Sharpedo

Sharpedo, The Brutal Pokémon. As soon as it catches the scent of prey, Sharpedo will jet seawater from its backside, hurtling toward the target to attack at 75 mph. This Pokémon is known as the Bully of the Sea. Any ship entering the waters Sharpedo calls home will be attacked-no exceptions.

Overview

Sharpedo is always one of the classic Pokémon from the Hoenn region and it makes a return in Galar with the Isle of Armor. Hindered slightly by the lack of its Mega Evolution, Sharpedo hasn't really changed much or gained many new utilities. It is still a glass cannon which can hit hard and hit fast, but it just cannot take a hit. There is one new utility it has received, the attack Flip Turn which acts as a Water Volt Switch, but it's just too much of a gamble to use continually
Positives
Speed Boost is a fantastic ability which, when combined with its Attack stat, can result in doing some seriously decent damage
It has a few priority moves and utility moves that may surprise including Destiny Bond

Negatives
Its defense stats just aren't good. This means Sharpedo will not take hits well and, with its weaknesses all being fairly common, it is going to be an issue
Removal of its Mega Evolution has hindered it even further

Movesets

Physical

- Liquidation
- Close Combat
- Protect
- Crunch
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature

Sharpedo has a fantastic physical Attack and, with its Speed, it can do a lot of powerful damage. Liquidation is its most powerful Water-type move so can do some serious damage while Close Combat is generally a very powerful move which you can use because, let's face it, Sharpedo won't last more than a turn anyway so the loss of Defense isn't that big a deal. Crunch gives some nice Dark-type coverage and Protect can be used so you can set up Speed Boosts in order to full outspeed nearly every threat

Special

- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam/Destiny Bond
- Protect
- Dark Pulse
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs and Nature:
252 SAtk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature

Sharpedo also has a solid Special Attack stat. While not as good as its physical one, use of it allows for it to be Intimidated without any concern. Hydro Pump is ridiculously powerful still, though does have the risky accuracy. Ice Beam and Dark Pulse give some nice coverage while Protect has the same option of allowing you to boost Speed to guarantee to outspeed any threats. The real treat of this set is Destiny Bond. If you're sure you're about to be knocked out, you can use Destiny Bond to remove the attacker as well.

Other Options & Team Ideas

-Aqua Jet is always a decent option. It is weak but still does decent damage due to Sharpedo's attack stat and, it gives clear priority to outspeed certain threats that may need just a little bit of health knocked out
-Flip Turn is a new move from the Isle of Armor and can give Sharpedo the chance to live to fight another day. Acting like Volt Switch, it will damage the opponents and return Sharpedo to you so you can switch in something better. It's not overly powerful but with STAB and Sharpedo's Attack stat, it certainly can do some decent damage.
-Waterfall is another decent move that plays the RNG a bit. It does decent damage with Sharpedo and, due to Sharpedo's Speed, you may get a chance of a flinch
-Other coverage moves such as Earthquake, Poison Jab, Psychic Fangs, and Zen Headbutt can also be considered for various other circumstances

Countering Sharpedo

Sharpedo is a Pokémon that can be difficult to take down if it comes in once your team has been weakened, but playing safely against Sharpedo can easily keep it in check. Sharpedo relies entirely on trying to clean up late-game once all of its checks have been weakened, so making sure you have something that can take a hit is important, as Sharpedo is unlikely to survive any moderately powerful attack. Fairy-types such as Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Azumarill give Sharpedo a difficult time, especially since it struggles to break through them without a Poison-type move. Sharpedo is easily revenge killed by priority, so any priority user can make short work of Sharpedo unless it carries Aqua Jet. Grass-types don't like taking an Ice Beam or Ice Fang, but otherwise they can switch into Sharpedo's strongest STAB move and take it down. Bulky Steel-types also don't mind any of Sharpedo's moves, so keeping something like Ferrothorn or Celesteela healthy can make Sharpedo a relatively simple foe to deal with.

Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game

Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Routes 103, 118, 122, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, Mossdeep City, Pacifidlog Town

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald/XD

Colosseum/XD:
Evolve Carvanha (XD)

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Routes 213 & 222

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Carvanha

Black/White:
Village Bridge

Black 2/White 2:
Village Bridge

X/Y:
Route 22

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Route 118, Route 119

Sun/Moon:
Poni Breaker Coast

Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Poni Breaker Coast

Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game

Sword/Shield:
Training Lowlands, Stepping-Stone Sea, Insular Sea, Honeycalm Sea
Max Raid Battles: Soothing Wetlands, Challenge Road, Workout Sea, Stepping-Stone Sea, Insular Sea, Honeycalm Sea

Anime Appearences

Sharpedo has made a few appearances in the anime. Most have been cameos.

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
274 Johto Photo Finish To the End of the Full Battle! Each One's Way!! Pics
276 Hoenn Alone! The Parting with Pikachu! Pics
295 Sharpedo Attack!! Escape! Sharpedo's Island! Pics
P7 Not Aired Pikachu's Summer Festival Pics
M9 Pokémon Ranger & The Temple of the Sea Pokémon Ranger & The Prince of the Sea - Manaphy Pics
S22 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness Pokémon Mystery Dungeon - Time & Darkness Expedition Pics
539 Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu (1) Pokémon Ranger! The Wave-Guiding Riolu! (Part One) Pics
545 Staging A Heroes Welcome Everyone's A Rival! Wallace Cup! Pics
559 One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team! The Final Showdown! Pokémon Triathlon! Pics
S23 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness Pokémon Mystery Dungeon - Sky Expedition Pics
613 A Rivalry to Gible On! Gible...Get! Pics
M13 Zoroark - Master of Illusions Phantom Champion Zoroark Pics
804 Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin! We've Come to Kalos Region! Dreams and Adventures Begin! Pics
825 Going for the Gold! Fish the Golden Magikarp! Pics
831 The Bonds of Evolution! Enter Champion Diantha! Mega Gardevoir in Mist!! Pics
M17 Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction The Cocoon of Destruction and Diancie Pics
S37 Pokémon Mega Evolution Special I Strongest Mega Evolution ~Act II~ Pics
S38 Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Mega Special Animation Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Mega Special Animation Pics
M19 Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel Volcanion & The Ingenious Magearna Pics
944 Alola to New Adventure! Alola! New Islands, New Pokémon!! Pics
948 Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio! Popplio, Do Your Balloonest! Pics
974 The Island Whisperer! Enter Olivia! Cry and Laugh, Island Queen!! Pics
1014 Dewpider Ascending! Dewpider Gets Lana!? Pics
1033 Securing the Future! Connect to the Future! The Legend of the Blinding One!! Pics
1069 Pikachu's Exciting Adventure! Pikachu's Exciting Expedition! Pics
1177 Looking Out for Number Two! Trial Mission! The Deep Sea Diver Research Team!! Pics
1225 These Could be the Start of Something Big! Ash and Goh! Setting Off Anew!! Pics
42 TBC Transform! Palafin, the Hero of the Sea! Pics