• Hi all. We have had reports of member's signatures being edited to include malicious content. You can rest assured this wasn't done by staff and we can find no indication that the forums themselves have been compromised.

    However, remember to keep your passwords secure. If you use similar logins on multiple sites, people and even bots may be able to access your account.

    We always recommend using unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication if possible. Make sure you are secure.
  • Be sure to join the discussion on our discord at: Discord.gg/serebii
  • If you're still waiting for the e-mail, be sure to check your junk/spam e-mail folders

Community POTW #126

Status
Not open for further replies.

Serebii

And, as if by magic, the webmaster appeared...
Staff member
Admin
Time for the next Pokémon of the Week and our Random Generator has spat out another Unova Pokémon

625.png


This week, it's Bisharp, the amazing Dark/Steel-type Pokémon. It's capable of quite a lot and can hit hard and fast.

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/625.shtml

Go nuts
 

_Calm|Mind_

Follow the Path
Bisharp @ Wise Glasses
- Focus Blast
- Aerial Ace
- Swords Dance
- Hyper Beam
 

Lucario Fan

Well-Known Member
Ability: Defiant
Item: Muscle Band
Moves: Iron Head, Psycho Cut, Night Slash, Stone Edge
 

Monster Guy

Fairy type Trainer
Bisharp @ Leftovers
Trait: Defiant
52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe
Adamant Nature
~ Swords Dance
~ Sucker Punch
~ Substitute
~ Low Kick

Substitute, Swords Dance, Sucker Punch, Sweep. Simple!

And Low Kick for coverage.
 
Last edited:

geoy789

Member
Here's a One-trick Bisharp set of the top of my head

Bisharp@Focus sash
-Metal Burst
-Sucker Punch
-Psycho Cut
-Iron Head
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpDef 0Spe IVs
Brave Nature

Since Metal burst doesn't get negative priority, Bisharp needs to be as slow as possible for this to work. Basically, get hit, counter with massive damage, then Sucker punch whatever want's to revenge you. Naturally, this set is REALLY hard to pull off, but the surprise factor is HILARIOUS
 

Dragalge

"Orange" Magical Girl
Counters/Checks: Anything Fighting will decimate Bisharp including Heracross and Machamp. Bisharp isn't the fastest thing on the planet but it's Attack stat can really hurt you if your switching in.

Btw I wouldn't recommend Choice Band Bisharp, granted it hurts anything that doesn't resist it but critters Virizion can set up on you with ease.
 
Last edited:

ilucado

Blaine's Style!
Bisharp @ Dark Gem/Focus Sash
Trait: Defiant
52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe
Adamant Nature
~ Swords Dance
~ Sucker Punch
~ Iron Head/Taunt
~ Low Kick

Late game beast! Just spam Sucker punches until you win! Taunt pairs nicelly with sucker punch because it makes your target attack you and is a good move against tanks!
 

SmeargleRocks

Reputable Trader
Adamant
Life Orb / Expert Belt / Focus Sash
Sucker Punch
Iron Head
Low Kick / Low Sweep
Stone Edge

Sucker punch for priority, Iron Head is stabbed and nothing is immune to it, low kick to hit heavy pokes Blastoise, Arcanine, Umbreon, and Porygon 2 decently hard or low sweep to lower speed incase you are slower but I'd only recommend if you want to be able to use it, stone edge hits Yanmega and Togekiss hard but tat's about it in UU
 

Kraleck

Well-Known Member
Below-Average HP, Above-Godly Attack, Great Defense, Mediocre Sp.Atk, Below-Average Sp.Def, and it falls in the dead zone between Trick Room and Non-Trick Room Speed. Bisharp isn't spectacular on Stats, but it gets the job done. Defiant is a great Ability to change those pesky Intimidates into Attack buffs, Inner Focus is okay considering your Speed, and Pressure is always fun to play with. Great Attack for a Dark Type, but Defense is kinda lacking for a Steel Type. Overall, one of my favorite Steel Types AND Dark Types.

Movepool is quite diverse and very Physical-oriented - a huge plus for Bisharp. Additionally, Psycho Cut covers most Pokemon with STAB on your Quad-Weakness, so unless you face Scrafty (where Psycho Cut won't work), Aerial Ace is a waste of time. Iron Head STAB and Sucker Punch STAB are nice - especially Sucker Punch due to your blah Speed. Add access to Spite, Pursuit, Dual Chop, Low Sweep, Rock Polish, Toxic, Thunder Wave, Taunt, and Stealth Rock and you've got some versatility - especially Low Sweep, Rock Polish, and Thunder Wave, again, due to your blah Speed.
 

Kiyoshi

Veteran Trainer
Ah, Bisharp, a personal favorite of the 5th Generation. Good typing (2 immunities, 7 X2 resistances, and 2 X4 resistances in exchange for 2 X2 weaknesses and a very painful X4 weakness to Fighting), good abilities, okay stats (well, good Attack and Defense anyways), a solid movepool, and a cool design (a friend of mine once said, shortly after Black and White came out, that it looked like it could be from a Megaman game), this is not a Pokemon to take lightly.

Midnight Raider
- Night Slash
- Iron Head
- Psycho Cut
- Brick Break
Item Attached: Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant/Pressure
EVs and Nature: 252 Attack/4 Defense/252 Speed
Adamant (+ Attack, - Special Attack) or Jolly (+ Speed, - Special Attack)

As stated above, Bisharp has an impressive number of attacks it can switch in to, making it a viable Choice-item abuser. Night Slash gets STAB and has a high Crit. Hit chance. Very good, and one of Bisharp's better attacks. Iron Head also gets STAB and comes with a (rarely used given its Speed) chance to flinch. It also is Bisharp's strongest reliable attack. Psycho Cut gives Bisharp what many Dark types wish they had; a reliable way to handle most Fighting types. The heightened chance of a Critical Hit also makes this attack a must-have on Bisharp, but not as big a reason as it's the only thing Bisharp has that makes its X4 weakness somewhat containable. Brick Break is admittedly low on power as far as sweeping moves go (how many times has the POTW said, "pass up Brick Break for Close Combat" by now?) but does come with some good advantages. First, it shatters Dual Screens; given the number of Pokemon who can run Light Screen and Reflect in the same moveset, you should have something run this in your team. (As an afterthought, Bisharp is one of a handful, perhaps the only, who can break Dual Screens and can take on Latios and Espeon easily; both of which are probably the best at that strategy for reasons described in their POTW entries.) Second, you have near-perfect coverage when combined with Night Slash; last I checked, only Heracross and Toxicroak resist both moves...and they both fear Psycho Cut. Finally, it is Bisharp's best move for hitting fellow Steel types, who resist everything else (except for Metal Burst) you can throw at them.
Bisharp has 3 good Abilities but only two of them are, in my opinion, usable. Inner Focus is nice, preventing random flinches but it pales in comparison to what else Bisharp has. Defiant is arguably the best Ability it gets; turns random stat-drops into Attack-boosts and gives it a de-facto immunity to Intimidate. Any physical sweeper would love to have this Ability. Pressure, on the other hand, is why I HATE low-PP moves like Fire Blast, Close Combat, and Stone Edge; takes off 2 PP each time an attack hits instead of 1, seriously is that power worth it for that price? Better on Defensive Pokemon than something with Bisharp's overall stats, but it will make your opponent pay dearly for taking you out with Close Combat (and if they are reliant on Fire Blast for their core sweeping move, you could Pressure-drain it out of existence as it misses: commence the laughter).
For EVs, standard physical sweeper spread works without need for explanation. The leftovers are in Defense because it is Bisharp's second best stat; you don't have enough HP for the investment to be any good and your other stats just...it's probably the best place to put them.

Other Options: Sucker Punch for priority...and because I've been around long enough to know that despite the critical flaws of this attack (low PP and fails if the opponent doesn't use an offensive move) it's going to be given as a core attack in Bisharp's POTW file; might be better on a Life Orb or Swords Dance set, but too risky for a Choice set. Stone Edge has low-PP and miss-when-you-must-hit accuracy but gives you coverage on Flying and Fire types. Oddly enough, Bisharp gets Dig; Earthquake would have been better and Brick Break is a tad more useful overall but if you want to try it, go ahead: gimmicky but there are worse moves you could use. X-Scissor is probably the best attack it gets that hasn't already been mentioned: it'll hit fellow Dark types harder than Brick Break (except for Tyranitar, if that situation occurs) and has good power. From the Move Tutor you can also add Dual Chop, a Dragon type attack: destroy Substitutes and damage whatever was hiding behind it, while knowing that only Steels (most of which fall to Brick Break) will resist it.
 

FantasyLegend

Elite Four
Here it is, the badass of 5th gen, Bisharp! You wouldn't be far off if you said that Bisharp is my favorite of 5th gen. I mean, look at him!

The Dark Knight of Pokemon
Bisharp @Leftovers
Ability: Pressure/Defiant
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Atk, 4 Spe
Adamant Nature (-SpAtk, +Atk)
Swords Dance
Sucker Punch/Night Slash
Iron Head/Brick Break
Substitute

The general idea of this set is to switch on on something that can't hurt you. They switch and Bisharp Gets the opportunity to set up either Swords Dance or Substitute. The recommended STAB is Sucker Punch, which grants Bisharp a way to strike first. However, if you want reliability, use Night Slash. The coverage moves are only for specific targets. Unfortunately, Bisharp cannot get 5 moves, so you have to pick carefully. If you like the idea if hitting Fighting-types with a strong attack, go with Iron Head. However, Steel-types become an annoyance without Brick Break, but then Heracross would get in the way without Iron Head. If you don't believe that Iron Head is any better than Brick Break, here are some damage calculations against popular switch-ins to Bisharp.


252Atk +2 Bisharp (+Atk) Iron Head vs 0HP/0Def Heracross: 117% - 138% Guaranteed OHKO.
252Atk +2 Bisharp (+Atk) Iron Head vs 0HP/0Def Machamp: 104% - 123% Guaranteed OHKO.

252Atk +2 Bisharp (+Atk) Iron Head vs 252HP/252Def Leftovers Hitmontop (+Def): 68% - 80% (208 - 246 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO.

Anyways, that's all for today!
Opinion: Great Pokemon. The RNG is spitting out my favorites so far!
Prediction for next week: Sceptile
 
Last edited:

HeyI'mChubby

and (kind of) proud!


Bisharp @ Leftovers
Trait: Defiant
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Def
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Sucker Punch
- Low Kick/ Iron Head

With a sky high attack stat, Bisharp could put dents into everything. Sadly, though, Bisharp's ugly typing and poor Speed allow it to be targeted by anything with a strong fighting type move or Earthquake. To really use Bisharp successfully requires a bit of prediction. Bisharp's Base 125 Attack stat paired with Swords Dance and hidden behind a substitute could potentially pull of a sweep. The spread gives Bisharp bulk and no speed, because lets face it, anything coming into Bisharp is most likely going to be faster. With the ability defiant, Qwilfish and Hitmontop will think twice before coming in or they'll let Bisharp accumulate more power. By using the Leftovers, Bisharp has just bit more versatility, as he will have more staying power. Between Low Kick and Iron Head:
Low Kick hits opposing Steels looking to absorb Sucker Punch
Iron Head gives Bisharp a second STAB attack.

Threats:
Anything carrying Mach Punch or Vacuum Wave
In OU, The 3 Muskateers, excluding Cobalion, who is the main threat in UU
A Bulky Water like Swampert or Quagsire carrying Roar or Earthquake.



Pawniard @ Eviolite
Trait: Defiant
EVs: 156 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Brick Break / Pursuit
- Iron Head / Night Slash

Working much like the Bisharp set, this Pawniard set looks to set up with SD and Spam Sucker Punches. Using an Eviolite, Pawniard can actually take a couple more hits in the LC tier. With the above spread, Pawniard should be seen taking hits and hitting hard. A Jolly Nature has it outspeeding some fighting types who litter the tier. Between Brick Break and Pursuit, BB is the better option to fitting into this set, but Pursuit ought to hit the fleeing Gastly. Finnaly, you're left to choose between Iron Head, a STAB move looking to cause flinches, or Night Slash, an alternative STAB Dark move to Sucker Punch.

Threats:
A strong fighting type Pokemon, such as Mienfoo, Machop, or Croagunk could lay Pawniard to rest.​
 

KingTorterraXIV

Wait what?
Pawniard is a very...interesting LC mon to be perfectly honest. It does incredible damage, but has very very low defenses exploiable weaknesses, and priority bait. It seems like a normal glass cannon, which in some respects it is, but what makes it differ is it's STAB prioirty move, it's good other STABs (Night Slash, Iron Head), it's decent coverage, and the inclusion of niche moves like Thunderwave (btw Twave Pawniard is hilariously fun). The downside to this is really how good the player is at predicting. Any time the opponent sees a Pawniard, they'll mess with your head to make you use Sucker Punch, to set up on you, or to attack when you think that they're trying to make you think that they're not going to attack. Pawniard takes experience to use effectivly, knowing what tricks people use with each pokemon. Fun pokemon, can be deadly, or can be not a threat at all.
 

