The Focus Sash is a desirable Held Item in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl because of its ability to keep Pokemon from dying. If at full HP when a potential KO attack lands, it will instead endure with 1 HP.
This may not sound impressive, but it gives that Pokemon a chance to use an effective move that inflicts a status effect on an enemy. Or, use a chain of attacks if they have the ability to cause hindrances like flinch or paralyze. This is useful when attempting a battle with a tough trainer, like at the Battle Tower in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Updated on March 23, 2022 by Renri Seong: When challenging trainers in the Battle Tower or in competitive battling, it's 100% guaranteed that every Pokemon on the opponent's team will be holding an item. Most held items are Berries that will soften moves that it's weak against, but others will equip items that boost their defense or same-type attack. One held item that seems to be a favorite is the Focus Sash. This item functions similarly to the Sturdy Ability and the Endure move. However, it will break after one use. Using the focus sash strategically can be tricky, but those that have mastered it will find they have the advantage in any battle. The following guide has been updated to include an example of a Focus Sash strategy, and a list of Pokemon that should hold the Focus Sash into battle.
How to Get Focus Sash in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
There are 2 ways to get the Focus Sash in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl:
- Showing the old man on Route 221 a Pokemon at the required level.
- Buying it from Battle Tower.
The old man on Route 221 is located inside a house amongst the trees. To get to the house, players will have to travel to Sandgem Town and use Surf in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl to get across the water.
The NPC will ask trainers to show him a Pokemon at a very specific level from 1-100. This is random, so there is no way to know what level to try and get a character to before speaking to him. Once a Pokemon at the required level has been shown to the old man, he will first award a Black Belt. The next day, after showing another character at a random level, he gives trainers the Expert Belt. Although useful, these belts aren't really capable of creating the strongest Pokemon/Item combinations.
On the third day of repeating this task, players will finally receive the Focus Sash. To speed the process up, players should use fly in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl to make their way back to the old man once ready.
This is only one sash, however, and as they break after each use, players will want to get more. Once the Elite Four and Cynthia are defeated, and players get the National Dex in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, they can buy Focus Sashes.
One Focus Sash costs 15 Battle Points. BP is earned by participating in Battle Tower fights and achieving winning streaks. Once enough have been earned, exit the Tower building and enter the door just below, on the left. Go to the shopkeeper behind the desk, who will have a variety of items for sale. Scroll down to Focus Sash and purchase it for 15 BP.
Focus Sash Strategy for Battle
One way trainers have used a Focus Sash in battle is by giving it to a Pokemon that knows the move Endeavor. For clarification, Endeavor will lower the opponent's HP to equal that of the user.
Here's a scenario:
- Starly is a Normal/Flying-type Pokemon that learns Endeavor at level 17. Pitting it against a Pokemon that's level 35 will undoubtedly 1HKO Starly.
- Make sure Starly is holding the Focus Sash before sending it into battle.
- Chances are, the opponent Pokemon will attack first. Normally, Starly would faint if it wasn't holding the Focus Sash. Instead, its HP will be brought down to 1HP.
- On Starly's turn, it uses Endeavor, which drops the level 35 Pokemon's HP to 1HP - the same as Starly's.
- Now, Starly has the chance to use Quick Attack, a priority move that will always strike first. This will allow it to knock out the opposing Pokemon.
As long as the opposing Pokemon doesn't have a priority move too, the 1HP Pokemon (Starly) will be able to successfully defeat its opponent. However, if the opponent counters with a Quick Attack or Ice Shard of its own, then the Focus Sash strategy will fail and Starly will be defeated.
Which Pokemon Should "Use" the Focus Sash
Pokemon that have high Special Attack or Attack can benefit well from the Focus Sash. If they have high Speed, then that can work in their favor as well. Pokemon like Azelf and Gengar have high Special Attack and Speed, while Pokemon like Snorlax have high Attack but extremely low Speed. The point of the Focus Sash is to give it to a Pokemon that also has mediocre Defense/Special Defense, since the Pokemon needs to be at full HP for the item to work.
For as powerful as these three Pokemon are, their Defenses aren't too special, and they can easily be 1HKO'd by the opponent. By having the Focus Sash, a super effective move will bring them down to 1 HP. Fast and strong Pokemon like Azelf will then be able to move first on the next turn, given that the opponent doesn't have priority moves or is holding a Quick Claw.
The slow Snorlax will instead have the chance to knock out the opponent on its first turn. If a Pokemon moves first and uses a Fighting-type move on a Focus Sash-wielding Snorlax, Snorlax will withstand with 1HP and then take its turn.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are out now for Nintendo Switch.
