Zekrom Dex
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[Overview]
- 150 base Attack and having STAB moves that hit 120 BP and above, allowing it to cause major dents.
- Resists Flying, allowing it to somewhat take on Ho-oh and Shaymin-S. The only other Uber that resist Flying is Dialga.
- Electric STAB helps it get rid of Ho-oh, Kyogre, Skarmory and Lugia. The last two are generally big pains to Choice Banders
- Flaws: VERY small usable movepool, 90 base speed, weaknesses to Ground/Ice/Dragon which makes it a bit tough to use.
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Lightning Strike
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Cross Thunder
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Set Comments:
- Outrage is the main move in this set. It is strong enough to guarantee a 2HKO on 404/416 Groudon with SR damage. Also does 51% min to 248 HP Scizor and scores a solid 3HKO on SDef Forretress (without entry hazards). Be careful though as Outrage locks Zekrom in, and Zekrom is pretty easy to revenge. Use when your opponent lacks any Pokemon at low health
- Lightning Strike is even more powerful than Outrage but you should almost never throw this move out on turn 1 because of Groudon and Garchomp. However, it has more than enough power to 2HKO Mix Dialga. Lightning Strike does 86.6% min to 4/0 Arceus as well, assuming neutrality.
- Dragon Claw and Cross Thunder are for reliability.
- Use 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe with Jolly.
- More speed can be used on Adamant if you wish. You can outrun Max speed Tyranitar.
- Groudon is still a big pain despite being 2HKOed by Outrage, because its mere existence forces Zekrom to use this move. Offensive Groudons can OHKO Zekrom, but they can take upwards to 90% from CB Outrage. Keep this in mind.
- Ground Arceus OHKOes Zekrom with Judgment or Earthquake, is faster, and is bulky enough to take a hit
- Zekrom is easily revenged by faster Dragon-type Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Dialga, Palkia, and Garchomp. However, unless Garchomp has any power boosting items, it needs to use Outrage to KO Zekrom after Stealth Rock.
- Nattorei resists Zekrom's entire moveset and can cripple it with Thunder Wave. However, it is 3HKOed.
- Entry hazards are useful. Groudon provides Stealth Rock and can somewhat handle Garchomp, although it doesn't really matter what lays down SR.
- Deoxys-S, Skarmory, and Nattorei can help it by laying down Spikes, allowing Zekrom to 2. Skarmory is immune to Ground and resists Dragon
- Giratina-O provides Ground immunity and can spinblock if you choose to have Spikes support
- Although Zekrom can handle Kyogre, it should not be relied upon due to having only normal resistance against Water type attacks and average 100/100 HP/Special Defense. Palkia handles Choiced Kyogre well while Zekrom destroys defensive ones.
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Lightning Strike
move 3: Volt Change
move 4: Dragon Claw
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Set Comments:
- Outrage and Lightning Strike are the bread and butter moves of this set, both possessing immense power and STAB, hitting nearly everything for neutral damage
- Volt Change is what sets Zekrom apart from other scarfers, and it has great utility allowing a user with good prediction to switch to an appropriate counter to the opponent's response to Zekrom
- Dragon Claw can be used so you don't have to lock yourself into Outrage
- Not outclassed by Garchomp due to superior Attack
- Alternative spread of 64 HP / 252 Atk / 192 Spe with an Adamant nature allows you to outspeed Mewtwo and below while providing a little bit more bulk
- Jolly for maximum revenge capabilities, but Adamant's power boost is noticable
- There may be some mixed capabilities with this, but the options listed have tested quite well (yes Volt Change is a special move, but its mainly for utility with the nice bonus of STAB)
- If Volt Change is used against a Ground-type it doesn't let you switch
- Cross Thunder can be used over Lightning Strike if the accuracy bothers you, but the power different is (obviously) noticeable.
