[OVERVIEW]
* Zygarde-C is one of the most durable defensive behemoths in the metagame thanks to its titanic HP stat and good defensive stats. Combined with its defensive typing of Dragon / Ground, Zygarde-C can blanket check Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Gengar and consistently check common physical attackers like Regigigas, Mega Tyranitar and Mega Gyarados.
* Unlike Giratina, Zygarde-C can viably run STAB Ground-type moves to reduce its passivity against its Steel-types and can easily adjust its moveset to trap its Imposter using Thousand Waves and Volt Switch, or Parting Shot if using Soundproof. This significantly reduces the likelihood that Zygarde-C will be taken advantage by Imposter or defensive Pokemon.
* Zygarde-C's nearly unparalleled physical bulk is one of the most important aspects to its use. Because many physical attackers that do not specifically prepare for Zygarde-C have very little chance to bypass Zygarde-C, many teams employ Zygarde-C in balanced teams to acquire themselves an ironclad check to many physical attackers that yields less momentum than other physically defensive Pokemon like Giratina.
* While Zygarde-C is an impressive physical wall on its own, its defensive capabilities can be further amplified with abilities like Magic Bounce, Unaware, Prankster, Poison Heal, and to check certain threats better.
* Despite these blessed traits, Zygarde-C suffers from the metagame's tendencies to carry Ice-type coverage moves, which can exploit Zygarde-C's extreme weakness to Ice. This means that Zygarde's effectiveness as a defensive check to foes like Mega Mewtwo X can vary depending on whether its foes have Ice-type attacks or not.
* Potential inconsistency as a wall makes Zygarde-C compete with Giratina, as Giratina checks Sturdy Shedinja, block Rapid Spin, and does not have any quadrupled weaknesses.
* Similarly to other Dragon-types, Zygarde-C suffers from prevalence of Pixilate and Refrigerate users, which can easily force it out.
* Lastly, Zygarde-C struggles to employ offensive sets due to its somewhat low offensive stats.
[SET]
name: Defensive Utility
move 1: Shore Up
move 2: Thousand Waves
move 3: Core Enforcer / Entrainment
move 4: Volt Switch / Topsy-Turvy
item: Groundium Z / Safety Goggles
ability: Magic Bounce / Fur Coat / Soundproof
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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* Shore Up ensures that Zygarde-C remains healthy throughout the match and consistently switches into various foes it checks.
* Thousand Waves is Zygarde-C's primary method to pressure Steel-types and Primal Groudon. The move also prevents foe from switching, which can be helpful with generating predictable actions from an opponent. While Zygarde-C is quite fast as a defensive Pokemon, slower Steel-types pivots like Registeel and Necrozma-DM are often discouraged to take Thousand Waves and this can be helpful with securing momentum against them.
* Core Enforcer hits Dragon-types like Giratina and Mega Rayquaza, preventing from freely taking advantage of Zygarde-C. Core Enforcer also allows Zygarde-C to better deal with Poison Heal Regigigas and Mega Tyranitar.
* Entrainment serves the similar purpose and trades Core Enforcer's ability to pressure Dragon-types in exchange for being able to scout foes' abilities and prevent Poison Heal Xerneas from switching into Zygarde-C with impunity.
* Volt Switch is opted for instead of U-turn to prevent Imposter from switching out after Zygarde-C traps it with Thousand Waves while letting Zygarde-C function as a pivot against non-Ground-types. Imposter's limited PP and inability to pressure Zygarde-C means Zygarde-C can effectively trap and remove it.
* Topsy-Turvy can be used for Zygarde-C to check setup sweepers by reversing their stat boosts and notably improves its matchup against Poison Heal Regigigas, which, after it has been trapped and lost Poison Heal due to Core Enforcer or Entrainment, may have sufficient time to set up and overwhelm Zygarde-C before it goes down.
* Zygarde-C can forgo Thousand Waves and Volt Switch to fit variety of other moves.
* Thousand Arrows can be run instead of Thousand Waves to pressure Celesteela and reduce Zygarde-C's passivity against Flying-types.
* Thanks to its durability, Zygarde-C can consistently set Stealth Rock can to gradually wear down foes. Some Steel-types compress roles of defensive Pokemon and entry hazard remover at the same time and this serves as another reason that Zygarde-C can justify running Stealth Rock.
* Spectral Thief can be used to punish setup move users like Mega Mewtwo forms harsher than Topsy-Turvy would, but Spectral Thief has difficulty securing a place in the moveset solely with this reason.
* U-turn serves as a better pivoting move than Volt Switch when running a set lacking Thousand Waves.
* Parting Shot can be used with Darkinium Z if Zygarde-C is running Soundproof to give it an appropriate option to pivot and give it a chance to fully restore HP of one of its teammates.
Set Details
========
* Relaxed nature maximizes Zygarde-C's defense and improves its ability to take on physical attackers.
* Groundium Z enables Zygarde-C to 2HKO Steel-types like Registeel with Tectonic Rage followed by Thousand Waves. Because the Z-Crystal is irremovable, it further improves Zygarde-C's ability to take on Knock Off users like Mega Tyranitar and Mega Gyarados. When Magic Bounce was not opted for, Zygarde-C can hit Normalize Mega Gengar with Tectonic Rage and OHKO it even after it was affected by Entrainment.
* Zygarde-C's good durability makes it a good Magic Bounce user that can bounce back various status moves from passive foes and check Poison Heal Regigigas and Mega Tyranitar. Fur Coat makes Zygarde-C nigh impenetrable with physical attacks by doubling its Defense. Soundproof, on the other hand, can be used to blanket check -ate users and possibly lure in Mega Diancie.
Usage Tips
========
* Depending on its ability, Zygarde-C will have varying situations when it can switch in. While its very high defensive stats enable it to take many this with ease, the matchup against certain defensive Pokemon and offensive threats may differ.
* Magic Bounce Zygarde-C will mostly pivot into non-threatening foes like Mega Tyranitar, Registeel, and Mega Audino to scout them and potentially punish their attempts to set entry hazards or spread status moves. However, many foes that are shut down by Zygarde-C tend to be slower and may reverse the momentum with their slower pivoting, so be sure to analyze an opponent's tendencies to make the best use of Zygarde-C as a pivot.
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Team Options
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[SET]
name: Unaware
move 1: Spectral Thief
move 2: Thousand Waves
move 3: Volt Switch / Core Enforcer
move 4: Shore Up
item: Groundium Z / Safety Goggles
ability: Unaware
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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*
Set Details
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Usage Tips
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Team Options
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[SET]
name: Prankster
move 1: Haze / Topsy-Turvy
move 2: Thousand Waves
move 3: Volt Switch / Destiny Bond
move 4: Shore Up
item: Groundium Z / Safety Goggles
ability: Unaware
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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*
Set Details
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Usage Tips
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Team Options
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[SET]
name: Poison Heal
move 1: Core Enforcer
move 2: Defog / Thousand Waves
move 3: Shore Up
move 4: Volt Switch / U-turn / Spiky Shield
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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*
Set Details
========
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Usage Tips
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*
Team Options
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[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Checks and Counters
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**Ice**:
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