Competitive Information for Shiftry [Sword/Shield]
Grass / Dark
Abilities:
If Sunny Day is active, this Pokemon's Speed is doubled.
This Pokemon's sleep counter drops by 2 instead of 1.
If this Pokemon has no item and is hit by a contact move, it steals the attacker's item.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Shiftry? These builds are optimized for Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Sword/Shield metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Shiftry is here! This terrific Pokémon is Grass and Dark-typed and ready to shine! Shiftry is a common Pokémon to see in the SS metagame. It is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ice, and Poison-typed attacks. Delve into Shiftry's movesets below and strategize for victory!
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Chlorophyll
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 120 Hp / 252 Atk / 68 Def / 68 SpD
Moveset:
- Leaf Blade / Seed Bomb
- Foul Play / Knock Off
- Brick Break / Double-Edge
- X-Scissor
When it comes to single battles, Shiftry shines as popular Physical Sweeper. This moveset was constructed to take down the opponent's team with lethal physical attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Shiftry from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Chlorophyll, Shiftry's speed is doubled during sunny weather. Brick Break was added to provide additional threat coverage. With a Tanga Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective bug-type attack then the Tanga Berry gets consumed.
◆ Seed Bomb is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Grass-type move that deals a good amount of damage.
◆ Foul Play is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
◆ Knock Off is a physical STAB-boosted 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ X-Scissor is a physical 80-base power Bug-type move that deals a considerable amount of damage.
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Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Chlorophyll
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 120 Hp / 68 Def / 252 SpA / 68 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Leaf Storm / Energy Ball
- Foul Play / Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
- Shadow Ball
In single battles, Shiftry is known as a notable Special Sweeper. It was designed to crush rivals using intense special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Shiftry from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Chlorophyll, Shiftry's speed is doubled during sunny weather. With a Tanga Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective bug-type attack then the Tanga Berry gets consumed.
◆ Energy Ball is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Grass-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Foul Play is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
◆ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
◆ Shadow Ball is a special 80-base power Ghost-type move (20% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
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Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Early Bird
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 6 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Leaf Tornado
- Energy Ball
- Dark Pulse / Grass Knot
- Growth / Giga Drain
In single battles, Shiftry is known as a distinguished Special Sweeper. It attempts to overwhelm foes with powerful special moves. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Shiftry's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Early Bird, Shiftry's sleep counter drops by 2 instead of 1.
◆ Energy Ball is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Grass-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Grass Knot is a special STAB-boosted 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
◆ Growth is a status move (raises Shiftry's attack and special attack by 1 stage; 2 in sun).
◆ Giga Drain is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Grass-type move (Shiftry recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mca113
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Early Bird
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 6 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Shadow Ball / Snarl
- Giga Drain
Shiftry is a brilliant Special Sweeper to use for single battles. It's goal is to crush rivals using brute special power. Life Orb boosts the power of Shiftry's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Early Bird, Shiftry's sleep counter drops by 2 instead of 1.
◆ Dark Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Shadow Ball is a special 80-base power Ghost-type move (20% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Snarl is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Dark-type move (100% chance to lower the foes special attack by 1 stage).
◆ Giga Drain is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Grass-type move (Shiftry recovers 50% of the damage dealt).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mda113
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Shiftry? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Sword/Shield Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Sword/Shield metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Chlorophyll
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 120 Hp / 252 Atk / 68 Def / 68 SpD
Moveset:
- Razor Leaf / Leaf Blade
- Foul Play / Knock Off
- Rock Slide / Rock Tomb
- Brick Break / Double-Edge
Shiftry excels as a renowned Physical Sweeper during double battles. It tries to crush rivals using heavy-hitting physical moves. Focus Sash helps protect Shiftry from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Chlorophyll, Shiftry's speed is doubled during sunny weather. Brick Break was added to provide additional threat coverage. With a Tanga Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective bug-type attack then the Tanga Berry gets consumed.
◆ Leaf Blade is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Grass-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Foul Play is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
◆ Knock Off is a physical STAB-boosted 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to make the foes flinch).
◆ Rock Tomb is a physical 60-base power Rock-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naa113
Item: Focus Sash / Tanga Berry
Ability: Chlorophyll
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 120 Hp / 68 Def / 252 SpA / 68 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Leaf Storm / Energy Ball
- Foul Play / Snarl
- Heat Wave
- Air Cutter
For those intense double battles, Shiftry is an exquisite Special Sweeper. It is meant to overwhelm foes with heavy-hitting special power. Focus Sash helps protect Shiftry from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Chlorophyll, Shiftry's speed is doubled during sunny weather. With a Tanga Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective bug-type attack then the Tanga Berry gets consumed.
◆ Energy Ball is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Grass-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Foul Play is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Dark-type move (uses target's attack stat in damage calculation).
◆ Snarl is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Dark-type move (100% chance to lower the foes special attack by 1 stage).
◆ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
◆ Air Cutter is a special 60-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. Hits adjacent foes).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/nba113
Movepool
Want to know what moves Shiftry can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Sword/Shield generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Shiftry.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Shiftry can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Shiftry
- Moves: Defense curl + Rollout
- Moves: Sunny day + Solar beam
- Moves: Sunny day + Growth
- Moves: Swagger + Foul play
- Moves: Swagger + Psych up
- Moves: Swagger + Screech
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Substitute + Leech seed
- Moves: Toxic + Leech seed
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Assurance + Item: Rocky Helmet
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Fake Out, Quick Attack, Sucker Punch
- Moves that Break Screens: Defog, Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Shiftry's stats
- Amnesia
- Defense Curl
- Growth
- Harden
- Nasty Plot
- Power-Up Punch
- Swords Dance
Most notable and possible best moves for Shiftry
- Fake Out
- Knock Off
- Protect
- Rest
- Snarl
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Shiftry in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Jolly Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Bold Nature ( 252/0/252/0/0/4 )
- Calm Nature ( 252/0/0/0/252/4 )
- Relaxed Nature ( 252/0/88/0/168/0 )
- Sassy Nature ( 252/0/4/0/252/0 )
- Optimize Shiftry's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.
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Here are the best movesets for Shiftry. Top rated Shiftry Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Shiftry builds Sword/Shield. Shiftry movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Shiftry Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Shiftry in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution