Since Generation 2 in thePokemongames,Pokemonhave 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.
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As ofPokemon 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 thebest held items for their Pokemon?
Updated June 06, 2025 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 usefulheld items in Pokemonhave 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.
14Flame 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.
13Rocky Helmet
Rocky Helmet is anexcellent held itemthat is an outstanding choice for bulky walls on a player’s team. As long as a Pokemon is holding a Rocky Helmet, whenit is hit by a physical attack, the attacking Pokemon takes a small amount of damage, much like the Iron Barbs ability.
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This means a player can squeeze in additional damage with their bulky, defensive Pokemon, punishing an opponent’s physical offense.
12White 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.
11Heavy 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, theHeavy Duty Boots item allows Pokemon to enter a fight without needing to worry about Stealth Rock, as it negates the damage from such hazards.
10Eject 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.
9Eviolite
If a Pokemon is holding the Eviolite, andthey 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).
8Life 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.
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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!
7Choice 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.
6Assault 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
5Choice Band
If a Pokemon is holding the Choice Band,their Attack improvesby 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.
