My top 10 recommended battle items

Items are useful objects that you get in the wild or in battle facilities as a form of prizes. Each item has their own unique functions and capabilities, allowing you to adjust your strategies on the fly. However, there are only a few items out there who can actually benefit greatly in Link Battles. Well, it's not because that they are useless, but there simply certain distinct items that has sophistication and promise in every shape and form.

Huh? Really? OK then. Let's go on to the list of my Top 10 Recommended Battle Items!

Note: Certain consumables, such as Berries, are not included on the list. However, there will be some special exceptions to be considered on this list.

TOP 10: Choice Band and Choice Specs

Ever want to add a little kick to your attacks? Because if you do, then you might find Choice Band and Choice Specs fancy. It increases the Pokemon's Attack and Special Attack, respectively, by a whopping 50%, meaning that most of your attacks can hurt your foes A LOT! However, there is a catch. You'll only be able to use the last move you used throughout that battle unless your Pokemon faints or switches out of battle.  There are some Pokemon who can greatly benefit from these items (specifically glass cannons who can originally deal a lot of damage in the first place), but they are going to need a lot of switch outs to maintain their usefulness.

TOP 9: Air Balloon

Ground-Type attacks have always been a bane to me for years, whether playing solo or with a friend.
They deal astronomical amounts of damage that even the bulkiest of Pokemon can't help but withstand as much punishment as they can, but not until Generation V which gave way a countermeasure against these threats under the form of the Air Balloon. This wonderful item is an excellent one at that, because that not only you would prevent Ground attacks from touching you, but also most entry hazards like Sticky Web and Toxic Spikes (too bad no Stealth Rock immunity >.<). In short, its one of those items that can help you safely get in to fights.

TOP 8: Safety Goggles

Weather teams are starting to find their place in competitive battles and it can be a threat if utilized properly. Hail and sandstorms are just one of those weather conditions that annoys players at best; crippling your already weak Pokemon to even more dangerous levels (assuming that they were battered enough). Safety Goggles is basically Overcoat in item form; allowing your Pokemon to avoid damage from sandstorms and hails while also negating powder attacks like Spore and Powder Snow. Keep in mind, however, that not all teams use these kinds of hazards all the time, so in the end, this is simply a niche item worth using if you are worried about these threats. Otherwise, pick something else.

TOP 7: Choice Scarf

Just like that one lyrics of a song from an anime that says; going fast makes me feel alive, my heart beats in Hyperdrive! If you are a Trainer that prefers Speed over everything else, then you might want to take a look on the Choice Scarf. This item is a powerful tool to make your fast runners into swift strikers; granting 50% additional Speed for the holder. However, like its Band and Specs variants, the Scarf locks you from the last move you used. Overall, this item is only suitable to revenge killers that has high Speed and offenses, but otherwise, stay away if you prefer more power than speed.

TOP 6: Elemental Plates

So these are not really one of the strongest boosting items out there but it also simply not the worst ones either. They just increase their STAB moves (depending on the Plate the user is holding) by 20%. Nothing special for most Pokemon... except for one. That exception is Arceus which utilizes these Plates through its Ability Multitype; enabling the Pokemon to switch Types depending on the Plate its holding and changes the Type of its Signature Attack; Judgement. Other than that, its typically just a Charcoal or a Sharp Beak with a different name.

TOP 5: Rocky Helmet and Assault Vest

I am one of those few trainers that relies on pure offense to destroy entire teams, because playing passively is just simply holding back for an inevitable defeat... but my previous statement just backslid after facing Ferrothorn and Skarmory where these Pokemon dominated my team with their enormous bulk, nasty status ailments, and annoying entry hazards. To make matters worse, any of these Pokemon may have the potential to have one of these items in their arsenal; punishing my team even further. So what does this Rocky Helmet do? Contact moves that your opponent does to your Pokemon will hurt them. It is also important to note that Rocky Helmet and Abilities like Rough Skin and Iron Barbs will stack each other; dealing more damage. The Assault Vest, while it does not damages your foes, it increases the holder's Special Defense by 50% in exchange of only sticking to offensive attacks (akin to a Taunt) but its just a small drawback to consider for certain Pokemon such as Goodra.  These make very vital items to consider, especially to those Pokemon who possess those mentioned Abilities and exceptional Special bulk. All in all, Rocky Helmet and Assault Vest can put these pesky hitters in their place!

TOP 4: Expert Belt

Let me get this straight. Who do you think is happy enough to see his/her Pokemon getting hit by a super-effective move? No one, right? Or perhaps you. Yes. YOU! The one reading this particular entry right now. Speaking of super-effective moves, if your Pokemon relies on dealing enough damage through the use of type match-ups, then you might consider this piece of excellent contraption right here. The Expert Belt powers up a super-effective move by 150%. The boost is not really that great, but because that most players rely on types to win battles, then the boost can be really worth it at times. I usually use it on my Darmanitan, but its up to you on whom to use this.

TOP 3: Weakness Policy and Red Card

Setting up while withstanding enemy fire is a constant habit of your mutual setters like Scolipede and Skarmory, but being fainted in the middle of setting up can be very, very, VERY FRUSTRATING! In short, a failed set-up is basically a loss. However, a question comes in mind. Why Weakness Policy and Red Card? Well, for the sake of being useful, these items are what I considered "last-ditch" techniques to ensure that your Pokemon either faint fighting or faint trying. Well, its not really the issue here but the issue is that whether the Pokemon can survive the hit or not. Well, if it does, however, these items can make wonders. Weakness Policy increases your offensive stats (both Attack and Special Attack) provided that you withstood a super-effective hit whereas the Red Card forcefully ejects the Pokemon that attacked you during that turn; giving you an efficient way to set up against major threats in the future. However, if you are the type who would rather go all-out in a reckless kind of manner (akin to a Golem that is about to use Explosion), then you might want to ignore these. Nevertheless, these are great items to have around if you are the slowly-but-surely type of Trainer.

TOP 2: Leftovers

Hands down. Best healing item in the game. It may sound crazy at first, but Leftovers is just... broken right now. Also, along with Leech Seed and every other HP-draining abilities, this item can actually help you survive even in the toughest of battles. Although the 5% heal rate per turn can be measly at times, stacking up with high defenses and HP can really turn the tide of battle. Also, this is a very effective way to mess up your opponent's morale to no end. Anyone with Poison Heal can also benefit from this item since it will heal the Pokemon twice as much if the Pokemon is Poisoned since Poison Heal and Leftovers will stack up their heals with zero side-effects. All in all, Leftovers is a healing item you should never take for granted.

TOP 1: Life Orb and Eviolite

Another tie breaker in the number one spot? Man, perhaps I should stop doing this every once in a while and stick to the more important ones. But who cares? For as long as everyone is supporting my blog, then I am really happy about it. Right? ^_~* Anyways, Life Orb and Eviolite are my favorite (and everyone's favorite) recommended battle items and for a variety of good reasons. Life Orb increases the attack of all offensive moves by 30% but at the cost of a certain amount of HP. Eviolite, on the other hand, increases the Defense and Special Defense of a non-fully evolved Pokemon by 50% which is a very nice boost. However, they also have their flaws and drawbacks. Life Orb, as I mentioned, drains your health away every time you attack your opponent, whereas the Eviolite requires the holder to be not completely evolved; giving yourself an unfavorable handicap. Despite these setbacks, however, these items can do certain niches. Eviolite works very effectively in a number of non-fully evolved that has excellent bulk such as Chansey; making it a better tank than it's evolved form Blissey, while Life Orb synergizes well with Pokemon that possesses Sheer Force as their ability as they can still get the 30% additional boost without the nasty recoil; allowing certain Pokemon like Nidoking to take Greninja's role as a special sweeper equally well (sans Protean of course). Overall, the powers of both items are exponentially great but with minor drawbacks to make it balanced.

NOTE: Thank you Smogon and Bulbapedia for sharing your insights regarding with this matter. Be sure to visit their website for more Pokemon content and support the developers behind this wonderful series by buying their products.