Unveiling the Power of Return: A Deep Dive into Damage Mechanics
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How much damage does Return do? The answer, as with many things in the world of Pokémon, depends on the context. Return’s damage varies significantly across different Pokémon games, adapting to the specific mechanics of each title. From the influence of friendship in the main series games to fixed values in Pokémon GO and IQ-based scaling in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, understanding these nuances is key to mastering the move. This article will explore the varying damage outputs of Return across the Pokémon universe, providing a comprehensive guide for trainers seeking to optimize their strategies.
Return in the Main Series Games: The Friendship Factor
Friendship and Base Power
In the core Pokémon games, Return’s power is directly linked to a Pokémon’s friendship level (also known as happiness) with its trainer. The higher the friendship, the stronger the move. The base power of Return is calculated based on a formula that considers this friendship value, which ranges from 0 to 255.
- Maximum Friendship: At a maximum friendship value of 255, Return boasts a base power of 102. This makes it one of the strongest Normal-type moves available, especially considering it has no detrimental side effects.
- Minimum Friendship: Conversely, at the lowest friendship value of 0, Return’s base power plummets to a measly 1. This highlights the crucial role of fostering a strong bond with your Pokémon to unlock its full potential.
Return vs. Frustration: A Tale of Two Moves
Notably, there’s a counterpart to Return called Frustration. This move functions inversely to Return: its power increases as the Pokémon’s friendship decreases. Frustration is typically learned by Shadow Pokémon, reflecting their resentment towards their captors.
- Frustration’s Strength: If a Pokémon’s friendship is 127 or less, Frustration will actually be stronger than Return. This is a key consideration when dealing with Shadow Pokémon, as maintaining low friendship becomes strategically advantageous.
- Purification and Transformation: When a Shadow Pokémon is purified, it typically forgets Frustration and learns Return. This transformation symbolizes the Pokémon’s newfound trust and affection, unlocking the potential for a powerful Return attack.
Strategy Considerations
Understanding the friendship dynamic allows players to strategically manipulate the power of both Return and Frustration. Trainers aiming for maximum Return damage should prioritize activities that boost friendship, such as:
- Battling together: Participating in battles alongside your Pokémon strengthens your bond.
- Using items: Certain items, like Soothe Bells, can accelerate the friendship-building process.
- Avoiding fainted: Preventing your Pokémon from fainting also helps maintain its happiness.
Conversely, for trainers utilizing Frustration, minimizing interactions and avoiding friendship-boosting activities is essential.
Return in Pokémon GO: Fixed Damage Values
Gyms and Raids vs. PvP Battles
In Pokémon GO, Return’s damage is fixed, diverging from the friendship-based mechanics of the main series. The damage values are tailored to balance the move’s effectiveness in different battle scenarios.
- Gyms and Raids: In Gym battles and Raids, Return inflicts 35 damage. This moderate damage output positions it as a serviceable, albeit not exceptional, Charged Attack option.
- PvP Battles: In Trainer Battles (PvP), Return’s power surges to 130 damage. This substantial increase makes it a potent weapon in player-versus-player combat, capable of dealing significant damage to opposing Pokémon.
Charge Bar Mechanics
Return in Pokémon GO also operates on a “three-bar” charge system. This means it requires a moderate amount of energy to charge before it can be unleashed. While not the fastest Charged Attack, its high damage output in PvP often makes it worth the charging time.
Strategic Applications
Given its fixed damage and three-bar charge, Return is best suited for strategic usage in Pokémon GO.
- Gym and Raid Offense: While not the primary damage dealer, Return can be a reliable option for Normal-type damage output in gym and raid battles, especially if you lack better options.
- PvP Domination: The 130 damage in PvP makes Return a powerful option, particularly on Pokémon with strong Attack stats and favorable matchups. Its reliable damage output is often preferred over riskier, high-energy moves.
Return in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Series: IQ’s Influence
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, Return’s damage is determined by the user’s IQ. This unique mechanic adds another layer of complexity to the move’s effectiveness.
- Initial Damage: At 0 IQ, Return deals a base damage of 5.
- IQ-Based Scaling: The damage increases incrementally as the Pokémon’s IQ rises. The damage increases by 5 after reaching 50 and 100 IQ, and every 100 IQ after that.
