Steel
========
Bisharp is an effective setup sweeper on Steel teams because of its ability to set up using Swords Dance and do massive damage with its STAB attacks. It is extremely useful in matchups such as Poison, where it can threaten to dismantle the entire team using its boosted attacks and Z-Move. Bisharp's Dark-type STAB moves also allow it to hit Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Victini and Blacephalon for super effective damage. Defensively, its Dark typing allows it to set up on a wider array of Pokemon such as Latios and Alolan Muk and prevents it from being crippled by Prankster users such as Klefki. Steel teams appreciate Bisharp's access to a strong priority move in Sucker Punch, as it allows Bisharp to pick off threats such as Victini, Alolan Raichu, and Blacephalon that Steel would otherwise have trouble dealing with. Sucker Punch also makes Bisharp a perfect fit on hyper offensive teams that tend to stack priority attacks to keep faster foes in check. Defiant allows Bisharp to pressure Pokemon such as Mantine and Staraptor from using Defog in fear of giving Bisharp an Attack boost, which is particularly good for Steel teams in order to keep Stealth Rock and multiple layers of Spikes on the field; Defiant also comes in handy against Intimidate users and Sticky Web. However, Bisharp's lackluster bulk forces it to set up on weaker Pokemon or resisted attacks, as a strong attack will surely knock it down to the point where it will be too weak to set up later. Furthermore, as a result of its lackluster Speed, Bisharp is overreliant on Sucker Punch to hit faster targets such as Mega Gallade and Zeraora.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Steel)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Iron Head
item: Darkinium Z / Life Orb
ability: Defiant
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance turns Bisharp into a threatening sweeper. Knock Off is Bisharp's main Dark-type STAB move with the additional effect of removing items such as Chansey's Eviolite, and a boosted Bisharp can use it to knock out Pokemon such as Mantine. Sucker Punch is used in order to pick off weakened threats and hit faster targets such as Excadrill and Mega Charizard Y that Bisharp cannot hit with its other attacks due to its poor Speed. Iron Head is Bisharp's Steel-type STAB move, which hits Fairy-, Ice- and Rock-type Pokemon for super effective damage, along with Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Mega Sableye, and Mandibuzz that Knock Off doesn't hit as hard.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Attack and Speed coupled with an Adamant nature ensure that Bisharp hits as hard and as fast as possible, letting it knock out Celesteela and Toxapex after Stealth Rock chip with its boosted Black Hole Eclipse. Darkinium Z allows Bisharp to use Black Hole Eclipse, an extremely strong nuke that can knock out bulky Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Celesteela, and Toxapex after a prior bit of chip damage. If there is already another Z-Move user on the team, Life Orb allows Bisharp to knock out Pokemon such as Landorus with a boosted Sucker Punch.
Usage Tips
========
Use Swords Dance against Pokemon that cannot do much in return to Bisharp such as Choice Scarf Latios. Similarly, use Swords Dance when Bisharp's checks and counters have been worn down into its boosted Sucker Punch's range. Preserve Bisharp's health, as it can come in, set up, and sweep more easily when healthy. Laying down entry hazards before Bisharp comes in is recommended, as Bisharp can use the hazards to sweep more easily as well as pressure opposing Defog users from removing them. Similarly, Bisharp should switch into a predicted Defog in order to gain a boost with Defiant. Avoid foes that can inflict status such as Mew, Mega Sableye, Slowbro, and Jirachi. Bisharp should also be cautious when switching into Defog users such as Mantine and Zapdos, which can afflict it with Scald burns and Discharge paralysis, respectively. Use Sucker Punch on faster Pokemon that Bisharp cannot hit with Knock Off or Iron Head such as Nidoking and Landorus. Be wary of Pokemon such as Alolan Raichu using status moves such as Nasty Plot to cause mind games with Sucker Punch. Similarly, use Knock Off and Iron Head on slower Pokemon that Bisharp is able to outspeed such as Porygon2, Toxapex, and Mantine, as Iron Head hits harder and Knock Off is Bisharp's most spammable attack. Be careful of when to launch Black Hole Eclipse, as it can only be used once, and the opposing team may try to waste the move by sacrificing a Pokemon. Use Black Hole Eclipse on a bulky Pokemon such as Celesteela or Toxapex that Bisharp has trouble breaking through otherwise. At the same time, don't launch the Z-Move against Pokemon such as Mantine and Clefable that are easily knocked out by Knock Off or Iron Head. Use Knock Off in favorable situations where there aren't many drawbacks of doing so in order to soften up the opposing team by doing damage and removing items. For example, if Bisharp is sent out against Choice Scarf Latios, clicking Knock Off is a possibility to weaken an incoming Garchomp.
