Guides

How To Get TM42 Dream Eater in Pokémon Yellow

by Andrew Brisbane
The NPC who gives you the Dream Eater TM
TM42 Dream Eater
# Location Repeatable?
1 Viridian City. Given to you by a man just west of the Viridian City Pokémon Center. No

TM42 is given to you by a man in Viridian City. He can be found west of the Viridian City Pokémon Center – but he’s standing on a small patch of ground behind a small body of water and a cuttable tree.

Depending on how far you are in the game, you’ll either need a Pokémon that knows HM01 Cut or HM03 Surf to reach the NPC and get the TM from him.

You can get TM42 at any point after getting HM01 Cut and the Cascadebadge, or after getting HM03 Surf and the Soulbadge.

Prerequisites

This is a list of what you’ll need at an absolute minimum if you want to get TM42 as early as possible:

  1. Obtain the Cascadebadge by defeating Misty in Cerulean City
  2. Obtain HM01 Cut from the ship captain on the S.S. Anne in Vermillion City
  3. Have a Pokémon in your party that knows Cut
  4. Have access back to Viridian City via Diglett’s Cave

Getting TM42 Dream Eater

Starting from the Viridian City Pokémon Center, head northwest until you’re in front of a small cuttable tree.

Standing in front of the Viridian City Pokémon Center / Pokémon Yellow
Standing in front of the Viridian City Pokémon Center.

Use a Pokémon that knows Cut to chop down the small tree blocking your way.

Standing in front of a small tree in Viridian City / Pokémon Yellow
Standing in front of a small tree in Viridian City.

After you cut down the tree (or cross the water), talk to the lone man standing there.

You’ll wake him up from a nap and he’ll then give you TM42.

Getting TM42 from a man in Viridian City / Pokémon Yellow
Getting TM42 from a man in Viridian City.

Dream Eater Details + Uses

Dream Eater Move Details
Type Psychic
Power 100
Accuracy 100%
PP 15 (max. 24)
Effect Only works on Sleeping Pokémon. User gets 50% of the attack’s damage as HP.

Dream Eater is notable for being the only non-Grass type move in the game that can drain an opposing Pokémon’s HP. It’s also one of the only moves that requires the opposing Pokémon to be in a specific state to work.

Having to first put the opposing Pokémon to sleep is Dream Eater’s biggest weakness.

Another downside is that Dream Eater can only be taught to a small pool of Pokémon. Specifically these:

  • Gasty
  • Haunter
  • Gengar
  • Drowzee
  • Hypno
  • Mew

However, the strengths of Dream Eater help to make up for its downsides.

With 100 power, Dream Eater can deal some serious damage, especially when used by a Psychic Pokémon or a Pokémon with a high special stat. Dream Eater’s healing abilities also increase its usefulness, as it’s the strongest HP draining attack in the game.

So while Dream Eater may be restricted to just a few Pokémon, the move’s power and HP draining abilities make it a great option to teach to any Pokémon who can learn it.

Gengar using Dream Eater against a wild Golbat / Pokémon Yellow
Gengar using Dream Eater against a wild Golbat.
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Andrew Brisbane

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A retro game enthusiast since childhood, Andrew aka Andyb is a freelance writer from Canada. From intense games of Tetris to casual Pokémon playthroughs, he loves a wide variety of different genres. He’s also a very passionate musician.

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