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Bisharp is a bipedal, humanoid Pokémon. It has a round, red and black head, similar to a war helmet, topped with a golden, double-headed axe blade with white edges. The helmet shrouds most of its yellow-and-black face, although its triangular eyes are visible. Resembling shoulder pads, Bisharp's red shoulders project slightly over its arms and have a thin yellow line where they meet its black torso. It has white, metallic hands that resemble gloves, with retractable, sharp blades attached. Encircling its torso are two blades, which create the impression of a ribcage. Its thighs are red and become progressively thinner as they connect to the knee. Both of its feet are metallic and split down the middle, resembling cloven hooves. These hooves are also similar to steel war boots or possibly leggings.
In the wild, Bisharp rules over a pack of Pawniard, and fights other Bisharp to become the alpha of the pack. The loser of these fights is cast out. It is notably pitiless, having no expression when finishing off prey, and is also said to use underhanded tactics during battles. When hunting, the Pawniard allow the leader Bisharp to perform the finishing blow. Once a Bisharp's head blade is chipped or damaged, it retires from its position as boss. Bisharp keeps a close eye on members of its pack to ensure none of the Pawniard think about betraying it, and absorbs defeated packs into its own tribe during territorial disputes. It is said that only the most outstanding members of the Bisharp tribes can evolve into Kingambit. Bisharp has violent conflicts with Fraxure over the locations of sharpening stones, and is preyed on by Tinkatuff for its metal.
A Bisharp debuted in From A to Z!, under the ownership of Bryony. It reappeared in Meeting at Terminus Cave!. In both episodes, it was used during Bryony's attempts to capture Squishy, only to be defeated.
A soldier's Bisharp appeared in The Redemption, during a fantasy of a story from the past. It was one of the many Pokémon fighting in the great war of Kalos 3,000 years previously.
Wild Bisharp holding a Leader's Crest can be found in Paldea leading a pack of Pawniard.
Damage done to the Bisharp holding the Leader's Crest can be inflicted from any source, as long as the player's Bisharp lands the finishing blow, in order to count towards the evolution requirement.
Stealing or removing the Leader's Crest from a Bisharp holding it before defeating it does not count towards the requirement, but giving the Leader's Crest to a Bisharp (via Switcheroo or other moves) before defeating it does.
Sprites
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation V.
No other Pokémon has the same type combination as Bisharp and its evolutionary relatives.
The types it has are also the two types that were introduced in Generation II.
As Steel resisted Ghost in Generation V, Pawniard and Bisharp are the only Pokémon to have any point had a double resistance to Ghost.
Origin
Bisharp looks and acts similar to a traditional Japanese bandit—specifically a leader—with features resembling samurai armor, while its behaviour and bipedal appearance are reminiscent of a soldier. It may also originate from kaijin, humanoid villains found in Japanese monster movies.
Just like its pre-evolved form, Bisharp may also draw some inspirations from a chess piece (in this case, a bishop). Akin to Pawniard evolving into Bisharp, a pawn in chess can be promoted into a bishop piece (among other chess piece classes) if it reaches the opponent's side of the board.
Name origin
Bisharp may be a combination of bishop (a piece in chess) or bisect (to cut or split into two) and sharp.
Kirikizan may be a combination of 切り刻む kirikizamu (to mince) and 斬 zan (to cut or slay).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.