Zekrom Movesets & Competitive Sets

Mixed Zekrom takes advantage of the formulaic nature of Ubers's defensive cores to be a very potent mid-game wallbreaker. Draco Meteor allows Zekrom to break past its traditional checks such as Landorus-T, Groudon, Buzzwole, and Tangrowth and OHKO defensive Zygarde. Roost helps Zekrom remain healthy throughout Life Orb recoil and lets it use non-Earthquake Necrozma-DM as setup fodder. Scale Shot breaks Lunala's Shadow Shield and makes Zekrom tougher to revenge kill by foes like Eternatus and Calyrex-S. Mixed Zekrom doesn't have the best late-game cleaning potential, so strong sweepers are appreciated. Choice Specs Calyrex-S appreciates Zekrom forcing out its checks in Yveltal, Blissey, and Ho-Oh; in return, Calyrex-S threatens Lunala and puts Groudon in KO range of Zekrom's Draco Meteor. Yveltal can bring Zekrom in safely with U-turn and answers Calyrex-S, which can outspeed and KO Zekrom. Ferrothorn can set Spikes to weaken foes, check Ground-types like Groudon and Landorus-T, and switch into Dragon-type moves. Defensive Xerneas can act as a Knock Off switch-in and check Marshadow and offensive Yveltal, both of which can revenge kill unboosted Zekrom.

Dragon Dance boosts Zekrom's already stellar damage output while also boosting its Speed so that it can outspeed fast revenge killers such as Calyrex-S, Palkia and Eternatus. A Jolly nature is run over Adamant to outspeed Calyrex-S. Bolt Strike allows Zekrom to secure 2HKOs against neutral targets such as Necrozma-DM while also guaranteeing OHKOs against Xerneas. Dragon Claw breaks past the Dragon-types that resist Bolt Strike. The final moveslot is open for what you wish to have Zekrom accomplish. Roost lets Zekrom stay healthy while getting chipped by its Life Orb and also provides some much-appreciated recovery on a predicted double switch, while Draco Meteor can be run with a Naive nature to deal with physical walls such as Groudon and Tangrowth that can stomach any other hit and force Zekrom out. A set combining Substitute and Leftovers aims to minimize the chance of Zekrom getting statused while also protecting it from Ferrothorn's Leech Seed. Zekrom appreciates being paired up with special attackers like Xerneas and Kyogre that can break past Zekrom's checks such as Groudon, physically defensive Ferrothorn, and Lunala, while they benefit from Zekrom threatening their respective checks. Sticky Web setters such as Shuckle and Slurpuff mitigate the need for Zekrom to boost its Speed and instead allow it to attack the opposition without fear of being outsped while also making Choice Scarf Calyrex-S outsped by a boosted Zekrom. Spikes support from the likes of Froslass and Ferrothorn punishes switching from the opponent, slowly whittling their team down. Ferrothorn in particular is a fantastic partner, as removing foes' items in a tier where Heavy-Duty Boots is prevalent makes hazard stacking an even more potent strategy.

Moves Hone Claws increases Zekrom's already great damage output, letting it OHKO bulky walls such as Lugia, offensive Necrozma-DM, and Magearna after a boost, as well as making Bolt Strike a perfectly accurate move. Bolt Strike is Zekrom's strongest STAB move and inflicts massive damage on neutral foes, notably achieving a 2HKO on fast support Arceus forms formes. It also has a decent chance to paralyze a foe. STAB Outrage, although quite dangerous to be locked into, allows Zekrom to use a powerful Devastating Drake with Dragonium Z. After a boost from Hone Claws, it features an incredible showcase of damage output by OHKOing most Primal Groudon variants, Arceus-Ground, and Zygarde-C. Substitute allows Zekrom to ease prediction and take advantage of its ability to force switches. It also gives Zekrom a better matchup against defensive teams by punishing foes that try to play around Devastating Drake or use a status move. Another notable benefit of Substitute is that Zekrom can use defensive Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn as setup fodder. Set Details The given EV spread allows Zekrom to avoid the OHKO from Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Fairy's Judgment, the OHKO from Mega Salamence's Earthquake after Stealth Rock, and the 2HKO from support Arceus formes' Ice Beam while letting Zekrom outspeed Adamant Necrozma-DM. Maximum investment on Attack with an Adamant nature maximizes Zekrom's damage output, letting it 2HKO certain Arceus formes with Bolt Strike. Dragonium Z allows Zekrom to use Devastating Drake so it can use a Dragon-type STAB move without locking itself into Outrage. Teravolt is Zekrom's only legal ability and notably allows it to hit Lugia through Multiscale and KO the occasional Skarmory through Sturdy. Bear in mind that this ability does not ignore Lunala's Shadow Shield. Usage Tips Due to its horrendous matchup against faster threats, Zekrom is best used as a wallbreaker that paves the way for its teammates to sweep by disposing of major threats such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, Ho-Oh, and Zygarde-C. Zekrom possesses good natural bulk and offensively checks a number of threats by its typing, but it should generally avoid switching into attacks due to its exploitable weakness to common coverage moves such as Ice Beam from support Arceus formes and status move severely crippling it. Pivoting via U-turn and Volt Switch and double switching are the most ideal ways for Zekrom to switch in. Despite the fact that Zekrom has a way to lure and remove Ground-types, such foes usually limit Zekrom's offensive capabilities, as they discourage the use of Bolt Strike and force Zekrom to make flawless predictions with