[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Plasma Fists
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Play Rough
move 4: Close Combat / Outrage / Blaze Kick
item: Choice Band
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Plasma Fists OHKOes most Urshifu-R, Celesteela, Tapu Fini, and non-Custap Berry Primarina, and as an added bonus it makes Normal-type moves Electric-type, which lets Zeraora absorb them with Volt Absorb. This is useful versus non-Choice Scarf Porygon-Z. Knock Off defeats Dragapult and Spectrier and has good odds to win against Naganadel. Play Rough OHKOes Urshifu-S and non-Choice Scarf Haxorus. Close Combat OHKOes Galarian Darmanitan, non-Chople Berry Tyranitar, and some Heatran. Outrage beats many Dragon-types, such as Dracovish, Dracozolt, and occasionally Goodra. It also guarantees beating Naganadel, but Knock Off is usually adequate there, as Modest Naganadel's Draco Meteor only occasionally OHKOes Zeraora. Blaze Kick OHKOes Ferrothorn and Kartana.
EVs
=============
The Speed investment and the Jolly nature are for opposing Zeraora and Dragapult; the Special Defense is for surviving Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Beam from Regieleki.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Band Zeraora is quite straightforward; use the move that does the most damage.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Plasma Fists
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Outrage / Close Combat
move 4: Close Combat / Iron Tail / Fire Punch
item: Assault Vest
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Adamant
evs: 136 HP / 164 Atk / 92 Def / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Zeraora can hold an Assault Vest to take on various special attackers, such as Sylveon and Porygon-Z, which other sets typically struggle with. Knock Off allows Zeraora to defeat all Haxorus with Outrage and Heatran with Close Combat. Iron Tail helps out versus Sylveon and Aromatisse; it 2HKOes bulky Sylveon, and Iron Tail + Plasma Fists 2HKOes Aromatisse. Fire Punch OHKOes Kartana and 2HKOes Ferrothorn.
EVs
=============
The HP investment allows Zeraora to survive Porygon-Z's Hyper Beam; the Defense investment is for Choice Scarf Haxorus's Earthquake. The Speed is for outspeeding base 110 Speed Pokemon, such as Archeops and Latios.
Usage Tips
=============
In most matchups, use the move that does the most damage.
Against Haxorus and Heatran, use Knock Off and then a super effective move. This removes any counterplay option they may have, including a Choice Scarf or a Custap Berry.
[SET]
name: Bulky Life Orb
move 1: Plasma Fists
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Bulk Up / Knock Off / Play Rough
item: Life Orb
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 44 HP / 160 Atk / 44 Def / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Close Combat is for various Fighting-weak Pokemon, such as Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan and non-Chople Berry Tyranitar. Taunt + Bulk Up allows Zeraora to break through walls like Chansey, Registeel, and Galarian Corsola. Knock Off allows Zeraora to defeat Spectrier and some Dragapult, and Knock Off + Close Combat defeats Magnezone. Play Rough allows Zeraora to defeat most Urshifu-S.
EVs
=============
The Speed investment is for the best chances to outspeed Dragapult and other Zeraora, the HP and Defense allow Zeraora to reliably defeat Galarian Zapdos, and the Special Defense investment is for surviving Tapu Lele's Psychic.
If you do not have Knock Off, a basic spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe is a fine alternative for more damage output. The Special Defense investment is for surviving Choice Specs Regieleki's Hyper Beam.
Usage Tips
=============
Life Orb Zeraora aims to deal as much damage as possible while occasionally removing opposing counterplay with Taunt and Bulk Up or Knock Off.
Against passive Pokemon such as Chansey, Registeel, and Galarian Corsola, Zeraora should use Taunt turn 1 for the best chance to win. Zeraora wins against Chansey with the following sequence: Taunt to block Charm or Toxic, then two Bulk Ups, and then Close Combat. To shut down stall Registeel, use Taunt, and then use Bulk Up three times to OHKO it with Close Combat. If Registeel reveals Earthquake, it is Assault Vest Registeel, so a +2 Close Combat will OHKO if Zeraora survives long enough. Galarian Corsola does not usually use a damaging move, so it will probably use Struggle until it faints. However, if it has Night Shade, it will win if it uses that every turn. If it doesn't use Night Shade turn 1, Zeraora can still win by using Taunt, Bulk Up, Knock Off, and then Plasma Fists.
Against Magnezone, Zeraora should use Knock Off to break Sturdy and remove a potential Custap Berry or Choice Specs.
Versus Regieleki, use Bulk Up and then Close Combat so that Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Beam doesn't KO Zeraora after Life Orb recoil.
The EV spread allows Zeraora to use Knock Off safely against Galarian Zapdos and Tapu Lele on turn 1, proceeding to finish them off with Plasma Fists. If Tapu Lele consumes Psychic Seed, do not use Knock Off.
Other Options
=============
Weakness Policy Zeraora is a somewhat common Metagross lure, since all other sets are quite unreliable against it. With an EV spread of 8 HP / 176 Atk / 176 Def / 148 Spe, an Adamant nature, and Bulk Up + Knock Off, it defeats all Metagross variants bar Jolly Choice Scarf.
Air Balloon Zeraora with Fake Out and Outrage defeats some Ground-types and some strong Pokemon with Ground-type coverage, such as Landorus, Nidoking, Galarian Darmanitan, and Haxorus.
Quick Attack or Protect on Life Orb Zeraora allows it to check Custap Berry users like Primarina better.
A special Zeraora set can lure in a few answers to Zeraora, but it is usually not advisable. If a team requires it, use Fake Out + Thunderbolt for Avalugg, Grass Knot for Swampert and Rhyperior, and Thunder for Crustle.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Itchy, 518399]]
- Quality checked by: [[zo, 249890], [doc1203, 526135]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Plasma Fists
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Play Rough
move 4: Close Combat / Outrage / Blaze Kick
item: Choice Band
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Plasma Fists OHKOes most Urshifu-R, Celesteela, Tapu Fini, and non-Custap Berry Primarina, and as an added bonus it makes Normal-type moves Electric-type, which lets Zeraora absorb them with Volt Absorb. This is useful versus non-Choice Scarf Porygon-Z. Knock Off defeats Dragapult and Spectrier and has good odds to win against Naganadel. Play Rough OHKOes Urshifu-S and non-Choice Scarf Haxorus. Close Combat OHKOes Galarian Darmanitan, non-Chople Berry Tyranitar, and some Heatran. Outrage beats many Dragon-types, such as Dracovish, Dracozolt, and occasionally Goodra. It also guarantees beating Naganadel, but Knock Off is usually adequate there, as Modest Naganadel's Draco Meteor only occasionally OHKOes Zeraora. Blaze Kick OHKOes Ferrothorn and Kartana.
EVs
=============
The Speed investment and the Jolly nature are for opposing Zeraora and Dragapult; the Special Defense is for surviving Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Beam from Regieleki.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Band Zeraora is quite straightforward; use the move that does the most damage.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Plasma Fists
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Outrage / Close Combat
move 4: Close Combat / Iron Tail / Fire Punch
item: Assault Vest
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Adamant
evs: 136 HP / 164 Atk / 92 Def / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Zeraora can hold an Assault Vest to take on various special attackers, such as Sylveon and Porygon-Z, which other sets typically struggle with. Knock Off allows Zeraora to defeat all Haxorus with Outrage and Heatran with Close Combat. Iron Tail helps out versus Sylveon and Aromatisse; it 2HKOes bulky Sylveon, and Iron Tail + Plasma Fists 2HKOes Aromatisse. Fire Punch OHKOes Kartana and 2HKOes Ferrothorn.
