
You’ll obtain TM08 Bulk Up after defeating Brawly. He’s the second Gym Leader who’s located in Dewford Town, which is an island southwest of mainland Hoenn. You can challenge Brawly once you get to Dewford Town, but you’ll need Mr. Briney’s help to get there.
When used, Bulk Up raises the user’s Attack and Defense stats simultaneously. Almost exclusively learned by Fighting-type Pokémon, it’s an excellent move for Pokémon who already possess strong defensive stats to boost their offensive potential.
TM08 Bulk Up Location
If you want to challenge Gym Leader Brawly in Dewford Town, make sure you’ve first:
- Obtained the first Gym Badge from Roxanne, Rustboro City’s Gym Leader
- Retrieved the stolen Devon Parts and Rescue Peeko in Rusturf Tunnel
- Receive the Letter Key Item from Mr. Stone of Devon Corporation
If you haven’t yet been to the Dewford Town Gym, here’s how to get there:
Step 1: Head to Mr. Briney’s Cottage, located west of Petalburg City and south of Petalburg Woods.

Step 2: Ask Mr. Briney to take you to Dewford Town.

Step 3: Once you land in Dewford Town, head back to shore.

Step 4: Go south, and Dewford Town’s Gym should be nearby.

Bulk Up Details + Uses

Bulk Up Move Details | |
---|---|
Type | Fighting |
Category | Status |
Power | – |
Accuracy | – |
PP | 20 (max. 32) |
TM08 Bulk Up is a Fighting-type status move that boosts the user’s Attack and Defense by one stage. If you were wondering how much each stage modifies each stat value, here’s a handy table:
Stage | Main Stat |
---|---|
0 | x1 |
1 | x1.5 |
2 | x2.0 |
3 | x2.5 |
4 | x3.0 |
5 | x3.5 |
6 | x4.0 |
Status moves, like Swords Dance and Calm Mind, are similar to Bulk Up.
While it might not give more Attack than Swords Dance, increasing your Pokémon’s Defense might be more useful in certain battles.
Bulk Up is essentially the physical counterpart to Calm Mind.
Similar to how Calm Mind enables bulky special sweepers to shine, Bulk Up makes bulky physical sweepers like Machamp and Gallade more effective in battle.
Tip: A great move to use with Bulk Up is Drain Punch, a move that heals the user for half of the damage he deals. With the Attack boost Bulk Up gives you, you’ll deal even more damage and restore more HP – at the same time.
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Pokémon ORAS
- How To Get TM08 Bulk Up in Pokémon ORAS