[SET]
Zekrom @ Draco Plate / Leftovers / Lum Berry
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 144 Atk / 56 Def / 252 SpA / 56 Spe
Rash Nature
- Dark Void / Spore / King's Shield
- Shell Smash
- Bolt Strike
- Judgment / Spacial Rend
[SET COMMENTS]
Mold Breaker Zekrom is a powerful mixed sweeper with decent bulk and a nearly unresisted STAB combination, capable of OHKOing Giratina, Primal Groudon, and Wonder Guard Xerneas after a Shell Smash. King's Shield allows Zekrom to survive revenge killing attempts from moves like Pixilate Mega Diancie's Extreme Speed and Pure Power Mega Mewtwo X's Mach Punch if healthy. Leftovers increases Zekrom's longevity, taking advantage of the turns gained from forcing switches and sleep, as well as synergizing with King's Shield. Dark Void and Spore are useful to hinder Pokemon that would otherwise prevent Zekrom from using Shell Smash and gain turns to set up. The combination of Draco Plate and Judgment allows Zekrom to Imposter-proof itself with a strong, spammable Dragon-type STAB move that foes cannot take advantage of. Alternatively, Spacial Rend frees up Zekrom's item slot, though it is weaker than Draco Plate Judgment and makes Imposter-proofing Zekrom significantly more difficult. Lum Berry lets Zekrom use Shell Smash on an opposing Spore or Will-O-Wisp user switching in. 144 Atk EVs allow Zekrom to OHKO Xerneas at +2, and 56 Spe EVs let it outspeed Choice Scarf Primal Groudon after a Shell Smash.
Substitute + Baton Pass users, like Wonder Guard Xerneas, Mega Scizor, and Primal Kyogre, work well with Zekrom, as they can safely bring Zekrom in, letting it use Shell Smash and potentially sweep. Slow pivots also help in a similar fashion, particularly Wonder Guard users, which are a valuable defensive backbone on almost any team. Shell Smash + Baton Pass users can also make for great partners in the same way. Safety Goggles Prankster Giratina, a very easy addition on almost any team, can also Imposter-proof Spore sets that run Judgment. Primal Groudon is an extremely good teammate, as it can act as a second Mold Breaker user that addresses revenge killers to Zekrom or as a Shadow Tag user that can trap and remove Pixilate Diancie or the uncommon Refrigerate Abomasnow and revenge kill weakened Imposter users copying Zekrom, unless Zekrom has King's Shield.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Taunt is also an option for Zekrom's first moveslot. It allows Zekrom to completely shut down most Giratina sets, which run four status moves. This forces Giratina to switch out and lets Zekrom use Shell Smash. However, it is less consistent than Dark Void, which lets Zekrom set up with ease. Shed Shell allows Zekrom to safely switch out against Shadow Tag users like Primal Groudon and Mega Mewtwo X that threaten it with their super effective moves, as it gets trapped by Primal Groudon before Shell Smash and Mega Mewtwo X after a Shell Smash. However, using Shed Shell can reduce Zekrom's longevity or its power output without access to Leftovers or Draco Plate, respectively. Substitute can also be used with Leftovers. This helps matchups like Lum Berry Huge Power Mega Gyarados become more consistent, as Dark Void is not useful there.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Prankster Giratina**: Although Zekrom has several measures to prevent getting forced out by Giratina, it still poses a threat to Zekrom. It can use Encore on the turn Zekrom uses Shell Smash or King's Shield, forcing Zekrom to switch. Giratina can also use Destiny Bond to ensure a trade and get rid of Zekrom altogether.
**Mega Audino**: Wonder Guard Mega Audino is immune to any Dragon-type attacks Zekrom uses and can reliably tank Bolt Strike even after a Shell Smash if healthy. This discourages Zekrom from using a Dragon-type attack if the opponent wants to switch to Giratina. Mega Audino can also help pivot into a revenge killer or Encore Giratina to threaten Zekrom.
**Ground- and Fairy-type Coverage**: Pokemon such as Huge Power Mega Mewtwo-X with Thousand Arrows and Mega Mewtwo-Y and Protean Mega Latios with Moonblast can easily outspeed Zekrom and KO it with their super effective moves.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Faster Primal Groudon sets, such as sets with Shadow Tag, and Mega Rayquaza also trouble Zekrom. They carry super effective moves such as Thousand Arrows on Primal Groudon and Draco Meteor on Choice Specs Mega Rayquaza that can easily KO it. Bulkier teammates help switch into some of these attacks.
