Flash is in the Diglett's Cave, and you need it to see inside dark caves

Flash is a move that lights up dark caves so you can see where you're walking. You don't catch Flash as a Pokémon — instead, you teach the move to one of your Pokémon. The easiest way to get Flash in Fire Red is to catch a Pokémon that learns it naturally, or to find an NPC who will give you a Pokémon that already knows the move.

The most direct route is to go to Diglett's Cave on Route 2 (between Pewter City and Cerulean City) and catch a Diglett or Dugtrio. Both of these Pokémon learn Flash at low levels. Diglett learns Flash at level 19, and Dugtrio learns it at level 19 as well. If you catch a Diglett early and train it, it will learn Flash on its own without you needing to find a Technical Machine (TM).

If you don't want to catch and train a Diglett, there's a faster option: Abra learns Flash at level 13. You can catch Abra on Route 24 or Route 25 (near Cerulean City), and it will learn Flash quickly as you level it up.

Key Takeaways

  • Flash is a move that lights up dark caves, not a Pokémon you catch, and you teach it to one of your team members.
  • Diglett and Dugtrio both learn Flash at level 19, and you can catch them in Diglett's Cave on Route 2.
  • Abra learns Flash at level 13 and is available on Routes 24 and 25 near Cerulean City, making it the fastest option if you want Flash early.
  • You can also find Flash as a Technical Machine (TM) in the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town after you defeat Team Rocket there.

Catching Diglett or Dugtrio for Flash

Diglett's Cave is the most reliable place to find a Pokémon that learns Flash. The cave entrance is on Route 2, just west of Cerulean City. You'll need a Pokémon that knows a Rock-type or Water-type move to make catching easier, since Diglett and Dugtrio are Ground-type and weak to those moves.

Diglett appears frequently in Diglett's Cave at low levels (around level 18–22). Once you catch one, train it to level 19 and it will learn Flash automatically. Dugtrio also appears in the cave but is less common and higher level. Either one works, but Diglett is easier to find and faster to train.

The downside of this route is that it takes time to level up your Diglett to 19. If you're in a hurry to explore dark caves, catching Abra or finding the Flash TM might be faster.

Using Abra to learn Flash quickly

Abra is a Psychic-type Pokémon that learns Flash at level 13, which is much earlier than Diglett. You can catch Abra on Route 24 or Route 25, both of which are near Cerulean City. Abra appears fairly often on these routes, so you shouldn't have to search long.

Abra is tricky to catch because it knows Teleport and will escape from battle if you don't catch it on your first or second turn. Use a Poké Ball or Great Ball when ready, or use a move that prevents escape like Mean Look or Block. Once you catch it, train it just a few levels and it will learn Flash.

Abra is the fastest option if you want Flash before you reach Lavender Town. The trade-off is that Abra is harder to catch than Diglett, and you have to be quick in battle.

Finding the Flash Technical Machine in Pokémon Tower

If you don't want to catch and train a Pokémon, you can find Flash as a Technical Machine. The Flash TM is in Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town, on the sixth floor. You'll need to defeat Team Rocket members in the tower first, and the tower is blocked until you reach Lavender Town in the main story.

Once you have the Flash TM, you can teach it to any Pokémon that is compatible with it. Many Pokémon can learn Flash from a TM, including Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Psyduck, Slowpoke, Shellder, Krabby, Horsea, Goldeen, Staryu, Magikarp, Lapras, Snorlax, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite, among others.

The downside is that you can't reach Pokémon Tower until later in the game, so this route doesn't help if you need Flash early to explore caves like Mt. Moon or the Cerulean Cave.

Which Pokémon can learn Flash from a TM

If you find the Flash TM in Pokémon Tower, you have many options for which Pokémon to teach it to. Most Normal-type, Water-type, and Electric-type Pokémon can learn Flash. Your starter Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle) cannot learn Flash, so you'll need to use a different team member.

Good choices for teaching Flash include Pikachu (if you caught one), Lapras (a strong Water-type), Jigglypuff (a Normal-type that's straightforward to find), or any Electric-type Pokémon like Electabuzz or Magneton. Pick a Pokémon that's already on your team and that you plan to keep, so Flash doesn't take up a move slot on a Pokémon you'll box later.

Dark caves you'll need Flash to explore

Flash lights up caves so you can see the ground and avoid walking into wild Pokémon by accident. In Fire Red, the main caves that require Flash are Mt. Moon (between Cerulean City and Lavender Town), Diglett's Cave itself, and the Cerulean Cave (where you can catch Mewtwo after beating the Elite Four).

You don't technically need Flash to enter these caves — you can walk through them in the dark. But the screen will be very dark and hard to see, and you'll run into wild Pokémon more often. Having Flash makes exploration much easier and faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Flash to progress in the story?

No, Flash is not required to beat the game. You can walk through dark caves without it, though it's harder to see. Most players teach Flash to a Pokémon early on to make cave exploration easier and less frustrating.

Can my starter Pokémon learn Flash?

No, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle cannot learn Flash in Fire Red. You'll need to teach it to a different Pokémon on your team.

What level does Diglett learn Flash?

Diglett learns Flash at level 19. If you catch a Diglett in Diglett's Cave and train it to level 19, it will learn the move automatically without needing a TM.

Can I teach Flash to multiple Pokémon?

Yes, if you find the Flash TM in Pokémon Tower, you can teach it to any compatible Pokémon. However, you only get one TM, so you can only teach it to one Pokémon at a time. If you want Flash on multiple team members, you'd need to catch Pokémon that learn it naturally, like Diglett or Abra.

Is Abra or Diglett better for learning Flash?

Abra learns Flash faster (level 13 vs. level 19), but Diglett is easier to catch and train. If you want Flash as soon as possible, Abra is the better choice. If you want a Pokémon that's easier to work with, Diglett is more straightforward.