Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Emerald

Held Items

Master Held Items in Pokémon Emerald. Learn which items like the Leftovers provide crucial battle advantages and where to find them for any trainer.

·Multi-source verified (96/96)

Held Items

Held items are invaluable tools in Pokémon Emerald, offering a diverse range of tactical advantages that can turn the tide of any battle. From passive HP recovery to stat boosts and status condition cures, understanding and utilizing held items is crucial for any aspiring Pokémon Champion. This comprehensive guide will delve into the most impactful held items, where to find them, and how to best integrate them into your team's strategy.

Understanding Held Item Mechanics

  • Single Use vs. Persistent: Some items, like Berries, are consumed upon use in battle. Others, like Leftovers or Choice Band, provide continuous effects as long as they are held.
  • Activation Conditions: Many items activate under specific conditions (e.g., HP falling below a certain threshold for Salac Berry, or being hit by a super-effective attack for an Expert Belt).
  • Strategic Depth: Held items allow for greater customization and strategic depth, enabling Pokémon to fulfill roles they might not otherwise be suited for, or enhancing their natural strengths.
  • Berry Tag: When encountering a wild Pokémon, a small "Berry Tag" icon will appear next to its name if it is holding a Berry. This is a visual cue to help you identify potential Berry sources.
  • Compound Eyes Ability: Pokémon with the Compound Eyes ability (e.g., Nincada, Yanma) increase the chance of wild Pokémon holding items when they are at the front of your party. This is incredibly useful for farming specific held items.

Essential Held Items and Where to Find Them

1. Berries: Nature's Bounty

Berries are the most common type of held item and offer a wide array of effects, from restoring HP and curing status conditions to reducing damage from specific attack types. They are consumed upon use in battle.

Key Berries & Locations:
  • Oran Berry: Restores 10 HP.
    • Location: Abundant on Berry trees throughout Hoenn (e.g., Route 102, Route 104). Often held by wild Pokémon such as Zigzagoon, Poochyena, and Wurmple. A reliable early-game recovery option.
  • Sitrus Berry: Restores 1/4 of max HP. A significant upgrade from Oran Berry.
    • Location: Found on Berry trees throughout Hoenn (e.g., Route 119, Route 123). Can also be obtained daily from the Berry Master's wife on Route 123 by telling her the phrase "GREAT BATTLE".
  • Leppa Berry: Restores 10 PP to a move.
    • Location: Found on Berry trees (e.g., Route 103, Route 110). Often held by wild Absol.
  • Chesto Berry: Cures Sleep.
    • Location: Found on Berry trees (e.g., Route 104, Route 116). Often held by wild Spinda.
  • Cheri Berry: Cures Paralysis.
    • Location: Found on Berry trees (e.g., Route 103, Route 116). Often held by wild Zigzagoon.
  • Pecha Berry: Cures Poison.
    • Location: Found on Berry trees (e.g., Route 102, Route 104). Often held by wild Oddish or Gulpin.
  • Rawst Berry: Cures Burn.
    • Location: Found on Berry trees (e.g., Route 112, Route 114). Often held by wild Vulpix.
  • Aspear Berry: Cures Freeze.
    • Location: Found on Berry trees (e.g., Route 113, Route 120). Often held by wild Sealeo.
  • Lum Berry: Cures any status condition.
    • Location: Very rare. Can be obtained from the Berry Master's wife on Route 123 by telling her the phrase "COOL LATIOS" or "COOL LATIAS" (depending on which Eon Pokémon you chose).
  • Starf Berry: Sharply raises a random stat when HP is low.
    • Location: Extremely rare. Can be obtained from the Berry Master's wife on Route 123 by telling her the phrase "CHALLENGE CONTEST".
  • Liechi Berry, Ganlon Berry, Salac Berry, Petaya Berry, Apicot Berry: These rare berries boost a specific stat (Attack, Defense, Speed, Sp. Atk, Sp. Def respectively) when HP falls below 1/4.
    • Location: These are exceptionally rare and cannot be found growing on trees or held by wild Pokémon in Emerald. They are primarily obtained through the Berry Blending mechanic in Lilycove City when linked with other GBA games (Ruby/Sapphire). For a single-player playthrough, they are generally inaccessible unless traded from another game.
Berry Farming & Strategy:

To efficiently farm berries, plant them in soft soil patches found across Hoenn. Water them regularly to ensure maximum yield. The Berry Master's wife on Route 123 is a key source for rare berries; speak to her daily and experiment with different phrases to receive various types. Using a Pokémon with the Compound Eyes ability at the front of your party can increase the chances of wild Pokémon holding berries, which you can then steal with the move "Thief" or "Covet."

