Overview
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Although it was firmly planted in UU last generation, Bisharp has benefited from many of the changes inthat XY brought and is now a prominent threat. Bisharp possesses incredibly powerful priority in Sucker Punch, ands well as both power and utility in Knock Off. The new Fairy-type, which resists Bisharp's signature Dark-type moves, happens to be crushed by his secondary Steel-type STAB. Bisharp's also possesses an ability in, Defiant that, allows Bisharpit to laugh at stat-lowering moves and Aabilities such as Defog, Sticky Web, King's Shield, and Intimidate. Unfortunately, Bisharp still suffers offensively from its low base Speed. Defensively, its poor Special Defense and a nasty 4x weakness to Fighting weakn-type movess prevents it from making the most of its unique Dark / Steel typing. However, Bisharp's ability to threaten Defog users and apply huge offensive pressure gives it a new niche in OU.
Defiant Attacker
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name: Defiant Attacker
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Swords Dance / Substitute
ability: Defiant
item: Life Orb / Dread Plate
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves
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Bisharp's primary move is the newly buffed Knock Off, which provides a powerful, and reliable STAB move. It also that weakens nearly any target by removing its items. Sucker Punch is a staple on Bisharp and one of the most powerful priority moves in the tier. After a boost, Bisharp can use Sucker Punch to eliminate many faster threats with Sucker Punch, and nearly anything withat doesn'out a resist it when boostedance to Dark-type moves. Iron Head is Bisharp's reliable Steel-type STAB that deals with targets that resist Dark, most notably Fairy-types. Swords Dance allows Bisharp to boost its high 125solid base 125 Attack even higher and attempt a sweep. Substitute can be used instead to ease prediction with Sucker Punch and block status moves aimed at Bisharp. Bisharp can also use Pursuit in the last slot to trap many popular opponents, most notably Aegislash thanks to Defiant negating King's Shield'ses the Attack drop from King's Shield. Bisharp can also eliminate Defog users such as Latias or Latios with Pursuit, which ensuresing that your hazards will be safe for the rest of the match.
Set Details
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An Adamant nature withand 252 Attack EVs maximizes Bisharp's Attack, andwhile maximum sSpeed is used to outrun as many threats as possible, including defensive Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Mega Venusaur. Bisharp greatly appreciates an item that boosts its damage output., and Life Orb is generally the superior item choice as it provides a needed boost in power to all of Bisharp's moves. For example, Life Orb guarantees the 2HKO on Azumarill with Iron Head. However, Dread Plate can be used to avoid recoil while still boosting Bisharp's commonly used Dark-type moves. Low Kick can be used to OHKO Tyranitar and opposing Bisharp, is the best option against Mega Aggron, and can KO Mega Lucario on the switch. An Assault Vest with an EV spread of 64 HP / 252 Atk / 192 SpD is an interesting option for Bisharp that allows Bisharpit to survive powerful special attacks, and is most notable for reliably trapping Defog Latios with Pursuit.
Usage Tips
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Bisharp is best used to apply heavy offensive pressure to your opponent. Switch in using Bisharp's resistances or on a predicted switch, and use Knock Off to weaken any switch-in early in the match. Defiant forces your opponent to play carefully with Intimidate Pokemon such as Landorus-T, or and Defog users such as Latias, because youBisharp can gain a free boost with clever switching. Later in the match when Bisharp's counters have been removed, use Swords Dance against something youBisharp can force out to sweep once Bisharp's counters have been removed. Once it gains a boost, Bisharp is incredibly difficult to stop. However, Sucker Punch must be used carefully, as it is predictable and very easy to exploit.
Team Options
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Great offensive teammates for Bisharp include Pokemon that can defeat bulky physical walls. Water-types includingsuch as Starmie and Rotom-W pair well with Bisharp and can defeat Hippowdon and Gliscor. Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y can defeat bulky Steel-types such as Skarmory and Mega Aggron. Defensively, Pokemon including Landorus-T, Slowbro, Gyarados, Trevenant, and Gourgeist cover Bisharp's Fighting-type weakness very well. Hazard setters, most notably Deoxys-D, are also great teammates. Deoxys-D can support Bisharp with hazards and bait a Defog for Bisharp to switch in on. In return, Bisharp's offensive presence discourages the opponent from using Defog to remove your hazards.
Other Options
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Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock are excellent support moves, but Bisharp is generally best used to apply offensive pressure. There are a few other item choices that work with Bisharp can utilize as well. If Bisharp is carrying Swords Dance, Lum Berry can protect Bisharp from status and allow it to continue a sweepits onslaught. If it is carrying Substitute, Leftovers can offset the residual damage and offers Bisharp better survivability. However, in both cases, Bisharp will greatly miss the boost in power fromgranted by an offensive item in both cases.
Checks & Counters
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**Physical walls**: Bisharp can't break through extremely bulky physical walls. Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, Donphan, and Unaware Quagsire are especially good counters, as they can hit Bisharp hard with STAB Earthquake. Mega Aggron can easily take boosted hits, doesn't fear Knock Off, and can strike back with Earthquake or phaze Bisharp out. Physically defensive Mega Venusaur can do the same, although it takes hefty damage from Iron Head. Skarmory can take a boosted hit and phaze Bisharp, but can't threaten it directly.
**Fighting-types**: Bisharp has a crippling 4x Fighting weakness, and Fighting-types also resist Bisharp's Sucker Punch and can exploit Bisharp's crippling 4x weakness to their STAB moves. Infernape, Keldeo, and Lucario are great choices as they resist both of Bisharp's STABs. Terrakion and Heracross work well if they avoid Iron Head on the switch. Fighting-type priority moves from Breloom, Conkeldurr, orand Mega Lucario can also dispose of Bisharp.
**Fast Substitute, Will-O-Wisp, or Encore**: Faster Substitute or Will-O-Wisp users can abuse Bisharp's reliance on Sucker Punch to set up a Substitute or cripple Bisharp. Encore users can force Bisharp to switch out if it uses Sucker Punch, Swords Dance, or Substitute.
**Dark-Resistant Attackers**: Dark-Sweepers that resistant sweeper Dark-type moves, such as Mega Gyarados orand Hydreigon, can take a +2 Sucker Punch and KO in return with powerful attacks.