[OVERVIEW]
Hisuian Zoroark is a fantastic special wallbreaker and cleaner that utilizes its power and nigh-unresisted STAB combination to fire off devastating attacks whenever it enters the field. Illusion provides it with the unique ability to overwhelm the opposing team by forcing suboptimal plays and switches that attempt to minimize risk, which works especially well when paired with strong physical wallbreakers that share few checks with it. Its naturally high Speed enables Hisuian Zoroark to serve as either a blazingly fast cleaner with Choice Scarf or blow holes in its switch-ins with Choice Specs that can proceed to be exploited by its teammates. However, Hisuian Zoroark is incredibly frail and must be maneuvered carefully so that it doesn't get eliminated before making meaningful progress. The fact that Assault Vest Cyclizar, one of the best answers to Hisuian Zoroark thanks to its typing and access to Knock Off and Regenerator, is the most used Pokemon in RU holds Hisuian Zoroark back quite a bit. Additionally, as both of Hisuian Zoroark's STAB attacks can be blocked with immunities, it is quite prediction reliant and can end up whiffing in games by repeatedly getting locked into a useless move.
[SET]
Choice Scarf (Zoroark-Hisui) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Illusion
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Hyper Voice
- U-turn / Flamethrower
- Trick
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Choice Scarf Hisuian Zoroark capitalizes on its naturally high Speed, Special Attack, and Illusion to act as one of the fastest and most threatening cleaners in the tier. U-turn enables it to deal decent chip damage and safely pivot out into answers to its switch-ins, which allows Hisuian Zoroark to make progress without needing to rely on predictions. Flamethrower is a coverage option that hits Pokemon like Bisharp, Bulletproof Chesnaught, and Registeel that can absorb one or both of its STAB attacks. Trick is a fantastic move that allows Hisuian Zoroark to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Umbreon, and defensive Empoleon that often rely on status moves to make progress and is not easy to see coming thanks to Illusion. Choice Scarf catapults Hisuian Zoroark's Speed even higher to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, slower Choice Scarf users like Gardevoir and Terrakion, and sweepers like +1 Speed Salamence, +2 Speed Cloyster, and Modest +2 Speed Basculegion-F. Tera Ghost boosts the and an OHKO on Gardevoir.
Hisuian Zoroark fits well on offensive structures that benefit from its ability to outspeed and revenge kill powerful threats and clean up chipped teams in the late-game. Strong pivot partners such as Galarian Zapdos, Slither Wing, and Magnezone can form VoltTurn cores with U-turn Hisuian Zoroark that make full use of their ability to simultaneously deal damage to their switch-ins and pivot into another threat; examples include Hisuian Zoroark being able to deal with physical walls like Hippowdon and Slowbro, and the aforementioned wallbreakers in turn threaten some of Hisuian Zoroark's checks like Hisuian Goodra, Umbreon, and Empoleon. Wallbreakers lacking a pivot move like Terrakion and Armarouge can accomplish a similar role by wearing down the aforementioned defensive Pokemon to enable Hisuian Zoroark to clean. Illusion aids in both of these structures by creating situations where the opponent has to make predictions to safely switch into these wallbreakers, which can quickly turn sour if they get it wrong. Hisuian Zoroark appreciates entry hazard removal options like Cyclizar and Noivern that allow it to enter the field and attempt to blow holes in the opposing team more often. This can also help to continue to take advantage of Illusion , as differences in entry hazard damage can be used to determine its identity. Hisuian Zoroark itself benefits from entry hazards set by Pokemon such as Jirachi, Krookodile, and Gligar, as they aid in lowering the overall health of the opposing team and creating more opportunities for Hisuian Zoroark to clean. To support these hazard stacking cores, Hisuian Zoroark can function as a spinblocker in a pinch, though it fears Knock Off from Cyclizar. Furthermore, Choice Scarf Hisuian Zoroark can work well in hyper offense structures due to its ability to revenge kill threats such as Armarouge, as well as use Trick to neuter defensive Pokemon like Hippowdon and Quagsire that could otherwise pose problems to sweepers such as Shift Gear Revavroom and Swords Dance Bisharp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
A Nasty Plot set alongside Heavy-Duty Boots is able to turn Hisuian Zoroark into a threatening sweeper while aiding it in its Illusion by removing entry hazard damage. However, it can be difficult to use safely due to Hisuian Zoroark's poor defenses. Focus Blast is a decent coverage option over Flamethrower that can similarly deal with Steel-types along with specific targets such as Assault Vest Cyclizar, Umbreon, and Empoleon, though it is often high-risk due to its low accuracy and Hisuian Zoroark's frailty and ironically renders it unable to deal meaningful damage to opposing Hisuian Zoroark. Knock Off can be used on Choice Scarf sets as an option to make progress by removing Leftovers and Heavy-Duty Boots from switch-ins like Umbreon, Registeel, and Fezandipiti.
Checks and Counters
====
**Special Tanks**: Specially defensive Pokemon like Umbreon, Hisuian Goodra, Empoleon, and Assault Vest Cyclizar usually take little damage from Hisuian Zoroark's attacks and can proceed to easily take it out due to its low defenses. However, they should be wary of Trick, which can drastically hinder their ability to fulfill their roles.
**Faster Wallbreakers**: Faster offensive Pokemon like Noivern, Barraskewda, and Choice Scarf Galarian Zapdos can outspeed and OHKO non-Choice Scarf Hisuian Zoroark thanks to its paper-thin bulk.
