[OVERVIEW]
Shiftry is an offensive powerhouse with a varied and effective toolkit to punch holes through the opposing team. Shiftry can leverage both a Choice Specs and a Swords Dance set to wallbreak, with both having appropriate pros and cons and largely different list of counters. Choice Specs has immediate power with few Pokemon willing to consistently switch into it, while the Swords Dance set can break through walls while still keeping offensive pressure with Sucker Punch. Because both of these sets are both strong and have mostly different counters, opponents can sometimes struggle to consistently answer Shiftry. However, Shiftry's low defenses means that it is vulnerable to getting knocked out quickly. Shiftry also tends to suffer under offensive pressure since its Speed is just short of being effective and reliance on Sucker Punch can only get Shiftry so far. It also doesn't help that Shiftry's biggest offensive counter, Monferno, is the most used Pokemon in PU by far.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Leaf Storm
move 3: Hidden Power [Ground] / Hidden Power [Fire]
move 4: Focus Blast / Sucker Punch
item: Choice Specs
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest / Mild
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Dark Pulse is Shiftry's go-to STAB attack as a spammable option with excellent coverage and no drawbacks. Leaf Storm is significantly stronger than Dark Pulse, but it drops Shiftry's Special Attack after use, making it less spammable than Dark Pulse. The choice of Hidden Power coverage depends on what you need to hit; Hidden Power Ground hits Fire-types like Monferno and Rapidash, but Hidden Power Fire hits Bronzor specifically. Both hit Klang as well, but Ground is the preferred option since Bronzor can still take some damage from Dark Pulse whereas Monferno switches in relatively safely otherwise. The last moveslot varies on what the team needs as well; Focus Blast hits Dark-type switch-ins like Zweilous and Scraggy hard, but Sucker Punch gives a priority option for potentially finishing off an otherwise problematic offensive threat. If Shiftry is loaded up with Sucker Punch, Shiftry will prefer a Mild nature.
It is important to remember that Choice Specs Shiftry is at its strongest the first turn it is out on the field. Shiftry's power and coverage before locking into a move is intimidating and sometimes difficult to handle, but as soon as Shiftry does select a move, then the opponent can switch into the appropriate answer. Some threats, like Monferno and Audino, can also feel fairly safe switching in regardless of what is chosen. Because of this, having a strong defensive backbone to counter the incoming threats is key. Pokemon like Stunfisk and Tentacool are excellent choices for this, as they can reliably switch in on threats like Monferno and even set up entry hazards to help Shiftry's job of wallbreaking. Shiftry also loves having a teammate that can make good use of all of the holes it has burned through the opposing team, so Pokemon that can sweep after Shiftry has done its job such as Swanna, Trick Room Beheeyem, and Golduck are excellent choices. Swanna in particular is a good partner, as it also checks Shiftry's nemesis, Monferno.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Seed Bomb
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Nature Power
item: Life Orb / Dark Gem
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set trades the immediate power of Choice Specs in favor of setting up with Swords Dance for more versatility, stronger coverage options, and stronger priority. Swords Dance boosts Shiftry's respectable base 105 Attack to new heights, allowing it to threaten both offensive and defensive teams alike. STAB Sucker Punch after a Swords Dance can OHKO a large list of offensive threats like Zebstrika while also giving Shiftry a priority option. Nature Power in BW turns into Earthquake, giving Shiftry some much-needed coverage to hit Poison- and Steel-types like Arbok and Klang that would wall Shiftry otherwise. Life Orb is the preferred item for giving Shiftry more power overall, especially for Seed Bomb, but Dark Gem is also useful for an emergency boosted Sucker Punch to fend off a potential sweep.
