Zamazenta Movesets & Competitive Sets

Zamazenta employs a combination of high Speed, phenomenal stats, and solid movepool and ability to thrive in the metagame. Iron Defense makes Zamazenta even more physically defensive while also enhancing Body Press, which enables Zamazenta to turn its defensive prowess into an offensive threat. Crunch hits the Ghost-types immune to Body Press such as Gholdengo and Pecharunt. Lastly, Roar allows Zamazenta to force out boosted Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM as well as prevent opposing phazers like Whirlwind Ting-Lu and Skarmory from forcing it out, while Rest alongside Chesto Berry allows Zamazenta to heal itself while ridding it of burns and paralysis. Leftovers offers Zamazenta a source of reliable recovery, while Tera Fire grants a valuable immunity to burns and eases the matchup against foes such as Ho-Oh, Zacian-C, and Iron Moth. Zamazenta doesn't require a huge HP donation due to its pre-existing Uber-caliber stats, meaning it can act as a dump slot such as Special Attack for Calyrex-I; however, it still appreciates a decent boost from Pokemon such as Arceus-Ghost and Eternatus to make it even bulkier. In return, Zamazenta is able to switch in on and threaten Pokemon like Weavile, Ting-Lu, and Iron Treads, which can be annoying for the aforementioned gods to deal with. However, Zamazenta prefers some support of its own, as despite having Crunch, it can struggle against Ghost-types like Pecharunt and Sinistcha due to its relatively mediocre Attack. Thus, Dark- and Ghost-types like Weavile, Lokix, and Arceus-Ghost are appreciated. Furthermore, although Fairy-types are not immune to Body Press, they resist all of Zamazenta's attacks, making Pokemon like Primarina, Clefable, and Arceus-Fairy extremely annoying. Clefable is especially troublesome, with Unaware ignoring the boosts from Iron Defense and Dauntless Shield. Thus, Poison- and Steel-types like Pecharunt, the aforementioned Eternatus, Necrozma-DM, and Attack-boosted Tinkaton are welcome. The latter two are especially valuable, as they resist all of the moves that Zamazenta is weak to.

Zamazenta's natural Speed coupled with Aggronite, which gives it a fabulous secondary Steel typing alongside a beefy +50 Defense and the ability Filter, allows it to easily set up in the face of many physical attackers thanks to Iron Defense and fires off a devastating Body Press. Crunch hits Ghost-types such as non-Gyaradosite Pecharunt, non-Audinite Spectrier, and Lunala, while Stone Edge targets the ever-problematic Ho-Oh as well as other Fire-types such as Entei and Hisuian Arcanine. While Zamazenta can be extremely bulky on the physical side, it struggles against the many special attackers in the metagame such as Eternatus and Spectrier; therefore, Pokemon such as Magearna and Ho-Oh can provide special bulk to annoy those aiming to take advantage of Zamazenta's weaker defensive stat. Ghost-types such as Pecharunt, Audinite Spectrier, and Arceus-Ghost are not only immune to Body Press, but are also bulky enough to shrug off Crunch; therefore, Pokemon such as the aforementioned Arceus-Ghost, Kingambit, and Gyaradosite Pecharunt can help ease the pressure. Since Zamazenta is prone to being worn down and isn't dedicated to continuously take physical hits, a physically bulky Pokemon such as some Arceus formes and Eternatus can complement Zamazenta's ability to boost in the face of physical attackers. Zamazenta is also worn down by entry hazards, so having removal such as Regieleki and Great Tusk can allow Zamazenta to continue threatening the opponent.

Utilizing its high Speed to avoid Taunt and good bulk, Zamazenta functions as one of the tier's premier dual screens setters. Roar allows Zamazenta to phaze setup sweepers such as Volcarona, Dragonite, and Iron Defense + Body Press Zamazenta, all of which could otherwise use Zamazenta as setup fodder, while also preventing hazard setters such as Garchomp from getting up multiple layers of Spikes. Body Press is the STAB move of choice in order to use Zamazenta's naturally high Defense, letting it threaten foes such as Kyurem and Ting-Lu, although its power decreases significantly after Zamazenta switches out for the first time. Light Clay is the item of choice to maximize the duration of Reflect and Light Screen, so Zamazenta needs to reset them less often. Dual screens Zamazenta fits exclusively on hyper offense structures, where its ability as a lead to reliably set screens enables a plethora of teammates to set up more easily. Setup sweepers such as Volcarona, Dragonite, and Ogerpon-W all appreciate Zamazenta's screens letting them set up much more safely. Zamazenta has no way of denying entry hazards from being set by foes such as Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Garchomp, meaning Rapid Spin users such as Terapagos and Great Tusk are excellent partners, as well as Hatterene, which can not only prevent hazards from being set but also deny Defog from Corviknight, Moltres, and Zapdos from removing Zamazenta's screens. All of the aforementioned Pokemon also double as sweepers, benefiting from the enhanced bulk Zamazenta's screens provide and allowing them to set up more reliably in the face of threats such as Mega Diancie and Melmetal. Zamazenta is vulnerable to foes such as Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Speed-Booster Energy Iron Valiant, meaning a Fairy- and Psychic-type resist such as Gholdengo is appreciated. Gholdengo also provides another way of preventing Defog through its ability Good as Gold. Although not mandatory, hazard setters such as Swords Dance Hisuian Samurott and Landorus-T are also appreciated, as Zamazenta is unable to set hazards as a lead, which can be problematic since hazards are often instrumental in enabling the various sweepers that thrive under Zamazenta's screens. In return, its screens can give the two more opportunities to set up, letting them better take on foes such as Zamazenta and Mega Diancie.

