Overview
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⦁ Speed Boost, good offensive stats and ability, sufficient movepool make it a competent cleaner
⦁ upgraded defenses don't hurt either
⦁ about as strong as Scolipede. Except it doesnt suffer from life orb recoil, its much harder to counter, main STAB is fully accurate, not weak to stealth rock
⦁ only one mega per team would be the reason to use scoli instead of sharpedo
Wounder, Cleaner
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name: Cleaner
move 1: Crunch
move 2: Hydro Pump / Waterfall
move 3: Double-Edge / Ice Beam
move 4: Protect
ability: Speed Boost
item: Sharpedite
evs: 252 Atk / 36 SpA / 220 Spe
nature: Naughty
Moves
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⦁ Crunch is Sharpedo's strongest move and should always be used
⦁ Hydro Pump deals with Skarmory, Landorus-T, Gliscor and Hippowdon. Three important physically defensive Pokemon in ORAS OU.
⦁ Waterfall is incapable of dealing with Skarmory, and defensive Landorus-T, but it puts luck on your side rather the opponent's and is a better answer to Tyranitar, and Heatran.
⦁ Double-Edge's ability to narrowily 2HKO Azumarill, and very convincingly 2HKOs Greninja and Keldeo make it a very valuable move as all three of these Pokemon are common offensive answer to Sharpedo. It is also fairly effective against Mega-Gyarados, Breloom, specially defensive Mega Altaria, and specially defensive Clefable. Although it does not OHKO or outright beat many of these threats being able to do serious damage to them all with one move in invaluable. It makes a late game sweep much more plausible.
⦁ Ice Beam allows Sharpedo to beat Mega Salamence, defensive Landorus-T, and Chesnaught. Stronger hits on Breloom, Mega Altaria, and non-specially defensive defensive Gliscor are also welcome.
⦁ Protect is imperative to ensure at least one speed boost is always acquired, without a speed boost Sharpedo is not fast and can not funciton as a late game sweeper.
Set Details
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⦁ Maximal attack is obvious as Crunch is the most frequently used move. It's necessary for many 2HKO and OHKOs
⦁ 28 SpA Evs ensures a 2HKO on Skarmory with Hydro Pump, and an OHKO on Landorus-T.
⦁ The remaining go into 228 Speed achieves 303 Speed when mega evolved, which convienently outpaces up to Jolly Excadrill by a single point. Though situationally useful due to the nature of mega evolution speed and probable speed boosts, extra SpA investment has little use.
⦁ Alternatively 112 SpA EVs can be used when using Ice Beam. This essentially guarantees an OHKO on Mega Salamence with Ice Beam. The remaining in Speed will be enough to outspeed adamant scarf Lando-t at +1.
⦁ Sharpedo can often achieve +2 speed so it's usually inconsequential to use less than maximum useful speed. Experimentation with mixed and bulky spreads is encouraged.
⦁ Naughty because lesser priority damage and maximum damage is ideal
Usage Tips
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⦁ IF you need two speed boosts to sweep come in on something base Sharpedo can beat by itself. This usually means coming in freely on something very weakened
⦁ Ok really this is a late game sweeper. Save until late in the game!
⦁ Sometimes you can make salvage a lost game by feigning protect if significant pressure exists for this. Try it sometime.
Team Options
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⦁ Offensive teams tend to function by hitting as hard and fast as they can. Their endgame usually has the opponent's team quite weakened. Sharpedo functions as a solid closer for this archetype, it benefits better than almost anything else from slinging around powerful life orb attackers wildly in the mid game, and early game hazards.
⦁ Bisharp is a good answer to fairy types that a bother for Sharpedo. Discouraging defog to keep hazard damage pouring on is also very useful to Sharpedo. Luring some mach punch users and hitting them with Iron Head is to Sharpedo's benfit. Getting crucial damage on Greninja or Keldeo with sucker punch before going down to them lets Sharpedo sweep more often, many times teams rely on these to check Bisharp and Sharpedo. Bisharp also has a knack for drawing in some problems for Sharpedo such as Suicune, Ferrothorn, and Sableye. From there Bisharp can Swords Dance in front of them and deal a crippling attack. For all these reasons Bisharp is quite effective next to Sharpedo.
⦁ Early game hazard users like Mamoswine are powerful allies to Sharpedo. The more hazard damage that builds up against the opponent the greater chance it has to sweep. Indirectly KOing talonflame is a huge help to. Mamoswine's potential to disrupt lead Brelooms is useful to Sharpedo.
⦁ Greninja's type redundancy with Sharpedo, and its overwhelming offensive talents make it an effective lure for some counters to Sharpedo. Clefable, Ferrothorn, Suicune, and many more can be drawn in and beten by the right Greninja. Greninja's spiking ability is also very beneficial to Sharpedo
⦁ Gengar's effectiveness against Fairy-, Fighting- and Grass-types can synergizes well with Greninja. Clefable, and Breloom for example.
Other Options
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⦁ Destiny Bond is usable but 3 attack Sharpedo is actually hard enough to counter where it often prefers 3 attacks.
⦁ Aqua Jet can catch some priority users or weakened scarfers, but its useful situations are less frequent than coverage moves
⦁ Poison Jab is good if you REALLY hate Clefable and Sylveon. Other coverage moves will be better more often though
⦁ Don't use Zen Headbutt, or Ice Fang. No really don't.
Checks & Counters
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⦁ Very bulky Pokemon that Sharpedo can not hit super effectively, or just resist Crunch will often counter. Examples include Suicune, Clefable, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and so forth. Be warned that neutral crunches will still scuff these bulky walls. Less than very bulky Pokemon that take neutral damage from Crunch will not suffice however. Rotom-W, Quagsire, and Mega Venusaur can be 2HKO'd by crunch for perspective.
⦁ Sufficiently strong priority make easy checks. Talonflame, Breloom and Conkeldurr will do the trick. But do not be fooled, after mega evoltion, Sharpedo is no longer remarkably frail, CB Dragonite's Extremespeed can be comfortably absorbed for example. Naturally, choice scarf users will often not work, as Sharpedo can often gain 2 speed boosts, and always 1.
⦁ Anything that Sharpedo can not OHKO, and can hit back with enough power, which is any healthy and non-frail attacker, without a weakness to Sharpedo's attacks, will do function as a check, but this is why Sharpedo is for the late game. The best way to beat sharpedo is conserve one of these bulky attackers you have throughout the game. IT would be better to have as single full health mon rather than 2 at 50% against a Sharpedo.
