HM Surf is in Wallace's gym in Sootopolis City

You get HM Surf by defeating Wallace, the gym leader in Sootopolis City, after he joins your party as a temporary teammate. This happens during the main story, not as an optional side task. You cannot get Surf before you reach Sootopolis, which is one of the last cities you visit in the game.

Wallace gives you HM Surf automatically when you beat him in his gym. You do not need to search for it or talk to him afterward — it goes straight into your bag. Once you have it, any water-type Pokémon in your party can learn Surf, and you can use Surf outside of battle to cross water on the map.

The reason Surf comes so late in Emerald is that the game uses it to gate off certain areas. Before you have Surf, you cannot reach the islands south of the mainland or cross the larger bodies of water. This forces the story to unfold in a specific order.

Key Takeaways

  • HM Surf comes from Wallace after you defeat him in Sootopolis City's gym, which happens during the main story.
  • You cannot obtain Surf before reaching Sootopolis, so you will need to progress through most of the game first.
  • Any water-type Pokémon can learn Surf once you have the HM, and you can use it to cross water on the overworld map.
  • Sootopolis City is accessed by going south from Pacifidlog Town, which itself requires Surf to reach — you get help crossing this water as part of the story.

How to reach Sootopolis City

To get to Wallace's gym, you first need to reach Pacifidlog Town. From Pacifidlog, you travel south across the water with help from a character in the story — you do not need Surf yet because the game moves you across automatically. Once you arrive in Sootopolis, you enter Wallace's gym on the east side of the city.

Before you can enter Sootopolis at all, you need to have caught or defeated Kyogre and Groudon as part of the main story. These encounters happen in the Cave of Origin, which is inside Sootopolis. The story will guide you through this sequence — you cannot miss it or skip it.

What Pokémon can learn Surf

Water-type Pokémon learn Surf most naturally, but some other types can learn it too. Pokémon like Lapras, Gyarados, Blastoise, and Swampert all learn Surf. You teach it to them by going to a Pokémon Center and selecting the HM from your bag, then choosing which Pokémon to teach.

You can teach Surf to multiple Pokémon, so you are not locked into using just one. This is useful because Surf is a strong water-type move in battle and also lets you travel across water on the map. Having it on two or three Pokémon gives you flexibility if one faints.

Using Surf to explore after you get it

Once you have HM Surf, you can cross any water on the map that is not blocked by the story. This opens up new areas you could not reach before, including islands with items, wild Pokémon, and trainers. Some of these areas have Pokémon that only appear in Emerald, so exploring with Surf is worth doing.

You use Surf by selecting it from your Pokémon's move list while standing next to water. Your Pokémon will carry you across, and you can move in any direction until you reach land. You can also use Surf in battle as a regular move — it hits all Pokémon on the field except your own team.

Differences between Emerald and other versions

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, you get Surf from Wallace too, but the story path to Sootopolis is slightly different. In Emerald, Wallace is the gym leader instead of Juan, which changes the gym's layout and the Pokémon he uses. The location of the HM itself does not change — it still comes from defeating him.

If you are playing Emerald specifically, Wallace will have different Pokémon than he does in Ruby or Sapphire. His team is stronger and more focused on water types, so you may want to bring electric-type or grass-type moves to counter him.

What to do if you missed picking up Surf

If you defeated Wallace but did not notice the HM Surf being added to your bag, check your bag's Key Items pocket. HMs go there automatically, not into your regular items. If it is not there, you may have a full bag — HMs take up space like any other item.

If your bag was full when you beat Wallace, the HM should still be in your bag somewhere. Drop something you do not need and check again. You cannot miss Surf permanently because Wallace only gives it once, and you cannot get it any other way in Emerald.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Surf before beating Wallace?

No. Surf only comes from Wallace after you defeat him in his gym. There is no other way to get it in Emerald, and no trainer or NPC gives it to you earlier. You have to progress through the story until you reach Sootopolis.

Do I need Surf to beat the game?

Yes, you need Surf to progress past a certain point because water blocks your path to the final areas. The story will not let you move forward without it, so you will naturally get it as part of finishing the game.

What if I taught Surf to a Pokémon and then released it?

You can teach Surf to another Pokémon using the same HM. HMs do not get used up when you teach them, so you can use the same HM on as many Pokémon as you want. Just go to a Pokémon Center and select the HM from your bag again.

Can I use Surf before I get the HM?

No. You need the HM in your bag before any Pokémon can learn Surf. The story will move you across water automatically at certain points, but you cannot use Surf on your own until you have the HM from Wallace.