QC: Magnemite / trc / -Grim
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Zebstrika sports one of the highest Speed stats in the PU metagame, which, along with its good coverage, makes it a great revenge killer and a threatening special attacker to a lot of offensive teams. It has access to two good abilities in Sap Sipper and Lightningrod, granting it immunities to Grass- and Electric-type moves, respectively. Zebstrika is able to distinguish itself from other Electric-types such as Raichu and Rotom-F with its high Speed and its access to Sap Sipper and Overheat, allowing it to better take on Pokemon such as Tangela and Jumpluff. On the downside, Zebstrika is extremely frail, making it very easy to revenge kill. Zebstrika is relatively weak as well, sporting only a base 80 Special Attack, making it very easy to wall by common Pokemon such as Piloswine, Stunfisk, and Grumpig.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Overheat
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
item: Life Orb
ability: Sap Sipper / Lightningrod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch allows Zebstrika to get off chip damage and gain momentum against Pokemon it can't deal much damage to on a predicted switch such as Grumpig and Clefairy. Thunderbolt is stronger than Volt Switch, making it a great choice to allow Zebstrika to clean late-game. Overheat allows Zebstrika to hit Grass-types such as Roselia, Jumpluff, and Tangela at the cost of dropping its Special Attack by two stages. Hidden Power Ice allows Zebstrika to take on Ground- and Dragon-types such as Fraxure and Vibrava, while Hidden Power Grass allows Zebstrika to better take on some Ground-types such as Piloswine.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment along with a Timid nature and a Life Orb makes Zebstrika as fast and as powerful as possible. Magnet can be used in order to bluff Choice sets when Zebstrika is KOing a foe without having to take recoil from Life Orb; on the downside, it only boosts Zebstrika's Electric-type moves. Sap Sipper allows Zebstrika to take on common Grass-types such as Tangela and Jumpluff, while Lightningrod grants Zebstrika an immunity to Electric-type moves while additionally granting it a Special Attack boost if it is targeted by one.
Usage Tips
========
Zebstrika should mainly use Volt Switch in order to gain momentum against its checks while also dealing damage, although you must be wary of Ground-types, which are immune to it. Thunderbolt is preferred when the opponent doesn't have a good check to Zebstrika or if the opposing team is weakened enough for Zebstrika to clean up. If Zebstrika is running Sap Sipper, it should aim to switch into Grass-type moves such as Sleep Powder and Seed Bomb from Pokemon such as Jumpluff, and if it is running Lightningrod, it should switch into Electric-type moves. If the opponent has a Piloswine, Overheat should be used on the first predicted switch, and Hidden Power Grass followed by Overheat should be used on the second one, all of which can KO Piloswine.
Team Options
========
Pokemon with access to U-turn such as Ninjask and Pelipper can form a VoltTurn core with Zebstrika to keep constant momentum against opponents. Pokemon with access to Stealth Rock, Spikes, or Toxic Spikes such as Piloswine and Roselia allow Zebstrika to net certain KOs, such as the 2HKO on Machoke after Stealth Rock. Wallbreakers such as Simipour and Stoutland can weaken or KO Zebstrika's checks and counters, allowing it to sweep late-game; additionally, Stoutland can take on a lot of Zebstrika's checks single-handedly. Bulkier setup sweepers such as Vigoroth and Duosion can set up on the majority of Zebstrika's checks such as Stunfisk, Clefairy, Vibrava, and Piloswine. Pokemon that struggle with Grass-types, such as Relicanth, appreciate Zebstrika's ability to take them on, while Pokemon that struggle with Electric-types, such as Swanna, appreciate Zebstrika's immunity to their STAB moves. Simisage makes for a good partner for Zebstrika, as it appreciates Zebstrika's ability to take on Grass-types such as Jumpluff while Simisage can take on Ground-types such as Piloswine, which Zebstrika struggles with.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Because of its limited movepool, Zebstrika doesn't have very many other options. However, Zebstrika can run a physical attacking set, though its physical movepool is even more limited. Snatch can be used in order to steal certain moves such as Roselia's Synthesis to prevent it from recovering health. Me First can be used to allow Zebstrika to beat Stunfisk and Probopass, though it is very situational and unreliable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Lickilicky and Clefairy can shake off any of Zebstrika's attacks and wear it down with Knock Off and Moonblast, respectively, while also staying at high health with their means of recovery. Other naturally bulky Pokemon such as Gogoat, Vigoroth, and Duosion can easily take Zebstrika's attacks and use it as setup bait.
**Ground-types**: While Zebstrika can run Hidden Power Grass or Hidden Power Ice, Ground-types such as Piloswine and Stunfisk can prevent it from gaining momentum with Volt Switch.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that outspeed Zebstrika, such as Ninjask and Choice Scarf Mr. Mime, can take advantage of Zebstrika's lack of bulk and KO it if it is weakened before it can get a hit off.
