Sharpedo Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Protect allows Sharpedo to safely activate Speed Boost prior to Mega Evolving. Crunch is a hard-hitting STAB move that is boosted by Strong Jaw, and it also has a chance to lower the foe's Defense. Liquidation is a secondary STAB move that hits Ground- and Fire-types like Hippowdon and Heatran. Psychic Fangs is boosted by Strong Jaw and hits Poison-types like Mega Venusaur and Toxapex, while Ice Fang is also boosted by Strong Jaw and is used to target Dragon-types like Hydreigon and Garchomp. Set Details Sharpedonite is required to Mega Evolve. Speed Boost is used so Sharpedo can boost its Speed and sweep teams late-game. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs are used so Sharpedo can outspeed threats like Landorus and Mega Medicham and hit as hard as possible. Jolly is chosen over Adamant so +1 Sharpedo can outspeed common Choice Scarf users like Victini and Nihilego. Usage Tips Make sure checks like Skarmory and Tapu Fini are weakened prior to Mega Evolving because Mega Sharpedo will generally only have one chance to sweep. However, don't be afraid to use Sharpedo without Mega Evolving it, as it can still function as an effective revenge killer. If Mega Sharpedo is forced to switch out after Mega Evolving and no longer has Speed Boost, it can still wallbreak effectively with Strong Jaw-boosted Crunch. Try to avoid switching Sharpedo directly into attacks because of its poor defenses. Instead, bring it in safely with U-turn or after a teammate faints. Protect is not only used for gaining a Speed Boost but can also be used to scout for coverage moves or avoid damage from Fake Out users. Although using Protect two turns in a row only has a one-in-three chance of being successful, it is necessary to gain an extra Speed Boost against Choice Scarf users like Terrakion and Gengar. Avoid letting Mega Sharpedo get hit by status moves and keeping it in against common status spreaders like Mew and Porygon2 because a Will-O-Wisp from the former or a Thunder Wave from the latter can prevent Mega Sharpedo from successfully sweeping. Team Options Bisharp resists Grass, can KO most Fairy-types with Iron Head, and shares many of the same checks and counters as Sharpedo, allowing one to weaken them and the other to sweep. Hydreigon resists Electric and Grass and can punch holes through physical walls like Swampert, making it easier for Mega Sharpedo to sweep. Greninja can deal with many of Mega Sharpedo's checks with various coverage moves, notably Extrasensory to hit Mega Venusaur. This also allows Sharpedo to use Ice Fang instead of Psychic Fangs. Mandibuzz is neutral to Bug and Fighting and resists Grass, and it can pivot into many physical attacks aimed at Sharpedo as well as use Defog to remove entry hazards. It can use U-turn to safely bring in Sharpedo as well. Tyranitar can pivot into most special attacks with relative ease as well as set Stealth Rock, which can provide valuable chip damage and put foes in range of being KOed by Mega Sharpedo. Krookodile is another Stealth Rock setter that is a check to Electric-types. Alolan Muk is an excellent check to Fairy-types and can also beat Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Alolan Raichu.

