Overview
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Shiftry has a powerful niche in the UU metagame thanks to its powerful STAB moves in Knock Off and Sucker Punch, both of which Shiftry has STAB moves, the latter also has priority the latter of which is also a priority move. With Swords Dance, both of these moves become extremely powerful (this belongs in moves, mention that it has access to sd if you must). Grass-type STAB is also moves are very appreciated in a tier filled with bulky Water-types such as Slowbro and Suicune, while and it also getting gets nice neutral coverage alongside Shiftry's Dark-type STAB moves, hitting Dark- and Fairy-types hard. Shiftry can also use Leaf Storm or other special attacks its nice special movepool to catch physically defensive Pokemon off-guard, unlike some other setup sweepers. Shiftry can even boost its Special Attack with Nasty Plot, although this isn't recommended (moves). However, Shiftry doesn't have much bulk, making it a lot harder for Shiftry it to set up. Shiftry is very over reliant on Sucker Punch because of its middling Speed, which can easily be taken advantage of. Its base 100 Attack,(RC) 100,(RC) is not very high before a boost as well. Shiftry's typing leaves it weak to common attacking types such as Flying, Fire, Ice, Bug, and Fairy-type moves,(AC) and thanks to these weaknesses, Shiftry has trouble switching in. Shiftry receives competition from other competent sweepers such as Lucario and Heracross. Its abilities are also quite useless because Shiftry cannot be put to sleep via Spore as it is, while sun is rather uncommon in UU,(AC) and Pickpocket is also extremely gimmicky. Finally, Shiftry receives competition from Cacturne; despite lacking Knock Off and being slower,(AC) as Cacturne can wall Slowbro and other Water-types with its ability, which Shiftry fails to do; however, Cacturne lacks Knock Off and is slower.
Swords Dance
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name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Seed Bomb
ability: Chlorophyll
item: Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Swords Dance bolsters Shiftry's Attack stat to threatening levels very quickly in a single turn. Knock Off is a very spammable move that cripples many Pokemon that are reliant on items and is also a strong STAB move. Sucker Punch is a powerful STAB move that allows Shiftry to hit many faster attackers such as Victini and also allows it pick off weakened foes,(RC) it is quite a powerful STAB move as well. Seed Bomb is Shiftry's most consistent STAB move that hits bulky Water-types such as Suicune very hard. Leaf Storm is a nifty option because it nails physical walls extremely hard; if used, Naughty is the nature of choice. Low Kick nails Mega Aggron and has overall good overall coverage, but has little use outside of this.
Set Details
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Life Orb enables Shiftry to hit as hard as possible, and because Shiftry isn't exceptionally bulky by any means, the recoil is not minded as detrimental. The listed EVs maximize Shiftry's offensive potential. An Adamant nature is chosen over a Jolly nature because it enables Shiftry to hit even harder and a Jolly nature doesn't outspeed anything notable. Lum Berry is an alternative option if Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp is very are a concern concerning to you, although but Life Orb's power increase is will be missed. An alternative bulkier spread of 84 HP / 252 Atk / 172 Spe is an option to give Shiftry a bit more bulk while allowing it to outspeed uninvested base 100 Speed Pokemon such as Mew.
Usage Tips
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Knock Off is best used early-game thanks to its utility, while Swords Dance should be saved until late-game to allow Shiftry to sweep. Sucker Punch is very prediction-reliant reliant on prediction, so be wary if since the opponent can out predict this and either set up a Substitute or use Will-O-Wisp a status move; using a coverage move such as Knock Off is often more useful in these situations. Shiftry truly shines as a late-game cleaner to sweep weakened opponents' teams. Finally, avoiding status is crucial, so stay out of the way of away from potential status users, as practically all forms of status cripples Shiftry.
