BIG FAN
[OVERVIEW]
Shiftry has a terrific offensive typing and mixed stats, which allow it to threaten many bulky Pokemon in the tier. It also has a powerful offensive movepool that contains strong STAB attacks such as Knock Off and Leaf Storm as well as numerous coverage options such as Extrasensory, Explosion, and Focus Blast. Access to STAB Sucker Punch not only lets Shiftry circumvent its rather average Speed, but it is also the second strongest priority attack in the tier behind Cacturne's Sucker Punch. These qualities make Shiftry a fearsome offensive force, especially if backed by Chlorophyll with sun support. Shiftry even makes for a good offensive Defog user because it is able to threaten and force out a large majority of the tier's entry hazard setters with its powerful STAB moves. One of Shiftry's flaws is that its average Speed makes it more reliant on Sucker Punch than it would like to be. Shiftry not only has weak defenses, but its typing is not stellar defensively either, granting it common weaknesses to Fighting, Flying, Fire, and Ice and leaving it vulnerable to basically any strong neutral STAB attack.
[SET]
name: Physically Mixed
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Leaf Storm
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Defog / Explosion
item: Life Orb
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Lonely / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off does significant damage to any target that doesn't resist Dark while removing its target's item. Leaf Storm deals tremendous damage to the tier's physically bulky Rock- and Ground-types, such as Rhydon and Carracosta. Even without investment it still deals solid neutral damage due to the high Base Power of the move, and it is stronger than physical Grass moves against the likes of Granbull, Torterra, and Mawile that would otherwise shrug off Knock Off with ease. If using Shiftry on a sun team, Solar Beam is a recommendable substitute over Leaf Storm for staying power. Sucker Punch allows Shiftry to combat faster Pokemon.
Defog allows Shiftry to clear the field of entry hazards, providing valuable team support for various entry hazard-weak Pokemon such as Pyroar and Scyther. Explosion punches a massive hole into any target that doesn't resist Normal at the cost of sacrificing Shiftry. This is made more effective by the fact that Rock-types and Ghost-types greatly hesitate to switch into Shiftry. It is also Shiftry's best attack against Skuntank, Assault Vest Hariyama, and Mega Audino, which stop Shiftry otherwise. Extrasensory is an option to allow Shiftry to hit Combusken as well as break bulky Poison-types, notably 2HKOing Weezing; it can also be used as as a follow-up move after Knock Off in order to KO Vileplume and Garbodor or simply 2HKO them on the switch outright, although Shiftry needs Stealth Rock support in order to achieve this.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment greatly enhances Shiftry's offensive potential, notably powering up Shiftry's Knock Off and Sucker Punch. Shiftry does not need Special Attack investment in order for Leaf Storm to sufficiently damage its targets. A Lonely or Naughty nature is used to maximize the damage output of Shiftry's Dark-type moves; a Lonely nature leaves Shiftry more vulnerable to priority attacks but allows it to take better advantage of its resistances to various special moves such as Scald, Giga Drain, Volt Switch, and Shadow Ball, whereas a Naughty nature does the opposite. Naughty is definitely the preferred nature on a sun team, as Shiftry would commonly be subject to priority attacks amidst its sweep.
If you desire more Speed on Shiftry or simply want to reduce its reliance on Sucker Punch, Hasty or Naive natures are fine alternatives, allowing Shiftry to outspeed Sawk, Zangoose, Magmortar, Mesprit, Kabutops, Kangaskhan, and opposing Shiftry should they not run a Speed-boosting nature themselves, as well as Speed tie positive-natured Mesprit and Kabutops. Life Orb augments Shiftry's damage output even further. Chlorophyll is useful for Shiftry whether it be fighting alongside a sun team or against one. However, if sun teams are not an issue, Early Bird is worth consideration to give Shiftry better odds of combating Jynx.
