Appendix:F.E.A.R.

F.E.A.R. is a last-resort strategy used in competitive battling, normally usable only once per battle. A "F.E.A.R. Pokémon" is a Pokémon compatible with a certain moveset capable of defeating a full-HP opponent at virtually any level (most notably level 100) while itself is only at level 1 or 2, the reason being for bragging rights. The most well-known Pokémon used for this strategy is an Aron or Donphan.

F.E.A.R. generally stands for:

• Focus Sash
• Endeavor
• (Quick) Attack
• Rattata (Rattata are not the only Pokémon that can use F.E.A.R; multiple Pokémon can fit this role.)

The original term, coined by strategists as humor, was "F***ing Evil Annoying Rodent".

The strategy (and original profanity-laden term) was originally conceived on GameFAQs' Pokémon Diamond message board in early 2007.

How to use F.E.A.R.

After one of the player's Pokémon faints, the F.E.A.R. Pokémon can be sent out against an opponent's Pokémon with (preferably) full HP. During the first turn, the F.E.A.R. Pokémon will use Endeavor, and the opponent will most likely use an offensive attack to try to defeat the F.E.A.R. Pokémon (assuming, of course, that the opponent isn't aware of this strategy). The F.E.A.R. Pokémon would indeed faint, if it were not holding the Focus Sash, which allows the user to hold on to 1 HP after a hit which would otherwise knock it out from max-HP. When the Pokémon uses Endeavor, the HP of the opponent's Pokémon will equal the HP of its own (which is now, assuming Focus Sash triggered, equal to 1). During the following turn, the F.E.A.R. Pokémon can use Quick Attack to wipe out the remaining 1 HP of the opponent's Pokémon. Focus Sash will not work twice, so a Pokémon can only use this strategy once.

In Generation V, the Ability Sturdy was altered to function like a Focus Sash, but can activate multiple times providing the Pokémon regains all of its HP. With this change came new notable users of F.E.A.R. - A level 2 Probopass can use Pain Split to wear down the opponent's HP whilst healing itself, whereas Aron can use a combination of Endeavor and a held Shell Bell for multiple uses of Endeavor. Generation V also introduced Solosis, a Pokémon able to combine Magic Guard and Endeavor, but also set up Trick Room for its allies.

Countering F.E.A.R.

While an impressive strategy, F.E.A.R. is simple to counter. The following are several ways to counter the F.E.A.R. strategy:

• Knowledge: The simplest strategy and perhaps the most effective. If the opponent knows the F.E.A.R. strategy, they won't attack as needed for it to work (a damaging move), or they will switch out for a Pokémon immune to it or easily able to counter it. Besides the other counters listed here, a player could switch out after the opponent's F.E.A.R. uses Endeavor, leaving it with 1 HP and another Pokémon to sweep the F.E.A.R. However, if the F.E.A.R.-using player predicts correctly, this problem can be solved using Pursuit.
• Ghost Pokémon: As Ghost types are immune to Normal- and Fighting-type attacks, Endeavor and Quick Attack are useless against them.
  • It should be noted however, that a F.E.A.R. Kangaskhan or Taillow* with Scrappy will still be able to use Endeavor against a Ghost-type Pokémon.
• A Pokémon with Quick Attack, ExtremeSpeed, Sucker Punch, Ice Shard, or other automatic, first-hit effects: If the opponent uses an increased-priority move at the same time as the F.E.A.R. Pokémon does, the large difference in level will almost always result in the opponent's Pokémon landing the hit first, leaving the opponent with little HP, but leaving the F.E.A.R. player with one Pokémon down. However, in Generation V, Feint and ExtremeSpeed have +2 priority, and are not countered by +1 priority moves.
• If the foe acts last due to battling in Trick Room*, holding a Full Incense, using a decreased-priority move, or doing something similar, its attack will leave the F.E.A.R. Pokémon with approximately 12 hit points after the first turn and the F.E.A.R. Pokémon will only have 1 health point, causing an easy sweep on the second turn.
• A move that damages foes upon switching in (like Spikes or Stealth Rock) can cancel out the Focus Sash effect, thus causing the foe to be unable to withstand a one-hit KO. This only works if the F.E.A.R. Pokémon isn't released prior to that move.
  • Note that Doduo, Taillow, Starly, Togekiss, and Shaymin in its Sky Forme are immune to Spikes.
• Moves, status ailments, Abilities, and weather that deal damage every turn (like sandstorm or burn) can cancel out Focus Sash's effect. This can also work without using a turn if a Pokémon like Tyranitar or Abomasnow activates its Ability.
  • Note that F.E.A.R. Phanpy, Aron, Corsola, Wormadam (Sandy and Trash Cloaks) and Swinub are immune to sandstorm (and the last one to hail as well.)
• Embargo and Magic Room prevent the foe from using any item, in this case Focus Sash.
  • Do note that, somewhat counter-intuitively, Knock Off will NOT serve to KO a F.E.A.R. Pokémon if it is at 100% HP unless Embargo is in effect. The F.E.A.R. Pokémon's Focus Sash will be knocked off after it has been successfully activated, and the Pokémon will still be able to use Endeavor to reduce the foe's HP.
• Black Sludge*, Leftovers, and a HP-restoring Berry return some HP to the user's Pokémon, and more than likely, more than the opposing F.E.A.R. can deal with its increased-priority move.
• F.E.A.R.: Ironically, a way to combat a F.E.A.R. Pokémon is having it face another F.E.A.R. Pokémon (or some other low-level Pokémon). Having roughly the same HP, both F.E.A.R.s would do little damage towards each other. It isn't, however, practical or useful to carry a F.E.A.R. Pokémon just for the sake of combating another F.E.A.R., as both Pokémon are about evenly-matched.
• Shedinja and its Wonder Guard Ability will make Endeavor unable to hit.
  • Note that Sucker Punch and Shadow Sneak can be used to KO Shedinja, but only after its probably existent Focus Sash has been activated or otherwise rendered useless.
• Multi-strike moves, such as Bullet Seed and Rock Blast, will negate Focus Sash and Sturdy.
• In Double and Triple Battles, having multiple Pokémon use moves that will hit the F.E.A.R. Pokémon will cause it to faint, since the Focus Sash will only activate for the first attack.
• Although Generation V modified Sturdy to act like a Focus Sash, the Abilities Mold Breaker, Turboblaze and Teravolt ignore this effect, countering any attempt to use F.E.A.R. with Sturdy.
• If the F.E.A.R. Pokémon is holding a Shell Bell with the ability Sturdy, moves which render items useless, such as Thief or Knock Off, can be used.
• In Generation V, multi-strike move such as Fury Attack or Triple Kick can be used to attack a F.E.A.R. Pokémon. As such, the Focus Sash or Sturdy ability will activate before the last hit is dealt, allowing the last hit to finish off the F.E.A.R. Pokémon.

F.E.A.R.-capable Pokémon

#	Icon	Name	Priority move	Notes	Lowest possible level
019		Rattata	Quick Attack, Sucker Punch	Pokémon most well-known to utilize this strategy.	1
025		Pikachu	Quick Attack, Feint*	Only learns Endeavor as a Pichu through the 12th movie event, where it is obtained at level 30. Requires at least one level to evolve. F.E.A.R. Pikachu are always Shiny and in Cherish Balls. Feint is not countered by +1 priority moves*, and can hit through Protect.	31
056		Mankey	Vacuum Wave		1
062		Poliwrath	Vacuum Wave		25
084		Doduo	Quick Attack		1
115		Kangaskhan	Sucker Punch	If its Ability is Scrappy, it is not countered by Ghost-type Pokémon.	1
151		Mew	Sucker Punch, Vacuum Wave		5
220		Swinub	Ice Shard	Not countered by Sandstorm or Hail.	1
222		Corsola	Sucker Punch	Not countered by Sandstorm.	1
231		Phanpy	Ice Shard	Not countered by Sandstorm.	1
232		Donphan	Ice Shard	Not countered by Sandstorm; if Ability is Sturdy, Focus Sash can be replaced with another item.*	25
235		Smeargle	Any priority move	Smeargle learns almost any move via Sketch, including Endeavor and any priority move.	1
237		Hitmontop	Quick Attack, Vacuum Wave, Bullet Punch, Mach Punch, Sucker Punch, Feint*	Feint is not countered by +1 priority moves and can hit through Protect.*	20
252		Treecko	Quick Attack		1
276		Taillow	Quick Attack	Not countered by Ghost-type Pokémon if Ability is Scrappy.	1
304		Aron	Other/none	Give a Shell Bell, Sturdy and Sandstorm support, can be used multiple times.* Like Donphan, it is unaffected by Sandstorm, but unlike Donphan, it is immune to poison due to its Steel typing.	1
335		Zangoose	Quick Attack, Feint*	Feint is not countered by +1 priority moves and can hit through Protect.* Not countered by poison if Ability is Immunity.	1
390		Chimchar	Vacuum Wave		1
396		Starly	Quick Attack		1
413		Wormadam	Sucker Punch	Sandy and Trash Cloaks not countered by Sandstorm (Trash Cloak is also not countered by poison).	20
427		Buneary	Quick Attack		1
468		Togekiss	ExtremeSpeed	ExtremeSpeed is not countered by +1 priority moves*	2
492		Shaymin	Quick Attack		30
550		Basculin	Aqua Jet		1
556		Maractus	Sucker Punch		1
566		Archen	Quick Attack	Not countered by Sandstorm.	1
647		Keldeo	Aqua Jet		15

Catching Pokémon with F.E.A.R.

By using a slightly different strategy, players can lower a target Pokémon's HP to 1, similar to using False Swipe, and more easily catch it than by battling it normally. After the wild Pokémon's HP has been lowered to 1, the player may freely begin throwing Poké Balls and have a high chance of successfully capturing the Pokémon. A Cottonee may also inflict a priority paralysis (with Prankster) to further increase the catch rate.

External Links

• A battle demonstrating the F.E.A.R. strategy.

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