Fake Tears
うそなき Fake Crying
Type  Dark
Category  Status
PP  20 (max. 32)
Power  —
Accuracy  100%
Priority  0
Range
Opponent Opponent Opponent
Self Ally Ally
Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation III
Condition  Clever
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Jam  0  
The appeal works great if performed last.
Condition  Clever
Appeal  2 ♥♥
Prevents the Voltage from going down in the same turn.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  4 ♥♥♥♥
Jamming  0  
Makes the audience quickly grow bored when an appeal move has little effect.

Fake Tears (Japanese: うそなき Fake Crying) is a non-damaging Dark-type move introduced in Generation III. It was TM47 in Pokémon Sword and Shield and is TM003 in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Effect

Fake Tears lowers the target's Special Defense stat by two stages.

If powered up by a Darkinium Z into Z-Fake Tears, the user's Special Attack stat rises by one stage.

Generation IX

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Category  Status
Accuracy  100%
Standard Plus Move
Power
Cooldown  10s
Move wind-up time  1 frame
Effect duration  30s  33s
Additional effect
 —
 —
 —
None

Description

Games Description
RSE Feigns crying to sharply lower the foe's Sp. Def.
ColoXD Feigns crying to sharply lower the target's Sp. Def.
FRLG The user feigns crying to sharply lower the foe's Sp. Def.
DPPtHGSSPBR The user feigns crying to make the foe feel flustered, sharply lowering its Sp. Def stat.
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUMPE
SwShBDSPLA
The user feigns crying to fluster the target, harshly lowering its Sp. Def stat.
SV The user feigns crying to fluster the target. This harshly lowers the target's Sp. Def stat.
ZA The user feigns crying to fluster targets, which lowers their Sp. Def stats for a while.
Champs Lowers the target's Sp. Def stat by 2 stages.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0039 Jigglypuff
Fairy 14
0040 Wigglytuff
Fairy 14
0052 Meowth Field 40
0052 Meowth
Meowth
Alolan Form
Field 40
0053 Persian Field 40
0053 Persian
Persian
Alolan Form
Field 40
0124 Jynx
Human-Like 41 25 28 28 28 24 24
0135 Jolteon Field 45
0185 Sudowoodo Mineral 1 1 1
0174 Igglybuff
No Eggs Discovered 14
0196 Espeon Field 45
0216 Teddiursa Field 19 1 1 1 1 1
0217 Ursaring Field 19 1 1 1 1 1 1
0238 Smoochum
No Eggs Discovered 37 25 28 28 28 24 24
0303 Mawile
Field
Fairy
6 6 6 6XY
5ORAS
5 44 44 5
0311 Plusle Fairy 28 21, 31 21, 35 35XY
0312 Minun Fairy 31 35 35XY
25ORAS
25 25
0361 Snorunt Fairy
Mineral
25
0362 Glalie Fairy
Mineral
25
0438 Bonsly No Eggs Discovered 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0478 Froslass
Fairy
Mineral
25
0509 Purrloin Field 19
0510 Liepard Field 19
0562 Yamask Mineral
Amorphous
12
0562 Yamask
Yamask
Galarian Form

Mineral
Amorphous
12
0563 Cofagrigus Mineral
Amorphous
12
0570 Zorua Field 9 9 9 28 28
0571 Zoroark Field 28 28
0574 Gothita Human-Like 10 10 10 28 28
0575 Gothorita Human-Like 1, 10 10 10 28 28
0576 Gothitelle Human-Like 1, 10 10 10 28 28
0648 Meloetta
No Eggs Discovered 14
0677 Espurr Field 13
0678 Meowstic
Meowstic
All forms
Field 13
0682 Spritzee Fairy 8
0683 Aromatisse Fairy 8
0684 Swirlix Fairy 10 10 15 15
0685 Slurpuff Fairy 10 10 15 15
0686 Inkay
Water 1
Water 2
6
0687 Malamar
Water 1
Water 2
6
0700 Sylveon Field 45
0719 Diancie
No Eggs Discovered 14
0827 Nickit Field 17
0828 Thievul Field 17
0859 Impidimp
Fairy
Human-Like
12 12
0860 Morgrem
Fairy
Human-Like
12 12
0861 Grimmsnarl
Fairy
Human-Like
12 12
0866 Mr. Rime
Human-Like 1 Rem.
0867 Runerigus
Mineral
Amorphous
12
0901 Ursaluna
Field 1
0957 Tinkatink
Fairy 25
0958 Tinkatuff
Fairy 25
0959 Tinkaton
Fairy 25
1025 Pecharunt
No Eggs Discovered 24
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By TM

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Compatibility
0025 Pikachu Field
Fairy
0026 Raichu Field
Fairy
2.0.1+
0026 Raichu
Raichu
Alolan Form

Field
Fairy
2.0.1+
0035 Clefairy Fairy
0036 Clefable Fairy
0038 Ninetales Field
0038 Ninetales
Ninetales
Alolan Form

Field
0039 Jigglypuff
Fairy
0040 Wigglytuff
Fairy
0052 Meowth Field
0052 Meowth
Meowth
Alolan Form
Field
0052 Meowth
Meowth
Galarian Form
Field
0053 Persian Field
0053 Persian
Persian
Alolan Form
Field
0124 Jynx
Human-Like
0133 Eevee Field
0134 Vaporeon Field
0135 Jolteon Field
0136 Flareon Field
0151 Mew No Eggs Discovered
0152 Chikorita Monster
Grass
0153 Bayleef Monster
Grass
0154 Meganium Monster
Grass
0158 Totodile Monster
Water 1
0159 Croconaw Monster
Water 1
0160 Feraligatr Monster
Water 1
0173 Cleffa No Eggs Discovered
0174 Igglybuff
No Eggs Discovered
0183 Marill
Water 1
Fairy
0184 Azumarill
Water 1
Fairy
0185 Sudowoodo Mineral
0196 Espeon Field
0197 Umbreon Field
0200 Misdreavus Amorphous
0209 Snubbull Field
Fairy
0210 Granbull Field
Fairy
0215 Sneasel
Field
0216 Teddiursa Field
0217 Ursaring Field
0238 Smoochum
No Eggs Discovered
0263 Zigzagoon
Zigzagoon
Galarian Form

Field
0264 Linoone
Linoone
Galarian Form

Field
0285 Shroomish Fairy
Grass
0286 Breloom
Fairy
Grass
0293 Whismur Monster
Field
0294 Loudred Monster
Field
0295 Exploud Monster
Field
0298 Azurill
No Eggs Discovered
0303 Mawile
Field
Fairy
0311 Plusle Fairy
0312 Minun Fairy
0314 Illumise Bug
Human-Like
0358 Chimecho Amorphous
0361 Snorunt Fairy
Mineral
0362 Glalie Fairy
Mineral
0390 Chimchar Field
Human-Like
0391 Monferno
Field
Human-Like
0392 Infernape
Field
Human-Like
0403 Shinx Field
0404 Luxio Field
0405 Luxray Field
0417 Pachirisu Field
Fairy
0427 Buneary Field
Human-Like
0428 Lopunny Field
Human-Like
0429 Mismagius Amorphous
0438 Bonsly No Eggs Discovered
0461 Weavile
Field
0470 Leafeon Field
0471 Glaceon Field
0478 Froslass
Fairy
Mineral
0509 Purrloin Field
0510 Liepard Field
0527 Woobat
Field
Flying
0528 Swoobat
Field
Flying
0546 Cottonee
Grass
Fairy
0547 Whimsicott
Grass
Fairy
0559 Scraggy
Field
Dragon
0560 Scrafty
Field
Dragon
0562 Yamask Mineral
Amorphous
0562 Yamask
Yamask
Galarian Form

Mineral
Amorphous
0563 Cofagrigus
Mineral
Amorphous
0570 Zorua Field
0570 Zorua
Zorua
Hisuian Form

Field
0571 Zoroark Field
0571 Zoroark
Zoroark
Hisuian Form

Field
0572 Minccino Field
0573 Cinccino Field
0574 Gothita Human-Like
0575 Gothorita Human-Like
0576 Gothitelle Human-Like
0585 Deerling
Deerling
All forms

Field
0586 Sawsbuck
Sawsbuck
All forms

Field
0629 Vullaby
Flying
0630 Mandibuzz
Flying
0648 Meloetta
No Eggs Discovered
0677 Espurr Field
0678 Meowstic
Meowstic
All forms
Field
0682 Spritzee Fairy
0683 Aromatisse Fairy
0684 Swirlix Fairy
0685 Slurpuff Fairy
0686 Inkay
Water 1
Water 2
0687 Malamar
Water 1
Water 2
0700 Sylveon Field
0719 Diancie
No Eggs Discovered
0742 Cutiefly
Bug
Fairy
0743 Ribombee
Bug
Fairy
0758 Salazzle
Monster
Dragon
0821 Rookidee Flying
0822 Corvisquire Flying
0823 Corviknight
Flying
0827 Nickit Field
0828 Thievul Field
0859 Impidimp
Fairy
Human-Like
0860 Morgrem
Fairy
Human-Like
0861 Grimmsnarl
Fairy
Human-Like
0862 Obstagoon
Field
0863 Perrserker Field
0866 Mr. Rime
Human-Like
0867 Runerigus
Mineral
Amorphous
0869 Alcremie
Alcremie
All forms
Fairy
Amorphous
0877 Morpeko
Field
Fairy
0901 Ursaluna
Field
0906 Sprigatito Field
Grass
0907 Floragato Field
Grass
0908 Meowscarada
Field
Grass
0924 Tandemaus Field
Fairy
0925 Maushold
Maushold
All forms
Field
Fairy
0931 Squawkabilly
Squawkabilly
All forms

