Bisharp Movesets and Best Builds

Bisharp Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Bisharp in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Bisharp, as well as its strengths and weakness.

Bisharp Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Paldea #368 Kitakami #187		Type
Bisharp
		Abilities
		Inner Focus Defiant Pressure (Hidden)
Weak to:	(4x)
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Bisharp

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Bisharp

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spe, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 140 / Atk 177 / Def 120 / Sp.Def 91 / Spe 134
Ability	Defiant
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Sucker Punch ・ Night Slash ・ Iron Head ・ Brick Break

Though outclassed by its stronger evolution, Kingambit, Bisharp's higher Speed stat makes it a great Choice Scarf user that can surprise its usual checks and counters expecting a Swords Dance build. Defiant is the best Ability for this set, allowing it to stay against Intimidate users and get an Attack boost instead.

Sucker Punch is its main STAB move and allows it to hit faster opposing Choice Scarf Pokemon, such as Gholdengo and Dragapult. Night Slash offers a more reliable Dark-type STAb that also has increased chance to land a critical hit. Dark Tera type further boosts the power of these two STAB moves.

Iron Head is a strong Steel-type STAB that allows Bisharp to take on Fairy and Rock-types such as Sylveon and Tyranitar. Brick Break rounds off its coverage and also removes Reflect, Light Screen, and Aurora Veil.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Bisharp's Offensive EV spread with a Jolly Nature.

Damage Dealt by Bisharp
162 HP｜115 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Def 4 (Timid) Item: Choice Scarf	Sucker Punch 120-144 (74 - 88.8%) Guaranteed 2HKO
192 HP｜121 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 4 (Modest) Item: Choice Scarf	Night Slash 116-140 (60.4 - 72.9%) Guaranteed 2HKO
202 HP｜86 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 4 (Modest) Item: Leftovers	Iron Head 186-222 (92 - 109.9%) Guaranteed OHKO
131 HP｜135 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Def 4 (Timid) Item: Heavy-Duty Boots	Brick Break 76-90 (58 - 68.7%) Guaranteed 2HKO

Bulky Swords Dance Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 172 / Atk 194 / Def 120 / Sp.Def 91 / Spe 91
Ability	Defiant
Tera Type
Held Item	Eviolite
Moveset	・ Swords Dance ・ Sucker Punch ・ Iron Head ・ Night Slash

Bisharp receives a 50% Defense and Special Defense boost when equipped with Eviolite, giving it increased bulk and allowing it to set up Swords Dance several times to boost its Attack.

This build has Dark Tera type to further boost the power of Sucker Punch to take on faster threats. Iron Head is its secondary STAB move and is a strong Steel-type move that allows Bisharp to threaten Rock and Fairy-types.

Night Slash is its last move and is a secondary Dark-type STAB that, unlike Sucker Punch, doesn't require the opposing Pokemon to attack to use successfully.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Bisharp's Defensive EV spread with an Adamant Nature and with the Eviolite boost.

Damage Dealt by Bisharp
166 HP｜93 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 4 | Def 0 (Jolly) Item: Sitrus Berry	Sucker Punch 168-198 (101.2 - 119.2%) Guaranteed OHKO
207 HP｜131 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 4 (Careful) Item: Leftovers	Iron Head 134-162 (64.7 - 78.2%) Guaranteed 2HKO
211 HP｜167 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 252 (Bold) Item: Leftovers	Night Slash 92-110 (43.6 - 52.1%) 12.9% Chance to 2HKO
Damage Received by Bisharp
205 Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Jolly) Item: Focus Sash	Mach Punch 136-168 (79 - 97.6%) Guaranteed 2HKO
182 Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Jolly) Item: Lum Berry	Earthquake 116-138 (67.4 - 80.2%) Guaranteed 2HKO
182 Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Jolly) Item: Lum Berry	Earthquake 116-138 (67.4 - 80.2%) Guaranteed 2HKO
187 Atk +1 Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Jolly) Item: Heavy-Duty Boots	Earthquake 118-140 (68.6 - 81.3%) Guaranteed 2HKO

Doubles Movesets for Bisharp

Eviolite Support Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Careful (+Sp.Def, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 116 / Sp.Def 140
Final Stat Values	HP 172 / Atk 145 / Def 135 / Sp.Def 118 / Spe 90
Ability	Defiant
Tera Type
Held Item	Eviolite
Moveset	・ Metal Burst ・ Quick Guard ・ Foul Play ・ Iron Head

Eviolite gives Bisharp a niche in the Doubles metagame as a bulky support Pokemon, with the held item increasing its Defense and Special Defense by 50%. Steel Tera type ensures that it can stay on the field against Fairy-types while also boosting the power of Iron Head.

Metal Burst is its main support move and works like Counter and Mirror Coat, dealing 1.5 times the damage Bisharp receives back at the attacker. This move reflects both Physical and Special Attacks, but does not have reduced priority.

