[OVERVIEW]
Water
========
With a deadly combination of Speed Boost before Mega Evolution and power after, Mega Sharpedo has cemented itself as the best sweeper on Water teams and one of the most dangerous Pokemon to play around. It also sits at a great Speed tier, allowing it to clean and outspeed threats like Choice Scarf Victini, Deoxys-S, Thundurus, and Latios after a Speed boost. However, its paper-thin defenses leave it prone to revenge killing from priority users like Breloom and Dragonite. Sharpedo also needs to have the opposing team weakened sufficiently before Mega Evolving or risk losing its Speed boost if it's forced out after Mega Evolution. Finally, Mega Sharpedo competes with Mega Gyarados and Mega Swampert for a Mega slot. Mega Gyarados is a bulkier setup sweeper that offers a Ground immunity to Water teams prior to Mega Evolving, whereas Mega Swampert acts as a fantastic wallbreaker and sweeper on rain teams.
[SET]
name: Speed Boost Sweeper
move 1: Protect
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Ice Fang
item: Sharpedonite
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Protect is a necessity on the set to grab a safe Speed boost prior to Mega Evolving. Crunch is Mega Sharpedo's strongest and most spammable move, allowing it to easily run through Psychic and Ghost teams and clean up weakened teams. Substitute gives Mega Sharpedo a way to take advantage of the switches it forces. Alongside Protect, Substitute lets Sharpedo stack up Speed boosts and stall out a foe's attack. Ice Fang gives Mega Sharpedo a Strong Jaw-boosted coverage move against Ground-, Dragon-, and Flying-types like Garchomp, Dragonite, and Landorus. Hydro Pump is an alternative to Ice Fang that lets Mega Sharpedo break through the defensive Flying core of Skarmory and Zapdos. If choosing to use Hydro Pump, a Naughty nature is preferred to net crucial KOs against Flying Pokemon, most notably OHKOing Thundurus with Crunch. An optional 28 EVs can be invested into Special Attack to guarantee a 2HKO on Leftovers Skarmory. 4 EVs in Special Defense prevents Download users like Porygon2 from getting a Special Attack boost before Sharpedo Mega Evolves. Make sure to not Mega Evolve too early in a game when defensive checks to Mega Sharpedo haven't been weakened enough or priority users like Breloom are still alive.
Mega Sharpedo fits on a wide variety of Water teams due to its ability to easily sweep through teams with minimal support. Tentacruel is a fantastic partner to Mega Sharpedo thanks to Toxic Spikes, which Mega Sharpedo's Substitute and Protect use to wear down foes into its OHKO range. Similarly, Suicune has great synergy with the Mega Sharpedo + Tentacruel core because it can stall the opposing team with Substitute + Protect, making it easier for Mega Sharpedo to clean up later. Empoleon can set Stealth Rock to gradually wear teams down and phaze Calm Mind Clefable with Roar. Empoleon and Tentacruel can also lure Colbur Berry users, like Slowbro and Celebi, with Knock Off. Furthermore, both of them can remove entry hazards for Mega Sharpedo. Swampert also sets Stealth Rock and can lure in and KO Mega Venusaur with Rindo Berry + Mirror Coat. Seismitoad is an alternative Electric-immune Stealth Rock setter that can cripple bulky answers to Mega Sharpedo, like Mandibuzz and Porygon2, with Toxic and check foes like Thundurus in rain. Wallbreakers like Azumarill, Keldeo, and Manaphy can soften up the opposing team for Mega Sharpedo and weaken checks like Porygon2, Ferrothorn, and Mandibuzz. Starmie can take care of Fighting-types that wall and check Mega Sharpedo, such as Keldeo and Terrakion, as well. Kingdra and Mega Sharpedo complement one another as cleaners on rain teams; Kingdra can wallbreak for Mega Sharpedo with its strong rain-boosted Hydro Pump. Shell Smash Cloyster can weaken shared checks and frees up the Ice Fang moveslot for Hydro Pump. Rotom-W can bring Mega Sharpedo safely into play through Volt Switch and can set screens to support its sweep. It can also cripple foes unaffected by Toxic Spikes with Will-O-Wisp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Water
--------
Destiny Bond is a viable option on more offensive teams that allows Mega Sharpedo to act as an emergency check to an immediate threat, like Ferrothorn. However, Destiny Bond is extremely situational and the additional coverage in Ice Fang or Hydro Pump is more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
Water
--------
**Colbur Berry Lures**: Psychic-types like Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Celebi often carry Colbur Berry to lure in and either OHKO Mega Sharpedo or cripple it with Thunder Wave.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur can take a hit from Mega Sharpedo and KO it back.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types like Keldeo and Terrakion can take a hit from Mega Sharpedo and KO it back. Terrakion, however, needs to be wary of Hydro Pump.
**Fairy-types**: Most Fairy-types, like Azumarill and Clefable, can easily switch into and KO Mega Sharpedo. In particular, Calm Mind Clefable, a huge threat to Water teams, can use Mega Sharpedo as setup bait.
**Priority**: Attacks like Mach Punch from Breloom, Extreme Speed from Dragonite, and Quick Attack from Diggersby can either OHKO Mega Sharpedo or KO it after some prior damage.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Generally bulky Pokemon like Porygon2, Mandibuzz, and Alomomola can switch into and KO or status Mega Sharpedo. Although it cannot switch into Mega Sharpedo, defensive Mega Gardevoir can live a hit from Mega Sharpedo and OHKO it with Hyper Voice, even if Mega Sharpedo is behind a Substitute.
