Bidoof: The HM Master and More
Bidoof, the Plump Mouse Pokémon, is a Normal-type Pokémon introduced in Generation IV. Often underestimated, Bidoof plays a surprisingly versatile role in the Pokémon world, from being a reliable companion to a surprisingly resilient battler. This article delves into Bidoof's capabilities, including its design, lore, and infamous use as an "HM mule."
Bidoof's Design and Biology
Bidoof's appearance is based on that of a beaver. It has brown colored fur all over its pudgy body, and has a tan belly and a tan "mask" around its eyes. It has four small, stump-like legs with dark brown paws that appear webbed, and a small, fluffy tail. Its defining features are its two front teeth that protrude out, a small red nose, and two beady eyes.
Bidoof are exceptionally hard workers, laboring from dawn to dusk as they build and repair nests on the riverside. Even when finished with this task, they will gnaw down logs for their evolutions Bibarel to use in their dams, still intent on helping out. While Bidoof work, they focus all of their attention on their tasks, ignoring everything else around them.
Bidoof lives in groups by the water, and they bite or gnaw on rock or wood. A comparison revealed that Bidoof's front teeth grow at the same rate as Rattata's. With nerves of steel, nothing can perturb it. It is more agile and active than it appears.
Bidoof's Role as an HM Mule
Hidden Moves (HMs) were a staple of early Pokémon games, acting as both essential traversal tools and combat moves. HMs could be used as often as you liked and they wouldn’t disappear. The whole purpose of Hidden Moves was to teach your Pokemon skills that allowed you to traverse the landscape. It was essentially a thing to prevent you from getting too far in the game and made things a bit more linear.
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However, HMs presented a design challenge: many were not particularly useful in battle. This led to the rise of the "HM mule" - a Pokémon dedicated to learning these moves, freeing up valuable move slots on the player's main team.
Bidoof, with its wide range of learnable HMs, became the quintessential HM mule, particularly in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. A Bidoof could learn CUT to cut through large growth, SURF so you could traverse the waterways, WATERFALL so you could go up waterfalls, and ROCK SMASH so you could get through busted up rock walls. That left four other HMs; FLY, DEFOG, ROCK CLIMB and STRENGTH to split up betwixt your remaining five Pokemon. With the exception of two or three of them, most of these we not great in battle meaning you had a multitude of moves that you would only have on hand in case you ran into a bush or a lake.
The term "HM slave" was unfortunately used to describe this role, which many found offensive. Regardless, Bidoof's utility in navigating the Sinnoh region was undeniable.
Bidoof's Movepool and Battle Capabilities
Beyond its HM capabilities, Bidoof possesses a diverse movepool, capable of learning moves via leveling up, TM (Technical Machine), and as Egg Moves.
Here are examples of moves that Bidoof can learn:
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- Normal: Tackle, Defense Curl, Growl
- Water: Water Gun
- Dark: Bite
- Other: Amnesia
Location
Routes 6, 9, 10, 13, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 35, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, Ruins of Alph, Mt.
Bidoof's Evolution: Bibarel
Bidoof evolves into Bibarel starting at level 15. Bibarel retains the Normal typing but gains a Water typing, further enhancing its HM capabilities and opening up new strategic possibilities in battle.
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