Ninjask (Attacking variant)

[Overview]
-Highly unused
-With that speed and attack, can viably sweep after Sword-dances.
-Don't have to waste a turn Baton-passing if unnecessary
-Messes with units designed to stop a Baton-pass set

[Set]
Name: Sweeper
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: X-Scissor
Move 3: Dig
Move 4: Return/Baton Pass/Night Slash/Aerial Ace
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)/Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe

[Set Comments]
The goal of this set is essentially Swords Dance up once, sometimes twice if no damage is taken, and sweep. X-Scissor is there for the obvious STAB, Dig is there to scare off all the fire and steel types that invariably try to switch in to wall X-Scissor, (Dig, with a +2 Attack, OHKOs every fire type that I've seen in the OU) as well as abusing Speed Boost.

The final move is up for grabs depending on the team's needs. If you just want generally neutral coverage, Return works relatively fine. If you want to pass the boosts along once your Sash is broken, then Baton Pass is obviously the solution. For SE coverage of Ghosts, especially those that can't be hurt by ground moves (I'm looking at you, Gengar,) Night Slash works wonders, and Aerial Ace is another STAB, though far weaker, that has coverage against Fighting types and Bugs. In all cases Adamant should be run unless one's worried about another Ninjask tying in speed with you.

[Checks and Counters]
Since this is an aggressive set on a 'mon that everyone uses as a supporter, I thought I might as well throw this up. Anything that has priority can check this set, unless if the Sash has yet to be broken and Ninjask has SD already up. Of course, having a Sash necessarily means that this doesn't work in Hail, Sandstorm, or with SR up.

Two 'mons that completely wall this set are Skarmory and Ferrothorn: Even with a +6 attack, none of Ninjask's attacks can take more than half of their health out, and Skarmory Whirlwinds while Ferrothorn Seeds and gives recoil damage. It should be noted that Whimsicott, the 'mon that destroys the standard Baton-pass set with Taunt, is OHKOed by X-Scissor.
 
*Rolls eyes*
Just make sure that those two are gone first. If overly worried about those two, then use the Baton-Pass option to an appropriate counter. Magnezone comes to mind as an easy way to clear the duo.
 
you should slash in protect so that you can win speed ties against opposing offensive ninjask
alternatively, use jolly

Slightly more seriously, Ninjask gets Final Gambit so you can get deal some damage to a random steel type before it KOes you.
 
@iDunno
Err... Base 50 Sp. Attack. The slight coverage it gives on the two really doesn't justify its existence... I'd rather give the job of Steel-tank-killer to another unit better suited for the job.
This surprise sweeper's not going to be taking out the bulky units any time soon, but the 1HKOs I get fighting other sweepers/set-uppers is too good to pass up.

@Woodchuck
Hmm, duly noted. Jolly's definitely worth slashing in, though Protect is so close to the standard set, it's not really worth mentioning in this one. Also, Final Gambit... Honestly, I've found by the time I'm sweeping, I've already activated my Sash, so I'm running at 1 health. (Though the time I went up against a Sun team and swept it 6-0 without my Sash breaking or ever switching was memorable. =P)
 
yeah, it's only walled by two of the most common walls in the game, no problem

This.

Most of the time it just isn't worth it. Natural Gift (Fire) is really the only other option that seems worthy. Ninjask needs all the power it can get so Life orb should get a mention.

But seriously, this set Fails miserably against nearly every team.
 
Actually, I'd disagree that Ninjask needs more power... After one Swords Dance, every Psychic, Dark, Fire, Grass save Ferrothorn, have fallen to one X-Scissor or Dig without fail. I haven't actually run the calculations yet, but I've never NOT KOed one after a boost. Things not weak to either Ground or Bug I've OHKOed with Return as well after that same boost, all the genies and forms of Rotom for example barring the normal form (Which is almost never seen anyways.)

Again, this is a surprise variant. It's been highly effective for me precisely because it's uncommon, and so my opponent doesn't realize that keeping his wall safe should be highly important. Once it's (or they're, for really irritating teams,) down, Ninjask is free to destroy whatever it wants.
 
I was looking through Ninjask's movepool and notice that it learned Giga Impact. Is there any way we can fit that in this moveset somewhere?
 
OH FUCK NO


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