[OVERVIEW]
Shiftry is one of the tier's most potent offensive threats due to its fantastic offensive typing, amazing movepool, and good offensive stats. Furthermore, Shiftry thrives in a metagame where passive Water-types such as Pyukumuku and Mareanie and Pokemon such as Bronzor and Golem are extremely popular. Shiftry's access to Knock Off and Leaf Storm, as well as boosting options such as Swords Dance and Nasty Plot, enables it to run a variety of sets, which makes it difficult to discern its set from Team Preview and to check defensively. Moreover, access to Sucker Punch enables Shiftry to play around faster Pokemon that can revenge kill it such as Chatot and Mr. Mime. However, Shiftry's mediocre bulk, combined with its weakness to common Ice-, Fire-, Fighting-type coverage and the popularity of U-turn on Silvally formes in the tier, limits its opportunities to switch in and makes it easy to revenge kill. Lastly, Shiftry is outpaced by many common attackers such as Swords Dance Pinsir and Will-O-Wisp Rapidash and is forced to rely on Sucker Punch mind games.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb / Darkinium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is extremely effective in a metagame where Eviolite is ubiquitous. It also helps Shiftry break down defensive Pokemon such as Lickilicky. Seed Bomb hits most reliable Knock Off switch-ins such as Silvally-Fighting and Silvally-Dark for neutral damage. Sucker Punch enables Shiftry to play around faster threats such as Electivire and Chatot.
Set Details
========
Darkinium Z may be used over Life Orb to increase Shiftry's longevity, as well as providing a more powerful STAB option for foes whose item was removed. For example, Knock Off followed by Black Hole Eclipse KOes Colbur Berry Gourgeist-XL, whereas Life Orb Shiftry would be forced to switch out in fear of Will-O-Wisp. Meanwhile, without a Life Orb, Shiftry misses out on the OHKO against Mr. Mime with Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
Shiftry should look to use Knock Off in the early-game to wear down the opposing team and cripple Eviolite users such as Tangela and Mareanie. Moreover, Shiftry's fantastic offensive typing enables it to break down defensive Pokemon such as Bronzor and Altaria as well as soft check offensive Pokemon such as Floatzel, Electivire, and Golem. Hence, Shiftry should be used to wallbreak and to weaken more frail offensive Pokemon for its teammates. Shiftry should use Swords Dance on forced switches in order to break through bulky switch-ins such as Muk and Granbull. In the same token, a boosted Shiftry can also pick off faster threats such as Electivire and Choice Scarf Rapidash with Sucker Punch. Although Shiftry should be played aggressively at times through double switches, its frailty often prevents it from switching in safely. Hence, it should be brought in off of slow pivots or after a teammate is knocked out.
Team Options
========
Due to Shiftry's average bulk and weakness to common Fire-, Ice-, and Fighting-type coverage, it appreciates Pokemon such as Swanna, Rapidash, and Mareanie. In a similar vein, pivots such as Silvally-Water, Komala, Electivire, and Rotom-S help bring Shiftry in safely. As a sweeper, Shiftry greatly appreciates Pokemon such as Floatzel, Zebstrika, and Choice Scarf Mr. Mime that can revenge kill faster threats for it. On the other hand, Shiftry can also break through defensive cores to pave a way for late-game cleaners such as Choice Scarf Silvally and Z-Rain Dance Swanna. Shiftry is very susceptible to being worn down, so entry hazard removers such as Altaria, Silvally-Dragon, Silvally-Ghost, Komala, and Silvally-Poison are fantastic partners. Conversely, hazard setters such as Golem and Crustle help Shiftry sweep more easily. For example, with one layer of Spikes, Probopass is OHKOed by a +2 Knock Off. Lastly, Shiftry should be paired with pivots such as Silvally-Ghost and Rotom-S that can bring it in safely.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sucker Punch / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Defog
item: Life Orb
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Lonely / Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm is used to dent typical Knock Off switch-ins such as Silvally-Fighting, Granbull, and Mawile. Hidden Power Ice may be used over Sucker Punch to 2HKO Altaria and physically defensive Tangela after Stealth Rock, but losing Sucker Punch restricts Shiftry's ability to play around faster threats such as Mr. Mime and Electivire. Shiftry forces out common entry hazard setters such as Golem and Bronzor, which makes it an effective Defog user.
