**Dark**:
Through its great offensive stats that prevent it from being hard walled by physically defensive Pokemon and its access to Speed Boost pre-Mega Evolution, Mega Sharpedo is one of the best Mega Evolutions available to Dark-type teams. Its ability, Strong Jaw, allows it to run Ice Fang effectively and boosts the damage output from Crunch immensely. Although it gains slight boosts to its defensive stats, Mega Sharpedo still isn't able to take even resisted attacks well and it has to give up a moveslot in order to run Protect to make use of its base forme's ability. Mega Sharpedo also faces competition for the Mega slot from Mega Tyranitar, as both play the role of a sweeper. Regular Sharpedo can be run with with Life Orb as a great special attacker, allowing it to sweep late-game or weaken opposing teams for another teammate to clean. Both Sharpedo and Mega Sharpedo also rely heavily on teams being weakened in order to net KOs on most Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Sweeper (Dark)
move 1: Protect
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Waterfall / Hydro Pump
move 4: Ice Fang
item: Sharpedonite
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Jolly / Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Protect is necessary in order to acquire boosts from Speed Boost before Mega Evolving and is also an option for scouting for an opposing Pokemon's set. Crunch is Mega Sharpedo's strongest attack and hits anything that doesn't resist it extremely hard due to Strong Jaw. Waterfall hits Ground-, Rock-, and Fire-type teams for more damage than Crunch and is also a good option for hitting Pokemon such as Heracross and Bisharp that resist Crunch. Waterfall also has a 20% flinch chance, which is really useful for Mega Sharpedo considering its high Speed and inability to take attacks well. Hydro Pump can be opted for over Waterfall to hit Skarmory and Hippowdon for a 2HKO. Ice Fang hits Grass-, Dragon-, and Flying-type teams for super effective damage and is also boosted by Strong Jaw, allowing Mega Sharpedo to get past Garchomp, Hydreigon, Shiftry, and Dragonite.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment allows Mega Sharpedo to deal as much damage as possible. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly Nature allows Mega Sharpedo to outpace any Choice Scarf user under base 105 Speed after just one Speed boost. A Naive Nature can be opted for when running Hydro Pump in order to make full use of Mega Sharpedo's Special Attack while still not taking increased damage from common physical priority such as Extreme Speed and Sucker Punch. Speed Boost is mandatory on Sharpedo in order to accumulate the necessary Speed for Mega Sharpedo to sweep. An Adamant nature can be used over a Jolly one for more damage output, but it leaves Mega Sharpedo outpaced by Choice Scarf Victini post-Mega Evolution and Choice Scarf Heracross pre-Mega Evolution if it has only acquired one Speed boost.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Sharpedo should utilize its base forme's ability to the fullest and accumulate as many boosts in Speed as possible in order to sweep. As a result of losing Speed Boost after Mega Evolving, Mega Sharpedo only has one opportunity to sweep with the boosts it gained. Protect also finds utility in allowing Mega Sharpedo to avoid damage from Fake Out and scouting for the move the opposing Pokemon is going for. Attempting a double Protect is an option if Mega Sharpedo needs to outspeed faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Terrakion or Choice Scarf Gengar. Mega Sharpedo should avoid switching in on attacks or taking status moves, as even with the boosts in its defenses gained by Mega Evolution it is still a frail Pokemon and its usefulness is hampered greatly by status. Sharpedo can be used early-game without Mega Evolving in order to chip away at teams or revenge kill in order to make it easier for it to clean late-game.
Team Options
========
Mega Sharpedo appreciates Stealth Rock support offered by Tyranitar or Krookodile, as it puts Pokemon such as Mega Medicham into range of being OHKOed. Tyranitar is able to spread paralysis through Thunder Wave, making it easier for Mega Sharpedo to sweep even if it has not accumulated many Speed boosts. Mandibuzz is another great partner that offers both entry hazard control and physical bulk to lessen Mega Sharpedo's susceptibility to priority. It is also a good check for Fighting-type Pokemon, and a notable niche it has is being able to take on Breloom due to Overcoat blocking Spore. Sableye can also take Fighting-type attacks directed towards Mega Sharpedo and can spread burns in order to whittle teams down for Mega Sharpedo to clean later. Sableye and Bisharp can also function as hazard control deterrents, since Sableye's typing allows it to spinblock and Bisharp's ability Defiant helps it punish Defoggers. Bisharp and Crawdaunt are hard-hitting physical attackers that can weaken checks to Mega Sharpedo such as Porygon2, Ferrothorn, and Mandibuzz, although the latter's coverage is redundant with Mega Sharpedo's. Bisharp in particular is very threatening to Fairy-type Pokemon that trouble Mega Sharpedo. Knock Off support from users such as Weavile and Bisharp is generally appreciated, as items such as Eviolite and Leftovers can make it harder for Mega Sharpedo to sweep. Hydreigon and Hoopa-U are able to beat physical walls like Mandibuzz, Porygon2, and Mega Venusaur. Hoopa-U in particular is capable of revenge killing or checking many Fighting-type Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Life Orb (Dark)
move 1: Protect
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Dark Pulse
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Protect must be run in order for Sharpedo to safely accumulate the boosts in Speed that it needs. Hydro Pump is Sharpedo's hardest hitting move and is able to OHKO most Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-types. Ice Beam offers good coverage by being able to hit Flying-, Dragon-, and Grass-type teams for more damage than any other of its moves. Dark Pulse completes Sharpedo's coverage by hitting Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon for more damage, as well as being its best option to hit Pokemon that resist its coverage. Dark Pulse also has a 20% chance to make the opposing Pokemon flinch, allowing Sharpedo to not have to take a hit that would likely OHKO it.
Set Details
========
Life Orb gives Sharpedo's attacks more power in exchange for its HP; however, Sharpedo isn't capable of taking most attacks and greatly appreciates being able to deal as much damage as possible while still having the ability to change moves. Maximum Special Attack investment gives Sharpedo's attacks as much damage output as possible. Maximum Speed investment allows Sharpedo to outspeed Choice Scarf base 80 Speed Pokemon such as Hoopa-U, Togekiss, and Gardevoir. A Modest nature is utilized in order to maximize damage output. Speed Boost must be ran on Sharpedo in order for it to accumulate the Speed it needs to outpace and clean opposing teams.
Usage Tips
========
Protect can be used for scouting and avoiding damage from Fake Out users like Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham. Sharpedo should be used as a late-game cleaner, but it can also be used as a revenge killer against slower Pokemon on teams that can't switch into its coverage. Using Sharpedo early-game is an option to make it easier for it or a teammate to clean late-game. Sharpedo's mediocre defenses make it hard for it to even take resisted attacks well, and as a result it shouldn't be switched in on any attacks. Sharpedo is also extremely susceptible to priority, making it necessary for priority users to be gone when you attempt a late-game sweep. Sharpedo should avoid taking any form of status, as paralysis quarters its Speed and thus makes it easy to deal with it, while poison and burn wear it down quickly if considering Life Orb recoil as well. As a result of most people expecting Mega Sharpedo on Dark-type teams, Sharpedo can deal with the physical walls it lures in and can help pave the way for another sweeper on the team.
Team Options
========
Sharpedo generally functions best on a more offense-oriented teams and appreciates Stealth Rock support from Tyranitar, Krookodile, or Bisharp in order to net the OHKOs it needs to sweep weakened teams. Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar is a great teammate for Sharpedo, as both of them are able to sweep and either one can be sacrificed to make it easier for the other to sweep. Tyranitar can also be used to tank special attacks and spread status through Thunder Wave while Sableye can spread burns to whittle opposing teams for Sharpedo. Sableye, Mandibuzz, and Hoopa-U can all serve as Fighting-type checks and the former is also able to function as a decent stallbreaker to get rid of passive Pokemon like Chansey and Zapdos. Mandibuzz offers a form of entry hazard control and can run Toxic in order to weaken Pokemon like Gastrodon, Porygon2, and Cradily to help Sharpedo sweep late-game. Mandibuzz and Hydreigon are able to function as pivots with U-turn to bring in Sharpedo safely. Hydreigon and Hoopa-U are also able to pressure teams and weaken them for Sharpedo to clean late-game. Sharpedo appreciates Mega Houndoom as a teammate, as the two are capable of weakening their shared checks and Mega Houndoom is also able to take on the Grass-type Pokemon that trouble Sharpedo such as Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur. Bisharp is able to take on Fairy-types, like Clefable and Klefki, that trouble Sharpedo and also weaken teams early-game for Sharpedo to clean. Sharpedo can also be used to get rid of checks to Bisharp such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Skarmory. Knock Off support is greatly appreciated, as there are many viable users of it, including Bisharp and Krookodile, and the removal of the opposing Pokemon's item makes it easier to pressure teams by getting rid of troublesome items like Eviolite and Assault Vest.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
==============
**Dark**:
Destiny Bond can be utilized to gain a potential KO on a threat to the team that Sharpedo can't KO; however, it limits Sharpedo's coverage options even further. Poison Jab is an option to hit Fairy-type teams harder, although the coverage sees little use outside of that matchup and Fairy-types are generally handled better by Mega Sharpedo's teammates. Zen Headbutt is another option but only offers coverage against Fighting-type Pokemon, as Crunch does more damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Timid is a viable nature for Sharpedo but the drop in damage output is very noticeable and the only notable benefit from running it is being able to outspeed and deal a decent amount of damage to Choice Scarf Heracross after only one boost.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark**:
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Heracross can take any standard attack from full HP and OHKO back with their STAB attacks, though Zen Headbutt can threaten them.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Azumarill and Clefable can take any attack from Sharpedo and OHKO it back with their STAB move, although they can't switch in on a Poison Jab.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Many Grass-types are capable of taking the standard Ice-type coverage move run by Sharpedo if they are at full HP and can OHKO back with their STAB moves. Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur in particular can take any attack and OHKO with Power Whip and Giga Drain, respectively.
**Priority**: Mach Punch from Breloom and Extreme Speed from Choice Band Dragonite threaten to OHKO Mega Sharpedo without any prior damage.
**Status**: Paralysis makes Sharpedo more susceptible to being revenge killed as a result of the drop in Speed. Poison and burns wear down Sharpedo, making it harder for it to sweep.
**Mixed Walls**: Pokemon that are bulky in both Defense and Special Defense are able to beat Sharpedo by slowly whittling it. Alomomola and Porygon are both able to Toxic stall it, and the latter has also access to Discharge and Thunderbolt.
**Unexpected Items**: Slowbro and Mew can both tank any attack from Sharpedo with Colbur Berry and use Thunder Wave or Will-O-Wisp, though the latter just wears down the Life Orb set.
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