Does Frustration Lower Happiness in Pokémon? Unraveling the Mysteries of Friendship and Power

The short answer is no, using the move Frustration does not directly lower a Pokémon’s happiness. Instead, it’s the inverse – a Pokémon’s happiness (or, more accurately, lack thereof) dictates the power of Frustration. The lower the Pokémon’s friendship level, the stronger Frustration becomes. Now, let’s dive deeper into the intricate relationship between Frustration, friendship, and how to manipulate it to your advantage (or disadvantage!).

Understanding Pokémon Friendship and Happiness

Before we can truly grasp Frustration, it’s essential to understand the concept of Pokémon friendship (also often referred to as happiness). This mechanic, present in most core series Pokémon games, is a hidden stat that reflects how much a Pokémon likes its trainer. It influences various aspects of the game, most notably the evolution of certain Pokémon (like Eevee into Espeon or Umbreon) and the power of the moves Frustration and Return.

Unlike stats like Attack or Speed, friendship isn’t visible on the Pokémon’s summary screen in most games. Instead, you need to speak to a specific NPC, often called the “Friendship Checker,” who will provide vague hints about your Pokémon’s happiness level. For example, they might say, “It looks really happy! It must love you a lot!” or, conversely, “It’s a little wary of you…”.

The friendship scale typically ranges from 0 to 255, with higher values indicating greater friendship. Most Pokémon start with a base friendship of 70, although some species, like Buneary, notoriously begin with 0, making them excellent candidates for exploiting the Frustration move (at least initially).

Frustration: A Move Powered by Unhappiness

Frustration is a Normal-type move whose power is inversely proportional to the Pokémon’s friendship. This means that a Pokémon with zero friendship will unleash Frustration at its maximum power, while a Pokémon with maximum friendship will see Frustration’s power plummet to almost nothing.

This makes Frustration a unique move in the Pokémon world. It’s the only attack in the entire series that actively benefits from a Pokémon’s unhappiness. All other moves, abilities, and mechanics reward strong bonds between trainer and Pokémon. Frustration stands out as a quirky exception. The Games Learning Society understands the value of game mechanics that encourage thinking outside the box! Check out the GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

Return: The Happy Alternative

On the flip side, there’s Return, another Normal-type move with a similar mechanic, but with reversed polarity. Return’s power increases with higher friendship. A Pokémon with maximum friendship will unleash Return at its full potential, while a Pokémon with low friendship will see Return’s power diminish.

For most players, Return is the preferred choice because it’s far easier to raise a Pokémon’s friendship than to deliberately lower it. The vast majority of activities in the game promote friendship, making Return a readily accessible and powerful move.

When Might Frustration Be Useful?

While Return is generally superior, there are niche scenarios where Frustration might be considered:

• Early game: If you catch a Buneary or another Pokémon with low base friendship, Frustration can provide a powerful Normal-type attack early on, before you’ve had a chance to build friendship.
• Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO: Shadow Pokémon, typically obtained from Team GO Rocket, start with the move Frustration. While usually a hindrance, during specific events, you can TM (Technical Machine) it away to teach them a more desirable move. However, some players intentionally keep Frustration on certain Shadow Pokémon, recognizing their inherent attack boost.
• Nuzlocke Challenges: Some Nuzlocke challengers impose self-restricting rules, which include not using specific items that increase friendship. In such scenarios, a Pokémon with Frustration might offer a viable attacking option.

How to Lower and Maintain Low Friendship

If you’re determined to maximize Frustration’s power, you’ll need to actively work against the natural friendship-building tendencies of the game. Here’s how:

• Let your Pokémon faint frequently: Each time a Pokémon faints in battle, its friendship decreases.
• Use bitter herbal medicines: Items like Energy Powder, Heal Powder, Energy Root, and Revival Herb are less palatable to Pokémon than standard potions and berries, and they will negatively impact friendship.
• Keep the Pokémon boxed: While being in the party generally raises friendship, keeping the Pokémon constantly in your PC box will prevent any friendship gains.
• Avoid friendship-boosting activities: This includes giving the Pokémon berries that increase friendship, using them in battle (and winning), keeping them in your party for extended periods, and getting them groomed.
• Trading Reset: Trading your Pokemon to another trainer will set the friendship level back to the base level for that species.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the maximum base power of Frustration and Return?