**Strong Priority**: Strong priority moves from Pokemon like Pixilate Mega Diancie and Huge Power Regigigas, which can switch into any of Zekrom's unboosted moves, can threaten Zekrom, especially without King's Shield. Huge Power Mega Gyarados can also OHKO Zekrom with Sucker Punch after a Shell Smash.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/prunyy.608901/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aerobee.515077/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rl.554093/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Zekrom @ Draco Plate / Leftovers / Lum Berry
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 144 Atk / 56 Def / 252 SpA / 56 Spe
Rash Nature
- Dark Void / Spore / King's Shield
- Shell Smash
- Bolt Strike
- Judgment / Spacial Rend
[SET COMMENTS]
Mold Breaker Zekrom is a powerful mixed sweeper with decent bulk and a nearly unresisted STAB combination, capable of OHKOing Giratina, Primal Groudon, and Wonder Guard Xerneas after a Shell Smash. King's Shield allows Zekrom to survive revenge killing attempts from moves like Pixilate Mega Diancie's Extreme Speed and Pure Power Mega Mewtwo X's Mach Punch if healthy. Leftovers increases Zekrom's longevity, taking advantage of the turns gained from forcing switches and sleep, as well as synergizing with King's Shield. Dark Void and Spore are useful to hinder Pokemon that would otherwise prevent Zekrom from using Shell Smash and gain turns to set up. The combination of Draco Plate and Judgment allows Zekrom to Imposter-proof itself with a strong, spammable Dragon-type STAB move that foes cannot take advantage of. Alternatively, Spacial Rend frees up Zekrom's item slot, though it is weaker than Draco Plate Judgment and makes Imposter-proofing Zekrom significantly more difficult. Lum Berry lets Zekrom use Shell Smash on an opposing Spore or Will-O-Wisp user switching in. 144 Atk EVs allow Zekrom to OHKO Xerneas at +2, and 56 Spe EVs let it outspeed Choice Scarf Primal Groudon after a Shell Smash.
Substitute + Baton Pass users, like Wonder Guard Xerneas, Mega Scizor, and Primal Kyogre, work well with Zekrom, as they can safely bring Zekrom in, letting it use Shell Smash and potentially sweep. Slow pivots also help in a similar fashion, particularly Wonder Guard users, which are a valuable defensive backbone on almost any team. Shell Smash + Baton Pass users can also make for great partners in the same way. Safety Goggles Prankster Giratina, a very easy addition on almost any team, can also Imposter-proof Spore sets that run Judgment. Primal Groudon is an extremely good teammate, as it can act as a second Mold Breaker user that addresses revenge killers to Zekrom or as a Shadow Tag user that can trap and remove Pixilate Diancie or the uncommon Refrigerate Abomasnow and revenge kill weakened Imposter users copying Zekrom, unless Zekrom has King's Shield.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Taunt is also an option for Zekrom's first moveslot. It allows Zekrom to completely shut down most Giratina sets, which run four status moves. This forces Giratina to switch out and lets Zekrom use Shell Smash. However, it is less consistent than Dark Void, which lets Zekrom set up with ease. Shed Shell allows Zekrom to safely switch out against Shadow Tag users like Primal Groudon and Mega Mewtwo X that threaten it with their super effective moves, as it gets trapped by Primal Groudon before Shell Smash and Mega Mewtwo X after a Shell Smash. However, using Shed Shell can reduce Zekrom's longevity or its power output without access to Leftovers or Draco Plate, respectively. Substitute can also be used with Leftovers. This helps matchups like Lum Berry Huge Power Mega Gyarados become more consistent, as Dark Void is not useful there.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Prankster Giratina**: Although Zekrom has several measures to prevent getting forced out by Giratina, it still poses a threat to Zekrom. It can use Encore on the turn Zekrom uses Shell Smash or King's Shield, forcing Zekrom to switch. Giratina can also use Destiny Bond to ensure a trade and get rid of Zekrom altogether.
**Mega Audino**: Wonder Guard Mega Audino is immune to any Dragon-type attacks Zekrom uses and can reliably tank Bolt Strike even after a Shell Smash if healthy. This discourages Zekrom from using a Dragon-type attack if the opponent wants to switch to Giratina. Mega Audino can also help pivot into a revenge killer or Encore Giratina to threaten Zekrom.
**Ground- and Fairy-type Coverage**: Pokemon such as Huge Power Mega Mewtwo-X with Thousand Arrows and Mega Mewtwo-Y and Protean Mega Latios with Moonblast can easily outspeed Zekrom and KO it with their super effective moves.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Faster Primal Groudon sets, such as sets with Shadow Tag, and Mega Rayquaza also trouble Zekrom. They carry super effective moves such as Thousand Arrows on Primal Groudon and Draco Meteor on Choice Specs Mega Rayquaza that can easily KO it. Bulkier teammates help switch into some of these attacks.
**Strong Priority**: Strong priority moves from Pokemon like Pixilate Mega Diancie and Huge Power Regigigas, which can switch into any of Zekrom's unboosted moves, can threaten Zekrom, especially without King's Shield. Huge Power Mega Gyarados can also OHKO Zekrom with Sucker Punch after a Shell Smash.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/prunyy.608901/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aerobee.515077/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rl.554093/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited: