Where To Get TM21 Frustration in Pokémon Black & White

Using Frustration in battle in Pokémon Black

TM21 Frustration can be purchased for 10,000 Pokédollars in the Nimbasa City Pokémon Center at the desk where TMs are sold. Nimbasa City’s Pokémon Center can be found in the Southwest corner of the town.

You’ll be able to reach Nimbasa City after defeating Gym Leader Burgh in Castelia City. After obtaining your Insect Badge from Burgh, you’ll need to cross the sandstorm on Route 4.

In Pokémon Black and White, Poké Marts are no longer a separate building and are instead included inside Pokémon Centers. The desk where items are sold can be found to the right of the Center’s entrance.

Frustration is a Normal-type move that deals damage based on the Friendship value between a Pokémon and its trainer. The lower the Friendship value, the higher Frustration’s power.

TM21 Frustration Location

Step 1: Starting at the entrance going up into Nimbasa City, head North.

Head North from the Nimbasa City entrance / Pokémon Black/White
Head North from the Nimbasa City entrance.

Step 2: Then turn and go West at the sign, continuing past the Battle Subway.

Head West past the Battle Subway / Pokémon Black/White
Head West past the Battle Subway.

Step 3: Continue West until reaching the Pokémon Center.

Keep West and enter the Pokémon Center / Pokémon Black/White
Keep West and enter the Pokémon Center.

Step 4: Go inside and speak to the clerk located closest to the entrance to buy TM21 Frustration.

Buy TM21 Frustration from the clerk nearest the entrance / Pokémon Black/White
Buy TM21 Frustration from the clerk nearest the entrance.

Along with TM21 Frustration, the clerk also sells the following TMs:

TM Price
TM33 Reflect 30,000
TM20 Safeguard 20,000
TM27 Return 10,000
TM16 Light Screen 30,000
TM73 Thunder Wave 10,000
TM74 Gyro Ball 10,000

Frustration Details + Uses

In-game details for TM21 Frustration / Pokémon Black/White
In-game details for TM21 Frustration.
Frustration Move Details
Type Normal
Category Physical
Power
Accuracy 100
PP 20

TM21 Frustration is a rarely-used move in any Pokémon game, and for good reason.

Raising a Pokémon to dislike its trainer is difficult and tedious, which is the basis of Frustration’s power as a move. In order to make the attack viable in battle, a trainer would need to ensure their Pokémon:

  • Constantly faints in battle
  • Or would need to feed it bitter consumable items such as Herbal Medicine

Here’s the formula used to calculate Frustration’s base power:

Power = (255 – Friendship)/(2.5)

The highest base level power for Frustration is 102, when the Friendship value is 0. The maximum value of Friendship that can be attained is 255.

Because lowering your Pokémon’s Friendship is difficult to achieve, many players prefer the move Return, which is the opposite of Frustration.

Return scales in power based on increased Friendship value, which is easy to improve over the course of your journey.

But if you’re adamant about using Frustration, teach it to a newly-caught Pokémon and give it Revival Herbs, which will decrease the value of Friendship anywhere from 15 to 20 points in value.

Bobby Agnese

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Bobby is an experienced writer who is passionate about video games, fantasy books, and anything Star Wars-related. His first Pokémon game was FireRed which he still plays today. When he isn’t writing or gaming, Bobby can be found at his local brewery or Mexican food spot.

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