EVs
=============
The HP investment allows Zeraora to survive Porygon-Z's Hyper Beam; the Defense investment is for Choice Scarf Haxorus's Earthquake. The Speed is for outspeeding base 110 Speed Pokemon, such as Archeops and Latios.
Usage Tips
=============
In most matchups, use the move that does the most damage.
Against Haxorus and Heatran, use Knock Off and then a super effective move. This removes any counterplay option they may have, including a Choice Scarf or a Custap Berry.
[SET]
name: Bulky Life Orb
move 1: Plasma Fists
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Bulk Up / Knock Off / Play Rough
item: Life Orb
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 44 HP / 160 Atk / 44 Def / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Close Combat is for various Fighting-weak Pokemon, such as Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan and non-Chople Berry Tyranitar. Taunt + Bulk Up allows Zeraora to break through walls like Chansey, Registeel, and Galarian Corsola. Knock Off allows Zeraora to defeat Spectrier and some Dragapult, and Knock Off + Close Combat defeats Magnezone. Play Rough allows Zeraora to defeat most Urshifu-S.
EVs
=============
The Speed investment is for the best chances to outspeed Dragapult and other Zeraora, the HP and Defense allow Zeraora to reliably defeat Galarian Zapdos, and the Special Defense investment is for surviving Tapu Lele's Psychic.
If you do not have Knock Off, a basic spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe is a fine alternative for more damage output. The Special Defense investment is for surviving Choice Specs Regieleki's Hyper Beam.
Usage Tips
=============
Life Orb Zeraora aims to deal as much damage as possible while occasionally removing opposing counterplay with Taunt and Bulk Up or Knock Off.
Against passive Pokemon such as Chansey, Registeel, and Galarian Corsola, Zeraora should use Taunt turn 1 for the best chance to win. Zeraora wins against Chansey with the following sequence: Taunt to block Charm or Toxic, then two Bulk Ups, and then Close Combat. To shut down stall Registeel, use Taunt, and then use Bulk Up three times to OHKO it with Close Combat. If Registeel reveals Earthquake, it is Assault Vest Registeel, so a +2 Close Combat will OHKO if Zeraora survives long enough. Galarian Corsola does not usually use a damaging move, so it will probably use Struggle until it faints. However, if it has Night Shade, it will win if it uses that every turn. If it doesn't use Night Shade turn 1, Zeraora can still win by using Taunt, Bulk Up, Knock Off, and then Plasma Fists.
Against Magnezone, Zeraora should use Knock Off to break Sturdy and remove a potential Custap Berry or Choice Specs.
Versus Regieleki, use Bulk Up and then Close Combat so that Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Beam doesn't KO Zeraora after Life Orb recoil.
The EV spread allows Zeraora to use Knock Off safely against Galarian Zapdos and Tapu Lele on turn 1, proceeding to finish them off with Plasma Fists. If Tapu Lele consumes Psychic Seed, do not use Knock Off.
Other Options
=============
Weakness Policy Zeraora is a somewhat common Metagross lure, since all other sets are quite unreliable against it. With an EV spread of 8 HP / 176 Atk / 176 Def / 148 Spe, an Adamant nature, and Bulk Up + Knock Off, it defeats all Metagross variants bar Jolly Choice Scarf.
Air Balloon Zeraora with Fake Out and Outrage defeats some Ground-types and some strong Pokemon with Ground-type coverage, such as Landorus, Nidoking, Galarian Darmanitan, and Haxorus.
Quick Attack or Protect on Life Orb Zeraora allows it to check Custap Berry users like Primarina better.
A special Zeraora set can lure in a few answers to Zeraora, but it is usually not advisable. If a team requires it, use Fake Out + Thunderbolt for Avalugg, Grass Knot for Swampert and Rhyperior, and Thunder for Crustle.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Itchy, 518399]]
- Quality checked by: [[zo, 249890], [doc1203, 526135]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
Last edited: