The 10 Best Held Items In Pokémon, Ranked

When held items were introduced in Gen II, they added an extra dynamic and layer of strategy to the Pokémon games. The variety and effects of held items have increased from generation to generation, and there now exist a wide variety of them, from Assault Vests to Z-Crystals.

RELATED: 12 Pokémon With Surprisingly High Base Stats

Held items can mean the difference between losing a battle and staying in the fight. Depending on the Pokémon that hold them, they can turn a mediocre team into one to be feared. Competitive players use held items to get an edge over their opponents, aware that they are a key part of strategy in battle.

10 Eviolite Can Make Certain Pokémon Better Than Their Evolutions

If the Pokémon holding Eviolite can evolve, their Defense and Special Defense are raised by 50%. It can take unassuming Pokémon and turn them into valuable team members. It can even make some Pokémon better than their evolutions, such as Chansey, Porygon2, and Dusclops.

There are certain moves and abilities that evolved Pokémon can and can’t learn. Some of the abilities can even be detrimental, like Slaking’s Truant ability. Giving a pre-evolved Pokémon Eviolite can retain their move set while increasing their stats and avoiding unwanted abilities. There’s also something satisfying about winning a battle with a Pokémon that isn’t fully evolved.

9 Berries Have A Variety Of Uses

Berries were introduced in Gen II, along with the held items feature. The subsequent generations expanded the range of berries to include dozens of uses and effects. The Sitrus Berry is one of the more useful. If the user’s HP drops below 50%, it will restore 30% of their health (25% in Gen IV onwards).

The Lum Berry is another helpful item. It cures non-volatile status conditions such as Burn and Freeze, as well as Confusion. This negates the effectiveness of moves that exist solely to inflict such conditions, such as Will-O-Wisp.

8 Rocky Helmet Punishes Physical Attackers

Rocky Helmet damages Pokémon who make contact for a sixth of their health. This renders physical moves less appealing to the opponent and may force them into switching up their strategy. It also makes the moves U-turn and Rapid Spin less viable.

RELATED: 10 Pokémon That Would Be Overpowered If They Had An Evolution

Garchomp is a good choice to hold Rocky Helmet because of its typing and its Hidden Ability, Rough Skin. Rough Skin has the same effect as Rocky Helmet. Even though it inflicts less damage, it still makes for a potent combination when combined with Rocky Helmet.

7 Life Orb Can Turn The Tide Of A Match

The Gen IV held item Life Orb boosts the damage inflicted by damage-dealing moves by 30%. However, it also causes the holder to take damage equal to 10% of its maximum HP. The tradeoff is worth it when it comes to Pokémon with high Attack/Special Attack and HP, such as Mamoswine and Crabominable.

A wallbreaker like Hoopla Unbound benefits hugely from Life Orb due to its base Special Attack of 170 and Attack of 160. It also has favorable typing and STAB (Same-type attack bonus) moves.

6 Assault Vest Nullifies Special Attacks

The Assault Vest gives the holder a 50% increase in Special Defense, with the penalty of only being able to use attacking moves. This is especially useful on Pokémon who don’t rely on status moves to hurt the opponent.

A Pokémon like Goodra takes full advantage of the Assault Vest with a base Special Defense of 150, pretty much nullifying all Special Attacks it’s hit with. Also, its diverse move set means it has attacking moves that are effective against a wide range of types.

5 Focus Sash Lets The Holder Survive Powerful Attacks

Focus Sash leaves the holder with 1 HP when hit with a move that would otherwise cause it to faint. This includes self-inflicted damage from Confusion. It disappears after use, but it can keep a Pokémon in the fight to land the finishing blow or give the player a chance to heal.

It’s best used on offensive Pokémon or those with high speed. Boosting moves like Quiver Dance can be used immediately after Focus Sash to increase stats and give the holder an edge.

4 Weakness Policy Is A Risk Worth Taking

If it works, Weakness Policy can turn a threat into a much bigger threat. The item boosts both Attack and Special Attack by two stages, with the caveat that it only activates after the holder is hit with a super effective move.

It’s a bit of a risk because a super effective move might one-shot the holder. However, if the holder survives, it will become extremely powerful. For that reason, it’s best held by bulky Pokémon or those with a lot of HP.

3 Heavy-Duty Boots Negate Pesky Entry Hazards

Heavy-Duty Boots negate the effects of all entry hazards, such as Spikes or Stealth Rock. This can save a large amount of health and frees up the user to switch in and out a Pokémon they want to use frequently.

RELATED: 10 Pokémon Whose Pokédex Entries Don’t Match Their Stats

A Pokémon with the move Rapid Spin holding Heavy-Duty Boots can enter battle without taking damage, then clear the entry hazard for the other Pokémon on their team. Pokémon that are vulnerable to entry hazards like Cinderace are best suited to hold the Heavy-Duty Boots.

2 Choice Items Can Cause Chaos In Battle

Choice items heavily increase stats, but they limit the Pokémon to using only one move after. Still, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. There are 3 Choice items: Choice Band increases the holder’s Attack by 50%, Choice Specs boosts Special Attack by the same amount, and Choice Scarf increases Speed.

The Scarf is perhaps the most useful as it can give slower Pokémon the edge in battle. Choice items can also be used to limit the opponent. By using Trick, the user can swap one of the items with the opposing Pokémon, restricting them to just one move.

1 Leftovers Is An Invaluable Item That Restores Health On Every Turn

Leftovers restore 1/16th of a Pokémon’s total health at the end of each turn. This can mean the difference between having another attack or having to use up a turn by using a health item. It’s an invaluable item that many players in competitive Pokémon swear by.

It’s the opposite of a move like Stealth Rock, which inflicts damage every turn, effectively negating the effect of Leftovers. Leftovers can make Pokémon with high Defense like Bastiodon or Miltank very hard to kill. It’s especially useful for Pokémon who lack recovery moves.

NEXT: 15 Best Stone Wall Pokémon In The Games, Ranked