
Sharpedo
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Earthquake / Ice Beam
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Naughty
evs: 188 Atk / 184 SpA / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sharpedo's flagship set is a mixed attacker capable of busting holes in almost any team. With Stealth Rock and Spikes in play, your opponent will be hard-pressed to stop this monster. Hydro Pump is Sharpedo's primary STAB, hitting hard and getting good neutral coverage. Crunch is a secondary STAB move that picks up key KOs on Slowking, Sigilyph, and Dusknoir. The third move can be a troublesome decision. Earthquake is the superior option to hit many more targets, including Qwilfish, Drapion, and Lanturn. Ice Beam, however, hits Tangrowth, one of the best counters to set, though it has little value otherwise. Protect is in the final moveslot to get that extra Speed boost right when you need it, and can also be used to scout for priority.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The recommended EV spread has many purposes; one of these is to outspeed neutral Base 80s before a Speed Boost, and neutral Accelgor after a single Speed boost. The Attack investment is the minimum required to always get an OHKO on standard Slowking after Stealth Rock. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Attack to boost the power of Hydro Pump and Ice Beam. Life Orb is a necessity, as Sharpedo wants to hit as hard as possible, and its paper-thin defenses make it susceptible to priority anyway.</p>
<p>Hidden Power Fire is an option over Protect to hit Ferroseed, another chief counter to this set. However, Protect is crucial when you need just a little more Speed to get the jump on certain threats. Fast Choice Scarf users such as Manectric and Galvantula can outspeed Sharpedo even after a Speed Boost and KO with their STAB moves. As such, a great partner for Sharpedo is Munchlax, as it can take all the special hits that are thrown at Sharpedo with little worry. Magneton and Slowking are also great partners, as the former traps Ferroseed, and the latter can dispatch it with Fire Blast. Slowking is also good to counter Hitmonchan, who always beats Sharpedo with Mach Punch. This set really appreciates entry hazard support; Roselia has good synergy and can lay down either Spikes or Toxic Spikes.</p>