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Swords Dance helps Bisharp break through troublesome walls such as Corviknight and Ferrothorn. Iron Head covers Fairy-types like Clefable and Dark-resistant foes such as Tyranitar. Sucker Punch makes up for Bisharp's mediocre Speed and targets faster threats such as Barraskewda and Volcarona. Maximum Speed investment helps Bisharp outspeed threats to Dark teams like Galarian Weezing and Azumarill. Tyranitar deals with special Fire-types that Bisharp can't handle like Volcarona and sets Stealth Rock, letting Bisharp potentially activate Defiant against Defoggers such as Mantine. Similarly, Grimmsnarl's dual screens force Defog usage while also giving Bisharp an easier time setting up; Grimmsnarl also checks Fighting-types. Zarude covers Bisharp's Ground weakness and can take care of bulky Ground-types such as Hippowdon as well as bulky Water-types like Tapu Fini. Weavile and Galarian Moltres pair well with Bisharp, as they can deal with threats to it such as Landorus-T and Keldeo, respectively. Hydreigon and Bisharp form a great wallbreaking core, since Hydreigon deals with foes like Corviknight and Bisharp handles Ice-types such as Choice Specs Kyurem. Mandibuzz checks Fighting- and Ground-types like Kommo-o and Excadrill while also bringing Bisharp in safely with U-turn. Sableye is another good option because it provides a Fighting immunity and it can shut down checks to Bisharp such as Corviknight with its stallbreaking set.

Bisharp is an excellent setup sweeper for Steel teams. It deals with problematic Pokemon such as Blacephalon and Victini with its priority in Sucker Punch, and it has the sheer power to break down types such as Poison and Steel after a Swords Dance. Also, Defiant greatly synergizes with the tendency of Steel teams to stack entry hazards making Bisharp a very effective tool to deter Defog users such as Latias and Rotom-W. Knock Off makes progress against common walls such as Toxapex, Galarian Corsola, and Mantine, and it weakens Bisharp checks such as Celesteela, Body Press Corviknight, and Hydreigon as they switch in, removing their Leftovers. Iron Head greatly synergizes with Knock Off, dealing with Fairy-types such as Galarian Weezing and Clefable that resist Knock Off and do not mind losing their item. Sucker Punch circumvents Bisharp's low Speed, dealing with threats such as Nidoking, Excadrill, and Thundurus-T. Maximum Speed with an Adamant nature lets Bisharp outspeed most walls, including Mantine and specially defensive Heatran, while also outspeeding bulky threats such as Clefable, Volcanion, and Bulk Up Tapu Bulu. Black Glasses boosts Knock Off and Sucker Punch, the moves Bisharp will use most often, allowing it to OHKO Magnezone and Heatran at +2 with Knock Off. It also lets Sucker Punch pick off Victini with the slightest amount of chip damage. Alternatively, Life Orb lets Bisharp OHKO even Colbur Berry Slowbro and Toxapex with Knock Off, after a Swords Dance, Stealth Rock, and a layer of Spikes. It also boosts Iron Head, but Bisharp really just uses Knock Off and Sucker Punch most of the time, and Life Orb cuts into its longevity. Entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Skarmory pair extremely well with Bisharp, since Defiant deters response Defogs and benefits from them, and hazards also wear down walls such as Toxapex and Hippowdon, which normally check Bisharp. Ferrothorn also checks Barraskewda and wears down bulky Water- and Ground-types such as Slowbro and Hippowodon. Heatran is a Fire-immune teammate that also doubles as a temporary check to non-Earth Power Hydreigon, which can take advantage of Bisharp. In return, Bisharp deals with Galarian Slowking and opposing Heatran, which prevent Heatran from making progress. Alternatively, Choice Scarf Heatran deals with Tapu Koko and non-Choice Scarf Zarude, and it puts pressure on Bisharp's checks such as Toxapex, Cinderace, and Hydreigon. Ground-immune partners such as Skarmory, Celesteela, and Corviknight are also appreciated, as these check threats such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Choice Band Excadrill. Celesteela can also utilize Air Slash to deal with Iron Defense Kommo-o and trade with Urshifu-R, or it can use an Autotomize set, which takes advantage of Bisharp's ability to remove Galarian Slowking and Heatran. Corviknight provides pivoting in U-turn, allowing Bisharp to get more setup opportunities. Aegislash helps Bisharp overwhelm walls such as Gastrodon and Mantine with sets such as SubToxic and Choice Specs. Choice Scarf Excadrill benefits from Bisharp's ability to weaken or outright remove bulky Pokemon, such as Slowbro and Toxapex, as this allows Excadrill to clean types such as Dragon, Psychic, and Poison late-game. Choice Specs Jirachi deals with Fighting-types such as Kommo-o and Urshifu-R, and it is fast enough to threaten Nidoking and Hydreigon for Bisharp.

A Speed donation from its god makes Bisharp a threatening sweeper and wallbreaker. Bisharp's high base Attack and Swords Dance let it threaten 2HKOs against a large portion of the metagame after a boost, including Landorus-T and Corviknight. Its Steel type helps it set up by giving switch-ins against Grass- and Psychic-type moves, which, combined with Defiant, gives it a niche over other common physical wallbreakers such as Kartana. Bisharp's dual STAB moves, Knock Off and Iron Head, hit most Pokemon for at least neutral damage. Sucker Punch gives it strong priority, allowing it to revenge kill weakened. foes. Black Glasses boosts most of Bisharp's attacks, and Life Orb's slight power upgrade isn't usually worth the recoil. However, Life Orb powers up Iron Head, notably guaranteeing a 2HKO against physically defensive Tangrowth. Defiant lets Bisharp benefit from opposing Intimidate users, including the ubiquitous Landorus-T, and also threaten opposing Defoggers and Sticky Webs teams. A Jolly nature and Attack investment are used to make the most of Bisharp's new Speed tier, but an Adamant nature can be used to increase its damage output, especially if receiving a less valuable Speed tier. Bisharp works best when paired with fast gods such as Mewtwo, Pheromosa, and Zamazenta. It appreciates slow pivots such as Slowbro and Corviknight to bring it in safely, as it can be worn down slowly over the course of a game. Although Bisharp is able to threaten Pokemon such as Skarmory and Corviknight, both of them can run Body Press, which OHKOes it. Thus, Bisharp appreciates Pokemon like Magnezone and Victini, which threaten Skarmory, Corviknight, and other checks to Bisharp such as Tapu Fini. Other fast offensive Pokemon such as Tapu Koko can force Bisharp out, so it pairs well with strong defensive Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Landorus-T. These Pokemon can also provide entry hazards, which weaken Bisharp's checks and synergize with Defiant punishing Defoggers.