Moves Protect allows Sharpedo to gain Speed boosts against offensive teams more easily prior to Mega Evolving. Protect also lets Sharpedo scout against Choice-locked Pokemon. Strong Jaw-boosted Crunch is potentially Mega Sharpedo's strongest attack and comes with a nifty chance to drop the foe's Defense stat. Mega Sharpedo's secondary STAB move, Liquidation, retains Crunch's secondary effect but has a lower damage output due to it not being boosted by Strong Jaw. Psychic Fangs allows Mega Sharpedo to beat Poison-types, mainly Toxapex, that would otherwise wall it. It also has the niche of being able to take out other threatening Poison- and Fighting-types such as Mega Venusaur and Keldeo. Psychic Fangs breaks screens as well, effectively preventing Pokemon such as Klefki from fulfilling their niche. Set Details Sharpedonite allows Sharpedo to Mega Evolve. 252 Speed EVs allow Mega Sharpedo to be as fast as possible, and a Jolly nature lets it outpace Choice Scarf users like Victini at +1. 252 Attack EVs maximize Mega Sharpedo's damage output. Speed Boost increases Mega Sharpedo's cleaning potential against teams carrying revenge killers and improves its matchup against offensive teams but can only be used before Mega Evolving. Strong Jaw boosts Crunch and Psychic Fangs. Usage Tips If you know Sharpedo will be forced out by a Pokemon like Dragonite or Breloom, then it is wiser to not Mega Evolve so it can take advantage of Speed Boost later on. Keep Mega Sharpedo healthy by being wary of entry hazards and not switching it directly into attacks that are not Psychic-type. Don't worry about getting Speed boosts against bulky teams, as Sharpedo usually outpaces everything without boosting. Instead, capitalize on Mega Sharpedo's wallbreaking power by Mega Evolving early. Try to position Mega Sharpedo against Pokemon it forces out so as to take full advantage of Speed Boost. For example, position Mega Sharpedo against a Pokemon like Heatran or Choice Scarf Greninja locked into Dark Pulse to gain a free turn and use an attack as they switch out so Sharpedo can reliably use Protect the subsequent turn. Preserve Sharpedo for the late-game, as it is most effective when it hasn't wasted Speed Boost. Play carefully against types such as Psychic carrying Colbur Berry users like Slowbro and Mew, as Slowbro can cripple Mega Sharpedo with Grass Knot or Thunder Wave and Mew cripples it with Will-O-Wisp. Use Protect to scout against Choice-locked Pokemon such as Latios and Diggersby so you can take advantage of potential momentum. For example, capitalize on a Diggersby locked into Earthquake with Ground-immune Pokemon like Mantine and Gyarados. Play carefully against status users like Chansey, as they hinder Mega Sharpedo's sweeping capabilities. Team Options Azumarill is capable of Perish trapping problematic Pokemon like Skarmory and Toxapex thanks to Whirlpool + Perish Song. Tectonic Rage Greninja is capable of taking out Alolan Muk, something Mega Sharpedo struggles with, and chips at Mega Venusaur with Extrasensory. Choice Scarf Greninja can KO Pokemon like Choice Scarf Latios and Tapu Bulu that revenge kill Mega Sharpedo and set up Spikes to threaten counters like Porygon2. Mega Sharpedo complements Greninja in return by allowing it to drop a potential Dark-type STAB move in favor of other coverage. Toxapex can reliably switch into Pokemon like Porygon2 and Skarmory that wall Mega Sharpedo and take advantage of their passive nature by setting up Toxic Spikes, allowing Mega Sharpedo to more easily clean. Mantine is a great teammate, as it can use Defog to remove annoying entry hazards like Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, which hinder Mega Sharpedo's cleaning potential. Stealth Rock users like Swampert and Empoleon can help chip at Pokemon like Skarmory and Tapu Bulu so Mega Sharpedo can KO them. Gyarados is capable of taking out Mega Venusaur and Skarmory, allowing Mega Sharpedo to more easily sweep. Pivots like Rotom-Wash and Lanturn can bring Sharpedo in freely thanks to a slow Volt Switch, and the latter can heal any detrimental status that Sharpedo might have. Suicune can PP stall Mega Venusaur's Giga Drain so later on in the game Mega Sharpedo can sweep more freely. Choice Specs Keldeo can form a wallbreaking core with Mega Sharpedo, taking out problematic Pokemon like Porygon2 for Mega Sharpedo.

Mega Sharpedo usually isn't as good of a choice as Mega Blaziken when it comes to Speed Boost sweeping, but its different set of coverage can make it worthwhile for teams that have issues with bulky Ground-types and Mega Salamence. Since Mega Sharpedo loses Speed Boost for Strong Jaw, make sure to spend one turn in its regular forme to get +1 in Speed. There are many options for Mega Sharpedo's last moveslot. Destiny Bond is another unique aspect of Sharpedo if coverage isn't too important, allowing it to put pressure on Pokemon it can't KO late-game. Substitute can be used instead to get more Speed boosts before Mega Evolving, while Earthquake hits Tapu Koko much harder than any other option. Aqua Jet is useful priority in case Mega Sharpedo is forced to lose its Speed boosts and switch out, but Waterfall can be used simply to have a powerful Water-type STAB attack to hit the likes of Heatran. If Mega Venusaur and dual screen users are issues, Psychic Fangs is usable. Poison Fang does decent damage to Fairy-types and has a 50% chance to inflict Toxic poisoning, a deadly proposition for walls that may switch into Mega Sharpedo.