Usage Tips
========
Being powerful but frail, Shiftry should always start in a position where it is threatening KOs on slower foes. Fortunately, this is not difficult to achieve due to the potency of Shiftry's STAB types against many of the slower Pokemon in the tier; Shiftry can also threaten faster Pokemon with its Sucker Punch. Shiftry excels greatly in hole punching, employing a hit-and-run tactic while doing massive damage to the opposing team. Throwing out Knock Offs early-game is a safe tactic as it cripples Shiftry's switch-ins, limiting their ability to check Shiftry continuously.
If using Defog on Shiftry, it is best to send Shiftry in on a slower foe that it can easily threaten to KO, which is usually a Rock-, Water-, Ground-, or Psychic-type; it would be even better if Shiftry can threaten the entry hazard setter itself, as it means the foe will not be able to reset the entry hazards in a hurry. Explosion is best used if one feels that Shiftry's usefulness has expired and it has just one more attack left in it, or if it could be used as an unexpected lure to brutally surprise and cripple the foe.
Team Options
========
Fire- and Flying-types make for some of Shiftry's best teammates, as they provide powerful offensive synergy to break the opponent's team, can cover each other's weaknesses, and appreciate anti-entry hazard support should Shiftry choose to run Defog. Pyroar and Magmortar can break the bulky Grass- and Poison-types that Shiftry can struggle with while resisting Bug- and Ice-type attacks for Shiftry; Shiftry, meanwhile, resists Water- and Ground-type moves for them and threatens bulky Pokemon that resist Fire with Leaf Storm and Knock Off. The likes of Scyther, Archeops, and Swellow can cover for Shiftry against faster offensive teams and threaten Fighting- and Grass-types; Shiftry can take Electric-type attacks aimed at the Flying-types while taking advantage of possible U-turn support to enter the battle safely, and it can return the favor by demolishing Rock-types and softening up Steel-types. However, note that if Shiftry is not using Defog and Scyther is still used as a partner, an alternative Defog or Rapid Spin user, such as Prinplup, Claydol, or Sandslash, is highly recommended, as Scyther absolutely needs Stealth Rock off the field.
Fighting-types make for strong offensive partners for Shiftry as well, as they can soften each other's checks and put dents in the opponent's team. They also resist Bug- and Rock-type moves for Shiftry while Shiftry can handle their Psychic weakness. Sawk appreciates Shiftry's Defog support to keep its Sturdy intact, Thick Fat Hariyama can safeguard Shiftry against Fire- and Ice-type moves, and Gurdurr's checks are easily weakened or disposed of by Shiftry. Shiftry also has a place on sun teams, predominantly as the physical hole puncher of the team. Between moves such as Knock Off and Explosion, Shiftry's sun sweeper teammates, such as Victreebel, Exeggutor, and Pyroar, should have little trouble cleaning up the battered remains of the opponent's team. Sunny Day users such as Regirock, Mesprit, and Liepard are also obviously vital partners for this Shiftry.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb / Black Glasses
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance bolsters Shiftry's Attack stat, allowing it to hit incredibly hard. Knock Off is Shiftry's most powerful and reliable attack, hitting foes for great damage while also removing their item. Seed Bomb hits many Pokemon that resist Dark hard while also bypassing Unaware Quagsire. Sucker Punch gives Shiftry powerful priority, threatening to OHKO a large majority of faster foes after a Swords Dance boost. If Shiftry is used on a sun team, Shiftry may consider Explosion over Sucker Punch. Explosion, especially if boosted by Swords Dance, can obliterate foes and provide a free switch for a sun sweeper or sun setter. If Explosion is used, Shiftry can now run Leaf Blade which is otherwise incompatible with Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment is used to maximize Shiftry's offensive potential. An Adamant nature further boosts Shiftry's power, while a Jolly nature allows Shiftry to outrun neutral-natured base 80 Speed to base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Sawk, Zangoose, Kangaskhan, Magmortar, Mesprit, and Kabutops, while Speed tying positive-natured Mesprit, Kabutops, and opposing Shiftry. Life Orb further increases Shiftry's damage output, but Black Glasses is a fine alternative, as Shiftry will usually be relying on the damage output of its Dark-type moves, especially after a boost, than its Grass-type attack. Lum Berry is also an option on Shiftry to reliably set up on Scald users while staving off status ailments in general, such as those from Will-O-Wisp, Toxic, and Thunder Wave. Chlorophyll is the ability of choice if one is considering using or combating sun teams, whereas Early Bird can sway the matchup against Jynx in Shiftry's favor.