setting Hone Claws on their switch. This means one's prediction is going to determine Zekrom's performance against practically any team due to the abundance of Primal Groudon, and this becomes more of a serious matter against team with Arceus-Ground. When given an opportunity to switch in, it is important to decide whether to attack or set up Hone Claws; due to the prevalence of Ground- and Fairy-types on most teams, Zekrom will most likely struggle to inflict much damage without having them weakened or eliminated. Early-game, Zekrom can pressure the opposing team with strong Bolt Strikes and potentially spread paralysis so it will have the upper hand against paralyzed foes later. If Ground-types such as Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground are likely going to switch in, setting up Hone Claws is a promising idea, as a healthy Zekrom can survive a hit from the latter and OHKO back with boosted Devastating Drake. In order for this to be successful, avoid taking any form of damage so Zekrom can successfully lure Arceus-Ground, survive a Judgment, and score a KO. If Zekrom is boosted, and if there are Fairy-types present on the opposing team, use Substitute to ease predictions with your Z-Move, as they can make Zekrom's opportunity to wallbreak go to waste simply by switching in. In an event where Zekrom has no opportunity to set up Hone Claws, unboosted Devastating Drake can still be used to significantly weaken threats like Primal Groudon and most neutral targets so that Zekrom's teammates, such as Primal Kyogre and Xerneas, can have easier time dealing with them. Zekrom can take more offensive approaches to dish out damage against slower and defensive teams. It can be sent out early to threaten certain bulky foes such as Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Skarmory and set Substitute to avoid status while easing predictions with Devastating Drake. Team Options Zekrom's objective is to rid the opposing team of threatening foes such as Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground so its teammates can function more effectively. Teammates that appreciate the disposal of such foes can fit alongside Zekrom. Offensive powerhouses such as Primal Kyogre, Marshadow, and Ho-Oh vastly appreciate Zekrom disposing of Primal Groudon with a powerful Devastating Drake. Setup sweepers that appreciate the removal of Primal Groudon, such as Xerneas, Arceus, and Necrozma-DM, appreciate this as well. In return, Zekrom checks Ho-Oh and Lugia, which can otherwise be nuisances to deal with for certain mentioned teammates. Entry hazards allow Zekrom to score the OHKO on defensive Primal Groudon with Devastating Drake and 2HKO on support Arceus formes with Bolt Strike. Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM can set such entry hazards while checking Fairy-types and hindering support Arceus formes with Toxic. On more offensive teams, Deoxys-S, Excadrill, and Cloyster can set hazards for Zekrom. Despite the fact that Zekrom can KO Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground with a boosted Z-Move, it is advised to acquire a check for them, as luring and KOing them require predictions. Arceus-Water is a solid check to both of the threats and appreciates Zekrom taking advantage of defensive Necrozma-DM and Toxapex. Giratina-O, although it stacks weaknesses with Zekrom, is one of the more offensive checks to Primal Groudon and can provide better setup opportunities for Zekrom by weakening a foe with Will-O-Wisp. Arceus-Ground serves as a solid offensive check to Primal Groudon, and Calm Mind variants in particular appreciate Zekrom's ability to deal with most of its checks like Ho-Oh, Primal Kyogre, and Celesteela. Mega Salamence is a good teammate that provides an immunity to Ground, and it benefits from Zekrom's ability to threaten Arceus-Water and Toxapex, immensely pressure Arceus-Fairy, and potentially lure and eliminate Arceus-Ground. Ho-Oh is a solid check to Fairy-types, support Arceus-Ground, and Primal Groudon without a Rock-type move. It also appreciates Zekrom's ability to offensively check Water-types. Steel-types generally tend to pair well with Zekrom, as they can switch into Toxic and Ice-type moves while checking Fairy-types. Zekrom threatens Ho-Oh and can get rid of Primal Groudon, both of which are massive threats to Steel-types. Mega Scizor and Magearna can bring in Zekrom safely with U-turn and Volt Switch, Ferrothorn can set Spikes and wear down Arceus formes with Leech Seed and Toxic, and Celesteela can aid Zekrom in the same way and also provides Ground immunity. Offensive Necrozma-DM appreciates Zekrom threatening Yveltal and Ho-Oh while eliminating one of its greatest checks, Primal Groudon. Mega Gengar can trap and remove Fairy-types, which are one of the biggest problems for Zekrom to deal with, so Zekrom can use Devastating Drake without much concern. In return, Zekrom has the ability to remove Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Yveltal, all of which Mega Gengar struggles to beat. Yveltal pressures most physical walls in the tier with strong attacks and can potentially provide a setup opportunity for Zekrom by crippling a passive foe with Taunt. Variants with U-turn can also bring in Zekrom safely. Sticky Web is an interesting option that lets Zekrom overcome its rather mediocre Speed tier and threaten faster foes that it otherwise struggles against. Smeargle can set Sticky Web so Zekrom will outspeed most grounded foes, and Zekrom pressures most Defog users with its STAB moves and offensively checks Yveltal and Mega Salamence, both of which are serious problems for Sticky Web teams to deal with.

