Given all the new mechanics they will be introducing, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet look like they're going to be a huge game-changer for the franchise. The title's open-world nature and Terra Pokémon will drastically change how the game is played. One other big change that might not seem as impactful, though, is the introduction of the TM Machine.
TMs can either be one of the best features in a Pokémon game or the most annoying. Trainers can search throughout the majority of a region before they find a usable move. Thankfully, the implementation of the TM Machine is going to make team building much easier.
Crafting TMs Will Allow Trainers to Build Their Pokémon Better
Every Pokémon game has a couple of TMs that are highly valued. There are the big three -- Ice Beam, Thunderbolt and Flamethrower -- which are usually Game Corner prizes or are found at the very end of the game. There are other moves like Toxic and Scald, which many trainers keep an eye out for due to how powerful they can make a Pokémon just by running them.
Unfortunately, these moves are never going to be found in the early game. Trainers are forced to get TMs for basic moves such as Headbutt, Rock Smash and others of that nature. This can be pretty frustrating since it makes building sets for Pokémon very difficult for a while. As a result, it becomes an uphill battle to grind up some Pokémon since they can't get KOs.
As a result, some Pokémon that are monsters in the late game become very hard to use early on. Consider Zubat, one of the most basic Pokémon that trainers are likely to find in any run. In older generations, it took forever to learn a Poison STAB move. Now, it learns Poison Fang at level 15 but at the cost of a good Flying-type move. Here's where the TM Machine can be really helpful. To get the most out of early game Zubat, a trainer should be able to craft the materials for Wing Attack early on. This way, Zubat won't have to rely on weak moves like Astonish for damage.
Of course, this mechanic will have to be balanced somewhat. It's likely that the materials for moves like Draco Meteor or Close Combat will be really rare. It can be surprising how much better it is to use a Pokémon once it gets a basic STAB move, though (e.g. a Water-type with Water Pulse).
Opening up the move pool for Pokémon with the TM Machine also opens up the number of strategies a player can use to take on difficult battles. For instance, most Gym Leaders use fast Pokémon, so moves like Icy Wind and Bulldoze end up coming in clutch. The same can be said for status moves like Thunder Wave, Will-o-Wisp and especially Toxic.
Many trainers find enjoyment in using Pokémon that are less popular. Not everyone enjoys catching Gyarados and Dragonite while bullying their way through the Elite Four. Using the lesser-seen Pokémon comes with a challenge since their movesets tend to suffer. The TM Machine can single-handedly fix this issue, allowing many trainers to use different Pokémon with different sets. Such diversity is what Game Freak should be aiming for in Pokémon's ninth generation.