Since the competitive scene has been set in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, players are starting to mold their perfect team of Pokemon, accompanied by the perfect held items for each member of their team. Held items are of great importance when it comes to competitive Pokemon battling, as they provide genuine boosts or abilities that can change the entire course of battle.
For sweeping Pokemon, there are plenty of different items to utilize in order to further their chances of victory in a close match. These Pokemon are very important when it comes to competitive battling, and that's because they're arguably the main focal point for taking out the opposing Pokemon. It's not only important to have great Pokemon built for sweeping an enemy's team, but it is also necessary for a sweeping Pokemon to hold an item that furthers its capabilities or defends it from disruptive actions.
6 Ability Shield
Ability Shield is a newer item that Pokemon are able to make use of. This held item will protect its holder's ability from being changed or manipulated. A lot of sweepers are heavily reliant on their ability in order to take charge in battle with full confidence, so this item can prove really important.
That means that Pokemon that try to disrupt or make negative changes to opposing Pokemon will find a Pokemon holding an Ability Shield to be rather tricky, especially when that Pokemon has a great ability like Magic Guard. Sweepers can battle their hearts out knowing that the ability that they may rely on cannot be changed, which can be crucial for the offensive Pokemon.
5 Air Balloon
Air Balloon is a great held item for Pokemon that are weak to Ground-type moves, like Fire, Poison, Electric, Rock, and Steel-type Pokemon. This held item allows its holder to levitate in the air, essentially giving the Pokemon the ability Levitate for a little bit.
This will protect that Pokemon from Ground-type moves, but once that Pokemon is hit, the balloon pops, and the Pokemon will be back on the ground. For sweeping Pokemon, this item can be a great counter to Pokemon that have Ground-type moves, so that Pokemon may stay in battle longer.
4 Choice Scarf
Choice Scarf is an item that just about any Pokemon can great make use of, especially Pokemon that have a type advantage over several different Pokemon types, like a Ground or Fairy-type Pokemon. Not only that, but Choice Scarf is great for sweepers that are used as a type-coverage sweeper, meaning that the Pokemon can be faster while using one necessary move without needing any other moves.
That is because Choice Scarf has the ability to boost its holder's speed, with the caveat being that the holder of the Choice Scarf will only be able to use one move. Though that could be an upset with many Pokemon that have a wide range of attacks, for many sweepers, the Choice Scarf is an amazing tool that can allow slower Pokemon to out-speed opponents.
3 Weakness Policy
There are many different items that focus on aspects pertaining to various Pokemons' different typings, but one of the best items that do so is the Weakness Policy item. Weakness Policy is a held item that allows the holder to boost its Attack and Special Attack stats after the Pokemon is hit by a move that is super effective against it.
Every Pokemon type has a weakness, and for those Pokemon that are efficient as sweeping Pokemon, this item can prove fatal against a Pokemon with good defensive stats, allowing them to sweep the opposing team with Weakness Policy.
2 Mirror Herb
Mirror Herb is another newer item that was introduced in Scarlet & Violet, and is easily one of the best out there, especially for sweepers and pivot Pokemon. Mirror Herb is a held item that allows its holder to gain the same stat-boost that the opposing Pokemon gains, though only once.
For instance, if an opposing Pokemon used Sword Dance, the Pokemon with Mirror Herb will also have their Attack stat raised. Since offensive Pokemon are naturally on the front lines, that Pokemon can potentially gain a free boost to its stats, which can be great in the long run.
1 Focus Sash
This item is one of the most popular items in the entire Pokemon community and for very good reason. The Focus Sash is an item that can be held by a Pokemon and, if it is at full HP, will allow that Pokemon to survive an attack that would otherwise have taken it out in a single hit.
For instance, if a Pikachu, an Electric-type Pokemon, held Focus Sash and Metagross used Earthquake against it, Pikachu would survive the attack with one hit-point. This item can be crucial for offensive Pokemon that have crazy high Attack stats but falls short in the Defense department. It's also a great counter in terms of type advantages.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.