2. Stat-Boosting Items: Maximizing Potential

These items provide significant boosts to a Pokémon's stats or move power, often with a strategic drawback.

Key Stat-Boosting Items & Locations:
  • Choice Band: Boosts Attack by 50%, but locks the Pokémon into using only the first move selected until it switches out.
    • Location: Found in the Battle Frontier's Battle Pike. You need to earn Battle Points (BP) by winning streaks in the Battle Frontier facilities. The Choice Band costs 64 BP at the Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner.
    • Strategy: Ideal for powerful physical attackers with a diverse movepool. Pair with U-turn or Volt Switch for "hit and run" tactics to escape the move lock.
  • Choice Scarf (Emerald-exclusive): Boosts Speed by 50%, but locks the Pokémon into using only the first move selected until it switches out.
    • Location: Similar to Choice Band, it costs 64 BP at the Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner.
    • Strategy: Excellent for slower Pokémon that need a speed boost to outspeed opponents, or for already fast Pokémon to become unparalleled threats.
  • Expert Belt: Boosts the power of super-effective moves by 20%.
    • Location: Found in the Battle Frontier's Battle Dome. Costs 48 BP at the Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner.
    • Strategy: Best for Pokémon with wide type coverage that can hit many opponents for super-effective damage without the drawbacks of Choice items.
  • Muscle Band: Boosts the power of physical moves by 10%.
    • Location: Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner for 48 BP.
    • Strategy: A more general boost for physical attackers if you don't want the drawbacks of Choice Band.
  • Wise Glasses: Boosts the power of special moves by 10%.
    • Location: Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner for 48 BP.
    • Strategy: A general boost for special attackers.
  • Scope Lens: Increases the critical hit ratio of the holder by one stage.
    • Location: Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner for 48 BP.
    • Strategy: Useful for Pokémon with high critical hit ratio moves (e.g., Slash, Leaf Blade) or abilities that benefit from critical hits.

3. Recovery & Utility Items: Sustaining the Fight

These items provide passive recovery or unique utility effects that can be crucial for longevity and strategic advantage in battle.

Key Recovery & Utility Items & Locations:
  • Leftovers: Restores 1/16 of the holder's maximum HP at the end of each turn.
    • Location 1 (Route 110): After obtaining the Mach Bike or Acro Bike, head to Route 110. Look for a small patch of grass near the Cycling Road entrance. Use the Dowsing Machine (obtained from May/Brendan after beating Norman) to find a hidden Leftovers.
    • Location 2 (Battle Frontier): Can also be purchased at the Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner for 48 BP.
    • Strategy: The premier item for bulky Pokémon, stallers, and walls. Provides consistent passive recovery, allowing them to take more hits over time.
  • Quick Claw: Gives the holder a 20% chance to move first in its priority bracket.
    • Location 1 (Slateport City): Given by a man in the Pokémon Fan Club building after showing him a Pokémon with high friendship.
    • Location 2 (Battle Frontier): Also available at the Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner for 48 BP.
    • Strategy: Can be a lifesaver for slower Pokémon, giving them a chance to get a crucial hit in before being attacked, or for fast Pokémon to guarantee the first strike.
  • Focus Band: Gives the holder a 10% chance to survive a lethal hit with 1 HP.
    • Location: Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner for 48 BP.
    • Strategy: A gamble, but can save a Pokémon from being knocked out, allowing for a counter-attack, a crucial status move, or a switch.
  • BrightPowder: Lowers the opponent's accuracy by 10%.
    • Location: Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner for 48 BP.
    • Strategy: Can be annoying for opponents, potentially causing them to miss crucial attacks, especially when paired with moves like Double Team.
  • King's Rock: Gives moves a 10% chance to cause the opponent to flinch, if the move does not already have a flinch chance.
    • Location: Battle Frontier Exchange Service Corner for 48 BP.
    • Strategy: Best on Pokémon with multi-hit moves (e.g., Rock Blast, Bullet Seed) or fast Pokémon that can outspeed opponents and repeatedly flinch them.
  • Amulet Coin: Doubles the prize money earned from battle if the holder participates.
    • Location: Obtained from the mother of the Rich Boy and Lady trainers in the Trick House on Route 110 after completing the first puzzle.
    • Strategy: Essential for grinding money. Always equip it to a Pokémon you plan to use in trainer battles, especially against rich trainers like the Gentleman and Lady.
  • Soothe Bell: Increases the rate at which a Pokémon's friendship grows.
    • Location: Given by a woman in the Pokémon Fan Club in Slateport City if your lead Pokémon has high friendship.
    • Strategy: Useful for evolving Pokémon that require high friendship (e.g., Golbat into Crobat, Chansey into Blissey) or for maximizing the power of moves like Return and Frustration.
  • Exp. Share: Shares experience points gained in battle with the holder, even if it didn't participate.
    • Location: Given by the President of the Devon Corporation in Rustboro City after delivering the Letter to Steven and the Devon Goods to Captain Stern.
    • Strategy: Crucial for leveling up weaker Pokémon or newly caught Pokémon without having to actively battle with them. Can be turned off or on in the Bag.