- Maximum Damage: The maximum damage achievable through IQ scaling is 45, which is reached at 700 IQ.
This IQ-based scaling encourages players to invest in boosting their Pokémon’s intelligence, making Return a potentially powerful option for those who prioritize strategic development. You can dive deeper into game-based learning topics from experts at Games Learning Society.
Return: The Versatile Move
Return’s varying damage across different Pokémon games showcases its adaptability. Whether it’s friendship in the main series, fixed values in Pokémon GO, or IQ-based scaling in Mystery Dungeon, understanding these mechanics is key to unleashing Return’s full potential. By mastering these nuances, trainers can effectively incorporate Return into their strategies and achieve victory in battles across the Pokémon universe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Return’s Damage
1. Is Return affected by STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus)?
Yes. If a Pokémon using Return is also a Normal-type, it receives a STAB bonus, increasing the damage output by 50%. This makes Return even more potent on Normal-type Pokémon.
2. Is Return a good move for Tyranitar?
While Tyranitar is a powerful Pokémon, Return is generally not the best choice for its moveset. Tyranitar excels with Dark and Rock-type moves to take advantage of its strengths and STAB.
3. Is Return better than Body Slam?
The choice between Return and Body Slam depends on your strategy. Return is pure power, being the strongest Normal-type attack with no drawbacks. Body Slam doesn’t have the raw power, but its chance to paralyze can be strategically advantageous. Consider your Pokémon’s stats and your overall battle plan.
4. Can Pokémon unlearn Return?
Yes, in games like Pokémon GO, Return can be unlearned using a Charged TM (Technical Machine). This allows trainers to customize their Pokémon’s moveset as needed.
5. How does Return and Frustration work?
Return’s damage is based on high friendship, while Frustration’s damage is based on low friendship. This unique mechanic adds strategic depth, allowing trainers to tailor their move choices based on their Pokémon’s relationship with them.
6. What is the maximum friendship value in Pokémon?
The maximum friendship value attainable by Pokémon in the main series games is 255. Reaching this value unlocks the full potential of Return and other friendship-dependent mechanics.
7. What is the highest damage Return in Pokémon?
The highest base power damage Return can reach in the main series games is 102, attainable at the maximum friendship value of 255.
8. Is Return a good move set?
Yes, Return is a unique and often beneficial move, particularly for Normal-type Pokémon. In Pokémon GO, Return is available to Purified Pokémon and boosts your Super Meter, making it a valuable asset in battles.
9. Can Pokémon return from a gym without being defeated?
Yes, a Pokémon can return from a gym if its motivation reaches zero, which happens over time or when it loses battles. It doesn’t always have to be defeated by another trainer.
10. How much XP is gained at Best Friends status?
Reaching Best Friends status with another player in Pokémon GO grants a significant 100,000 XP. This also unlocks additional benefits, such as increased damage in raids.
11. Does using Frustration lower happiness?
Using Frustration itself doesn’t lower a Pokémon’s happiness, but the power of Frustration is affected by how low the Pokémon’s happiness is. A Pokémon that dislikes its trainer will have a stronger Frustration.
12. Is Return good for purified Pokémon?
Return is an excellent move for Purified Pokémon in Pokémon GO. They receive a significant boost to their stats, forget Frustration, and learn Return, which deals a whopping 130 damage in Trainer Battles.
13. What Pokémon cards do over 300 damage?
Certain Pokémon cards have attacks that exceed 300 damage, such as:
- M Charizard-EX (Flashfire 13)
- M Charizard-EX (Flashfire 69)
- M Rayquaza-EX (Roaring Skies 61)
- Mewtwo V-UNION (SWSH Promo 159)
14. What is the strongest possible move in Pokémon?
The strength of a move is multi-faceted, and context matters.
Some of the most powerful moves in the game include:
- Explosion
- Shadow Storm
- Boomburst
- Giga Impact
These moves often come with drawbacks or limitations, so strategic usage is crucial.
15. Is Return or Frustration better?
Return is generally better than Frustration because it’s much easier to maximize a Pokémon’s friendship than to minimize it. Return’s damage output is therefore more reliably high. Return is a very powerful move to include in the move pool of a Pokémon.
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