Elite TMs are the only way to teach Pokémon in Pokémon GO moves they can no longer learn — Community Day moves, legacy moves, and signature attacks like Psystrike and Roar of Time. They are rare, so every use should count. This guide covers how to get Elite TMs in 2026 and which moves are genuinely worth your rarest item.
Elite Fast TM vs. Elite Charged TM: What’s the Difference?
| Item | What It Does | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Fast TM | Teaches any Fast Move, including legacy and exclusive moves | Smack Down Tyranitar, Thunder Shock Zapdos |
| Elite Charged TM | Teaches any Charged Move, including Community Day and legacy moves | Meteor Mash Metagross, Psystrike Mewtwo |
| Regular TM | Randomly re-rolls a move from the current pool, no legacy moves | Everyday fixes on common attackers |
The key difference is control: a regular TM is a gamble, while an Elite TM guarantees the exact move you want — including moves that are no longer in the learnable pool. That makes Elite TMs the only path to several of the best attacks in the game.
How to Get Elite TMs in 2026
- GO Battle League: reach the required rank each season (Rank 19 or higher) to earn an Elite Charged TM, with Elite Fast TMs available at higher ranks in many seasons.
- Community Day: the paid Special Research frequently awards an Elite TM, and some Community Day boxes include one.
- Seasonal events: GO Fest, anniversary celebrations, and major in-game events often feature Timed Research with Elite TMs as rewards.
- Event boxes: keep an eye on the shop during big events — Elite TM boxes appear a few times per year.
Best Elite Charged TM Targets in 2026
| Pokémon | Move | Why It’s Worth It |
|---|---|---|
| Mewtwo | Psystrike | The best Psychic attacker in the game; a massive upgrade over Psychic |
| Metagross | Meteor Mash | Top Steel attacker and a Master League staple |
| Rhyperior | Rock Wrecker | One of the best Rock attackers for legendary raids |
| Groudon | Precipice Blades | Highest-DPS Ground move, essential for Primal Groudon |
| Kyogre | Origin Pulse | Elite Water move that makes Primal Kyogre unbeatable |
| Dialga | Roar of Time | Signature Dragon move for Master League and raids |
| Palkia | Spacial Rend | Best-in-class Dragon move for PvP and PvE |
| Garchomp | Earth Power | Ground coverage that keeps Garchomp relevant in Master League |
Best Elite Fast TM Targets in 2026
- Tyranitar: Smack Down — legacy Rock fast move that turns it into a top Rock attacker.
- Zapdos: Thunder Shock — legacy Electric fast move with huge PvP value.
- Dragonite: Dragon Breath — legacy fast move that outclasses Dragon Tail in most match-ups.
- Gyarados: Waterfall — legacy Water fast move that fixes its raid role.
- Gengar: Lick — legacy Ghost fast move that makes it a PvP staple.
Elite Fast TMs are rarer than Charged TMs, so only spend them when the move changes how the Pokémon performs — Smack Down Tyranitar and Thunder Shock Zapdos are the two clearest wins. For raid-relevant attackers, pair your new moves with strong team comps from our Master League team guide and Max Battle counters guide.
When NOT to Use an Elite TM
- Do not spend one on a Pokémon that may get its move back through a Community Day Classic or the December recap event — those moves return regularly.
- Do not use an Elite TM on a low-IV or low-level shadow you plan to replace; the move does not transfer.
- Avoid PvP-only investments unless you have already checked the current meta — a move that was great last season may not be now.
- Keep at least one Elite TM in reserve for surprise event research that needs a specific legacy move.
If you are farming elite attackers to pair with your TMs, our Giovanni counter guide shows which shadow Pokémon are worth the investment — shadow bonus damage often makes a legacy move even stronger.
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