How To Get TM27 Return in Pokémon ORAS

Using Return in battle (Pokémon Alpha Sapphire)

You can obtain TM27 Return by showing an NPC in Pacifidlog Town a Pokémon with high friendship. Specifically the NPC you want to find is a man in the southwestern house of Pacifidlog Town.

If you also show him a Pokémon with low friendship, he’ll give you TM21 Frustration as well.

Note: If you just got the Frustration TM then you will need to wait 7 days before you can get the Return TM from the same NPC.

TM27 Return Location

There are a couple of things you need to do before you can get to Pacifidlog Town, 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
  • A Pokémon that knows Surf
  • A Pokémon with high friendship

If you’re all set, here’s how to get to Pacifidlog Town:

Step 1: Start at Lilycove City’s shore on the right side.

Lilycove City’s east shore / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Lilycove City’s east shore

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

Surfing along Route 124 / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Surfing along Route 124

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

Mossdeep City’s south shore / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Mossdeep City’s south shore

Step 4: Start surfing south to leave Mossdeep City.

Surfing to leave Mossdeep City / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Surfing to leave Mossdeep City

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

Surfing along Route 127 / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Surfing along Route 127

Step 6: Head past the island on Route 128.

On the island above Seafloor Cavern / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
On the island above Seafloor Cavern

Step 7: Turn left once you reach Route 129.

The correct turn to take on Route 129 / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The correct turn to take on Route 129

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

Surfing along Route 131 / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Surfing along Route 131

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

In front of Pacifidlog’s Pokémon Center / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
In front of Pacifidlog’s Pokémon Center

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

Entrance to the house southwest of the Pokémon Center / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Entrance to the house southwest of the Pokémon Center

Step 11: Talk to the man in this house and show him a Pokémon with high friendship to obtain TM27 Return.

The location of TM27 Return / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
The location of TM27 Return

Return Details + Uses

In-game details for TM27 Return / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
In-game details for TM27 Return
 
Return Move Details
Type Normal
Category Physical
Power
Accuracy 100%
PP 20 (max. 32)

Return is a Physical Normal-type move whose power varies between 0 (at the minimum friendship value of 0) and 102 (at the maximum friendship value of 255).

If your Pokémon’s friendship value is at 255, Return will have a base power of 102. For a move with perfect accuracy and no downsides, 102 is quite high. It’s the ideal move for any Normal-type Physical sweeper.

To get the most out of Return, be sure to max out your Return user’s friendship.

Here are a few things you can do to increase a Pokémon’s friendship value quickly:

  • Battle a Gym Leader or Champion
  • Capture them in a Luxury Ball
  • Feed it EV-reducing berries (Grepa, Hondew, Kelpsy, Pomeg, Qualot, Tamato Berry)
  • Give it massages from the Masseuse in Mauville City or from Super-Secret Bases
  • Give it Rare Candies
  • Give it Vitamins (Calcium, Carbos, HP Up, Iron, PP Max, PP Up, Protein, Zinc)
  • Level up the Pokémon
  • Make it Hold the Soothe Bell
  • Walk around with it in your party (every 128 steps has a 50% chance of increasing the friendship value by 1)

Though they’re pretty rare, the fastest way to max out a Pokémon’s friendship is by feeding it a lot of EV-reducing berries. Of course, you can plant some ahead of time if you don’t want to run out of those berries.

To avoid lowering your Pokémon’s friendship value, don’t make them faint or feed them bitter medicine (Energy Powder, Energy Root, Heal Powder, Revival Herb).

If you want to know your Pokémon’s friendship value, talk to the lady 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+

Tip: Aside from Normal-type Pokémon, Mega Pinsir and Mega Salamence can use Return effectively. Their ability, Aerilate, converts all Normal-type moves into a Flying-type move. It also receives a 30% power boost.

StormSwampert

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Though he spends most of his time playing a wide variety of games, Pokémon has always been his favorite. When he’s not playing games or writing guides, you can find him watching anime and collecting trading cards.

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