[OVERVIEW]
Zygarde-10% is a niche wallbreaker in OU due to its access to a great move in Thousand Arrows, which differentiates it from other Ground-types by enabling it to immediately pressure traditional Ground checks like Celesteela, Rotom-W, and Skarmory without relying on a Z-Move, making it less exploitable. It also has a great Speed stat, allowing it to outspeed Kartana, Mega Latias, and Garchomp. One major downfall is its terrible bulk, meaning it is revenged killed easily and will usually be KOed if it doesn't KO the foe. Its average Attack stat doesn't help with this, as its damage output will not be remarkable and it will, therefore, have to rely quite heavily on Spikes support in order to break bulkier teams.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Thousand Arrows
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Iron Tail / Toxic
item: Choice Band
ability: Aura Break
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thousand Arrows is instrumental for Zygarde-10% to pressure Pokemon like Celesteela and Rotom-W. Iron Tail targets Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu and Clefable for super effective damage. Toxic gives up the ability to immediately 2HKO Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu and Clefable for crippling bulky Ground-, Grass-, and Water-type switch-ins like Landorus-T, Tangrowth, Hippowdon, and Slowbro, making them less consistent switch-ins. Glare can also be used to paralyze checks like Landorus-T, Mega Scizor, and Tangrowth, allowing you to play more aggressively against them.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature is preferred to outspeed Garchomp and Mega Latias.
Usage Tips
========
It is important to get Spikes up early, as this will enable Zygarde-10% to pressure grounded checks like Tapu Bulu and Mega Scizor, forcing them to recover more often and therefore giving you an advantage in momentum. It is also great because most of the Defoggers, like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Rotom-W, fail to reliably remove these Spikes without taking a considerable amount of damage. Make sure to use Outrage only when Fairy- and Steel-types are eliminated or if sacrificing Zygarde-10% to said Pokemon is affordable after nabbing a KO. When there are several Zygarde-10% checks or Pokemon that resist Ground on the opposing team, it is always a good idea to scout for their reaction to Zygarde-10%. For example, if the opponent has both a Slowbro and Tapu Bulu, you should be using Thousand Arrows to scout which one of these checks are going for, instead of immediately clicking Iron Tail, so Zygarde-10% will be able to break past Tapu Bulu later. Zygarde-10% should also be used aggressively in this kind of matchup where multiple checks are present, or else it will not do much at all. This cannot be said of its status moves, however, as using these can open up opportunities for Zygarde or its teammates to break through teams more easily. Pokemon that are immune to Toxic or Glare are often forced out or cannot come in on Zygarde anyway. Take note that Pokemon with Protect, mainly Celesteela, can scout for whether you go for Thousand Arrows or a status move and switch accordingly. One should be mindful when revenge killing a Pokemon with Extreme Speed, as the move is relatively weak and can give a foe like Shift Gear Magearna or Choice Specs Tapu Lele an opening to set up or throw out a powerful hit, which is quite annoying, as the relatively offensive builds Zygarde-10% typically fits on may get severely weakened if it gives the opponent a free turn. Against offensive teams, use Thousand Arrows whenever Zygarde-10% gets on the field. Many of these teams will struggle to consistently switch into it, as their many defensive pivots, including Landorus-T, Tapu Fini, and Ferrothorn, are all extremely vulnerable to it. Even those with Tangrowth or Tapu Bulu can be easily overwhelmed if Zygarde is running Toxic, which can even allow another teammate to clean up when these Grass-types have been weakened by poison.
Team Options
========
Zygarde-10% fits best on offensive teams, where it can come in through pivot support from the likes of Magearna and Tornadus-T and throw out a powerful hit or cripple a Pokemon with status. These teams will aim to constantly pressure defensive checks through VoltTurn and stacking multiple threats that have similar checks. Entry hazards, especially Spikes, are essential in helping Zygarde-10% wear down checks like Tangrowth and Mega Scizor and make it quite difficult to play around, and most Spikes-immune Pokemon are pressured by Thousand Arrows. Ferrothorn and Ash-Greninja are amazing Spikes users along Zygarde-10%, as Ferrothorn can check many Grass- and Fairy-types while enjoying Zygarde-10%'s ability to pressure opposing Steel-types, while Ash-Greninja can form a core to overwhelm Grass-types and pressure physically defensive checks to Zygarde-10%. Most offensive teams also struggle to safely switch into Zygarde's Thousand Arrows as well, as their Ground-type check is often neutral to it. Entry hazard control is also important as Zygarde-10% usually wants to keep out of revenge killers' KO range. Tornadus-T and Landorus-T are good options, as they can Defog away entry hazards and provide pivoting support while luring out their checks, which are mostly pressured by Zygarde-10%. Pokemon that are also checked by Grass-types like the aforementioned Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Serperior are good partners, as they can pressure Grass-types into recovering more often in order to check both threats. Additionally, Ash-Greninja can set up Spikes and revenge kill Kartana and Mega Mawile, Tapu Koko is able to pivot around and check Tornadus-T, and Serperior enjoys many of its checks being pressured and forms a Glare spam core with Zygarde-10%. Psychic- and Fairy-types like Mega Alakazam, Reuniclus, and Magearna appreciate Steel-types and, in Magearna’s case, Toxapex being pressured, and in return they can take advantage of some of Zygarde-10%’s checks like Slowbro and Tangrowth to set up or throw out a powerful hit.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Superpower is an option to deal major damage to Ferrothorn and Choice Scarf Kartana, which can otherwise stomach a hit and KO Zygarde-10%, but most Superpower targets are vulnerable to Spikes damage and Thousand Arrows, and Zygarde-10% will have to give up the ability to pressure Fairy-types or Tangrowth.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu are two of Zygarde-10%'s best checks, although Assault Vest Tangrowth should look out for Outrage, which has a high chance to 2HKO it from full, Tapu Bulu should be careful of Iron Tail, and both are crippled by Toxic.
**Fairy-types**: Albeit not as effective as Grass-types, as most of them fail to take Thousand Arrows safely, Clefable and Tapu Fini are bulky enough to sponge a hit and retalitate with Moonblast. All of them can take advantage of a Zygarde-10% that is locked into Outrage, or even Extreme Speed in Tapu Lele’s case.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Landorus-T, Slowbro, Mega Scizor, and Buzzwole can all stomach several Thousand Arrows and deal significant amounts of damage to Zygarde. However, they are greatly annoyed by Toxic or Glare, as it makes them less effective at switching into Zygarde.
**Revenge Killers**: Despite having Extreme Speed, Zygarde-10% is often locked into another move and fails to outspeed faster revenge killers like Ash-Greninja and Weavile with Extreme Speed. Mega Scizor and Mega Mawile resist Extreme Speed, while Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham can outpace even Extreme Speed with Fake Out. Faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, Choice Scarf Kartana, and Greninja can also revenge kill Zygarde-10%, and Tapu Lele can even circumvent Extreme Speed with Psychic Terrain.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[xapx, 406162]]
- Quality checked by: [curiosity,443485], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
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