[OVERVIEW]
* Mega Sharpedo is one of the most threatening Pokemon in the metagame due to its immense damage output with Strong Jaw-boosted attacks coming off a high Attack stat and access to Speed Boost pre-Mega Evolution.
* Atrocious bulk pre-Mega Evolution prevents it from contributing to its team defensively. However, this is mitigated after Mega Evolving, which ensures it isn't revenge killed as easily by priority moves.
* Sharpedo has a good offensive typing, as well as decent coverage and utility options, making it a strong cleaner with good wallbreaking potential.
* Due to Sharpedo's offensive nature, it is best used on offensively oriented teams although it can also be utilized on balance archetypes.
[SET]
name: Mega Sharpedo
move 1: Protect
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Waterfall / Ice Fang
move 4: Psychic Fangs / Ice Fang
item: Sharpedonite
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Protect allows Sharpedo to gain a guaranteed Speed boost before Mega Evolving.
* Crunch is Sharpedo's main STAB attack, as it has great damage output due to Strong Jaw and has a chance to lower the foe's Defense.
* Waterfall is a secondary STAB attack with decent damage output that also has a chance to cause the target to flinch.
* Psychic Fangs allows Sharpedo to hit Fighting-type Pokemon for super effective damage and provides great neutral coverage in tandem with Crunch.
* Ice Fang allows Sharpedo to hit Grass- and Dragon-types for super effective damage. It should be used over Psychic Fangs if Hydreigon proves to be a more important target than the likes of Keldeo, or over Waterfall if Sharpedo is partnered with another offensive Water-type Pokemon whose role is to wallbreak in order for Sharpedo to clean.
Set Details
========
* Sharpedonite allows Sharpedo to Mega Evolve.
* The given EV spread allows Sharpedo to attack as hard and as fast as possible.
* An Adamant nature is used so Sharpedo can maximize its damage output.
* A Jolly nature can be used in order to outspeed or break even with many Choice Scarf users, such as Krookodile, Hydreigon, Darmanitan and Mienshao, after a Speed Boost, although it comes at the cost of additional damage output.
* Speed Boost is the ability of choice pre-Mega Evolution as it allows Sharpedo to function as a dangerous cleaner.
Usage Tips
========
* Sharpedo can be checked by various Pokemon depending on its set. Should Waterfall + Psychic Fangs be used, it is checked by Hydreigon and Mandibuzz. Should Ice Fang + Waterfall be used, it is checked by Keldeo and Primarina. Should Ice Fang + Psychic Fangs be used, it is checked by physically defensive variants of Gigalith and Hippowdon. Be sure to remove these Pokemon to ensure Sharpedo has an easier time performing its role.
* Against defensively oriented teams, Sharpedo should be Mega Evolved early on to capitalize on its wallbreaking capabilities as opposed to being preserved to function as a cleaner.
* Against more offensive team archetypes, Sharpedo should be preserved to clean the opposing team late-game.
* When used as a cleaner, Sharpedo should be using Protect in order to gain a guaranteed Speed boost before attempting to sweep the opposing team. However, be mindful of Z-Move users, such as Cobalion and Raikou, as they can damage Sharpedo through Protect.
* Sharpedo works best on offensively oriented teams, as it greatly benefits from the momentum and pressure those teams exert.
Team Options
========
* Sharpedo performs best when paired with entry hazard support, as most of its checks, such as Amoongus, Alomomola, and Cobalion, are grounded. Spikes wear many of these Pokemon down, making Pokemon such as Klefki and Roserade excellent teammates. Toxic Spikes are also great when paired with Sharpedo, as Sharpedo can use Protect to whittle down foes affected by the entry hazard, making Pokemon like Tentacruel and Roserade good teammates as well.
* Offensive pivots, such as Scizor and Infernape, also make for good Sharpedo partners, as they can bring Sharpedo in safely and keep up momentum.
* Sharpedo benefits heavily from the weakening or removal of walls, making wallbreakers such as Keldeo and Alakazam, good teammates.
* Due to Sharpedo's innate wallbreaking ability after Mega Evolving, sweepers such as Calm Mind Keldeo and Swords Dance + Rock Polish Cobalion make for good partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Poison Jab allows Sharpedo to hit Fairy-type Pokemon, such as Primarina, for super effective damage.
* Destiny Bond allows Sharpedo to force a trade with an opposing Pokemon, which is useful for removing set-up Pokemon.
* Substitute allows Sharpedo to take advantage of foes predicting Protect.
* Earthquake is a decent option, as it OHKOes Bisharp and hits Cobalion for more damage.
* Hydro Pump can be used over Waterfall in order to hit physically defensive Pokemon such as Cobalion and Gliscor for more damage, but the move is inaccurate and has less damage output than Waterfall unless it is hitting the aforementioned Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-type Pokemon such as Clefable and Primarina resist Sharpedo's strongest attack in Crunch and can check it well by either walling it, crippling it, or being able to tank a hit and OHKO it.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types can wall Sharpedo to an extent and have many ways of threatening it out, the most common being burning it with Scald to halve its Attack. Alomomola can take on Sharpedo's attacks well and stall it out with the combination of Wish + Protect in tandem with Toxic, whereas Suicune and Swampert can both tank a few hits from Mega Sharpedo and either Scald burn it or Roar it out, ensuring it is unable to retain its Speed boosts and making it much easier to revenge kill.
**Revenge Killers**: Some Choice Scarf users, such as Infernape and Keldeo, can outspeed Sharpedo after it has gotten a single Speed Boost and OHKO it with their STAB attacks. Priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Bisharp, have a chance to beat Sharpedo one-on-one depending on their sets and Sharpedo's HP at the time. ExtremeSpeed users, such as Lucario and Zygarde-10%, are able to heavily damage Sharpedo.
**Tanks**: Pokemon that can tank a hit from Sharpedo and either cripple it or KO it can decently check Sharpedo. Cobalion, Scizor, and Volcanion are the best examples of this. However, many Pokemon depend on either Sharpedo's moveset or specific items in order to properly check Sharpedo. Non-Choice Scarf Keldeo variants can check Sharpedo variants lacking Psychic Fangs and Hydreigon can check non-Ice Fang variants of Sharpedo. Colbur Berry Celebi can avoid getting KOed by Crunch and retaliate with a super effective Giga Drain, while Passho Berry Krookodile can avoid getting KOed by Waterfall, even at half HP, and proceed to retaliate with a powerful Earthquake.
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