Bisharp is a terrifying setup sweeper on hyper offense and a fixture on Sticky Web teams thanks to Swords Dance, a great STAB combination, and Defiant. Defiant allows Bisharp to punish Corviknight and Zapdos's Defog attempts, though Bisharp should watch out for Body Press and Heat Wave, respectively. This dissuades the opposing team from using Defog altogether, which lends Bisharp a very useful niche seeing as keeping entry hazards up is integral to enabling dangerous teammates on hyper offense. Defiant also makes Bisharp a physical attacker that Landorus-T cannot check, as Intimidate will raise Bisharp's Attack instead of lowering it. Fellow Defiant user Galarian Zapdos can fulfill a similar role, but it is held back by its inability to deal with Zapdos. However, Bisharp is both frail and weak to common attacking types, meaning that it cannot reliably switch into much. Additionally, Bisharp heavily relies on Sucker Punch against faster foes, which can be played around. A Jolly nature is preferred to Adamant, as it allows Bisharp to outspeed Heatran, Gliscor, and Zapdos, although the former is not a problem with Sticky Web support. Life Orb notably lets Bisharp OHKO Landorus-T on the switch and OHKO Weavile with Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock damage. Entry hazard support from a teammate like Landorus-T, Mew, or Shuckle is integral to making the most of Bisharp, as the threat of giving Bisharp a Defiant boost with Defog will often prevent your opponent from using it outright until Bisharp has been dealt with. Entry hazard support also allows Bisharp to pick up OHKOs with a boosted Sucker Punch that it would not net without other chip damage, such as on Garchomp and Weavile. Teammates that can take advantage of physical walls like Mega Scizor, Hippowdon, and Toxapex make great partners, such as Mega Charizard X, Tapu Lele, and Serperior. Also, teammates that can weaken or remove Tangrowth, Toxapex, Skarmory, and Hippowdon for Bisharp to break through them are great, including Mega Mawile, Mega Garchomp, and Mega Charizard X. Mega Mawile can also take advantage of Bisharp luring in Kommo-o. Teammates that can lure in Pokemon that Bisharp can set up on are also vital, which includes Mega Pinsir and Hawlucha luring in Slowbro, and Serperior luring in Blissey. Also, Bisharp is especially threatening on Sticky Web teams, as it not only deters the removal of Sticky Web, but also takes advantage of its Speed reduction to outspeed otherwise faster offensive threats, such as Kartana, Tapu Lele, and Kyurem. Teammates that pair well with Bisharp on Sticky Web teams include the aforementioned Mega Scizor, Kommo-o, and Mega Pinsir.

With a high Attack stat, Swords Dance, and a potent STAB combination that has near-perfect coverage, Bisharp can fully utilize Adaptability to be a terrifying wallbreaker. Knock Off demolishes common defensive foes like Dauntless Shield Mew, Ferrothorn, and Corviknight after a single boost, and its item-removal effect cripples Bisharp's defensive checks such as Unaware Mandibuzz and Dauntless Shield Kommo-o. Iron Head hits Dark-resistant foes like Tapu Fini, Togekiss, and the aforementioned Mandibuzz and Kommo-o. Sucker Punch allows Bisharp to compensate for its average Speed tier to pick off faster threats like Talonflame, Zygarde-10%, and Latios, potentially cleaning up late-game. Life Orb alongside an Adamant nature gives it the highest overall damage output, notably guaranteeing the OHKO on physically defensive Ferrothorn and non-Intimidate Corviknight after Swords Dance. Black Glasses is an alternative option to maintain Bisharp's longevity, letting it take on Triage Togekiss's and Tapu Lele's Draining Kiss. Jolly nature can be used to outspeed neutral-natured Heatran, Togekiss, and Mamoswine. Swords Dance Bisharp fits well on bulky offense teams that appreciates a wallbreaker of its caliber. Slow pivots like Blissey, Mew, and Swampert can safely bring Bisharp into the field to wreak havoc and can compensate for Bisharp's lack of defensive value by switching into threats like Azelf, Terrakion, and Tapu Koko, respectively. They also set either Stealth Rock or Spikes to chip down foes into Bisharp's KO range, which are amplified by Bisharp removing Heavy-Duty Boots from switch-ins like Mandibuzz. Bisharp excels at putting a dent onto the opposing teams early-game, so it pairs well with late-game cleaners like Triage Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu. Specifically, Bisharp handles Blissey and RegenVest Jirachi and can cripple other RegenVest users with Knock Off for Tapu Lele; it also deals with physically defensive walls like Corviknight and Mew for Tapu Bulu. In return, both of them can help pressure Bisharp's checks, as is the case with Tapu Lele against Unaware Mandibuzz and Dauntless Shield Kommo-o while Tapu Bulu fares well against Dauntless Shield Hippowdon. Due to Bisharp's vulnerability to Spikes, entry hazard removers like Tapu Fini, Corviknight, and Excadrill are recommended teammates.

Moves Pursuit punishes several Pokemon that would try switching out of Bisharp, such as Latias, Starmie, and Gengar, trapping and KOing them. Knock Off is Bisharp's STAB move of choice to use against weakened and slower foes, removing the items of otherwise sturdy switch-ins like Gligar, Hippowdon, and Alomomola. Sucker Punch is important for pressuring faster threats that may try revenge killing Bisharp, such as Mega Manectric, Moltres, and Mega Aerodactyl. Its unreliability is important to note, however. Set Details The given Attack investment with an Adamant nature allows Bisharp to KO Latias with Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock and with Pursuit as it switches out, while the given Speed investment allows it to outpace uninvested Mega Altaria. The remaining EVs are invested in HP, which, alongside its Assault Vest, give Bisharp the ability to tank a few special hits to trap Pokemon like Latias and Celebi more easily. Defiant gives Bisharp a +2 boost in Attack when any of its stats are lowered, allowing it to take advantage of Sticky Web, Defog, and Intimidate. Usage Tips This set's main goal in a match is to come in on Pokemon Bisharp can force out, such as Latias and Celebi, in order to trap and remove them from play with Pursuit. When utilizing this set, Bisharp should play a more supportive role for its team due to its lack of Swords Dance and the need to preserve its health in order to reliably trap foes. It is important to note that Bisharp forces several mind games with some of its foes. For example, an opposing Gengar may opt to use Focus Blast under the impression that Bisharp will try using Pursuit instead of Sucker Punch, OHKOing Bisharp. Because of this, Bisharp must be played carefully and must always be on the top of its prediction game throughout the course of a match so as not to compromise its longevity. Moves like Will-O-Wisp and Destiny Bond from the likes of Mew and Froslass are also important to scout for, as they can compromise Bisharp's ability to fulfill its role if Sucker Punch is taken advantage of. It's important to note that due to its typing, Bisharp should be wary of mindlessly switching in on special attackers that have ways of hitting it hard still, such as Chandelure or the aforementioned Gengar, despite holding an Assault Vest. When Bisharp has completed its role or the role of a Pursuit trapper is not needed in a certain matchup, it can still use Knock Off and its generally solid offensive presence to weaken opposing teams some while removing their items. Defiant can be used to discourage foes such as Araquanid and Hydreigon from using moves like Sticky Web and Defog, respectively. However, Bisharp must be wary of switching into most foes with these moves, as they can often punish it with powerful attacks or status ailments. Team Options Most Fighting-types appreciate Bisharp's ability to remove Psychic- and Ghost-types from play alongside its ability to weaken Fairy-types. Examples include Terrakion, Cobalion, and Infernape; the latter particularly appreciates the removal of foes such as Latias and Starmie if running Nasty Plot. Entry hazard setters like Nihilego, Swampert, and Klefki can help Bisharp circumvent the slight power issues that may come with this set, and in return, it can discourage Defoggers from removing their hazards with Defiant. Reliable Fighting-type checks, like Slowbro, Amoonguss, and Tentacruel, are important partners due to Bisharp's huge vulnerability to them. Ground-type checks like Latias, Celebi, and Tsareena are also consistently useful partners for Bisharp due to its inability to muscle past Ground-types like Hippowdon and Swampert with this set. Bisharp's vulnerability to Fire-types makes checks to them, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Suicune, solid options for partners as well. Wallbreakers like Nidoking and Crawdaunt can maintain offensive pressure with the entry hazards Bisharp can keep up well while circumventing its slight lack of wallbreaking prowess. Due to Bisharp's typing making it take neutral damage from Fairy-types like Mega Altaria, Sylveon, and Mimikyu checks capable of pivoting into them such as Scizor and Amoonguss make great partners for Bisharp.

Moves Knock Off is Bisharp's most reliable Dark-type STAB attack and has the added benefit of removing foes' items, which can help set Bisharp up to accumulate boosts due to putting some foes, such as Gligar and Moltres, into situations that may require restoring health or switching back out after being hit on the switch. In addition to covering various Dark-resistant foes, Iron Head can be useful for damaging foes that have already had their items removed or can't have their items removed, as well as giving Bisharp the chance to cause slower Pokemon to flinch. Sucker Punch allows Bisharp to circumvent its low Speed to damage threats faster than it like Moltres, Latias, and Zeraora. However, its reliance on the foe using an attack can make it unreliable at times. If Darkinium Z is activated, Sucker Punch turns into a powerful Black Hole Eclipse, capable of breaking past slower defensive threats like Alomomola, Mega Blastoise, and Hippowdon in one hit. Set Details Life Orb is the main option, which greatly boosts the power behind its STAB moves. Alternatively, Dread Plate is an option to boost the power behind the Dark-type moves Bisharp primarily spams without the recoil drawback from Life Orb, but it is worth noting it makes Bisharp more reliant on a Swords Dance boost to deal significant damage with Iron Head. Darkinium Z is another option for allowing Bisharp to more easily break past some of its would-be defensive answers like Gligar, Mega Steelix, and Mega Aggron. An Adamant nature gives Bisharp more breaking power, while a Jolly nature allows it to outrun Modest Volcanion, Adamant Mamoswine, and Bewear in exchange for less power behind its attacks. Defiant allows Bisharp to keep entry hazards on the foe's side of the field by discouraging Pokemon like Empoleon, Gligar, and Hydreigon from using Defog. It also makes Intimidate users like Mega Manectric and Krookodile wary of switching in to revenge kill Bisharp. Usage Tips Bisharp is best used as an early- or mid-game wallbreaker in matchups against defensive teams due to its immense power, though it can be used as a late-game cleaner thanks to its powerful STAB priority allowing it to overwhelm several offensive builds after its checks have been weakened. Bisharp can most often find opportunities to set up against Pokemon it forces out of play, such as Latias, Slowbro, Florges, and Celebi. However, since it can't come in on these threats very reliably, it is often best brought in via pivot support or after a teammate has fainted. Knock Off is Bisharp's most spammable STAB attack and should be used liberally early-game due to its ability to adequately chip down several checks and counters. It is also the best Dark-type STAB attack to use against slower or defensive foes due to its better reliability and power than Sucker Punch. Darkinium Z should be activated only with Sucker Punch due to its higher Base Power than Knock Off. Black Hole Eclipse's best use is against defensive threats that could otherwise tank a boosted hit from Bisharp and cripple it, such as Mega Slowbro, Hippowdon, Mega Aggron, and Mega Steelix, though the latter two require a fair amount of chip damage to be KOed. If it wishes to clean up late-game, Pokemon capable of outrunning Bisharp, tanking a boosted Sucker Punch, and KOing it are important to either remove entirely or weaken into range of the attack. Examples include Hydreigon, Togekiss running Flamethrower or Aura Sphere, and Fighting-types like Terrakion and Infernape. Bisharp can try using its Defiant ability to switch into a predicted Defog from an entry hazard remover like Hydreigon, Gligar, Empoleon, or Rotom-C. However, all of these Pokemon are capable of damaging Bisharp a fair amount or crippling it if it mispredicts, while other common Defoggers in Moltres, Volcanion, and Rotom-H are even riskier to switch into due to their ability to OHKO Bisharp with their super effective STAB attacks, making this a high-risk high-reward tactic. Team Options Bisharp fits well on all types of offensive teams in need of a wallbreaker or late-game cleaner. It's a particularly good fit on Spikes and Sticky Web-based offenses that utilize entry hazard setters like Froslass, Klefki, and Araquanid, thanks to Defiant allowing it to dissuade Defoggers from removing the entry hazards its teammates have set. Furthermore, Klefki and Araquanid can help Bisharp patch up its poor Speed through the use of Thunder Wave and Sticky Web, respectively. Stealth Rock setters like Nihilego and Krookodile also make good partners, since they can help Bisharp more easily power through foes while Bisharp itself can use Defiant to keep up the entry hazards they set. Fighting-types like Terrakion, Infernape, and Cobalion often make great partners, as they can adequately pressure bulky Steel-types that Bisharp tends to struggle with while it can check Psychic-, Ghost-, and Fairy-types for them in return. Late-game cleaners and sweepers, such as Mega Sharpedo, Mimikyu, and Mega Altaria, appreciate Bisharp's ability to weaken opposing teams for them to finish off more easily if it is being used as an early- or mid-game wallbreaker. If Bisharp would like to sweep itself, it appreciates wallbreakers such as Gengar, Mamoswine, and Nidoking that can weaken teams early for it to more easily power through later on. Sturdy Fighting-type checks are crucial due to Bisharp's vulnerability to most of them, making Primarina, Doublade, and Moltres good options for teammates. Ground-type checks like Togekiss and Celebi and Fire-type checks like Hydreigon and Mega Altaria cover the rest of Bisharp's weaknesses and patch up some of its shakier matchups, such as against Pokemon like Hippowdon and Volcanion. Pivots like Scizor, Rotom-H, and Mega Manectric can safely bring Bisharp into play, circumventing its frailty. Rotom-H can also switch into most Ground- and Fire-types for Bisharp while spreading status across the opposing team. Latias can make for an excellent teammate, covering Bisharp's Fire-, Fighting-, and Ground-type weaknesses while appreciating its ability to take on Fairy-types and opposing Latias well. If running Healing Wish, it can also give Bisharp multiple chances to set up and wallbreak throughout a match.