All-out attacking Zamazenta is a fearsome wallbreaker thanks to its great base Attack stat alongside colorful coverage, allowing it to hit a large portion of the metagame for tons of damage. Its defensive profile also allows it to stick around as a check to Dark-types like Kingambit and Hisuian Samurott. Crunch complements Close Combat well, 2HKOing Ghost- and Psychic-types like offensive Gholdengo and Galarian Slowking that easily take Close Combat. Stone Edge snipes Moltres and Zapdos attempting to inflict a Flame Body burn or a Static paralysis onto Zamazenta while taking on two offensive checks in the form of Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y. Ice Fang allows Zamazenta to majorly damage Gliscor and Landorus-T, while Heavy Slam lets Zamazenta deal with troubling Fairy-types trying to use it as a way to enter the field such as Tapu Lele and Iron Valiant. Heavy-Duty Boots give Zamazenta more chances to throw off its powerful attacks. Zamazenta fits well on balance and offensive teams alike, threatening and being able to come in on metagame staples like Kingambit, Hisuian Samurott, and Mega Tyranitar. Physically defensive walls such as Great Tusk and Toxapex can shrug off hits from Zamazenta all day long, so a partner that threatens them such as Tapu Lele is a nice addition to let Zamazenta force progress. Additionally, Tapu Lele can set Future Sight, preventing these checks from switching in as easily. In return, Zamazenta smashes Steel-types that can parry Tapu Lele's attacks like Assault Vest Melmetal. Zamazenta greatly appreciates entry hazard setters such as Hisuian Samurott and Landorus-T that force answers like Toxapex and opposing Landorus-T to take damage every time they attempt to check Zamazenta. It also appreciates Hisuian Samurott scaring the aforementioned Ghost- and Psychic-types away from Zamazenta as well as Landorus-T threatening Poison-types like the aforementioned Toxapex. Kingambit traps and removes Mega Latios and Galarian Slowking for Zamazenta as well as removing items like Leftovers or Heavy-Duty Boots from shared checks like Corviknight or physically defensive Toxapex to make Zamazenta's life easier. Finally, Steel-types like Gholdengo and Heatran form a great core with Zamazenta, as they are able to beat down Zamazenta's walls like Galarian Slowking and defensive Gholdengo while taking on threatening Fairy-types like Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Iron Valiant, protecting Zamazenta from being revenge killed as easily.