This Sharpedo gives up the power its Mega Evolution provides in exchange for more flexibility with items. Dark Pulse is nice for inflicting flinches, and while Ice Beam may not be strong, it'll do more damage to its targets than Ice Fang will. Destiny Bond is a very unique selling point for Sharpedo, and it should usually be used once Sharpedo's use has run out. However, if hitting Fire-types like Heatran and Volcarona is more important, Scald and the more powerful but less reliable Hydro Pump are fine options.

Moves Protect is used to get a Speed boost without taking damage and also scouts the foe's moveset. Crunch offers excellent offensive synergy with Waterfall. Waterfall uses Sharpedo's Speed boosts to try to get a flinch, and also has good coverage, hitting the plethora of Fire- and Ground-types in the tier for super effective damage. Ice Beam is used to hit Pokemon such as Chesnaught and Hydreigon super effectively. Lastly, Destiny Bond can be used as a last-ditch effort to score an extra KO against a threat. Set Details The given EV spread is used to maximize Sharpedo's Attack and outspeed Adamant variants of Choice Scarf Krookodile, with the rest of the EVs dumped into Special Attack so that Sharpedo can hit Chesnaught, Hydreigon, and Toxicroak for as much damage as possible. Life Orb is used to increase its damage output. A Naughty nature is used to increase Sharpedo's Attack stat without lowering its Special Attack and is used over Lonely so Sharpedo can take less damage from priority attacks, although Mach Punch from any notable Pokemon still OHKOes Sharpedo. Lastly, if Ice Beam is not used, opt for an Adamant or Jolly nature. Usage Tips Sharpedo should be saved until late-game, when the opposing team's Pokemon have been weakened, as it usually needs a fair amount of prior damage to clean. Sharpedo should not be switched in at any cost, as it takes a lot even from resisted hits due to its terrible defenses. Ultimately, Sharpedo appreciates the removal of priority users so that it can clean late-game uninterrupted. Team Options Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Forretress, Froslass, Swampert, Chesnaught, and Mega Aggron is appreciated, as it wears down Pokemon that try to switch into Sharpedo, making it easier for Sharpedo to clean late-game. Entry hazards wear down Mega Aggron, Florges, Empoleon, and Forretress and turn some 2HKOs into OHKOs against Pokemon such as Nidoqueen. Toxic Spikes works well with Protect to get Pokemon down to KO range. Pivots such as Mega Ampharos, Gligar, and Rotom-H make for good partners, as they can keep up offensive momentum, slowly wear down the opposing team, and bring in Sharpedo safely.

Moves Protect is used so that Sharpedo can get a Speed boost safely before Mega Evolving, and it also lets Sharpedo scout the foe's moveset. Crunch is Mega Sharpedo's main STAB move and hits for a lot of damage thanks to Strong Jaw. Waterfall is a powerful secondary STAB attack with a flinch chance. Hydro Pump can be used instead to deal more damage to physical walls, such as Forretress and Donphan, than Waterfall does. Ice Fang is used mainly to hit Hydreigon, which can tank Sharpedo's other attacks with little trouble. It also hits Whimsicott harder than everything else on the set. Set Details The listed EV spread maximizes Sharpedo's Attack and Speed. A Naughty or Naive nature is used with Hydro Pump so that Sharpedo can attack with both offensive stats while lowering its least useful defensive stat. An Adamant or Jolly nature is used with Waterfall, as Sharpedo's Special Attack is then irrelevant. Jolly and Naive natures deserve special mention, as it is fairly important to outspeed or Speed tie most Choice Scarf users at +1 because Mega Sharpedo is by no means guaranteed to get to +2. Usage Tips If facing slower teams, Sharpedo should Mega Evolve immediately so that it can punch holes in the opposing team as soon as possible, as it does not need the Speed boost. Against more offensive teams, it should use Protect if it is trying to clean late-game so it can outspeed slower Choice Scarf users before Mega Evolving. In some cases, Sharpedo might need to force the switch and then Protect, or go for the double Protect before Mega Evolving if the opponent has a faster Choice Scarf user, such as Infernape, on their team. Mega Sharpedo only has one chance to sweep because Mega Evolving removes Speed Boost, so it should not be brought in unless it has a very good chance of sweeping. Team Options Entry hazard support helps Sharpedo in wallbreaking and cleaning, so Swampert, Chesnaught, Froslass, and Roserade all are all good partners. Entry hazards wear down Mega Aggron, Florges, Empoleon, and Forretress, all of which give Sharpedo trouble, and turns some 2HKOs into OHKOs against Pokemon such as Nidoqueen. Toxic Spikes works well with Protect to get Pokemon down to KO range. Because Sharpedo is best used with entry hazards, pairing it with spinblockers such as Chandelure and Froslass or fast Taunt users such as Crobat benefit it greatly. Pivots that have access to Volt Switch or U-turn, such as Forretress, Heliolisk, and Gligar, all make for good partners, as they can get Sharpedo in safely. If opting to use a Speed-boosting nature, Sharpedo should partner up with good entry hazard stackers, to ensure that it's able to clean up at the end of the game, as the power decrease is noticeable.

