Since Generation 2 in the Pokemon games, Pokemon have been able to hold items. They are used in battle, activating different effects based on the held item. Some restore HP, others provide huge boosts in stats.
As of Pokemon Sword & Shield, there are Berries, Colored Orbs, Drives, Power Items, Evolution Held Items, Experience Items, Gems, Incense, Mega Stones, Memories, Plates, Stat Items, Type Items, Z-Crystals, Effect Items, and Scarves. When Trainers are putting together their team, which are the best held items for their Pokemon?
Updated August 31, 2021 by Paul DiSalvo: As the Pokemon franchise has grown and changed over time, the same can be said for what makes Pokemon competitively viable. With each generation and update to the franchise, novel strategies and tools become prevalent as new metas emerge. Despite this, many of the most consistently useful held items in Pokemon have remained quite popular in competitive play for several generations running due to their reliability and consistency. The best items in Pokemon: Sword & Shield are determined by the Trainer's game plan, but there are a handful of options to stick out from the rest. While the single-player is easy enough that the game doesn't punish players for not effectively utilizing held items, the same cannot be said for the competitive scene.
14 Flame Orb And Poison Orb
To the uninitiated, the Flame Orb and Poison Orb are two items that make their user appear self-destructive at first glance. Burning and poisoning the respective Pokemon holding these items, the Flame Orb and Poison Orb do in fact cause a player’s own creature to slowly have their health drained over time.
However, these items can create a noteworthy benefit when paired with a Pokemon that is able to effectively use Facade. This attack becomes quite devastating when its user is inflicted with a status condition.
13 Rocky Helmet
Rocky Helmet is an excellent held item that is an outstanding choice for bulky walls on a player’s team. As long as a Pokemon is holding a Rocky Helmet, when it is hit by a physical attack, the attacking Pokemon takes a small amount of damage, much like the Iron Barbs ability.
This means a player can squeeze in additional damage with their bulky, defensive Pokemon, punishing an opponent’s physical offense.
12 White Herb
A consumable item, the White Herb is used and applied if the Pokemon holding it has any of its stats decreased, setting them back to normal. Against certain strategies, this item can be a lifesaver.
While this can prevent an opponent from decreasing a key Pokemon’s stats, the usefulness of the White Herb comes in its ability to subvert the drawbacks of incredible offensive moves like Draco Meteor or Close Combat that decrease the user’s stats after being used.
11 Heavy Duty Boots
One of the most frequent hazards a player will face when playing Pokemon is Stealth Rock. This move causes the opponent’s Pokemon to sustain Rock-type damage upon entering a battle; consequently, Stealth Rock can deal substantial damage to any Pokemon weak to Rock. It is especially devastating against the likes of Charizard since both of its types are weak to rock.
Luckily, the Heavy Duty Boots item allows Pokemon to enter a fight without needing to worry about Stealth Rock, as it negates the damage from such hazards.
10 Eject Pack
If a Pokemon is holding the Eject Pack, they will be automatically switched out for another Pokemon (the trainer's choice) when its stats are lowered. This will not work if the Pokemon faints or the trainer has no other Pokemon to swap with. Also, there is no effect with wild Pokemon.
Upon use, the Eject Pack is consumed too. It works with moves like Overheat but does not, on the other hand, with moves like Parting Shot.
9 Eviolite
If a Pokemon is holding the Eviolite, and they are not fully evolved, their Defense and Special Defense are increased by 50 percent. (Another use for it is not evolving said Pokemon when leveling up, as it normally would.)
However, it actually does not affect Pikachu, Meowth, or Eevee if they are able to Gigantamax. Also, Meltan is not affected, since it cannot evolve in the games (just Pokemon GO).
8 Life Orb
If a Pokemon is holding the Life Orb, their damage goes up by 30 percent each time the move is used...but they take damage equal to 10 percent of their maximum HP afterward. Actually, the Pokemon takes damage anyways even if the move does no damage. But damage from confusion is not included here.
While a Pokemon is in Dynamax mode, the damage taken from the Life Orb is applied to the non-Dynamax version's maximum HP, fortunately!
7 Choice Scarf
If a Pokemon is holding the Choice Scarf, their Speed goes up by 50 percent. However, only the first move they use in the battle is allowed. This lock is removed when the Pokemon is withdrawn (and then thrown in again for the same battle).
Some moves that take advantage of the Choice Scarf's capabilities are Flip Turn, Parting Shot, U-turn, and Volt Switch.
6 Assault Vest
If a Pokemon is holding the Assault Vest, their Special Defense increases 50 percent, straight-up. However, they are not allowed to use status moves anymore. That being said, moves like Me First and Instruct still work as do Abilities like Dancer.
In fact, if the Pokemon only knows status moves or is subjected to Encore or Torment, they will Struggle. And, Dynamax does not affect the restrictions put on by the Assault Vest
5 Choice Band
If a Pokemon is holding the Choice Band, their Attack improves by 50 percent. However, only the first move they use in the battle is allowed. This lock is removed when the Pokemon is withdrawn (and then thrown in again for the same battle).
Some moves that take advantage of the Choice Band's capabilities are Focus Punch, Giga Impact, Head Smash, Sky Attack, Bolt Strike, Flare Blitz, Gunk Shot, Megahorn, Power Whip, and Outrage.
4 Focus Sash
If a Pokemon is holding the Focus Sash, they will cling onto 1 HP when hit with an attack that would have otherwise caused them to faint. This does not work with multi-strike moves but does the job with self-inflicted confusion damage. Also, Focus Sash does not have any effect on Future Sight or Doom Desire.
Once used, the Focus Sash is consumed. The Pokemon that used this held item the most are referred to as "glass cannons." They have high offense, but low defense.
3 Choice Specs
Pokemon holding the Choice Specs item received a 50 percent increase to their Special Attack. However, only the first move they use in the battle is allowed. This lock is removed when the Pokemon is withdrawn (and then thrown in again for the same battle).
Some moves that take advantage of the Choice Specs's capabilities are Eruption, Frenzy Plant, Hydro Cannon, Hyper Beam, Water Spout, Draco Meteor, Belch, Focus Blast, and Zap Cannon.
2 Leftovers
If a Pokemon is holding the Leftovers, at the end of each turnthey heal 1/16 of their maximum HP.
This might not seem like a lot but there are Pokemon like Blissey, Chansey, and Wailmer that have ridiculously high HP and could benefit greatly from such an item. Leftovers is an option that is worth throwing on a Pokemon when there isn't a held item tailor-made for them or to counter an upcoming situation. It provides a small but not insignificant advantage in any battle.
1 Sitrus Berry
If a Pokemon is holding the Sitrus Berry, they will heal back 25 percent of their maximum HP when their HP during battle falls below 50 percent.
In fact, trainers can capitalize on the potential of the Sitrus Berry. In competitions, Pokemon in the party may only hold one of each item. Therefore, to have more than one Pokemon use a Sitrus Berry, trainers may try the Figy Berry, the Wiki Berry, the Mago Berry, the Aguav Berry, and the Iapapa Berry. If the Pokemon uses the right Berry according to their nature, they will not become confused upon consumption of it and the item will just restore their health.