2406Blackbird

CasualMediocre Gamer
Bisharp and Keep a Lookout
Abilities
Defiant: Probably the ability you want to be using, as a +2 boost from an Intimidate puts you at a good position with now +1 Attack overall.
Inner Focus: Flinching moves are mostly not very effective against Bisharp. Even if you were to meet a paraflincher Togekiss or something, an opponent with a sensible mind would probably switch to someone that could OHKO Bisharp as it has lackluster Spec Defense, or to someone with a hard hitting fighting move.
Pressure: Just no, unless you are running Toxic staller for some odd reason.

Moves:
Sucker Punch + Substitute: Much needed priority for someone as slow as Bisharp. It is good for getting strong STAB hits, especially if using with Choice Band or Life Orb. Having a sub up means that the opponent is more likely to attack in order to destroy the sub, meaning you are more likely to land a hit with Sucker Punch. Of course no Choice item with this.
Night Slash: You get a higher chance of critical hits while sacrificing a bit of power and priority. Of course this means that if your opponent boosts it stats expecting a Sucker Punch, you can catch them off guard with a Night Slash.
Psycho Cut: Not really worth it as the only fighting type you actually out speed is Machamp and Scrafty (assuming both or neither of you have choice scarf), meaning you will only get hard hits on Machamp before getting killed, unless you have a substitute. Should only be used if you plan on setting up a substitute first, then getting the hard hit on the Fighting type before switching out.
Iron Head: Obvious why you should have it (depending on moveset).
Not sure if Low Kick or Brick Break is better option
Swords Dance: +2 Attack will make you a huge threat paired with your moves properly.
Stone Edge: Takes care of your fire type threats, but then again you should not be using it as you will mostly be out speed and KOed, or you may miss and you don't want to risk it with Bisharp's horrible Spec Defense.
Aerial Ace: If you are looking to use this against fighting types (like Heracross), then look at Psycho Cut's analysis.
Taunt and/or Stealth Rocks: If faced against a lead like Bronzong, you can Taunt and then set up your rocks, or just set up rocks first turn.
Metal Burst: I would use this for a suicide lead with Focus Sash. Taunt, set up SE on the switch, get knocked down to 1HP followed by a Metal Burst to rack up tons of damage.
 
Last edited:

Rayofquazar

Well-Known Member
I'll start my review by saying that I love bisharp! It has an amazing design and a great attitude!

Bishharp shines in the attacking department but lacks the defensive caoabilities of other steel types... But what kills bisharp is it's speed! Bisharp's speed is mediocre meaning that it's going to be ousped by a lot of threats inside or outside a trick room! That said, bisharp has amazing priority move called sucker punch. Although powerful, sucker punch needs a perfect prediction to work properly. With only 8PP max, you can't afford spamming it carelessly.

Bisharp's typing grants it with a very solid arrangements of immunities and resistances as well as giving it 3 weaknesses ground, fire and fighting type attacks being the most dangerous not only for the fact that it's a 4x weakness but the abundance of mach punchers and vacuum wavers. Offensively, Dark/steel's coverage is not very impressive but the movepool grants it with important coverage moves.

All in all, Bisharp is a cool pokemon, it requires good prediction to use it as well as a skilled trainer! But even with those conditions, bisharp remains frail and somewhat slow. I tried to use it and failed... If you succeed in using it, you know you're an ace trainer!
 

RVD_fan

Well-Known Member
Bisharp @ Leftovers
Trait: Defiant
52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe
Adamant Nature
~ Swords Dance
~ Sucker Punch
~ Substitute
~ Low Kick

Substitute, Swords Dance, Sucker Punch, Sweep. Simple!

And Low Kick for coverage.
This is the one to use, Sucker Punch is Bisharp's saving grace and this is the best way to abuse it. Brick Break is an option over Low Kick as is Life Orb over Lefties.

Sucker Punch overrides Bisharp's low speed to make it a great check to the many speedy Psychic/Ghost types, such as Alakazam, Azelf, Gengar, Starmie, and the Lati Twins, and it can pick off scarfers and speedy attackers like Jolteon. If you predict a switch, get your sub up and go to town. Even resists will have a tough time taking a +2 sucker punch with Bisharp's massive attack stat.

For partners, Keldeo and Terrakion definitely appreciate any of the Pokemon previously mentioned Psychic/Ghost out of the way, especially the Lati twins. Most bulky fighting and ground types will stop Bisharp dead in its tracks, so bring something to cover those.

It should be noted that Bisharp is finding a niche in Ubers where there are more psychic types and much fewer fighting types. Its ability to come in on a Mewtwo psystrike and KO back alone is enough to get consideration for a team.

