It's time for our fourth suspect test- Zygarde! Zygarde has long been one of the most controversial Pokemon in the National Dex Doubles metagame. A Doubles staple across multiple generations, Zygarde enjoys access to Thousand Arrows, a spread Ground move that uniquely hits flying types, enabling Zygarde to consistently exert offensive pressure.
Entering Generation 9's National Dex Scene, Zygarde received multiple buffs with the introduction of Terastallization and the Clear Amulet item. These additions enable Zygarde to more effectively run setup sets like Dragon Dance or even Coil while bypassing much of the counterplay available to these sets in previous Doubles generations. Terastallization can enable Zygarde to flip its worst matchups and set up or sweep in the face of Pokemon that would traditionally pose a threat to it, such as Flutter Mane or Chien-Pao. Clear Amulet allows Zygarde to ignore Intimidate, a key metagame component that was one of the best checks to Zygarde in past generations. Additionally, Zygarde has decent set variety, being able to effectively run Choice Band and become a strong wall breaker that fits on a wide number of teams.
Of course, none of this is particularly recent news. Last September, Zygarde was suspected for many of the same reasons noted above. Notably, it remained legal after the vote as many in the community felt that there were other, stronger, options available in the tier or that Coaching was more a pressing issue. However, since then, the metagame has undergone several bans and paradigm shifts and Zygarde has remained a dominant threat. Coaching, Urshifu-Rapid-Strike, Metagross, and Zamazenta have all since been removed, which has lowered the power level of the format, giving Zygarde even more opportunities to set up or simply deal strong spread damage with the Choice Band set. Furthermore, Zygarde has seen increased usage when paired with Jirachi, whose access to Follow Me grants Zygarde even more ability to take over games.
Zygarde is still not without its checks, as its somewhat middling attack stat means that it often needs multiple attack boosts or modifiers to deal significant damage to somewhat bulky neutral targets. Marshadow continues to be a strong metagame presence that can steal boosts from Zygarde with Spectral Thief as well as threaten its most common partner in Jirachi. Meanwhile, offensive teams can aim to damage Zygarde before it can take over a game, mitigating its impact.
During the ongoing Doubles Derby, a team tour with two NDDOU slots, Zygarde has seen a tremendous amount of usage, reaching 2nd overall in the tier through the first few weeks at 37%. In response to comments from the community, the council opted to run a survey, which included Zygarde (as well as Jirachi). On this survey, Zygarde received the highest support for tiering action, coming in at an average of 6.49/10, while Jirachi scored a very similar 6.44 indicating that both Pokemon are seen as somewhat problematic by large portions of the community. However, the council has opted to suspect Zygarde first due to its long and consistent run of controversy within the tier.
As usual, a 60% ban vote must be achieved in order to ban Zygarde.
Suspect Test Information
- Reading this is mandatory to participate in the suspect test. The voting requirements are a minimum GXE of 80 with at least 50 games played. In addition, you may play 1 less game for every 0.2 GXE you have above 80 GXE, down to a minimum of 30 games at a GXE of 84. Also, needing more than 50 games to reach 80% GXE will suffice.
| GXE | minimum games |
| 84 | 30 |
| 83.8 | 31 |
| 83.6 | 32 |
| 83.4 | 33 |
| 83.2 | 34 |
| 83 | 35 |
| 82.8 | 36 |
| 82.6 | 37 |
| 82.4 | 38 |
| 82.2 | 39 |
| 82 | 40 |
| 81.8 | 41 |
| 81.6 | 42 |
| 81.4 | 43 |
| 81.2 | 44 |
| 81 | 45 |
| 80.8 | 46 |
| 80.6 | 47 |
| 80.4 | 48 |
| 80.2 | 49 |
| 80 | 50 |
- You must use a fresh account that begins with the given prefix for this suspect test. That prefix is NDDTS. For example, I could sign up and qualify with the name NDDTS Smudge.
- Laddering with an account that impersonates, mocks, or insults another Smogon user or breaks Pokemon Showdown! rules may be disqualified from voting and infracted. Moderator discretion will be applied here. If there is any doubt or hesitance when making the alt, just pick another name. There are infinite possibilities and we have had trouble for this repeatedly. If you wish to participate in the suspect, you should be able to exhibit decent enough judgement here. We will not be lenient.
- We will be using the regular National Dex Doubles ladder for this suspect test. We will not be creating a new Suspect Ladder. At the beginning of every battle, there will be an announcement denoting the ongoing suspect with a link to this thread.
- The element being tested, Zygarde, will be allowed on the ladder.
- Any form of voting manipulation will result in swift and severe punishment. You are more than welcome to state your argument to as many people as you so please, but do not use any kind of underhanded tactics to get a result you desire. Bribery, blackmail, or any other type of tactic used to sway votes will be handled and sanctioned.
- Do not attempt to cheat the ladder. We will know if you did not actually achieve voting requisites, so don't do it. Harsh sanctions will be applied.
- We will be posting the voting identification thread immediately after this thread. Your voting requisites will be confirmed by a Council member or National Dex Doubles moderator, to which we will edit in confirmation. Please avoid playing more games before getting confirmed. You will be notified when you are confirmed by moderator edit.
- The suspect test will begin at Thursday July 18th, 8AM EDT (-4) (12PM UTC) and go on for roughly 14 days, lasting until Wednesday, July 31st 11:59PM EDT (7:59AM UTC), and then we will put up the voting thread in the Blind Voting subforum.
- No unhelpful one liners nor uninformed posts;
- No discussion on other potential suspects -- if you wish to discuss another Pokemon, we encourage you to do so in the metagame discussion thread, but this thread is strictly to discuss if Zygarde is banworthy or not;
- No discussion on the suspect process -- this includes testing Zygarde vs other potential suspects;
- Do not use the argument of broken checking broken. Should your argument rest on your opinion that banning the Pokemon or mechanic being tested in this suspect test will make a Pokemon or mechanic broken, overpowered, and/or uncompetitive; don't. If something needs to be banned because of the result this suspect, then so be it.
- You are required to make respectful posts; Do not flame, belittle, or be disrespectful to users in this thread. While not everyone will read this post in its entirety nor will everyone have an informed opinion, please be sure not to be disrespectful. If there's an issue, bring it up to a moderator.
- Failure to follow these simple guidelines will result in your post being deleted and infracted without any prior warning.
z蛇是真的没有任何一只精灵能同时抵抗y喷的火本加千箭齐发的，而且火打击要比飞打击个人感觉要好点，飞行系技能最厉害的是贯穿性而不是克制。
