Where To Get Cut Soulsilver And How To Unlock The Move

Navigating the expansive Johto region in Pokémon SoulSilver requires trainers to overcome various environmental obstacles to progress through the story. One of the earliest roadblocks you will encounter is the small, stubborn trees blocking essential pathways. To clear these obstructions, player progression depends entirely on acquiring Hidden Machine 01, commonly known as Cut, which allows your party to slice through obstacles smoothly.

Locating HM01 Cut in the Ilex Forest

To find this essential hidden machine, you must first make your way to Azalea Town and defeat the second Gym Leader, Bugsy. Once you have claimed the Hive Badge, head west directly into the entrance of the misty Ilex Forest. Inside the forest, you will quickly encounter an apprentice who is frantic because his employer's two Farfetch'd have escaped into the deep woods.

Tracking down these elusive avian Pokémon serves as the primary puzzle required to unlock your reward. Players must carefully navigate behind the birds and step on twigs to distract them, forcing them to run back toward the apprentice. After successfully herding both Farfetch'd back to their owner, the grateful charcoal maker will reward your efforts by handing over HM01 Cut.

How to Unlock and Use Cut Outside of Battle

Receiving the hidden machine is only the first step, as you cannot immediately use its environmental slicing capabilities in the overworld. To unlock the ability to cut down trees outside of combat encounters, you must ensure you have already defeated Bugsy at the Azalea Gym. The Hive Badge serves as the official mechanical trigger that authorizes your Pokémon to use the move safely in the open world.

Once the badge requirements are fully satisfied, open your bag menu and navigate to the TM case to teach the move to a compatible party member. When standing directly in front of a small, blocky tree asset, simply press the A button to activate the prompt automatically. Your trained companion will step forward to clear the path, granting your adventuring party seamless access to the next major routes.

Choosing the Best Strategy for Your Party Roster

While Cut is an absolute necessity for story exploration, its utility in actual competitive battle scenarios is notably limited. Possessing a modest base power and a Normal typing, teaching it to your primary combat heavy hitters can permanently clutter their valuable movesets. Many veteran trainers prefer to teach this move to a specialized utility companion, often referred to by the community as an HM slave.

Excellent early-game candidates for this role include common wild encounters such as Rattata, Sentret, or Oddish, which can easily learn the technique without compromising your core team. If you accidentally teach the move to a favorite companion and wish to optimize your battle efficiency later, you can visit the Move Deleter located in Blackthorn City to remove it. Managing your hidden moves carefully ensures your squad remains perfectly optimized for the formidable challenges waiting across the Johto and Kanto regions.