Both moves have a maximum base power of 102. This occurs when Frustration is used by a Pokémon with 0 friendship and Return is used by a Pokémon with 255 friendship.

2. Does holding the Soothe Bell affect Frustration?

Yes, the Soothe Bell increases the rate at which friendship increases. This would make it harder to use Frustration because the Pokémon would gain happiness faster. It does not directly impact the move itself, but it does affect your ability to maintain a low friendship level.

3. Can a Pokémon’s happiness reach zero?

Yes, a Pokémon’s happiness can reach zero. This is the point at which Frustration’s power is maximized.

4. Is it possible to see a Pokémon’s exact happiness value in-game?

In most games, no, you cannot see the exact numerical value of a Pokémon’s friendship. You must rely on the vague hints provided by the Friendship Checker. However, fan-made tools and save editors exist that allow you to view the precise value.

5. Does leveling up a Pokémon increase its happiness?

Yes, leveling up a Pokémon while it is in your party increases its happiness. This is one of the reasons why it can be challenging to keep a Pokémon’s friendship low.

6. Does trading a Pokémon reset its happiness?

Yes, trading a Pokémon resets its happiness to its base value. This can be useful if you want to start building friendship from scratch or, conversely, if you want to ensure Frustration is at its maximum power after lowering its friendship.

7. Are there any specific berries that decrease happiness?

No, there are no berries that directly decrease happiness. However, using herbal medicines like Energy Powder has a negative impact on friendship, effectively serving the same purpose.

8. How do Luxury Balls and Friend Balls affect friendship?

Catching a Pokemon in a Luxury Ball or a Friend Ball will increase a Pokémon’s friendship.

9. Does Pokémon Camp/Amie affect friendship?

Yes, interacting with your Pokémon in features like Pokémon Camp or Pokémon Amie significantly increases their friendship.

10. Is Frustration a good move for Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

Generally, Frustration is considered a bad move for Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO. While Shadow Pokémon have a significant attack boost, Frustration’s low power and lack of utility make it undesirable. During special events, players typically TM away Frustration to teach their Shadow Pokémon a more useful move. However, there are niche strategies and specific events that can make Frustration situationally beneficial.

11. How often can I check my Pokémon’s happiness?

You can check your Pokémon’s happiness as often as you like by speaking to the Friendship Checker in the game. Their dialogue will provide clues about the Pokémon’s friendship level.

12. Does walking with my Pokémon increase friendship in all games?

Yes, walking with your Pokémon in your party generally increases friendship over time. However, the exact mechanics and rate of increase vary slightly from game to game.

13. Are there any items besides the Soothe Bell that increase friendship gain?

Besides the Soothe Bell, certain locations or activities may have a slight bonus towards friendship. Certain berries, such as those that lower EVs, also increase friendship when used.

14. Does the nature of a Pokémon affect how easily its friendship increases?

No, the nature of a Pokémon does not directly affect how easily its friendship increases. Nature primarily influences stat growth.

15. Is it ever worth keeping Frustration on a Pokémon?

While generally not recommended, keeping Frustration on a Pokémon might be considered in very specific, niche scenarios:

• Early game with a Buneary: As mentioned earlier, Buneary’s starting friendship of 0 makes Frustration a powerful option early in the game.
• Highly strategic play: As a surprise to another trainer or the computer, if the trainer will not see it coming.
• A challenge run You can try a challenge run with a Pokémon with high attack stat and the use of Frustration only.

In conclusion, while Frustration doesn’t directly lower a Pokémon’s happiness, it capitalizes on its absence. Understanding this subtle distinction and the mechanics of friendship is crucial for mastering the intricacies of the Pokémon world.