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- Different types of held items
- Abilities and Movements Affecting Held Objects
Just like in standard gameplay, competitive pokemon players participating in the Video Game Championships (VGC) tournaments can use certain items to aid in Pokemon battles. Good combat strategy consists of using the right items and with the right timing can be a turning point in any match.
There are restrictions on what items can be used in the VGC. The only items allowed are held items and berries, both of which Pokemon can hold and use themselves in the middle of a match. Things like Potions, Full Restores and Revives are not allowed. Nevertheless, players have many items and consumables to choose from in competitive pokemon.
Different types of held items
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Held items can be found in various places in the game. They come in a few varieties: HP restore, status change, stat boost, and a few others that don’t fit neatly into those categories. In-game they can be found under the Other Items tab, along with brief descriptions of their use. These items are usually reusable, but some only work with specific Pokemon.
Berries, also considered retained items, are consumable fruits that grow in a variety of locations. Berries are used only once and fall into the same categories as non-consumable items. However, there is a chance that a Pokemon will not like the taste of some berries, and it will usually backfire by causing confusion.
HP recovery
Some held items can restore HP or boost HP stealing moves in a match. They are best used on Pokemon that can take a fair amount of damage to get the most out of them.
Examples of these items include Leftovers, Shell Bells, and Big Root. Berries that restore HP are automatically activated once a Pokemon’s HP level reaches a certain point. These include Aguav, Mago, Wiki, Iapapa, and Figy berries.
Reinforcing Items
Some items are intended to make Pokemon more powerful or give temporary abilities – held items can work both offensively and defensively in competitive battles.
For example, players can maximize their damage output by using a Rocky Helmet, which damages the Pokemon that makes contact with the holder. With a more defensive strategy, Air Balloon makes the user resistant to ground-type moves. With moves like Earthquake popular in the meta, this item comes in very handy. Another defensive item is Heavy-Duty Boots, which protect the holder from falling on the battlefield.
Stat Boosting
Stat-boosting items increase speed, defense or attack. Speed control is especially useful in VGC competitions; making certain Pokemon faster can completely change the battle outcome, especially when combined with items that produce stronger offensive and defensive base stats. Choice Scarf, Eviolite, and Snowball are all stat-boosting items.
In addition, certain berries can increase attack and defense stats, such as Liechi and Ganlon berries. There are also others that reduce damage from type-specific moves, such as Roseli, Passho, and Rindo Berries.
Other
There are some common items in the VGC that have surprising methods of turning the match in one’s favour.
For example, some items like Flame Orb and Sticky Barb have a give and take system. A Flame Orb burns the container, but this prevents it from gaining another status condition. Combine this with the Guts skill, and it can be an offensive play on the player’s part. Sticky Barb works somewhat similarly by dealing damage to the Pokemon holding it, but it can be transferred to the other Pokemon when the holder is hit with contact moves.
Another item affected by physical movement is the eject button. When hit with a move that causes any amount of damage, the user will be knocked out for a Pokemon of the player’s choice. This works well with glass cannons, as players can take them out before they take too much damage and potentially deal more damage.
Abilities and Movements Affecting Held Objects
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Some Pokemon have abilities or moves that interact with held items. Some of the possible interactions include stealing, recovering berries, boosting their effects, preventing Pokemon from eating consumables, or disabling item effects in battle. These moves and skills can give players the upper hand in a match and surprise their opponents.
Below are some common skills that affect held items:
fresh: Reveals an opponent’s held item when going into battle.
Harvest: Will sometimes recover an eaten berry after a turn.
Pickpocket: If the user’s Pokemon doesn’t have a held item, they can steal an opponent’s held item after a contact move like Tackle or Sucker Punch.
Typical moves that affect items include the following:
Thief: The user can steal the held item from his opponent.
Knock: The items the target is holding will be disabled for the rest of the battle.
switcheroo: The user and the target trade held items. This move goes well with the Frisk ability.
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