Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
90
|
- |
321 |
384 |
- |
| Atk |
100
|
212 |
236 |
299 |
328 |
| Def |
60
|
140 |
156 |
219 |
240 |
| SpA |
90
|
194 |
216 |
279 |
306 |
| SpD |
60
|
140 |
156 |
219 |
240 |
| Spe |
80
|
176 |
196 |
259 |
284 |
Overview
After spending two generations in the shadow of most Grass-types in the game, it seems that Shiftry will finally have a chance to fight with the big boys in OU. That's because of Dream World's generous gift to not Shiftry, but Ninetales: Drought, which sets up eternal Sunny Day when entering in the field, putting Shiftry's Speed at a minimum 518 until the weather is changed. Shiftry's movepool, unlike most other Chlorophyll abusers, is excellent on both the physical and special sides coupled with solid 100 / 90 offensive stats. Not to mention that Shiftry also has access to Nasty Plot, Swords Dance, and Growth to boost his stats even further, enabling him to destroy entire teams. However, even with his great Speed under the sun, miserable 90 / 60 / 60 defenses mean that Shiftry is massacred by priority moves such as Mach Punch, Ice Shard, and Vacuum Wave.
Nasty Plot boosts Shiftry's acceptable Special Attack to great levels, putting it at 612 (Modest) or 558 (Timid) after a single Nasty Plot, and with sun support provided by Ninetales, Nasty Plot Shiftry can be a menace. Either Grass Knot or Giga Drain is a good option as a Grass STAB move. Grass Knot murders heavyweights in the OU metagame that are weak to Grass such as Hippowdon and Tyranitar, while Giga Drain is stronger against lighter threats such as Politoed and Vaporeon and is a way to recover the HP loss from Life Orb. Dark Pulse is a useful STAB to have, being super effective against Chandelure and Gengar. Dark Pulse also has a nifty 20% chance of flinching, working well with his 518 (Modest) or 568 (Timid) Speed thanks to Chlorophyll. The last move is for coverage. Hidden Power Fire is boosted by sun and is excellent against Scizor, Ferrothorn, Heracross, and Forretress, while Focus Blast adds nearly perfect coverage with both Dark and Grass, and is a stronger hit on Heatran, Houndoom, Hydreigon, and other Pokemon that resist the Grass + Dark combo.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Some other options can go in the last slot. Extrasensory destroys lots of Fighting- and Poison-types that will try to end Shiftry's sweep. Hidden Power Rock is a stronger hit on Volcarona and Zapdos. Finally, Icy Wind or Hidden Power Ice manhandles Dragon- and opposing Grass-types. The EV spread here is simple, designed for a standard special sweeper. The choice of the nature is also crucial because Shiftry's Special Attack is quite low. Modest is preferred since not many Pokemon outspeed Shiftry under the sun anyway, but Timid is an option if you want to Speed tie with Pokemon like Choice Scarf Latios or Jolly Kabutops if the sun is gone.
Since this set needs sun support to work, Ninetales is almost an obligatory partner, bringing eternal sun to the field. Depending on the last move, this set has different counters. If Focus Blast is chosen, then Scizor, Jirachi, and Metagross are an issue. If Hidden Power Fire is chosen, then Hydreigon, Tyranitar, and Houndoom scare Shiftry off. Infernape is a good partner to this Shiftry because it can use either a STAB Fighting or Fire move against the aforementioned threats. It can beat special walls such as Blissey and Chansey with Close Combat. Priority users with a powerful move that Shiftry doesn't resist such as Mach Punch, Vacuum Wave, ExtremeSpeed, Bullet Punch, and Ice Shard also destroy Shiftry. Chandelure either resists or is immune to all these moves and is strong enough to KO most of their users. It's also interesting to note that Chandelure resists all Shiftry's weakness except Flying, while Shiftry resists all Chandelure's weaknesses except Rock.
With access to Nasty Plot and a diverse special movepool, some people often forget that Shiftry has a 100 base Attack stat (which is actually higher than his Special Attack), Swords Dance, and a physical movepool considerably smaller than special, but that still can do enough damage coming from 656 (Adamant) or 598 (Jolly) after one Swords Dance. Seed Bomb is his main STAB move with reliable power, PP, and accuracy. For Shiftry's secondary STAB move, although it may sound odd at first, Faint Attack is not a bad move and is not outclassed by Sucker Punch. In fact Faint Attack is a 60 Base Power STAB Dark move that never misses no matter if the opponent has +6 evasion, and an unboosted hit from Faint Attack can KO most Gengar and Chandelure if Shiftry is running an Adamant nature. Sucker Punch has more power and always hits faster Chlorophyll users and faster Choice Scarf users first. It's also a good move if the sun is gone. Low Kick grants near perfect coverage with Grass and Dark, only resisted by Toxicroak and Heracross, and is also a good move against Hydreigon, Heatran, and Houndoom. Nature Power in Wi-Fi becomes a 20 PP Earthquake, which is useful for dealing with Toxicroak and damaging Heatran, Metagross, and Jirachi more (watch out for Air Balloon users, though).
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Like the previous set, max Speed with max Attack is the basic EV spread for a sweeper. The remaining EVs go to HP. The choice of the nature is also significant, since Adamant nature allows Shiftry to KO Pokemon that it can't with a Jolly nature. Sun support is also needed, meaning that you have to run Shiftry with Ninetales again. Like the Nasty Plot set, super effective priority will destroy this Shiftry. Chandelure again makes an effective counter because the chandelier can take most of the priority attacks that hurt Shiftry a lot, while it also can dent most physical walls such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory. Shiftry can also take the priority moves that Chandelure hates (Chandelure and Shiftry together resists all priority moves). Chandelure can also destroy the Steel-type Pokemon that don't take too much from Low Kick that wall Shiftry.
Growth now raises both Attack and Special Attack by one level in no weather, and by two in sun, and Shiftry has good offensive stats to work for a mixed set. Dark Pulse is Shiftry's main STAB move and, as said above, is very useful with its good flinch rate. The choice of Grass Knot versus Giga Drain is a matter of potential sheer power that varies or consistent power and recovery. Low Kick is the best option for the fourth slot for coverage and to hit two of the main weather changers that may end Shiftry's sweep (Abomasnow and Tyranitar, although the latter won't enjoy boosted Grass-type moves anyway), while Nature Power dents most Pokemon that don't take enough damage from Low Kick.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
If you're really worried about faster Choice Scarf users and opposing weather changers, then Sucker Punch can replace Dark Pulse. A Rash nature is recommended on this set since Shiftry will be using his Special Attack more than his Attack. 56 EVs in Attack let Shiftry OHKO Tyranitar unboosted and 2HKO Heatran, Hydreigon, and most Blissey while boosted at +2. 200 EVs in Special Attack let Shiftry OHKO most Ghost- and Psychic-types with Dark Pulse and 2HKO Politoed at +2 (or OHKO if it has switched into Stealth Rock). Obviously, sun support is needed, so Ninetales is again necessary.
Splitting EVs between Shiftry's average attacking stats may seem like a bad idea, but this is not the case. Shiftry's high-powered attacks—especially Leaf Storm—make Shiftry quite the formidable wallbreaker when coupled with a Chlorophyll boost, allowing it to get past common defensive cores such as Ferrothorn / Jellicent and Gliscor / Jirachi / Rotom-W. This Shiftry fits best on sun teams, as it can take on the Pokemon that often cause trouble to these teams; Heatran and Tyranitar are taken care of with Nature Power and Low Kick, Latios and Latias are dealt with by Sucker Punch, and Dragonite is taken out by Hidden Power Ice. Thanks to Chlorophyll, Shiftry can also take on offensive threats to sun teams such as Terrakion and Landorus. Under sun, Hidden Power Fire disposes of Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Forretress, preventing them from setting up hazards, all of which hamper Ninetales's ability to switch in. Since sun teams typically have no shortage of Fire-type attacks, Hidden Power Ice is a good alternative to Hidden Power Fire, as it can be used to hit Dragonite and Salamence, both of whom 4x resist Leaf Storm, 2x resist Low Kick, and are immune to Nature Power. Shiftry also has a strong, STAB priority Sucker Punch that is useful outside of weather; it is even capable of OHKOing Latios, Starmie, and Chandelure. Nature Power is an option over Low Kick; Shiftry loses the OHKO on Tyranitar, but Tyranitar gets 2HKOed with Leaf Storm followed by a Nature Power. Nature Power also ensures a 2HKO on specially defensive Jirachi, whereas Hidden Power Fire is only a 3HKO.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
In addition to having utility on a sun team, Shiftry also functions as a reliable anti-weather lead. Here are some damage calculations against all the weather inducers seen in OU:
- Low Kick vs 252/0 Tyranitar 115% - 135%
- Leaf Storm vs 252/252+ Politoed 84% - 100%
- Leaf Storm vs 252/0 Politoed 117% - 139%
- Leaf Storm vs 252/252+ Hippowdon 94% - 111%
- Hidden Power Fire vs 252/0 Abomasnow 90% - 106%
It's noteworthy that Shiftry can comfortably stay in on Choice Scarf variants of Politoed, as a max Special Attack Politoed falls short of the OHKO against Shiftry with Ice Beam by 2%. Shiftry must be wary of Choice Scarf Abomasnow and Chople Berry Tyranitar, though.
