Nobody bothered to revamp Shiftry, so I guess I will do it instead. Nobody thought of the Swords Dancer set when it is in fact one of Shiftry's most effective sets. This is my first analysis, so I apologize if it's not up to standard. I'm sure proofreads in some moments will be neccessary, but I hope it's good enough to not make it too painful. Some credit goes to j. franky for giving me some new ideas and correcting my grammar errors. I also give some credit to scoopapa, he may have mistakenly written the article after I did, but I took some of his ideas to put into the Team Options section.
Status: Completed, but I might take suggestions for improvement.
Changes
<p>Shiftry is one underrated Pokemon since it has the ability to go both physical and special and has the ability to boost both offensive sets with Swords Dance and Nasty Plot, making it a dangerous Pokemon. It may have poor defenses and a rather limited movepool, but most sweepers aren't meant to take hits and it has enough attacking options to work with.</p>
Status: Completed, but I might take suggestions for improvement.
Changes
- Added Swords Dance set.
- Added Team Options.
- Made it in the "Concise" format.
- Editted set comments.
[Overview]
<p>Shiftry is one underrated Pokemon since it has the ability to go both physical and special and has the ability to boost both offensive sets with Swords Dance and Nasty Plot, making it a dangerous Pokemon. It may have poor defenses and a rather limited movepool, but most sweepers aren't meant to take hits and it has enough attacking options to work with.</p>
[SET]
Name: Swords Dancer
Move 1: Swords DanceName: Swords Dancer
Move 2: Seed Bomb
Move 3: Sucker Punch
Move 4: Low Kick / Explosion
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Move 3: Sucker Punch
Move 4: Low Kick / Explosion
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One might question, why use this set when Cacturne has the exact same movepool with 15 base Attack higher? Firstly, Shiftry has 25 base Speed higher as well as Chlorophyll to outspeed almost everything in the sun, meaning it can KO opponents first before they KO it. Secondly, the surprise factor; most people expect Shiftry to be the SunnyBeamer, but most players won't expect a physically-based set.</p>
<p>The moveset is simple, but yet very effective. Switch Shiftry into something he can scare off, like a bulky Ground or Water and then use Swords Dance. With Life Orb equipped, Shiftry has 852 attack stat to work with after a single boost. Then choose the appropriate move to batter the opponent with.</p>
Here are some damage calculations to show the effectiveness of Shiftry:
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 248 HP / 252 Def Bold Milotic: 132.8% - 156.2% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Slowbro: 106.6% - 125.4% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 240 HP / 0 Def Adamant Azumarill: 186% - 219% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 52 HP / 204 Def Adamant Donphan: 133.5% - 158.1% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 80 HP / 252 Def Impish Hariyama: 68.2% - 80.2% (95.4% chance to OHKO with 3 layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Sucker Punch vs 4 HP / 0 Def Adamant Toxicroak: 71.4% - 84.4% (OHKO with 3 layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Sucker Punch vs 252 HP / 4 Def Adamant Hitmontop: 39.8% - 47% (With Intimidate)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Sucker Punch vs 0 HP / 0 Def Rash Blaziken: 77.1% - 90.7% (OHKO with 3 layers of Spikes)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Sucker Punch vs 252 HP / 252 Def Impish Arcanine: 50.8% - 59.6% (With Intimidate)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Low Kick vs 252 HP / 0 Def Careful Registeel: 119.8% - 141.2% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Low Kick vs 252 HP / 0 Def Impish Steelix: 94.9% - 111.9% (OHKO with a layer of Spikes)<li>
</ul>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 248 HP / 252 Def Bold Milotic: 132.8% - 156.2% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Slowbro: 106.6% - 125.4% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 240 HP / 0 Def Adamant Azumarill: 186% - 219% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 52 HP / 204 Def Adamant Donphan: 133.5% - 158.1% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Seed Bomb vs 80 HP / 252 Def Impish Hariyama: 68.2% - 80.2% (95.4% chance to OHKO with 3 layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Sucker Punch vs 4 HP / 0 Def Adamant Toxicroak: 71.4% - 84.4% (OHKO with 3 layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Sucker Punch vs 252 HP / 4 Def Adamant Hitmontop: 39.8% - 47% (With Intimidate)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Sucker Punch vs 0 HP / 0 Def Rash Blaziken: 77.1% - 90.7% (OHKO with 3 layers of Spikes)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Sucker Punch vs 252 HP / 252 Def Impish Arcanine: 50.8% - 59.6% (With Intimidate)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Low Kick vs 252 HP / 0 Def Careful Registeel: 119.8% - 141.2% (Clean OHKO)<li>
<li>+2 Life Orb Low Kick vs 252 HP / 0 Def Impish Steelix: 94.9% - 111.9% (OHKO with a layer of Spikes)<li>
</ul>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Shiftry has the capability to take down most physical walls with the right move. The threat of Blaziken and Toxicroak ruining you with a Vacuum Wave is non-existent with the right support. Qwilfish, Omastar, Cloyster and other Pokemon that can set up Spikes are recommended, although Qwilfish is the most practical choice because he is also resistant to Fighting attacks, and can Explode or Destiny Bond once he gets his job done. It is also highly recommended you pair Shiftry up with something to deal with Hitmontop and Arcanine, most notably Altaria with her capability to sponge Fire- and Fighting-type attacks, Roost off the damage, Heal Bell to cure any status your team has suffered from, and also use Sunny Day to restore the sun. Tangrowth can also present a threat with it's colossal base 125 Defense and above average base 100 HP, as well as a resistance to Seed Bomb, ability to handle Low Kick, and can bypass Sucker Punch with a Sleep Powder to put Shiftry out of comission, making Altaria again a very good choice with Natural Cure to circumvent Sleep and 4x resistance to Grass attacks as well as recovery with Roost.</p>
