[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Behemoth Blade
move 2: Wild Charge
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Assurance / Swords Dance
item: Rusted Sword
ability: Intrepid Sword
nature: Adamant
evs: 184 HP / 252 Atk / 72 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zacian-C is a centralizing force in AG that threatens offense and balance alike with its Intrepid Sword-boosted Attack, excellent STAB combination, great coverage, and fantastic Speed. Its good bulk and typing allow it to deal with Xerneas, Eternatus, and Yveltal, offering valuable defensive utility. Behemoth Blade is preferred over Play Rough for preventing Pokemon such as Yveltal and Groudon from effectively using Dynamax defensively against Zacian-C while also reliably OHKOing Xerneas. Wild Charge OHKOes specially defensive Yveltal after minimal chip damage, deals with Ho-Oh, and devastates Kyogre. Close Combat provides good coverage for Ferrothorn and 2HKOes a weakened Necrozma-DM. Assurance deals great damage to Zacian-C's most reliable check in Necrozma-DM if it switches in while Stealth Rock or Spikes is on the field and prevents Lunala from reliably checking it. Zacian-C can alternatively run Swords Dance, boosting its already terrific Attack to break through physically defensive walls such as Zygarde-C, Giratina, and Necrozma-DM. However, this makes Zacian-C and its team more vulnerable to Ditto. Play Rough is also a decent pick, letting Zacian-C defeat Zygarde-C, Zekrom, and Giratina. An Adamant nature enhances Zacian-C's damage output while leaving it fast enough to outspeed much of the metagame. 72 Speed EVs allow Zacian-C to outspeed Adamant Marshadow, while the rest are put into HP to increase its overall bulk. A spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe may be run on hyper offense teams instead with an Adamant or a Jolly nature, as bulk is not as useful.
Zacian-C is an excellent fit on bulky offense and balance teams due to its great wallbreaking potential, amazing Speed tier, bulk, and typing, which make it a decent check to Xerneas, Eternatus, and Yveltal. However, Zacian-C can be revenge killed by the likes of Calyrex-S, Choice Scarf Kyogre, and offensive Eternatus. Therefore, teammates that can deal with these threats such as Yveltal, Eternatus, and Calyrex-S, respectively, are appreciated. Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn can provide Stealth Rock or Spikes support for Zacian-C, invalidating Necrozma-DM as a switch-in to Assurance Zacian-C if it lacks Heavy-Duty Boots. Kyogre's Drizzle is useful for Zacian-C, as it restricts Necrozma-DM's ability to consistently heal with Morning Sun. Partners like Necrozma-DM and Ho-Oh should be used in order to check Ditto once it has copied Zacian-C. Offensive teammates such as Calyrex-S, Life Orb Yveltal, and Xerneas can pressure physically defensive checks to Zacian-C such as Necrozma-DM, Zygarde-C, Lugia, and Giratina. Xerneas also forms a great offensive core with Zacian-C; Xerneas is able to stall out Dynamax turns from Necrozma-DM with Substitute and 2HKO it with Thunder at +2, leaving it weakened so Zacian-C can KO it. In return, Zacian-C can take care of Ferrothorn. Gothitelle is another noteworthy pick on balance teams, as Zacian-C can lure in Necrozma-DM so Gothitelle can trap it and PP stall it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fire Fang can be used if Zacian-C is specifically paired with Groudon to 2HKO Necrozma-DM under sun. However, it is hard to justify using over another coverage move, especially because Assurance can already 2HKO Necrozma-DM on the switch if Stealth Rock or Spikes is up. If running Fire Fang, use Play Rough instead of Close Combat. Substitute is an option over Assurance to block Ditto from transforming into Zacian-C. However, replacing Assurance or Swords Dance means that Zacian-C has almost no way to deal with Necrozma-DM. A Jolly nature allows Zacian-C to outspeed Jolly Marshadow and Adamant Zacian-C, but it loses significant damage output.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM is by far the most reliable check to Zacian-C, being able to tank most of its attacks thanks to its great bulk and threaten it back with Sunsteel Strike or chip damage from Rocky Helmet. However, Necrozma-DM without Heavy-Duty Boots cannot reliably switch into Zacian-C if Stealth Rock or Spikes is on its side of the field, as it risks being crippled by Assurance, putting it into OHKO range for Close Combat. It also has to recover with Morning Sun if it switches in on Close Combat, which teams can take advantage of due to its very low PP. Non-Earthquake Necrozma-DM cannot handle Swords Dance Zacian-C without Dynamax.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Faster revenge killers such as Calyrex-S, Choice Scarf Kyogre, and offensive Eternatus can outspeed and KO Zacian-C with their STAB or coverage moves, easily forcing it out.
**Quagsire**: Although Quagsire can only fit on stall teams, it's a very strong check to Zacian-C due to its resistance to Behemoth Blade, Unaware ignoring Intrepid Sword and Swords Dance boosts, and sufficient bulk. However, Quagsire struggles to switch in on Zacian-C's Close Combat or Play Rough if it is severely weakened.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Quality checked by: [[Guard, 360582], [Geysers, 426798]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
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