What it does
Fissure is a Ground-type move that, on hit, deals damage equal to the target's full HP — an instant KO regardless of their defensive stats, nature, or HP total. The catch: base accuracy is 30%. The user's level must also be greater than or equal to the target's level or the move fails outright. Each level the user has over the target adds 1% to the accuracy.
Unlike standard moves, Fissure's accuracy ignores all accuracy and evasion modifiers. Sand Attack reductions do not affect it. However, special accuracy mechanisms like No Guard and mind-reading setups still apply, as long as the level condition is met.
Critical interaction: Sturdy and Focus Sash can prevent the faint even when Fissure lands. Those Pokémon survive at 1 HP. This is the key counterplay to OHKO moves — any Pokémon with intact Sturdy or a Sash will not be finished by it.
Fissure is Ground-type. Flying-types and Pokémon with Levitate are completely immune. That is a significant targeting limitation in a metagame with many relevant Levitators and fliers.
Who runs it
Snorlax at 20% leads this group. It is very slow — perfect for Trick Room first-move position. From there, a 30% chance to instantly KO any grounded threat is a genuine pressure tool. Its enormous bulk means it can usually survive a counterattack if Fissure misses.
Bastiodon at 9% and Stunfisk at 12% use similar logic — both are slow, both benefit from Trick Room priority, and both have the physical bulk to absorb a retaliatory hit after a miss. Krookodile at 9% uses it in higher-risk situations where a lucky OHKO could reverse a bad position. Garganacl at 5% slots it in as a late-game surprise.
How to use it
This is a reversal tool, not a main attack: Fissure should not be in a position where you need it to hit to win. At 30% accuracy, clicking it in must-hit situations loses you the game 70% of the time. Instead, use it in situations where hitting is an upside — if you are already in control and a hit would end things cleanly, the variance is more acceptable.
Trick Room priority: Slow users under Trick Room move first. A turn-1 Fissure from a Trick Room team applies immediate pressure on a key grounded threat. The opponent has to respect the 30% before the game even gets going.
Target grounded Pokémon only: Before clicking, confirm the target is not Flying-type and does not have Levitate. Against those, the move does nothing. Building a game plan around Fissure requires knowing which of the opposing Pokémon it can actually threaten.
Tips & strategy
Sturdy and Sash awareness: Check the opposing team for Sturdy users and likely Focus Sash holders. Against these, Fissure either fails to KO or requires prior chip damage to bypass the protection first.
Psychological value in the long game: The opponent's knowledge that you carry Fissure makes them play more conservatively around it. That behavior modification — staying behind a Protect, making suboptimal switches to avoid being in range — can generate value even on turns where you are not clicking it. The threat exists independently of the accuracy.
Accuracy math at equal levels: At equal level, no bonus applies and accuracy sits at 30%. That means roughly one hit in three — acceptable in a long game where missing does not lose immediately, not acceptable on the turn that decides the game.