How to Win Any Pokémon Battle With a Level 1 Rattata

Reviewed by Ishrak

Last Updated: March 10, 2023

Most people would expect a high level Pokémon to be able to completely obliterate a Level 1 Pokémon. However, the popular F.E.A.R. strategy, most famously used by a Rattata, can give a weak Pokémon an easy win against a significantly stronger one. Follow these guidelines carefully to achieve victory and humiliate your opponents.

Steps

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In order to use the F.E.A.R strategy, you will need to breed two Rattata that know particular moves. Get a male and a female Rattata and teach them Quick Attack (at level 4) and Endeavor (at level 44).
Breed the two Rattata and hatch the egg. This will allow you to have Quick Attack and Endeavor on a Level 1 Pokémon.

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This can be gotten from Route 221 in DP/Pt, as well as by spending 48 BP at the Battle Tower in DP/Pt, the Battle Frontier in HGSS, the Battle Subway in BW/BW2, and the Battle Maison in XY and ORAS. You can also purchase it for 24 BP at the Pokémon World Tournament in BW2. Give this item to the level 1 Rattata to hold.
4
Battle a sufficiently strong Pokémon with the level 1 Rattata as your lead. If in the middle of a battle, switch in the Rattata in a way that it will not take any damage. This can be done by switching it in when another Pokémon faints, when your opponent uses a non-damaging move, or when a slower Pokémon use U-Turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass after the opponent's attack. Make sure there are no entry hazards on the field, and Hail or Sandstorm is not active.
- Any damage the Rattata takes before it gets a turn, or that doesn't leave it at 1 HP, will break your Focus Sash and render your Rattata unable to win.
5
Choose Endeavor as your first move. Your opponent will hopefully hit your Rattata with a strong attack that would one-hit KO Rattata. The Focus Sash saves Rattata from getting one-shot, leaving it with 1 HP instead. Endeavor then makes your opponent's HP equal to Rattata's, putting it at 1 HP.
- If your opponent did not attack your Rattata or leave it at 1 HP, and its Focus Sash is not broken, use Endeavor again.
Since Quick Attack has priority, it will always move first regardless of speed, except against other priority moves. This will do the minimum of 1 damage, hopefully KOing the opposing Pokémon.

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Question

Why don't I just start with level 17?

Community Answer

Using a level one Rattata has more wow factor.

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Why did my Rattata die by a double kick when the battle had just started?

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The focus sash protects against moves that only hit once and won't work against a multi-hitting move. Double kicks hit more than once, so the focus sash won't work, and the Rattata will faint.

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Question

Do I have to breed them?

Caeiia

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If you already have a Rattata with Endeavor AND Quick Attack, then no. You need both moves on one Rattata for this to work.

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Tips

This strategy can also be used by any Pokémon capable of learning Endeavor and a Priority attack, or by Pokémon with Sturdy, Shell Bell or Berry Juice, Endeavor, and Priority. There are many other variations as well.

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Kangaskhan and Taillow with its Hidden Ability will have Scrappy, allowing it to hit Ghost types. Otherwise, normal attacks such as these won't do anything.

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Extreme speed and Feint have +2 priority, which will make them move before most other priority moves.

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Warnings

Multi-hitting moves will hit past your Focus Sash.

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If Rattata is inflicted with Burn or Poison, its Sash will be broken. If it's paralyzed or confused, you'll need some luck.

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If the opponent uses a Priority move before you can use Quick Attack, your Rattata will die.

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As Ghost-types are immune to Normal and Fighting-type attacks, Endeavor and Quick Attack will be ineffective.

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Shedinja will be immune to almost all moves used for this strategy because of its ability. Sucker Punch and Shadow Sneak will be able to hit it, and since it only has 1 base HP, you can KO it if its Focus Sash has already been broken.

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Forget using this strategy in Doubles or Triples.

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Embargo and Magic Room will eliminate the effect of your Focus Sash. Trick, Switcheroo, Thief, and Covet, as well as the abilities Magician and Pickpocket, will steal a held item. Don't worry about Knock Off, as it will trigger Focus Sash before it knocks it off.

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The item Rocky Helmet and the abilities Rough Skin and Iron Barbs will kill Rattata when it uses Endeavor.

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Sandstorm and Hail will break Focus Sash. These weather conditions can be applied without using a move if a Pokémon like Tyranitar, Hippowdon, or Abomasnow switches in. Ice types are immune to Hail and Rock, Ground, and Steel types are immune to Sandstorm.

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Leftovers or other HP recovery prevent Rattata from KOing the Pokémon.

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If the opponent switches out, their Pokémon will still be alive. This can be mitigated by strategic use of Pursuit.

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