Quick Guard is a great support move that prevents the opposing team from using priority moves, including moves boosted by Abilities such as Prankster and Gale Wings.

Foul Play is its last move and is a Dark-type move that calculates damage based on the target's Attack stat, allowing it to threaten setup sweepers like Scizor and Annihilape.

Defiant is still the better Ability for this build so that it gets an Attack boost when its stats are lowered, and allows Bisharp to stay on the field against Intimidate users.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Bisharp's Defensive EV spread with a Careful Nature and with the Eviolite boost.

Damage Received by Bisharp
187 Sp.Atk Offensive EV Investment: Sp.Atk 252 (Modest) Item: Booster Energy	Moonblast 82-97 (47.6 - 56.3%) 84.8% Chance to 2HKO
205 Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Jolly) Item: Focus Sash	Mach Punch 124-148 (72 - 86%) Guaranteed 2HKO
162 Atk +2 Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Adamant) Item: Lum Berry	Play Rough 78-93 (45.3 - 54%) 43.4% Chance to 2HKO

How to Use Bisharp Effectively

An Unexpected Choice Scarf Attacker

Bisharp is overshadowed by its stronger evolution in Singles as a physical attacker, but it does have a niche as an unexpected Choice Scarf user.

Since most will assume a bulky setup sweeper, Bisharp can surprise its usual checks and counters by outspeeding and hitting them with its strong STAB moves.

A Bulky Support with Eviolite

In Doubles, Bisharp differentiates itself from Kingambit by running a bulkier build with Eviolite boosting its Defense and Special Defense. Access to Quick Guard, in particular, allows it to support its team against common priority users such as Grimmsnarl and Dragonite.

How to Build a Team with Bisharp

In Singles, Bisharp serves more as a secondary attacker or revenge killer with Choice Scarf rather than the primary attacker. As a result, it's a good idea to build a team that can cover its weaknesses.

In Doubles, Bisharp's lack of recovery move means it's best used alongside a Pokemon that can heal it with moves such as Heal Pulse and Life Dew.

Sample Singles Team

Lead Attacker	Offensive Pivot	Physical Attacker
Flutter Mane	Garganacl	Bisharp

This offensive-oriented Singles build leads with Flutter Mane, using its powerful dual STAB to pressure leads and opposing setup sweepers into switching. Garganacl is this team's offensive pivot and is best used against opposing defensive Pokemon with its Salt Cure preventing them from staying on the field.

Bisharp is this team's secondary attacker, providing great dual Dark and Steel-type STAB that rounds off the team's coverage. It's also a good switch in against Ghost-types that check Flutter Mane such as Gholdengo.

Sample Doubles Build

Lead Support	Lead Attacker
Bisharp	Lokix
Support	Special Attacker
Gardevoir	Heat Rotom

Bisharp's main role in this team is to provide Quick Guard support to its allies, such as Lokix who can setup without fear of getting knocked out by Gale Wings-boosted Brave Bird from Talonflame.

Gardevoir functions as this team's main support, providing some much needed healing with Life Dew and can also boost its ally's damage with Helping Hand.

Heat Rotom is the last member of this team and provides strong dual Fire and Electric STAB with Overheat and Thunderbolt.

Counters for Bisharp

Counter it with a Bulky Attacker

Since Bisharp relies on Choice Scarf to outspeed its usual checks, it struggles against bulky attackers that can shrug off its attacks and retaliate with powerful super effective moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Iron Hands	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・High natural bulk and resists Bisharp's Dark and Steel-type moves. ・Easily KOs Bisharp with STAB Punching Glove-boosted Drain Punch. ▶️Iron Hands Best Movesets
Pawmot	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Bisharp's Dark and Steel-type moves. ・Easily KOs Bisharp with STAB Close Combat. ▶️Pawmot Best Movesets
Corviknight	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Bisharp's Iron Head and takes little damage from Sucker Punch and Night Slash. ・Easily KOs Bisharp with Bulk Up-boosted Body Press. ▶️Corviknight Best Movesets

Take Advantage of its Lack of Recovery

Even with Eviolite boosting its defenses, Bisharp's lack of self recovery and reliance on its teammates to heal it means its susceptible to getting worn down by repeated attacks. It's particularly weak to status, particularly those that can damage it indirectly.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Garganacl	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can boost its Defense with Iron Defense and recover lost health with Recover. ・Salt Cure deals 1/4 damage against Bisharp due to its Steel-typing. ▶️Garganacl Best Movesets
Heat Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Bisharp's Steel-type STAB. ・Can cripple Bisharp with Will-O-Wisp and KO it with Overheat the next turn. ▶️Heat Rotom Best Movesets
Toedscruel	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Can put Bisharp to sleep with Spore and wear it down with Leech Seed. ・Can remove Bisharp's Eviolite with Knock Off. ▶️Toedscruel Best Movesets

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