Moves Swords Dance boosts Bisharp's already high Attack, allowing it to become a very potent attacker. Sucker Punch is a strong priority attack that enables Bisharp to act as a revenge killer and makes up for its lackluster Speed. Knock Off is Bisharp's most spammable attack, removing troublesome items from foes such as Eviolite and Leftovers. Iron Head is another great STAB attack for Bisharp, notably hitting Fairy-types super effectively that resist its Dark-type attacks. Set Details Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature enables Bisharp to be as strong as possible, while 252 Speed EVs ensure Bisharp outspeeds opposing Pokemon such as Azumarill and Alolan Golem. Defiant grants Bisharp +2 Attack each time one of its stats drop, allowing it to gain boosts on opposing moves such as Defog and Sticky Web. Life Orb further boosts Bisharp's power, allowing it to fire off strong attacks even without boosts. Black Glasses can alternatively be run over Life Orb to prevent recoil damage; however, the lower damage output means Bisharp misses out on potential KOs such as on Victini with Sucker Punch. A Jolly nature could be used in order to outspeed opposing Pokemon such as Adamant Diggersby and Dragonite, but there is a significant drop-off in power. Usage Tips As a purely offensive Pokemon, Bisharp is best used as wallbreaker, threatening slower Pokemon such as Porygon2 and defensive Tyranitar. However, Bisharp can also be utilized to revenge kill fast Pokemon thanks to Sucker Punch after they have been weakened into KO range. Sucker Punch can often force mind games; be careful in correctly predicting when to use Sucker Punch to gain a KO, as its low PP is easily lost throughout a battle. Take advantage of Defiant by switching in on Defog users such as Zapdos and Staraptor in order to gain +2 Attack. However, be wary of opposing Defog Pokemon that may try to predict the switch and attack, as Bisharp is easily worn down. Bring Bisharp in on passive or bulky Pokemon that do not threaten it like Chansey to freely boost with Swords Dance. In that same notion, take advantage of forced switches by using Swords Dance against weakened Pokemon that fear a KO by Bisharp's Sucker Punch. Alternatively, utilize Knock Off during forced switches in order to remove items from opposing Pokemon such as Hippowdon and Skarmory that brush off even boosted attacks from Bisharp. Due to Bisharp's lackluster bulk, do not switch it into strong attacks, as it relies on remaining healthy in order to effectively boost with Swords Dance. Instead, bring Bisharp in after a teammate has been KOed. Thanks to Bisharp's Steel typing, be sure to use Bisharp carefully in the Fairy matchup due to its ability to deal with and eliminate Clefable and Choice-locked Tapu Bulu. As Bisharp is completely reliant on its high Attack, be cautious of opposing Pokemon that threaten to burn it with Will-O-Wisp or Scald such as Mega Sableye and Mantine. Team Options As a powerful wallbreaker, Bisharp appreciates having defensive teammates to consistently switch in and absorb attacks. Mandibuzz is an amazing physical wall that it able to absorb attacks for Bisharp while taking only neutral damage from Fighting-type attacks. Mandibuzz can also act as a slow pivot with U-turn to safely bring Bisharp into the field. Mega Sableye is able to provide a Fighting-type immunity for Bisharp as well as reflect entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes. Mega Sableye can also spread burns with Will-O-Wisp, granting Bisharp more opportunities to set up against hampered foes. Alolan Muk is a great special tank and is able to take on many strong special attackers for Bisharp such as Tapu Koko and Greninja. It also notably is able to take on Volcarona for Bisharp, OHKOing it with Rock Slide. Tyranitar and Krookodile are able to set Stealth Rock, weakening foes upon switch in so Bisharp is able to break past them more reliably. Hydreigon and Greninja are amazing special attackers that pair very well with Bisharp, being able to break past many defensive Pokemon that otherwise wall Bisharp such as Hippowdon and Ferrothorn. Mega Tyranitar and Mega Sharpedo are physical powerhouses that appreciate Bisharp's ability to remove foes' items such as Eviolite and Choice Scarf, granting them more opportunities to sweep through opposing teams late-game.

