[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Thousand Arrows
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Dragon Tail
item: Leftovers
ability: Power Construct
nature: Adamant
evs: 12 HP / 216 Atk / 48 SpD / 232 Spe
tera type: Ground
[SET COMMENTS]
* With its good typing, Dragon Dance Zygarde is one of the tier's best cleaners, since access to Thousand Arrows allows it more freedom to run other moves that help it set up and sweep. This makes Zygarde more difficult to stop compared to other setup sweepers such as Mega Salamence, especially combined with the great bulk from Power Construct. Despite the opportunity cost of running the Coil variant, Dragon Dance Zygarde is a fantastic late-game sweeper for balance and bulky offense teams alike.
* Substitute allows Zygarde to set up on passive Pokemon, blocking moves such as Toxic, Leech Seed, and Salt Cure from Alomomola, Ferrothorn, and Stealth Rock Garganacl, respectively. It additionally allows Zygarde to activate Power Construct more easily, which is essential for handling revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Yveltal that would otherwise pick off Zygarde with ease. Substitute helps against specially offensive Giratina-O, since it cannot break Zygarde's Substitute after Power Construct via unboosted Hex and is thus forced to waste power using Draco Meteor instead, eventually giving Zygarde a free setup opportunity once Giratina-O is forced to switch.
* Dragon Tail punishes phazing attempts from defensive Ho-Oh's Whirlwind and opposing Zygarde's Dragon Tail; it prevents opposing Zygarde and Garganacl from setting up alongside Zygarde unless they use Tera Fairy. Dragon Tail also forces entry hazard damage against physical walls such as Dondozo and defensive Arceus-Dark, maintaining Zygarde's offensive pressure by wearing them down repeatedly. Glare is a niche alternative that punishes offensive checks such as Mega Salamence, with paralysis potentially giving Zygarde more setup chances.
* The given EV spread allows Zygarde to survive an Ice Beam from uninvested Arceus formes, outspeed Eternatus and Mewtwo at +1 after Power Construct, and maximize Leftovers recovery. Groundium Z is a niche alternative, with Tectonic Rage notably OHKOing offensive Primal Kyogre and defensive Primal Groudon after a boost, although access to Terastallization is generally preferred.
* Tera Ground powers up Thousand Arrows, further improving Zygarde's otherwise mediocre damage. It notably allows boosted Zygarde to OHKO Marshadow and wallbreaker Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock, as well as 2HKO Giratina-O and Calm Mind Arceus formes after Stealth Rock. Tera Ground also provides defensive benefits for Zygarde, letting it get easier setup opportunities by dropping its weaknesses to Dragon and Fairy, notably enabling Zygarde to set up against Mega Diancie and unboosted offensive Eternatus. However, Zygarde losing its Fire-type resistance may be an issue when dealing with Tera Grass Ho-Oh.
* Despite Zygarde typically handling physical threats such as Arceus, Mega Salamence, and Marshadow, the Dragon Dance variant is unable to check most of these threats barring defensive Primal Groudon, meaning it is ideal to keep Zygarde out of harm's way. Keeping this set as a surprise to the opponent is a major factor in what makes Dragon Dance Zygarde powerful because many would expect Coil Zygarde on balance and bulky offense teams; setting up on foes that would ordinarily switch out, such as defensive Primal Groudon and unboosted Necrozma-DM, after switching in safely, is ideal.
* Although Zygarde is relatively bulky after triggering Power Construct, the lack of recovery means Zygarde typically only gets one chance to set up and break through an opposing team. It is ideal to wear down teams before going in with Zygarde, even with the intent of using Tera Ground. Additionally, scouting against opposing Zygarde may be ideal before committing to Tera Ground, since opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde counters Dragon Dance Zygarde, an issue that is quite common on opposing balance and bulky offense teams. This could be done by initially phazing opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde or by using other offensive threats such as Chien-Pao.
* Dragon Dance Zygarde requires the opposing team to be worn down before attempting to sweep, which can be done in multiple ways. Entry hazard support from defensive Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn can help wear down Arceus formes and opposing Zygarde late-game, where Zygarde performs best. Additionally, defensive Primal Groudon can threaten opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde with Overheat, punishing it for trying to check Zygarde. On the other hand, Ferrothorn can check defensive Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water for Zygarde, two threats that may attempt to trade with Zygarde. In return, Zygarde threatens opposing Primal Groudon and offensive Ho-Oh, which threaten Ferrothorn and defensive Primal Groudon.
