[OVERVIEW]
* Zygarde is one of the bulkiest setup sweepers in the tier, capable of running both very threatening Coil and Dragon Dance sets. Coil is extremely bulky and is capable of harassing any kind of team from stall to hyper offense, while Dragon Dance heavily pressures offensive teams.
* Access to Thousand Arrows makes Zygarde difficult for many teams to handle, as it gives huge coverage in a single moveslot, allowing Zygarde to easily break through Pokemon other Dragon- and Ground-types such as Dragonite, Garchomp, and Landorus-T would need Magnezone support for, such as Skarmory and Celesteela.
* Common Ice- and Fairy-types such as Weavile, Mamoswine, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Fini all hurt Zygarde's attempts to sweep.
* Zygarde faces competition from other Dragon- and Ground-types such as Dragonite, Garchomp, Landorus-T as well as other Dragon Dance users such as Salamence and Mega Charizard X. The aforementioned Pokemon all have attributes to separate themselves from Zygarde.
[SET]
name: SubCoil
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Coil
move 3: Thousand Arrows
move 4: Toxic / Extreme Speed
item: Leftovers
ability: Aura Break
nature: Careful
evs: 240 HP / 212 SpD / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Substitute allows Zygarde to avoid status and to set up on more passive Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Landorus-T lacking Hidden Power Ice and Swords Dance, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss.
* Coil boosts Zygarde's Attack and Defense, allowing it to overwhelm teams as it becomes very difficult to break physically.
* Thousand Arrows has incredible neutral coverage, knocking down Flying-types and Levitate users such as Skarmory, Celesteela, Zapdos, and Rotom-W, which would be able to wall Zygarde otherwise.
* Toxic breaks down bulky Grass- and Water-types that can wall Zygarde such as Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and Slowbro.
* Extreme Speed can be used to pick off weakened offensive Pokemon such as Greninja and Tapu Koko.
Set Details
========
* 240 HP EVs provides Zygarde with over 404 HP, allowing it to set up Substitutes with over 101 HP, which a single Seismic Toss can never break. The HP EV investment also ensures STAB Foul Play will never break the Substitute in a single hit either and provides maximum HP recovery from Leftovers.
* 56 Speed EVs are used to outspeed neutral-natured base 70s such as Bisharp and Breloom.
* The remaining EVs along with a Careful nature are put into Special Defense in order to set up on bulky Grass-types such as Tangrowth and Amoonguss. Physical Defense investment isn't needed, as Coil covers it.
* Leftovers is used to provide Zygarde with passive recovery, allowing it to regain HP and providing more longevity.
Usage Tips
========
* Zygarde shouldn't be used to sweep when its checks and counters are still healthy. If using Toxic, take advantage of Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Slowbro that switch in to wall Zygarde.
* Zygarde should aim to set up on Pokemon it punishes such as Amoonguss and Heatran lacking Hidden Power Ice as well as other passive Pokemon like Chansey, as they cannot break its Substitute easily, turning them into setup bait.
* Thousand Arrows is extremely spammable, and even if Zygarde struggles to set up, it can still weaken and threaten the likes of Tapu Koko and Rotom-W.
* Avoid status moves; burns and Toxic are extremely crippling to Zygarde, leaving it unable to function properly, as it will just get worn down very quickly.
Team Options
========
* Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Mega Venusaur, Serperior, Tapu Bulu, and Breloom can all pressure bulky Water- and Ground-types that are annoying for Zygarde. Tapu Bulu in particular pairs very well because of the additional recovery and because Grassy Terrain doesn't weaken Thousand Arrows. Grass-types appreciate Zygarde beating the likes of Skarmory and Heatran.
* Steel-types such as Heatran, Mega Scizor, Mega Metagross, and Celesteela can take on Fairy-, Ice- and Dragon-types that annoy Zygarde such as Tapu Lele, Weavile, Mamoswine, and Latios.
* Pivots such as Magearna, Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Jirachi can all provide Zygarde with opportunities to switch in through Volt Switch and U-turn. Zygarde also appreciates the latter two being able to set up Stealth Rock, or in the case of Landorus-T, heavily pressure Grass-types with Supersonic Skystrike.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Thousand Arrows
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Extreme Speed
item: Life Orb
ability: Aura Break
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Dragon Dance allows Zygarde to increase its Speed and power, allowing it to overwhelm offensive teams that lack a faster revenge killer easily.
* Thousand Arrows has great neutral coverage, hitting Flying-types and Levitate users that Earthquake can't such as Zapdos, Celesteela, Rotom-W, and Bronzong.
* Outrage rounds off Zygarde's coverage, nailing bulky Grass-types such as Tangrowth that could wall Zygarde otherwise.
* Extreme Speed allows Zygarde to hit faster revenge killers, mainly Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp, Latios, Pheromosa, and Keldeo.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Attack investment allows Zygarde to hit as fast as possible, while a Jolly nature ensures Zygarde can outspeed everything up to opposing Zygarde, Tapu Lele, and Kyurem-B. This also means Zygarde can outspeed Pokemon such as Jolly Landorus-T, neutral Speed base 100s such as Mega Charizard Y.
* Life Orb boosts the power of Zygarde's moves further, making it more difficult to handle defensively.
* Groundium Z can be used over Life Orb to give Zygarde access to Tectonic Rage, allowing it to break defensive Pokemon such as Tapu Fini very easily. It can also break the likes of Landorus-T after Zygarde knocks it down with Thousand Arrows.
Usage Tips
========
* Aim to set up with Zygarde when its checks and counters have been weakened to the point where they can be picked off by a +1 Thousand Arrows or Outrage.
* Try to remove problematic Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Garchomp and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele before trying to sweep with Zygarde too, as Zygarde will not be able to effectively sweep if they are still healthy.
* Avoiding status is also imperative when using Zygarde, as Toxic and stray Will-O-Wisp and Scald burns will cripple it completely.
Team Options
========
* Other sweepers that take advantage of Zygarde's main revenge killers can function very well alongside it. This includes the likes of Double Dance Landorus-T and Autotomize Celesteela, which can set up on Choice Scarf Garchomp. Celesteela can also set up on Choice Scarf Latios.
* Steel-types such as Mega Metagross, Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Magearna can threaten Ice- and Fairy-types such as Mamoswine, Weavile, and Tapu Lele while providing different benefits. Mega Metagross and Mega Scizor can Pursuit trap the likes of Latios, and Mega Scizor can also bring Zygarde in safely through U-turn, as can Magearna with Volt Switch. Ferrothorn can set up entry hazards, chipping at the opposing team and making it easier for Zygarde to set up and sweep. Jirachi can also check Fairy- and Ice-types while also providing Healing Wish support, giving Zygarde a second chance if it is weakened too much or gets crippled by status.
* Ice- and Fire-types can threaten Grass-types that annoy Zygarde, mainly Tangrowth. Weavile, Mamoswine and Kyurem-B can all break down Grass-types, as well as Fire-types such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Heatran. Mega Charizard in particular pairs well with Zygarde, as they both aim to overwhelm and break down a common check in Landorus-T.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Iron Tail can be used to hit Tapu Bulu and various other Fairy-types that give Zygarde trouble.
* Zygarde can also run Choice Band to threaten teams similarly to its 10% forme, dealing heavy damage to teams that lack Grass-types to resist Thousand Arrows. However, it is much bulkier, which can make it harder for some offensive teams to deal with, as Zygarde has the bulk to survive stray Hidden Power Ices unlike Zygarde-10%.
* Running both Coil and Dragon Dance on the same set allows Zygarde to ease and remove matchup problems, but this means it has to forgo Extreme Speed and Toxic, which are very important moves.
* Glare allows Zygarde to cripple faster Pokemon and can be taken advantage of on entry hazard-stacking teams along with Dragon Tail.
* Rest + Sleep Talk allows Zygarde to take advantage of its solid bulk, potentially making it very difficult to take down when paired with a boosting move and Thousand Arrows; however, again, it lacks Extreme Speed and Toxic.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types such as Hidden Power Ice Amoonguss and Tangrowth and Tapu Bulu can all take on Zygarde, but the latter two fear Toxic. Additionally, Amoonguss's neutrality to Ground-type moves means that Zygarde can have an easier time powering through it.
**Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro and Tapu Fini can wall Zygarde; Tapu Fini in particular is a great answer, as it can avoid Toxic with Misty Terrain. Offensive Water-types such as Greninja, Mega Gyarados, Manaphy, and Keldeo can all pressure Zygarde with Ice-type coverage moves.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Landorus-T and Hippowdon with Hidden Power Ice and Ice Fang, respectively, can break past Zygarde or at least deter it from setting up and force it out. However, both Pokemon fear Toxic, which will put them on a timer.
**Various Bulky Pokemon**: Although not many Pokemon fit this category, Pokemon such as Buzzwole can be very annoying for Zygarde to face, as it takes little damage from Thousand Arrows, can set up a Substitute before Zygarde lands Toxic, or just breaks it down with Ice Punch. Unaware users such as Clefable and Quagsire are applicable here too, but they mainly suffer from the fact that Zygarde can just Toxic stall them.
**Fairy-types**: Tapu Lele can break Zygarde with Moonblast while avoiding Extreme Speed thanks to Psychic Terrain; however, it will struggle to switch in due to its physical frailty. The aforementioned Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini can both take on Zygarde. Unaware Clefable can wall Zygarde, but Zygarde is capable of PP stalling Heal Bell with Toxic, limiting Clefable's effectiveness.
**Ice-types**: Mamoswine and Weavile both have priority that can pick off a weakened Zygarde, but they need to watch out for Extreme Speed, which will pick them off if they are weakened first. Otherwise, Weavile naturally outspeeds and can hit Zygarde with Icicle Crash. Kyurem-B also shares the same Speed tier as Zygarde, outspeeding Coil variants, and can threaten it with Ice Beam or Subzero Slammer.
**Faster Dragon-types**: Dragon-types such as Latios, Salamence, Hydreigon, and Mega Charizard X can all outspeed Zygarde and hit it extremely hard with powerful STAB moves. However, they fear Dragon Dance variants, which will outspeed them at +1 and proceed to break them with Outrage.
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