Usage Tips
========
This Shiftry variant is more inclined to go for the sweep as opposed to pivoting in and out, but it can also soften its checks early-game with Knock Off so that they succumb to Swords Dance-boosted attacks later on. However, against physically bulky Pokemon that resist Grass, such as Garbodor, Vileplume, Weezing, and defensive Rotom-S, it might be wise to not prematurely use an unboosted Knock Off on them in order to avoid weakening future uses of Knock Off. Instead, Shiftry should try to nail them with a +2 fully powered Knock Off and drop them in a single blow; however, all four of them require some prior damage, preferably from Stealth Rock, in order to achieve this.
Shiftry can find setup opportunities by threatening the numerous slower Pokemon weak to its dual STAB attacks. This Shiftry set also functions well under sun. If Explosion is used, it is best used on the final turn of sun, as Shiftry is not expected to continue its sweep without Sucker Punch or Chlorophyll to augment it. Be warned that using Leaf Blade will alert opponents that Shiftry lacks Sucker Punch, so it isn't advised to reveal Leaf Blade if sun isn't up.
Team Options
========
Fire-types such as Pyroar and Magmortar make for great offensive partners, plowing through most of the Pokemon that give Swords Dance Shiftry trouble, such as Mawile, Vileplume, Weezing, and Pawniard; Shiftry, meanwhile, can set up on the Water-, Rock-, and Ground-types that the Fire-types lure in. Ground-types are also good teammates, as they can take down Garbodor, Skuntank, and defensive Mawile with ease while offering strong offensive presence in return; Rhydon, Golurk, and Piloswine can all set up Stealth Rock for Shiftry and help weaken the opponent's physical walls, and Rhydon and Golurk can even threaten the opposing team with their own form of setup. Fighting-types are solid Pokemon to use alongside Swords Dance Shiftry, as their combined offensive potency can put immense pressure on teams. They also resist Bug- and Rock-type moves for Shiftry while Shiftry can handle their Psychic weakness. Gurdurr appreciates Shiftry softening and luring out its checks to pave the way for it to sweep. Sawk can dish out immediate and massive damage, weakening the foe for Shiftry to pick off. Thick Fat Hariyama can shield Shiftry against problematic Fire- and Ice-type attacks. Psychic-types can defend Shiftry against Fighting-types while also handling problematic Poison-types for Shiftry; the likes of Mesprit and Mr. Mime can also provide Healing Wish support to give Shiftry a second shot at sweeping. Sun-setting teammates, such as Regirock, Mesprit, and Liepard, as well as sun sweepers, such as Victreebel, Pyroar, and Jumpluff, are also fine partners for Shiftry if one intends to have Shiftry sweep with the help of Cholorphyll.
Other Options
=============
Shiftry has access to Growth, which turns it into a monstrous mixed powerhouse if used under the sun; however, it can be tricky to find the moveslot for it, much less find the opportunity to safely set up while sun is active, as opponents are likely pressured to take Shiftry down. Shiftry can attempt to set up Sunny Day on its own, but it isn't advised, as Shiftry's low defenses make this a risky endeavor while also taking up one of Shiftry's valuable moveslots. Tailwind doubles the Speed of Shiftry and its teammates for three usable turns, but Shiftry already has Chlorophyll for a much more efficient boost in Speed.
Focus Blast and Hidden Power Fire heavily dent Steel-types such as Pawniard, Mawile, and Ferroseed, but Shiftry's STAB attacks can do enough damage to them as is. Hurricane does more damage than Extrasensory to targets such as Vileplume, Gurdurr, and Hariyama and has arguably better neutral coverage alongside Shiftry's STAB moves, but the inaccuracy is a turnoff, especially in the sun. Rock Slide and Rock Tomb allows Shiftry to hammer Flying- and Fire-types on the switch, particularly Scyther, but most of them take a ton from Knock Off already. X-Scissor is purely for skewering Malamar while also netting coverage on opposing Shiftry, but it has minimal use overall. Fake Out's free damage might be appealing, but the damage is too low to be worth the moveslot.
Shiftry has access to Nasty Plot, but such a set would forgo one of Shiftry's biggest advantages over Cacturne, being that it possesses stronger STAB attacks; resorting to Nasty Plot means that Shiftry will have a weaker Giga Drain, Dark Pulse, and Sucker Punch than Cacturne. Nasty Plot Shiftry does have access to a +2 Leaf Storm, which can majorly damage Mega Audino and Mawile, but it is still less efficient overall than Cacturne. Pickpocket has occasional use due to Shiftry's resistance to Knock Off, but Shiftry usually prefers not taking unnecessary damage or trading its Life Orb for a less beneficial or more restrictive item.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: The worst thing Mega Audino has to fear from Shiftry would be a +2 Explosion. Aside from that, it's a hard counter to anything else Shiftry tries to pull and can fire back with a super effective STAB Dazzling Gleam. Mawile and Granbull can both handle the Swords Dance set, but they risk getting worn down by Knock Off and taking substantial damage from repeated use of Leaf Storm.
**Bulky Poison-types**: Skuntank resists both of Shiftry's STAB types, making it a solid response outside of eating an Explosion. Weezing, Vileplume, and Garbodor can all stand up reasonably well to mixed Shiftry, but the latter two need to watch out for a +2 fully powered Knock Off from the Swords Dance set, and all three need to be wary of Extrasensory.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types can be problematic for Shiftry, particularly Combusken which resists both of Shiftry's STAB types and overrun it with Speed Boost and super effective STAB moves of its own. Faster Fighting-types in Primeape and Jolly Sawk outspeed Shiftry and resist its Sucker Punch, whereas the bulkier ones in Gurdurr, Hariyama, and Hitmonchan are bulky enough to survive a hit or two and OHKO Shiftry back. Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Poliwrath can also retaliate with Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave, respectively.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types are rather shaky at checking Shiftry, but Pawniard and Intimidate Mawile both resist Shiftry's STAB types, making them decent responses to the Swords Dance set; however, Pawniard gets 2HKOed by Knock Off followed by Leaf Storm and Mawile doesn't shrug off Leaf Storm either. Ferroseed is not likely to beat Shiftry upon switching in, but the threat of accumulating Iron Barbs + Life Orb damage followed by Gyro Ball can set Shiftry back to a manageable degree.
**Revenge Killers**: Shiftry's average Speed means that it is outsped by a good deal of Pokemon, but those Pokemon need to be able to circumvent or at least stomach a Sucker Punch to claim being able to revenge kill Shiftry safely. Such examples include U-turn Liepard, Eviolite Scyther, Will-O-Wisp Pyroar, and Lovely Kiss Jynx, although Jynx needs to be wary of the occasional Early Bird. Priority attackers such as Quick Attack Zangoose and Ice Shard Piloswine can also work around Shiftry, but they need to be able to threaten the KO lest they risk eating Shiftry's more powerful attacks. Faster Pokemon that can simply survive the Sucker Punch, such as Kangaskhan, Tauros, and Rotom-S, can be used as a last-ditch stop to Shiftry. Note that Chlorophyll Shiftry under the sun is capable of zipping past a majority of these threats.
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