With a nearly unmatched Speed tier and superb bulk further boosted by Dauntless Shield, Zamazenta doubles as both a setup sweeper and an offensive check to a plethora of dangerous physical attackers, such as Kingambit, Ogerpon-W and Garchomp. Zamazenta can exploit these threats with Iron Defense, simultaneously making it more difficult to revenge kill and boosting the power of Body Press. Crunch targets Gholdengo, which is immune to Body Press, and Galarian Slowking, while Stone Edge hits Volcarona, Moltres, and Zapdos while avoiding Flame Body and Static from them. With Substitute, Zamazenta can avoid status moves from passive Pokemon such as Alomomola and Gliscor while also providing a buffer to frail revenge killers such as Iron Valiant. Alternatively, Zamazenta can use Roar to force out Pokemon that attempt to boost alongside it, such as Skarmory, Corviknight, and opposing Zamazenta. Roar also provides a means of making progress against the defensive teams Zamazenta generally struggles against when paired with Spikes setters such as Ting-Lu, Ferrothorn, and Gliscor. Rest, with Chesto Berry, provides instant recovery and lets Zamazenta beat checks reliant on status moves such as the aforementioned Alomomola and Gliscor; it also gives Zamazenta another chance to sweep if it had already been afflicted with status earlier in the game, such as through Flame Body from Volcarona. However, this comes with the opportunity cost of losing coverage or utility while making Zamazenta much more vulnerable to Knock Off from the likes of Kingambit and Mega Tyranitar, threats Zamazenta is often tasked with switching into. Finally, with Attack investment, Zamazenta can run Heavy Slam to more immediately threaten Fairy types such as Clefable and particularly Iron Valiant as well as Tapu Lele. Specifically, 200 Atk enables Zamazenta to OHKO Tapu Lele, 2HKO Clefable after Leftovers, and OHKO Iron Valiant after one layer of Spikes. However, other options are generally more useful in most matchups. 132 Atk / 124 Def / 252 Spe guarantees a 2HKO on Offensive Gholdengo with Crunch and an OHKO on Specially Defensive Moltres with Stone Edge, while 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe maximizes its mixed bulk. A spread of 4 Atk / 252 Def / 252 Spe can also be run to maximize Body Press damage on resisted targets such as Landorus-T, though this makes Zamazenta more easily revenge killed by special attackers such as Iron Valiant. Zamazenta's fantastic anti-offense capabilities in its Speed tier and defensive utility enable it to fit on offense and balance teams alike. Zamazenta generally has weaker matchups against balance and defensive teams, which often carry multiple checks and counters such as Toxapex, Gholdengo, and Clefable, sometimes leaving it nearly incapable of making progress on its own. For these reasons, powerful wallbreakers such as Kingambit, Garchomp, Ogerpon-Wellspring, and Raging Bolt are necessary to account for these poor matchups, also benefitting from Zamazenta's capacity to switch into their offensive checks such as Mega Lopunny and Weavile. Pursuit support from Kingambit, Mega Tyranitar, and Weavile is highly recommended, especially when dropping Crunch, in order to trap the Psychic- and Ghost-types that may otherwise check or counter Zamazenta such as Slowbro, Gholdengo, and Pecharunt. Moreover, despite Zamazenta's solid mixed bulk, it can still be forced out by special attackers such as Raging Bolt, Tapu Lele, and Iron Valiant. As a result, specially defensive Pokemon such as Assault Vest Melmetal, Ting-Lu, and Moltres are great partners, complementing Zamazenta's ability to blanket check most physical attackers. Kingambit is arguably Zamazenta's best partner, enjoying Zamazenta's incredible speed and ability to switch into its checks, such as Great Tusk and Mega Lopunny, while using its highly complementary offensive and defensive profile to check and trap threats to Zamazenta such as Choice-locked Tapu Lele and Gholdengo not carrying Focus Blast. Kingambit's Knock Off also removes Rocky Helmet from Landorus-T and Heavy-Duty Boots from the likes of Zapdos and Moltres, weakening Zamazenta's checks.

IronPress Zamazenta serves as a deadly wincon that provides great defensive utility, leveraging its excellent bulk and useful Dark resistance to switch into dangerous threats like Chien-Pao, Kingambit, and Roaring Moon and use these opportunities to set up or wallbreak. Stone Edge threatens Flying-types like Zapdos and Moltres and is Zamazenta's strongest move against Fluffy Landorus-T, while Crunch hits Ghost-types like Pecharunt, Gholdengo, and Sinistcha. The given Attack EVs allow Stone Edge to OHKO Moltres without Expert Belt. With Expert Belt, Crunch 2HKOes physically defensive Gholdengo after minimal chip damage and has near-guaranteed odds of 3HKOing non-Intimidate Pecharunt; this item also allows Stone Edge to OHKO offensive Zapdos. The remaining EVs are invested into Defense to power up Body Press and let Zamazenta answer physical threats better. IronPress Zamazenta best fits on both balance and offensive teams that appreciate its defensive utility and potency as a wincon. Offensive Pokemon such as Roaring Moon, Zapdos, and Gholdengo that can lure in setup fodder like Great Tusk, Roaring Moon, Kingambit, and Swampert for Zamazenta pair well with it. Bulky Fighting-resistant foes unafraid of Zamazenta's coverage like Pecharunt, Primarina, and defensive Landorus-I are its biggest roadblocks; thus, teammates that can deal with them such as Roaring Moon, Kingambit, and Latios pair well with it. Kingambit is an especially notable partner, as it complements Zamazenta both offensively and defensively extremely well, with Kingambit switching into and threatening the Ghost- and Psychic-types Zamazenta detests, while Zamazenta deals with Kingambit's checks like Great Tusk, Iron Hands, and Body Press Corviknight. Zamazenta is forced out by threats that can either outspeed and threaten it or survive a hit and attack in return like Latios, Deoxys-S, and Scream Tail; thus, teammates that can deal with them like Iron Treads, Swampert, and Manaphy are greatly appreciated.