Moves Bolt Strike inflicts high damage to neutral foes even without investment and is capable of 2HKOing offensive Necrozma-DM and Geomancy Xerneas. Dragon Tail allows Zekrom to phaze foes, notably setup sweepers such as Mega Salamence and Bulk Up Marshadow. With entry hazards up, it can punish switch-ins like Primal Groudon by racking up damage. Toxic puts a timer on various foes that do not mind switching into Bolt Strike, such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Fairy, and Arceus-Ground. Roost lets Zekrom stay healthy throughout the match and effectively function as a physical wall. Set Details The given EV spread and nature maximize Zekrom's physical bulk, letting it survive various attacks, such as +1 Earthquake from Mega Salamence and Rayquaza, +1 Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike from Marshadow, and +2 Earthquake from Arceus after Stealth Rock damage. The EV spread also aids Zekrom's matchup against Ho-Oh and physical variants of Primal Kyogre. Leftovers provides passive recovery to Zekrom and reduces passive damage it may take from entry hazards and status. Teravolt is Zekrom's only ability, and it has situational use of letting Zekrom use Toxic on Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie. Usage Tips This variant of Zekrom should be switched into physical attackers such as Mega Salamence, Ho-Oh, physical variants of Primal Kyogre, and Marshadow to offensively check them. Due to how many foes are resistant or immune to Bolt Strike, it is better to spread status with Toxic to punish switch-ins if Zekrom can force out a foe or if a foe can't threaten it in a significant way. Especially when entry hazards are up, Zekrom's Dragon Tail becomes more useful, as it can be used to rack up residual damage on the opposing team while punishing switch-ins that might try switching into Bolt Strike or Toxic. Despite Zekrom's solid natural bulk, it should not be reckless against foes it can offensively check, as the likes of Arceus-Water and Ho-Oh can put it on timer using a well-timed Toxic. The latter can also burn Zekrom with Sacred Fire, which significantly hampers its offensive presence. Team Options Physically defensive Zekrom can fit on teams that require a switch-in to threatening foes like Mega Salamence, Ho-Oh, and Primal Kyogre that still retains some degree of offensive presence. As this variant of Zekrom is helpless against Ground-types apart from putting them on timer using Toxic, teammates that can pivot into Ground-types are mandatory. Ho-Oh is a solid check to support variants of Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground and threatens problematic Steel-types like Ferrothorn. Skarmory is a solid check to Arceus-Ground and provides Spikes support, which helps Zekrom wear down its checks quickly in tandem with Dragon Tail. As this set is not that great of a check to Primal Kyogre, it is advised for one to acquire checks for it. Primal Groudon is one of the more solid pivots for Primal Kyogre, an offensive check to Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn, and a Stealth Rock setter that Zekrom can take advantage of with Dragon Tail. Ferrothorn is a safe switch-in to Primal Kyogre and can aid Zekrom in a similar way as Skarmory. Mega Salamence checks Primal Groudon, and it appreciates Zekrom's ability to hinder support Arceus formes with Toxic or even paralysis induced from Bolt Strike. Arceus-Ground is another offensive check to Primal Groudon and can provide Defog support if running the support set. Arceus-Ground in general appreciates Zekrom's ability to threaten most foes that are airborne. Arceus-Fairy appreciates Zekrom's ability to threaten foes such as Ho-Oh and Toxapex and pressure Necrozma-DM. In return, it can provide Stealth Rock support and check Dragon-types like Rayquaza and Giratina-O. Xerneas benefits from Zekrom for the same reasons, and it can provide cleric support through Aromatherapy and let Zekrom more reliably take on foes it checks, such as Ho-Oh and Arceus-Water.

Moves Bolt Strike is an incredibly powerful STAB attack that plows through anything that doesn't resist it. Outrage is the best choice for a secondary STAB attack, hitting Grass-, Dragon-, and Ground-types which have no trouble taking a Bolt Strike. Alternatively, Dragon Claw can be used if Zekrom does not wish to be locked into Outrage and confused, though Zekrom usually prefers Outrage's power. Volt Switch is the best option in the fourth slot to help Zekrom pivot around and maintain momentum for its team. Tailwind can act as a pseudo-Agility and help Zekrom outspeed the entire unboosted metagame while giving its teammates a temporary Speed boost. However, Focus Blast can be used instead if your team struggles against Ferrothorn. Set Details Maximum investment in Attack and Speed is necessary for Zekrom to hit as hard and as quickly as possible. A Naughty nature is preferred over Naive because Zekrom finds maximum Attack to be more useful than maximum Speed. Teravolt is useful to OHKO Lugia through Multiscale. If running Focus Blast, an EV spread of 160 Atk / 96 SpA / 252 Spe can be used to always 2HKO Ferrothorn. Usage Tips The one-two punch of Draco Meteor and Outrage is a great way to lure and KO most Ground-types, including Primal Groudon. Because Zekrom is not locked into a move, its attacks are much more spammable than usual, as Zekrom can Volt Switch out of an unfavorable matchup as long as the foe is not a Ground-type. If running Tailwind, use it on a predicted switch, when Zekrom is about to be KOed, or when facing a foe that does not threaten Zekrom. Be sure to lure and KO opposing Ground-types that attempt to block Volt Switch. After the opponent has lost their Ground-types, use Volt Switch primarily on predicted switch-ins. Team Options Zekrom appreciates entry hazard support in order to help it sweep opposing teams more easily. Setters such as Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn can not only set up entry hazards but also take on the Ground-types that give Zekrom trouble. Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre have great defensive and offensive synergy, respectively, with Zekrom and appreciate Tailwind support to alleviate their somewhat low Speed stats. If running Volt Switch, Zekrom forms a good VoltTurn core with Scizor, which can deal with the Fairy-types that block Zekrom's Outrage. Pokemon that lose to Primal Groudon one-on-one, such as Xerneas, Mewtwo, and Extreme Killer Arceus, enjoy having Zekrom use Outrage to heavily damage Primal Groudon. Fairy-weak Pokemon such as Mega Salamence and Arceus-Dark appreciate Zekrom's ability to dent Fairy-types with Bolt Strike as well.

