Why Items Are Close to Everything - The Giratina Theorem 

one of the funnier niche items is Big Nugget on Sneasler, where it uses Fling to get a 130 BP Dark type move to counter Gholdengo and activate the Unburden boost

A "how good was *this item* actually" series would be very interesting

What's next, the Dusknoir theorem on why evolving isn't everything

I feel there should've been a segment about exclusive items, such as the Thick Club, Soul Dew, and Light Ball

One item that I'd like to note is Eviolite, boosting the defenses of not fully evolved Pokemon is huge, and is what helped give Little Cup some defensive backbone.

Items are the singular reason why Mega Rayquaza was banned from Ubers. Megas were limited by holding Mega Stones with no beneficial items. Rayquaza didn't have that limitation. It could Mega Evolve on top of holding anything it wanted. It broke everything.

While we're talking Megas here; it should be worth noting some of these pokémon were immune to trick and knock off. And having a mega to absorb these moves went a long way.

I’m still waiting on Game Freak to make an item that’ll extend the duration of Trick Room, Wonder Room, and Magic Room. Personally, I’d call it “Wonder Clay”.

I'm surprised you didn't mention Gen 9's Covert Cloak. Being able to protect yourself from the secondary affects of moves like Scald, Fake Out and Garganacle's Salt Cure is such a useful and powerful tool.

Other items that were missed in this list: 1. Effect prolonging items: after the loss of perma-weather of Gen V, weather-prolonging rocks were usually the go-to items of weather setters. This is usually the case unless they are more offensive weathers going for damage boosting items, or they are Hail/Snow-setters going for the other prolonging rock, Light Clay, to increase Aurora Veil turns. Dual Screens of course always carry the clay to get more bang for their walls. 2. Force switch items: Usually seen in doubles but can also see applications in singles, Eject Button and Red Card allows for free switching, negating the opponent's stat boost, allowing your entry ability to activate again later, and other mind games. 3. Eviolite: The item that has made Blissey inferior to Chansey for a while, the introduction of Heavy Duty Boots made an impact to this item's use, but it still has a big impact on the lower competitive tiers. Acting as both a physical and special Assault Vest without any drawback as long as the holder is not fully evolved, it is a particularly great boon to previously fully evolved Pokémon who find themselves with a new evolution stage such as Rhydon and Bisharp.

Giratina; Father, Please give me a good item Arceus: No

I always had the passing thought of some niche format where each side could bring a set number of items to use. Like "each player has 5000 bucks to stock up before the fight" sort of thing

And that’s why Mega Audino is the most redundant Mega Evolution ever (why no Regenerator on a *defensive* Mega that already had Regenerator in its normal form?)

1. Shoutouts to Safety Goggles and Assault Vest as they allow you to maintain offense while having some form of defense in certain scenarios. 2. An interesting theory would be the importance of IVs as it was very important in gen 2-5 because you need to consider the Hidden Power type and the power of the move and later on, the importance of 0IVs on Speed and Attack to play around Trick Room and Foul Play, and special shoutout to Stakataka to get the IVs you need to get an Attack boost with Beast Boost.

I know this series is about game mechanics for the most part but I'd love to see a video on why tiering isn't exactly everything going over lower tier pokemon being viable in higher tiers aka The Gastrodon Theorem

my favorite less common use of items is the usage of resist berries in draft leagues, since you have a lot more incentive to tech your pokemon in specific matchups

Seeing the berry farm at the beginning makes me so nostalgic. I loved experimenting with it in soul silver

Underrated application of items only buffed to this level in 1 generation but a large answer in team building to Z moves in Generation 7 were the "pinch" berries [Figy, Iapapa, Wiki, Aguav, Mago] that restored 50% of a Pokemon's health when in a pinch (25% or less) Either using these berries on Pokemon that are difficult to 2 hit KO or that have the ability Gluttony allowing them to eat the pinch berries when they go under half instead of under 25% made Pokemon such as Alolan Muk & Snorlax extremely difficult to knock out without removing the berry. These two are notable because they both have access to Recycle, allowing them to eat the berries over & over.

No mention of power herb making Geomancy Xerneas into one of the scariest sweepers around? I still have nightmares.

The music choices for all the sections were perfect. I especially love using Eterna Forest for the berries section: humble little consumables that are as important as their reusable, counter parts.

Pokemon is really a world of wonders So much so that my pokemon can eat its leftovers forever!!

I've been waiting for this one! Love these videos that go in depth on all the different facets of the competitive scene. Thanks so much for this quality content!

the amount of relevant footage captured and edited in with what you are talking about is such a nice thing. it’s one thing to talk about a scenario and another to see it in that same moment and i appreciate that effect

gotta love the chuggaconroy love

I’d like to see more of these on moves. One on the history of Explosion would make a good episode.

