Zangoose
Zangoose has been blessed in the transition to BW2, and has received his new ability-Toxic Boost. This acts much like Guts or a Choice Band, but instead he has to rely on Toxic Orb instead.
Zangoose has been blessed in the transition to BW2, and has received his new ability-Toxic Boost. This acts much like Guts or a Choice Band, but instead he has to rely on Toxic Orb instead.
This gives Zangoose even more power, and a ridiculously powerful Facade. Just to show, it does 66%-78% to physically defensive Zapdos, and 44%-52% on the most physically bulky Pokemon in the tier-Gligar. So after SR, he annihalates pretty much every wall in the tier scoring a 2HKO on Gligar-something Heracross can only dream about. Couple this with powerful priority in Quick Attack and great coverage moves in Shadow Claw/Night Slash and Close Combat, and you have one of the best physical wallbreakers in the tier.
However, he's not without his shortcomings. He is very easily revenge killed by threats like Flygon and Mienshao, and has a very short number of turns to live, which makes Spin support almost necessary. Despite this though, Zangoose is an incredibly powerful threat, and definitely has his plus points over other wallbreakers like Heracross(who can't break through Gligar), as well as powerful STAB priority.
All-out attacker
4hp, 252att, 252spe-Toxic Orb-Jolly-Toxic Boost
-Quick Attack
-Facade
-Close Combat
-Shadow Claw
4hp, 252att, 252spe-Toxic Orb-Jolly-Toxic Boost
-Quick Attack
-Facade
-Close Combat
-Shadow Claw
This is Zangoose's cleaner set, and boy is he good at it. Facade is an incredibly powerful move, hammering some of the very best walls in the tier like Gligar, Slowbro, physically defensive Suicune and Arcanine after Stealth Rock support. Close Combat and Shadow Claw provide coverage against Rock and Steel types like Bronzong and Registeel(Bronzong is 3HKO'd, while Registeel is 2HKO'd), as well as ghost types like Mismagius and Dusclops, although it only lands a 4HKO on Dusclops(only 1 hit for Mismagius though).
This set greatly benefits from Spin support-as hazards and Toxic Orb residual damage really starts to add up. All three of the main spinners(Claydol, Hitmontop and Blastoise) synergise nicely with Zangoose-but Hitmontop lacks the ability to break through ghost types like Chandelure and Mismagius. Claydol is immune to ground, and resists Zangoose's one weakness-but again, has difficulty getting off the spin. Blastoise is the only spinner that beats all ghost types, which makes him the better choice. Stealth Rock of your own is crucial to getting many key KO's on the likes of Arcanine and Rhyperior. Bronzong is a good choice-countering many of Zangoose's top revenge killers like Flygon. Finally, a ghost type is a good idea to counter oposing fighter's like Scarf Heracross and Mienshao. Mismagius is immune to ground and fighting, and enjoys setting up on the likes of Hitmontop-who can Intimidate him or create a lot of pain with Mach Punch. Even despite Shadow Claw, a Pursuit user is helpful so that he can use Facade without having to worry. Krookodile, Houndoom and Snorlax are some of the best Pursuit users in the tier-and the latter two are capable of switching in on Chandelure.
Wallbreaker
4hp, 252att, 252spe-Toxic Orb-Jolly/Adamant-Toxic Boost
-Swords Dance
-Facade
-Close Combat
-Shadow Claw
After a Swords Dance, Zangoose reaches over 1000 attack-and the ability to shred pretty much every physical wall in the tier. Dusclops? 2HKO'd with SR up, likely 2HKO even without. Gligar? Nearly a 1HKO with SR up. Bronzong? 2HKO. As you can see then, Zangoose has some pretty ridiculous power.
4hp, 252att, 252spe-Toxic Orb-Jolly/Adamant-Toxic Boost
-Swords Dance
-Facade
-Close Combat
-Shadow Claw
After a Swords Dance, Zangoose reaches over 1000 attack-and the ability to shred pretty much every physical wall in the tier. Dusclops? 2HKO'd with SR up, likely 2HKO even without. Gligar? Nearly a 1HKO with SR up. Bronzong? 2HKO. As you can see then, Zangoose has some pretty ridiculous power.
A positive nature is much more useful on this set. On the other, the extra speed over the likes of Specs Rotom-H and SD Heracross was one of the major selling points-but this set aims to break open walls, and the extra power can come in very handy to hit some Pokemon harder, for instance a 1HKO on Arcanine even without Stealth Rock, as well as a guarenteed 1HKO on physically defensive Suicune.
Some possible team mates would be ones that can supply Stealth Rock, and clean up after Zangoose has decimated their physical wall. Choice Scarf Heracross is a good example of this, as is Moxie Honchkrow. Both really appreciate Zangoose breaking physical walls-while Honchkrow can use Pursuit to take on ghost types that trouble Zangoose. Once again, spin support is very valuable so that Zangoose doesn't die on the very first turn, and Blastoise is probably the best one.
Checks and Counters
Nothing really can counter the SD set, but there are a few that counter the all-out attacker set. Bronzong and Dusclops are two of the best counters-although all Dusclops can do is Seismic Toss. Bronzong can hit him hard with Gyro Ball though.
Often, revenge killing Zangoose is much easier than countering the SD set, and without Quick Attack, there are plenty-too many to list in fact. Finally, fast ghost types like Mismagius are certainly some of the best checks though-immune to Quick Attack, Facade and Close Combat.