Set Details
========
A Hasty nature may be used to outpace Pokemon that would usually creep Shiftry such as U-turn Silvally-Water and Silvally-Fighting, but the loss in power is generally inferior. For example, without a Lonely nature, Knock Off loses out on the guaranteed OHKO against Toucannon after Stealth Rock, and Sucker Punch misses out on guaranteed OHKOs against Mr. Mime after Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Shiftry should be brought in safely off a slow pivot, on a double switch, or after a partner has been knocked out. It should be played as a wallbreaker, primarily using Knock Off to wear down defensive Pokemon such as Tangela, Gourgeist-XL, and Altaria. Shiftry should also use Leaf Storm to catch Dark-type switch-ins such as Silvally-Fighting and Granbull. Moreover, Shiftry should only use Sucker Punch after offensive Pokemon have been worn down, as faster threats such as Pinsir, Mr. Mime, and Zebstrika can revenge kill it or use the opportunity to set up. Shiftry should use Defog on forced switches against entry hazard setters such as Golem and Bronzor. However, Shiftry should be wary of switching into hazards frequently due its susceptibility to chip damage.
Team Options
========
Shiftry pairs exceptionally well with pivots such as Silvally-Water, Silvally-Poison, Silvally-Ghost, and Rotom-S, as they help bring it in safely and can switch into Fire-, Bug-, and Fighting-type coverage, respectively. Setup sweepers such as Z-Rain Dance Swanna and Z-Me First Pinsir take advantage of Shiftry's ability to break down teams and remove entry hazards. In the same token, bulkier setup sweepers such as Curse Muk and Nasty Plot Beheeyem can check Fighting-types and appreciate Shiftry's ability to break through Golem and Bronzor. Fire-type Pokemon such as Rapidash and Monferno are good offensive partners to Shiftry, checking bulky Grass-types while Shiftry threatens Water-type Pokemon. Special attackers such as Mr. Mime and Oricorio-F also pair well with Shiftry for their ability to break down Dark-type switch-ins such as Silvally-Fighting and Silvally-Dark in Mr. Mime's case and Mawile and Granbull in Oricorio-F's case. Hazard setters such as Mareanie and Crustle help Shiftry break down teams more easily. For example, continually wearing down foes with poison or nearly guaranteeing a Knock Off OHKO against specially defensive Bronzor after Stealth Rock. Secondary hazard removers such as Silvally-Poison and Swanna also pair well with Shiftry, as they reduce its need to switch into hazards and be worn down.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Leaf Storm / Giga Drain
move 3: Dark Pulse
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb / Grassium Z
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot enables Shiftry to act as a more consistent stallbreaker, letting it to break through Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Altaria. Giga Drain may be used to increase Shiftry's longevity and does not hinder Shiftry's sweeping capabilities, but the lack of Leaf Storm limits Shiftry's ability to muscle through teams. STAB Dark Pulse is the main reason to use Nasty Plot Shiftry over Nasty Plot Simisage, as the latter cannot break through Bronzor as easily. Hidden Power Ice is used to OHKO physically defensive Altaria after Stealth Rock without the need to set up.
Set Details
========
Grassium Z may be used over Life Orb to OHKO Lickilicky and Assault Vest Kecleon with Leaf Storm-based Bloom Doom. However, non-Life Orb boosted Shiftry fails to OHKO specially defensive Bronzor and 2HKO Curse Muk after a Nasty Plot. Modest is used over Timid because Shiftry needs the breaking power, such as in the aforementioned situations. Moreover, a Timid nature does not help Shiftry outspeed any notable Pokemon outside of those that creep neutral-natured maximum Speed Shiftry, such as U-turn Silvally-Water and Silvally-Fighting.
Usage Tips
========
Shiftry should be brought in after a partner has been knocked out, off aggressive double switches, or off slow pivots. Although Nasty Plot enables it to sweep, due to its frailness, Shiftry should only set up after faster Pokemon or priority users have fainted. On the other hand, Shiftry easily finds opportunities to setup against slower teams and threatens to 2HKO most bulky Pokemon. However, Leaf Storm's Special Attack drop typically forces Shiftry to switch out or prevent it from completing a sweep. For this reason, Dark Pulse is Shiftry's most reliable STAB option, whereas Leaf Storm is used to blow past special walls such as Lickilicky, Probopass, and Mareanie. Lastly, Shiftry should be wary of the opponent switching around Shiftry, both wearing it down from Life Orb recoil and forcing it to use Leaf Storm to make it easier to play around.
Team Options
========
Faster Pokemon such as Floatzel and Dugtrio, as well as Choice Scarf users such as Mr. Mime and Rotom-S help revenge kill Pokemon that outpace and threaten Shiftry such as Rapidash and Silvally-Fighting. Moreover, late-game cleaners such as Z-Me First Pinsir, Z-Rain Dance Swanna, and Trick Room Beheeyem can take advantage of Shiftry's ability to weaken teams. Pivots such as Sivally-Dragon, Silvally-Water, and Electivire help bring Shiftry in safely, securing setup opportunities. Pokemon that can check either Dark-, Fighting-, and Fairy-type Pokemon such as Silvally-Fighting, Mr. Mime, and Silvally-Poison are fantastic partners to Shiftry. Furthermore, Water-type such as Mareanie, Simipour, and Silvally-Water can check Fire-types for Shiftry. Entry hazard setters such as Crustle, Mareanie, and Golem help pressure Shiftry's switch-ins. For example, a +2 Shiftry threatens to OHKO Lickilicky with Leaf Storm after a round of Stealth Rock. Lastly, Shiftry is prone to being worn down, so hazard removers such as Altaria, Swanna, and Silvally-Poison pair exceptionally well with it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Scarf set with an Adamant nature and Knock Off, Leaf Blade, Rock Slide, and Defog or Explosion allows Shiftry to act as a more reliable revenge killer against Oricorio and Floatzel, at the expense of limiting its highly threatening attacking options. However, it is outpaced by nearly all common Choice Scarf users. A Choice Specs may be used on a specially attacking variant with Focus Blast over Nasty Plot to more immediately threaten bulky teams, but is much more prediction reliant compared to other sets. Synthesis may be used on the Life Orb set over Defog to increase its longevity if Shiftry is paired with entry hazard removers such as Defog Silvally formes and Altaria. However, this does limit its fantastic coverage options and offensive capabilities. Hurricane with Flyinium Z may be used on special or mixed sets to more easily beat Colbur Berry Gourgeist-XL and Tangela, as well as to catch Fighting-types such as Silvally-Fighting, but it is generally a less consistent option on Shiftry.
Checks and Counters
===================
**U-turn users and Bug-types**: Shiftry's Grass / Dark typing and average bulk leave it extremely vulnerable to U-turn from Silvally formes such as Silvally-Water, Silvally-Fighting, Silvally-Dragon, Silvally-Poison, and Choice Scarf Silvally, all of which are quite common in the metagame. Other less common U-turn users include Choice Scarf Chatot, U-turn Komala, and Choice Specs Oricorio-F. Moreover, Pinsir is one of the most terrifying setup sweepers and can take advantage of Shiftry due to its physical bulk and can bypass Sucker Punch with setup options in Swords Dance.
**Fighting-types**: Pokemon such as Silvally-Fighting, Monferno, and Machoke can switch into Knock Off fairly easily and threaten to OHKO Shiftry. However, they must be wary of Leaf Storm, especially non-Eviolite Monferno who takes over half from the mixed set. Lastly, Z-Move Combusken can switch into Shiftry and threaten it out but is easy to wear down.
**Poison-types**: Muk and Silvally-Poison are some of the most common Shiftry switch-ins. However, Muk does not take Knock Off easily and Silvally-Poison is easily worn down.
**Fairy-types**: Mawile and Granbull can counter Swords Dance sets but fail to comfortably switch into special variants. Moreover, Mr. Mime can only revenge kill Shiftry if it lacks Sucker Punch or is at near full health.
**Faster Pokemon**: While Shiftry's Speed is decent, it leaves it vulnerable to faster threats such as Silvally-Fighting, Rapidash, Rotom-S, and Pinsir, which can OHKO it. Furthermore, Shiftry's reliance on Sucker Punch can be easy to take advantage of through setup or status moves.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[5gen, 296755]]
- Quality checked by: [[Xayah, 167012], [BloodAce0107, 435539], [Aaronboyer, 239454]]
- Grammar checked by: [[TheDutchPumberjack, 232216], [JockeMS, 53214]]
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