[SET]
Name: Nasty Plotter
Move 1: Nasty Plot
Move 2: SolarBeam / Grass Knot
Move 3: Hidden Power Fire
Move 4: Dark Pulse / Explosion
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Rash / Modest
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Speed
Name: Nasty Plotter
Move 1: Nasty Plot
Move 2: SolarBeam / Grass Knot
Move 3: Hidden Power Fire
Move 4: Dark Pulse / Explosion
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Rash / Modest
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The special version of the Swords Dance set, you boost your Special Attack instead of Attack with Nasty Plot. With Sun support, SolarBeam is a good choice, if not stick with Grass Knot. Hidden Power Fire takes care of Steel-types and Grass-types.</p>
<p>Athough Shiftry is able to OHKO Registeel with a +2 Low Kick from the Swords Dancer, he is unable to do so with a Nasty Plotted Hidden Power Fire, which only deals 72.5% - 85.7% in the sun. It is highly recommended you get the residual damage support more than ever now since Registeel can survive a boosted Hidden Power Fire in the sun.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The same support is needed from the Swords Dancer. Qwilfish once again is a good choice for Spikes support in order to achieve a possible OHKO on Registeel. Altaria is really needed now since you don't have a priority move to circumvent Vacuum Wave users like Blaziken and Toxicroak.</p>
[SET]
Name: Choice Specs
Move 1: Leaf Storm
Move 2: Hidden Power Fire
Move 3: Dark Pulse
Move 4: Explosion
Item: Choice Specs
Nature: Rash
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def /252 SpA / 252 Spe
Name: Choice Specs
Move 1: Leaf Storm
Move 2: Hidden Power Fire
Move 3: Dark Pulse
Move 4: Explosion
Item: Choice Specs
Nature: Rash
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 4 Def /252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set doesn't offer as much power as the previous two sets, but it can hit right off the bat for high damage. Choice Specs Leaf Storm does plenty of damage outright, while Hidden Power Fire and Dark Pulse for coverage. Explosion is used once Shiftry has done his job, additionally catching Chansey off guard if needed.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>As mentioned several times, Qwilfish and Altaria make awesome partners for setting up Spikes and dealing with Shiftry's counters respectively. For Sun support, your best bet is Uxie, with the ability to set up Stealth Rock as well as Sunny Day to give you the Speed you need. Uxie can also use Yawn to force a switch, then use U-turn to get Shiftry safely in because as mentioned, Shiftry only has mediocre defenses at best. Ambipom can also work here because of his high speed and Fake Out to soften up opponents, putting them in the KO range of Shiftry. Bulky Waters like Slowbro and Milotic can work against Blaziken and Hitmontop, but the former normally carries Hidden Power Grass, so tread carefully, and you are still screwed against Toxicroak unless you use Slowbro with Psychic.</p>
<p>Toxicroak is an interesting option, since it functions very similarly and together the two can power through their counters. However, such a strategy is risky, as some counters (such as SubRoost Moltres) are very capable of taking on both in the same match. As such, you may want to pair Shiftry with one or more sweepers who offer contrasting coverage, such as Raikou or Alakazam. When using this strategy, it is also recommended to have a wall-breaker such as Blaziken or Nidoking, who can pose an immediate threat to your opponent's team. Every Pokemon your wall-breaker removes is a potential counter to one of your varied sweepers, allowing you to eventually find an opportunity for a clean sweep. Shiftry's sweeping partner should preferably be able to deal with Weezing, who walls Shiftry easily.</p>
<p>Offensive pairings include fellow Sunny Day sweepers and Fire-types. They include Victreebel, Exeggutor, Magmortar and Arcanine.</p>
[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Shiftry may use Hidden Power Ice to OHKO Altaria on Special Attacking sets, but Hidden Power Fire is usually the better choice to hit a wider range of opponents.</p>
<p>Shiftry also has access to Rock Slide to help him hit Fire-types, most notably Moltres and Arcanine, since the former resists Grass 4x, and the latter will force you out more often than not with Intimidate and ExtremeSpeed but it still remains susceptible to Fighting-types, therefore sticking with the recommended movesets would probably be the best idea.</p>
<p>Shiftry can also SubSeed, especially in the Sun when its Speed doubled, but it is better left to more defensive Grass-types like Tangrowth since Shiftry has better things to do. (E.g: Sweep the opposition.)</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Arcanine, Blaziken, Toxicroak and Hitmontop are the bane of Shiftry. They have the ability to take anything but Explosions and KO Shiftry with super effective STAB attacks. Tangrowth is also a very good counter to the Swords Dancer set, with it's colossal base 125 Defense and above average base 100 HP, as well as a resistance to Seed Bomb, ability to handle Low Kick, and then circumvent Sucker Punch by putting Shiftry to sleep with Sleep Powder, but quickly dies to any Special Attacking set. Weezing is pretty much the same, and also has Haze to erase Swords Dance boosts, and can KO with a Fire move. But the best way to deal with Shiftry is to just hit it outright and not let it set up; its defenses are mediocre at best and a decently powered STAB attack should cripple, if not KO him.</p>