**Status**: Any form of status can effectively end Mega Sharpedo's sweep.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[izaya, 311872]]
- Water analysis by: [[izaya, 311872]]
- Quality checked by: [[Cell, 244276], [Splash, 437289]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Water
========
With a deadly combination of Speed Boost before Mega Evolution and power after, Mega Sharpedo has cemented itself as the best sweeper on Water teams and one of the most dangerous Pokemon to play around. It also sits at a great Speed tier, allowing it to clean and outspeed threats like Choice Scarf Victini, Deoxys-S, Thundurus, and Latios after a Speed boost. However, its paper-thin defenses leave it prone to revenge killing from priority users like Breloom and Dragonite. Sharpedo also needs to have the opposing team weakened sufficiently before Mega Evolving or risk losing its Speed boost if it's forced out after Mega Evolution. Finally, Mega Sharpedo competes with Mega Gyarados and Mega Swampert for a Mega slot. Mega Gyarados is a bulkier setup sweeper that offers a Ground immunity to Water teams prior to Mega Evolving, whereas Mega Swampert acts as a fantastic wallbreaker and sweeper on rain teams.
[SET]
name: Speed Boost Sweeper
move 1: Protect
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Ice Fang
item: Sharpedonite
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Protect is a necessity on the set to grab a safe Speed boost prior to Mega Evolving. Crunch is Mega Sharpedo's strongest and most spammable move, allowing it to easily run through Psychic and Ghost teams and clean up weakened teams. Substitute gives Mega Sharpedo a way to take advantage of the switches it forces. Alongside Protect, Substitute lets Sharpedo stack up Speed boosts and stall out a foe's attack. Ice Fang gives Mega Sharpedo a Strong Jaw-boosted coverage move against Ground-, Dragon-, and Flying-types like Garchomp, Dragonite, and Landorus. Hydro Pump is an alternative to Ice Fang that lets Mega Sharpedo break through the defensive Flying core of Skarmory and Zapdos. If choosing to use Hydro Pump, a Naughty nature is preferred to net crucial KOs against Flying Pokemon, most notably OHKOing Thundurus with Crunch. An optional 28 EVs can be invested into Special Attack to guarantee a 2HKO on Leftovers Skarmory. 4 EVs in Special Defense prevents Download users like Porygon2 from getting a Special Attack boost before Sharpedo Mega Evolves. Make sure to not Mega Evolve too early in a game when defensive checks to Mega Sharpedo haven't been weakened enough or priority users like Breloom are still alive.
Mega Sharpedo fits on a wide variety of Water teams due to its ability to easily sweep through teams with minimal support. Tentacruel is a fantastic partner to Mega Sharpedo thanks to Toxic Spikes, which Mega Sharpedo's Substitute and Protect use to wear down foes into its OHKO range. Similarly, Suicune has great synergy with the Mega Sharpedo + Tentacruel core because it can stall the opposing team with Substitute + Protect, making it easier for Mega Sharpedo to clean up later. Empoleon can set Stealth Rock to gradually wear teams down and phaze Calm Mind Clefable with Roar. Empoleon and Tentacruel can also lure Colbur Berry users, like Slowbro and Celebi, with Knock Off. Furthermore, both of them can remove entry hazards for Mega Sharpedo. Swampert also sets Stealth Rock and can lure in and KO Mega Venusaur with Rindo Berry + Mirror Coat. Seismitoad is an alternative Electric-immune Stealth Rock setter that can cripple bulky answers to Mega Sharpedo, like Mandibuzz and Porygon2, with Toxic and check foes like Thundurus in rain. Wallbreakers like Azumarill, Keldeo, and Manaphy can soften up the opposing team for Mega Sharpedo and weaken checks like Porygon2, Ferrothorn, and Mandibuzz. Starmie can take care of Fighting-types that wall and check Mega Sharpedo, such as Keldeo and Terrakion, as well. Kingdra and Mega Sharpedo complement one another as cleaners on rain teams; Kingdra can wallbreak for Mega Sharpedo with its strong rain-boosted Hydro Pump. Shell Smash Cloyster can weaken shared checks and frees up the Ice Fang moveslot for Hydro Pump. Rotom-W can bring Mega Sharpedo safely into play through Volt Switch and can set screens to support its sweep. It can also cripple foes unaffected by Toxic Spikes with Will-O-Wisp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Water
--------
Destiny Bond is a viable option on more offensive teams that allows Mega Sharpedo to act as an emergency check to an immediate threat, like Ferrothorn. However, Destiny Bond is extremely situational and the additional coverage in Ice Fang or Hydro Pump is more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
Water
--------
**Colbur Berry Lures**: Psychic-types like Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Celebi often carry Colbur Berry to lure in and either OHKO Mega Sharpedo or cripple it with Thunder Wave.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur can take a hit from Mega Sharpedo and KO it back.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types like Keldeo and Terrakion can take a hit from Mega Sharpedo and KO it back. Terrakion, however, needs to be wary of Hydro Pump.
**Fairy-types**: Most Fairy-types, like Azumarill and Clefable, can easily switch into and KO Mega Sharpedo. In particular, Calm Mind Clefable, a huge threat to Water teams, can use Mega Sharpedo as setup bait.
**Priority**: Attacks like Mach Punch from Breloom, Extreme Speed from Dragonite, and Quick Attack from Diggersby can either OHKO Mega Sharpedo or KO it after some prior damage.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Generally bulky Pokemon like Porygon2, Mandibuzz, and Alomomola can switch into and KO or status Mega Sharpedo. Although it cannot switch into Mega Sharpedo, defensive Mega Gardevoir can live a hit from Mega Sharpedo and OHKO it with Hyper Voice, even if Mega Sharpedo is behind a Substitute.
**Status**: Any form of status can effectively end Mega Sharpedo's sweep.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[izaya, 311872]]
- Water analysis by: [[izaya, 311872]]
- Quality checked by: [[Cell, 244276], [Splash, 437289]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