* There are a lot of Pokemon that synergize with Dragon Dance Zygarde offensively. Swords Dance Primal Groudon, Marshadow, and Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground can all overwhelm opposing Coil Zygarde in conjunction with Zygarde. The latter two have a great matchup against opposing offense teams with threats such as Extreme Killer Arceus, something Zygarde struggles against. Zacian-C and Necrozma-DM can punish opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde and Dondozo, while Zygarde can use their checks like opposing Tera Water Zygarde and defensive Primal Groudon as setup fodder.
* Special attackers such as Primal Kyogre, Eternatus, and Calm Mind Arceus formes appreciate Dragon Dance Zygarde breaking past specially defensive walls such as Ferrothorn, Chansey, and defensive Ho-Oh, while they handle checks to Zygarde such as opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde, Tera Fairy IronPress Garganacl, and Dondozo. Eternatus is notable because not only does it threaten these physical walls after Tera Fairy, but it also absorbs Toxic Spikes, maintaining Zygarde's longevity for it to have a better chance at sweeping; defensive Eternatus variants can additionally wear down soft checks to Zygarde such as defensive Primal Kyogre via Toxic poison over longer games.
* Although Dragon Dance Zygarde is best on balance and bulky offense teams due to its Terastallization reliance and its overall lack of immediate power without it, Zygarde can still be used on hyper offense teams that want to utilize Extreme Killer Arceus over Arceus-Ground. Dedicated leads such as Deoxys-S and Glimmora can help wear down checks such as opposing Zygarde and Arceus formes, similarly to Ferrothorn and defensive Primal Groudon. Grimmsnarl provides dual screens support, allowing Zygarde to set up on more threats such as offensive Primal Groudon, unboosted Mega Salamence, and Rayquaza.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sami.604820/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bumboclaat.523420/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/player350.676016/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/earthfromthefuture.697682/
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Thousand Arrows
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Dragon Tail
item: Leftovers
ability: Power Construct
nature: Adamant
evs: 12 HP / 216 Atk / 48 SpD / 232 Spe
tera type: Ground
[SET COMMENTS]
* With its good typing, Dragon Dance Zygarde is one of the tier's best cleaners, since access to Thousand Arrows allows it more freedom to run other moves that help it set up and sweep. This makes Zygarde more difficult to stop compared to other setup sweepers such as Mega Salamence, especially combined with the great bulk from Power Construct. Despite the opportunity cost of running the Coil variant, Dragon Dance Zygarde is a fantastic late-game sweeper for balance and bulky offense teams alike.
* Substitute allows Zygarde to set up on passive Pokemon, blocking moves such as Toxic, Leech Seed, and Salt Cure from Alomomola, Ferrothorn, and Stealth Rock Garganacl, respectively. It additionally allows Zygarde to activate Power Construct more easily, which is essential for handling revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Yveltal that would otherwise pick off Zygarde with ease. Substitute helps against specially offensive Giratina-O, since it cannot break Zygarde's Substitute after Power Construct via unboosted Hex and is thus forced to waste power using Draco Meteor instead, eventually giving Zygarde a free setup opportunity once Giratina-O is forced to switch.
* Dragon Tail punishes phazing attempts from defensive Ho-Oh's Whirlwind and opposing Zygarde's Dragon Tail; it prevents opposing Zygarde and Garganacl from setting up alongside Zygarde unless they use Tera Fairy. Dragon Tail also forces entry hazard damage against physical walls such as Dondozo and defensive Arceus-Dark, maintaining Zygarde's offensive pressure by wearing them down repeatedly. Glare is a niche alternative that punishes offensive checks such as Mega Salamence, with paralysis potentially giving Zygarde more setup chances.
* The given EV spread allows Zygarde to survive an Ice Beam from uninvested Arceus formes, outspeed Eternatus and Mewtwo at +1 after Power Construct, and maximize Leftovers recovery. Groundium Z is a niche alternative, with Tectonic Rage notably OHKOing offensive Primal Kyogre and defensive Primal Groudon after a boost, although access to Terastallization is generally preferred.
