[SET]
name: Choice Band (Electric)
move 1: Plasma Fists
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Play Rough / Iron Tail
move 4: Knock Off
item: Choice Band
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zeraora is the premier physical wallbreaker for Electric teams thanks to its solid Attack stat, amazing coverage options, and amazing Speed tier, being able to pressure specially defensive walls such as Blissey, Alolan Muk, and Piloswine that are otherwise extremely difficult to handle for Electric teams. Close Combat threatens key Steel-, Dark-, and Normal-types such as Heatran, Tyranitar, and Diggersby. Play Rough helps a ton in the Dragon matchup, targeting Dragon-types such as Kommo-o, Mega Altaria, and Garchomp. Additionally, it nails the likes of Buzzwole, Mega Latias, and Mega Sableye. Iron Tail can be used instead to severely damage Fairy-types that Zeraora lures in like Tapu Bulu and Galarian Weezing. Knock Off notably provides coverage against Ghost- and Psychic-types like Blacephalon, Latias, and Latios while removing Eviolite from bulky threats such as Porygon2 and Galarian Corsola. Choice Band maximizes Zeraora's ability to threaten types like Dark, Dragon, and Normal. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Zeraora to outspeed key threats like Greninja and Mega Lopunny as well as Barraskewda outside of rain.
All teammates appreciate Zeraora dealing with specially defensive walls like Blissey, Alolan Muk, and Piloswine, especially since it's one of the only viable physical attackers on Electric teams. Tapu Koko can deal with troublesome Ground-types like Gliscor and Landorus with Hidden Power Ice, as well as Hippowdon, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad with Grass Knot, which Zeraora appreciates. Additionally, it can take on Dragon-types like Kommo-o, unboosted Mega Altaria, and unboosted Mega Latias for Zeraora if it isn't running Play Rough. Alolan Raichu's Psychic typing lets it deal with threatening Poison-types to Zeraora such as Mega Venusaur and Galarian Weezing, and it also utilizes Grass Knot to beat Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad. When under Electric Terrain, it also outspeeds and handles the likes of Sand Rush Excadrill, Choice Scarf Greninja, and Mega Swampert in rain, which all outspeed and threaten Zeraora. Zapdos can deal with Ground- and Grass-types like Excadrill, Rillaboom, and Tapu Bulu while removing entry hazards that may cripple Zeraora with Defog. With its Choice Specs set, it is able to power through the defensive Grass- and Ground-types, such as Mega Venusaur and Swampert, that Zeraora hates. Zapdos or Rotom-W can provide a Ground immunity, with the latter forcing out Ground-types like Hippowdon, Mamoswine, and Gliscor with a powerful STAB Hydro Pump and keeping certain revenge killers in check for Zeraora, such as Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan. Both Magnezone and Alolan Golem can trap and eliminate or weaken certain Steel-types like Excadrill and Ferrothorn, giving Zeraora a better shot at breaking through Steel teams. Notably, Magnezone's Steel typing lets it take on Pokemon like Latias while making it a switch-in against Fairy- and Poison-type attacks, and Alolan Golem can provide Stealth Rock support.
[SET]
name: Flyinium Z (Electric)
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Plasma Fists
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Bounce
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Flyinium Z Zeraora capitalizes on luring in and KOing the Grass-types that typically trouble Electric teams, such as Mega Venusaur, Tapu Bulu, and Rillaboom, making it a fearsome physical wallbreaker and setup sweeper. Bulk Up lets Zeraora set up in front of Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Tyranitar, making it deadly in matchups like Steel and Dark by becoming difficult to wall and revenge kill after a couple of boosts. Close Combat provides important coverage against foes such as Blissey, Heatran, and Ferrothorn. Bounce is required in the last moveslot to use Supersonic Skystrike, powerful Flying-type coverage that makes Zeraora very threatening against Grass and Poison teams. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Zeraora to outspeed fast foes like Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu and Mega Lopunny, as well as Barraskewda outside of rain.
