shark attack
GP: GatoDelFuego | The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Mega Sharpedo is the epitome of a late-game cleaner thanks to a great pre-Mega ability in Speed Boost, access to a powerful STAB Crunch that is bolstered by Strong Jaw, and good coverage moves in Hydro Pump, Ice Fang, and Poison Jab. In addition, Mega Sharpedo has quite a favorable matchup against defensive and offensive archetypes alike.
However, Mega Sharpedo is quite frail, and as a result it is susceptible to priority. Reliance on Protect for procuring Speed boosts makes Mega Sharpedo somewhat predictable. Lastly, Mega Sharpedo requires quite a bit team support to remove certain Pokemon such as Keldeo and Chesnaught.
[SET]
set name: Cleaner
move 1: Protect
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Hydro Pump
move 4: Ice Fang / Poison Jab
item: Sharpedonite
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Naughty
evs: 224 Atk / 32 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Protect is necessary for Sharpedo, as it allows Sharpedo to get a guaranteed Speed boost prior to Mega Evolving and can be used to scout the moves of the foe. Crunch is bolstered by Strong Jaw and hits a variety of Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Latios and Gengar for super effective damage while retaining neutral coverage on the likes of Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. Hydro Pump covers Ground- and Rock-types, such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, Excadrill, Landorus-T, Mamoswine, Tyranitar, Terrakion, and Mega Diancie, and 2HKOes physically defensive Skarmory. Hydro Pump also nets a neutral hit on other threats that resist Crunch, such as Mega Lopunny, Klefki, and Bisharp. Ice Fang covers a variety of Pokemon such as Mega Altaria, Chesnaught, Dragonite, Hydreigon, Whimsicott, Breloom, and Garchomp. Poison Jab is a great move to hit Fairy-types such as Azumarill, Mega Altaria, and Clefable, and Grass-types such as Chesnaught, Serperior, and Breloom, with. The 30% chance to poison is also nifty for racking up residual damage on Pokemon switching in, such as Keldeo.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Mega Sharpedo to Speed tie with Choice Scarf Landorus-T at +1 Speed. 32 Special Attack EVs let Mega Sharpedo net a 2HKO on physically defensive Skarmory after Stealth Rock. The remaining EVs are invested into Attack to bolster Mega Sharpedo's Crunch and Ice Fang or Poison Jab. Speed Boost is the preferred ability before Mega Evolving to let Sharpedo procure Speed boosts, turning it into a terrifying cleaner. The Special Attack investment can be buffed up to 92 EVs to let Mega Sharpedo net a guaranteed OHKO on defensive Landorus-T after Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Sharpedo excels against weakened offensive and balanced teams. Against them, saving Mega Sharpedo as a late-game cleaner is vital. Put as many dents in the opposition's team with teammates, and clean up the remains with Mega Sharpedo once their team has been put in Crunch or any of its coverage move's KO range. This process should be done before Mega Evolving, using Protect to rack up Speed boosts, and then Mega Evolving when the opposition's team can all be outsped. Remove Thundurus and Klefki as soon as possible, as they can cripple Mega Sharpedo with priority Thunder Wave, stopping its sweep. Crunch is Mega Sharpedo's most-used move, as it boasts high power and perfect accuracy.
Against defensive teams, Mega Evolving right away is essential to break huge holes in the opponent's defense, unless the Speed boosts from
Team Options
========
Mega Sharpedo prefers fast, destructive wallbreakers as partners because it fits on offensive teams and needs foes worn down prior to sweeping. Gengar, Talonflame, and Thundurus fit in this category; in particular, Thundurus offers paralysis support and a check to Talonflame and various Fighting-types such as Breloom and Keldeo. Magnezone is a good partner for trapping Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and gives Mega Sharpedo momentum and opportunities to switch in with Volt Switch. In a similar vein, Gothitelle is capable of trapping and eliminating a few of Mega Sharpedo's checks, such as Skarmory, Mega Venusaur, Keldeo, and Ferrothorn. Talonflame is a great partner as well, as it can check problematic Fighting- and Steel-types, such as Keldeo and Conkeldurr and Scizor and Ferrothorn, respectively.