Flying
0942 Maschiff Field
0943 Mabosstiff Field
0957 Tinkatink
Fairy
0958 Tinkatuff
Fairy
0959 Tinkaton
Fairy
0985 Scream Tail
No Eggs Discovered
0987 Flutter Mane
No Eggs Discovered
1025 Pecharunt
No Eggs Discovered
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


By breeding

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Egg Move
0133 Eevee Field
0158 Totodile Monster
Water 1
0173 Cleffa Fairy
0174 Igglybuff
Fairy
0209 Snubbull Field
Fairy
0216 Teddiursa Field
0285 Shroomish Fairy
Grass
0293 Whismur Monster
Field
0298 Azurill
Water 1
Fairy
0300 Skitty Field
Fairy
0311 Plusle Fairy ORAS
0312 Minun Fairy ORAS
0314 Illumise Bug
Human-Like
0327 Spinda Field
Human-Like
0361 Snorunt Fairy
Mineral
0403 Shinx Field
0417 Pachirisu Field
Fairy
0427 Buneary Field
Human-Like
0431 Glameow Field
0509 Purrloin Field
0527 Woobat
Field
Flying
0546 Cottonee
Grass
Fairy
0562 Yamask Mineral
Amorphous
0572 Minccino Field
0585 Deerling
Deerling
All forms

Field
0629 Vullaby
Flying
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


Special move

Generation V

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0174 Igglybuff
No Eggs Discovered Dream World - Pleasant Forest
0314 Illumise Bug
Human-Like
Dream World - Spooky Manor
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


Generation IX

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0135 Jolteon Field Wild Tera Pokémon - West Province (Area One)SV
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose Evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method.
An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.


In Pokémon Champions

# Pokémon Types Compatibility
0025 Pikachu
0026 Raichu
0026 Raichu
Raichu
Alolan Form

0036 Clefable
0038 Ninetales
0038 Ninetales
Ninetales
Alolan Form

0134 Vaporeon
0135 Jolteon
0136 Flareon
0154 Meganium
0160 Feraligatr
0184 Azumarill
0196 Espeon
0197 Umbreon
0303 Mawile
0358 Chimecho
0362 Glalie
0392 Infernape
0405 Luxray
0428 Lopunny
0461 Weavile
0470 Leafeon
0471 Glaceon
0478 Froslass
0510 Liepard
0547 Whimsicott
0560 Scrafty
0563 Cofagrigus
0571 Zoroark
0571 Zoroark
Zoroark
Hisuian Form

0678 Meowstic
Meowstic
All forms
0683 Aromatisse
0685 Slurpuff
0687 Malamar
0700 Sylveon
0758 Salazzle
0823 Corviknight
0861 Grimmsnarl
0866 Mr. Rime
0867 Runerigus
0869 Alcremie
Alcremie
All forms
0877 Morpeko
0908 Meowscarada
0925 Maushold
Maushold
All forms
0959 Tinkaton
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.
Italics indicates a Pokémon whose alternate form receives STAB from this move.
A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move in Pokémon Champions
in spite of it or its pre-evolution being able to learn it in at least one other game.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Fake Tears lowers the target's Sp. Defense by two stages. This move is affected by Magic Coat and Muzzled status condition.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB - - 22 - 100% - Front Enemy No
MDTDS - - 22 - 100% - Front Enemy No
BSL - - 22 - 100% - Front Enemy No
MDGtI - - 15 50 100% - Front Enemy No
SMD - - 15 30 100% - Front Enemy No
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including Fake Tears could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Fake Tears could be seen as a move used by Boss Bonsly.

Fake Tears
Charge time 1.06 seconds
Range type Arc (wide)
Target Enemy
Additional effect Defense ↓

Pokémon Masters EX

Name Category Move gauge cost MP
(uses)
Base power Max power Accuracy Target Effect tag Description Playable sync pair(s)
Fake Tears Status 2 100% An opponent Lowers the target's Sp. Def by two stat ranks. Dawn (Palentine's 2021) & Alcremie
Lyra & Vaporeon
Cheren & Purrloin
Marnie & Liepard
Bede & Mawile
Linnea (Furisode Girl) & Aromatisse
Buddy moves
Eerily Captivating Fake Tears Status 1 2 —% All opponents Sure Hit Activation Condition: When the user's Trainer uses any moves one time.

