As a seasoned Pokemon trainer with over two decades of experience, I’ve come to appreciate the profound impact that held items can have on battle outcomes. These seemingly small accessories can turn the tide of a match, transforming an average Pokemon into a formidable force. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best Pokemon held items, their strategic uses, and how to leverage them for maximum effectiveness in battle.
Introduction to Pokemon Held Items
Held items are special objects that Pokemon can carry into battle, providing various benefits such as stat boosts, healing effects, or unique abilities. Understanding the role of held items is crucial for any trainer looking to gain a competitive edge. These items can complement a Pokemon’s strengths, mitigate weaknesses, or introduce unexpected elements to your strategy.
The world of Pokemon held items is vast and diverse, ranging from simple berries that restore health to complex devices that alter battle dynamics. As we delve deeper into this guide, we’ll categorize items based on their primary functions: offensive, defensive, utility, and non-consumable.
Top Offensive Held Items
Life Orb
The Life Orb is a powerhouse among offensive items, increasing the damage of all attacking moves by 30%. This significant boost comes at a cost – the holder loses 10% of its maximum HP with each attack. The Life Orb is ideal for Pokemon with high offensive stats and the ability to end battles quickly. It’s particularly effective on some of the best psychic Pokemon known for their powerful special attacks.
Choice Band
For physical attackers, the Choice Band is unparalleled. It boosts Attack by a whopping 50%, but locks the user into the first move selected until switched out. This item is perfect for Pokemon with a powerful signature move or those intended for specific matchups.
Choice Specs
The special attack equivalent of Choice Band, Choice Specs increases Special Attack by 50% with the same move-locking drawback. It’s a go-to item for special sweepers looking to maximize their damage output.
Muscle Band
While not as potent as the Choice items, the Muscle Band offers a more flexible 10% boost to physical moves without restricting move selection. It’s an excellent choice for Pokemon that rely on a variety of physical attacks.
Top Defensive Held Items
Leftovers
A staple in competitive play, Leftovers restores 1/16th of the holder’s maximum HP at the end of each turn. This continuous healing makes it invaluable for bulky Pokemon designed to withstand prolonged battles. It’s particularly useful for some of the best non-legendary Pokemon that excel in defensive roles.
Assault Vest
The Assault Vest increases Special Defense by 50%, a substantial boost for Pokemon vulnerable to special attacks. The trade-off is the inability to use status moves, making it best suited for offensively-oriented Pokemon that don’t rely on status effects.
Focus Sash
For fragile Pokemon with crucial roles, the Focus Sash is a lifesaver. It ensures that the holder survives any single attack with 1 HP if at full health. This can be the difference between setting up a key strategy and being knocked out immediately.
Eviolite
Unevolved Pokemon gain a new lease on life with Eviolite, which boosts both Defense and Special Defense by 50%. This item can make certain pre-evolved forms surprisingly viable in competitive play, even turning some of the weakest Pokemon cards into potential threats.
Utility and Situational Items
Lum Berry
The Lum Berry cures any status condition once, providing a safeguard against debilitating effects like paralysis or sleep. It’s particularly useful in formats where status moves are prevalent.
Quick Claw
Granting a 20% chance to move first in its priority bracket, the Quick Claw can turn slower Pokemon into surprise threats. It’s an excellent choice for powerful but sluggish Pokemon.
Wide Lens
Increasing accuracy by 10%, the Wide Lens is perfect for Pokemon relying on moves with less-than-perfect accuracy. It can make high-risk, high-reward moves more reliable.
Safety Goggles
Protecting against powder moves and weather damage, Safety Goggles are a niche but powerful item in certain metagames. They’re particularly useful against teams heavily reliant on sleep powder or sandstorm strategies.
Non-Consumable Held Items
Wise Glasses
Boosting Special Attack by 10%, Wise Glasses provide a consistent increase in power for special attackers without the drawbacks of Choice Specs.
Muscle Band
We mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth noting again as a non-consumable item. The 10% boost to physical moves makes it a reliable choice for many Pokemon.
Black Sludge
Poison-type Pokemon gain a healing effect similar to Leftovers with Black Sludge, while it damages non-Poison types. This dual nature makes it a unique and powerful item in the right hands.
Choice Scarf
Increasing Speed by 50%, the Choice Scarf can turn average-speed Pokemon into priority threats. Like other Choice items, it locks the user into one move, requiring careful strategic planning.
Held Items in Competitive Play
In competitive Pokemon battles, held items often define strategies and team compositions. Choice items are frequently used to create “wallbreakers” – Pokemon designed to punch through defensive teams. The Life Orb is a favorite for “sweepers” that aim to knock out multiple opponents in succession.
Focus Sash is crucial for “lead” Pokemon that set up entry hazards or for frail attackers that need to survive to execute a specific strategy. Leftovers, meanwhile, is almost ubiquitous on defensive Pokemon, allowing them to stall out opponents and recover HP over time.
Held Items in Pokemon GO
While the main series games offer a wide variety of held items, Pokemon GO has its own unique approach to items. Instead of held items, trainers use items directly during encounters or battles. For example, berries can be fed to wild Pokemon to make them easier to catch. If you’re looking to optimize your Pokemon GO experience, check out our guide on the best places to play Pokemon GO.
How to Choose the Right Held Item
Selecting the optimal held item requires careful consideration of your Pokemon’s strengths, weaknesses, and role within your team. A fast, frail attacker might benefit from a Focus Sash to ensure it can attack at least once, while a bulky defender could make great use of Leftovers for sustained healing.
Consider your team composition as well. If you have multiple Pokemon weak to a specific type, items like Safety Goggles or Air Balloon can provide crucial protection. Always be aware of the current metagame too – if status effects are common, Lum Berries become more valuable.
When dealing with legendary Pokemon, item choice becomes even more critical. For instance, shiny legendary Pokemon are not only rare and valuable but often have impressive base stats that can be further enhanced with the right held item.
Conclusion
The world of Pokemon held items is rich with strategic depth. From the raw power boost of Life Orb to the strategic flexibility of Leftovers, these items can dramatically alter the course of a battle. As you build your teams and refine your strategies, remember that the right held item can often be the key to victory.
Mastering the use of held items is a crucial step in becoming a top-tier Pokemon trainer. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each item, and how they interact with different Pokemon and strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to face any challenge in the world of Pokemon battles.
FAQs about Pokemon Held Items
- Can all Pokemon hold items? Yes, all Pokemon can hold one item at a time.
- Do held items get used up in battle? Some items, like berries, are consumed when their effect activates. Others, like Leftovers or Choice items, remain with the Pokemon unless removed.
- Can I change my Pokemon’s held item during a battle? Generally, no. Held items can only be changed outside of battle.
- Are there any downsides to using held items? Some items, like Choice items or Life Orb, come with drawbacks to balance their powerful effects. It’s important to weigh these cons against the pros.
- How do I obtain held items in Pokemon games? Held items can be found in the overworld, purchased from shops, or sometimes held by wild Pokemon. In competitive play, you typically have access to all items for team building.
Remember, the key to mastering Pokemon battles lies not just in choosing the right items, but in understanding how to use them effectively within your overall strategy. Happy battling, trainers!