Moves Hone Claws boosts Attack and accuracy, allowing Zekrom to break through Ground-types with its Dragon-type moves while also reducing the miss chance of Bolt Strike. Bolt Strike complements Zekrom's Dragon STAB type well, hitting Xerneas and other Fairy-types for sizable damage. With just Stealth Rock support, it achieves OHKOs on many significant defensive threats such as Lugia, Arceus-Water, and Yveltal. Dragon Claw is the preferred primary Dragon-type move, as it offers consistency in comparison to Outrage, which has a locking effect that the opponent can take advantage of. In the last slot, Outrage is the preferred move because it grants Zekrom the power necessary for breaking Ground-types, in particular Primal Groudon. However, Substitute is another option that may be used in the last slot to ease prediction, avoid status, and expand Zekrom's setup opportunities, allowing it to set up on Pokemon that would normally wall it, such as Ferrothorn. Notably, it gives Zekrom an edge versus stall teams. Set Details Maximum Attack investment ensures that Primal Groudon with 56 Defense EVs and a Defense-boosting nature is always 2HKOed by a boosted Outrage. The HP investment allows Zekrom to always avoid a 2HKO from Jolly Life Orb Arceus's Extreme Speed after taking Stealth Rock damage, letting Zekrom be a last-ditch check to it. The HP EVs also allow Zekrom to survive +2 Jolly Arceus-Ground's Earthquake when at full health in conjunction with Shuca Berry and to never be OHKOed by Primal Kyogre's Ice Beam. The remaining EVs are invested into Speed to allow Zekrom to outspeed Geomancy Xerneas with 44 Speed EVs and a neutral nature. An Adamant nature is necessary for breaking Ground-types; a Jolly nature should never be considered. Shuca Berry allows Zekrom to soft check boosted Mega Salamence and Extreme Killer Arceus, as well as tank any unboosted Ground-type attack from the likes of Primal Groudon in order to set up Hone Claws or 2HKO using Outrage with an already acquired boost. Usage Tips Switch Zekrom into something it can force out, and set up Hone Claws. The beauty of this set is that it is not prediction heavy, unlike Zekrom's other sets; simply force a switch, boost, and see what comes in. Passive Steel-types, such as Klefki, Jirachi, and Skarmory, are Zekrom's primary targets to set up on. Furthermore, a myriad of Flying-types within the tier such as Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Yveltal are easy targets to set up on as well. However, scout for status users before setting up, especially ones with Will-O-Wisp. It is imperative to assess trade-offs—the sole purpose of this set is to lure in and eliminate Zekrom's usual checks and counters in order to ease the sweep of a teammate, so play it aggressively according to this function. However, do not senselessly use Outrage, as Xerneas and other Fairy-types can use Zekrom locked into Outrage as setup fodder. In order to allow safe use of Outrage, eliminate Fairy-types beforehand, or be sure your checks to Fairy-types are healthy enough to subdue them once they have set up. If Substitute is chosen for the last slot, use it to avoid status moves and to punish switches. The main draw of Substitute is to allow Zekrom to set up on Ferrothorn, however it is not recommended to challenge it in a one-versus-one situation. Additionally, bluffing a Choice set early-game can prove fruitful late-game to lure in Fairy-types and Ground-types. Doing so may allow Zekrom to net additional KOs or setup opportunities. Lastly, keep Zekrom healthy if it is needed to check Mega Salamence. Team Options Geomancy Xerneas and Choice Scarf Xerneas have a much easier time sweeping once opposing Primal Groudon have been weakened by Zekrom's boosted Dragon-type attacks. In return, Xerneas can switch into Dragon-type attacks aimed at Zekrom. Primal Kyogre especially benefits from Zekrom running Substitute because with it Zekrom virtually walls Ferrothorn, Primal Kyogre's most sturdy check. Zekrom and Primal Kyogre also pressure Primal Groudon immensely, overall making for a nice offensive core that wears down each other's checks. Calm Mind Arceus formes such as Ghost, Ice, Steel, and Ground also make for nice offensive partners, as they appreciate Zekrom's ability to check and eliminate Ho-Oh. The former three's aversion to Thunder Wave from the likes of Klefki is also alleviated by Zekrom's immunity to the move. Primal Groudon can absorb Will-O-Wisp aimed at Zekrom, set up Stealth Rock, and inflict status with Thunder Wave or Toxic on the checks and counters it shares with Zekrom. In addition to being a blanket check to Fairy-types, Primal Groudon also defeats Ferrothorn and Arceus-Grass, two of Zekrom's best checks, with its super effective Fire-type moves. Additional entry hazard support in Spikes and Toxic Spikes is greatly appreciated; Toxic Spikes complements Substitute especially well. Ferrothorn, Klefki, and Forretress are excellent choices; though they stack weaknesses to Primal Groudon, they all appreciate that Ho-Oh is checked by Zekrom. Ground-type checks are greatly appreciated, even though this set's purpose is to lure them in. Yveltal, Giratina-O, Mega Salamence, Ho-Oh, and Skarmory are all excellent; the latter can also provide Spikes to aid Zekrom's wallbreaking prowess. Last but not least, Mega Gengar can trap and eliminate Fairy-types, and it can also keep down entry hazards with Taunt.