Personally, I'm quite fond of Heavy Duty Boots. It finally made people have to do more than just gormlessly select Rocks and/or Spikes for the lead slot. And it freed up so many Mons from having to dedicate a move slot to removing them over and over.

Its actually amazing to see clips being used where you are showing what you are talking about, its nice to just see and hear the info at the same time, and the vid itself is also just great

I love these Theorems and it really delves DEEP into why competitive pokemon is very in depth and why it explains where pokemon are in the teir list...most of the time

Remember when the griseous globe was made as a replacement for the orb in Legends arceus as a key item in a game where held items didnt exist. Fine, right? But when the globe was put in scarlet violet, it was a held item, and the orb lost its transformative properties. Meaning giratina origin lost damage on its stab attacks in gen 9, when it (and dialga and palkia) should have been able to transform without an item.

It'd be really cool if we could get a video on priority moves and how important they are: It could be called "The Talonflame Theorem"

I thought he was also gonna go over Ogerpon’s masks in the form-changing items section, but I guess the Teal Mask DLC wasn’t out yet at the time this video was made.

New Held Item idea: False Start Flag - "An item held by a Pokemon. This flag signals a false start, protecting the holder from priority moves." Blocks Prankster and Gale Wings affected moves too. Grassy Glide's priority is blocked if on Grassy Terrain. Sure Psychic Terrain is a thing, but the item would be good in battles where it doesn't happen.

Your thumbnails are soo unique and interesting 🤩

You should do videos similar to your Pokémon videos but with items! So like “How GOOD was Choice Band actually?” And you delve into the item’s competitive history and notable pokemon and strategies that took advantage of the item in each generation.

Thank you for finally explaining choice item. I don't play pokemon but like these vids, and I never understood what you meant in your vids when you talked about being locked into a move.

I simply love your content! I'm wondering how many more things you can educate me about, in the world of Pokémon. Thank you for sharing this with us!

This might be more of a podcast topic, but do you think it would be good for the game if there was a physical version of assault vest? Or a special intimidate/burn?

I’d love to see an item that removes the holders ability, I think it’d be a good way to let Pokémon like Slaking and Regigigas find a way to work in singles while also being a new potential trick casualty outside of just black sludge or toxic orb

Love that you all are using Chugga’s videos for footage. Been a fan of his for years! I’m glad y’all are too!

Great analysis video! Thanks for uploading!

He finally did it After so many videos he has answered my idea I'm so happppyyy thank you and its a wonderful video

King's Rock did so much work for keeping paraflinch available in as many tiers as possible. Spent a ton of time with Cincinno and Weavile in gen 7 and Persian and Durant for the short time they could actually have their fun

Yay this is one of the ones I suggested a while back! Using Giratina as the theorem name is pretty creative!

Early in my playthroughs I din't use them much but later I realized their importance Please keep the series going FSG, its amazing.

When are you guys gonna do another history of types video? That one on ice types was great I'd like to see some more of that

I thought I was the only person to ever use Z-Stealth Rock. It happened in a draft league match, I used it as a means of forcing Stealth Rock with my Heatran knowing my opponent's Defoggers were Mega Scizor (obvious no-no) and Gliscor. Assuming the latter would switch into my Heatran, it would then live an Earthquake after the Defense boost and proceed to either kill Gliscor with HP Ice or make it choose between using Defog or finishing Heatran off, depending on its spread. Unfortunately, his switch-in ended up being Slowbro, for whom I had considered running Z-Solar Beam. Stealth Rock stayed up, so mission accomplished, I guess. Other situational items you forgot to mention were Red Card, Eject Button, Light Clay, the Weather Rocks, Safety Goggles (more of a VGC item to be honest, same thing for the Terrain seeds), Pokémon-specific items, Eviolite (and Berry Juice in LC), King's Rock, Sitrus-like berries (especially in gen 7), pinch berries (though they sadly got overshadowed by Choice items for the most part), the Herbs, Sticky Barb (could've made it into the Trick section of the video, alongside Mail), and Leppa berry (even if just for the fun of it).

As someone who's been playing Competitive since Gen IV, this is so fun to watch. I remember all these items coming out and strategies. I used to run Expert Belt Electivire and I loved baiting a thunderbolt with Gyarados to activate the motor drive pre team preview. You're the best competitive historian dude I appreciate what your do.