* Tera Ground powers up Thousand Arrows, further improving Zygarde's otherwise mediocre damage. It notably allows boosted Zygarde to OHKO Marshadow and wallbreaker Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock, as well as 2HKO Giratina-O and Calm Mind Arceus formes after Stealth Rock. Tera Ground also provides defensive benefits for Zygarde, letting it get easier setup opportunities by dropping its weaknesses to Dragon and Fairy, notably enabling Zygarde to set up against Mega Diancie and unboosted offensive Eternatus. However, Zygarde losing its Fire-type resistance may be an issue when dealing with Tera Grass Ho-Oh.
* Despite Zygarde typically handling physical threats such as Arceus, Mega Salamence, and Marshadow, the Dragon Dance variant is unable to check most of these threats barring defensive Primal Groudon, meaning it is ideal to keep Zygarde out of harm's way. Keeping this set as a surprise to the opponent is a major factor in what makes Dragon Dance Zygarde powerful because many would expect Coil Zygarde on balance and bulky offense teams; setting up on foes that would ordinarily switch out, such as defensive Primal Groudon and unboosted Necrozma-DM, after switching in safely, is ideal.
* Although Zygarde is relatively bulky after triggering Power Construct, the lack of recovery means Zygarde typically only gets one chance to set up and break through an opposing team. It is ideal to wear down teams before going in with Zygarde, even with the intent of using Tera Ground. Additionally, scouting against opposing Zygarde may be ideal before committing to Tera Ground, since opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde counters Dragon Dance Zygarde, an issue that is quite common on opposing balance and bulky offense teams. This could be done by initially phazing opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde or by using other offensive threats such as Chien-Pao.
* Dragon Dance Zygarde requires the opposing team to be worn down before attempting to sweep, which can be done in multiple ways. Entry hazard support from defensive Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn can help wear down Arceus formes and opposing Zygarde late-game, where Zygarde performs best. Additionally, defensive Primal Groudon can threaten opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde with Overheat, punishing it for trying to check Zygarde. On the other hand, Ferrothorn can check defensive Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water for Zygarde, two threats that may attempt to trade with Zygarde. In return, Zygarde threatens opposing Primal Groudon and offensive Ho-Oh, which threaten Ferrothorn and defensive Primal Groudon.
* There are a lot of Pokemon that synergize with Dragon Dance Zygarde offensively. Swords Dance Primal Groudon, Marshadow, and Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground can all overwhelm opposing Coil Zygarde in conjunction with Zygarde. The latter two have a great matchup against opposing offense teams with threats such as Extreme Killer Arceus, something Zygarde struggles against. Zacian-C and Necrozma-DM can punish opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde and Dondozo, while Zygarde can use their checks like opposing Tera Water Zygarde and defensive Primal Groudon as setup fodder.
* Special attackers such as Primal Kyogre, Eternatus, and Calm Mind Arceus formes appreciate Dragon Dance Zygarde breaking past specially defensive walls such as Ferrothorn, Chansey, and defensive Ho-Oh, while they handle checks to Zygarde such as opposing Tera Fairy Zygarde, Tera Fairy IronPress Garganacl, and Dondozo. Eternatus is notable because not only does it threaten these physical walls after Tera Fairy, but it also absorbs Toxic Spikes, maintaining Zygarde's longevity for it to have a better chance at sweeping; defensive Eternatus variants can additionally wear down soft checks to Zygarde such as defensive Primal Kyogre via Toxic poison over longer games.
* Although Dragon Dance Zygarde is best on balance and bulky offense teams due to its Terastallization reliance and its overall lack of immediate power without it, Zygarde can still be used on hyper offense teams that want to utilize Extreme Killer Arceus over Arceus-Ground. Dedicated leads such as Deoxys-S and Glimmora can help wear down checks such as opposing Zygarde and Arceus formes, similarly to Ferrothorn and defensive Primal Groudon. Grimmsnarl provides dual screens support, allowing Zygarde to set up on more threats such as offensive Primal Groudon, unboosted Mega Salamence, and Rayquaza.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sami.604820/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bumboclaat.523420/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/player350.676016/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/earthfromthefuture.697682/
Last edited:
