adem
her
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Jungle Healing
move 3: Darkest Lariat
move 4: Power Whip
item: Darkinium Z
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zarude functions as a late-game wincon that's hard to stop once it gets going, since the combination of Bulk Up and Jungle Healing bolsters its good bulk to outlast bulkier foes. Bulk Up and its amazing Speed tier also make it hard to revenge kill. It outpaces many common threats such as Volcarona, Kyurem, and Tapu Lele, even if it's outsped by common revenge killers such as Tapu Koko, Mega Lopunny, and Greninja. However, Zarude faces competition as an offensive Grass-type from Rillaboom, Kartana, and Serperior due to it lacking immediate power. Jungle Healing allows it to shrug off crippling status, like paralysis and Toxic, and recover any chip damage it has sustained from Scald burns; however, it isn't a reliable source of recovery long term. Darkinium Z allows it to nuke would-be checks such as Zapdos, Mega Scizor, and Corviknight, and Darkest Lariat beats the likes of Iron Defense Skarmory and Corviknight by bypassing their Defense boosts. Power Whip is Zarude's strongest move, hitting Dark-resistant Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Clefable, and Tapu Fini. Furthermore, it lets Zarude hit neutral targets such as Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Tapu Lele much harder than Darkest Lariat.
Zarude fits on bulkier balance teams, which can provide it with long-term support in the form of entry hazard stacking and other sweepers. Strong hazard support from the likes of Toxic Spikes Toxapex and Spikes Skarmory is extremely beneficial to wear down Zarude's checks in the long run, such as Tangrowth and Unaware Clefable. Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Mega Lopunny, and Ash-Greninja appreciate Zarude breaking down bulkier teams and help its struggles with faster-paced teams. Other setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Clefable, Bulk Up Corviknight, and Mega Latias all appreciate Zarude weakening or KOing their checks, with Clefable especially enjoying it KOing Heatran and Mega Scizor. Zarude also needs sturdy Fire-resistant Pokemon because they force it to switch out or waste its Z-Move, so partners such as Toxapex, Mega Latias, and Heatran are greatly appreciated. Lastly, Pokemon such as Corviknight and Skarmory that can switch into revenge killers that threaten Zarude, such as Mega Lopunny, Hawlucha, Landorus-T, and Kartana, are required. Zarude’s typing gives it amazing defensive utility, allowing it to solidly check Ash-Greninja and switch into Slowbro and Slowking; however, Scald burns forcing it to use Jungle Healing can easily be taken advantage of. It can also reliably switch into Ground-types such as Gliscor and Garchomp and threaten them out. These defensive capabilities make it a good partner with the likes of Heatran, Gliscor, and Mega Diancie.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Zarude can utilize Leftovers for extra longevity so it isn't overly reliant on Jungle Healing for recovery; however, this greatly reduces its wallbreaking power. Grassium Z can also be used in order to beat Unaware Clefable and and have an even stronger nuke; however, you sacrifice its matchup versus much more common threats like Zapdos, Heatran, and Tangrowth. Heavy-Duty Boots is another option to repeatedly set up without being bothered by hazards, but you lose out on the power of Z-moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Mawile, Tapu Koko, and Mega Diancie can all either take a boosted hit from Zarude or outspeed it and KO. Mega Mawile in particular is an exceptional check due to Intimidate before Mega Evolving, good bulk, resistance to both of Zarude's moves, and the power to OHKO even after Defense boosts, which allow it to switch in multiple times and force it out. Unaware Clefable stonewalls Zarude and can use it as setup fodder. Clefable must be wary of Grassium Z though, and it must remain at full HP to avoid being 2HKOed by Power Whip.
**Fire-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Heatran can KO Zarude, but Zarude outspeeds them and can OHKO with a boosted Black Hole Eclipse. Heatran can stomach an unboosted Black Hole Eclipse and OHKO Zarude in return with Magma Storm or Inferno Overdrive. Both Moltres and Volcarona can burn Zarude with Flame Body, making it waste a turn removing the status instead of outright KOing them.
**Fighting-types and Fighting-type Coverage**: Hawlucha, Galarian Zapdos, and Mega Lopunny all can switch into Zarude multiple times and threaten to KO it. Furthermore, Fighting-type coverage on the likes of Alakazam, Kartana, and Melmetal can force it out also.
**Bug-types and Bug-type Coverage**: Due to Zarude's crippling 4x Bug weakness, it is extremely prone to being U-turn fodder for the likes of Landorus-T and Rillaboom. Mega Scizor and Mega Heracross also force Zarude out due to their strong Bug-type STAB moves.
**Ice-types**: Weavile can revenge kill Zarude if brought in safely, but, due to its frailty, it struggles to switch in. Kyurem can force out Zarude and take a boosted Darkest Lariat, but it fears a boosted Z-Move. Both are also prone to Stealth Rock chip damage.
