[OVERVIEW]
Zarude's useful resistances, Speed, power, and bulk quickly sealed its place as one of the top Pokemon in RU. Its typing allows it to check major threats like Suicune, Zygarde-10%, and Xurkitree while threatening them out with its fearsome Power Whip. It generates momentum for its team through U-turn and sponges status effectively with Jungle Healing. Zarude can also hold a Choice Scarf to become a frightening revenge killer with blazing Speed. However, a number of staple, fairly reliable checks to Zarude like Togekiss, Cobalion, and Noivern keep it in line.
[SET]
name: Jungle Healing Pivot
move 1: Jungle Healing
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Darkest Lariat
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set focuses on longevity and consistent pivoting throughout the game. Jungle Healing keeps Zarude healthy and removes any status inflicted by switching into moves like Scald and Toxic. U-turn generates momentum and brings in potent threats like Toxtricity, Heracross, and Thundurus. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Zarude freely pivot in and out of combat without worrying about damage from entry hazards.
As one of the most widely useful Pokemon in the tier, Zarude can pretty easily fit onto most offense or balance teams; however, there are still Pokemon that pair better with it than others. This set lacks coverage moves, so it is especially reliant on teammates to help it defeat its checks. Electric-types like Thundurus, Toxtricity, Magnezone, and Raikou can check Crobat and Togekiss while also threatening Cobalion. Choice Scarf Magnezone has the extra benefits of trapping Klefki and wearing down Cobalion with Volt Switch. These Electric-types also form a VoltTurn core with Zarude, pivoting against one another's checks and wearing down the enemy team. Bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Gastrodon, and Suicune can serve as checks to certain threatening Fire-types like Darmanitan and Incineroar. Said bulky Water-types also appreciate Zarude absorbing status moves aimed at them, like Toxic. Zarude is an excellent partner to wallbreakers such as Zygarde-10%, Heracross, and Toxtricity, as it can safely bring them onto the field with U-turn.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Darkest Lariat
move 3: Close Combat / Rock Slide
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zarude makes for an extremely fast Choice Scarf user, and it is one of the best revenge killers in the tier. In exchange, this set suffers from significantly less longevity than Jungle Healing sets. Close Combat is Zarude's typical choice of coverage, dealing solid damage to Steel-types like non-Chople Berry Cobalion, Registeel, and Klefki. Alternatively, Zarude can run Rock Slide to hit the likes of Noivern, Crobat, and Talonflame on the switch. Iron Tail can also be considered to break through Sylveon and Togekiss as reliably as the move's shaky accuracy permits, and it takes a hefty chunk out of Galarian Weezing. Choice Scarf lets Zarude Speed tie Choice Scarf Mienshao and outspeed all other relevant Choice Scarf users in the tier.
Choice Scarf Zarude works well with Electric-types like Thundurus, Raikou, and Toxtricity, which can form VoltTurn cores and threaten Zarude's checks. Toxtricity is especially threatening, as Choice Scarf Zarude frequently gets chances to bring it in safely. The same is true of other wallbreakers like Zygarde-10% and Heracross. Doublade and Galarian Weezing can help to handle Mienshao and Heracross and appreciate Zarude's ability to check the likes of Xurkitree and Zygarde-10%. Crobat, Galarian Weezing, and Togekiss can clear away entry hazards for Zarude, as hazards greatly limit its effectiveness as a pivot.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Throat Chop can be considered over Darkest Lariat in order to shut down Sylveon and Toxtricity, as its power is only slightly lower. Choice Band is the best option not given a set, and it is able to pressure checks like Crobat and Noivern much more heavily than other sets. Taunt stops certain Pokemon like Steelix and Registeel from setting up Stealth Rock or using Toxic, but it is hard to fit into Zarude's moveset. Synthesis can be considered over Jungle Healing for increased recovery, but Jungle Healing's ability to remove status effects generally proves more useful. A Bulk Up set with Leftovers can turn Zarude into a sweeper, but this is generally inadvisable because it doesn't allow Zarude to overcome most of its typical checks, like Togekiss and Galarian Weezing.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster U-turn Users**: Zarude's 4x weakness to Bug-type moves renders it an easy target for Pokemon that grab momentum with U-turn, such as Choice Scarf Mienshao and Darmanitan. Fast Flying-types like Noivern, Crobat, and Talonflame can typically pivot into Zarude lacking Rock Slide and freely use U-turn.
**Steel-types**: Cobalion easily takes all of Zarude's moves except Close Combat, which it sometimes carries a Chople Berry for, and outspeeds any Zarude not holding a Choice Scarf. Klefki resists Zarude's STAB combo and can threaten it with Dazzling Gleam. Registeel is bulky enough to switch into Darkest Lariat multiple times and only fears Close Combat.
**Togekiss and Galarian Weezing**: Togekiss and Galarian Weezing have typings that allow them to take Zarude's standard moves, but Togekiss needs to be wary of Rock Slide, and neither can handle the rare Iron Tail.
