[Smogon Formats] Iconic Users of Held Items #2: Choice Scarf


Previously: Choice Band

Next Time: Choice Specs


## Introduction ##


There are plenty of aspects that can make or break a competitive Pokemon such as typing, stat distribution, ability, movepool, and held item. In what will hopefully be a continuing series, held items will be discussed. Held items can make a huge impact in competitive play. The first held item that will be looked at is the Choice Scarf, an item introduced in Generation IV. In this analysis, some of the all-time best Pokemon that has ever held a Choice Scarf will be listed.


## Held Item ##


**Choice Scarf** - *"An item to be held by a Pokémon. This curious scarf boosts Speed but only allows the use of one move."*


The Choice Scarf is arguably the most influential held item in all of Pokemon. The instant +1 speed a Pokemon gets from the Choice Scarf changed the game of competitive Pokemon forever. Now slower but stronger Pokemon are able to outspeed and KO formerly faster Pokemon. In addition, it gave players a way to revenge kill setup Pokemon that boost their speed. Of course, all of this comes at a price of locking the equipped Pokemon into one move. This side effect hurts a Choice Scarf user more than a Choice Band or Choice Specs user. A Banded or Specs Pokemon are able to fire off attacks so powerful that even resists usually take respectable damage. A Scarfer is much weaker in comparison, meaning that it is easier to switch-in and thus can be a massive momentum sap in a battle. This also makes a Choice Scarf Pokemon near useless versus fatter teams. So what would make a good Scarf user?


The ideal Scarf Pokemon would:

1) hit reasonably hard,

2) be fast enough to revenge the most relevant offensive Pokemon in the metagame,

3) have spammable STABs,

4) either U-Turn or Volt Switch to keep up momentum,

5) and some type of have defensive utility.

wrap up Choice Scarf item stuff


*GOAT Scarfer*
	- Lando-T

*All Time Iconic Scarfers*
	- Tyranitar (Gens 4-7 OU)
	- Garchomp (Gens 5-7 OU)
	- Keldeo (Gens 5-7 OU)
	- Latios (Gens 5-7 OU)
	- Jirachi (Gens 4-7 OU)
	- Heatran (Gens 4-7 OU)

*Other Notable Scarfers by Generation*
 	- Gen 4
		- Infernape
		- Flygon

	- Gens 5 and 6
		- Excadrill

	- Gen 7
		- Tapu Lele
		- Kartana
		- Greninja

*Special Mention*
	- Ditto