Moves Protect is necessary in order to acquire boosts from Speed Boost before Mega Evolving and is also an option for scouting for an opposing Pokemon's set. Crunch is Mega Sharpedo's strongest attack and hits anything that doesn't resist it extremely hard due to Strong Jaw. Waterfall hits Ground, Rock, and Fire teams for more damage than Crunch and is also a good option for hitting Pokemon such as Heracross and Bisharp that resist Crunch. Waterfall also has a 20% flinch chance, which is really useful for Mega Sharpedo considering its high Speed and inability to take attacks well. Hydro Pump can be opted for over Waterfall to hit Skarmory and Hippowdon for a 2HKO. Ice Fang hits Grass, Dragon, and Flying teams for super effective damage and is also boosted by Strong Jaw, allowing Mega Sharpedo to get past Garchomp, Hydreigon, Shiftry, and Dragonite. Set Details Maximum Attack investment allows Mega Sharpedo to deal as much damage as possible. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly Nature allows Mega Sharpedo to outpace any Choice Scarf user under base 105 Speed after just one Speed boost. A Naive Nature can be opted for when running Hydro Pump in order to make full use of Mega Sharpedo's Special Attack while still not taking increased damage from common physical priority such as Extreme Speed and Sucker Punch. Speed Boost is mandatory on Sharpedo in order to accumulate the necessary Speed for Mega Sharpedo to sweep. An Adamant nature can be used over a Jolly one for more damage output, but it leaves Mega Sharpedo outpaced by Choice Scarf Victini post-Mega Evolution and Choice Scarf Heracross pre-Mega Evolution if it has only acquired one Speed boost. Usage Tips Mega Sharpedo should utilize its base forme's ability to the fullest and accumulate as many boosts in Speed as possible in order to sweep. As a result of losing Speed Boost after Mega Evolving, Mega Sharpedo only has one opportunity to sweep with the boosts it gained. Protect also finds utility in allowing Mega Sharpedo to avoid damage from Fake Out and scouting for the move the opposing Pokemon is going for. Attempting a double Protect is an option if Mega Sharpedo needs to outspeed faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Terrakion or Choice Scarf Gengar. Mega Sharpedo should avoid switching in on attacks or taking status moves, as even with the boosts in its defenses gained by Mega Evolution it is still a frail Pokemon and its usefulness is hampered greatly by status. Sharpedo can be used early-game without Mega Evolving in order to chip away at teams or revenge kill in order to make it easier for it to clean late-game. Team Options Mega Sharpedo appreciates Stealth Rock support offered by Tyranitar or Krookodile, as it puts Pokemon such as Mega Gallade into range of being OHKOed. Tyranitar is able to spread paralysis through Thunder Wave, making it easier for Mega Sharpedo to sweep even if it has not accumulated many Speed boosts. Mandibuzz is another great partner that offers both entry hazard control and physical bulk to lessen Mega Sharpedo's susceptibility to priority. It is also a good check for Fighting-type Pokemon, and a notable niche it has is being able to take on Breloom due to Overcoat blocking Spore. Sableye can also take Fighting-type attacks directed towards Mega Sharpedo and can spread burns in order to whittle teams down for Mega Sharpedo to clean later. Sableye and Bisharp can also function as hazard control deterrents, since Sableye's typing allows it to spinblock and Bisharp's ability Defiant helps it punish Defoggers. Bisharp and Crawdaunt are hard-hitting physical attackers that can weaken checks to Mega Sharpedo such as Porygon2, Ferrothorn, and Mandibuzz, although the latter's coverage is redundant with Mega Sharpedo's. Bisharp in particular is very threatening to Fairy-type Pokemon that trouble Mega Sharpedo. Knock Off support from users such as Weavile and Bisharp is generally appreciated, as items such as Eviolite and Leftovers can make it harder for Mega Sharpedo to sweep. Hydreigon and Weavile are able to beat physical walls like Mandibuzz, Porygon2, and Mega Venusaur.