Deactivation Condition: When this move is used.

Never misses. Lowers the target's Sp. Atk and Sp. Def by two stat ranks. Lowers the target's Dark Type Rebuff by one rank.

Brycen-Man & Zoroark
Cute 'n' Bad Fake Tears Status 2 2 —% All opponents Activation Condition: When the user uses any move once.

Deactivation Condition: Cannot be deactivated.

Never misses. Lowers the Sp. Def of all opposing sync pairs by three stat ranks. Turns the field of play's zone into a Dark Zone. (A Dark Zone powers up Dark-type attacks.) Increases the Special Moves ↑ Next effect of all allied sync pairs by one rank.

Lacey (Fall 2025) & Whimsicott

Notes:

  • Fake Tears:
    • This move never misses when used by Marnie & Liepard due to their passive skill Piercing Gaze.
    • Description prior to Version 2.10.0 (from June 28, 2021): Sharply lowers the target's Sp. Def.

Pokémon UNITE

Fake Tears
Pokémon Move Icon Image Level Learned Cooldown Description

Umbreon
1 or 2 8s Has the user feign crying, dealing damage to nearby opposing Pokémon and decreasing their Defense and Sp. Def. Also grants the user a shield.

Description

Games Description
MDRB Lowers the target's Special Defense by two levels.
MDTDS Reduces the target's Special Defense by 2 levels.
BSL てきポケモンの とくぼうを 2だんかいさげる
MDGtI It sharply lowers the enemy's Special Defense.
SMD
MDRTDX
It sharply lowers the enemy's Sp. Def.


In animation

Pokémon animated series


Bonsly

Sudowoodo
The user feigns crying to make the foe feel flustered.
Pokémon Method
User First Used In Notes
Bonsly Bonsly pretends to cry, making actual tears come out of its eyes. It can also cry loudly, distorting the air around it.
A wild Bonsly Lucario and the Mystery of Mew Debut
A wild Bonsly Pikachu's Ghost Carnival None
Brock's Bonsly From Cradle to Save None
Sudowoodo Sudowoodo pretends to cry, causing the opponent to feel sorry for it.
Brock's Sudowoodo Battling a Cute Drama! None

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 假哭 Gáhūk
Mandarin 假哭 Jiǎkū
Dutch Neptranen
Finnish Tekokyyneleet
French Croco Larme
German Trugträne
Greek Ψεύτικα Δάκρυα Pséútika Dakrua
Indonesian Air Mata Buaya
Italian Falselacrime
Korean 거짓울음 Geojisureum
Polish Fałszywe Łzy
Portuguese Brazil Lágrimas Falsas (UNITE, TCG, manga)
Choro Falso (animated series)
Portugal Choro Falso
Romanian Lacrimile False
Serbian Lažne Suze
Spanish Latin America Llanto Falso (games, DP125–present)
Lágrimas Falsas (M08, AG156AG167)
Spain Llanto Falso
Vietnamese Nước Mắt Cá Sấu
Variations of the move Charm
CharmFeather DanceFake TearsCaptivateEerie Impulse
Generation VIII TMs
SwSh
0001020304050607080910111213141516171819
2021222324252627282930313233343536373839
4041424344454647484950515253545556575859
6061626364656667686970717273747576777879
8081828384858687888990919293949596979899
BDSP
0102030405060708091011121314151617181920
2122232425262728293031323334353637383940
4142434445464748495051525354555657585960
6162636465666768697071727374757677787980
81828384858687888990919293949596979899100
Generation VIII TRs (SwSh)
0001020304050607080910111213141516171819
2021222324252627282930313233343536373839
4041424344454647484950515253545556575859
6061626364656667686970717273747576777879
8081828384858687888990919293949596979899
Generation IX TMs
SV
001002003004005006007008009010011012013014015016017018019
020021022023024025026027028029030031032033034035036037038
039040041042043044045046047048049050051052053054055056057
058059060061062063064065066067068069070071072073074075076
077078079080081082083084085086087088089090091092093094095
096097098099100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114
115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133
134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152
153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171
Added in SV 2.0.1
172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186
187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201
Added in SV 3.0.0
202203204205206207208209210211212213214215
216217218219220221222223224225226227228229
ZA
001002003004005006007008009010011012013014015016017018019
020021022023024025026027028029030031032033034035036037038
039040041042043044045046047048049050051052053054055056057
058059060061062063064065066067068069070071072073074075076
077078079080081082083084085086087088089090091092093094095
096097098099100101102103104105106107
Added in ZA 2.0.0
108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126
127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145
146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160
This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.