Moves Bolt Strike is a very spammable STAB move that 2HKOes nearly everything that it hits neutrally. Outrage is Zekrom's second best bet against Pokemon that it cannot 2HKO with Bolt Strike, such as defensive Dialga. Dragon Claw is noticeably weaker than Outrage, but it does not prevent Zekrom from switching, so it can be more easily spammed in the presence of Steel-types such as Skarmory. Volt Switch maintains momentum, allowing Zekrom to pivot out of a predicted switch-in or a bad matchup. Set Details Maximum investment in Attack and Speed make Zekrom hit as hard and as quickly as possible. An Adamant nature is preferred to boost Zekrom's Attack and not lower its defenses, though Naughty can be used if you do not wish to lower the power of Volt Switch. Teravolt allows Zekrom's Bolt Strike to OHKO Lugia through Multiscale. Usage Tips This set has the role of an extremely powerful wallbreaker, denting the defensive Pokemon that hyper offense teams struggle against. Because Ground- and Fairy-types stop Zekrom cold, you can't be reckless with this set despite its sheer power. Expert prediction is absolutely required to ensure Zekrom can break through opposing walls. Conversely, if you have eliminated your opponent's Fairy- and Ground-types, feel free to spam Outrage and Bolt Strike. To maximize your chances of landing a KO with Zekrom, bring it in against a slower Pokemon that it forces out, particularly Primal Kyogre, Giratina-O, or Blissey, then use prediction to hit the switch-in with the proper STAB attack. Team Options Pokemon that appreciate the removal of Zekrom's usual checks make for good partners. For example, Giratina-O and Blaziken enjoy having Xerneas and Primal Groudon defeated, respectively. Ho-Oh and Primal Kyogre have great defensive and offensive synergy, respectively, with Zekrom, so both can take on the walls that Zekrom struggles against, such as Ferrothorn and Arceus-Ground. A Ground-immune Stealth Rock user such as Landorus-T can take Ground-type attacks aimed at Zekrom and wear down opposing walls, making it easier for Zekrom to break them. A pivot such as Genesect or Mega Scizor can form a VoltTurn core with Zekrom and get it in the battlefield unscathed.

Moves Bolt Strike demolishes anything that isn't a Ground-type. Outrage hits Pokemon that resist or are immune to Bolt Strike such as Arceus-Grass and Landorus-T and gives Zekrom a fighting chance against offensive variants of Primal Groudon. Draco Meteor hits Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Groudon, and Volt Switch allows Zekrom to maintain momentum for its team while simultaneously inflicting decent damage. Set Details Maximum investment in Attack and Speed is necessary for Zekrom to hit as hard and as quickly as possible. A Naughty nature is preferred over Naive in order to 2HKO Electric-neutral, bulky variants of Arceus with Bolt Strike. Teravolt is useful for dealing serious damage to Lugia through Multiscale. Usage Tips This set is typically used on offensive teams that desire both a revenge killer and a dedicated late-game cleaner, as well as a Pokemon that has the ability to outspeed common threats such as Latios, Latias, and Extreme Killer Arceus. Zekrom will be switching in and out often, so don't let it get worn down by repeated attacks and passive damage. Generally, Zekrom should only enter the battlefield on a free switch or a predicted Thunder Wave. When in doubt, scout with Volt Switch, but don't abuse it because Ground-types can block it completely. As all of Zekrom's moves have common immunities, prediction is very important in order to conserve momentum for your team. Predict incorrectly and Zekrom will be unable to effectively deal damage. Team Options Stealth Rock support will turn some of Zekrom's 2HKOs into OHKOs, particularly against Lugia, Skarmory, and defensive variants of Yveltal. Primal Kyogre takes on the Ground-types that give Zekrom a hard time in Ubers, particularly Primal Groudon. Ho-Oh also has great defensive synergy with Zekrom due to its massive Special Defense, resistances to Fairy- and Grass-type moves, and immunity to Ground-type moves. Mega Gengar can switch in on Ground-type moves thanks to Levitate before it Mega Evolves and can trap and KO most other threats to Zekrom such as Xerneas. Zekrom also forms a great VoltTurn core with Mega Scizor, which can be switched into Xerneas or Mega Diancie.

