Choice item lock glitch

The Choice item lock glitch is a glitch that is present in the core series Generation V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX games. It has different effects in each generation.

The Choice item lock glitch refers to a number of different effects caused by a Pokémon being locked into a move by a Choice item (Choice Band, Choice Specs, or Choice Scarf), despite the Pokémon either no longer holding a Choice item or its held item's effect being negated.

Effects

If a Pokémon is already locked into a move due to a Choice item, if the held Choice item is removed while the effect of the Pokémon's held item is negated (by Klutz, Embargo, or Magic Room), the Pokémon will remain locked into the move. A Pokémon cannot become locked into a move via a held Choice item while its held item is negated—it must become locked into a move before its held item is negated.

Move selection

Move selection bugs occur from Generation V to VII only. From Generation VIII onward, a Pokémon's move selection will only be restricted while it is holding a Choice item whose effect is not negated, or has the Ability Gorilla Tactics that is not negated.

From Generation V to VII, when the Pokémon's held item regains its effect (e.g. Magic Room wears off), as long as the Pokémon has a held item—regardless of what the held item is—the Pokémon cannot select moves other than the one it is locked into; if it attempts to select another move, the message "The <HELD ITEM> only allows the use of <MOVE>!" will be displayed ("The <HELD ITEM> allows the use of only <MOVE>!" in Generation V). If the held item in question is an Assault Vest, it continues to have its usual effect in addition to the lock, meaning that if the Pokémon was locked into a status move, it will be forced to use Struggle.

In Generation V only, this also applies if it has no held item, with "None" being displayed in place of the name of the held item. In Generation VI and VII, this glitch does not affect the Pokémon's ability to choose moves while it has no held item.

Move failure

Starting in Generation VII, if a Pokémon that is locked into a move attempts to use a move other than the move it is locked into (including by means such as Dancer), the move will fail. While holding a Choice item whose effect is not negated, this is the intended behavior.

In Pokémon Sun and Moon only, if a Pokémon is locked into a move, even if it does not have a held item or its held item's effect is negated, if it attempts to use other than the locked move, that move will fail.

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Generation VIII, and Generation IX, if a Pokémon is locked into a move (even if it does not have a held item), if it attempts to use other than the locked move, that move will fail (without consuming PP). However, it can successfully use other moves while its held item is negated (even if it does not have a held item).

This article is part of Project GlitchDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on glitches in the Pokémon games.