QC: all falls down/eien/sirskit
GP: the dutch plumberjack / gatodelfuego
[OVERVIEW]
**Steel**
Bisharp is a physical attacker with a high base Attack stat that it can boost further with Swords Dance. By using its offensive presence to pressure the opponent into switching, it gains many opportunities to set up. It also has STAB Knock Off, which allows it to beat Pokemon like Porygon2, and Sucker Punch, which gives it powerful priority. Furthermore, Bisharp's great ability in Defiant discourages the use of stat-lowering moves and abilities like Defog and Intimidate. This trait allows it to work well on both hyper offense and balanced teams. However, it has weaknesses to Fighting, Ground, and Fire, and all are common coverage in Monotype. It is also useless against Fighting-types, as they all resist Sucker Punch and will outspeed Bisharp otherwise. Bisharp also has poor Special Defense and Speed, and Sucker Punch is somewhat unreliable.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Steel)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Iron Head
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Defiant
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Bisharp's Attack to incredibly high levels and allows it to break through walls. Knock Off is a powerful STAB move that has the added benefit of removing items. Sucker Punch is a powerful but sometimes unreliable priority move that makes up for Bisharp's low Speed stat. Iron Head is a powerful secondary STAB move that is useful for dealing more damage to Mega Evolutions, which don't take 1.5x damage from Knock Off, and has a decent flinch chance.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature is used to maximize Bisharp's Attack and is preferred because it allows Bisharp to OHKO threats to it such as Zapdos at +2, even without a Life Orb. Life Orb is used for more power and allows it to OHKO Hoopa-Unbound and OHKO offensive Heatran at +2, though Lum Berry can be used to cure status and allow Bisharp to set up on status spreaders such as Mew. Defiant discourages the use of Defog and Sticky Web, and it boosts Bisharp's Attack if any of its stats are lowered. Black Glasses and Dread Plate are other options that boost the power of Knock Off and Sucker Punch without Life Orb's recoil.
Usage Tips
========
Bisharp has many opportunities to get to +2, such as switching in when you expect Defog to be used or when Sticky Web is on your side of the field. Swords Dance can be used on Pokemon that are threatened out or can't touch Bisharp, such as Chansey and Choice-locked Pokemon. If an opposing Pokemon can inflict burns, use the turn you predict your opponent to try to burn your Pokemon to bring Bisharp in, cure the burn with the Lum Berry, and KO the opposing Pokemon right away, or else Bisharp will be crippled for the rest of the game. Bisharp is best used to sweep late-game with Sucker Punch. However, it can also be used as an early-game wallbreaker with Knock Off, which has the added benefit of weakening Pokemon by removing their item. Bisharp can also revenge kill foes with Sucker Punch, but you must be wary of status and Substitute users, as well as of other 50/50 scenarios such as guessing whether your opponent will switch or not.
Team Options
========
Doublade is immune to Fighting and completes an entry hazard preservation core with Bisharp by utilizing Ghost typing and Defiant. Choice Scarf Magnezone forces out the Water-types that wall Bisharp, like Keldeo, and it also traps the Steel-types that could also wall Bisharp, like Skarmory and Ferrothorn. Jirachi is neutral to Fighting-type attacks and also has Healing Wish to heal Bisharp for late-game sweeps, which allows it to be more reckless early-game. Heatran is immune to Fire-type moves and therefore can switch into Fire-type attacks or Will-O-Wisp. Swords Dance Mega Scizor shares similar checks with Bisharp; one can weaken them for the other to sweep. Nasty Plot Lucario is one of the few special setup sweepers on Steel and can set up on Bisharp's defensive checks. Skarmory has an immunity to Ground-type attacks and can set entry hazards, which pressure the opponent into using Defog. Ferrothorn also sets hazards to force the opponent to use Defog and has a nice Water resistance and Ground neutrality. Choice Scarf Excadrill helps eliminate the Fire- and Electric-type Pokemon that might threaten or wall Bisharp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pursuit can also be used to trap threatening Ghost- and Psychic-types. Psycho Cut can be used to hit the Fighting-types that Bisharp lures in, although most will outspeed and KO Bisharp anyway. Low Kick can be used for Mega Gyarados and opposing Bisharp. Using Focus Sash and Stealth Rock might seem like a good idea for a suicide lead, but it is outclassed as a Stealth Rock user by Pokemon such as Skarmory and Heatran, and Bisharp is more suited to offensive roles anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel**
**Burns**: Burns can cripple Life Orb sets, and repeated burns can still cripple Lum Berry sets.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Infernape can easily switch into Bisharp and force it out or KO it.
**Mega Evolutions**: Mega Pokemon such as Mega Swampert and Mega Garchomp take less damage from Knock Off and little damage from Sucker Punch and Iron Head, and both OHKO back.
**Bulky Water-types**: Water-types such as Alomomola and Gastrodon resist Iron Head and can fish for burns with Scald.
**Quagsire**: Quagsire walls Bisharp because of Unaware which makes, Bisharp unable to set up and also takes negligible damage from Iron Head and Knock Off.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Gastrodon wall Bisharp because it is unable to do enough damage to them to KO and is outstalled or knocked out by them.
**Offensive Dark-types**: Offensive Dark-types such as Hydreigon and Weavile resist Sucker Punch and can easily revenge kill Bisharp.
GP: the dutch plumberjack / gatodelfuego
[OVERVIEW]
**Steel**
Bisharp is a physical attacker with a high base Attack stat that it can boost further with Swords Dance. By using its offensive presence to pressure the opponent into switching, it gains many opportunities to set up. It also has STAB Knock Off, which allows it to beat Pokemon like Porygon2, and Sucker Punch, which gives it powerful priority. Furthermore, Bisharp's great ability in Defiant discourages the use of stat-lowering moves and abilities like Defog and Intimidate. This trait allows it to work well on both hyper offense and balanced teams. However, it has weaknesses to Fighting, Ground, and Fire, and all are common coverage in Monotype. It is also useless against Fighting-types, as they all resist Sucker Punch and will outspeed Bisharp otherwise. Bisharp also has poor Special Defense and Speed, and Sucker Punch is somewhat unreliable.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Steel)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Iron Head
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Defiant
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Bisharp's Attack to incredibly high levels and allows it to break through walls. Knock Off is a powerful STAB move that has the added benefit of removing items. Sucker Punch is a powerful but sometimes unreliable priority move that makes up for Bisharp's low Speed stat. Iron Head is a powerful secondary STAB move that is useful for dealing more damage to Mega Evolutions, which don't take 1.5x damage from Knock Off, and has a decent flinch chance.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature is used to maximize Bisharp's Attack and is preferred because it allows Bisharp to OHKO threats to it such as Zapdos at +2, even without a Life Orb. Life Orb is used for more power and allows it to OHKO Hoopa-Unbound and OHKO offensive Heatran at +2, though Lum Berry can be used to cure status and allow Bisharp to set up on status spreaders such as Mew. Defiant discourages the use of Defog and Sticky Web, and it boosts Bisharp's Attack if any of its stats are lowered. Black Glasses and Dread Plate are other options that boost the power of Knock Off and Sucker Punch without Life Orb's recoil.
Usage Tips
========
Bisharp has many opportunities to get to +2, such as switching in when you expect Defog to be used or when Sticky Web is on your side of the field. Swords Dance can be used on Pokemon that are threatened out or can't touch Bisharp, such as Chansey and Choice-locked Pokemon. If an opposing Pokemon can inflict burns, use the turn you predict your opponent to try to burn your Pokemon to bring Bisharp in, cure the burn with the Lum Berry, and KO the opposing Pokemon right away, or else Bisharp will be crippled for the rest of the game. Bisharp is best used to sweep late-game with Sucker Punch. However, it can also be used as an early-game wallbreaker with Knock Off, which has the added benefit of weakening Pokemon by removing their item. Bisharp can also revenge kill foes with Sucker Punch, but you must be wary of status and Substitute users, as well as of other 50/50 scenarios such as guessing whether your opponent will switch or not.
Team Options
========
Doublade is immune to Fighting and completes an entry hazard preservation core with Bisharp by utilizing Ghost typing and Defiant. Choice Scarf Magnezone forces out the Water-types that wall Bisharp, like Keldeo, and it also traps the Steel-types that could also wall Bisharp, like Skarmory and Ferrothorn. Jirachi is neutral to Fighting-type attacks and also has Healing Wish to heal Bisharp for late-game sweeps, which allows it to be more reckless early-game. Heatran is immune to Fire-type moves and therefore can switch into Fire-type attacks or Will-O-Wisp. Swords Dance Mega Scizor shares similar checks with Bisharp; one can weaken them for the other to sweep. Nasty Plot Lucario is one of the few special setup sweepers on Steel and can set up on Bisharp's defensive checks. Skarmory has an immunity to Ground-type attacks and can set entry hazards, which pressure the opponent into using Defog. Ferrothorn also sets hazards to force the opponent to use Defog and has a nice Water resistance and Ground neutrality. Choice Scarf Excadrill helps eliminate the Fire- and Electric-type Pokemon that might threaten or wall Bisharp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pursuit can also be used to trap threatening Ghost- and Psychic-types. Psycho Cut can be used to hit the Fighting-types that Bisharp lures in, although most will outspeed and KO Bisharp anyway. Low Kick can be used for Mega Gyarados and opposing Bisharp. Using Focus Sash and Stealth Rock might seem like a good idea for a suicide lead, but it is outclassed as a Stealth Rock user by Pokemon such as Skarmory and Heatran, and Bisharp is more suited to offensive roles anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel**
**Burns**: Burns can cripple Life Orb sets, and repeated burns can still cripple Lum Berry sets.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Infernape can easily switch into Bisharp and force it out or KO it.
**Mega Evolutions**: Mega Pokemon such as Mega Swampert and Mega Garchomp take less damage from Knock Off and little damage from Sucker Punch and Iron Head, and both OHKO back.
**Bulky Water-types**: Water-types such as Alomomola and Gastrodon resist Iron Head and can fish for burns with Scald.
**Quagsire**: Quagsire walls Bisharp because of Unaware which makes, Bisharp unable to set up and also takes negligible damage from Iron Head and Knock Off.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Gastrodon wall Bisharp because it is unable to do enough damage to them to KO and is outstalled or knocked out by them.
**Offensive Dark-types**: Offensive Dark-types such as Hydreigon and Weavile resist Sucker Punch and can easily revenge kill Bisharp.
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