The Definitive Guide to Dracovish Held Items: Unleashing the Fossil Fury

The best held item for Dracovish depends entirely on the role you want it to fulfill on your team. While there’s no single “best” item in every scenario, the Choice Scarf and Choice Band are the two most popular and effective options, drastically altering Dracovish’s capabilities. However, other niche items can provide surprising utility in specific team compositions. This article will dissect the pros and cons of each viable item, providing you with the knowledge to optimize your Dracovish for competitive success.

Choice Scarf vs. Choice Band: A Head-to-Head Analysis

These two items represent the core strategic decision when building a Dracovish.

The Case for Choice Scarf

The Choice Scarf boosts Dracovish’s Speed by 50%, transforming it from a relatively slow threat into a terrifyingly fast one. This allows Dracovish to consistently outspeed slower to moderate-speed threats, crucial for maximizing the damage output of its signature move, Fishious Rend.

• Pros:

  • Speed Control: Outspeeding key threats like Yveltal, Eternatus (defensive sets), and many other offensive Pokémon is invaluable.
  • Fishious Rend Dominance: Guarantees the doubled power of Fishious Rend against slower targets, effectively turning it into a 170 base power STAB move (before considering Strong Jaw).
  • Late-Game Cleaner: Can sweep weakened teams with ease, picking off remaining threats.
  • Revenge Killing: Can effectively punish setup sweepers or weakened offensive threats.

• Cons:

  • Locked Into One Move: The biggest drawback of the Choice Scarf is that Dracovish is locked into using only one move. This can become predictable and exploitable.
  • Vulnerable to Status: Paralysis completely cripples Choice Scarf Dracovish, rendering it useless.
  • Outsped by Faster Scarfers: Opposing Choice Scarf users or naturally fast Pokémon can still outspeed it.
  • Reduced Power: The Choice Scarf doesn’t boost Dracovish’s attack stat, meaning it relies solely on Fishious Rend’s raw power.

The Case for Choice Band

The Choice Band boosts Dracovish’s Attack stat by 50%, turning it into a monstrous wallbreaker. This is particularly effective against bulky teams that rely on taking hits.

• Pros:

  • Brute Force: The increased attack stat allows Dracovish to OHKO or 2HKO even resistant targets with Fishious Rend.
  • Wallbreaking Potential: Can break through common defensive walls and stall teams.
  • Immediate Threat: Dracovish doesn’t need to rely on outspeeding to deal significant damage.

• Cons:

  • Speed Issues: Dracovish’s base 75 Speed remains a major problem. It will often be outsped and KO’d before it can attack.
  • Locked Into One Move: Same as Choice Scarf, limiting its versatility.
  • Vulnerable to Status: Still crippled by paralysis and other status conditions.
  • Reliance on Prediction: Accurate prediction is key. Choosing the wrong move can leave Dracovish vulnerable.

Which Choice Item is Right for You?

The choice depends on your team’s needs and the metagame. If your team struggles with speed control and needs a reliable revenge killer, Choice Scarf is the better option. If your team needs a powerful wallbreaker to tear through defensive cores, Choice Band is preferable.

Niche Item Choices

While Choice Scarf and Choice Band dominate, other items can find niche uses.

Life Orb

Life Orb boosts Dracovish’s damage output by 30%, but at the cost of 10% of its HP with each attack. This allows Dracovish to switch moves and deal significant damage without being locked in. However, the HP loss can be detrimental, especially if Dracovish is taking repeated hits. It also negates the effects of protective items like Heavy-Duty Boots.

Heavy-Duty Boots

Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Dracovish from taking damage from entry hazards like Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. This is useful if your team struggles to remove hazards or if you expect Dracovish to switch in and out frequently.

Protective Pads

Protective Pads blocks direct damage from attacks made using contact. While most of Dracovish’s common moves are water based and aren’t contact moves, it would protect from attacks like Iron Head and Body Press.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is Speed so important for Dracovish?

Speed is crucial because Fishious Rend’s power doubles if Dracovish moves first. Maximizing Speed allows Dracovish to consistently trigger this effect, turning it into a devastating offensive threat. A good starting point is always making sure to get close to 31IVs.

2. What are the best Natures for Dracovish?

For Choice Scarf, Adamant (+Attack, -Sp. Atk) or Jolly (+Speed, -Sp. Atk) are the best options, depending on how much speed you require to outpace specific threats. For Choice Band, Adamant is generally preferred to maximize damage output.

3. What Ability should Dracovish have?

Strong Jaw is the only viable ability, boosting the power of biting moves like Fishious Rend. This is essential for maximizing Dracovish’s damage output.

4. What are Dracovish’s best moves?

• Fishious Rend: Dracovish’s signature move, essential for its offensive strategy.
• Crunch: Provides coverage against Ghost-types.
• Earthquake: Offers coverage against Steel-types and other Ground-weak Pokémon.
• Ice Fang: Provides coverage against Dragon-types.

5. How do I counter Dracovish?

Common counters include faster Pokémon that can OHKO it, priority users (like Aqua Jet), and Pokémon with strong Water-type resistances. Paralysis can cripple Dracovish, especially Choice Scarf variants.

6. Is Dracovish still viable in competitive play?

Yes, Dracovish remains a potent threat in formats where it is legal. Its incredible offensive power, especially with Fishious Rend, can overwhelm unprepared teams.

7. What tier is Dracovish in?

Dracovish’s tier varies depending on the format. It was a dominant force in Sword and Shield OU but is often banned or restricted in other formats due to its overwhelming power.

8. Is Dracovish a Legendary Pokémon?

No, Dracovish is not a Legendary Pokémon. It is a Fossil Pokémon, resurrected from combining two different fossils. However, its power level can rival that of some Legendaries.

9. Is Dracovish breedable?

No, Dracovish is not breedable. It is a chimeric creature created through fossil restoration.

10. What makes Fishious Rend so powerful?

Fishious Rend doubles in power (85 to 170 base power) if the user moves first. When combined with Strong Jaw, STAB, and a Choice Band, it can deal massive damage, often resulting in OHKOs.

11. What are Dracovish’s weaknesses?

Dracovish is weak to Dragon and Fighting-type moves. It also struggles against faster Pokémon and status conditions like paralysis.

12. What is Dracovish’s base stat total?

Dracovish’s base stat total is 505.

13. How do IVs affect Dracovish?

IVs (Individual Values) are genetic stats that affect the potential of the Pokemon. If you want to maximize your chances of winning, Dracovish should be fairly close to 31 IVs, especially when it comes to Speed.

14. Is Dracovish a pseudo-legendary?

No, Dracovish is not a pseudo-legendary.

15. Where can I learn more about Pokémon strategy and competitive play?

The Games Learning Society has a myriad of resources on strategy and learning. Please visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more details. The Games Learning Society is a great place to start.