Just for the other options section, Thunder Wave can be a fun surprise option that can cripple a switch-in
 
Last edited:

neoschu42

Member
I am suprised that nobody thought aerial ace was better than psycho cut I mena both work pretty well but I thing a bisharp with aerial ace can be useful (example: justified gallade) it also hits heracross and breloom harder as well as being able to take on bug types that could cause problems for bisharp
please excuse all spelling and grammar errors
 

Attachments

  • hardest-decition-ever_o_199787[1].jpg
    hardest-decition-ever_o_199787[1].jpg
    70.6 KB · Views: 130
Checkmate
-Iron Head
-Night Slash
-Stone Edge, Focus Blast or Brick Break (TM in all three cases)/Low Kick (Tutor)
-Psycho Cut (Tutor)
Defiant
Choice Scarf
Adamant or Jolly
252 Atk 252 Spd 4 HP
That's right. Time for Chess puns but... Why? As of what I investigated a time ago, Bisharp's name actually comes from "Bishop", a chess piece, and "Sharp". As well, Pawniard partially comes form "Pawn". It evolves to Bisharp, a Pawn can promote to Bishop (and Rook, Queen and Knight). Let's get going. Scarf solves the Speed problem it shares with Luxray and Scizor. Iron Head and Night Slash for STAB, Stone Edge for Fire-Types, but Brick Break, even though not-so-strong, hits Steels and what not. I guess you could also run Low Kick considering most Steels are so heavy, or Focus Blast on their low Special Defense, but... Psycho Cut for your worst enemy, Fight-Types. Ground-Types are left to cover, but none of Bisharp's moves can do it efficiently. Defiant reverses the effects of Intimidate, it's very useful.

Other Options:
-I'm sure Pursuit and Sucker Punch can do something good, but I can't seem to put them into specific movesets.
-Swords Dance. You're still slow, but your Attack lets you be like a Queen rather than a Bishop, as your power is as terrifying as the Queen is on Chess.
-Hone Claws is as well an option, but it will be just for Stone Edge (no, there's no Rock Slide option).
-Return is strong and can hit most opponents, but...
-If you don't run Choice, you can use Magnet Rise to defend against Earthquakers and Earth Power users.
-It's much like Skarmory, you can put good use to its Defense, but with Stealth Rock instead of Spikes. Just watch its low Sp. Def. You could even run Pressure, but Defiant may make you deliver hits as hard as you can take them.
-Inner Focus has no actual use. Most flinching moves leave little damage on Bisharp, even the Special Move Air Slash.

I leave more pun options:
It's no use promoting your Pawn to Bishop when you can promote it to Queen, but...
Bishops are on par with Knights, stop fighting, Bisharp and Escavalier
"Be Sharp" (not about Chess, but may be good)
Yeah, Serebii. I'm sure that you'll like all these Chess Puns.
 

Kraleck

Well-Known Member
I am suprised that nobody thought aerial ace was better than psycho cut I mena both work pretty well but I thing a bisharp with aerial ace can be useful (example: justified gallade) it also hits heracross and breloom harder as well as being able to take on bug types that could cause problems for bisharp
please excuse all spelling and grammar errors

Power VS Coverage. I like Aerial Ace, too, but Psycho Cut covering Bisharp's main Weakness with more power and a higher crit ratio tends to outweigh never missing with Aerial Ace. You have a point with Breloom and Heracross being hit harder by Aerial Ace, but Heracross outruns it naturally and many a Breloom will carry Mach Punch, so you're better off Switching.
 

superyellowduck

Ace Trainer
Bisharp is a pokemon that is not to be toyed with. It's typing is brilliant as Steel blocks so many types. However, that 4x weakness to Fighting is severely detrimental to Bisharp. It's attack is brilliant - Base 125 and Defense 100 is pretty solid. It's not the fastest pokemon out there but there are much slower ones too! Ability wise, Defiant will be the best bet.

Ideally, the set up should be

Adamant Nature - there is no point on giving it a special move

Night Slash
Brick Break
Psycho Cut
Stone Edge

Night Slash gives a reliable STAB, Brick Break allows Bisharp to hit other steel types that would wall it. Psycho Cut will take out its main weakness - Fighting and Stone Edge will slaughter anything else in its path.

In double battles, a Water type will be needed to help get rid of those ground and fire types! Preferably something like Swanna although that may be too weak I don't know... But a Water/Flying type would be able to help out in a pinch. Keldeo and Terrakion may be able to do the trick as well.

Countering Bisharp is not hard - Fighting, Fire and Ground types are popular in standard play. Of course it has trouble defeating other Steel types unless Brick Break is there. Camerupt is a brilliant counter to Bisharp along with bulky Fighting types - Emboar, Throh...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top