
Shedinja @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Wonder Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Lonely Nature
IVs: 0 Def / 0 SpD
- Poltergeist
- Shadow Sneak
- Will-O-Wisp
- Protect / Swords Dance
This discarded husk has revived the stall archetype in SS OU, giving immense versatility as a blanket wall to typical stallbreakers including Tapu Lele, Kyurem, and Melmetal. It also provides unique utility by blocking U-turn and denying momentum to Tapu Koko and Urshifu-R, which annoy common stall structures. Poltergeist gives Shedinja a strong STAB move to pressure Heatran and Clefable, and its non-contact nature makes it a safe option to use early- and mid-game against an incoming Ferrothorn or Garchomp. Shadow Sneak lets Shedinja pick off faster threats like Dragapult, Zeraora, and Blacephalon, complementing Poltergeist as a high-PP poking tool to push Pokemon into its range. Will-O-Wisp punishes physical attackers and common switch-ins, like Corviknight and Ferrothorn, while Protect lets Shedinja scout for super effective moves and absorb Future Sight. Swords Dance can optionally be used instead to turn it into a late-game wincon. Shedinja’s polarity as a wall means that you can place it alongside almost any other common stall Pokemon, like Gastrodon, which can handle Fire-types like Heatran and Volcarona well, or Toxapex, which can force progress with Knock Off and Scald to annoy some of Shedinja’s safest switch-ins, like Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Clefable.
Here’s a replay from the Official Ladder Tournament, and Shedinja’s major debut in OU tournament play: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-574581
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