[box][Overview]
<p>Bisharp is a Pokemon with many draws-—it possesses high Attack and Defense, and, as a result of its Steel-(space)typing (it's only hypenated if it's an adjective IE Bisharp is Steel-type), has quite a few resistances. Moreover, its Speed allows it to function both in and out of Trick Room. Bisharp is also lucky to possess the second-strongest priority move in the game, Sucker Punch, in the game as well as Defiant, a rare ability that raises Bisharp's Attack two stages when a stat is lowered, allowing it to gain Attack from Intimidate. However, Bisharp is not without its flaws; its typing gives it an enormous quadruple weakness to Fighting-type moves and, in tandem with its movepool, also curses it with STAB moves that have low base power.</p>
[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Night Slash
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Protect
item: Dark Gem
nature: Adamant
ability: Defiant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sucker Punch is Bisharp's most useful move and allows it to OHKO many things that have weaknesses to it-—both Chandelure and Latios are felled in one hit, for example. Night Slash provides a more reliable STAB move, and Iron Head hits most things that resist Dark-type moves for at least neutral damage; it is also notable in its ability to KO 4 / 0 Toxicroak in tandem with Sucker Punch outside of Rain. Protect is a move that fits onto every VGC Pokemon; Bisharp is but one of many who benefit from it. (can you explain why Bisharp benefits from Protect?)</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Dark Gem is the item of choice and allows Bisharp to maim something with Sucker Punch the first time it uses it. Sitrus Berry is also an acceptable item, as it restores a quarter of Bisharp's health when it gets in the red 50% HP mark. The EVs and nature make Bisharp hit as hard as possible while giving it maximum bulk. Four 4 (Pokegrammar is an exception to the below 10 rule because we refer to EVs properly with numerals) more Speed EVs can be added to ensure that Bisharp outspeeds Hitmontop and Metagross; similarly, a Brave nature and a 0 IV in Speed can be run used to go before them in Trick Room. Rage Powder users, especially the hardy Amoonguss, are great because they can draw away Fighting-type moves. Chandelure pairs fantastically with Bisharp; while both are weak to Ground-type moves, Chandelure can switch in on Fighting- and Fire-type moves, set up Trick Room against faster teams, and KO the Steel-types that trouble Bisharp. Levitating or Flying-type Pokemon like such as Latios discourage the opponent from using Earthquake to KO Bisharp. Psycho Cut can be run used over Protect in order to OHKO Toxicroak and do more damage to Fighting-types than Iron Head does.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Brick Break is the best move that Bisharp has against Steel-types, but ends up feeling weak in the end. Swords Dance makes Bisharp incredibly stupidly strong, but takes precious time to use up a turn. Substitute can punish double Protects, among other things. Taunt can be used to stop Trick Room and Spore as well as other status moves. Guillotine is can be used as a sort of last resort move in situations where Bisharp will lose no matter what unless it hits. Steel Gem allows Bisharp to hit harder with Iron Head and Chople Berry allows Bisharp to survive Hitmontop's Mach Punch; Focus Sash can do the same, but is made useless by Fake Out or Hail. Life Orb allows Bisharp to do great damage to whatever it hits at the cost of HP every turn. Inner Focus can be used to avoid the flinch from Fake Out, but will not work against users of Hitmontop users will like use Close Combat if they don't see Defiant activate in reaction to Intimidate. Against Hitmontop with Intimidate, Bisharp with Inner Focus will not have Defiant activated in response to Intimidate, so the Hitmontop user can reasonably conclude that Bisharp has Inner Focus. Technician Hitmontop does not need to use Fake Out against Bisharp and can just use Mach Punch for an OHKO assuming Bisharp does not hold a Chople Berry of Focus Sash.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Most Fighting-type moves OHKO Bisharp; Hitmontop, Hariyama, and Toxicroak all have no issues doing so. Super effective spread moves hurt; Zapdos's Heat Wave and Garchomp's Earthquake take their toll on Bisharp and cannot be redirected by Rage Powder. Bisharp has issues hitting Steel-types, so it needs its teammates to handle them.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Bisharp receives Pressure from the Dream World, an ability that is more or less useless in VGC due to the general shortness of battles, making it inferior to both Defiant and Inner Focus. However, it is unreleased.</p>[/box]
