The following is a comprehensive guide to F.E.A.R. strategies.
What are F.E.A.R. strategies? Originally, F.E.A.R. meant a level 1 Focus Sash Endeavor Quick Attack Rattata. This Rattata could take out the strongest level 100 legendaries, provided they didn’t have priority moves. On the first turn, Rattata would be dropped to 1hp and use Endeavor, bringing its opponent to 1hp. Then, it would use Quick Attack to do that last 1 damage before its opponent could KO it. This cheesy strategy works very well especially if your opponent isn’t expecting it. Since then, F.E.A.R. has evolved to include many other level 1 Pokemon that can take out level 100’s. Below is a list of several Pokemon that can work. Useful abilities are Sturdy and Prankster, useful items are Focus Sash, Berry Juice, and Shell Bell. Each Pokemon will be displayed in Pokemon Showdown text based style, with a description of how it works and how to beat it.
Rattata @ Focus Sash
Ability: Guts
Level: 1
- Endeavor
- Quick Attack
- Toxic
- Pursuit
Turn 1 Endeavor, turn 2 Quick Attack. If you are sure they will switch, use Pursuit turn 2. If they didn’t attack you the first turn , you can finish them with Toxic instead of Quick Attack (which will do only 1 damage). This is the original F.E.A.R. and it is very effective in many situations. It is countered by: Ghost types, Iron Barbs/Rocky Helmet, Substitute, priority moves, multi-hit moves and status moves.
Taillow @ Focus Sash
Ability: Scrappy
Level: 1
- Endeavor
- Quick Attack
- Toxic
- Pursuit
This works exactly the same as Rattata, except with the ability Scrappy, you are no longer countered by ghost types. This makes Taillow just a bit better than Rattata, even though you are still countered by Iron Barbs/Rocky Helmet, Substitute, priority moves, multi-hit moves, and status moves.
Nosepass @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 1
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Pain Split
- Magic Coat
This is a strategy made semi-famous by Little Zubat (check him out on YouTube!) in which you can use Magic Coat or Stealth Rock turn 1, depending on if you expect an opponent to use Stealth Rock, Taunt, or a Status move. Once you are dropped to 1hp from Sturdy, your Berry Juice will kick in, healing you to full hp. Use Pain Split over and over, healing yourself and damaging your foe until your opponent is low enough to finish with Toxic (around 7.5% health). What’s nice about this strategy is it is much harder to deal with than a Rattata. If you try to switch out, you lose a spectacular amount of health to Stealth Rock and Pain Split. At worst, using this strategy will get you a KO and Rocks up. At best, the opponent will switch around and lose a ton of hit points to Pain Split and Rocks. This strategy is countered by: Steel Types, Poison Types, Immunity, Multi-hit moves, Substitute, Magic Guard, Mold Breaker/Terravolt/Turboblaze, status moves when not using Magic Coat, and attacking moves when using Magic Coat.
Swagnemite (Magnemite) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 1
Shiny: Yes
- Thunder Wave
- Swagger
- Magic Coat
- Recycle
Again, credit goes to Little Zubat. This strategy works by using Thunder Wave the first turn, getting knocked to 1hp and going back to full with Berry Juice. Use recycle to get your Berry Juice back over and over until your opponent is completely paralyzed for a turn. This will get you a Berry Juice for free, and therefore another turn. Use Swagger to confuse/double Attack of opponent, then continue spamming Recycle and Swagger, depending on if you have your Berry Juice or not. Keep in mind you have Magic Coat, so if you see Rocks or Status incoming, you can reflect it back onto your opponent. Eventually, your opponent will KO himself because of confusion and massive Attack stat. If your opponent decides to switch out, you get a free turn to use Thunder Wave or Swagger. If you are playing under the Swagger Clause, switch out Thunder Wave and Swagger for Toxic and Protect, allowing you to use Toxic first turn and wait out your opponents by alternatively using Protect and Recycle. This strategy is countered by Own Tempo, Magic Guard, Mold Breaker/Terravolt/Turboblaze, Substitute, multi-hit moves, status moves when not using Magic Coat, and attacking moves when using Magic Coat. It is semi-countered by Electric types, you simply have to use Swagger instead of Thunder Wave and hope your opponent doesn’t snap out of confusion. This strategy is also countered by Poison and Steel Types as well as Immunity if using the Toxic stall set.
Pineco @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 1
- Toxic
- Toxic Spikes
- Pain Split
- Rapid Spin
Pineco is a fantastic setup Pokemon, who works almost exactly the same way as Nosepass. Turn 1 is Toxic Spikes (or just Spikes, your choice), then Pain Split until your opponent is low enough (7.5%) to finish with Toxic. Alternatively, you can use Toxic Spikes again to get two layers up and kill your opponent with a high speed or priority move from your next Pokemon. Pineco cannot learn Magic Coat, but he can learn Rapid Spin which is also useful. Additionally, Pineco can learn Sandstorm which is useful if paired with an Aron. Pineco is countered by status moves, multi-hit moves, Substitute, Mold Breaker/Terravolt/Turboblaze, Magic Guard, Poison and Steel types, and Immunity.