[OVERVIEW]
Zygarde-10% is a unique wallbreaker and late-game cleaner in UU due to its exceptional Speed tier allowing it to outspeed Pokemon like Terrakion and Lycanroc-D and giving it a great matchup against fast-paced teams. Thousand Arrows sets it apart from other Ground-types, as it can OHKO Pokemon that other Ground-types like Mamoswine struggle to break through like Rotom-W and Rotom-H. Thousand Arrows is also spammable in Grassy Terrain and against Flying-types, and the only UU Pokemon that resist it are Tapu Bulu and Tangrowth. Zygarde-10% is one of the only viable Extreme Speed users, allowing it to revenge kill weakened setup sweepers such as Gyarados and faster Pokemon like Zeraora. Zygarde-10% unfortunately has paper-thin defenses, meaning it cannot switch into virtually anything without taking big damage or being OHKOed. It even takes substantial damage from resisted attacks like Victini's Blue Flare and V-create as well as Nihilego's Meteor Beam. Zygarde-10% also needs chip damage to OHKO many common threats like Scizor, and failing to OHKO them causes it to get slammed back. Faster Pokemon such as Zeraora and Alakazam will also threaten to KO it after minimal chip. While Thousand Arrows provides great overall coverage, Zygarde-10% lacks reliable moves to overcome Grass-types like Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu, which can regain lost HP via Regenerator or Grassy Terrain, although Tapu Bulu must be wary of the possible Iron Tail.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Thousand Arrows
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Outrage / Scale Shot
move 4: Toxic / Iron Tail
item: Choice Band
ability: Aura Break
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thousand Arrows is unresisted by almost the entire tier and OHKOes typically bulky Pokemon like Rotom-W, Rotom-H, Nidoqueen, and Tentacruel. It also smacks down Celesteela and Skarmory to KO them on the following turn. Extreme Speed is essential for hitting Zeraora and Alakazam as well as Choice Scarf users like Zarude. It can also be used to hit setup sweepers like Gyarados and clean weakened teams up late-game. Outrage will OHKO major threats like Salamence and Kommo-o. Scale Shot is an option over Outrage so that Zygarde-10% is not locked into a Dragon-type move for 2-3 turns. However, it is less reliable, as it can miss and can potentially hit only two times for much lower damage. The Speed boost can help Zygarde-10% clean late-game, but Dragon-resistant Pokemon would need to be substantially chipped or removed first. Toxic can be used to punish Zygarde-10%'s most reliable switch-ins, such as bulky Grass-type Pokemon like Tapu Bulu and Tangrowth, as well as physicially defensive Pokemon like Quagsire. Iron Tail is also an option to OHKO Tapu Bulu after minimal chip damage. It can also OHKO Alolan Ninetales and 2HKO Grimmsnarl after it sets up Reflect. Toxic is generally more reliable, as it is more accurate and can be used against more foes. Jolly is the required nature, as Adamant will render Zygarde-10% slower than many major threats like Keldeo and Terrakion.
Zygarde-10% fits best on offensive or balanced teams. Since Zygarde-10% is too frail to ever reliably switch in, it can only realistically be used as an initial wallbreaker, revenge killer, or late-game cleaner. Slow, bulky pivots like Chansey and Slowking can use Teleport to help get Zygarde-10% in safely to revenge kill Pokemon like Terrakion and Rotom-W attempting to switch in. An entry hazard setter like Skarmory or Mew can help weaken the enemy team to enable a Thousand Arrows or Outrage sweep. Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu give Zygarde-10% the most problems, so it will need a teammate that can comfortably switch into both like Amoongus. Skarmory can also switch into them, although it has to be careful of Sleep Powder from Tangrowth. Victini and Kyurem can help remove Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and, using coverage, Quagsire. Nihilego is also an option to handle Grass-types, and it can set up Stealth Rock as well. Rotom-H can help check Mamoswine, one of Zygarde-10%'s biggest threats, pressure Grass-types like Tangrowth, and use Volt Switch to bring in Zygarde-10% safely. Since Zygarde-10% pressures Nidoqueen, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H significantly, Pokemon that struggle with them like Zeraora, Celesteela, and Azumarill are good teammates. Victini and Scizor are good teammates that can lure these Pokemon in and pivot to Zygarde-10%.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragon Dance can be used with Life Orb to allow Zygarde-10% to sweep. However, Zygarde-10% will rarely get an opportunity to set up and will still struggle against Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu. Gyarados typically outclasses this set, as it is bulkier, deals more damage, has better coverage, and can snowball with Moxie. Zygarde-10% is fast enough to run a Coil set to bolster its offensive presence and allow it to hit just as hard as Choice Band, but without locking it into one move. This will also raise its Defense to allow it to withstand an extra hit and increase its accuracy to more reliably use moves like Iron Tail. Zygarde-10% will only realistically get an opportunity to set up against something it forces out, and it will still struggle against Tangrowth even after multiple boosts.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Tangrowth totally walls Zygarde-10%, which can only use Toxic against it. Tapu Bulu has to be wary of Iron Tail but takes minimal damage from Thousand Arrows, is immune to Outrage, and can OHKO Zygarde-10%. Amoonguss is immune to Toxic and takes little damage from Thousand Arrows, forcing Zygarde-10% to lock itself into Outrage to 2HKO it. This leaves Zygarde-10% open to Spore or a switch to any Dragon-resistant Pokemon.
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon like Alakazam and Zeraora can OHKO Zygarde-10% with their coverage moves. Choice Scarf users like Zarude can also OHKO it with strong STAB attacks like Power Whip. Choice Scarf Krookodile will also do major damage with Earthquake or Knock Off, and it easily withstands a hit after Intimidate.
**Priority Users**: Any Pokemon with Ice Shard, most notably Mamoswine and Cloyster, will easily OHKO Zygarde-10%. Additionally, Choice Band Scizor and Life Orb Bisharp resist Exteme Speed and will KO Zygarde-10% after minimal chip with priority attacks. Other priority users like Conkeldurr and Crawdaunt significantly reduce Zygarde-10%'s ability to stay in play.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Quagsire can shrug off Thousand Arrows and inflict Toxic back. Zygarde-10%'s only chance of breaking through them is to hit them with two Outrage attacks, which leaves Zygarde-10% vulnerable to a Fairy-type switch-in.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-type Pokemon like Azumarill, Primarina, and Hatterene can freely switch in while Zygarde-10% is locked into a Dragon-type move and KO it. Additionally, while they do not handle Thousand Arrows well, they will not be KOed by it, and Primarina and Hatterene can recover lost HP with Draining Kiss.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[BigFatMantis, 507497]]
- Quality checked by: [[martha, 384270], [Twilight, 344575], [bb skarm, 235692]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Milak, 262594], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
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