[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Will-O-Wisp / Protect
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Shadow Sneak
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Safety Goggles
ability: Wonder Guard
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Shedinja's unique ability Wonder Guard lets it wall any Pokemon lacking status moves or coverage to beat it; this notably includes Kyogre, Xerneas, Dragon Dance Zygarde, and Zacian-C or Dracovish lacking a Dark-type move. Toxic allows Shedinja to cripple Kyogre, Xerneas, and Zygarde as well as potential switch-ins like Yveltal and Ho-Oh. Will-O-Wisp cripples Zacian-C and Dracovish along with possible switch-ins like Necrozma-DM, Eternatus, Groudon, and Ferrothorn. Alternatively, Protect can be run to scout for potential coverage or status moves that can beat Shedinja. Baton Pass lets Shedinja generate momentum if the opponent switches, which is especially useful because Shedinja can force out numerous common offensive Pokemon, and saves Heavy-Duty Boots variants from getting KOed by sand set by Tyranitar. Shadow Sneak allows Shedinja to pick off Pokemon like weakened Calyrex-S and other foes that have been heavily chipped, including Zacian-C and Xerneas. Heavy-Duty Boots is the preferred item for Shedinja, since entry hazards are very common, but Safety Goggles protects Shedinja from opposing Tyranitar and lingering sand or hail from Max Moves, allowing Shedinja to be used with Tyranitar on the same team. Shedinja's EVs maximize its Shadow Sneak damage while also outspeeding Chansey and Tyranitar, letting Shedinja pivot into a teammate that can take advantage of them, as well as outspeeding Necrozma-DM if Jolly.
Shedinja fits best on bulky and balance teams that appreciate its ability to reliably wall most Xerneas, Zygarde, and Kyogre while potentially luring in and crippling defensive Pokemon like Necrozma-DM, Ho-Oh, Eternatus, Ferrothorn, and Tyranitar. Offensive Pokemon like Groudon, Dragon Dance Zygarde-C, Zekrom, and Kyogre are good teammates, since they appreciate safe entry onto the field from Baton Pass and heavily pressure the aforementioned defensive Pokemon. Groudon and Kyogre can prove especially useful because they remove Tyranitar's sand, allowing Shedinja to switch back in safely. Shedinja also makes Imposter-proofing teams with setup sweepers like Swords Dance Zacian-C and Xerneas a lot more manageable. If Safely Goggles is run, very reliable entry hazard removal from multiple Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and Giratina is nigh mandatory given Shedinja's extreme susceptibility to entry hazards, limiting Safety Goggles variants to stall teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Another option for Shedinja is Poltergeist over Shadow Sneak. Poltergeist has lower PP than Shadow Sneak, but it doesn't make contact, allowing Shedinja to attack without risking a Rocky Helmet Necrozma-DM or Iron Barbs Ferrothorn switching in. Additionally, Poltergeist deals better damage to other possible switch-ins such as Ho-Oh and Eternatus.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar's Sand Stream forces Shedinja lacking Safety Goggles to remain off the field until the sand has ended or been removed by one of Shedinja's teammates. Sand blocking Shedinja's entry is a heavy constraint on its utility that can allow threatening sweepers to safely set up.
**Super Effective Attacks**: Any Pokemon that can hit Shedinja super effectively will KO it, including Yveltal, Eternatus, Ho-Oh, Groudon, Calyrex-S, and Marshadow, although the latter two have to watch out for Shadow Sneak.
**Status Moves**: Toxic and Will-O-Wisp fatally cripple Shedinja, KOing it whenever it ends the turn on the field. The threat of fatal status allows the vast majority of the defensive metagame to force Shedinja out. If Shedinja is paralyzed by either Thunder Wave or Glare, it can safely stay in on Pokemon carrying Toxic or Will-O-Wisp that cannot touch it otherwise but loses some reliability.
**Contact Damage**: If Shedinja hits a Rocky Helmet Pokemon, Iron Barbs Pokemon, or another source of contact damage with Shadow Sneak, it will be instantly removed from the game.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Thebestneverrest, 525140]]
- Quality checked by: [[Geysers, 426798], [baconeatinassassin, 367227]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Will-O-Wisp / Protect
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Shadow Sneak
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Safety Goggles
ability: Wonder Guard
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Shedinja's unique ability Wonder Guard lets it wall any Pokemon lacking status moves or coverage to beat it; this notably includes Kyogre, Xerneas, Dragon Dance Zygarde, and Zacian-C or Dracovish lacking a Dark-type move. Toxic allows Shedinja to cripple Kyogre, Xerneas, and Zygarde as well as potential switch-ins like Yveltal and Ho-Oh. Will-O-Wisp cripples Zacian-C and Dracovish along with possible switch-ins like Necrozma-DM, Eternatus, Groudon, and Ferrothorn. Alternatively, Protect can be run to scout for potential coverage or status moves that can beat Shedinja. Baton Pass lets Shedinja generate momentum if the opponent switches, which is especially useful because Shedinja can force out numerous common offensive Pokemon, and saves Heavy-Duty Boots variants from getting KOed by sand set by Tyranitar. Shadow Sneak allows Shedinja to pick off Pokemon like weakened Calyrex-S and other foes that have been heavily chipped, including Zacian-C and Xerneas. Heavy-Duty Boots is the preferred item for Shedinja, since entry hazards are very common, but Safety Goggles protects Shedinja from opposing Tyranitar and lingering sand or hail from Max Moves, allowing Shedinja to be used with Tyranitar on the same team. Shedinja's EVs maximize its Shadow Sneak damage while also outspeeding Chansey and Tyranitar, letting Shedinja pivot into a teammate that can take advantage of them, as well as outspeeding Necrozma-DM if Jolly.
Shedinja fits best on bulky and balance teams that appreciate its ability to reliably wall most Xerneas, Zygarde, and Kyogre while potentially luring in and crippling defensive Pokemon like Necrozma-DM, Ho-Oh, Eternatus, Ferrothorn, and Tyranitar. Offensive Pokemon like Groudon, Dragon Dance Zygarde-C, Zekrom, and Kyogre are good teammates, since they appreciate safe entry onto the field from Baton Pass and heavily pressure the aforementioned defensive Pokemon. Groudon and Kyogre can prove especially useful because they remove Tyranitar's sand, allowing Shedinja to switch back in safely. Shedinja also makes Imposter-proofing teams with setup sweepers like Swords Dance Zacian-C and Xerneas a lot more manageable. If Safely Goggles is run, very reliable entry hazard removal from multiple Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and Giratina is nigh mandatory given Shedinja's extreme susceptibility to entry hazards, limiting Safety Goggles variants to stall teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Another option for Shedinja is Poltergeist over Shadow Sneak. Poltergeist has lower PP than Shadow Sneak, but it doesn't make contact, allowing Shedinja to attack without risking a Rocky Helmet Necrozma-DM or Iron Barbs Ferrothorn switching in. Additionally, Poltergeist deals better damage to other possible switch-ins such as Ho-Oh and Eternatus.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar's Sand Stream forces Shedinja lacking Safety Goggles to remain off the field until the sand has ended or been removed by one of Shedinja's teammates. Sand blocking Shedinja's entry is a heavy constraint on its utility that can allow threatening sweepers to safely set up.
**Super Effective Attacks**: Any Pokemon that can hit Shedinja super effectively will KO it, including Yveltal, Eternatus, Ho-Oh, Groudon, Calyrex-S, and Marshadow, although the latter two have to watch out for Shadow Sneak.
**Status Moves**: Toxic and Will-O-Wisp fatally cripple Shedinja, KOing it whenever it ends the turn on the field. The threat of fatal status allows the vast majority of the defensive metagame to force Shedinja out. If Shedinja is paralyzed by either Thunder Wave or Glare, it can safely stay in on Pokemon carrying Toxic or Will-O-Wisp that cannot touch it otherwise but loses some reliability.
**Contact Damage**: If Shedinja hits a Rocky Helmet Pokemon, Iron Barbs Pokemon, or another source of contact damage with Shadow Sneak, it will be instantly removed from the game.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Thebestneverrest, 525140]]
- Quality checked by: [[Geysers, 426798], [baconeatinassassin, 367227]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
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