Moves Protect must be run in order for Sharpedo to safely accumulate the boosts in Speed that it needs. Hydro Pump is Sharpedo's hardest hitting move and is able to OHKO most Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-types. Ice Beam offers good coverage by being able to hit Flying, Dragon, and Grass teams for more damage than any other of its moves. Dark Pulse completes Sharpedo's coverage by hitting Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon for more damage, as well as being its best option to hit Pokemon that resist its coverage. Dark Pulse also has a 20% chance to make the opposing Pokemon flinch, allowing Sharpedo to not have to take a hit that would likely OHKO it. Set Details Life Orb gives Sharpedo's attacks more power in exchange for its HP; however, Sharpedo isn't capable of taking most attacks and greatly appreciates being able to deal as much damage as possible while still having the ability to change moves. Maximum Special Attack investment gives Sharpedo's attacks as much damage output as possible. Maximum Speed investment allows Sharpedo to outspeed Choice Scarf base 80 Speed Pokemon such as Togekiss and Gardevoir. A Modest nature is utilized in order to maximize damage output. Speed Boost must be ran on Sharpedo in order for it to accumulate the Speed it needs to outpace and clean opposing teams. Usage Tips Protect can be used for scouting and avoiding damage from Fake Out users like Mega Lopunny. Sharpedo should be used as a late-game cleaner, but it can also be used as a revenge killer against slower Pokemon on teams that can't switch into its coverage. Using Sharpedo early-game is an option to make it easier for it or a teammate to clean late-game. Sharpedo's mediocre defenses make it hard for it to even take resisted attacks well, and as a result it shouldn't be switched in on any attacks. Sharpedo is also extremely susceptible to priority, making it necessary for priority users to be gone when you attempt a late-game sweep. Sharpedo should avoid taking any form of status, as paralysis quarters its Speed and thus makes it easy to deal with it, while poison and burn wear it down quickly if considering Life Orb recoil as well. As a result of most people expecting Mega Sharpedo on Dark teams, Sharpedo can deal with the physical walls it lures in and can help pave the way for another sweeper on the team. Team Options Sharpedo generally functions best on a more offense-oriented teams and appreciates Stealth Rock support from Tyranitar, Krookodile, or Bisharp in order to net the OHKOs it needs to sweep weakened teams. Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar is a great teammate for Sharpedo, as both of them are able to sweep and either one can be sacrificed to make it easier for the other to sweep. Tyranitar can also be used to tank special attacks and spread status through Thunder Wave while Sableye can spread burns to whittle opposing teams for Sharpedo. Sableye, and Mandibuzz can both serve as Fighting-type checks. Mandibuzz offers a form of entry hazard control and can run Toxic in order to weaken Pokemon like Gastrodon, Porygon2, and Cradily to help Sharpedo sweep late-game. Mandibuzz and Hydreigon are able to function as pivots with U-turn to bring in Sharpedo safely. Hydreigon is able to pressure teams and weaken them for Sharpedo to clean late-game. Sharpedo appreciates Mega Houndoom as a teammate, as the two are capable of weakening their shared checks and Mega Houndoom is also able to take on the Grass-type Pokemon that trouble Sharpedo such as Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur. Bisharp is able to take on Fairy-types, like Clefable and Klefki, that trouble Sharpedo and also weaken teams early-game for Sharpedo to clean. Sharpedo can also be used to get rid of checks to Bisharp such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Skarmory. Knock Off support is greatly appreciated, as there are many viable users of it, including Bisharp and Krookodile, and the removal of the opposing Pokemon's item makes it easier to pressure teams by getting rid of troublesome items like Eviolite and Assault Vest.

