[OVERVIEW]
Zygarde is the premier bulky setup sweeper in Doubles OU, as its combination of bulk and access to both Dragon Dance and Thousand Arrows makes it incredibly difficult to both switch into and revenge kill. Its great bulk allows it to easily gain many setup opportunities even without much team support. Thousand Arrows gives Zygarde the ability to hit all Pokemon and is only resisted by Grass-types, which come few and far between, and Bug-types, of which only Buzzwole and Araquanid have secondary typings that do not negate this resistance. While Zygarde only needs Thousand Arrows for coverage, its access to Extreme Speed enables it to pick off weakened targets with ease. However, Zygarde doesn't hit that hard even at +1, and with Intimidate being incredibly common, it's difficult for Zygarde to boost to the point where its attacks can OHKO Pokemon without the help of a Z-Crystal.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Thousand Arrows
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Dragon Dance
move 4: Protect
item: Groundium Z
ability: Aura Break
nature: Adamant
evs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Thousand Arrows hits almost everything at least neutrally for good spread damage. Extreme Speed allows Zygarde to pick off weakened and faster foes. Dragon Dance lets Zygarde boost its Speed and Attack, making it threaten to sweep the opposing team. Protect lets Zygarde stall out field conditions or stall a turn to get better field positioning.
Set Details
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164 Speed EVs allow Zygarde to outspeed neutral-natured Deoxys-A after a Dragon Dance. 252 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature maximize Zygarde's power, allowing its Tectonic Rage to OHKO Aegislash without any boosts and KO Azumarill after it uses Belly Drum. The remaining EVs are placed in HP to maximize bulk. Groundium Z allows Zygarde to avoid Wide Guard and OHKO Steel-types such as Aegislash and bulky Pokemon such as Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
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Zygarde is often most threatening late-game after boosting with Dragon Dance or when its checks have been removed or weakened. Its good bulk allows it to switch into resisted and some neutral attacks comfortably. Setting up next to a redirector or a Pokemon that can threaten the foes eases the process. Zygarde often comes in best on a free switch, either after an ally is KOed or with a slow Volt Switch or U-turn, as it's much easier to set up Dragon Dance from full HP or when the foe is positioned poorly to handle Zygarde's setup. It is often best to use Dragon Dance when potential revenge killers such as fast Choice Scarf users have been KOed or brought into range of Extreme Speed, while it's better to attack with Thousand Arrows in situations where using Dragon Dance will not allow Zygarde to continue to punch holes in teams after the initial one or two turns.
Team Options
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Redirection users like Amoonguss can give Zygarde an easier time setting up Dragon Dance and can shield it from attacks until it's strong enough to sweep a team. Tapu Fini specifically is a really good partner, as its Misty Terrain weakens Dragon-type moves and prevents status, and it can remove threatening Dragon-types, boost Zygarde's Attack with Swagger, and restore its HP with Heal Pulse. Mega Salamence appreciates Zygarde's ability to remove Steel-types and can take out Grass-types and even set up Tailwind. However, pairing these two can be costly, as they share weaknesses to common offensive types in Dragon, Ice, and Fairy. Fairy- and Psychic-types also appreciate Zygarde's ability to remove Steel-types and in return can KO the Dragon-types that threaten Zygarde. Steel-types such as Aegislash, Celesteela, and Heatran do well in checking opposing Fairy-types that can KO Zygarde while also doing well in Trick Room, which can stop a Zygarde sweep. Taunt users such as Mega Gengar and Tapu Lele can prevent Wide Guard and Trick Room, which can put a stop to a potential Zygarde sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Substitute allows Zygarde to absorb status conditions such as burns, which can be very helpful in enabling it to set up. This set can also be accompanied by either Leftovers or a Mago Berry. Mago Berry works well with Zygarde's good defenses, allowing it to gain back 50% of its HP in a pinch. Glare is an alternative to a coverage move such as Extreme Speed and lets Zygarde paralyze foes. Weakness Policy takes advantage of Zygarde's great bulk and can be used in conjunction with a bulkier spread with less Attack investment. Misty Seed is a neat item choice when paired with Tapu Fini, boosting Zygarde's Special Defense to high levels, allowing it to set up more easily in the face of stronger special attackers.
Checks and Counters
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**Ice-types**: Pokemon like Alolan Ninetales and Kyurem-B threaten out Zygarde with powerful Ice Beams, while non-Ice-types such as Milotic and Tapu Koko often carry Ice coverage such as Icy Wind and Hidden Power Ice. Buzzwole's good Defense allows it to take even a boosted Thousand Arrows or Extreme Speed and threaten Zygarde with Ice Punch. Priority users such as Mamoswine and Weavile can KO Zygarde with Ice Shard so long as they are at high enough HP to take an Extreme Speed.
**Fairy-types**: Pokemon such as Tapu Fini and Tapu Lele can survive Thousand Arrows and retaliate with powerful Moonblasts.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types are one of the only reliable switch-ins to Thousand Arrows, and Pokemon such as Tapu Bulu can take on even a boosted Zygarde.
**Dragon-types**: Faster Dragon-types such as Hydreigon force out Zygarde with a powerful Draco Meteor. Mega Salamence is especially threatening, as it also has Intimidate before Mega Evolving.
**Speed Control**: Zygarde relies on setting up with Dragon Dance to do damage, so Trick Room and other forms of speed control that prevent Zygarde from moving first, like Tailwind and Trick Room, can throw a wrench in its plans.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Zygarde relies on its physical attacks to sweep or break through a team, so being afflicted with Intimidate or burned by the likes of Landorus-T or Mega Gengar, respectively, can shut down Zygarde before it has a chance to really threaten the foe.
**Wide Guard**: Wide Guard users such as Araquanid and Celesteela can stop Zygarde, as they shield their team from Thousand Arrows and are not threatened by Extreme Speed. Aegislash is the able to shut down Thousand Arrows but has to watch out for a Tectonic Rage. These Pokemon, however, must repeatedly use Wide Guard and rely on their partner to remove Zygarde.
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