Random Battles: A Beginner’s Guide to Items

 

Now, when you went and played your first Random Battle after my last post, you probably felt a little like you jumped into the deep end of Cerulean City gym. Not to worry! I’m here to help you with some more tips and tricks I couldn’t fit into the first post without being overwhelming.

 

Let’s make like a Geodude, and rollout.

 

Items!

 

You’ve noticed that all your Pokemon have items. Now, there are far too many items for me to possibly explain them all, but here are the most basic ones.

Life Orb: this item increases damage done by all moves by 30%, but decreases a user’s health by 10% every time it attacks. This item is great for Pokemon who do a lot of damage but do not last too long before fainting.

 

Leftovers: this item heals a Pokemon by 6% at the end of every turn. This item is great for walls to last long!

Assault Vest/Eviolite: Assault Vest boosts a Pokemon’s special defense by 50% but the Pokemon can only use damaging moves. Eviolite boosts a Pokemon’s defense and special defense by 50% if the Pokemon can still evolve. Despite how situational these items are, they really hope Pokemon to take a hit and live longer.

Choice Specs/Band/Scarf: These items lock a Pokemon into only one move, but boosts special attack, attack, and speed respectively. You can however switch a Pokemon’s moves by switching the Pokemon out for another Pokemon, when you switch the Pokemon in, you can use a new move. For example, say you send out a Greninja with a choice scarf and you click Hydro Pump. If you switch out Greninja for Squirtle, and then switch it back in, Greninja can you any one of its four moves, for instance Dark Pulse.

 

Now some items have special effects, namely mega stones and z crystals.

 

If your Pokemon has a mega stone, it will be the Pokemon’s name – “ite”. For example Ampharos will be holding Ampharosite. If a Pokemon is holding a mega stone, always click “mega evolve” first turn before you click a move. This will turn your Pokemon into a stronger version of itself.

Z crystals, when you check off the “z-move” on the bottom will make a normal move of the same types a super-powerful move ONCE. For example Firium Z will make Flamethrower a super powerful move called Inferno Overdrive, but then after that, you can’t use Firium Z again. If you use a z-move on a status move, it will have a special effect. The best way to figure out what a status move does is often to just google it. Bulbapedia is a great resource.

I hope you were able to hold on to the items on this page and it all made sense. This probably seems overwhelming too, but just like last time, keep playing battles and it’ll become second nature to you, I promise.

 

As always, good luck, and have fun!