Protect is a necessity on the set to grab a safe Speed boost prior to Mega Evolving. Crunch is Mega Sharpedo's strongest and most spammable move, allowing it to easily run through Psychic and Ghost teams and clean up weakened teams. Substitute gives Mega Sharpedo a way to take advantage of the switches it forces. Alongside Protect, Substitute lets Sharpedo stack up Speed boosts and stall out a foe's attack. Ice Fang gives Mega Sharpedo a Strong Jaw-boosted coverage move against Ground-, Dragon-, and Flying-types like Garchomp, Dragonite, and Landorus. Hydro Pump is an alternative to Ice Fang that lets Mega Sharpedo break through the defensive Flying core of Skarmory and Zapdos. If choosing to use Hydro Pump, a Naughty nature is preferred to net crucial KOs against Flying Pokemon, most notably OHKOing Thundurus with Crunch. An optional 28 EVs can be invested into Special Attack to guarantee a 2HKO on Leftovers Skarmory. 4 EVs in Special Defense prevents Download users like Porygon2 from getting a Special Attack boost before Sharpedo Mega Evolves. Make sure to not Mega Evolve too early in a game when defensive checks to Mega Sharpedo haven't been weakened enough or priority users like Breloom are still alive. Mega Sharpedo fits on a wide variety of Water teams due to its ability to easily sweep through teams with minimal support. Tentacruel is a fantastic partner to Mega Sharpedo thanks to Toxic Spikes, which Mega Sharpedo's Substitute and Protect use to wear down foes into its OHKO range. Similarly, Suicune has great synergy with the Mega Sharpedo + Tentacruel core because it can stall the opposing team with Substitute + Protect, making it easier for Mega Sharpedo to clean up later. Empoleon can set Stealth Rock to gradually wear teams down and phaze Calm Mind Clefable with Roar. Empoleon and Tentacruel can also lure Colbur Berry users, like Slowbro and Celebi, with Knock Off. Furthermore, both of them can remove entry hazards for Mega Sharpedo. Swampert also sets Stealth Rock and can lure in and KO Mega Venusaur with Rindo Berry + Mirror Coat. Seismitoad is an alternative Electric-immune Stealth Rock setter that can cripple bulky answers to Mega Sharpedo, like Mandibuzz and Porygon2, with Toxic and check foes like Thundurus in rain. Wallbreakers like Azumarill and Manaphy can soften up the opposing team for Mega Sharpedo and weaken checks like Porygon2, Ferrothorn, and Mandibuzz. Starmie can take care of Fighting-types that wall and check Mega Sharpedo, such as Terrakion as well. Kingdra and Mega Sharpedo complement one another as cleaners on rain teams; Kingdra can wallbreak for Mega Sharpedo with its strong rain-boosted Hydro Pump. Shell Smash Cloyster can weaken shared checks and frees up the Ice Fang moveslot for Hydro Pump. Rotom-W can bring Mega Sharpedo safely into play through Volt Switch and can set screens to support its sweep. It can also cripple foes unaffected by Toxic Spikes with Will-O-Wisp.

Sharpedo is an effective lead in UU as he can hit the opponent with his powerful STAB attacks and proceed to finish them off with Aqua Jet. Rhyperior leads are KOed with Waterfall followed by Aqua Jet, while Crunch has a chance to 2HKO Uxie and OHKO Alakazam (or 2HKO Focus Sash versions with Crunch followed by Aqua Jet). Taunt is the best option in the final slot as it shuts down lead Cloyster, who causes problems due to his huge physical defense and his typing, which gives him a resistance to Water-type moves. Earthquake allows Sharpedo to hit Registeel, while Ice Fang deals huge damage to Altaria and Torterra switch-ins. Focus Sash is the ideal item as any attack is likely to KO Sharpedo. The EVs focus on Sharpedo's Attack, giving his physical moves more power. 252 Speed EVs aren't used to outrun a specific threat; they are used because Sharpedo's defenses are not worth investing in. Ambipom leads cause Sharpedo problems as Fake out will deal a large amount of damage, and his high Speed allows him to attack again before he can hit back; Aqua Jet is unable to KO Ambipom after he has used Fake Out, making Sharpedo easy to defeat. Spiritomb also causes Sharpedo problems as his great defenses make him take little damage from any of Sharpedo's attacks, while he can hit Sharpedo super effectively with Hidden Power Fighting and finish him off with Sucker Punch. Registeel is a decent partner for this set as it can switch into both Ambipom and Spiritomb with ease and attempt to set up with Curse, or cripple Ambipom with Thunder Wave (providing he doesn't carry Taunt). Its great defenses mean that Registeel will take reduced damage from Hidden Power Fighting, and its Steel-typing gives it a resistance to Dark-, Ghost-, and Normal-type moves. Machoke leads also cause Sharpedo problems as he hits you super effectively with Dynamic Punch and can finish Sharpedo off with Bullet Punch. Slowbro is an excellent choice to deal with Machoke leads due to his Own Tempo ability and high defensive stats; his Psychic-typing also gives him a resistance to Dynamic Punch.

While the above set utilizes Sharpedo's impressive Attack, this set uses Sharpedo's lower Special Attack to sweep. Although this seems inferior to a physical or mixed set, this set carries surprise value, and his special movepool is equally as impressive as his physical movepool. Surf and Hydro Pump act as reliable STAB, both dealing exceptional damage to the likes of Moltres, Regirock, and Donphan. Surf is the most reliable option as Sharpedo's defenses are so horrible that he cannot afford to miss an attack; however, Hydro Pump can OHKO standard Regirock after Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes have taken their toll. Ice Beam allows Sharpedo to hit Altaria, Torterra, and Tangrowth super effectively, scoring an OHKO on each. Hidden Power Grass is used to deal with Slowbro, Milotic, and Quagsire. The final slot is down to personal preference, though Substitute is recommended when you use a Life Orb due to Sharpedo's weak defenses. Dark Pulse can be used as secondary STAB, hitting Ghosts like Rotom, as well as Psychic-types like Uxie. Using an Expert Belt in place of Life Orb is an option as it helps Sharpedo bluff a Choice item, which can lure an opponent into thinking they are safe when switching into Sharpedo when they are not. 252 Special Attack EVs ensure that Sharpedo's attacks deal as much damage as possible, and 252 Speed EVs along with a Timid nature allow Sharpedo to outrun the likes of Rotom and tie with positive-natured Drapion and Houndoom. The choice between a Timid and Modest nature depends on whether you wish for more Speed or more power. Due to his lack of a physical move, this set encounters problems with special walls like Chansey. There are numerous ways to deal with Chansey, the first being a mixed sweeper acting as a lure with special attacks. Magmortar is an excellent option as he can bluff a Choice item with Expert Belt and 2HKO Chansey with Cross Chop. Another way to beat Chansey is to use a Mismagius with Taunt and Nasty Plot. After three Nasty Plot boosts, Mismagius can 2HKO Chansey with Hidden Power Fighting. Registeel will also cause problems as Sharpedo is unable to 2HKO it with Choice Specs Hydro Pump, while Registeel can cripple him with Thunder Wave and finish him off with Iron Head. Nidoking is a great choice to beat Registeel as he can switch into Thunder Wave for free due to his Ground typing and threaten Registeel with STAB Earthquake or Earth Power. Rhyperior and Donphan are also excellent choices as they can switch into any of Registeel's attacks and hit it with STAB Earthquake. To ensure an OHKO against Regirock, Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes is required. Omastar is a fine choice for this role as it has a huge Defense, allowing it to set up against physical threats such as Scyther and Arcanine, while scaring away common Rapid Spinners like Donphan and Claydol with STAB Surf. Another way to set up entry hazards is to use a dedicated Spikes user like Cloyster or Qwilfish along with a defensive partner like Chansey or Donphan with Stealth Rock.

This set takes advantage of Sharpedo's excellent Attack and decent movepool, which make him a powerful physical sweeper in UU. Waterfall is the most important move on this set, dealing massive damage to Pokemon like Donphan, Regirock, and Moltres. Crunch is used as secondary STAB, hitting Psychic- and Ghost-types like Slowbro and Rotom super effectively. Earthquake is used to hit Steel-types like Registeel and Magneton, while dealing more damage to Aggron than Waterfall would. The final slot is down to personal preference; Substitute is the best option if you choose to use a Life Orb as it protects Sharpedo from status and critical hits, while also covering his awful defenses. Ice Fang may be used to hit Altaria and Torterra with more power, and Zen Headbutt deals more damage to the likes of Venusaur and Hitmontop. 252 Attack EVs are used on this set to deal maximum damage with his attacks, while 252 Speed EVs are used to tie with positive base 95 Pokemon. Sharpedo is so frail that it isn't worth investing in his defenses. When using a Choice Band, an Adamant nature is recommended to deal as much damage as possible over a single turn, though Jolly can be used to outrun the likes of Rotom and tie with positive-natured Drapion and Houndoom. Bulky Water-types cause problems for this set as Sharpedo is unable to hit the majority of them super effectively. Problems arise when facing Blastoise, Milotic, and Cloyster. Venusaur is an excellent partner for Sharpedo as he can switch into these threats with ease thanks to his immunity to Toxic and resistance to Water-type attacks. Venusaur can proceed to Sleep Powder or Swords Dance and sweep. Venusaur is also helpful as he absorbs Toxic Spikes, a common move on Cloyster. Torterra is another option as STAB Wood Hammer mauls the likes of Slowbro and Milotic; though he should watch out for Ice Beam. Support from Toxic Spikes is helpful as it cripples bulky walls who attempt to stop Sharpedo's sweep. These include Leafeon, Tangrowth, and non-RestTalk Spiritomb. Drapion is an excellent choice to set up Toxic Spikes due to his excellent typing and decent defensive stats. Qwilfish is another great choice as he can act as a suicide lead and explode on the opponent, giving Sharpedo a safe switch in. Pokemon with priority moves-such as Hitmontop, Absol, and Scyther-cause big problems for Sharpedo as his defenses are horrible. Donphan is a good teammate to cover this, as he takes little damage from common priority moves in UU, can set up Stealth Rock, remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin, and hit incoming Ghosts with Assurance. He also has access to Ice Shard, dealing huge damage to Scyther, and Earthquake coming from base 120 Attack will hit anyone who doesn't resist it for serious damage.

Sharpedo is able to become a usable special sweeper with the combination of Endure + Salac Berry and its decent base Special Attack and Speed stats while making use of Rough Skin to punish contact move users by putting them in range of its strong attacks. However, Sharpedo faces stiff competition from other Water-type sweepers such as Feraligatr, Swords Dance Tentacruel, and Rain Dance sweepers like Omastar and Gorebyss, as well as other Salac Berry sweepers like Scyther. Sharpedo also has a tendency to be walled by Kangaskhan, Tentacruel, Ampharos, and Blastoise due to its move choices, and it struggles to break bulkier Pokemon without heavy chip damage or Spikes and usually gets OHKOed in return because of its frailty, making it a difficult Pokemon to justify using. Rough Skin plays a big part in Sharpedo's niche in the tier, as it punishes physical attackers like Kangaskhan and Scyther by chipping them into range of its moves. Hydro Pump functions as Sharpedo's explosive STAB option, able to OHKO Solrock and Arcanine and smashing the likes of Omastar and Granbull while also being a generally powerful move to spam. Ice Beam is solid coverage for Grass-types like Vileplume and Cradily while also giving Sharpedo a more consistent way to OHKO Gligar and chunk Scyther. Crunch allows Sharpedo to handle Ghost-types such as Haunter and Misdreavus as well as beat down opposing Water-types that may wall it, such as Slowking. As an offensive sweeper, Sharpedo greatly appreciates any form of support it can get, such as Spikes from the likes of Omastar, Qwilfish, and Glalie as all of Sharpedo's main checks dislike Spikes damage, therefore making it easier for Sharpedo to break through them, and screens from Electrode or Solrock to aid in its sweeping potential. Electrode, Solrock, and Glalie also help Sharpedo out tremendously thanks to Explosion, being able to lure in bulky Water- and Electric-types Sharpedo can struggle to deal with such as Lanturn, Ampharos, Tentacruel, and Walrein. Teammates that can switch into the aforementioned Electric-types, such as Kangaskhan, Ampharos, and Nidoqueen work well with Sharpedo, as they can also help whittle down its checks for it to sweep late-game. Toxic support from teammates such as Omastar, Arcanine, and Tentacruel helps Sharpedo in its sweeping possibilities by giving it the chance to 2HKO opponents much more safely with the additional chip damage provided. Paralysis spreaders like Stun Spore Vileplume and Thunder Wave Misdreavus can also help Sharpedo get into a position to sweep, as well as allowing it to outspeed Scyther and Tentacruel without eating its Salac Berry. Thief users, such as Electabuzz and Arcanine, also are greatly appreciated, as they are able to remove Leftovers from defensive opponents that would otherwise rely on them to keep Sharpedo in check.