The given EVs and a Life Orb are required to obtain the damage shown above, while the Speed is enough to outspeed +2 Cloyster, +1 base 110s by 2 points with the sun shining, and Timid Politoed without sun. A Hasty nature is preferred, as Shiftry holds useful resistances to common special attacking types such as Water, Electric, and Grass. Stealth Rock is useful to break Dragonite's Multiscale, and to weaken Volcarona into Sucker Punch's KO range. Donphan and Forretress are good defensive options that can provide Stealth Rock as well as be a good fit on sun teams, while Mamoswine and Infernape are good offensive options. Ninetales is an obligatory teammate; offensive variants of Ninetales are preferred as they can check Mamoswine, who gives Shiftry some trouble, as Ice Shard makes it think twice before using Sucker Punch. Shiftry also has trouble getting past Chansey, Blissey, and Dragonite without Hidden Power Ice, so Scizor or Choice Scarf Terrakion can be used as partners to deal with them. Dragon Dance Dragonite not locked into Outrage has the potential to be difficult to revenge kill because of ExtremeSpeed, so Heatran is a good partner, as it not only provides Stealth Rock support but also takes on Scizor, ExtremeSpeed Dragonite, and specially defensive Jirachi while generally fitting well on sun teams.
Most people expect Shiftry to be a setup sweeper, and this set proves that he can be an all-out attacker with good Special Attack, incredible Speed under the sun, and a good overall special movepool. Leaf Storm is insanely powerful and can 1-2HKO most of threats in OU that don't resist it and that are not named Blissey or Chansey. Dark Pulse is a strong and reliable STAB move that murders Ghost- and Psychic-types. Focus Blast rounds the coverage nicely and hits most of the Pokemon that resist the previous moves hard assuming it hits. Hidden Power Fire is boosted by the sun and is Shiftry's best bet against Scizor, Forretress, and Ferrothorn, while Hidden Power Ground hits Heatran and a lot of other Fire- and Steel-types harder than any other move.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The spread here includes the standard EVs for a special sweeper, with the remaining 4 into HP to allow more switches since it will be Choice-locked. There are many options for the last slot. Hidden Power Rock hits most Fire-type Pokemon for super effective damage, while also damaging Tornadus, Salamence, and Zapdos more; Extrasensory murders those pesky Fighting-type Pokemon that want to stop your sweep (as well as Poison-types too, but mainly Roserade and Venusaur, since most of the Poison Pokemon in OU are hit stronger by Leaf Storm or Dark Pulse); and Hidden Power Ice or Icy Wind grabs some OHKOs on Dragons such as Haxorus and Salamence.
All moves that Shiftry will be locked into have some downsides. Sap Sipper users will love to switch into Leaf Storm, Justified users will like to switch into Dark Pulse, Ghost-types may switch into Focus Blast, and a lot of other Pokemon will love to switch into the last move. This will make Shiftry switch more often, necessitating Rapid Spin support. Entry hazards are nearly a must with this set because they help Shiftry to score extra important KOs. Donphan can use Stealth Rock, while also being able to Rapid Spin. Hitmontop, while unable to learn any entry hazard, severely manhandles Blissey and Chansey. Speaking of them, they wall this set completely, so strong physical attackers, such as Darmanitan, must destroy them.
Other Options
Growth can replace Nasty Plot and Swords Dance on the first and second set respectively, but it's not recommended since it's too reliant on sun. Synthesis recovers Shiftry's health by 2/3 in the sun, but Shiftry is too frail for that to be effective. Energy Ball is an option over Grass Knot and Giga Drain in all special sets. SolarBeam can be used in all special sets bar Choice Specs, but if the weather changes Shiftry will be locked in it, and all weather changers have super effective moves against him. Foul Play may sound like a powerful move at first, but only if Shiftry isn't boosting his Attack, as it becomes more powerful if the foe's Attack is higher than Shiftry's. Brick Break is an alternative over Low Kick. Extrasensory hits Fighting- and Poison-types super effectively. Choice Band is viable with Seed Bomb / Faint Attack or Sucker Punch / Low Kick / Rock Slide or Nature Power. Explosion got nerfed, so never use it. X-Scissor helps against some opposing Grass-types, but has little use outside that. Fake Out is useful on a lead set. Shiftry can SubSeed, but is outclassed by Whimsicott.
Checks and Counters
Choice Scarf Abomasnow can come in to switch the weather to hail, outspeeds Shiftry with a Choice Scarf, and then can send Shiftry to Hades with a STAB Blizzard or Ice Shard. Abomasnow must be careful of Low Kick, Hidden Power Fire, and Focus Blast, however. Toxicroak and Heracross both resist Shiftry's main attacks (Grass-, Dark-, and Fighting-type), only fearing Hidden Power Fire and Extrasensory. Toxicroak is more threatening because he can use Vacuum Wave, but the poison dart frog must be wary of Nature Power. Special sets are stopped cold by Blissey and Chansey, while physical sets can't pass through Skarmory. Shiftry's good Speed in the sun is negated by priority moves (against three of which Shiftry is weak: Mach Punch, Vacuum Wave, and Ice Shard). Conkeldurr, Breloom, Lucario, Infernape, Weavile, and Mamoswine all have strong priority moves. Virizion walls anything Shiftry has bar Hidden Power Fire, can get a free Attack boost from Justified, and can set up Calm Mind, Swords Dance, or even dual screens. Hydreigon can counter all kinds of Shiftry that lack a Fighting move because of his moderate bulk and impressive resistances. If the sun is gone, then Shiftry is very easy to counter, but in the sun, it's very hard.
