|
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Rough Skin
- Damages enemies using contact moves 12.5%.
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Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
70
|
- |
281 |
344 |
- |
| Atk |
120
|
248 |
276 |
339 |
372 |
| Def |
40
|
104 |
116 |
179 |
196 |
| SpA |
95
|
203 |
226 |
289 |
317 |
| SpD |
40
|
104 |
116 |
179 |
196 |
| Spe |
95
|
203 |
226 |
289 |
317 |
Sharpedo has one purpose: to deal damage to the opposition and pray it doesn't OHKO back. This set is very straightforward: Surf OHKOs Aggron, Steelix, Golem, and Camerupt and Earthquake deals massive damage to Probopass, Bastiodon, Relicanth, Muk, and Ampharos, sometimes OHKOing all of them. Hidden Power Grass is an alternative to Earthquake that scores an OHKO on Quagsire that have not invested heavily in Special Defense EVs and is your strongest attack against opposing Water-types like Blastoise and Lapras. The main UU special walls, Grumpig and Hypno, who would otherwise wall Sharpedo's attacks are often OHKOed by Crunch; Ice Beam hits Altaria and Leafeon for near OHKOs while dealing large amounts of damage to the likes of Vileplume and Meganium.
Max Speed is required to allow Sharpedo to always outspeed Altaria, and at least tie in Speed with other positive Speed base 95 Pokemon, like Leafeon, Drapion and Jynx.
Stealth Rock support is also probably best with this set as it helps guarantee an OHKO on Pokemon like Bastiodon, Probopass, and Leafeon.
Getting Sharpedo in is not very easy, but once you do expect him to cause some heavy damage. Use Aqua Jet or Waterfall for Water STAB; the former is useful against faster foes, especially if they've been weakened beforehand. Crunch is the more reliable option for Dark STAB with its higher base power, but you can use Night Slash if you fancy your chances of scoring a critical hit.
This is the special version of the previous set, with more powerful Ice and Water attacks helping to compensate for using the lower of Sharpedo's offensive stats. Hidden Power Grass helps out against opposing Water-types and such as Lanturn, Poliwrath, and Quagsire. Hidden Power Electric is an alternative, which still allows you to damage most Waters but is especially useful for taking out Mantine.
Sharpedo isn't the swiftest Pokemon around, so slapping a Choice Scarf on him helps make up for his deficiency in that area. A mixed attacking set is preferred here, as the higher base power of Hydro Pump and Ice Beam - when compared with Waterfall and Ice Fang - helps to rack up more damage against certain targets. For example, Hydro Pump will OHKO Steelix and Aggron, whereas Waterfall on this set would fail to even 2HKO. The same concept is true for Ice Fang vs. Ice Beam, as the higher base power will allow you to score 2HKOs against Meganium and Leafeon, where Ice Fang could not.
Other Options
Endure works okay with Rough Skin and a pinch berry (Liechi or Salac) and can take out Reversal/Flail users and other threats that are low on HP. Aqua Jet already does that, but Rough Skin will take them out if they have a Substitute up. You'll have a hard time setting it up, but Agility is an option and can work with Focus Sash.
EVs
The Mixed set requires 76 Atk EVs to OHKO the standard Hypno on average with Life Orbed Crunch. The remainders of the EVs are placed into Speed and Special Attack. For the Choice Band and Specs sets max outspeed and whichever attacking stat you're using. +Speed natures (Jolly or Timid) are recommended to beat neutral natured base 100 Speed enemies.
Choice Scarf set should have enough Speed to beat other possible Scarf users like Nidoking or Toxicroak.
Opinion
Sharpedo got some useful upgrades in his movepool this generation; most importantly, he now has dual physical STAB. He hits hard with any Choice item attached, but he has abysmal defenses so he is unlikely to last long - especially if Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss show up. You won't need a bigger boat to take down this incredibly fragile, yet hard-hitting shark.
Counters
Poliwrath resists both STAB moves and Ice Fang, but watch out for Earthquakes and Hidden Power Grass. Mantine and Lanturn do well against the Choice Specs sets but must avoid taking a super effective Hidden Power. Sharpedo also has some trouble with his fellow Water/Dark-type, Crawdaunt, who can bring him down with Brick Break or Superpower.