It’s been awhile since Zamazenta’s ban. I’ll ask a few questions to gauge people’s thoughts.
1. Who are the winners and losers since Zamazenta’s ban?
2. Does your team builder feel more relived now that Zamazenta is gone?
3. What 6th slot on Fighting have you been trying that’s gotten you consistent results?
Bonus question: Where do you think Fighting ranks among the top types?
As a Mono-Fighter try-hard, I sadly can’t respond for the first 2 questions, but I can answer the last ones:
■ [3. Question] It depends on the team you’ve been using with Zamazenta before it's ban (which is very tragic):
IF it was like this:
◆ (
) then you change () for (
) !
◆ Why Iron Hands? (THE most successful in my opinion)
Iron Hands is hands down one of the best additions of the Fighting Type in generation 9. Great bulk with enormous HP, good physical defense and acceptable special defense. It mostly runs Swords Dance set, given Gallade is the better AV user. It has mostly Shuca Berry to tank a hit from Ground Pókemon or Eartquake/Earth Power from random Pókemon. You can ALSO use Lum Berry for either Burns or Poisons. It has also a great attack on 140, boosting it more with Swords Dance, having the "Bolt-Beam" coverage with Ice Punch and Thunder Punch, not to mention STAB Drain Punch for recovery. Therefore being a great asset against Steel, Flying and bulky teams.
◆ ( ) then you change () for () !
◆ Why Urshifu?
With Zamazenta gone, Urshifu can take its place, offering the team a Swords Dance sweeper and a priority move with Aqua Jet. As a present in generation 9, it has gained Swords Dance. With an excellent 130 physical attack, Urshifu can boost it even further with Swords Dance, being able to do huge damage with STAB multi-attack Surging Strikes, always doing critical damage, avoiding defense boosts and Close Combat. It can also carry Punching Glove for avoiding burns by Flame Body, paralysis by Static and Rocky Helmet's chip damage and even boosting Surging Strikes for a lil bit of power. It can also even carry Mystic Water to increase the power of its STAB Water moves.
Honorable mentions:
◆ Scrafty:
While not the best option in the world, being massively powercrept by the introduction of Fairy-types, it can still pull up its weight to actually have a role in a fighting team. It is a great help against Dark and Ghost teams, being immune to Psychic while also having STAB Knock Off and Drain Punch, boosted further with Bulk Up. It has recovery with Leftovers and Rest. But why Rest? With the help of its ability Shed Skin, it can also snap out of its sleep while healing itself up. It is mostly used as a specially bulky sweeper with Bulk Up. HOWEVER most of the players change Gallade with Scrafty, therefore being a costly choice.
◆ Breloom:
It comes to no one's surprise to know Breloom is very weak as the generations go on. BUT one thing it will always have for itself is Spore. Sleep is stupid and broken if you ask me and Breloom can put menacing Pókemon for the Fighting type to sleep while also having a great 130 attack, technician boosted STAB moves Bullet Seed and Mach Puch. It is a killjoy for water types once Toxapex is gone, HOWEVER it is a con TOO heavy to carry.
■ [4. "Bonus" Question] I think it's STILL great, even without (my GOAT) Zamazenta, because I see how Fighting can Manage match-ups with different NOTABLE types:
◆ Steel:
Urshifu is a pain for Steel types due to its Water/Fighting type, having STAB Surging Strikes that always crits and Close Combat. Iron hands can also be tedious for them because of its Electric type, EV set for being faster than Skarmory and STAB Drain AND Thunder Punch. Gallade with Sacred Sword Does HUGE Damage and can take out Gholdengo. Scrafty also can tribute helping Fighting in this Matchup. The only nuisance for Fighting is Skarmory and Gholdengo (also Iron Crown, but it's less seen).
◆ Flying:
With the help of Iron Hands, Iron Valiant, Urshifu and Stealth Rock from Great Tusk, Fighting can manage to have a chance in beating Flying. never forget Gallade tanking special attacks from Tornadus-T and Enamorus, Sneasler for out-speeding them and eve poisoning them.
◆ Dragon:
This is a matchup that is pretty challenging for the Fighting type after the ban of Zamazenta! You still have EB Valiant and Gallade for Latios, Archaludon and Kyurem
, Great Tusk for Gouging Fire and Roaring Moon, Iron Hands dealing damage while healing itself and Choice Scarf Sneasler for pivoting and momentum.
◆ Ground:
Urshifu is the grim reaper for Ground teams due to STAB Surging Strikes, Aqua Jet and Close Combat (can hit hard on Clodsire, even if it resists it). Iron Valiant and Hands can help with Ice coverage via Ice Punch (STAB Moonblast for Valiant to hit Hippowdon), Iron Hands can use Shuca Berry and troll the Ground Pókemon. Sneasler can cripple either Clodsire or Hippowdon with Switcheroo, trading its Choice Scarf.
◆ Dark:
Even with Greninja, Sableye and Meowscarda in the team, you can manage to beat it. Iron Valian is always trouble for Dark with STAB Moonblast AND Close Combat, making troubles for the team, especially for Sableye and Mandibuzz. You have Great Tusk and Iron hands, tanking hits from Meowscarada, Great Tusk can set Stealth Rock, Gallade and even Iron Hands can take on Greninja (Iron Hands only once with enough health), Sneasler can pivot, doing pesky damage. Urshifu has priority Aqua Jet to have SOME role into the team. Hell, Scrafty can be also a problem for the Dark teams, since it's immune to Sableye's Prankster.
◆ Fairy:
This is the match-up where the ban of Zamazenta really hurts the most. You still have Sneasler for the general Fairy team, including Azumarill, Primarina and Hatterene, Great Tusk can at least use Knock Off or (if Hatterene is gone) in a chance set Steath Rock while Damaging Klefki. You have Gallade, able to tank special hits, a Moonlast from Fluteer Mane and kill it with STAB Psycho Cut or priority Shadow Sneak. Urshifu CAn also help in getting rid of Flutter Mane via Aqua Jet, Hands can get rid of Primarina and Hatterene with its Swords Dnce set, or at least greatly damage them and Iron Valiant COULD help as well. However in this MU, sadly, the Fighting type won't have it easy.
◆ Thoughts about ranking Fighting:
Giving my thought and reflecting upon them, I realize Fighting still has its valuable "resources" or Pókemon, making it capable to pull against most of the match-ups with top types such as Ground and Steel. Therefore, I'd rank Fighting in
A tier! (
A- tier at worst)
So there you have it,
Jahkem">Jahkem, my thought on Fighting! Thank you so much for you GOATed Team! It helped me out a LOT!
Bonus:
Farewell, my beloved Zamy. May we meet again... It was fun playing with you while it lasted...
on DRAGON:
?), etc.
:
aka ELECTRIC:
, holds back the type from winning games fast. 
color
and also tried swapping out 
and Sash Lead Garchomp. I was able to ladder to top 10 with both teams, had high success in Bo3s, and had some tour play success as well. I believe 
