Sirfetch’d is objectively the strongest wallbreaker in the 35 Pokes October 2025 meta statswise. Being able to 2 shot or OHKO every Pokémon in the meta, except two, with Choice Banded Close Combat coming off of a 135 attack stat. In addition, an incredible ability in Scrappy prevents it from being intimidated by Tauros-Paldea-Aqua, one of the most common and strongest Pokémon in the meta, and prevents its Choice Banded set from being taken advantage of by Basculegion and Froslass as their ghost typing is ignored, meaning they cannot switch in offensively to deal great damage, or set up hazards. This is an advantage it has over Tauros-Paldea-Aqua who often struggles against Defensive Basculegion teams. However, Sirfetch’d is not without its flaws. A middling speed tier, a low HP stat, and its susceptibility to getting burned by Weezing-Galar and Moltres, the two Pokémon able to take more than two Choice Banded Close Combats, Sirfetch’d often doesn’t find itself on many teams and cannot be easily slapped on as arguably the best physical breaker in the meta, Tauros-Paldea-Aqua.
While Weezing-galar and Moltres resist Sirfetch’d’s Close Combat, they aren’t as easy to slap on as other defensive pieces in the tier. Corviknight is the most used Pokémon and is often the check to most physical attackers in the meta. This calc showcases truly how strong Sirefetch’d is
252 Atk Choice Band Sirfetch’d Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Corviknight: 211-249 (52.7 - 62.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO.
252+ Atk Choice Band Sirfetch’d Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Corviknight: 231-273 (57.7 - 68.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Not even needing to run Adamant in order to 2HKO it, while Tauros-Paldea-Aqua actually needs Adamant Choice Band to always guarantee it. Its attack stat gives it an edge over Tauros-Paldea-Aqua in this department. In addition, despite its low speed stat in 65, the fact that it doesn’t need to run Adamant means it can outspeed certain Pokémon it otherwise wouldn’t, whilst also being able to invest in Bulk. Defensive Basculegion, Moltres, Articuno, and Meganium sets can all be outsped by Sirfetch’d which gives it a great advantage. Also, most Armarouge sets run Modest which hit 249 speed, slower than Sirfetch’d’s Jolly 251 speed.
Sirfetch’d’s movepool is also surprisingly good for this meta. The combination of First Impression, Close Combat, Brave Bird, and Knock Off allow it to bypass its slow speed at times, deal great damage, and make progress via removing items. First Impression lets Sirfetch’d pick off chipped Pokémon or OHKO Zoroark and even Floatzel after Stealth Rocks. Close Combat lets it break through the entire team and punch holes. Knock Off lets it remove items that make the opposing team weaker, slower, more susceptible to hazards, and/or prevent itself and the rest of the team be chipped by Rocky Helmet, which currently is the most common item on the defensive checks in the tier. Finally, Brave Bird lets Sirfetch’d have a better chance at 2HKO-ing Weezing-Galar; 252+ Atk Choice Band Sirfetch’d Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Neutralizing Gas Weezing-Galar: 141-166 (42.2 - 49.7%) -- 89.1% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock, and Moltres; 252+ Atk Choice Band Sirfetch’d Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Moltres: 170-201 (44.2 - 52.3%) -- 17.6% chance to 2HKO. However, Sirfetch’d only really wants to click Brave Bird after Corviknight or other steel types are down since it can be easily taken advantage of through its own recoil damage and Rocky Helmet chip.
Although not seen much, Sirfetch’d does have access to Swords Dance, which can allow it to deal great damage and break through teams without the need of a Choice Band. Swords Dance, Close Combat, Brave Bird, First Impression/Knock Off/Quick Attack is a fine set. And since it is not often seen, players can make use of this by baiting a Choiced Set and forcing the opposing Pokémon out while getting a free Swords Dance turn. Therefore, allowing it to OHKO or 2HKO literally everything in the tier with +2 Close Combat and Brave Bird. Quick Attack is a nice niche option on SD sets as Sirfetch’d still does a good amount of damage due to its attack stat after a +2 and it is a more reliable priority option over First Impression. Adding on, since it does not need a damage boosting item to deal real damage after a Swords Dance, Sirfetch’d can mitigate the Brave Bird and Rocky Helmet Chip by using Leftovers or it can avoid burn with Lum Berry.
