Community POTW #45

[dewhinifier]

Conveniently, bulbapedia provides a list of shedinja counters...this. Yes, that is everything that can carry hidden power in some way or another...they may not use it but hey, predict the switch into shedinja, fire off a hidden power [rock, etc] just because it seems like a really cool and popular move, outspeed it the next turn, gg mr cicada shell. (Btw, yes, ditto counters it, too, predict a switch into shedinja, transform, then fire off shadow sneak if it, like most shedinja sets posted thus far, carries it.)

It is also the most easily toxistalled pokemon out there. Heck, it even brings up a new type of stall that ninjask can pull off...weather stall. How? It's simple, just have abomasnow/snover or hippopotas/hippowdon/ttar and wait half a turn. That's how long it should take for weather to kill it. As a matter of fact, anything that has the balls to carry sandstorm or hail with no real use for it weather stalls shedinja. Yes, ninjask gets sandstorm, but with it, it becomes taunt bait, aka useless.

Even having SR/Tspikes/spikes down kills it. Getting it roared/whirlwinded in kills it. This kind of makes air balloon viable, yet...a sub would have to be passed to it. (Having a rapid spinner is a MUST when using shedinja.)

Anyways, with a horrific 40 base speed, it ain't gonna outspeed much anytime soon, especially in the ubers tier. It can effectively force switches and punish whatever switches in with whatever you want. It would have to get out quick b/c, well, it's the ubers tier for one if it's used there, and 2, magmortar runs rampant in NU, as I've heard from a certain mod friend of mine...also if someone choses to use that there.

This seems to be the best set there is for it:

Cicada s-hell
Focus Sash
Wonder Guard
Adamant Nature
252 atk/252 spd/4 wherever, won't matter anyways
~Will-o-Wisp/Toxic
~Swords Dance
~Baton Pass
~Shadow Sneak/X-Scissor
Basically...WoW to punish switch ins that aren't fire type, toxic if you rly fear those or could care less about physical attackers. Swords Dance for any switch in you feel won't die from a single shadow sneak or are just paranoid. Baton pass if you were really in there just to sponge up an attack and make you look pro with the safe double switch or want to pass on a SD. Shadow sneak is for actually doing damage on the 2nd turn, x-scizzor is for the punishing if you manage to survive the 2nd turn.

Overall, shedinja has 2 uses, both of which it would seem to do well with--a switch in punisher, and, probably the best use, something that can guarentee a safe switch.

[ParaChomp]

Shedinja's got a nice niche in Ubers but with the upbringing of Reshiram and Excadrill getting the boot, it's become even harder for the discarded shell. Wobbuffet and Kyogre are excellent teammates for it.

[PhilosophicalPsychologica]

Whoa, um, Shedinja hasn't really changed much over the Generation shift.

It improves with Politoed and Ninetales being capable of overriding Sand Stream and Snow Warning, but it also suffers against Ferrothorn. Sure, Shedinja could Burn Ferrothorn, but if Shedinja catches Ferrothorn with an X-Scissor (dem Iron Barbs) or gets struck with Leech Seed, or any of Spikes or Stealth Rock, its toast. Still, in the right instances, Shedinja can take advantage on Ferrothorn. Ferrothorn doesn't always have Leech Seed, which is the primary way for it to defeat Shedinja. With that in mind, Shedinja can use Trick or WOW and set up Swords Dance. The opponent, if not having Leech Seed, will most definitely switch out to Hydreigon or the sort and do mindgames with attempting to attack or switching to Ferrothorn, so it's all a 50/50 when it boils down to it. Rapid Spin support is mandatory, obviously.

There is, however, one particular goodie Shedinja can do: it can actually Baton Pass something! With Hone Claws' TM status, Shedinja can legally Pass boosts. However, this isn't as spectacular as it actually appears to be.

Shedinja cannot really abuse Hone Claws for its own good.
The opponent surely has at least one way to attack Shedinja outright in order to prevent too many Hone Claws from being set up. And if they can't...well...Shedinja might as well be sweeping on its own.
Even if you use a Focus Sash to allow Shedinja to survive a hit and live to Pass off a boost, you might as well use a bulkier Baton Passer anyway. This applies to using Shedinja on a basic Baton Passing team (which have gotton more popular with Espeon and Shell Smash) as well. Sure, Shedinja can have its niches, but is it really worth the trouble?

I don't want to end my analysis on that negative note. Yes, Shedinja can really can live up to the title of the Wonder Guarder, but just try to please stick with its predictable, generic sets - it's easier that way.

[UltimateVictini]

ok, this is my suggestion.


IHave2Lives
Shedinja@Focus Sash
Trait:Wonder Guard
EV's: 252 attack, 252 speed
Nature: Naive
Moveset

-Will-o-Wisp/Toxic
-Shadow Claw/Shadow Sneak
-X-Scissor
-Final Gambit/Swords Dance

Shedinja isn't very useable, but that depends on your strategy. If you wish, you may put in Baton Pass for whatever... (X-Scissor suggested)

[Missingno. Master]

My Kyogre runs Ice beam.

