face the Elite Four, Waterfall is frequently crucial.

HM Harmony in Victory Road and Beyond

The HM Hit List: Strength, Rock Smash, Surf, Waterfall, Rock Climb, Cut, Flash, and Defog

Victory Road features multiple HMs. Strength and Rock Smash work together. Surf is your waterway travel. In Platinum, you may need Rock Climb for cliffs. Cut also appears in puzzles but is less common. Flash or similar moves light up caves.

Defog: The Optional Visibility Upgrade

Defog is often ignored. Is it essential? Not usually. Is it useful? Sometimes, especially in foggy areas. Victory Road has spots with fog that can obscure your view. Defog clears visibility, like upgrading to HD in the game world.

Rock Climb: Vertical Victory

Rock Climb adds vertical complexity to your HM list. It’s not just moving rocks or surfing; it’s climbing cliffs and mountains. In Victory Road and places like Mt. Coronet, it becomes crucial for exploring higher areas and trainer battles.

Strength: The Rock-Moving Rockstar

Strength is the ultimate HM in Victory Road. It’s key for solving puzzles by moving boulders. If rocks block your way, Strength is your answer. No Strength means no progress. It’s that simple.

Surf: Riding the Waves to Victory

Surf is your water-based travel method. Victory Road’s water puzzles make it vital. It’s not just crossing; it accesses areas otherwise unreachable without a water Pokémon. Strength and Surf often work together in puzzle design.

Cut: The Occasional Obstacle Remover

Cut appears less often in Victory Road compared to Strength or Surf but still shows up sometimes. A tree blocking your path? Cut clears it. It’s situational but handy to have in reserve.

Game-Specific Victory Road Rundowns

Black 2 and White 2: Victory Road – The Route 23 Remix

Black 2 and White 2 change things up. The original Victory Road is closed. Now it’s accessible from Route 23 in eastern Unova. Where to get Waterfall? From N inside Victory Road, per Serebii.net’s guide. The game knows you’ll need it.

Platinum: The HM Heavyweight

Platinum’s Victory Road is an HM course of challenges. You’ll use Surf, Strength, Rock Smash, Waterfall, and Rock Climb throughout. Expect to swap HMs more frequently than you change socks.

HeartGold and SoulSilver: HM Management and Mewtwo Missions

HeartGold and SoulSilver return Johto’s classics. Victory Road’s HM details are less documented but show the need for HM management. Deleters in Blackthorn City are important because HMs are hard to remove.

Mewtwo? That’s a tough task post-Elite Four. You need to visit Cerulean Cave after beating the Pokémon League.

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: National Pokédex Unlocks

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl reintroduce HM puzzles. To unlock the National Pokédex, see all 150 Sinnoh Pokémon first. Then, talk to Professor Rowan. It leads to more Pokémon collecting.

Gameplay Gimmicks: Rock Pushing 101

Rock Pushing: The Victory Road Workout

Victory Road includes rock-pushing puzzles. They are classic, satisfying challenges. You must maneuver boulders to open paths and uncover hidden areas. This is key in Victory Road. Prepare to use your Pokémon’s Strength move.

Legendary Lairs and Waterfall Wonders

Dialga: Waterfall’s Dragon Domain

Legendary hunts need HM skills. Dialga, the time dragon, dwells near Mt. Coronet’s peak. To get there, you need Waterfall. It serves as access for legendary catches.

Moltres: Victory Road’s Fiery Fowl

Victory Road isn’t just a path; it houses legendary birds. Moltres, the fiery legend, can be found here. Climb the northwest ladder on the third floor to discover it.

Zoroark: Castle Guardian

Zoroark, the illusion fox, guards N’s Castle. While it isn’t linked to Victory Road puzzles, navigating complex areas is important. Skills gained from Victory Road help.

Bagon: Waterfall’s Dragonling Denizen

Bagon, the draconic young, is another Waterfall creature. Use Waterfall HM to find this training dragon. The method may vary in Ruby and Sapphire.

Distortion World: HM Rules? What HM Rules?

Distortion World: The Waterfall Anomaly

The Distortion World in Platinum has its own laws. Ascend waterfalls here without Waterfall move or the Beacon Badge. This zone bends reality, ignoring HM rules.

Beyond Victory Road: HM Havens

Mt. Silver: The Post-Game HM Playground

Mt. Silver is a post-game challenge in Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver. Use Flash, Surf, and Waterfall to explore it fully. It’s a challenging HM hotspot.

Mt. Coronet: HM Peak Performance

Mt. Coronet is Sinnoh’s peak, where Rock Climb shines bright. Ascend and descend requires Rock Climb among other HMs. Unlock secrets hidden in this area.

Waterfall: The Move Itself

Waterfall: More Than Just Vertical Travel

Waterfall is not just an HM; it’s a strong Water-type move too. In Pokémon Contests, it shines when performed last. It adds flair to your Pokémon’s routine.

So, there you have it. Waterfall HM and Victory Road merge in the Pokémon realm. It’s a watery, rocky world of challenges and legendary catches using Hidden Machines. Train hard and HM your way to victory!