+2 252+ Atk Sirfetch’d Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Neutralizing Gas Weezing-Galar: 187-221 (55.9 - 66.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252+ Atk Sirfetch’d Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Corviknight: 307-363 (76.7 - 90.7%) -- 25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Sirfetch’d Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Moltres: 227-268 (59.1 - 69.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Choice Scarf Sirfetch’d is a decent set as well, as it has a strong attack stat already, still being able to break through teams though not as successfully. However, an Adamant Choice Scarf allows Sirfetch’d to outspeed and get surprise KOs on Magmortar, Porygon-Z, and Zoroark with CC, Tauros-Paldea-Aqua with Brave Bird, Munkidori and Sigilyph with Knock Off, and Basculegion after Stealth Rocks. It can run Jolly to outspeed Ampibom, Floatzel, Froslass, Tauros, and Dugtrio to OHKO them as well. However, Scarf acts better as a cleaner rather than a breaker, especially as it just does not do enough damage to Corviknight, Moltres, and Weezing-Galar. And still, all other Choice Scarfers in the meta are preferred and outspeed it, like Zoroark, Porygon-Z, and Basculegion which can also OHKO it before it gets the chance to move.
Sirfetch’d best fits on Trick Room and Bulky Offense teams, the former team style allows it to make use of its high attack stat whilst ignoring its low speed as it can outspeed most of the tier under Trick Room. However, while Farigiraf, the sole Trick Room setter in the tier, is a great Pokémon in of itself and bears Baton Pass which lets it pivot into Sirfetch’d, the Baton Pass can often be a hindrance in Trick Room as it moves first and Muk-Alola is the most common switch-in, which would more likely click Knock Off and then remove Sirfetch’d’s item which is crucial to it. In addition, not having another Trick Room setter makes this team style unreliable. Still, Farigiraf is a good teammate as it can wish pass to Sirfetch’d which helps to mitigate its inability to stay alive for long. Bulky Offense teams appreciate Sirfetch’d’s ability to punch holes in opposing teams for other offensive pieces like Scarf Bascuelgion or Scarf Porygon-Z to clean up in the end game. In addition, Sirfetch’d appreciates hazard setters as they cause opposing teams to be put in range of Sirfetch’d’s attacks, easing its role to break and increasing its likelihood of 2HKO-ing and OHKO-ing Pokémon. Moreover, as Sirfetch’d bears the move Knock Off, the team in turn appreciates its ability to remove Heavy-Duty Boots and force the opposing team to get chipped down throughout the game through hazards and limit their switch-ins. Slow pivots are essential for Sirfetch’d as it’s not able to take many hits and greatly benefits from being able to safely switch in, in order to break. And finally, a cleric like Articuno is useful in order to heal Sirfetch’d from burns it is likely to get.
In conclusion, Sirfetch’d can work on certain teams and be used as a strong wallbreaker to punch holes in teams for its partnering attackers to clean up. However, it needs a lot of support to maximise its potential and utilise its strengths. While Sirfetch’d boasts the best attack stat in the meta and being able to break through most teams, it is still outclassed by Tauros-Paldea-Aqua as a physical attacker due to its low bulk with a 62 Hp stat and low speed stat of 65, which prevents it from getting many chances to attack before it itself is outsped and KO’d. And it still cannot profit from the speed in Trick Room due to the limited turns it will get in the meta. Furthermore, because of Brave Bird recoil and the abundance of Rocky Helmet wearers right now, Sirfetch’d’s doubles down on its already low longevity, meaning it doesn’t get many chances to attack before it dies.
Written by 7md