And we were in flames, I needed, I needed you
To run through my veins, like disease, disease
And now we are strange, strangers
QC: p2 / Gary / starry blanket
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
* In Generation 7, Zygarde gained a new forme and one of the most spammable moves in the game in Thousand Arrows.
* Zygarde-10%'s high base 115 Speed and Extreme Speed in tandem with its solid offensive typing allow it be a great late-game cleaner and revenge killer.
* Sadly, it doesn't have the same crazy amount of bulk as Zygarde, leaving it directly outclassed by its counterpart in a lot of roles. It also struggles to take any hits and doesn't switch in to attacks very well.
* While base 100 Attack is decent, it won't be OHKOing most of the metagame.
* It's stuck with a worthless ability due to Power Construct being banned.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Thousand Arrows
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Toxic / Sleep Talk
item: Choice Band
ability: Aura Break
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Thousand Arrows is a very reliable STAB attack that nothing is immune to and knocks down Pokemon such as Skarmory, Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Celesteela.
* Outrage has a higher Base Power, which allows Zygarde-10% to break Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Quagsire more easily, but it has the unfortunate downside of allowing Pokemon like the entire Tapu group and Steel-types to be free switch-ins.
* Extreme Speed lets Zygarde-10% revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Weavile and Tornadus-T but, it's bad to be locked into if the opponent has a Tapu Lele that sets up Psychic Terrain.
* The fourth move is practically worthless, but Toxic poisons Slowbro and Hippowdon which are quite annoying.
* Sleep Talk allows Zygarde-10% to use a random attack while asleep.
* Sludge Wave can be used to target Tapu Bulu, while Thousand Waves can trap the opposing Pokemon for a turn, which can prevent double-switching shenanigans with Ferrothorn and Magnezone; however, it is generally outshined by Thousand Arrows.
Set Details
========
* Choice Band maximizes Zygarde-10%'s damage output, allowing it to 2HKO or OHKO most of the offensive metagame.
* A Jolly nature with maximum Speed investment maintains its fantastic base 115 Speed tier.
* Sadly, Aura Break is the only ability available for Zygarde-10%, as Power Construct is banned, and it is completely worthless in OU.
Usage Tips
========
* Outrage and Extreme Speed can be unfavorable to be locked into. Outrage, while powerful, is resisted by a large number of Pokemon and lets Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu switch in freely, and Extreme Speed is quite weak, as it isn't boosted by STAB. Both should only be used for late-game cleaning or, in Extreme Speed's case, revenge killing.
* Clicking Thousand Arrows early-game is how you win with Zygarde-10%. Keep in mind that it knocks down Pokemon such as Skarmory, Zapdos, and Celesteela, making the attack super effective on the next turn, possibly guaranteeing a KO that would not normally be achieved.
Team Options
========
* Steel-types, such as Mega Scizor, Metagross, Magearna, and Magnezone, can easily defeat Fairy- and Grass-types, especially Tapu Bulu. Magnezone even has the added benefit of trapping Ferrothorn thanks to Magnet Pull.
* Spikes support from the likes of Greninja, which can also deal with Landorus-T, and Ferrothorn really does a number on grounded Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Mega Venusaur, which allows Zygarde-10% to push past them more easily.
* Pivots, such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, Genesect, and Mega Scizor, give Zygarde-10% opportunities to switch in, as its low defenses can make that hard.
* Nihilego is a fantastic partner for the ability to set up Toxic Spikes to break down Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu, and it can target said Pokemon with a powerful Sludge Wave. Meanwhile, Zygarde-10% does a massive number to Steel-types such as Skarmory and Celesteela.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Zygarde-10%'s limited movepool and frailty prevent it from having too many niches over its 50% counterpart.
* Dragon Dance might seem attractive, but it's mainly outclassed and struggles to set up, especially against offensive teams.
* Coil is usually done better by regular Zygarde due to its much higher defenses.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tapu Bulu**: Tapu Bulu is easily one of the best switch ins to Zygarde-10%. Resistant to Thousand Arrows and immune to Outrage, it can easily retaliate with a powerful Wood Hammer, which will most likely knock a Pokemon out. Even if it switches into Extreme Speed, it recovers a good portion of health from Grassy Terrain.
**Tapu Lele**: Tapu Lele's Fairy typing makes it immune to Outrage, and Psychic Terrain makes Extreme Speed a complete liability. It struggles to switch into Thousand Arrows, however, but it can easily take advantage of a Choice-locked Zygarde-10%.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Tangrowth in particular has no issues switching in to Zygarde. It take massive chunks from Outrage, but it can easily regain any lost HP with Regenerator while switching to a Pokemon that resists the move. Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn have a more difficult time attempting to switch in to Thousand Arrows but can get the job done in a tight spot.
**Bulky Ground-types**: While repeated switches ins may prove too much during the late-game, Landorus-T can switch in multiple times to Zygarde-10% without having to worry thanks to Intimidate. Hippowdon, while mediocre, does not get 2HKOed by any attack and can proceed to recover off any damage.
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon such as Slowbro, Alomomola, Suicune, and Quagsire have no issues switching into Thousand Arrows, although they struggle with the damage output from Outrage and loathe Toxic.
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