4:40 There's another case of this I can think of when I play natdex formats in draft league: waiting to get a kill with Moxie Pinsir to get an attack boost before Mega Evolving so I can go straight to killing without having to spend a turn or moveslot on Swords Dance. I know it's very niche and probably outright stupid but it got me a couple wins so I think it's still something to consider

Still waiting for the scizor theorem, strong priority is everything

Why everything is everything the mega rayquaza theorem

The music and gameplay during the “choice items” part of the video is so hype 🔥

One item that I always saw interesting potential in was Iron Ball, while its speed stat halving effect could be used in an interesting way, like putting it on a fast Pokémon so you can use it on a trick room team, the aspect of it that I always saw fun potential in was using it on a set with Fling Bisharp in gens 5, 6 and 7 in order to get a STAB 130bp physical dark move on it to be able to just outright delete or otherwise cripple something especially if you can force the opponent to switch out in response to it coming in not knowing about its held item, plus you could pair it with fling on the fast Pokémon on a trick room team example from earlier allowing the fast mon to switch back to being fast if the trick room setter faints and the trick room wears off or never goes up.

When I fought Cynthia in my first BDSP playthrough, I specifially gave palkia Ice Beam to take one attack from her garchomp and hit back for a 1HKO. The only problem is that Cynthia's garchomp holds a yarche berry so my plan did not work. Cynthia literally schooled me on the Giratina Theorem 😂

Wait, you completely forgot eviolite? Not exactly well versed in competitive, but I’m pretty sure it led to cottonee winning a VGC tournament once, and causing chansey to sometimes be more viable than blissey.

Oh hey, it's footage for Chuggaaconroy at the beginning. What a combo.

My fav item is one of the new ones loaded dice cause I really love bullet seed and using skill minchinno was always fun so that ability becoming an item is amazing

It’s niche but I like float stone. Also, fling is such a cool move with how it changes based on the item. With kings rock, u get a free flinch, as well as recently how big bugget can be good.

Alr, whats next, "why evolving isnt everything: the chansey theorum"

5:52 thank you for bringing back great memories ❤

Gen 9's Loaded Dice is also an insane item when coupled with sets like Technician Bullet Seed Breloom, it effectively gives the user Skill Link in addition to its ability

Funfact, in PWT from Gen 5, there was a downloadable Tornament where Lamina used a Giratina Origin, holding another Item. Tricky Mistake. And no Idea what Laminas english Name was, Phantina, or something?

Isn't the thumbnail text supposed to say "shouldn't have it"?

I don't normally comment. But my jaw dropped at ~6:20 when I heard the Pokémon xd/colosseum music. Please use it more. It's so good.

That bit at the beginning makes me wish Wonder Battle was still a thing. Because that was PvP battles with in-game healing and stat-boosting items (though you had to manage a point system to use them).

Rayquaza, doesn't enter in Giratina Theorem, cause Rayquaza doesn't need a item to change his form, that's very OP, while the other legendaries do.

I think these items also deserve a mention and are really good on the right pokemon: assault vest, eviolite, light clay, red card, king's rock, figy berry, power herb and white herb.

Eviolite is a big one you forgot and same for minor ones that are Pokemon-specific like Thick Club and especially pre-nerf Soul Dew

Metronome is one that come to mind, I'm pretty sure kyurem used it successfully in one of the more recent gens

Probably the next broad topic that can be covered: "Faster than Speed: the Scizor Thereom". Can be about the history of priority moves and their place in the game. With Scizor's STAB Technician Bullet Punch being its most defining characteristic for several generations.

My favorite item was emergency exit. No one expected it and it made supportive leads quite handy. Like, I used to have a prankster Whimsicott lead. Use tailwind, the other attacks, or does something like hazard/boost. Next turn, use encore and force a switch or, in the case they attacked, surprise them with counter emergency exit switch + tailwind set up. I loved my Whimsicott 🥰

love the thumbnails for these vids

my one niche item that i will vouch for is kee berry, specifically on comfey in gen 7. switching comfey in on a fake out from medicham or lopunny and getting an immediate defense boost in addition to having priority draining kiss made dealing with them way easier.

Shoutouts to eject button in generation 8 allowing you to swap out a dynamaxed pokemon, giving you an insane advantage in doubles especially

Man, I need to rewatch Chugga's old pokemon let's plays. It's been a while.

I think when it comes to the Normal Gem being still in future games is to give normal type moves a power up as no other types are weak against it.

I love the thumbnails you use

I think it is worth mentioning that Light Bulb helped Pikachu greatly over the years.

A big one is Eviolite. The +1 in both defenses is huge for the viability of NFE in higher tiers and is a classic LC item

I always loved the rough skin- Rocky Helmet combo😮

Video opens up with clips from a certain LP that introduced us to Methane, credit was given where it was due I approve!