So? It can't hit Shedinja with Ice Beam.

[Kraleck]

Ally Options
Shedinja does well with Trick Room up (even though you still need to beware of entry hazards and weather to use it). Once you're golden, Base 40 Speed becomes a huge asset.

However, I said before that Shedinja users need to know it is almost designed to be a suicide attacker. Getting past Rough Skin or Iron Barbs Ability or a Rocky Helmet holder is a huge reason to have WoW/Toxic.

Oddly enough, if you need a Sandstorm that doesn't linger (such as if you want to bait certain Pokemon into appearing or discourage others), Sandstorm becomes another suicidal option. It can really help disperse a weather effect you don't want to see and pairs well with WoW/Toxic. Situational, definitely, but it can be a tide-turner.

"Complete your mission...by any means necessary..."
Stats: Speed increasing Nature, Max Speed, nothing else matters.
Item: Focus Sash
Moves: Sandstorm, Toxic, Will-o-Wisp, Grudge

The Strategy for this set is to:
-Burn or Toxic Poison Pokemon that are both vulnerable and not users of Status Effects to their benefit (i.e. Guts Ability)
-Sandstorm Pokemon that can use Status Effects to their benefit and are vulnerable to it
-Grudge Pokemon that you know will spam Super-Effective offense (the more PP you eliminate, the better)
-Pray you don't see Taunt (unlikely, but it will mess you up...)
-Switch to a Pokemon you can easily eliminate the target with after Shed' drops (as it most likely will)

By using Grudge, you can get a Pokemon weak to the "deleted" Move in "safely." For example, if you delete a Fire Type Move, Ferrothorn gets free reign.

Burning or Toxic Poisoning an opponent will severely limit their Attack and staying power, respectively. A well placed Burn will cripple many Attack-based Move users. Toxic whittles away hard after a few turns, so the opponent has to constantly switch (allowing you to get Stealth Rock and Spikes Damage for further chipping).

Sandstorm is the wild card. If your opponent can secretly deal with Sandstorm for a limited time or can use it as a boost, you've overplayed your hand. However, you may get lucky with your own Sand Rush in the meantime...

Shedinja is an interesting Pokemon. You won't see much use, nor use it very well without support, but, in turn, it can support others very well, even though it won't see much use. It's tricky to use, but to use it you must be tricky. Kind of a Torchic-or-the-Egg conundrum.

[Haru Glory]

Aaah, Shedinja. If you only had Endeavor...

Death Revenger

Shedinja @ Focus Sash
Adamant, Wonder Guard
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SpD/252 Spe
- Grudge
- Shadow Sneak
- X-Scissor
- Sucker Punch

You have STAB X-Scissor and Shadow Sneak (plus Priority), and Sucker Punch for coverage/even more priority. When your time comes, let the Sash activate and use Grudge, so the final hit will be that. With that move.

[RandomError]

Oh, Shedinja. How I love and loath thee. Do you know how hard it is to solo Wattson with this guy? I had to overlevel him and use a TON of X Attacks. (NB: It's called a Scramble Challenge)

Shedinja is the dictionary definition of a glass cannon. Emphasis on the glass. Anything that's SE or passive damage will OHKO him. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Unless you have a Focus Sash. Then you get an extra life. It's only acceptable stat is Attack, but why would you worry about defensive stats if a pebble could kill it?

Even with all those setbacks, Shedinja can fit into the Uber tier. How? There are less counters in that tier than any other one. With arguably the best ability in the game, Shedinja can wall anything that cannot bypass it's ability.

So, what can Shedinja do? It has Sword Dance, Shadow Sneak, X-Scissor, Grudge... I don't know. Making sets isn't my forte. However, I have seen some good unique sets in this thread. Especially that Soak/Lightningrod one.

However, Shedinja's list of counters has grown with the generation shift. Reshiram and Zekrom can ignore Wonder Guard, and Excadrill can shrug off Shadow Sneak and strike back with Rock Slide.

Overall, Shedinja is odd. It has it's uses, but can easily be taken down by some common counters.

[Charizard Lizzy]

Are you serious? This set is clearly a joke. I think the person who created this set knew full well that this was probably the worst shedinja set you could possibly make. How on earth did you take this seriously?

Ah... shoot. What was I thinking at the time I wrote that? XD Well, Data's laughing at me, then.

I guess I've encountered one too many people on the Internet who actually aren't kidding. Of course, I've grown up around the Sonic fandom universe, and most of the time the bottomless stupidity of those people aren't intentional jokes.

[MetalCrow]

I think Spite is one of Shedinja's best attacks solely for switching into Outrages and chopping off 4pp every single time...if not more! Even if you attempt a second spite, and the opponent isn't locked into Outrage anymore, The focus Sash allows you to cut down their coverage move that much more (given that they don't switch)......You can pretty much play mind games by correctly switching Shedinja in and out throughout a battle

[Blue Harvest]

OK Shedinja has a grand total of two usable stats to put EVs and maybe 7 remotely viable moves. Reno don't disappoint me again.

[Dr.Chaos]

There's a reason why Shedinja is really only used in Uber and NU(I think?). Passive damage kills it. You should only send out Shedinja as a late game sweeper. You only need to put Evs in 2 stats. Shedinja actually has everything it really needs if it can stay alive long enough to abuse it.

[ThatsJustPeachy]

shedinja rhymes with ninja, nuff said


Edit: Reno's last log in date

Last Activity: 21st August 2011 7:34 AM

nuff said

[Blue Harvest]

Shedinja isn't even good in Ubers anymore. Ferrothorn is almost as much of a death sentence as Tyranitar is. Ferrothorn kills Shedinja with Leech Seed or Toxic, sets ups Spikes / SR that doom Shedinja and kills it simply by switching in on an attack thanks to Iron Barbs or whatever the ability is.

Shedinja is REALLY BAD in 6v6 singles. He's actually not terrible in 3v3 team preview wifi matches. A great psychological weapon just having it in team preview. The two turns it has to attack are much more important.

[No. 1 Machop Fan]

Shedinja is my no. 1 favourite Pokemon to use competitively! If I can fit it into a team, I will!

Here's a set one could use on a Trick Room team:

Shedinja @ Focus Sash
Brave, Wonder Guard
EVs: 252 Atk/252 SpD
IVs: 0 Def/0 Spe
- Swords Dance/Sunny Day
- Shadow Sneak/Shadow Claw
- X-Scissor
- Return/Protect/Sunny Day/Aerial Ace/Will-o-wisp/Shadow Claw/Sucker Punch

Shedinja's low Speed means it's usable on a Trick Room team if you use a little imagination. X-Scissor is your standard STAB attack, Shadow Sneak is for priority against slower Pokemon and outside Trick Room, and/or you can use Shadow Claw for a secondary STAB move. Swords Dance can be used to boost Attack once while your Sash protects you, or twice if the opponent switches. Sunny Day helps protect against Hail and Sandstorm, and also lures out such weather inducers who subsequently get their heads chopped off with X-Scissor.

That last slot, naturally, is a filler slot. Return and Aerial Ace are there for coverage, or Will-o-wisp to cripple physical attackers like Tyranitar (watch out for Magic Bouncers!)

The EVs that normally go into Speed can instead go into Special Defence to deny Download users their precious Special Attack boost.

[FlameX]

Just saying, but if Focus Sash and Pain Split were used on the same set, you could gradually drain the opponents HP, while Shedinja and its HP of 1 get no damage until the opponent's on 1 HP. Focus Sash prevents it from having its HP taken away. After that, use any move.
Could someone put this in a set?

[Blue Harvest]

Just saying, but if Focus Sash and Pain Split were used on the same set, you could gradually drain the opponents HP, while Shedinja and its HP of 1 get no damage until the opponent's on 1 HP. Focus Sash prevents it from having its HP taken away. After that, use any move.
Could someone put this in a set?

Focus Sash can only be used once (its a single use item) and Shedinja doesn't even learn Pain Split.

[Zachmac]

Well, it's got a nice niche in rotation battles. It's probably going to want a teammate with rain dance or sunny day there(in rotations, rotating t-tar back in won't recreate the sandstorm). If you pair it up with a dark type, you're enemy may struggle to decide what move to use. You'll want protect on at least one teammate, so you can scout and mess with your enemy.

I wouldn't use it outside of rotation or Ubers, though.

[Kraleck]

Well, it's got a nice niche in rotation battles. It's probably going to want a teammate with rain dance or sunny day there(in rotations, rotating t-tar back in won't recreate the sandstorm). If you pair it up with a dark type, you're enemy may struggle to decide what move to use. You'll want protect on at least one teammate, so you can scout and mess with your enemy.

I wouldn't use it outside of rotation or Ubers, though.

You spark an interesting point from me, Zachmac. Why aren't there more bits about Rotation in the Multi Battle options? Or much of Multi at all?

Granbull does so much better in Multi opposed to Singles, so why not put more on other Pokemon relating to Multi? Maybe having Shedinja this week will help with that...

[Ilan]

Shedinja isn't suited to use in OU or UU in both tiers sandsteam teams are common and hail exists (even more in UU) so we are left with RU,NU and ubers ubers is a problem cause there is ferrothorn too but surprisingly it can do well there.

It have really bad stats (final gambit shedinja FTW!) it's main set was mentioned it's main niche is to force sweepers and choice users switch and toxic/will-o-wisp something.

it so well versus psychics I tink it is able to KO alakazam with shadow sneak (not sure if boosted or not) it have baton pass but can't abuse it cause it get normally 2 turns if well played and proper team support you can reach a situation where your rival doesn't have anything that can take you down! and from there it is an autowin!