- Dugtrio can switch into an Electric attack and ensure immediate death, but it probably won't be too common
- Garchomp and Groudon can aslo switch into an Electric-type attack and force Zekrom out
- Doryuuzu (as well as Steelix) resists one of Zekrom's STABs and is immune to the other, and can cause major damage with STAB Earthquake
- Nattorei also resists Zekrom's entire moveset, but it can't really do much back besides setup Spikes
- Scarf Garchomp and Scarf Palkia outspeed Zekrom and OHKO regardless
- Ground Arceus can also pose problems for Scarf Zekrom
- Wobbuffet can trap and OHKO Zekrom.
- Groudon can handle Doryuuzu, Garchomp, and Dugtrio to an extent
- While it may not be able to directly counter many of these threats, Giratina-O can switch into Ground attacks with ease
- Kyogre gives a lot of the Ground-type Pokemon that trouble Zekrom a run for their money
- Skarmory can wall many of the Pokemon that directly threaten Zekrom, such as Scarf Garchomp and Dugtrio, and can also set up entry hazards
- Every offensive Pokemon loves entry hazards, so Deoxys-S can be a good lead
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Lightning Strike
move 3: Volt Change
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb
nature: Hasty
evs: 6 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Set Comments:
- Draco Meteor mauls apart Groudon switch ins, and is a solid move in general
- Lightning Strike is a reliable move to get rid of Blissey, Jirachi, Scizor. It can also kill Lugia but keep in mind Lugia can Roost stall this move.
- Volt Change can help keep momentum in your favor, and does decent damage thanks to STAB, Special Attack investment, and Life Orb
- Focus Blast 2HKOes Nattorei and Specially Defensive Dialga, while OHKOing Doryuuzu.
- Haban Berry is an option to help Zekrom not get revenged easily, but the power drop from the lack of Life Orb is very noticeable
- Mild is an option if you wish to use Haban, and you can invest EVs in Attack instead of Speed to make up for the loss of power.
- Hidden Power Fire can be used over Focus Blast to land a stronger and more accurate hit on Nattorei in any weather but rain, but you lose one Speed IV.
- Ground Arceus is still the best counter, being able to sponge a Draco Meteor with relative ease and OHKOing back with Earthquake / Judgment
- Hard to counter otherwise, but a sturdy Steel-type can be used to sponge Draco Meteor, allowing Pokemon such as Groudon to come in. This also aids in draining Zekrom's health due to Life Orb.
- Still can be revenged by the likes of Choice Scarf Garchomp and Palkia, although the latter must be wary of Haban Berry. Rayquaza is still strong enough to OHKO Zekrom with Life Orb Draco Meteor even if it is holding a Haban Berry.
- Zekrom's choice of teammates does not differ from the Choice Band set.
- Entry hazards are useful. Groudon provides Stealth Rock and can somewhat handle Garchomp, although it doesn't really matter what lays down SR.
- Deoxys-S, Skarmory, and Nattorei can help it by laying down Spikes, allowing Zekrom to 2. Skarmory is immune to Ground and resists Dragon
- Giratina-O provides Ground immunity and can spinblock if you choose to have Spikes support
- Kyogre can be used to counter Ground Arceus to an extent.
- Thunder Wave helps with its middling Speed, but can be absorbed by Ground types
- Reflect and Light Screen for support. Zekrom also gets Volt Change to more easily pass to its teammates
- Imprison can be used to seal Draco Meteor and Outrage, making Zekrom somewhat tougher to kill.
- Claw Sharpen can be used to raise Zekrom's attack and make Lightning Strike more accurate. However, with Zekrom's susceptibility to revenge kills it probably won't have much success sweeping with it.
- Ground Arceus is the best counter overall
- Groudon handles physical sets fairly well, but it can take huge damage from Outrage
- Zekrom can be easily revenged by opposing faster Dragon-type Pokemon. When slightly weakened, Zekrom can also be KOed by Ice Beam from Choice Scarf Kyogre.
- Zekrom does not have a Dream World ability