Zekrom's mediocre base 90 Speed makes it nearly impossible for the poor Dragon to sweep, so this set attempts to remedy this by utilizing Tailwind. Under the effects of Tailwind, Zekrom can outspeed a majority of the tier, even when running mixed offensive EVs. Draco Meteor, despite lacking full investment, packs a huge punch, allowing Zekrom to heavily dent any troublesome Groudon and support Arceus that might try to halt its sweep. Bolt Strike is extremely strong with maximum Attack investment, and can do heavy damage to Pokemon, such as OHKO 0 HP Arceus after Stealth Rock and Spikes damage. The last moveslot is based on the team's needs. Outrage gives Zekrom a strong STAB move to spam after it has used Draco Meteor, but beware, as it may leave Zekrom locked in after Tailwind has ended. Volt Switch allows Zekrom to keep momentum by scouting for any potential double switches and can give Tailwind's Speed boost to another teammate. Lastly, Focus Blast allows Zekrom to kill weakened Ferrothorn, as the move always 2HKOes after Stealth Rock damage. Zekrom is walled by different Pokemon depending on what it runs in the fourth moveslot. If Zekrom forgoes Focus Blast, Ferrothorn will be able to switch in with ease and can stomach any attack, as it resists all moves that Zekrom can hit it with. If Zekrom forgoes Outrage, then it risks being defeated by Latios, Latias, and specially defensive Groudon after it has used Draco Meteor. If Zekrom forgoes both Focus Blast and Outrage, then Excadrill will be able to switch in to it, avoiding the 2HKO from any move that Zekrom has, and proceed to OHKO Zekrom with Earthquake should it not switch out. Regardless of which move you choose to use, Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Grass will always be problematic. Partners that can help Zekrom defeat or weaken these foes are welcome, particularly those that also appreciate Tailwind's Speed boost. While practically every Dragon with a base 90 Speed stat falls in this category, Latios, Latias, Reshiram, Ho-Oh, and Rayquaza deserve special mentions; they can weaken enemy Ferrothorn, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus-Grass with their powerful moves while supporting Zekrom with a Tailwind of their own. Arceus-Steel, though boasting high Speed, is also a great partner for Zekrom. Arceus-Steel's typing allows it to resist powerful Dragon STAB moves aimed at Zekrom while allowing the titan to setup on Ferrothorn, as it resists all of the common moves that Ferrothorn can try to hit it with and can nab Calm Minds while it struggles to hurt Arceus. Zekrom also appreciates Pokemon that can lay hazards, which are beneficial in easing a clean sweep. Partners, such as Ferrothorn, Forretress, and Skarmory, pair nicely with Zekrom, as they not only provide Stealth Rock and Spikes support, but can also absorb Outrages and Draco Meteors aimed at Zekrom while creating potential setup opportunities by attracting choice-boosted Fire-type moves. Deoxys-S and Deoxys-A also pair nicely with Zekrom, as they can easily lay Spikes down early in a match while also preventing any momentum loss thanks to their high Speed and good offensive capabilities. Zekrom has a few other moves it can run in the fourth moveslot. Roost lengthens Zekrom's longevity and allows it to wall Ferrothorn, but Zekrom can now no longer maim Excadrill and Dialga. Hidden Power Fire can be used on a sun team to fry Ferrothorn and Forretress, but it hurts Zekrom's ability to prevent Dialga from coming in and taking momentum. Lastly, Dragon Claw can be used if you want a reliable Dragon STAB move that doesn't lock Zekrom in, but beware, as the power drop is noticeable. The listed EV spread allows Zekrom to outspeed everything up to Choice Scarf Terrakion while under Tailwind, as well as maximize Zekrom's Attack stat, with the rest of the EVs being thrown into Special Attack to power up Draco Meteor. Naughty is the nature of choice, as it allows Zekrom to maximize its Attack while keeping its Defense intact. A Lonely nature makes Zekrom take more damage from priority, but can be used to preserve Zekrom's Special Defense. If this EV spread doesn't suit your needs then you can use a more specially offensive spread of 164 Atk / 168 SpA / 176 Spe. This allows Zekrom to 2HKO Groudon with Draco Meteor while having enough power in Bolt Strike to OHKO Mewtwo. Fully investing in Attack and Speed while entirely forgoing Draco Meteor for Outrage is also an option, but note that when you do this, you may have trouble when facing Groudon, as physically defensive variants avoid the 2HKO from Outrage and can OHKO back with Earthquake.

Tremble in fear of Zekrom's Choice Band-boosted and powerful, complementary STAB attacks, bolstered by a maximum Attack stat of 438. Its Bolt Strike is powerful enough to terrorize even most of the Pokemon that resist it, dealing a solid 41%-49% to max HP Dialga and 44%-52% to the standard Naughty Giratina-O. With that in mind, Bolt Strike will absolutely murder those who do not resist it. However, as tempting as it is to spam Bolt Strikes, it is unwise if any Ground-types are present, as they will absorb the blow and leave Zekrom helpless. Dragon Claw is a safe move to throw out to damage the Ground-type switch ins, and is a safe move to spam in general. However, it is somewhat weak and doesn't do a lot of damage against defensive Groudon. Outrage provides Zekrom with the ability to easily 2HKO even 252/252+ Groudon after Stealth Rock damage, and allows it to clean up slower teams, but can leave it very vulnerable to revenge killing. The sole reason Fusion Bolt takes up the fourth slot is for reliability, because Bolt Strike can miss at the worst times. Volt Switch can be used to break Shaymin-S's Substitute so a faster Pokemon can switch in safely. Unlike the previous set, the EVs are quite simple. It promotes maximum power and gives Zekrom a fair amount of bulk. Similarly to the previous set, some Speed EVs can be added to outrun other Pokemon of similar Speed, such as Kyogre and Ho-Oh. Obviously, if you decide to use Jolly, use 252 Speed instead of HP. Despite Outrage being able to 2HKO defensive Groudon, it will still be a big pain to fight as it walls the rest of Zekrom's moveset. Luckily, it isn't too hard to counter. Defensive Kyogre, Giratina-O, and Arceus-Grass are some examples of excellent switch-ins to Groudon. Conversely, Zekrom could lure in Groudon and severely injure or KO it with Outrage, making it easier for other attackers, such as Dragon Dance Rayquaza and Swords Dance Arceus, to sweep--however, be sure to invest in Speed for this purpose. Physically defensive Ferrothorn is an issue as well, resisting both of Zekrom's STAB moves, and as such, Pokemon with access to Fire-type moves are great partners. Forretress can set up entry hazards on Ferrothorn while Rapid Spinning Ferrothorn's away. The lack of Life Orb means this Zekrom does not drain its own health every time it attacks, making Wish support less of a priority. Otherwise, the partners from the previous set all work well here.

