Zebstrika Movesets & Competitive Sets

Thunderbolt is Zebstrika's primary STAB move, while Volt Switch allows it to quickly pivot out. Overheat, as mentioned above, hits Grass-types like Maractus and Shiftry. Hidden Power Ice allows Zebstrika to hit Ground-types, namely Gabite, Torterra, and Stunfisk. Magnet can be used over Life Orb to help Zebstrika's longevity, but the power loss on Hidden Power Ice is especially notable. Expert Belt is a middle-ground option to keep power on Hidden Power Ice, but it lacks the stronger power on neutral Thunderbolt. Fire Gem gives Zebstrika a one-time boost to Overheat, allowing it to break through would-be checks like Vileplume and Torterra more easily. Lightning Rod is Zebstrika's preferred ability, since it allows it to switch into and check other Electric-types while boosting its Special Attack, though Sap Sipper can be used instead to better check Jumpluff and Simisage and potentially swap into them in a pinch. Zebstrika's Speed is its main draw to be used on offensive teams, so slower and hard-hitting wall-breakers, like Choice Band Torterra, Beheeyem, and even some faster ones like Choice Specs Shiftry, can help greatly weaken teams to the point of Zebstrika being able to clean. Grass- and Water-types, such as the aforementioned Torterra, Maractus, and Golduck, can help handle Ground-types while also appreciating Zebstrika's ability to weaken other Grass- and Water-types with Overheat and Thunderbolt, respectively. Many Choice Scarf Pokemon can still outspeed Zebstrika despite its high Speed, the most common being Golduck, Gabite, and Dodrio. Pokemon that can switch into and check these threats, such as Vileplume, Torterra, and Klang, greatly help Zebstrika. Pokemon with U-turn, like Choice Scarf Monferno, Swoobat, and Purugly, also help form nice momentum cores with Zebstrika. Checks and Counters Specially Defensive Pokemon: Pokemon like Audino and Scraggy can easily switch into Zebstrika's attacks and heal the damage off. Even other walls, like specially defensive Vileplume, can take several Overheats with little issue due to the Special Attack drop. Choice Scarf Pokemon and Priority Moves: No Pokemon in the metagame outspeed Zebstrika naturally, but with its poor bulk, any Pokemon that outspeed it with a Choice Scarf can threaten it, such as Golduck, Mr. Mime, and Gabite. It is also threatened by priority moves from the likes of Shiftry, Purugly, and Monferno. Ground-types: Any Ground-type prevents Zebstrika from spamming its Volt Switch easily, and Zebstrika is threatened back by their STAB moves. Torterra can sometimes live a Hidden Power Ice depending on its Special Defense investment and whether or not it has a Yache Berry. Stunfisk also can take a Hidden Power Ice pretty easily and threaten to KO Zebstrika in return. Passive Damage: Due to Zebstrika's high Speed and Volt Switch, the main way for most teams to beat it is by whittling it down through passive damage. Stealth Rock and Spikes are both key in this, limiting Zebstrika's opportunities to switch in as much as possible. Status conditions also limit Zebstrika's longevity, so it has to be wary of switching into Pokemon like Klang, Mawile, and Frillish in case it gets hit by Toxic or burned by Scald or Will-O-Wisp.

