In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl players can get their hands on a myriad of held items for competitive battles, like the Focus Sash. Held items have been a major part of battling ever since the mechanic was introduced in Pokémon Silver and Pokémon Gold. Since that time, the variety of held items that Pokémon can hold has grown exponentially, making it difficult to keep track of how to get all of them.
There are several varieties of held items in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, including berries, power boosters, things that evolve Pokémon when they're traded, and so much more. Additionally, there are even a few items that cause status effects, like the Toxic Orb in Pokémon BDSP. Held items like the Focus Sash, however, are some of the most sought gear for competitive battles because they prevent Pokémon from fainting.
The reason why the Focus Sash is so important in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is that it allows any Pokémon to endure any move that would otherwise be a potential knockout. For example, a Blastoise using Hydro Pump on a Charmander is sure to make the Charmander faint, but if it's holding a Focus Sash the Charmander will endure that first hit. Unfortunately, the Focus Sash disappears once it has been used. This makes the Focus Sash a great item to use in online trainer battles because those items disappear temporarily, whereas battle items used against NPCs disappear permanently. Some of the best competitive teams in Pokémon BDSP will have at least one Pokémon holding a Focus Sash, particularly on Pokémon with low Defense and Special Defense stats.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: Where To Find The Focus Sash
There are two places where trainers can find the Focus Sash in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The first is from an NPC on Route 221, just west of Ramanas Park. The NPC inside will ask trainers to show him any Pokémon at a certain level between level-1 and level-100. He actually distributes three items, the Black Belt, Expert Belt, and Focus Sash, and in that order. Each item is available on a new day, but only if trainers receive the previous item. For example, if trainers get the Black Belt Monday and Expert Belt Tuesday, the next item they'll receive is the Focus Sash regardless of when the next time they complete his request is. Additionally, this method repeats infinitely.
The Focus Sash can also be obtained from the Battle Park in Pokémon BDSP after trainers earn the National Dex. Once trainers win 15 BP by participating in the Battle Tower they'll be able to exchange those points for a Focus Sash, in addition to multiple other items. This method can also be repeated, so long as trainers earn another 15 BP
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are available now on Nintendo Switch.