
You can obtain TM21 Frustration by getting a Pokémon in your party to have low friendship, and then showing that Pokémon to a man in the southwestern house of Pacifidlog Town.
Also, if you show the same man a Pokémon with high friendship then he’ll give you TM27 Return as well.
Frustration is a move whose power is based on how low your Pokémon’s friendship is. The lower the user’s friendship is, the greater the base power of Frustration.
Since it’s quite hard to maintain the lowest possible friendship for a Pokémon, most trainers just use Return – a move that scales off how high your Pokémon’s friendship is. At maximum friendship, it’s just as powerful as the strongest Frustration.
TM21 Frustration Location (Step-by-Step)
Pacifidlog Town is an optional location that can be accessed by surfing west of Route 131. In the house southwest of Pacifidlog Town’s Pokémon Center, a man will give you the TM for Return and Frustration if you show him a Pokémon with high and low friendship, respectively.
There are a couple of things you need to do before that, though. So first make sure you’ve:
- Obtained the sixth Gym Badge from Winona, Fortree City’s Gym Leader
- Defeated Team Aqua/Magma’s Admins in their hideout near Lilycove City
- Brought a Pokémon that knows Surf
- Prepared a Pokémon with low friendship
If you’re all set, here’s how to get to Pacifidlog Town and get TM21:
Step 1: Start at Lilycove City’s shore on the right side.

Step 2: Continue surfing east past Route 124 until you reach Mossdeep City.

Step 3: Once you’re in Mossdeep City, head to its south shore.

Step 4: Start surfing south to leave Mossdeep City.

Step 5: When you reach Route 127, turn left and continue surfing south.

Step 6: Head past the island on Route 128.

Step 7: Turn left once you reach Route 129.

Step 8: Continue surfing west along Route 130 and Route 131.

Step 9: Surf west until you reach Pacifidlog’s Pokémon Center.

Step 10: Go to the house located southwest of Pacifidlog’s Pokémon Center.

Step 11: Talk to the man and show him a Pokémon with low friendship to obtain TM21 Frustration.

Frustration Details + Uses

Frustration Move Details | |
---|---|
Type | Normal |
Category | Physical |
Power | – |
Accuracy | 100% |
PP | 20 (max. 32) |
Frustration is a Physical Normal-type move whose power varies between 0 (at the maximum friendship value of 255) and 102 (at the minimum friendship value of 0).
Assuming your Pokémon’s friendship value is at 0, Frustration’s 102 base power can deal massive amounts of damage, especially for a move with 100% accuracy.
The fastest way to lower your Pokémon’s friendship value is by using Herbal Medicine on it. Herbal Medicine is a cheaper alternative to the healing items found in PokéMarts, but each use lowers your Pokémon’s friendship value.
Sold in the Herb Shop at Lavaridge Town, here’s the list of the Herbal Medicine the shop sells:
Item | Price (Pokédollars) |
---|---|
Energy Powder | 450 |
Energy Root | 800 |
Heal Powder | 500 |
Revival Herb | 2,800 |
If you want to know your Pokémon’s friendship value, talk to the woman in the southwestern house at Verdanturf Town.
She will tell you how friendly your Pokémon is with various statements.
Friendship Rating Metrics | |
---|---|
Statement | Value |
This is a little hard for me to say… Your Pokémon simply detests you. Doesn’t that make you uncomfortable? | 0 |
It’s very wary. It has a scary look in its eyes. It doesn’t like you much at all. | 1-49 |
It’s not very used to you yet. It neither loves nor hates you. | 50-99 |
It’s getting used to you. It seems to believe in you. | 100-149 |
It’s quite friendly toward you. It seems to want to be babied a little. | 150-199 |
It seems to be very happy. It’s obviously friendly toward you. | 200-249 |
It’s extremely friendly toward you. It couldn’t possibly love you more. It’s a pleasure to see! | 250+ |
Most of the things you usually do in-game (such as leveling up, learning a TM, or even walking) will increase your Pokémon’s friendship.
Because of this, you’re better off using Return instead of Frustration, since low friendship values are pretty hard to maintain.
Tip: In the rare situation where your opponent’s Ditto transforms into your Pokémon that knows Frustration, it might be better than Return. Lowering your Pokémon’s friendship is something that’s done deliberately. So when Ditto’s Frustration calculates its base power from its friendship value, it will deal little to no damage.
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Pokémon ORAS
- How To Get TM21 Frustration in Pokémon ORAS