Competitive Crunch #3: Choice Band/Specs/Scarf

Hey, guys! Welcome back to another segment of Competitive Crunch, with a name that was definitely not stolen by Pimpnite. Today, we are going to talk about probably the most overused items ever in competitive battling known as the Choice Items. Currently, there are three choice items: the Choice Band, the Choice Specs, and the Choice Scarf.

All of the choice items here do the same thing. Once you use your first move, you'll be locked into that move until switching out.

Let's take an example. If I have a Choice Scarf Dragonite with Outrage, Earthquake, Fire Punch, and ExtremeSpeed, and I use Earthquake, I will only be allowed to use Earthquake until I switch back out again to choose a different move to lock myself into. If you've never used these items before, you're probably wondering why anyone would want to have themselves only able to use one move. That's what I'll be explaining next.

Each of the choice items has a specific aspect that will make the three unique from one another.

The Choice Band will lock yourself into the first move you use, while at the same time boosting your Attack stat by 50%!

The Choice Specs will lock yourself into the first move you use, while at the same time boosting your Special Attack stat by 50%.

The most popular of the three is the Choice Scarf, which will lock yourself into the first move you use, while at the same time boosting your Speed stat by 50%.

Strategies to use with Choice Items:

• Use U-Turn and Volt Switch to get quickly out of a situation that would lock you into a battle.
• Don't use set-up moves alongside these items because they will not work.
• Use Pokemon that will need the extra boost to the desired stat and not ones that could use their item slot for a more useful item.
• Use a Pokemon with Trick or Switcheroo to get rid of a choice item and give it away to your opponent.

Common Choice Band threats:

• Weavile
• Talonflame
• Scizor
• Terrakion
• Darmanitan
• Bisharp
• Azumarill

Common Choice Specs threats:

• Chandelure
• Manectric
• Any Rotom form
• Latios/Latias

Common Choice Scarf threats:

• Krookodile
• Victini
• Heracross
• Flygon
• Honchkrow

~Credits to Bulbapedia for the images of the items. THANKS, BULBAPEDIA!!!~

~Credits to Smogon for the data on these items. THANKS, SMOGON!!!~