**Heracross**: Heracross's typing allows it to avoid a 2HKO from Zarude and easily OHKO it in return, zand Heracross is a troubling wallbreaker to switch into in its own right. Heracross must be careful of Power Whip, however, as it still does a respectable amount of damage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[HailFall, 308025]]
- Quality checked by: [[EonX, 91480], [GoldCat, 359771]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Finland, 517429]]
Zarude's useful resistances, Speed, power, and bulk quickly sealed its place as one of the top Pokemon in RU. Its typing allows it to check major threats like Suicune, Zygarde-10%, and Xurkitree while threatening them out with its fearsome Power Whip. It generates momentum for its team through U-turn and sponges status effectively with Jungle Healing. Zarude can also hold a Choice Scarf to become a frightening revenge killer with blazing Speed. However, a number of staple, fairly reliable checks to Zarude like Togekiss, Cobalion, and Noivern keep it in line.
[SET]
name: Jungle Healing Pivot
move 1: Jungle Healing
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Darkest Lariat
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set focuses on longevity and consistent pivoting throughout the game. Jungle Healing keeps Zarude healthy and removes any status inflicted by switching into moves like Scald and Toxic. U-turn generates momentum and brings in potent threats like Toxtricity, Heracross, and Thundurus. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Zarude freely pivot in and out of combat without worrying about damage from entry hazards.
As one of the most widely useful Pokemon in the tier, Zarude can pretty easily fit onto most offense or balance teams; however, there are still Pokemon that pair better with it than others. This set lacks coverage moves, so it is especially reliant on teammates to help it defeat its checks. Electric-types like Thundurus, Toxtricity, Magnezone, and Raikou can check Crobat and Togekiss while also threatening Cobalion. Choice Scarf Magnezone has the extra benefits of trapping Klefki and wearing down Cobalion with Volt Switch. These Electric-types also form a VoltTurn core with Zarude, pivoting against one another's checks and wearing down the enemy team. Bulky Water-types such as Milotic, Gastrodon, and Suicune can serve as checks to certain threatening Fire-types like Darmanitan and Incineroar. Said bulky Water-types also appreciate Zarude absorbing status moves aimed at them, like Toxic. Zarude is an excellent partner to wallbreakers such as Zygarde-10%, Heracross, and Toxtricity, as it can safely bring them onto the field with U-turn.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Darkest Lariat
move 3: Close Combat / Rock Slide
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zarude makes for an extremely fast Choice Scarf user, and it is one of the best revenge killers in the tier. In exchange, this set suffers from significantly less longevity than Jungle Healing sets. Close Combat is Zarude's typical choice of coverage, dealing solid damage to Steel-types like non-Chople Berry Cobalion, Registeel, and Klefki. Alternatively, Zarude can run Rock Slide to hit the likes of Noivern, Crobat, and Talonflame on the switch. Iron Tail can also be considered to break through Sylveon and Togekiss as reliably as the move's shaky accuracy permits, and it takes a hefty chunk out of Galarian Weezing. Choice Scarf lets Zarude Speed tie Choice Scarf Mienshao and outspeed all other relevant Choice Scarf users in the tier.
Choice Scarf Zarude works well with Electric-types like Thundurus, Raikou, and Toxtricity, which can form VoltTurn cores and threaten Zarude's checks. Toxtricity is especially threatening, as Choice Scarf Zarude frequently gets chances to bring it in safely. The same is true of other wallbreakers like Zygarde-10% and Heracross. Doublade and Galarian Weezing can help to handle Mienshao and Heracross and appreciate Zarude's ability to check the likes of Xurkitree and Zygarde-10%. Crobat, Galarian Weezing, and Togekiss can clear away entry hazards for Zarude, as hazards greatly limit its effectiveness as a pivot.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Throat Chop can be considered over Darkest Lariat in order to shut down Sylveon and Toxtricity, as its power is only slightly lower. Choice Band is the best option not given a set, and it is able to pressure checks like Crobat and Noivern much more heavily than other sets. Taunt stops certain Pokemon like Steelix and Registeel from setting up Stealth Rock or using Toxic, but it is hard to fit into Zarude's moveset. Synthesis can be considered over Jungle Healing for increased recovery, but Jungle Healing's ability to remove status effects generally proves more useful. A Bulk Up set with Leftovers can turn Zarude into a sweeper, but this is generally inadvisable because it doesn't allow Zarude to overcome most of its typical checks, like Togekiss and Galarian Weezing.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster U-turn Users**: Zarude's 4x weakness to Bug-type moves renders it an easy target for Pokemon that grab momentum with U-turn, such as Choice Scarf Mienshao and Darmanitan. Fast Flying-types like Noivern, Crobat, and Talonflame can typically pivot into Zarude lacking Rock Slide and freely use U-turn.
**Steel-types**: Cobalion easily takes all of Zarude's moves except Close Combat, which it sometimes carries a Chople Berry for, and outspeeds any Zarude not holding a Choice Scarf. Klefki resists Zarude's STAB combo and can threaten it with Dazzling Gleam. Registeel is bulky enough to switch into Darkest Lariat multiple times and only fears Close Combat.
**Togekiss and Galarian Weezing**: Togekiss and Galarian Weezing have typings that allow them to take Zarude's standard moves, but Togekiss needs to be wary of Rock Slide, and neither can handle the rare Iron Tail.
**Heracross**: Heracross's typing allows it to avoid a 2HKO from Zarude and easily OHKO it in return, zand Heracross is a troubling wallbreaker to switch into in its own right. Heracross must be careful of Power Whip, however, as it still does a respectable amount of damage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[HailFall, 308025]]
- Quality checked by: [[EonX, 91480], [GoldCat, 359771]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Finland, 517429]]
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