How Powerful is the Move Return?
In the world of Pokémon, moves are crucial components of a Pokémon’s battle strategy. With hundreds of moves to choose from, each one has its unique benefits, weaknesses, and mechanics. One of the most debated moves among trainers is Return. Return is a Normal-type move that has its power influenced by the Pokémon’s friendship with its trainer. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of Return, its strengths, weaknesses, and whether it’s a worthwhile addition to your battle arsenal.
The Mechanics of Return
Return is a move that has a base power range from 1 to 102, depending on the Pokémon’s friendship level with its trainer. When used, Return always hits the opponent and ignores the target’s evasions and dodges. As Return is a Normal-type move, it’s effective against other Normal-type Pokémon, while also dealing reduced damage to Fairy-type Pokémon.
Table 1: Base Power Range of Return
| Friendship Level | Base Power |
|---|---|
| 0% | 1 |
| 100% | 102 |
Return vs. Frustration
In battles where a trainer’s Pokémon has a Frustration or anger meter filled up, using Return won’t provide the desired bonus damage. Instead, Frustration takes over, causing the Pokémon to inflict double damage with the Frustration counter increasing the base power by a set amount.
| Friendship Level | Frustration Bonus |
|---|---|
| Below 127 | No Frustration bonus |
| 127-200 | Frustration bonus is calculated |
Shadow Pokémon vs. Perfect IV Pokémon
For Shadow Pokémon and those with perfect IV (Individual Values) scores, the answer is different. Shadow Pokémon, as it’s Frustrated, has an incredible advantage in battles due to its boosted attack power of 20%. Even against a Pokémon with perfect IVs, a Shadow Pokémon is often the stronger candidate. The reasoning is the sheer difference in damage potential; Frustrated Shadow Pokémon could deliver double damage.
| IV Scores | Frustration/Shadow Advantage? |
|---|---|
| Shadow Pokémon | Yes |
| Perfect IVs | No |
Gym Defense and Leave-In-Purification Benefits
Some trainers wonder, is it better to purify or keep a Pokémon with low IVs due to its Shadow state? Keep your shadow Pokémon unpurified if the intention is to hold the Pokémon for a shorter duration, allowing you to rotate between your squad frequently.
| Purpose | Consider Purifying or Leave the Shadow? |
|---|---|
| Competitive Battle | Leave it; its attack boost might swing battles |
| Training Rotation | Purify to reset and use IV boosts correctly |
Conclusion
Return, in essence, relies heavily on the bond between the trainer and the Pokémon, affecting its damage potential. This dynamic approach demands an understanding of Frustration mechanics. By embracing Return, Shadow Pokémon become the norm in battles, leveraging this boost. Keep an open mind regarding Shadow Pokémon when the intent is short-duration defense in Gyms and tournaments. Weigh these insights and experiment to become more strategic with Return, elevating your performance as a trainer.