Zekrom's middling Speed can be patched up with a Choice Scarf, allowing it to act as a revenge killer. Zekrom possesses a couple of traits that separate it from its fellow Choice Scarf users Palkia, Dialga, and Garchomp. For one, its high Attack and Bolt Strike allow it to take down Mewtwo from 80% health down (73% with Jolly) and to murder Kyogre, Ho-Oh, and Lugia, all of whom can give Choice Scarf Palkia, Dialga, and Garchomp issues. With Adamant nature, it can also 2HKO maximum HP Arceus (assuming neutrality, of course), while Palkia, Dialga, and Garchomp are turned into setup bait. Finally, it has access to Volt Switch, which allows it to keep up the momentum against the opponent so long as a Ground-type doesn't switch in. Bolt Strike and Outrage are the bread and butter moves of this set, both possessing immense power and STAB, hitting nearly everything for neutral damage. As a matter of fact, Zekrom's Outrage is strong enough to 2HKO offensive Groudon, something Garchomp is incapable of doing. Dragon Claw is a safe move to use should locking into Outrage or Electric-type moves be risky, but it is rather weak. Finally, Fusion Bolt can be used over Volt Switch if you find Volt Switch's utility to be too little for you, and is 100% accurate, unlike Bolt Strike. Adamant and Jolly are equally viable on Zekrom. With Adamant, Zekrom gains the ability to 2HKO maximum HP Arceus and to OHKO Mewtwo after Stealth Rock damage and one round of Life Orb recoil. However, it loses the Speed tie against other base 90 Choice Scarf users and +1 Speed Ho-Oh and Reshiram (due to Flame Charge). Adamant also means Deoxys-A will outrun Zekrom. Although Zekrom is an effective revenge killer, it is incapable of handling Dragon Dance Rayquaza and Salamence, and thus, defensive Groudon is a decent partner. Since Choice Scarf Zekrom lacks the raw power of the other two sets, an anti-Groudon or Dialga is more necessary than before. Giratina-O, Arceus-Grass, Kyogre, and Lugia (who also counters Dragon Dance Rayquaza) are all great choices for countering defensive Groudon. Dialga is trickier to handle, but Arceus-Fighting, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Groudon, and sturdy Steel-type Pokemon that can absorb its obscenely powerful Dragon-type attacks are all decent checks. As with most Choice Scarf users in the game, Zekrom is quite vulnerable to Wobbuffet, who can trap it and OHKO back with Counter, but at this point there is not much you can do.

Zekrom is quite a formidable mixed attacker, sporting a great base 120 Special Attack in addition to its obscenely high base 150 Attack. STAB Draco Meteor, bolstered by Life Orb and 339 Special Attack, is a frightening move to switch into. Even 252/4 Groudon, an otherwise easy safe switch-in to Zekrom, takes a painful 75%-88% from it. Bolt Strike complements Draco Meteor very well, providing almost unresisted coverage, as well as striking extremely hard on the physical side. Its immense strength and excellent type coverage allow Zekrom to blast through Kyogre, Blissey, Chansey, Lugia, Ho-Oh, and most Steel-type Pokemon, in addition to giving most Arceus formes a very tough time stalling and setting up. Dragon Claw is Zekrom's most reliable attack, but Outrage can be used if the extra power is needed, such as against Arceus-Grass or Arceus-Electric. Focus Blast allows Zekrom to hit the few Pokemon that resist its STABs, most notably Ferrothorn, but Volt Switch can be used to break Shaymin-S's Substitute and to escape from Wobbuffet. The Attack EVs allow Zekrom to OHKO the standard Giratina-O with Dragon Claw after Stealth Rock damage. They also allow Bolt Strike to have a high chance of KOing Chansey after two Stealth Rock switch-ins, and to always OHKO 248 HP Scizor after Stealth Rock damage. Furthermore, assuming neutrality, 4/0 Arceus will take 71% minimum. The Special Attack EVs maximize the amount of damage Draco Meteor and Focus Blast can do. The rest are thrown into HP to give Zekrom a bit of bulk, and 4 Speed EVs allow it to outrun other base 90 Speed Pokemon that lack any investment. You may find it insufficient, however, so feel free to invest more in Speed until you feel comfortable. If Focus Blast is too unreliable for your taste, Hidden Power Fire can also nail down Ferrothorn, and OHKO Forretress through its Sturdy ability thanks to Teravolt. This comes at the cost of one Speed and one Special Attack IV, and of being stuck with a pathetically weak move in rain. Thunder Wave is an option to paralyze potential non-Ground-type switch-ins and cripples Lugia, who could actually be a pain to fight against due to Pressure, Reflect, and Roost. As far as EV spreads go, if you're a speed freak, you might consider using maximum Speed and Special Attack, with a Hasty or Naive nature. Although Zekrom loses a considerable amount of power, the extra Speed minimizes the amount of attacks it will have to take or fear. The first thing you want to consider is what role would Zekrom serve on your team. Zekrom can act as magnificent Groudon bait, and as such it makes a great partner to Pokemon such as Kyogre and Ho-Oh, both of whom would love to have the opposing Groudon gone. Zekrom also serves as a check to bulky Kyogre (watch out for Scald burns!) and Ho-Oh, and can fit in well in sun teams that struggle against them. As with literally almost every Pokemon in the game, Zekrom appreciates entry hazards to aid in killing its targets. Forretress, Deoxys-S, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory can all set up Spikes and Stealth Rock. All of them but Deoxys-S also resist Dragon, and Skarmory is immune to Ground as well. Forretress also provides Toxic Spikes and Rapid Spin support. Groudon can set up Stealth Rock and use its high Defense to sponge Earthquakes and Outrages, and appreciates Zekrom's ability to remove defensive Kyogre. Since Zekrom will be taking 10% damage every time it launches an attack, Wish support can be helpful. Blissey, Chansey, and Jirachi are all capable of passing Wishes to Zekrom; the former two can pass absolutely massive Wishes, while Jirachi resists Zekrom's Dragon- and Ice-type weaknesses. Also, keep in mind that Zekrom cannot handle offensive Kyogre well, and as such Palkia is a great partner.

