Herba Mystica is technically a new addition in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, but one fan points out how it's basically the same thing as HMs. As players know, players will find Herba Mystica as part of the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Path of Legends storyline.In it, players face the five Titan Pokemon of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Klawf, Bombirdier, Orthworm, Great Tusk or Iron Treads, and Tatsugiri) in an attempt to heal Arven's injured Mabosstiff. In the process, the player's Koraidon and Miraidon will eat some of the Herba Mystica too, unlocking the ability to sprint, jump higher, glide, swim, and so on. It's no real surprise that things like Glide is similar to the Fly HM and Swim is similar to the Surf HM, while the case can be made that sprinting is similar to Headbutt. That's not a HM, but headbutting trees goes as far back as Pokemon Gold and Silver. But it's not just in their effect. It's easy to read over that the first letter of each word in Herba Mystica is HM. That's no doubt intentional on Game Freak's part and something that most fans will likely realize eventually. However, for those just focused on how different Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are from past gens, it's a small detail that's easy to miss.
Indeed, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet perhaps differ more from past gens than it has similarities too. It breaks several traditions with Pokemon Professors (such as not receiving a starter from them), Starters (Fuecoco breaks from the Chinese zodiac theory), Legendaries (Receiving them early), and many, more. The beautiful thing is that it does set out to honor some of these traditions all the same, as the Herba Mystica is proof of that.
While this small detail was discovered pretty quickly, it's likely that other details and secrets will still be coming out for a few weeks. After all, with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's open-world structure, that means there could still be things hidden away for players to discover.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.