Physically defensive Garchomp is a great partner for Mega Sharpedo, as the combination of Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin, the phazing with Dragon Tail, and the Stealth Rock it sets wear down attackers such as Mega Lopunny so that Mega Sharpedo has an easier time cleaning up. Similarly, Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes punish switches and wear down the opposition fast, making Mega Sharpedo's job all the more easy; Scolipede makes for an excellent lead, as it can utilize both Spikes and Toxic Spikes and has Endeavor to weaken the foe, especially priority users such as Talonflame. Similar to Scolipede, Skarmory and Klefki can both utilize Spikes to help punish switches, and Klefki has an added bonus of being able to set Reflect and Light Screen to somewhat patch up Mega Sharpedo's lack of bulk and use Thunder Wave to paralyze faster foes such as Mega Lopunny. Celebi checks Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Breloom and can Baton Pass Swords Dance boosts to Mega Sharpedo to bolster its Crunch and Ice Fang / Poison Jab. Fellow Water-types such as Gyarados, Feraligatr, and Azumarill are also good teammates, as they have good offensive synergy and can weaken Steel-types such as Scizor and Ferrothorn as well as Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Tangrowth for Mega Sharpedo.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
All-out attacker Mega Sharpedo makes for a fantastic wallbreaker, owing to the fact that it can run alternate coverage options such as Hidden Power Fire. Zen Headbutt is an option to hit Fighting-types such as Keldeo, Mega Lopunny, and Breloom. Waterfall allows Mega Sharpedo to hit specially defensive Gliscor and has perfect accuracy unlike Hydro Pump. Scald is a decent option to have the chance to burn switch-ins such as Keldeo and Mega Altaria and cripple them. Aqua Jet can be used to hit weakened Talonflame and Thundurus and pick off Mega Lopunny. Poison Fang can be used instead of Poison Jab if the higher chance to inflict poison is more appealing, but it will consequently have a chance of missing out on 2HKOing Clefable and Mega Altaria. Taunt provides good all-around utility, preventing Pokemon such as Skarmory, Scizor, Mandibuzz from replenishing health, helping Sharpedo avoid being inflicted by status from the likes of Slowbro, and improving Mega Sharpedo's matchup against defensive teams. Destiny Bond is an option to bring down a foe before fainting. Double-Edge can be used to 2HKO Keldeo, but Mega Sharpedo will thus miss the ability to hit Fairy-types and Chesnaught. Substitute allows Mega Sharpedo to evade status and gain more Speed boosts. Hidden Power Fire lets Mega Sharpedo KO Steel-types such as Scizor and Ferrothorn, while Hidden Power Grass nets a super effective hit on Water-types such as Azumarill, Rotom-W, and Quagsire.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority Users**: Priority users such as Breloom, Conkeldurr, Dragonite, and Talonflame can all deal massive damage to Mega Sharpedo with their respective priority moves. Thundurus and Klefki are also problematic, as they have access to a combination of Prankster and Thunder Wave to cripple Mega Sharpedo immensely.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types can usually come in safely against Mega Sharpedo's attacks: Mega Venusaur OHKOes Mega Sharpedo with Giga Drain and takes minimal damage from Crunch; Ferrothorn takes very little from Crunch, deals massive damage with Power Whip, and uses Mega Sharpedo as fodder for Spikes or Stealth Rock; and Chesnaught completely walls Mega Sharpedo, as Poison Jab fails to 2HKO, and in turn can deal heavy damage with Drain Punch.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Mega Gyarados, which resists both of Mega Sharpedo's STAB move and takes minimal damage from Poison Jab and can in turn use Mega Sharpedo as setup fodder for Dragon Dance; Alomomola, which can outstall Mega Sharpedo with a combination of Wish and Protect and cripple it with burns induced by Scald; and Keldeo, which also resists both of Mega Sharpedo's STAB moves and OHKOes back with Secret Sword, are great checks to Mega Sharpedo.
**Bulky Attackers**: Because Mega Sharpedo relies on KOing everything late-game, healthy attackers that are not OHKOed by any of Mega Sharpedo's moves, such as Keldeo and Azumarill, will suffice for checking it.
Last edited:
