A Charged TM is one of the most useful items you can earn in Pokémon GO. It lets you replace a Pokémon’s current Charged Attack with a different one from that Pokémon’s available move pool. Since Charged Attacks play a huge role in Gyms, Raid Battles, Team GO Rocket fights, and the GO Battle League, using a Charged TM wisely can greatly improve your team’s performance.
However, many players waste Charged TMs by using them on the wrong Pokémon or hoping for a specific move without understanding how the system works. Knowing when and how to use this item can save valuable resources while helping you build stronger Pokémon for every battle.
What Is a Charged TM?
A Charged TM is a special consumable item that changes a Pokémon’s Charged Attack. When you use it, the current Charged Move is replaced by another move that the Pokémon can normally learn.
There are a few important things to remember:
- The new Charged Attack is selected randomly.
- You cannot choose the exact move unless there are only two available options.
- The original move disappears after the change.
- Each Charged TM can only be used once.
Because the result is random, you may need multiple Charged TMs to get the move you want.
How to Use a Charged TM in Pokémon GO
Using a Charged TM is simple and only takes a few steps.
- Open Pokémon GO.
- Tap the Poké Ball at the bottom of the screen.
- Open your Item Bag.
- Scroll until you find a Charged TM.
- Tap the Charged TM.
- Select the Pokémon whose Charged Attack you want to change.
- Confirm your choice.
- The game will immediately replace the current Charged Attack with another available move.
Once the process is complete, the Charged TM is consumed permanently.
Can You Choose the New Charged Move?
No. A standard Charged TM does not let you select the move you receive.
For example, if a Pokémon has four regular Charged Moves available, using a Charged TM will randomly replace the existing move with one of the remaining options. If you do not get the move you wanted, you can use another Charged TM and try again.
This random system is why many experienced players save a healthy stock of Charged TMs before upgrading competitive Pokémon.
Charged TM vs Elite Charged TM
Many players confuse these two items, but they work differently.
A regular Charged TM:
- Randomly changes the Charged Attack.
- Cannot access legacy or event-exclusive moves.
- Is earned more frequently.
An Elite Charged TM:
- Lets you choose the exact Charged Move.
- Can teach many exclusive Community Day and legacy attacks.
- Is much rarer and should only be used on top-tier Pokémon.
Because Elite Charged TMs are extremely valuable, most players save them for Pokémon that perform well in raids or the GO Battle League.
When Should You Use a Charged TM?
The best time to use a Charged TM is when a Pokémon has a weak or less useful Charged Attack.
Good situations include:
- Preparing a Pokémon for Raid Battles.
- Building a team for the GO Battle League.
- Optimizing Pokémon for Team GO Rocket battles.
- Improving powerful Legendary Pokémon.
- Updating Pokémon after balance changes to moves.
Avoid using Charged TMs on Pokémon you rarely use or those with poor battle performance.
How to Get Charged TMs
Charged TMs are not guaranteed rewards, but they are available from several activities.
Common ways to earn them include:
- Completing high-level Raid Battles.
- Winning battles in the GO Battle League.
- Participating in certain Special Research tasks.
- Completing limited-time events.
- Seasonal rewards during competitive play.
Since they are limited resources, it is worth saving them until you have a clear purpose.