nice
<p>Bisharp is a Pokemon with many draws-—it possesses high Attack and Defense, and, as a result of its Steel-(space)typing (it's only hypenated if it's an adjective IE Bisharp is Steel-type), has quite a few resistances. Moreover, its Speed allows it to function both in and out of Trick Room. Bisharp is also lucky to possess the second-strongest priority move in the game, Sucker Punch, in the game as well as Defiant, a rare ability that raises Bisharp's Attack two stages when a stat is lowered, allowing it to gain Attack from Intimidate. However, Bisharp is not without its flaws; its typing gives it an enormous quadruple weakness to Fighting-type moves and, in tandem with its movepool, also curses it with STAB moves that have low base power.</p>
[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Night Slash
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Protect
item: Dark Gem
nature: Adamant
ability: Defiant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sucker Punch is Bisharp's most useful move and allows it to OHKO many things that have weaknesses to it-—both Chandelure and Latios are felled in one hit, for example. Night Slash provides a more reliable STAB move, and Iron Head hits most things that resist Dark-type moves for at least neutral damage; it is also notable in its ability to KO 4 / 0 Toxicroak in tandem with Sucker Punch outside of Rain. Protect is a move that fits onto every VGC Pokemon; Bisharp is but one of many who benefit from it. (can you explain why Bisharp benefits from Protect?)</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Dark Gem is the item of choice and allows Bisharp to maim something with Sucker Punch the first time it uses it. Sitrus Berry is also an acceptable item, as it restores a quarter of Bisharp's health when it gets in the red 50% HP mark. The EVs and nature make Bisharp hit as hard as possible while giving it maximum bulk. Four 4 (Pokegrammar is an exception to the below 10 rule because we refer to EVs properly with numerals) more Speed EVs can be added to ensure that Bisharp outspeeds Hitmontop and Metagross; similarly, a Brave nature and a 0 IV in Speed can be run used to go before them in Trick Room. Rage Powder users, especially the hardy Amoonguss, are great because they can draw away Fighting-type moves. Chandelure pairs fantastically with Bisharp; while both are weak to Ground-type moves, Chandelure can switch in on Fighting- and Fire-type moves, set up Trick Room against faster teams, and KO the Steel-types that trouble Bisharp. Levitating or Flying-type Pokemon like such as Latios discourage the opponent from using Earthquake to KO Bisharp. Psycho Cut can be run used over Protect in order to OHKO Toxicroak and do more damage to Fighting-types than Iron Head does.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Brick Break is the best move that Bisharp has against Steel-types, but ends up feeling weak in the end. Swords Dance makes Bisharp incredibly stupidly strong, but takes precious time to use up a turn. Substitute can punish double Protects, among other things. Taunt can be used to stop Trick Room and Spore as well as other status moves. Guillotine is can be used as a sort of last resort move in situations where Bisharp will lose no matter what unless it hits. Steel Gem allows Bisharp to hit harder with Iron Head and Chople Berry allows Bisharp to survive Hitmontop's Mach Punch; Focus Sash can do the same, but is made useless by Fake Out or Hail. Life Orb allows Bisharp to do great damage to whatever it hits at the cost of HP every turn. Inner Focus can be used to avoid the flinch from Fake Out, but will not work against users of Hitmontop users will like use Close Combat if they don't see Defiant activate in reaction to Intimidate. Against Hitmontop with Intimidate, Bisharp with Inner Focus will not have Defiant activated in response to Intimidate, so the Hitmontop user can reasonably conclude that Bisharp has Inner Focus. Technician Hitmontop does not need to use Fake Out against Bisharp and can just use Mach Punch for an OHKO assuming Bisharp does not hold a Chople Berry of Focus Sash.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Most Fighting-type moves OHKO Bisharp; Hitmontop, Hariyama, and Toxicroak all have no issues doing so. Super effective spread moves hurt; Zapdos's Heat Wave and Garchomp's Earthquake take their toll on Bisharp and cannot be redirected by Rage Powder. Bisharp has issues hitting Steel-types, so it needs its teammates to handle them.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Bisharp receives Pressure from the Dream World, an ability that is more or less useless in VGC due to the general shortness of battles, making it inferior to both Defiant and Inner Focus. However, it is unreleased.</p>[/box]
nice