**Bulky Wallbreakers**: Many of the naturally bulky wallbreakers in the tier, such as Eviolite Bisharp, Volcanion, and Assault Vest Magnezone, can absorb one or two attacks from Hisuian Zoroark depending on its item and promptly eliminate it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/fluff.614438/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tsuki.654208/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Hisuian Zoroark is a fantastic special wallbreaker and cleaner that utilizes its power and nigh-unresisted STAB combination to fire off devastating attacks whenever it enters the field. Illusion provides it with the unique ability to overwhelm the opposing team by forcing suboptimal plays and switches that attempt to minimize risk, which works especially well when paired with strong physical wallbreakers that share few checks with it. Its naturally high Speed enables Hisuian Zoroark to serve as either a blazingly fast cleaner with Choice Scarf or blow holes in its switch-ins with Choice Specs that can proceed to be exploited by its teammates. However, Hisuian Zoroark is incredibly frail and must be maneuvered carefully so that it doesn't get eliminated before making meaningful progress. The fact that Assault Vest Cyclizar, one of the best answers to Hisuian Zoroark thanks to its typing and access to Knock Off and Regenerator, is the most used Pokemon in RU holds Hisuian Zoroark back quite a bit. Additionally, as both of Hisuian Zoroark's STAB attacks can be blocked with immunities, it is quite prediction reliant and can end up whiffing in games by repeatedly getting locked into a useless move.
[SET]
Choice Scarf (Zoroark-Hisui) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Illusion
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Hyper Voice
- U-turn / Flamethrower
- Trick
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Choice Scarf Hisuian Zoroark capitalizes on its naturally high Speed, Special Attack, and Illusion to act as one of the fastest and most threatening cleaners in the tier. U-turn enables it to deal decent chip damage and safely pivot out into answers to its switch-ins, which allows Hisuian Zoroark to make progress without needing to rely on predictions. Flamethrower is a coverage option that hits Pokemon like Bisharp, Bulletproof Chesnaught, and Registeel that can absorb one or both of its STAB attacks. Trick is a fantastic move that allows Hisuian Zoroark to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Umbreon, and defensive Empoleon that often rely on status moves to make progress and is not easy to see coming thanks to Illusion. Choice Scarf catapults Hisuian Zoroark's Speed even higher to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, slower Choice Scarf users like Gardevoir and Terrakion, and sweepers like +1 Speed Salamence, +2 Speed Cloyster, and Modest +2 Speed Basculegion-F. Tera Ghost boosts the and an OHKO on Gardevoir.
Hisuian Zoroark fits well on offensive structures that benefit from its ability to outspeed and revenge kill powerful threats and clean up chipped teams in the late-game. Strong pivot partners such as Galarian Zapdos, Slither Wing, and Magnezone can form VoltTurn cores with U-turn Hisuian Zoroark that make full use of their ability to simultaneously deal damage to their switch-ins and pivot into another threat; examples include Hisuian Zoroark being able to deal with physical walls like Hippowdon and Slowbro, and the aforementioned wallbreakers in turn threaten some of Hisuian Zoroark's checks like Hisuian Goodra, Umbreon, and Empoleon. Wallbreakers lacking a pivot move like Terrakion and Armarouge can accomplish a similar role by wearing down the aforementioned defensive Pokemon to enable Hisuian Zoroark to clean. Illusion aids in both of these structures by creating situations where the opponent has to make predictions to safely switch into these wallbreakers, which can quickly turn sour if they get it wrong. Hisuian Zoroark appreciates entry hazard removal options like Cyclizar and Noivern that allow it to enter the field and attempt to blow holes in the opposing team more often. This can also help to continue to take advantage of Illusion , as differences in entry hazard damage can be used to determine its identity. Hisuian Zoroark itself benefits from entry hazards set by Pokemon such as Jirachi, Krookodile, and Gligar, as they aid in lowering the overall health of the opposing team and creating more opportunities for Hisuian Zoroark to clean. To support these hazard stacking cores, Hisuian Zoroark can function as a spinblocker in a pinch, though it fears Knock Off from Cyclizar. Furthermore, Choice Scarf Hisuian Zoroark can work well in hyper offense structures due to its ability to revenge kill threats such as Armarouge, as well as use Trick to neuter defensive Pokemon like Hippowdon and Quagsire that could otherwise pose problems to sweepers such as Shift Gear Revavroom and Swords Dance Bisharp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
A Nasty Plot set alongside Heavy-Duty Boots is able to turn Hisuian Zoroark into a threatening sweeper while aiding it in its Illusion by removing entry hazard damage. However, it can be difficult to use safely due to Hisuian Zoroark's poor defenses. Focus Blast is a decent coverage option over Flamethrower that can similarly deal with Steel-types along with specific targets such as Assault Vest Cyclizar, Umbreon, and Empoleon, though it is often high-risk due to its low accuracy and Hisuian Zoroark's frailty and ironically renders it unable to deal meaningful damage to opposing Hisuian Zoroark. Knock Off can be used on Choice Scarf sets as an option to make progress by removing Leftovers and Heavy-Duty Boots from switch-ins like Umbreon, Registeel, and Fezandipiti.
Checks and Counters
====
**Special Tanks**: Specially defensive Pokemon like Umbreon, Hisuian Goodra, Empoleon, and Assault Vest Cyclizar usually take little damage from Hisuian Zoroark's attacks and can proceed to easily take it out due to its low defenses. However, they should be wary of Trick, which can drastically hinder their ability to fulfill their roles.
**Faster Wallbreakers**: Faster offensive Pokemon like Noivern, Barraskewda, and Choice Scarf Galarian Zapdos can outspeed and OHKO non-Choice Scarf Hisuian Zoroark thanks to its paper-thin bulk.
**Bulky Wallbreakers**: Many of the naturally bulky wallbreakers in the tier, such as Eviolite Bisharp, Volcanion, and Assault Vest Magnezone, can absorb one or two attacks from Hisuian Zoroark depending on its item and promptly eliminate it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/fluff.614438/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tsuki.654208/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