Moves Swords Dance turns Bisharp into a threatening sweeper. Knock Off is Bisharp's main Dark-type STAB move with the additional effect of removing items such as Chansey's Eviolite, and a boosted Bisharp can use it to knock out Pokemon such as Mantine. Sucker Punch is used in order to pick off weakened threats and hit faster targets such as Excadrill and Mega Charizard Y that Bisharp cannot hit with its other attacks due to its poor Speed. Iron Head is Bisharp's Steel-type STAB move, which hits Fairy-, Ice- and Rock-type Pokemon for super effective damage, along with Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Mega Sableye, and Mandibuzz that Knock Off doesn't hit as hard. Set Details 252 EVs in Attack and Speed coupled with an Adamant nature ensure that Bisharp hits as hard and as fast as possible, letting it knock out Celesteela and Toxapex after Stealth Rock chip with its boosted Black Hole Eclipse. Darkinium Z allows Bisharp to use Black Hole Eclipse, an extremely strong nuke that can knock out bulky Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Celesteela, and Toxapex after a prior bit of chip damage. If there is already another Z-Move user on the team, Life Orb allows Bisharp to knock out Pokemon such as Landorus with a boosted Sucker Punch. Usage Tips Use Swords Dance against Pokemon that cannot do much in return to Bisharp such as Choice Scarf Latios. Similarly, use Swords Dance when Bisharp's checks and counters have been worn down into its boosted Sucker Punch's range. Preserve Bisharp's health, as it can come in, set up, and sweep more easily when healthy. Laying down entry hazards before Bisharp comes in is recommended, as Bisharp can use the hazards to sweep more easily as well as pressure opposing Defog users from removing them. Similarly, Bisharp should switch into a predicted Defog in order to gain a boost with Defiant. Avoid foes that can inflict status such as Mew, Mega Sableye, Slowbro, and Jirachi. Bisharp should also be cautious when switching into Defog users such as Mantine and Zapdos, which can afflict it with Scald burns and Discharge paralysis, respectively. Use Sucker Punch on faster Pokemon that Bisharp cannot hit with Knock Off or Iron Head such as Nidoking and Landorus. Be wary of Pokemon such as Alolan Raichu using status moves such as Nasty Plot to cause mind games with Sucker Punch. Similarly, use Knock Off and Iron Head on slower Pokemon that Bisharp is able to outspeed such as Porygon2, Toxapex, and Mantine, as Iron Head hits harder and Knock Off is Bisharp's most spammable attack. Be careful of when to launch Black Hole Eclipse, as it can only be used once, and the opposing team may try to waste the move by sacrificing a Pokemon. Use Black Hole Eclipse on a bulky Pokemon such as Celesteela or Toxapex that Bisharp has trouble breaking through otherwise. At the same time, don't launch the Z-Move against Pokemon such as Mantine and Clefable that are easily knocked out by Knock Off or Iron Head. Use Knock Off in favorable situations where there aren't many drawbacks of doing so in order to soften up the opposing team by doing damage and removing items. For example, if Bisharp is sent out against Choice Scarf Latios, clicking Knock Off is a possibility to weaken an incoming Garchomp. Team Options Heatran is mandatory on all Steel teams for its ability to absorb Fire-type attacks as well as break down defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Mega Venusaur by trapping them with Magma Storm and preventing their recovery with Taunt. Heatran can also switch in on Will-O-Wisp users such as Mew and Mega Sableye that may try to cripple Bisharp. Ferrothorn appreciates Bisharp's ability to pressure Defog users such as Mantine and Skarmory from freely removing its entry hazards, while its hazards wear Bisharp's checks down in return. Ferrothorn can also use Leech Seed to help Bisharp replenish its health. Choice Scarf Excadrill can switch into strong Electric-type attacks such as Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt for Bisharp, revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, and spin away Spikes to prevent Bisharp from getting worn down. Mega Scizor and Lucario are both good partners for Bisharp, as they are all Swords Dance sweepers with priority, enabling them to wear shared defensive checks down for each other for one of them to sweep through a weakened team. Skarmory and Celesteela both can switch into physical Fighting- and Ground-type attacks for Bisharp with their high Defense stats. Skarmory also is able to pick off Fighting-type Pokemon that give Bisharp trouble such as Mega Gallade and Mega Lopunny with Brave Bird; Bisharp, in return, is able to keep Skarmory's hazards intact by pressuring Defog users that try to remove them with Defiant. Celesteela is able to put Pokemon such as Zapdos and Hippowdon that can otherwise check Bisharp on a timer by using Leech Seed and Toxic. Choice Scarf Magnezone can trap and eliminate Skarmory and Celesteela for Bisharp's sweep. It also serves as a fast pivot that can revenge kill faster threats such as Keldeo and Mega Charizard Y and use Volt Switch to bring Bisharp in. Jirachi is a good partner for Bisharp, as it is able to take care of Pokemon such as Nidoking and Suicune using its Substitute + Calm Mind set. Klefki supports Bisharp's setup using its Light Screen and Reflect, while its Spikes also chips Bisharp's checks and counters into its boosted Sucker Punch range, allowing it to sweep with ease. In return, Bisharp can pressure Defog users such as Staraptor that threaten to remove Klefki's Reflect, Light Screen, and Spikes.

Moves The most-used move on this set is Sucker Punch; it is predictable but important, as it lets Bisharp pick off faster Pokemon and forces opponents to Protect or switch. Iron Head is a staple attack that offers great coverage with Sucker Punch, as well as a nice 30% flinch chance. In the third slot, Night Slash offers more reliability than Sucker Punch, but Swords Dance allows Bisharp to boost its Attack to gargantuan levels without losing much coverage. Protect is used in the last spot for dodging Fake Out chip damage and its overall utility in doubles. Set Details The ability of choice is obviously Defiant, which completely outclasses Inner Focus. EVs are maxed in Attack and Speed on the set because Bisharp does not need any bulk. An Adamant nature is preferred because Bisharp appreciates all the power it can get to 2HKO most Rotom-A. Focus Sash is the recommended item because it lets Bisharp play more recklessly and helps it survive spread moves such as Mega Charizard Y's Heat Wave and Garchomp's Earthquake. Lum Berry is also an option because it gives Bisharp the freedom of destroying Rotom-W and protection from Liepard, Klefki, and Meowstic spamming Swagger. In addition, Bisharp is in a pretty interesting Speed tier, with a base 70 Speed stat. It can successfully run a Brave nature on a Trick Room team while also being fast enough to outspeed every VGC-eligible Pokemon under Tailwind. Finally, Choice Band is an option with a bulkier EV spread of 100 HP / 252 Atk / 156 Spd. With this spread, Bisharp will always survive one Jolly unboosted Garchomp's Earthquake and easily outspeed uninvested Rotom-A. Alternatively, a spread of 100 HP / 220 Atk / 188 Spd can be used to outspeed neutral-natured maximum Speed Tyranitar. The only difference in moves is to drop Protect for Brick Brick. Usage Tips Depending on how skilled your opponent is, Bisharp is most effective as a lead, benefiting from Intimidate and immediately threatening a multitude of Pokemon with its powerful STAB moves. Sucker Punch is an incredibly predictable move so it needs to be used sparingly. In addition, try and avoid situations when Sucker Punch is required, as it can potentially provide a free turn for the opposing Pokemon to use Substitute or just switch instead. Bisharp does not fear King's Shield at all, as the drop is negated by Defiant, so it can just Night Slash all Aegislash. Finally, Choice Band Bisharp appreciates disruptive support such as Rage Powder Amoonguss to stop it from getting slaughtered by Fighting-type moves. Team Options Gyarados, Rotom-H, and Rotom-W are good partners because they resist both Ground- and Fire-type spread moves, which hit Bisharp for super effective damage. Rotom-H additionally checks Mega Charizard Y, and its Rock-type weakness is covered by Bisharp. Additionally, all Rotom formes can burn opposing Mega Kangaskhan, which can otherwise Power-Up Punch straight through Bisharp's Focus Sash. Other good partners include Fake Out support Pokemon so Bisharp can attack first-turn as well as Pokemon that benefit from a lack of Intimidate, such as Tyranitar and Mega Kangaskhan. Air Balloon Chandelure is also a cool partner for Bisharp, dodging all Ground-and Fire-type moves and usually burning Mega Kangaskhan without fear.

Moves Swords Dance allows Bisharp to potentially set up on a predicted switch and sweep. Knock Off is Bisharp's strongest STAB move against Pokemon that hold an item due to the 1.5x boost. Sucker Punch is Bisharp's only priority move and is extremely powerful with 80 base power and STAB. Sucker Punch and Swords Dance coupled together can create many sweeping opportunities. Bisharp's final move, Iron Head, is a nice STAB move used in order to threaten Fairy-types, which have the advantage versus Dark-types. Set Details An Adamant nature, maximum Attack, and maximum Speed are necessary for Bisharp to hit as hard as possible and to outpace as many walls as possible, such as bulky Landorus-T and Mandibuzz. Jolly can be used to outspeed Adamant threats such as Dragonite and Diggersby. Defiant makes Bisharp especially threatening for teams weak to hazards, such as Flying teams, as it raises Bisharp's Attack by two stages should the opponent choose to Defog. Defiant also scares away Bug and Rock teams from using Sticky Web because they do not want to give Bisharp automatic boosts in Attack. Lum Berry provides more sweeping opportunities, as it allows Bisharp to take a potential status from a Pokemon such as Sableye or Mew. However, Life Orb is another viable option for immediate powerful damage. Lum Berry is generally run over Life Orb because people would rather trade immediate damage for more setup opportunities. However, if you decide to run Lum Berry, note that Bisharp misses out on possible KOs against Pokemon like Mega Gardevoir and frail offensive attackers such as Thundurus after Stealth Rock. Usage Tips Bisharp is generally not used as a switch-in to many attacks due to its frail defenses and low HP stat. However, if played correctly, Bisharp can switch into a Defog and activate Defiant, raising its Attack by two stages and creating an enormous threat. Bisharp is a solid revenge killer due to its priority Sucker Punch. Generally, when playing Bisharp, try to apply pressure and force the foe out, allowing Bisharp to set up with Swords Dance if possible. Bisharp creates many mind games with Sucker Punch. If not used to revenge kill, Bisharp should be used late-game in order to weaken actual counters or threats, setting up the sweep. Team Options Dark-type hazard setters like Tyranitar and Krookodile are nice options because they can bait in the Defog. Mandibuzz is one of the best partners for Bisharp because it has the ability to cover 2 major weaknesses to Bisharp, Ground and Fighting. Sableye is recommended because it is immune to Fighting moves and can use Taunt and Knock Off to defeat defensive Pokemon Bisharp has trouble with, such as Hippowdon. Pokemon that revenge kill or clean like Hydreigon, Weavile, Crawdaunt, and Sharpedo are also recommended. Physical wallbreakers such as Crawdaunt and Weavile break down similar threats for each other while Hydreigon is able to check Steel-types alongside Bisharp.

Moves Swords Dance boosts Bisharp's Attack to incredibly high levels and allows it to break through walls. Knock Off is a powerful STAB move that has the added benefit of removing items. Sucker Punch is a powerful but sometimes unreliable priority move that makes up for Bisharp's low Speed stat. Iron Head is a powerful secondary STAB move that is useful for dealing more damage to Mega Evolutions, which don't take 1.5x damage from Knock Off, and has a decent flinch chance. Set Details An Adamant nature is used to maximize Bisharp's Attack and is preferred because it allows Bisharp to OHKO threats to it such as Zapdos at +2, even without a Life Orb. Life Orb is used for more power and allows it to OHKO offensive Heatran at +2, though Lum Berry can be used to cure status and allow Bisharp to set up on status spreaders such as Mew. Defiant discourages the use of Defog and Sticky Web, and it boosts Bisharp's Attack if any of its stats are lowered. Black Glasses and Dread Plate are other options that boost the power of Knock Off and Sucker Punch without Life Orb's recoil. Usage Tips Bisharp has many opportunities to get to +2, such as switching in when you expect Defog to be used or when Sticky Web is on your side of the field. Swords Dance can be used on Pokemon that are threatened out or can't touch Bisharp, such as Chansey and Choice-locked Pokemon. If an opposing Pokemon can inflict burns, use the turn you predict your opponent to try to burn your Pokemon to bring Bisharp in, cure the burn with the Lum Berry, and KO the opposing Pokemon right away, or else Bisharp will be crippled for the rest of the game. Bisharp is best used to sweep late-game with Sucker Punch. However, it can also be used as an early-game wallbreaker with Knock Off, which has the added benefit of weakening Pokemon by removing their item. Bisharp can also revenge kill foes with Sucker Punch, but you must be wary of status and Substitute users, as well as of other 50/50 scenarios such as guessing whether your opponent will switch or not. Team Options Doublade is immune to Fighting and completes an entry hazard preservation core with Bisharp by utilizing Ghost typing and Defiant. Choice Scarf Magnezone forces out the Water-types that wall Bisharp, like Mega Gyarados, and it also traps the Steel-types that could also wall Bisharp, like Skarmory and Ferrothorn. Jirachi is neutral to Fighting-type attacks and also has Healing Wish to heal Bisharp for late-game sweeps, which allows it to be more reckless early-game. Heatran is immune to Fire-type moves and therefore can switch into Fire-type attacks or Will-O-Wisp. Swords Dance Mega Scizor shares similar checks with Bisharp; one can weaken them for the other to sweep. Nasty Plot Lucario is one of the few special setup sweepers on Steel and can set up on Bisharp's defensive checks. Skarmory has an immunity to Ground-type attacks and can set entry hazards, which pressure the opponent into using Defog. Ferrothorn also sets hazards to force the opponent to use Defog and has a nice Water resistance and Ground neutrality. Choice Scarf Excadrill helps eliminate the Fire- and Electric-type Pokemon that might threaten or wall Bisharp.

Moves Knock Off is notable for being both more powerful and more reliable than Sucker Punch while also stripping opposing Pokemon of their items, making Bisharp hard to switch into. Sucker Punch is for Pokemon that outspeed Bisharp, allowing it to pick them off before they can strike. However, the fact that it fails when the opponent isn't attacking makes it easier to play around than Knock Off, so when facing a Pokemon that Bisharp outspeeds, it's usually safer to go with Knock Off. Iron Head is a secondary STAB attack that's mainly used when Bisharp encounters something that resists its Dark-type attacks or you're relying on a flinch. Protect is used to shield Bisharp from damage, which is especially useful because a strong attack will often put it out of commission. Set Details Life Orb is chosen to augment Bisharp's already high Attack to deal as much damage as possible, making it into an even more threatening attacker. The EVs give Bisharp as much power as possible, with an Adamant nature chosen over Jolly because Bisharp doesn't really need the extra Speed. Defiant allows Bisharp to get free Attack boosts from users of the very common Intimidate and Icy Wind. Focus Sash is an option because Bisharp has a lot of weaknesses and isn't very bulky. Usage Tips Bisharp makes for a great Trick Room check because it can hit most Trick Room setters super effectively, KOing them before they can set it up. Sucker Punch should be used to pick off fast, frail threats on the opposing team. However, if Bisharp outspeeds a Pokemon and you want to use a Dark-type attack, go with Knock Off, as it's more powerful and reliable. If there are other Pokemon on your team that dislike Intimidate, using Bisharp to dissuade the opponent from switching in their Intimidate users is a good idea. Try to avoid letting Bisharp take any hits it doesn't need to, as its frailness coupled with Life Orb recoil means that any extra hits will hamper its effectiveness. It can be a good idea to save Bisharp for late-game so it can clean up weakened teams with high-powered Sucker Punches. While this play can be risky, it's possible to switch Bisharp in on a predicted Icy Wind, Electroweb, or Snarl and get a +2 Attack boost from Defiant while taking very little damage. Team Options Strong physical attackers such as Landorus-T and Mega Kangaskhan appreciate Bisharp's ability to threaten Intimidate users. Psychic-, Fairy-, and Ghost-types such as Togekiss, Latios, and Gengar make for good partners because they can switch into Fighting-type attacks for Bisharp. Slower Pokemon such as Amoonguss appreciate that Bisharp can check faster threats with Sucker Punch. Faster Pokemon such as Terrakion and Keldeo like having Bisharp around because it can threaten most Trick Room setters. Terrakion also makes a particularly good partner because it can threaten Mega Charizard Y and Heatran, both of which can KO Bisharp. Similarly, Mega Diancie can OHKO Mega Charizard Y and Heatran while also threatening the Fighting-types that Bisharp fears, and appreciates Bisharp's ability to keep Landorus-T from switching in. Partners that can redirect powerful hits for Bisharp such as Togekiss or Amoonguss are good to have. Amoonguss also appreciates how Bisharp can threaten the Psychic-types that prey on it, and it has Spore to put a threatening Pokemon out of commission. Speed control from a Pokemon such as Thundurus, Cresselia, or Talonflame is useful because Bisharp is even more threatening when it doesn't need to rely on Sucker Punch to handle faster Pokemon. Flying-types such as Talonflame make for good partners to Bisharp because they can decimate Fighting-types. Wide Guard users such as Aegislash are good partners because they can shield Bisharp from Heat Waves and Earthquakes that would otherwise KO it.

Moves Sucker Punch's priority helps circumvent Bisharp's low defenses and Speed and will be its main method of attacking with Defiant boosts. Knock Off is good not only for the 97 Base Power it has on the first hit against any Pokemon with a non-Mega Stone item, but for scouting out items on the opponent's team as well (keeping in mind the Item Clause in the Battle Spot Doubles format). Iron Head threatens Fairy-types and most other Pokemon that resist Bisharp's Dark-type moves, and it is more consistent in terms of damage output. Protect is a staple in the last slot to keep Bisharp alive in spite of its poor defenses and discourages the opponent from attacking. Set Details Adamant is the optimal nature, as Jolly Bisharp has a lower damage output and misses out on the chance to OHKO 4 HP Landorus-T after a Defiant Boost with Life Orb and other such benchmarks. Maximum Attack and Speed are used, as Focus Sash and Life Orb would waste any defensive investment anyway. Life Orb is for maximum damage output, while Focus Sash acts as a safety net for Bisharp if it whiffs a Sucker Punch or takes an Earthquake from a Pokemon such as Landorus-T, if Sucker Punch hits a low damage roll, or if Landorus is running a bulkier set. When using Life Orb, Bisharp's HP IVs should be reduced to 29 in order to reduce recoil. Usage Tips Because Bisharp is relatively slow and frail, switching it in directly is risky, especially because it makes it less likely for Bisharp to receive a Defiant boost. Either leading with it or bringing it in after something is KOed is a good idea to get boosts from Pokemon such as Landorus-T and to preserve Bisharp. Because of the risky nature of Sucker Punch, you should try to use Bisharp's secondary STAB moves when the opportunity presents itself. Iron Head offers the chance to make a single target flinch, which can help out with Bisharp's lack of bulk, and Knock Off removes any non-Mega Stone item and helps scout out items on your opponent's team because of Item Clause. For example, if you Knock Off a Choice Scarf from a Hydreigon, you can rule out Choice Scarf on a Landorus-T you see in Team Preview. Team Options Physical attackers such as Mega Salamence, Conkeldurr, and Mega Kangaskhan don't provide much support to Bisharp directly, but they are exceptionally good at baiting Intimidate, which is great for pressuring the opponent before the match even starts. Amoonguss and Togekiss are your go-to Pokemon for redirection and resist Fighting, making them excellent teammates to consider. Togekiss also helps to KO Fighting-types that can give Bisharp trouble, and Clefable deserves a mention, as it can boost Sucker Punches with Helping Hand, take care of Fighting-types, and provide Follow Me support. Pokemon that can OHKO Fighting- or Fire-types such as Sylveon, Talonflame, Suicune, and Rotom-W are good partners to round out Bisharp's fatal weaknesses.

Bisharp can be a valuable asset to many teams. Its STAB Sucker Punch does massive damage to the common frail Tailwind attackers, as well as Ghost-type Pokemon such as Chandelure. Iron Head and Brick Break round out coverage, while Protect stops Fake Out and Mach Punch. Night Slash is a great move on Bisharp, hitting nearly every Trick Room Pokemon for super effective damage, while being able to damage Pokemon who are using support moves, unlike Sucker Punch. Either ability is viable. Defiant raises Bisharp's Attack when facing Stoutland or Krookodile, as well as preventing strategies such as Tickle or Charm from working. Inner Focus does have its uses, however, especially if the opponent mispredicts Bisharp's ability and tries to use Fake Out. A Focus Sash is a great item for Bisharp. It stops Bisharp from being OHKOed by Chandelure's or Volcarona's Heat Wave, Landorus's Earthquake, or Conkeldurr's STAB move of choice. Iron Head will always OHKO Terrakion after Close Combat's Defense drop. If Terrakion does not use Close Combat, Iron Head followed by Sucker Punch will grab the KO. Mandibuzz and Amoonguss, the premier walls in VGC 2011, can easily take on Bisharp's STAB attacks. Therefore, a strong special attacker makes an excellent partner. Thundurus is one of the best partners for Bisharp, stopping Amoonguss with Taunt and disposing of Mandibuzz with Thunderbolt. Volcarona does a similar job, but unlike Thundurus, it isn't immune to the Earthquake that Bisharp inevitably attracts.

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, which is useful to keep Bisharp alive while its teammate moves, is a move that fits onto every VGC Pokemon; Bisharp is but one of many that benefit from it. 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 loses more than half of its HP. The EVs and nature make Bisharp hit as hard as possible while giving it maximum bulk. 4 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 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 such as Latios discourage the opponent from using Earthquake to KO Bisharp. Psycho Cut can be used over Protect in order to OHKO Toxicroak and do more damage to Fighting-types than Iron Head does.

Defiant allows Bisharp to take advantage of the ever-present Intimidate from Landorus-T and even the Speed drop from Cresselia's Icy Wind. After a Defiant Attack boost, Bisharp can KO both Pokemon with Dark Gem-boosted Sucker Punch and Night Slash, respectively. Sucker Punch is Bisharp's most defining move, allowing it to attack first despite its middling Speed. This lets Bisharp threaten Pokemon such as Latios and Landorus-T, which would normally move first against it. Night Slash is Bisharp's backup Dark-type STAB attack, allowing it to consistently hit opposing Pokemon without relying on them to attack. This is useful against Pokemon such as Amoonguss or Cresselia, which can cause Sucker Punch to fail by using a status move. The last move slot depends on team needs: against Dark-resistant Pokemon, Iron Head hits Fighting-type Pokemon such as Conkeldurr and Hitmontop, while Low Kick hits Steel-type Pokemon such as Heatran. However, Swords Dance may be chosen to punish passive play, such as using Protect or switching out to avoid Sucker Punch damage. Dark Gem strengthens Bisharp's Sucker Punch, enabling it to remove a target such as Landorus-T in one turn. Despite being a one-time-use item, Dark Gem is not consumed if Bisharp's Sucker Punch fails, so Bisharp can threaten a Dark Gem-boosted Sucker Punch until one succeeds. The EV spread is straightforward: an Adamant nature with maximum Attack investment ensures Bisharp hits as hard as possible. 252 HP EVs provide enough bulk for Bisharp to survive some hits, such as Earthquake from Jolly Landorus-T or Thunderbolt from Electric Gem Thundurus. The remaining 4 EVs are placed into Speed to outpace other uninvested base 70 Speed Pokemon. Other Options Due to its mediocre bulk, Focus Sash may be used to guarantee Bisharp survives at least one attack. Likewise, Chople Berry enables Bisharp to survive a Mach Punch from Conkeldurr without relying on Focus Sash, which can be broken by miscellaneous damage such as hail or Fake Out chip damage. Life Orb allows Bisharp to constantly threaten boosted Sucker Punch and Night Slash while decreasing its longevity. However, players have to be careful about the difference in damage between Life Orb and Dark Gem, as it could determine whether the opposing target survives Sucker Punch. Assurance is an option over Night Slash for a stronger Dark-type attack, dealing more damage than Night Slash if the foe has taken damage. This condition can be achieved by attacking with faster partners, as they will damage the opposing Pokemon before Bisharp, thus enabling a stronger Assurance. Common Partners Fighting-types like Conkeldurr or Hitmontop appreciate Bisharp's ability to threaten and remove Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Latios and Jellicent. Furthermore, Bisharp's Defiant ability causes Intimidate users to think twice about switching in and lowering Bisharp's Attack. In exchange, Fighting-types punch holes in opposing Dark- and Steel-types that otherwise resist Bisharp's Sucker Punch. Bisharp can cover for Amoonguss's and Breloom's Psychic weaknesses. This allows Amoonguss and Breloom to use Spore freely, especially against targets that switch out in fear of Sucker Punch. Furthermore, in Amoonguss's case, it can redirect Fighting-type moves targeting Bisharp. Latios synergizes extremely well with Bisharp, as it can remove threats such as Conkeldurr and Amoonguss. In return, Bisharp pressures common Latios checks such as opposing Latios, Cresselia, and Tyranitar. Rain teams and Water-types such as Rotom-Wash and Jellicent pair nicely with Bisharp, as they can cover it against opposing Ground- and Fire-types like Landorus-T and Volcarona, both of which threaten Bisharp with super effective Earthquake and Heat Wave, respectively. Checks & Counters Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Conkeldurr, Hitmontop, and Scrafty, are some of Bisharp's greatest counters; not only do they resist Bisharp's Dark-type STAB attacks, but they can easily KO Bisharp back with any of their Fighting-type attacks. However, Hitmontop and Scrafty have to be cautious, as Intimidate will boost Bisharp's Attack. Steel-type Pokemon both resist Bisharp's Dark- and Steel-type attacks and have high Defense, diminishing Bisharp's damage. Furthermore, mos Steel-types have secondary typings that check Bisharp even further, such as Heatran's Fire typing and Excadrill's Ground typing. Because of Bisharp's subpar Special Defense, rain teams can overwhelm it. Rain sweepers such as Kingdra and Thundurus-T can OHKO Bisharp with Hydro Pump and Thunder, respectively, but must be cautious of Sucker Punch. Pokemon that commonly use status moves pester Bisharp by causing Sucker Punch to fail. These include Follow Me Magmar, Will-O-Wisp Rotom-Wash, and particularly Spore and Rage Powder Amoonguss. In addition, these Pokemon are heavily invested defensively, so Bisharp's Night Slash will fail to KO them before Bisharp gets hit with a status condition.

Bisharp is one of the only viable Defiant users, capable of punishing foes with the omnipresent Intimidate. Additionally, it is one of the few Dark-types in the metagame, allowing it to check Jellicent and Cresselia, and it can leverage Sucker Punch to check faster threats, notably Latios. Bisharp, however, is held back by its middling speed tier, and its Sucker Punch can be played around with redirection. Its low Special Defense also means that stray neutral special moves, such as Thundurus's Thunderbolt, will do massive damage. Finally, the three Intimidate users, Landorus-T, Hitmontop, and Scrafty, all can hit Bisharp super effectively, mitigating its ability to snowball with Defiant. Night Slash is Bisharp's most reliable STAB move, OHKOing Jellicent with Dark Gem. Low Kick provides excellent coverage alongside Bisharp's Dark-type STAB attacks by covering Dark- and Steel-resistant Pokemon, such as Heatran and Tyranitar. Life Orb secures an OHKO on Heatran and Kyurem-B with Low Kick after Stealth Rock damage and allows Bisharp to fire off a strong Sucker Punch. Dark Gem grants a one-time boost to Sucker Punch, allowing Bisharp to do massive damage to a faster threat, such as OHKO Choice Scarf Landorus-T at +1. It also allows Bisharp to OHKO Jellicent with Night Slash. Landorus-T is a good teammate because Bisharp benefits greatly from Stealth Rock support, which puts foes in KO range of Sucker Punch. Landorus-T can also check Heatran while benefiting from Bisharp's ability to check Jellicent and Latios. Physical attackers are also excellent teammates, because Bisharp deters Intimidate users from switching in. Choice Band Kyurem-B is another good teammate, as the threat of a Defiant boost can prevent Intimidate, allowing Kyurem-B to fire off strong a Outrage. Bisharp also checks Latios, which is one of the best answers to Choice Band Kyurem-B.