
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.

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

Step 3: Continue West until reaching the Pokémon Center.

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

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

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.
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Pokémon BW
- Where To Get TM21 Frustration in Pokémon Black & White