All teammates on Electric teams appreciate Flyinium Z Zeraora luring in and removing troublesome Grass-types, like Mega Venusaur and Tapu Bulu, while still retaining the ability to defeat specially defensive walls such as Blissey and Tyranitar. Tapu Koko can handle Dragon-types such as Kommo-o, Mega Latias, and unboosted Mega Altaria, which are especially troublesome for Zeraora. Additionally, it can beat annoying Ground-types for Zeraora such as Landorus-T and Gliscor with Hidden Power Ice, as well as Hippowdon, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad with Grass Knot. Alongside Zeraora, Alolan Raichu can put a lot of pressure on Poison-types such as Mega Venusaur and Galarian Weezing due to its Psychic typing, while also beating Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad with Grass Knot. Additionally, it outspeeds almost the entire metagame under Electric Terrain, which crucially lets it handle threats that outspeed even Zeraora like boosted Kommo-o, Kingdra in rain, and Sand Rush Excadrill. Tapu Koko, Alolan Raichu, and Regieleki can all handle physically bulky checks to Zeraora like Porygon2 and Galarian Corsola as well. Zapdos provides a Ground immunity for threats like Excadrill while removing entry hazards for Zeraora. It can also dispose of defensive Ground-type threats such as Mega Steelix with its Choice Specs set. Rotom-W forces out Ground-types like Hippowdon, Mamoswine, and Gliscor due to Levitate and its powerful STAB Hydro Pump. It also keeps certain faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Victini, Barraskewda, and Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan in check for Zeraora. Both Magnezone and Alolan Golem can trap and eliminate or weaken Steel-types like Excadrill and Ferrothorn, giving Zeraora an even better shot at breaking through Steel teams. Magnezone's Steel typing also lets it provide a switch-in against Fairy-, Dragon-, and Poison-type attacks, and Alolan Golem can provide Stealth Rock support.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
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Expert Belt can be used over Choice Band to let Zeraora switch between moves, which can be more useful situationally in matchups like Dark, Steel, and Fairy. However, it loses significant damage output without Choice Band, which decreases its effectiveness against walls like Porygon2 and Galarian Weezing. On the Flyinium Z set, Drain Punch can be used over Close Combat to provide increased longevity while still hitting foes like Tyranitar and Excadrill hard. However, this comes at the cost of much less damage against bulkier targets like Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Porygon2.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
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**Ground-types**: Defensive Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gastrodon, and Gliscor can tank any of Zeraora's attacks and force it out with their STAB moves, while offensive Ground-types like Choice Scarf Excadrill, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and Mega Swampert in rain can revenge kill it. However, Excadrill must be wary of Close Combat or Drain Punch from Zeraora, while Garchomp and Mega Garchomp must be wary of Play Rough.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Physically defensive walls such as Galarian Weezing, Porygon2, and Zapdos generally threaten Zeraora, as it struggles to land very powerful hits on them, being crippled by Will-O-Wisp from Galarian Weezing or worn down by their attacks as a result. However, Choice Band Zeraora can heavily dent Galarian Weezing on the switch if it's running Iron Tail, and Porygon2 and Zapdos don't like their items being removed by Knock Off. Porygon2 also fears a boosted Close Combat.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards wear down Zeraora greatly during a match. Status moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Toxic significantly cripple Zeraora; the former halves the power of its attacking moves, and the latter puts it on a timer.
**Faster Pokemon**: Revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Victini, Sand Rush Excadrill, and Choice Scarf Greninja can outspeed and inflict heavy damage on Zeraora with their STAB moves.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur, Tapu Bulu, and Rillaboom are major threats to Zeraora, as they are able to tank most of its attacks with ease. Mega Venusaur can wear it down with its STAB moves and put it to sleep using Sleep Powder, while Tapu Bulu and Rillaboom are able to OHKO Zeraora with their STAB attacks. However, they are all KOed by a boosted Supersonic Skystrike from the Flyinium Z set, so they must be cautious. Some Grass-types like Ferrothorn and Zarude can also be dented by Close Combat, making them unreliable answers to Zeraora.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Electric analysis by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Quality checked by: [[Mateeus, 321991], [Maple, 473171]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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