.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5)
Competitive Pokemon is a popular sport among game and anime fans alike. It tests players' knowledge of battle strategy and brings forth a sense of community. Players can participate in official tournaments, such as the Pokemon Video Game Championships (VGC), Victory Road Circuit, and the Smogon Tour. In competitive matches, players can choose to throw offensive or defensive Pokemon onto the battlefield. Offensive players often take advantage of glass cannons when planning their teams.
Glass cannons are Pokemon with significantly high Attack, Sp. Atk, and sometimes Speed stats. However, their defensive stats suffer, and they risk being KO'd quickly. This is the source of their name, as they hit hard like a cannon, but are fragile like glass. These Pokemon work best on teams with lots of supportive options to back them up. With glass cannons, maintaining speed control is especially important to keep the upper hand. Here are the best glass cannons for competitive Pokemon.
Sharpedo
Sharpedo is a glass cannon through and through. Its Attack stat sits high, at 120, and its Sp. Atk of 95 backs it up. In addition, its ability Speed Boost helps with its lackluster base Speed, allowing it to tear through its opponents. Players can play a risky game using Hydro Pump, its most powerful Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) option, but the pay-off is well worth it if it lands.
However, players must use Sharpedo with caution. With the wrong team, its abilities are obsolete due to its susceptibility to taking damage. Sharpedo is a glass cannon that players can keep in their back pockets as a secret weapon, but it struggles as a front-runner. Nevertheless, it has the offensive capability to be a huge threat against weakened teams.
Weavile
Weavile is a more than satisfactory glass cannon. Its best traits are its 120 base Attack and 125 base Sp. Atk. Its Dark/Ice typing delivers many STAB options. Ice Shard, in particular, grants it priority. So, knocking out weakened opponents is more likely, and it can gain the advantage when taking on Dragon-types, which is a notoriously challenging type to deal with.
Including a good support Pokemon on their team allows players better use of Weavile and the chance to show off its exceptional Speed. But, it lacks in bulk with a low HP stat and even lower Defense, so be wary of passive damage from entry hazards and status conditions.
Espeon
Espeon sets itself aside from the other Eeveelutions as a glass cannon because of its robust Sp. Atk. (130) and Speed (110). It does well as a special attacker and manages to hit harder and faster than expected, permitting Espeon to keep up with the power of newer generations. Additionally, its Psychic typing gives it decent type immunity, and it can use Calm Mind to boost its offensive Special Moves.
The move Morning Sun gives it a little recovery ability and extends players' time to work with Espeon. Its Hidden Ability Magic Bounce allows it to reflect non-attacking moves like stat-decreasers, status conditions, and entry hazards back onto the user, hindering hazard users and status-changers in competitive Pokemon.
Gengar
Gengar is a standard glass cannon. Its Ghost typing somewhat makes up for its low defense stats by making it immune to Normal- and Fighting-types. It's an offensive powerhouse with a Speed stat of 110 and Sp. Atk of 130. It also isn't deterred by many entry hazards because of its ability, Levitate, which also makes it immune to Ground-type moves that deal damage.
Its movepool contains good STAB options with Shadow Ball and Sludge Wave at its disposal. Some support options include but are not limited to Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Disable, which give it a slight edge defensively. Excellent move coverage means it can take on almost any Pokemon — as long as it moves first.
Regieleki
Boating the highest base Speed in Generation VIII and prior (200), Regieleki's moves are all but guaranteed to hit first. Equally impressive is its ability Transistor that boosts Electric-type moves by 50%, so its STAB moves are detrimental to Water-types like Kyogre or Lapras. Pair Regieleki with an ally like Tapu Koko, who has the ability Electric Surge, and it is a threat to all Pokemon that aren't resistant or immune to Electric-type moves.
While playing it as an offensive Pokemon seems like the obvious choice, it can fill a defensive role with the right moveset. It is equipped with surprising support moves such as Reflect and Light Screen so that it can set up screens when given a chance. Alternatively, players can use moves like Protect and Thunder Wave to stall opponents. With that being said, Regieleki's Speed makes it a fantastic choice competitively, regardless of battle strategy.