Pokemon Scarlet & Violet not only brought in new Pokemon for players to encounter and collect as they explore Paldea, but also new mechanics, features, and held items. Items are the second most important aspect to consider in competitive battling because they provide necessary boosts and benefits for Pokemon in order to gain the upper hand.
Pivot Pokemon are also important when it comes to competitive battling. Pivot Pokemon are Pokemon that usually have a lot of health and defensive stats making it safer to switch in and out. These Pokemon can even be used to force the opponent to switch, so understanding the best held items for pivots can be very important.
7 Leftovers
Leftovers is one of the most popular items and has been a part of Pokemon for many of the franchise's generations. This item is a great choice for Pokemon in general, but even more so for pivot Pokemon. Leftovers is a held item that allows its holder to gain a little HP every turn.
Though the health gain may not be much, it can quickly add up, or even just be enough health to protect the holder from being knocked out during an important match. For pivots, Leftovers can be used to soften the blow from an attack after switching out.
6 Covert Cloak
Covert Cloak is one of the newest items that Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have introduced to players as they journey throughout the Spanish-themed Paldea. Covert Cloak is a great item for many Pokemon, especially those that may not fend well against Pokemon types that encourage afflictions like Burn.
Covert Cloak is a held item that states that moves that hit the holder won't have their extra effects activated. For instance, if a Pokemon is holding Covert Cloak and is hit with Rock Slide, the Pokemon won't flinch.
5 Clear Amulet
Clear Amulet is another item that has been recently unveiled in the 9th generation Pokemon games and is one of the best items for pivot Pokemon to hold. Clear Amulet states that the holder of the item cannot have its stats lowered by attacks or any abilities.
Since there are plenty of Pokemon with attacks that lower the stats of the opposing Pokemon, Clear Amulet can be a great save for pivot Pokemon as they switch out. This is especially true when combating a Pokemon with an ability like Intimidate.
4 Choice Scarf
Choice Scarf is an amazing item for sweepers, but the same is true for pivot Pokemon as well. Choice Scarf, in general, is a fantastically beneficial item for any slower Pokemon to hold, as long as the player is weary of its requirements.
Choice Scarf is a held item that will boost its holder's speed stat, but the Pokemon that is holding Choice Scarf can only use one move. This item has a great boost at the cost of only using one move, but for many Pokemon, this trade off is well worth it. With pivots, this item can be helpful against out-speeding sweepers.
3 Mirror Herb
Mirror Herb is a great item for pivots, sweepers, all-rounders, walls, and more. Mirror Herb is an item that almost all competitive Pokemon can make efficient use of, and pivot Pokemon can easily find the item useful. Mirror Herb is a held item that allows its holder to mimic a stat increase that the opposing Pokemon receives.
With pivot Pokemon, this means that they will receive boosts to their stats from opposing Pokemon that rely on having their stats increased, like Sword Dance users, Dragon Dance users, or even Lightning Rod Pokemon.
2 Light Clay
Light Clay is a blessing of an item for many supportive and defensive Pokemon, which covers most of the most popular pivot Pokemon. Light Clay is a held item that allows any protective moves from the Pokemon holding Light Clay to last longer.
This means that a Pokemon that uses Reflect or Light Screen won't have to worry about that move being depleted over time. This item is great with pivot Pokemon so they can switch out and throw out a protective move.
1 Heavy Duty Boots
Heavy Duty Boots aren't seen too often in competitive battling when considering Pokemon and their held items, but it is a great held item to use for pivot Pokemon. This is because pivot Pokemon are mostly relied on for being switched out of battle to face the opponent, save the previous Pokemon, or scare away the opposing Pokemon because of type advantages.
Heavy Duty Boots sync well with those Pokemon because this held item states that the holder of Heavy Duty Boots won't be affected by trap moves on the field, like Spikes. As a result, Pokemon holding Heavy Duty Boots can switch in and out without having to worry about entry hazards.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.