I use Starf Berry + Harvest occasionally on sun teams to mess with people.

I think what needed more talk is not an item, but a move: Knock Off. Even before its buff in Gen 6, the limited number of Pokemon who had the move like Hariyama - who had a garbage Special Attack stat back when it was a Special move in Gen 3 - still used it for its incredibly useful effect of removing the opposing Pokemon's held item. It made defensive Pokemon easier to overpower since they couldn't recover their HP with Leftovers (wearing many down quickly with Tyranitar's Sand Stream), and offensive Pokemon easier to defend against without their Choice Bands or other items. Then Gen 6 made the move an offensive option too, going from a paltry power of 20 to a much more respectable power of 65, with an additional 50% boost if the move knocks off the opposing Pokemon's item. It threatens nearly every Pokemon in the game due to its combined power and especially its utility. It's also why Z-Crystals, Mega Stones, and plenty of other items that allowed for form changes are as important as they are - they cannot be removed by Knock Off.

i wonder whats the next theorem, maybe the azumarill theorem: why the special physical split of gen 4 mattered

Although it isn't an item used in competitive play much, Shell Bell is one of my favorite items to use in casual playthroughs. It helps make grinding sessions in older games feel less tedious when i have to spend less time going back to the Pokemon Center to heal my team members because of Shell Bell's hp recovery. Also, it let's me not worry about using moves with recoil damage since i will be getting a good chunk of that hp back, which is always nice. 👌

Covert Cloak is great to pretty much give any pokemon the ability Shield Dust. Not flinching to Fake Out or getting haxed from secondary status effects can come clutch.

Chuggaaconroy at the start was a great flashback.

one item that I occasionally use but nobody else does is shell bell. I use it on quaquaval and I used to use it on annhilape back when it was legal. there are times where you get more health back than you would with leftovers. I only reccomended this item on pokemon that are heavy hitters and have good speed and at least average bulk. bulk.

Arceus talking to the creation trio on seeing silvally for the first time: Look what they did to mimick just a fraction of my power.

I'm just delighted to see Chugga's videos getting used.

Video request I think would be very good- Why stat spread are close to everything- The Clefable Theorem. This video can highlight cool Pokémon with well distributed stats and why people with really high BST still struggle like fully evolved mons and starters like meganium.

I think ability shield is has more usage now that we have weezing back, you can use it to fend your tatsugiri and still activate commander or trick swap it to opponent slaking and let them regain Truant

I don’t know even what’ll be the next one outta this series. My guess would be competitive formats like singles, duos and trios

Do you think you could do a video on moves that rely on items? I'm mostly curious to know about the move natural gift and if it could have any practical use in meta

mental herb. was a staple on tornadus throughout gen 8 for a reason. Also light clay. Grimmsnarl and a few other basically cannot live without it.

Surprised you didn't mention Eviolite. +50% to both defenses with no inherent drawbacks (sure, it means you can't hold other items, but that technically goes for anything) is massive, and contributes a lot to the survivability of things like Ferroseed and Porygon2. ❤

They could add an item called Yata Mirror/Magic Mirror who's entire job is to be a special type rocky helmet. deals damage to the opponent if the user is hit by a special type move. I know rocky helmet is for contact moves only but consider that theres no ability like rough skin for special type moves, making it pretty balanced as damage cant be stacked.

One item that i think shld have been talked about is light clay. Being almost banned in Gen 9 is a testament to how op it is for sweepers to get multiple opportunities, and also made Shed Tail Cyclizar a nightmare when seeing it with Grimmsnarl due to its speed. Speaking of Shed Tail, sitrus berry also deserves to be talked about, especially on Orthworm as well as Belly Drum sweepers. It may be very niche but it has some uses on different mons Also whats happening to Hitmonlee in Gen 5 RU, has it drop to NU due to its unburden set being gone, or its reckless set still good enough for it to be used

Id like to see a held item that reverses the holder’s weaknesses like the inverse battle in X&Y. It could probably help make some pokemon be more defensive or make others horrible defensively if they got tricked/swicherooed

You kinda touched on it, but i do love the choice bluffing aspect of expert belt.

In Gen IV, I had a Swellow transferred from Gen III that was taught Counter by the move tutor. I would often field it against my friends' stuff that would normally be risky like Electivire or Aerodactyl. They'd use their supereffective physical move to bring me down to 1, as Sash would activate, I'd Counter the damage back (if they didn't also have a sash they often wouldn't survive), and if their priority was lost, I'd Endeavor their next non-Ghost pokemon and possibly pick up a KO with Quick Attack. Gimmick, but fun.