Team Options
========
Heatran is mandatory on all Steel teams for its ability to absorb Fire-type attacks as well as break down defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Mega Venusaur by trapping them with Magma Storm and preventing their recovery with Taunt. Heatran can also switch in on Will-O-Wisp users such as Mew and Mega Sableye that may try to cripple Bisharp. Ferrothorn appreciates Bisharp's ability to pressure Defog users such as Mantine and Skarmory from freely removing its entry hazards, while its hazards wear Bisharp's checks down in return. Ferrothorn can also use Leech Seed to help Bisharp replenish its health. Choice Scarf Excadrill can switch into strong Electric-type attacks such as Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt for Bisharp, revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, and spin away Spikes to prevent Bisharp from getting worn down. Mega Scizor and Lucario are both good partners for Bisharp, as they are all Swords Dance sweepers with priority, enabling them to wear shared defensive checks down for each other for one of them to sweep through a weakened team. Skarmory and Celesteela both can switch into physical Fighting- and Ground-type attacks for Bisharp with their high Defense stats. Skarmory also is able to pick off Fighting-type Pokemon that give Bisharp trouble such as Mega Gallade and Mega Lopunny with Brave Bird; Bisharp, in return, is able to keep Skarmory's hazards intact by pressuring Defog users that try to remove them with Defiant. Celesteela is able to put Pokemon such as Zapdos and Hippowdon that can otherwise check Bisharp on a timer by using Leech Seed and Toxic. Choice Scarf Magnezone can trap and eliminate Skarmory and Celesteela for Bisharp's sweep. It also serves as a fast pivot that can revenge kill faster threats such as Keldeo and Mega Charizard Y and use Volt Switch to bring Bisharp in. Jirachi is a good partner for Bisharp, as it is able to take care of Pokemon such as Nidoking and Suicune using its Substitute + Calm Mind set. Klefki supports Bisharp's setup using its Light Screen and Reflect, while its Spikes also chips Bisharp's checks and counters into its boosted Sucker Punch range, allowing it to sweep with ease. In return, Bisharp can pressure Defog users such as Staraptor that threaten to remove Klefki's Reflect, Light Screen, and Spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Steel
--------
A Jolly nature can be used on Bisharp in order to outspeed Adamant Dragonite and Adamant Diggersby. However, Bisharp appreciates the additional power from an Adamant nature, as it lets Bisharp KO foes such as Celesteela with a Swords Dance-boosted Black Hole Eclipse. Black Glasses boosts the power of Bisharp's Dark-type attacks while preventing Bisharp from getting worn down from Life Orb's recoil. A Lum Berry is able to cure Bisharp if it ever does happen to get afflicted with a status condition, which is particularly useful for taking on status inducers such as Will-O-Wisp Mew. However, Lum Berry is a fairly situational item, and Bisharp appreciates boosting items that give it the necessary power to sweep. Choice Scarf with Pursuit allows Bisharp to outspeed, pick off, and trap faster Pokemon such as Alolan Raichu and -1 Victini. However, Bisharp's Speed stat is rather low for a Choice Scarf user, and it fails to outspeed faster Pokemon, namely Tapu Koko, even when holding a Choice Scarf.
Checks and Counters
===================
Steel
--------
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Kommo-o, Terrakion, Keldeo, and Mega Lopunny resist Bisharp's Sucker Punch and are able to OHKO it with their respective attacks.
**Ground-types**: Ground-type Pokemon such as Garchomp, Landorus, and Excadrill outspeed Bisharp and threaten it with their STAB attacks. However, they need to be wary of Bisharp's boosted Sucker Punch.
**Fire-types**: Fire-type Pokemon such as Infernape, Heatran, and Mega Charizard X are able to outspeed Bisharp and knock it out with a powerful STAB attack.
**Status**: Bisharp dislikes being afflicted with status conditions, as burns cripple it by halving its Attack, while paralysis hinders it by halving its Speed.
**Substitute**: Substitute users such as Zapdos, Salazzle, and Gyarados are a nuisance for Bisharp to deal with, as they are able to avoid Sucker Punch and attack Bisharp safely behind a Substitute.
**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Bisharp has trouble knocking out faster Pokemon that resist its Sucker Punch such as Mega Diancie, Hydreigon, and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu without some prior chip damage. Priority attacks such as Breloom's Mach Punch and Azumarill's Aqua Jet are also able to pick off Bisharp.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Decem, 362454]]
- Steel analysis by: [[Decem, 362454]]
- Quality checked by: [[maroon, 2218504], [Eien, 100418], [Vid, 239907]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
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