Choice Band Zamazenta leverages its amazing Speed tier, good Attack, great natural bulk, and spammable STAB Close Combat to serve as one of the tier's most consistent and dangerous wallbreakers and revenge killers. Crunch smacks Ghost- and Psychic-types like Pecharunt, Gholdengo, and Latios hard; Stone Edge OHKOes Flying-types like Zapdos and Moltres while being Zamazenta's strongest move against Fluffy Corviknight and Skarmory; and Heavy Slam threatens a would-be check in Scream Tail while dealing hefty damage to Primarina. Zamazenta fits on numerous playstyles that are in need of a fast and deadly wallbreaker that also acts as a stopgap to Dark-types like Roaring Moon, Kingambit, and Chien-Pao. This makes teammates that are scared of them, like Latios, Gholdengo, and Pecharunt, good partners, with the former two helping to alleviate Zamazenta's inability to break past physical walls like Pecharunt, Fluffy Corviknight, and Great Tusk. Furthermore, Zamazenta helps to threaten the special walls Latios and Gholdengo may struggle with, such as RegenVest Swampert, Manaphy, and Iron Treads. Zamazenta appreciates entry hazard support from setters like Garchomp, Scream Tail, and Ting-Lu, allowing it to wear down physical walls faster and overwhelm them.

Zamazenta functions as an excellent revenge killer and late-game cleaner, leveraging its amazing Speed to outspeed and force out metagame staples such as Roaring Moon, Kingambit, and Chien-Pao. Crunch hits Ghost-types like Pecharunt and Gholdengo that want to switch into Close Combat. Stone Edge hits Flying-types such as Zapdos and Moltres, while Heavy Slam threatens Primarina and Scream Tail. Magic Guard lets Zamazenta ignore damage from entry hazards, Rocky Helmet, and Life Orb, while Sword of Ruin in conjunction with Expert Belt helps it pick up key KOs, notably guaranteeing OHKOs on Zapdos and Scream Tail. Zamazenta fits on more offensive teams where it can afford to trade the power from Choice Band for the ability to switch moves, letting it clean up weakened teams. Magic Guard variants also fit well on entry hazard-stacking teams with partners like Skarmory and Ting-Lu since it appreciates the additional chip damage on walls like Pecharunt and Great Tusk while ignoring opposing hazards itself. Zamazenta needs other physical wallbreakers such as Ogerpon-H and Kingambit to help it break common physical walls like Corviknight and Pecharunt; in exchange, Zamazenta provides speed control, checks Roaring Moon, and can overwhelm Great Tusk. Alternatively, special attackers like Zapdos and Latios also threaten the aforementioned physical walls while pivoting Zamazenta in on special walls such as Iron Treads and Swampert. Zamazenta can be forced out by Deoxys-S and Choice Scarf Azelf, so it appreciates RegenVest pivots such as Manaphy and Swampert. Zamazenta's high defensive stats let it serve as an emergency check to Chien-Pao, the Ogerpon formes, and the aforementioned Roaring Moon, outspeeding and threatening them.

Combat Torque is the most consistent STAB move thanks to its paralysis chance potentially crippling switch ins. Alternatively, Triple Arrows immediately threatens bulkier foes such as Ting-Lu with its Defense drop and flinch chance in exchange for the lack of paralysis in longer games. Mortal Spin synergies well with either of these moves, forcing out most Steel-type foes. Strength Sap is the preferred healing move thanks to its burst healing, which lets Zamazenta check certain threats such as Mega Garchomp; the difficulty that most Strength Sap blockers, such as Magic Guard Chansey, have switching in to Zamazenta; and its ability to neutralize physical setup. Knock Off removes key items such as Covert Cloak from Celesteela and Mega Audino. The item choice is up to preference: Covert Cloak blocks Mortal Spin and Salt Cure, while Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Spikes damage that would deter Zamazenta from removing entry hazards. Zamazenta fits best on balance teams looking for a physical wall that is not passive and can answer most physical threats by itself; this is because of its neutrality to most physical foes alongside great Speed. Certain offensive teammates like Arceus-Ghost and Ultra Necrozma appreciate its natural speed control and ability to answer Ash-Greninja. Zamazenta can struggle with offensive threats that are too powerful such as Mega Blaziken and Mega Garchomp; therefore, soft checks to those threats like Mega Slowbro or a secondary Fur Coat user like Arceus-Fairy naturally make for good pairings. Imposter-proof Zamazenta with Fighting-resistant teammates that do not dislike poison like Magic Guard Arceus-Ghost or Eternatus.