Focus Sash has long been one of the most important held items in Pokemon, and that hasn’t changed in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. The item remains critically important for a number of powerful Pokemon and opens up bold strategies that aren’t otherwise possible.
While many different held items boost offensive firepower, Focus Sash is arguably the most powerful defensive held item in all of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. The item makes it impossible to suffer a one-hit knockout. For glass cannons, powerful Pokemon that need survivability, and others that rely on power-up moves like Swords Dance, Focus Sash is often the preferred held item.
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There are certainly counters to Focus Sash, most notably moves like Maushold’s Population Bomb that hit an opponent multiple times. Still, anyone that takes battling seriously is going to want to make sure that they get their hands on this item.
Focus Sash Location in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Players can obtain a Focus Sash in two different ways in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. The easiest way is to simply purchase the item from Delibird Presents in Mesagoza. There are multiple Delibird Presents locations, but Mesagoza is the only location that offers the item.
Focus Sashes cost $50,000 and users can purchase as many as they like, allowing for players with large stables of Pokemon to stock up freely. The item isn’t available at the start of the game however, with players needing to complete a certain number of story objectives in order to have the item appear available for sale.
The other option is to visit Porto Marinada, where players chase gym leader Kofu. A Pokemon League representative offers players who defeat four nearby trainers the item for free. This requires a bit of time and energy from the player, but gives players the item for free with the added benefit of extra money and experience from defeating trainers.
Best Focus Sash Users
Grass-type starter Meowscarada, new electric-fighting Pokemon Pawmot, and old favorite Murkrow all rank among the best Focus Sash users in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. However, the item is used very differently between singles and doubles battling.
In singles play, Pokemon like Cloyster can make great use of the Focus Sash by using it to safely get stat boosts with Shell Smash. This guarantees that players can, at the very least, get a sharp speed and attack boost followed by an Ice Shard. Cloyster can very easily sweep an opposing team with enough boosts, and Focus Sash helps towards that end. Other Pokemon such as Pawmot fall into the same boat, as it allows the Pokemon to use Revival Blessing and follow that up with an almost-guaranteed Mach Punch.
In doubles play, things are a bit different. Sandstorm is much more common and there are now two opponents that could potentially have Quick Attack, Extreme Speed, or another priority move that can stifle Focus Sash users. Still, the item is hugely useful to protect offense-focused Pokemon such as Meowscarada, and Prankster supports like Murkrow.
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