**Entry Hazards**: Entry hazards can easily overwhelm and wear Zarude down long term due to its reliance on its relatively poor recovery move.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Avery, 497633], [pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Jungle Healing
move 3: Darkest Lariat
move 4: Power Whip
item: Darkinium Z
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zarude functions as a late-game wincon that's hard to stop once it gets going, since the combination of Bulk Up and Jungle Healing bolsters its good bulk to outlast bulkier foes. Bulk Up and its amazing Speed tier also make it hard to revenge kill. It outpaces many common threats such as Volcarona, Kyurem, and Tapu Lele, even if it's outsped by common revenge killers such as Tapu Koko, Mega Lopunny, and Greninja. However, Zarude faces competition as an offensive Grass-type from Rillaboom, Kartana, and Serperior due to it lacking immediate power. Jungle Healing allows it to shrug off crippling status, like paralysis and Toxic, and recover any chip damage it has sustained from Scald burns; however, it isn't a reliable source of recovery long term. Darkinium Z allows it to nuke would-be checks such as Zapdos, Mega Scizor, and Corviknight, and Darkest Lariat beats the likes of Iron Defense Skarmory and Corviknight by bypassing their Defense boosts. Power Whip is Zarude's strongest move, hitting Dark-resistant Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Clefable, and Tapu Fini. Furthermore, it lets Zarude hit neutral targets such as Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Tapu Lele much harder than Darkest Lariat.
Zarude fits on bulkier balance teams, which can provide it with long-term support in the form of entry hazard stacking and other sweepers. Strong hazard support from the likes of Toxic Spikes Toxapex and Spikes Skarmory is extremely beneficial to wear down Zarude's checks in the long run, such as Tangrowth and Unaware Clefable. Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Mega Lopunny, and Ash-Greninja appreciate Zarude breaking down bulkier teams and help its struggles with faster-paced teams. Other setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Clefable, Bulk Up Corviknight, and Mega Latias all appreciate Zarude weakening or KOing their checks, with Clefable especially enjoying it KOing Heatran and Mega Scizor. Zarude also needs sturdy Fire-resistant Pokemon because they force it to switch out or waste its Z-Move, so partners such as Toxapex, Mega Latias, and Heatran are greatly appreciated. Lastly, Pokemon such as Corviknight and Skarmory that can switch into revenge killers that threaten Zarude, such as Mega Lopunny, Hawlucha, Landorus-T, and Kartana, are required. Zarude’s typing gives it amazing defensive utility, allowing it to solidly check Ash-Greninja and switch into Slowbro and Slowking; however, Scald burns forcing it to use Jungle Healing can easily be taken advantage of. It can also reliably switch into Ground-types such as Gliscor and Garchomp and threaten them out. These defensive capabilities make it a good partner with the likes of Heatran, Gliscor, and Mega Diancie.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Zarude can utilize Leftovers for extra longevity so it isn't overly reliant on Jungle Healing for recovery; however, this greatly reduces its wallbreaking power. Grassium Z can also be used in order to beat Unaware Clefable and and have an even stronger nuke; however, you sacrifice its matchup versus much more common threats like Zapdos, Heatran, and Tangrowth. Heavy-Duty Boots is another option to repeatedly set up without being bothered by hazards, but you lose out on the power of Z-moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Mawile, Tapu Koko, and Mega Diancie can all either take a boosted hit from Zarude or outspeed it and KO. Mega Mawile in particular is an exceptional check due to Intimidate before Mega Evolving, good bulk, resistance to both of Zarude's moves, and the power to OHKO even after Defense boosts, which allow it to switch in multiple times and force it out. Unaware Clefable stonewalls Zarude and can use it as setup fodder. Clefable must be wary of Grassium Z though, and it must remain at full HP to avoid being 2HKOed by Power Whip.
**Fire-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Heatran can KO Zarude, but Zarude outspeeds them and can OHKO with a boosted Black Hole Eclipse. Heatran can stomach an unboosted Black Hole Eclipse and OHKO Zarude in return with Magma Storm or Inferno Overdrive. Both Moltres and Volcarona can burn Zarude with Flame Body, making it waste a turn removing the status instead of outright KOing them.
**Fighting-types and Fighting-type Coverage**: Hawlucha, Galarian Zapdos, and Mega Lopunny all can switch into Zarude multiple times and threaten to KO it. Furthermore, Fighting-type coverage on the likes of Alakazam, Kartana, and Melmetal can force it out also.
**Bug-types and Bug-type Coverage**: Due to Zarude's crippling 4x Bug weakness, it is extremely prone to being U-turn fodder for the likes of Landorus-T and Rillaboom. Mega Scizor and Mega Heracross also force Zarude out due to their strong Bug-type STAB moves.
**Ice-types**: Weavile can revenge kill Zarude if brought in safely, but, due to its frailty, it struggles to switch in. Kyurem can force out Zarude and take a boosted Darkest Lariat, but it fears a boosted Z-Move. Both are also prone to Stealth Rock chip damage.
**Entry Hazards**: Entry hazards can easily overwhelm and wear Zarude down long term due to its reliance on its relatively poor recovery move.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Avery, 497633], [pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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