Team Options
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Slow U-turns or Volt Switches are the best ways to bring in Shiftry safely, as its lack of resistances and bulk makes it hard for Shiftry to safely directly switch in; Mega Ampharos makes a good partner for this reason because of its resistances to Fire-, Flying-, and Water-type moves, along with providing its ability to provide Heal Bell support. Similarly, Memento or and dual screens support are effective, making Dugtrio a good last-ditch partner since it can trap and eliminate Fire-types and provide a switch-in opportunity with Memento. Azelf is also a good offensive partner that can aid in setting dual screens for Shiftry with its access to dual screens, along with having the its ability to set Stealth Rock as well. Rotom-Heat resists all of Shiftry's weaknesses except Fighting and can bring it in safely with Volt Switch,(AC) while Shiftry also resists can take Water-type moves in return. Thunder Wave support is also greatly appreciated to slow down faster threats; this can be provided by Pokemon such as Mega Aggron and Mew. Finally, entry hazard support from the likes of Froslass is very beneficial to wear down bulkier switch-ins and to enable Shiftry to pick off weakened resists like Mienshao and Heracross at +2.
Other Options
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Defog sets are viable, but entry hazard removal is better left to other Pokemon such as Blastoise,(AC) since and Shiftry's lack of bulk makes this very difficult to pull off. Shiftry can run a special set using Nasty Plot is an option to bolster Shiftry's its Special Attack, and it has the movepool to back it up as well. Focus Blast is a cool coverage move, although its accuracy is a bit unreliable. Giga Drain is an option for a STAB move that also regains health. SubSeed is an option, but such sets are vastly outclassed by Shaymin, and Shiftry's lack of bulk prevents these sets from being very viable effective. Rock Slide hits Flying- and Fire-type switch-ins, although but otherwise it is fairly weak otherwise. Tailwind is a nifty option as a last-ditch resort to bring in another Pokemon to have a chance to sweeper with increased Speed. Similarly, Explosion is another last-ditch option, although it comes at the expense of Shiftry's life remaining HP. Icy Wind, while very weak, hits faster switch-ins and helps with to make up for Shiftry's average Speed. Sun support can be used with Chlorophyll, but sun is too short nowadays and is just not very viable anymore. Finally, as a warning, do not use Fake Out; it is weak and does not add do anything significant.
Checks & Counters
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**Super Effective Attacks**: Shiftry is weak to many common types including Fighting, Flying, Poison, Bug, Ice, and Fairy-type moves. Some of these Pokemon do have subtypes secondary types, however, which can allow them to be played around Shiftry to play around them. Some of Pokemon of these types that do fare well against Shiftry include Lucario, Heracross, Drapion, Granbull, and Honchkrow; all Pokemon that resist Sucker Punch and can hit back hard with their respective STAB moves. Some Pokemon like Victini and Crobat can be beaten if trying to they are switched into Knock Off or are flat out KOed by +2 Sucker Punch, so keep this in mind. However, bulkier Pokemon that resist Shiftry's moves like the aforementioned Drapion and Granbull are great counters.
**Fletchinder**: Fletchinder resists Seed Bomb and is not hit hard by Knock Off because it commonly does not usually carry an item. Sucker Punch can also be played around through with Will-O-Wisp, which can be followed up by Acrobatics for a clean OHKO.
**Status**: Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave instantly cripple it, while Toxic slowly wears it down quickly.
**Priority**: Priority moves such as Vacuum Wave, Mach Punch, and Ice Shard ignore can outspeed Sucker Punch's priority and hit Shiftry hard.
**Hydreigon**: Hydreigon resists Shiftry's STAB moves and can easily threaten Shiftry in return with Draco Meteor, Fire Blast, Focus Blast, and even U-turn.
**Mega Ampharos**: Mega Ampharos's item cannot be Knocked Off,(AC) and it resists Shiftry's Grass-type STAB moves, and it's also bulky enough to live Sucker Punch. In return, Mega Ampharos easily OHKOes Shiftry with Focus Blast.
**Faster Pokemon that resist Sucker Punch**: Heracross, Hydreigon, and Lucario all resist Sucker Punch and can promptly OHKO Shiftry with their respective STAB moves.
