How To Get Substitute (TM103) in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Technical Machines, or TMs, are data discs that can bestow new moves upon your Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. TMs are a convenient way to hone your battle strategies, as you don’t need to grind out levels to learn certain moves. Today, we’ll show you how to get Substitute (TM103) in Scarlet & Violet.

Getting Substitute (TM103) in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

TM103 teaches the Normal-type move Substitute. The user sacrifices some of its own HP to create a decoy doll that can absorb attacks that would have normally hit the user.

You must unlock the crafting recipe for TM103 before you can craft it at the TM Machines, located at every Pokémon Center.

The first way to unlock TM103 is by conquering Team Star’s Fighting Crew Base, located in the northeastern point of Paldea, between North Province (Area One) and North Province (Area Three).

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Take down 30 Pokémon in the Fighting Crew Base, then challenge the leader herself, Eri of the Caph Squad. She’s rocking some extreme face paint, but her Fighting-type Pokémon are even more extreme, so make sure to bring a Flying or Psychic-type to counter.

After you defeat Eri, you’ll unlock the crafting recipe for Substitute (TM103). If you don’t want to deal with Team Star, you can also simply find a copy out in the open world.

Head to the city of Alfornada, located in the southwestern point of Paldea. There’s a large garage near the east section of the city, and the yellow Poke Ball containing TM103 is sitting behind it. Check the screenshot below for the exact location.

Once you’ve unlocked the crafting recipe or found the copy in the open world, you can craft as many copies as you like at any TM Machine. You’ll need the following materials:

• 5,000 LP
• Azurill Fur x 3
• Mimikyu Scrap x 3
• Falinks Sweat x 3

Almost every Pokémon can learn Substitute from TM103 in Scarlet & Violet, except for the following Pokémon:

• Magikarp
• Ditto
• Kricketot
• Combee
• Tynamo
• Scatterbug
• Spewpa
• Applin
• Quaxly
• Quaxwell

That concludes our guide on how to get Substitute (TM103) in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. If you have any other tips or questions, let us know in the comments below!