4. Type-Enhancing Items: Specialized Power

These items boost the power of moves of a specific type by 10%. They are excellent for increasing the damage output of your primary attackers.

Key Type-Enhancing Items & Locations:
  • Charcoal: Boosts Fire-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Torkoal (Route 112, Fiery Path).
  • Mystic Water: Boosts Water-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Marill (Route 102, 111, 114, 117, 120, 121, 123), or found as a hidden item on Route 105.
  • Miracle Seed: Boosts Grass-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Lotad (Route 102, 114) or Seedot (Route 102, 114). Also found as a hidden item on Route 119.
  • Magnet: Boosts Electric-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Magnemite (New Mauville). Also found in Mauville City (from a man in the Pokémon Center).
  • Sharp Beak: Boosts Flying-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Doduo (Route 118, 120), or found as a hidden item on Route 110.
  • Soft Sand: Boosts Ground-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Trapinch (Desert Underpass, Route 111), or found in the Desert Underpass.
  • NeverMeltIce: Boosts Ice-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Found in Shoal Cave during low tide.
  • Black Belt: Boosts Fighting-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Makuhita (Granite Cave), or found in the Winstrate Family's house on Route 111 after defeating them.
  • Poison Barb: Boosts Poison-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Roselia (Route 117), or found in the Jagged Pass.
  • SilverPowder: Boosts Bug-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Dustox (Route 117, 120) or Beautifly (Route 120).
  • Hard Stone: Boosts Rock-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Nosepass (Granite Cave), or found in the Granite Cave.
  • Spell Tag: Boosts Ghost-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Shuppet (Mt. Pyre).
  • Dragon Fang: Boosts Dragon-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Bagon (Meteor Falls).
  • TwistedSpoon: Boosts Psychic-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Abra (Route 102, 103, 116).
  • BlackGlasses: Boosts Dark-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Found in the Trick House after completing the third puzzle.
  • Metal Coat: Boosts Steel-type moves by 10%.
    • Location: Held by wild Magnemite (New Mauville) or Skarmory (Route 113).

Advanced Strategies for Held Items

  • Item Combinations: Consider how held items interact with abilities and moves. For example, a Guts Swellow holding a Flame Orb (which burns it, activating Guts) becomes a powerful attacker.
  • Switching Tactics: Items like Choice Band and Choice Scarf necessitate careful switching to avoid being locked into an unfavorable move. Use U-turn or Volt Switch to maintain momentum.
  • Battle Frontier Optimization: The Battle Frontier is where held items truly shine. Experiment with different combinations to counter common threats and maximize your win streaks.
  • Thief/Covet Usage: To obtain rare held items from wild Pokémon, teach a Pokémon "Thief" (TM46) or "Covet" (move tutor/level-up). These moves allow you to steal an opponent's held item if you are not holding one yourself. This is especially useful for farming items like Leftovers from wild Snorlax (if traded in from FireRed/LeafGreen) or Metal Coat from wild Magnemite.

Mastering the use of held items is a cornerstone of competitive play and a significant advantage throughout your journey in Pokémon Emerald. By understanding their effects, locations, and strategic applications, you can elevate your team to new heights and conquer any challenge the Hoenn region throws your way.