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Zebstrika sports one of the highest Speed stats in the PU metagame, which, along with its good coverage, makes it a great revenge killer and a threatening special attacker to a lot of offensive teams. It has access to two good abilities in Sap Sipper and Lightningrod, granting it immunities to Grass- and Electric-type moves, respectively. Zebstrika is able to distinguish itself from other Electric-types such as Raichu and Rotom-F with its high Speed and its access to Sap Sipper and Overheat, allowing it to better take on Pokemon such as Tangela and Jumpluff. On the downside, Zebstrika is extremely frail, making it very easy to revenge kill. Zebstrika is relatively weak as well, sporting only a base 80 Special Attack, making it very easy to wall by common Pokemon such as Piloswine, Stunfisk, and Grumpig.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Overheat
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
item: Life Orb
ability: Sap Sipper / Lightningrod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch allows Zebstrika to get off chip damage and gain momentum against Pokemon it can't deal much damage to on a predicted switch such as Grumpig and Clefairy. Thunderbolt is stronger than Volt Switch, making it a great choice to allow Zebstrika to clean late-game. Overheat allows Zebstrika to hit Grass-types such as Roselia, Jumpluff, and Tangela at the cost of dropping its Special Attack by two stages. Hidden Power Ice allows Zebstrika to take on Ground- and Dragon-types such as Fraxure and Vibrava, while Hidden Power Grass allows Zebstrika to better take on some Ground-types such as Piloswine.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment along with a Timid nature and a Life Orb makes Zebstrika as fast and as powerful as possible. Magnet can be used in order to bluff Choice sets when Zebstrika is KOing a foe without having to take recoil from Life Orb; on the downside, it only boosts Zebstrika's Electric-type moves. Sap Sipper allows Zebstrika to take on common Grass-types such as Tangela and Jumpluff, while Lightningrod grants Zebstrika an immunity to Electric-type moves while additionally granting it a Special Attack boost if it is targeted by one.
Usage Tips
========
Zebstrika should mainly use Volt Switch in order to gain momentum against its checks while also dealing damage, although you must be wary of Ground-types, which are immune to it. Thunderbolt is preferred when the opponent doesn't have a good check to Zebstrika or if the opposing team is weakened enough for Zebstrika to clean up. If Zebstrika is running Sap Sipper, it should aim to switch into Grass-type moves such as Sleep Powder and Seed Bomb from Pokemon such as Jumpluff, and if it is running Lightningrod, it should switch into Electric-type moves. If the opponent has a Piloswine, Overheat should be used on the first predicted switch, and Hidden Power Grass followed by Overheat should be used on the second one, all of which can KO Piloswine.
Team Options
========
Pokemon with access to U-turn such as Ninjask and Pelipper can form a VoltTurn core with Zebstrika to keep constant momentum against opponents. Pokemon with access to Stealth Rock, Spikes, or Toxic Spikes such as Piloswine and Roselia allow Zebstrika to net certain KOs, such as the 2HKO on Machoke after Stealth Rock. Wallbreakers such as Simipour and Stoutland can weaken or KO Zebstrika's checks and counters, allowing it to sweep late-game; additionally, Stoutland can take on a lot of Zebstrika's checks single-handedly. Bulkier setup sweepers such as Vigoroth and Duosion can set up on the majority of Zebstrika's checks such as Stunfisk, Clefairy, Vibrava, and Piloswine. Pokemon that struggle with Grass-types, such as Relicanth, appreciate Zebstrika's ability to take them on, while Pokemon that struggle with Electric-types, such as Swanna, appreciate Zebstrika's immunity to their STAB moves. Simisage makes for a good partner for Zebstrika, as it appreciates Zebstrika's ability to take on Grass-types such as Jumpluff while Simisage can take on Ground-types such as Piloswine, which Zebstrika struggles with.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Because of its limited movepool, Zebstrika doesn't have very many other options. However, Zebstrika can run a physical attacking set, though its physical movepool is even more limited. Snatch can be used in order to steal certain moves such as Roselia's Synthesis to prevent it from recovering health. Me First can be used to allow Zebstrika to beat Stunfisk and Probopass, though it is very situational and unreliable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Lickilicky and Clefairy can shake off any of Zebstrika's attacks and wear it down with Knock Off and Moonblast, respectively, while also staying at high health with their means of recovery. Other naturally bulky Pokemon such as Gogoat, Vigoroth, and Duosion can easily take Zebstrika's attacks and use it as setup bait.
**Ground-types**: While Zebstrika can run Hidden Power Grass or Hidden Power Ice, Ground-types such as Piloswine and Stunfisk can prevent it from gaining momentum with Volt Switch.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that outspeed Zebstrika, such as Ninjask and Choice Scarf Mr. Mime, can take advantage of Zebstrika's lack of bulk and KO it if it is weakened before it can get a hit off.
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