There are many strategies to consider in Pokémon Unite outside of choosing a character and balancing your team’s class composition. Meet your new best friend: the held item.
Pokémon Unite sees two teams of five battle it out over multiple goal zones across a map – with players racking up points by either defeating wild Pokémon or taking out the opposing team. Along with varying move sets, evolutions and other buffs to consider, there are also items your Pokémon can hold which grant you extra perks.
There are 16 items in total, with buffs ranging from increased HP, boosts to damage, and faster movement. If you’re looking for an extra edge on the battlefield, they’re essential. Learning each hold item’s benefits can be useful too when paired with knowledge of each character’s stats, with specific items benefitting certain classes over another. You can earn held items by either increasing your level or purchasing them through the Aeos Emporium.
Here, we’ll rundown each item, what stats they boost, and which class they’re best suited to, giving you a full list of the best held items in Pokémon Unite.
Pokémon Unite best held items
Muscle Band
What does it do?
- When basic attacks hit, the damage is increased by 1% of the opponent’s HP.
Stat boosts
- Attack +15
- Basic Attack Speed + 7.5%
Use with:
- As an item which boosts your basic attack, this is perfect for Attackers, Speedsters, and All-Rounders who are constantly in conflict.
Scope Lens
What does it do?
- Increases the damage of basic critical attack hits. The higher the Pokémon’s attack, the more the damage increases.
Stat boosts:
- Critical Hit Rate +6%
- Hit Damage +12%
Use with:
- This is another item best suited to the aggressive classes as it upgrades your attack power, but it’s perhaps especially tailored to Attackers who have high base attack stats.
Shell Bell
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon hits with a move, it recovers a minimum of 45 HP. The higher the Pokémon’s Sp. Atk, the more HP it recovers.
Stat boosts:
- Sp. Atk +24
- Move Cooldown -4.5%
Use with:
- The Shell Bell might be one of the most versatile held items in Pokémon Unite, so you can’t really lose across all classes. It’s ability to restore HP while upping damage however make it especially useful for Supporters so they can cling onto survival. It’d also be useful on Pokémon like Gengar and Pikachu, who are Special Attackers.
Wise Glasses
What does it do?
- Increases Sp. Atk by 3
Stat boosts:
- Sp. Atk +39
Use with:
- A no-brainer for aggressive Special Attackers like Pikachu, Alolan Ninetales, and Venusaur, upping their damage significantly.
Focus Band
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon drops to low HP, then each second for three seconds, it recovers 8% of the HP it had lost
Stat boosts:
- Def: +30
- Sp. Def +30
Use with:
- This is a great match for Defenders for clinging onto survival, or retreating from the battle and restocking HP.
Energy Amplifier
What does it do?
- After the Pokémon uses its Unite move, the damage the Pokémon deals is increased by 7% for a short time
Stat boosts:
- Energy Accumulation and Wait Time -21%
Use with:
- Another item that can be versatile across all classes, although this is perhaps best suited to Pokémon with devastating damage output in their Unite moves.
Float Stone
What does it do?
- Increases movement speed by 10% when the Pokémon is not in combat
Stat boosts:
- Attack +24
- Movement Speed +120
Use with:
- This is a great option for Defenders looking to boost their slow movement, or for Attackers looking to chase down battles more quickly.
Buddy Barrier
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon uses its Unite Move, that Pokémon and the nearby ally Pokémon with the lowest HP are each granted a shield equal to 20% of their max HP.
Stat boost:
- HP+600
Use with:
- An item built for Defenders and Supporters, but could also help low-HP Speedsters like Talonflame or Attackers like Cinderace.
Score Shield
What does it do?
- While the Pokémon is attempting to score a goal, it is granted a shield equal to 5% of its max HP and its goals cannot be interrupted while it is shielded.
Stat boosts:
- HP +240
- Movement speed +150
Use with:
- Attackers or All-Rounders looking to move on the offensive are best suited for the Score Shield, especially those with low mobility and HP to begin with, such as Alolan Ninetales
Aeos Cookie
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon scores a goal, its max HP increases by 100
Stat boosts:
- HP +240
Use with:
- Another item that’s universal in its scope, although it might be best suited to Speedsters or Attackers who have low HP like Talonflame, Greninja, or Cinderace
Attack Weight
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon scores a goal, its Attack increases by 6
Stat boosts:
- Attack +18
Use with:
- Another apt choice for Attackers and Speedsters looking to boost their offense.
Sp. Atk Specs
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon scores a goal, its Sp. Atk increases by 8
Stat boosts:
- Sp. Atk +24
Use with:
- Attackers and Speedsters are favoured once again with this item for obvious reasons.
Leftovers
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon is not in combat, it recovers 1% of its max HP every second
Stat boosts:
- HP +240
- HP Recovery +9
Use with:
- This is best suited to Supporters, allowing them to recover HP while away from any skirmish, or engagement-heavy Attackers.
Exp. Share
What does it do?
- While the Pokémon has the fewest Exp. Points on its team, it gains 2 Exp. Points per second. However, it will no longer receive shared Exp. Points when its teammates defeat wild Pokémon.
Stat boosts:
- HP +240
- Movement speed +150
Use with:
- This is best designed for Supporters who don’t necessarily rack up experience points quickly, allowing them to support their team.
Assault Vest
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon is not in combat, they are granted a shield that nullifies Sp. Atk damage equal to 9% of their max HP.
Stat boosts:
- HP+270
- Sp. Def +42
Use with:
- A Defender’s dream, this item can make any Snorlax or Slowbro a much stronger force
Rocky Helmet
What does it do?
- When the Pokémon receives a certain amount of damage, damage is dealt to nearby opposing Pokémon equal to 3% of those Pokémon’s max HP.
Stat boosts:
- HP+240
- Defense+42
Use with:
- An item catered for Attackers and Defenders, who are perhaps the class receiving the most damage in battles.
That’s all the info on held items in Pokémon Unite. Picking one of the top characters on a Pokémon Unite tier list is one step towards victory, but making sure they’ve got the right held items is just as important.