How To Get TM70 Flash in Pokémon Platinum

There are two ways to get TM70 Flash in Pokémon Platinum:

One copy is found on the basement floor of Oreburgh Gate. Getting to this TM’s location requires a Pokémon that can use Rock Smash outside of battle.
Unlimited copies can be purchased from the third floor of the Veilstone Department Store. Each copy costs 1,000 PokéDollars.

Flash is a non-damaging Normal-type status move. In battle, it lowers the target’s accuracy by one stage. Outside of battle, Flash can be used to illuminate dark caves.

Getting TM70 Flash (All Locations)

Location #1: Oreburgh Gate (Step-by-Step)

TM70 Flash’s primary location on the Town Map.

The earliest available copy of TM70 Flash is in Oreburgh Gate, west of Oreburgh City.

The Hidden Move Rock Smash is required to reach it, so this copy can’t be obtained until after you defeat Leader Roark and receive the Coal Badge from him.

Once you have a Pokémon in your party that can use Rock Smash outside of battle, head west from Oreburgh’s Pokémon Center.

Moving westward through Oreburgh City.

Turn north and head up at the corner.

Turning north.

Then head upstairs and enter Oreburgh Gate to the west.

Climbing the steps and entering the cave.

Once you’re inside the cave keep going westward through the hallway, past the Camper/Picnicker trainers.

Heading west through Oreburgh Gate.

Then take the first northern turn into the hallway.

Turning north to go up the hallway.

In the middle of the corridor will be a rock obstacle blocking your path. Use Rock Smash to remove it and continue north.

Using Rock Smash to go further down the hallway.

At the northern wall, turn eastward and head down the staircase.

Traveling eastward to go downstairs.

On this new floor, go down both sets of stairs nearby.

Then smash the rock to the east of the bottom staircase.

Climbing down the stairs and using Rock Smash to get through.

Venture down the passageway behind the broken rock obstacle, and then circle around and hop down the ledge to find a Poké Ball item on the ground.

Hopping off the ledge to examine the Poké Ball item.

Pick up the item to receive TM70 Flash.

Obtaining TM70 Flash in Oreburgh Gate.

Location #2: The Veilstone Department Store

TM70 Flash’s secondary location on the Town Map.

TM70 Flash can also be purchased from a clerk on the third floor of the Veilstone Department Store.

The Department Store is just a short walk to the northwest of Veilstone City’s Pokémon Center, on the same raised strip of land.

Heading north from Veilstone City’s Pokémon Center.

Approaching the Department Store from the east.

Take the elevator or escalators up to the third floor, which is dedicated to selling TMs.

Then speak to the clerk behind the northwest counter to purchase TM70 Flash for 1000 PokéDollars.

TM70 Flash’s listing at the Department Store.

Flash Details and Uses

In-game description for TM70 Flash.

In Battle

Flash is a non-damaging Normal-type status move that lowers the target’s accuracy stat by one stage.

Flash Move Details
Type	Normal
Category	Status
Power	—
Accuracy	100%
PP	20 (max. 32)

Flash is a mostly useless move in battle, both in the main game and in PvP competition.

It has the exact same effect as Sand Attack:

It does no damage, and only lowers the foe’s accuracy by the minimum amount.

One big flaw with Flash is how easy it is to defend against, since all a trainer has to do to remove a lowered stat is to switch out the Pokémon who has it.

Most strategies that involve accuracy/evasion manipulation are better off increasing the user’s evasion—through moves like Double Team and Minimize—than decreasing the target’s accuracy with Flash or Sand Attack.

Flash could potentially be used in PvP battles in order to force opponents to switch Pokémon, but this is a flimsy strategy at best. And it’s generally a poor use of a moveslot.

Outside of Battle

Flash also has an out-of-battle use as well:

It can be used by to illuminate dark caves.

Immersed in darkness inside the Wayward Cave.

Flash is used like a Hidden Move: by opening your inventory and selecting the Pokémon that knows Flash, the option to use it is displayed in the Pokémon’s sub-menu.

Selecting Flash from the menu.

Whereas a dark cave will limit your visibility to just a couple of tiles in all directions, Flash will light up the entire cave area and make it look like any other typical area in the game.

Using Flash to light up the cave.

The fully-illuminated cave.

Flash has been a staple feature in the Pokémon games since Generation I.

It doesn’t get much use in Platinum, though.

The only place in the Sinnoh region where Flash is used outside of battle is inside the Wayward Cave.

Miscellaneous Info about Flash:

A copy of TM70 Flash can be sold for 500 PokéDollars.
If Flash is used in a Pokémon Contest, it will earn the user 2 Appeal Points and lower all judges’ Voltage by one level each.

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Chris Haygood

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Chris is an American freelance writer and lifelong gamer. RPGs have been his genre of choice ever since he got Pokémon Blue in 1867, but if he finds a good rhythm game, he will prioritize playing it over both eating and breathing.

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