While Shiftry is fast enough to be a good wallbreaker, it is not fast enough to be a consistent sweeper. Base 80 Speed is good, but Shiftry's nemesis Monferno sits just out of reach at base 81. This means that Shiftry, even at +2, is best viewed from a wallbreaking perspective. Defensive partners for Shiftry such as Stunfisk can take hits directed at Shiftry and set up hazards to push offensive threats within Sucker Punch range. Shiftry also appreciates partners that can take on walls like Bronzor and Vileplume that Shiftry can't overcome, such as Monferno and Simisear.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Shiftry is an offensive powerhouse with a varied and effective toolkit to punch holes through the opposing team. Shiftry can leverage both a Choice Specs and a Swords Dance set to wallbreak, with both having appropriate pros and cons and largely different list of counters. Choice Specs has immediate power with few Pokemon willing to consistently switch into it, while the Swords Dance set can break through walls while still keeping offensive pressure with Sucker Punch. Because both of these sets are both strong and have mostly different counters, opponents can sometimes struggle to consistently answer Shiftry. However, Shiftry's low defenses means that it is vulnerable to getting knocked out quickly. Shiftry also tends to suffer under offensive pressure since its Speed is just short of being effective and reliance on Sucker Punch can only get Shiftry so far. It also doesn't help that Shiftry's biggest offensive counter, Monferno, is the most used Pokemon in PU by far.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Leaf Storm
move 3: Hidden Power [Ground] / Hidden Power [Fire]
move 4: Focus Blast / Sucker Punch
item: Choice Specs
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Modest / Mild
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Dark Pulse is Shiftry's go-to STAB attack as a spammable option with excellent coverage and no drawbacks. Leaf Storm is significantly stronger than Dark Pulse, but it drops Shiftry's Special Attack after use, making it less spammable than Dark Pulse. The choice of Hidden Power coverage depends on what you need to hit; Hidden Power Ground hits Fire-types like Monferno and Rapidash, but Hidden Power Fire hits Bronzor specifically. Both hit Klang as well, but Ground is the preferred option since Bronzor can still take some damage from Dark Pulse whereas Monferno switches in relatively safely otherwise. The last moveslot varies on what the team needs as well; Focus Blast hits Dark-type switch-ins like Zweilous and Scraggy hard, but Sucker Punch gives a priority option for potentially finishing off an otherwise problematic offensive threat. If Shiftry is loaded up with Sucker Punch, Shiftry will prefer a Mild nature.
It is important to remember that Choice Specs Shiftry is at its strongest the first turn it is out on the field. Shiftry's power and coverage before locking into a move is intimidating and sometimes difficult to handle, but as soon as Shiftry does select a move, then the opponent can switch into the appropriate answer. Some threats, like Monferno and Audino, can also feel fairly safe switching in regardless of what is chosen. Because of this, having a strong defensive backbone to counter the incoming threats is key. Pokemon like Stunfisk and Tentacool are excellent choices for this, as they can reliably switch in on threats like Monferno and even set up entry hazards to help Shiftry's job of wallbreaking. Shiftry also loves having a teammate that can make good use of all of the holes it has burned through the opposing team, so Pokemon that can sweep after Shiftry has done its job such as Swanna, Trick Room Beheeyem, and Golduck are excellent choices. Swanna in particular is a good partner, as it also checks Shiftry's nemesis, Monferno.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Seed Bomb
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Nature Power
item: Life Orb / Dark Gem
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set trades the immediate power of Choice Specs in favor of setting up with Swords Dance for more versatility, stronger coverage options, and stronger priority. Swords Dance boosts Shiftry's respectable base 105 Attack to new heights, allowing it to threaten both offensive and defensive teams alike. STAB Sucker Punch after a Swords Dance can OHKO a large list of offensive threats like Zebstrika while also giving Shiftry a priority option. Nature Power in BW turns into Earthquake, giving Shiftry some much-needed coverage to hit Poison- and Steel-types like Arbok and Klang that would wall Shiftry otherwise. Life Orb is the preferred item for giving Shiftry more power overall, especially for Seed Bomb, but Dark Gem is also useful for an emergency boosted Sucker Punch to fend off a potential sweep.
While Shiftry is fast enough to be a good wallbreaker, it is not fast enough to be a consistent sweeper. Base 80 Speed is good, but Shiftry's nemesis Monferno sits just out of reach at base 81. This means that Shiftry, even at +2, is best viewed from a wallbreaking perspective. Defensive partners for Shiftry such as Stunfisk can take hits directed at Shiftry and set up hazards to push offensive threats within Sucker Punch range. Shiftry also appreciates partners that can take on walls like Bronzor and Vileplume that Shiftry can't overcome, such as Monferno and Simisear.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