Zebstrika makes a great partner alongside Pokemon weak to Electric-type attacks because of its ability, Lightning Rod, which draws all Electric attacks towards Zebstrika and raises its Special Attack. Discharge users such as Thundurus also make wonderful partners due to their ability to boost Zebstrika while damaging the opponent. Overheat OHKOes most Steel-types. When holding a Life Orb, the combined damage of Thundurus's Electric Gem-boosted Discharge and Zebstrika's Lightning Rod boosted Overheat will OHKO standard Amoonguss roughly 98% of the time. Life Orb is the preferred item, guaranteeing an OHKO on non-Yache Berry Landorus and Tornadus with Hidden Power Ice and Thunderbolt, respectively. Because of how frail Zebstrika and Thundurus are, a random Choice Scarf user can put the hurt on both of them; leading off with this combo may not be the best idea, however. Bringing in the duo later can be a much safer option, so as to not lose Zebstrika or Thundurus on the first turn to Choice Scarf users. It's important to note that Lightning Rod will redirect even your own Electric-type attacks towards Zebstrika. The only exception to this is Discharge, which will hit all Pokemon on the field, Zebstrika included. Though Life Orb is usually the preferred item, Focus Sash remains an option because Zebstrika's paper-thin defenses rarely allow it to take even two neutral hits. This set is meant to be used with a max Speed Thundurus. With 204 Speed EVs, Zebstrika will be one point slower than Thundurus, allowing it to attack after getting the Special Attack boost from Lightning Rod. An alternative spread with 252 Speed EVs allows it to outspeed everything with Choice Scarf slower than Jellicent and Whimsicott. Only Accelgor is faster without a Choice Scarf. Unfortunately, this will make you faster than Thundurus, meaning Zebstrika's first attack will only be coming off of a base 80 Special Attack, unless Zebstrika is successfully switched into an Electric-type move or paired with a Choice Scarf Thundurus, which can be an effective partner. Zebstrika partners up well with other Choice Scarf users such as Jellicent and Terrakion, as well. It absorbs any Thunder Waves directed at them and gains a Lightning Rod boost in the process, meaning not even Prankster Thundurus can shut them down.

Thunderbolt is Zebstrika's main offensive move. After one Lightning Rod boost, Zebstrika's Thunderbolt hits a bit harder than that of Zapdos. Overheat provides Zebstrika with coverage on Grass-type Pokemon, namely Amoonguss; a boosted Overheat will OHKO all but the most specially defensive of Amoonguss. Hidden Power Ice and Hidden Power Grass moves that provide for extra coverage. The former enables Zebstrika to take on Dragon-type Pokemon such as Latios and Garchomp, while the latter grants Zebstrika a harder hit on Ground- and Water-type Pokemon immune to Electric-type moves, such as Gastrodon, Rhyperior, and Seaking. Finally, Protect allows Zebstrika to block incoming attacks, and is a staple move in the VGC metagame. This is particularly useful on Zebstrika as the opponents will be pressured to take it out after it manages to get a few Special Attack boosts. The EV spread maximizes Zebstrika's Speed and Special Attack, while a Life Orb improves Zebstrika's damage output. A Focus Sash can be used instead to guarantee that Zebstrika survives an attack. Zebstrika isn't much of a threat without a partner to boost it with Discharge. Unfortunately, Zebstrika's Speed works against it a bit here as it needs a faster partner to power it up before it attacks, thus limiting the number of Pokemon that are compatible with Zebstrika. Jolteon and Electrode are two Electric-types that are naturally speedier than Zebstrika. Raikou can also work if Zebstrika limits itself to 236 Speed EVs. Lastly, Thundurus can work as a partner if Zebstrika runs 204 Speed EVs, but this will cause Zebstrika to Speed tie with Latios, so it isn't recommended. More options are open for the Discharge partner if it can run a Choice Scarf. A Choice Scarf would allow Rotom-A, Thundurus, and Zapdos to move before Zebstrika and boost it with Discharge. While Zebstrika must be paired with a Discharge user to pose an offensive threat, it can still provide great support with Lightning Rod. Water-type Pokemon such as Politoed and Gyarados, who don't take too kindly to Electric-type moves, greatly appreciate Lightning Rod taking away the threat of a super effective attack. In addition to this, as Lightning Rod absorbs Thunder Wave, Zebstrika's presence assures that faster Pokemon such as Latios and Terrakion, as well as Choice Scarf users, such as Abomasnow, Chandelure, and Rotom-A, can maintain their Speed over the opponents. Keep in mind, though, that Lightning Rod will redirect an ally's Electric-type moves. Therefore, while the opponent can't use Thunder Wave against your team, Zebstrika's partner will not be able to use any Electric-type move either, except for Discharge.