Zekrom's average Speed stat makes it a mediocre sweeper on its own, so Hone Claws seems like the perfect choice to make Zekrom an even better sweeper by increasing its already ridiculously high Attack stat. However, this set's main purpose is not to use Hone Claws and Substitute to improve its attacking prowess. Instead, it aims to take advantage of one of Zekrom's most common switch-ins, Ferrothorn, while still maintaining the superb coverage granted by Dragon- and Electric-type attacks. Substitute allows Zekrom to set up on Ferrothorn--probably Zekrom's most common switch-in--and scout other switch-ins. Outrage and Bolt Strike are amazing STAB moves, as both are extremely powerful and have wide coverage in conjunction with each other. The choice between Dragon Claw and Outrage is up to the user. Outrage's undeniable power--it OHKOes Giratina-O and 2HKOes Max HP Dialga after Stealth Rock damage--makes it the superior option. However, if you don't want to be locked into Outrage and risk hitting yourself in confusion, feel free to use Dragon Claw. It should be noted, however, that doing so will cost you some crucial OHKOs and 2HKOs, such as the ones that have been mentioned above. The EV spread is quite straightforward; it gives Zekrom maximum bulk and power while allowing it to outspeed base 90 Speed Pokemon that don't invest in Speed. However, you can opt to use more Speed EVs to outspeed certain foes. 8 Speed EVs outruns 4 Speed Kyogre and Groudon, 36 Speed EVs outpaces base 90s with 32 Speed EVs, such as Substitute Ho-Oh, and 164 Speed is just enough to outspeed Lugia, allowing Zekrom to strike it before it sets up Reflect. In all of those cases, you should take the EVs out of Attack, as the bulk is necessary. However, if you want a more offensive approach, you can use a spread of 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature. This will let Zekrom outspeed everything it can at the cost of bulk and many important KOs. The big decision you will need to make for this set is what item it will use. Leftovers fits this Zekrom set perfectly, allowing it to use Substitute to scout switch-ins while regaining the lost health, minimizing the consequences of multiple uses of Substitute. With a Life Orb, Zekrom will usually focus on attacking first, only using Substitute to set up on Ferrothorn; thus, it should only be used with a Jolly nature and its corresponding EV spread. Life Orb is also notable for letting Zekrom gain several key KOs that Leftovers forces it to miss out on. For example, after one Hone Claws boost, Jolly Life Orb Zekrom will always OHKO maximum HP Arceus with Bolt Strike after Stealth Rock damage; Adamant Life Orb Zekrom also has an 87% chance of OHKOing maximum HP Dialga with a +1 Outrage. Finally, with Life Orb, you have the option of using Draco Meteor over Outrage and Dragon Claw. Assuming a spread of 104 HP / 148 Atk / 252 SpA / 4 Spe, Draco Meteor will 2HKO Groudon, one of this set's biggest problems, and can also be used to lure Ferrothorn in after it is used once. The downside in doing so is that Zekrom will have serious problems getting past most Dialga. Toxic Spikes and hazards completely tear this set apart, so a Rapid Spin user should be used. Tentacruel is an amazing spinner, as being part Poison-type means that it can simply clear the field of Toxic Spikes when it switches in. Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Hippowdon are immune to Bolt Strike, laugh at Outrage with their massive Defense stats, and strike back hard with their super effective STAB moves. Hippowdon and Arceus-Ground can heal themselves by using Slack Off and Recover, respectively. Excadrill falls in the same boat as the aforementioned Pokemon, but it resists Outrage. Arceus-Grass usually carries Ice Beam and Will-O-Wisp, resists Bolt Strike, and has the ability to Recover off the damage, which makes it a solid switch-in. However, Arceus-Grass will take a lot from a +1 Outrage. Garchomp and any other faster Dragon-type Pokemon can revenge kill Zekrom. Garchomp gets a special mention, as it is able to break Zekrom's Substitute and OHKO it with Dual Chop. Like Garchomp, Cloyster also outspeeds Zekrom, and can use Icicle Spear to break through Zekrom's Substitute and OHKO it. Lugia, if faster, can set up Reflect before Zekrom gets the chance to hit with Bolt Strike, and proceed to stall it with Roost.