Hisuian Zoroark Movesets & Competitive Sets

Hisuian Zoroark's combination of high Special Attack and Speed, incredible typing, and an excellent ability makes it an important asset of Ghost-type teams. Shadow Ball pairs well with Illusion against Ghost teams, as it is immune to Ghost-type attacks and can attack back with Shadow Ball, knocking out foes like Dragapult and Gholdengo. Focus Blast allows it to deal with Dark-types such as Choice Scarf Hisuian Samurott and Choice Specs Greninja, which threaten it. Flamethrower lets it handle Steel-types such as Scizor and Skarmory. Alternatively, Grass Knot can be used to keep Ground- and Water-types such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and Urshifu-R in check. U-turn benefits from Hisuian Zoroark's high Speed stat allowing it to deal chip damage and safely pivot out while also eliminating threats like Choice Scarf Hoopa-U and Choice Band Meowscarada. Trick can be used in place of U-turn and allows Hisuian Zoroark to neutralize threats such as Alolan Muk, Dragon Dance Dragonite, Iron Hands and Toxapex. Hisuian Zoroark's high stats and immunity to Ghost-type moves allow it to be a great partner for all Ghost-types. Gholdengo is a great partner for Hisuian Zoroark, as its Speed tier and typing allow Hisuian Zoroark to use Illusion to its advantage. Gholdengo also serves as a great wallbreaker, eliminating foes such as Primarina and Iron Boulder and providing Hisuian Zoroark with a safe switch-in from incoming Thunder Wave from Pokemon like Blissey and Klefki. Choice Specs Flutter Mane and Mimikyu pair well with Hisuian Zoroark, as they take care of Dragon-type foes such as Roaring Moon and Hydreigon. Dragapult synergizes well with Hisuian Zoroark, forming an offensive core as Choice Scarf Dragapult takes out foes such as Hoopa-U, Kyurem, and Dragonite, which otherwise trouble Hisuian Zoroark, while Hisuian Zoroark eliminates threats like Gholdengo, Mamoswine, and Archaludon. Froslass provides Spikes support to Hisuian Zoroark. Pecharunt assists Hisuian Zoroark by spreading poison and using Parting Shot to bring Hisuian Zoroark in safely. Ceruledge appreciates Hisuian Zoroark, as it clears Ceruledge's enemies such as Toxapex and Air Balloon Heatran, which limit its sweeping capabilities.

With a Swords Dance set, Hisuian Zoroark becomes a surprising threat for Ghost teams, removing problematic walls such as Ting-Lu and Blissey. At +2, Poltergeist can allow Hisuian Zoroark to deal with troublesome foes such as Clodsire, Gliscor, and Swampert. Low Kick threatens the Normal- and Dark-types that can take on Poltergeist such as Blissey, Ursaluna, and Ting-Lu. Shadow Sneak allows Hisuian Zoroark to pick off weakened and faster threats such Tornadus-T, Flutter Mane, and Dragapult. Life Orb enables Hisuian Zoroark to reliably OHKO specially defensive Ting-Lu at +2 with Low Kick after entry hazard chip damage and gives a solid 50% chance to OHKO Flutter Mane with an unboosted Shadow Sneak. Spooky Plate is less powerful than Life Orb but doesn't cut into Hisuian Zoroark's health, allowing it to be more convincing with its Illusion. Flutter Mane serves as a crucial ally in supporting Hisuian Zoroark with its Choice Specs Moonblast and blazing Speed, dealing with Dark- and Dragon-types that Hisuian Zoroark cannot handle like Mandibuzz, Greninja, and Archaludon. Gholdengo can provide Thunder Wave support, slowing down faster targets like Tornadus-T and Iron Valiant while also absorbing Will-O-Wisp from the likes of Galarian Weezing and Sableye. Pecharunt serves as a physical wall that can pivot Hisuian Zoroark in with Parting Shot along with putting physically bulky targets like Porygon2 and Mandibuzz on a timer with Malignant Chain. Sinistcha can check bulky Ground- and Water-types that could handle Hisuian Zoroark such as Hippowdon, Great Tusk, Choice Scarf Urshifu-R, and Alomomola. Dragapult provides an incredibly useful Speed tier and a powerful Dragon-type STAB move such as Dragon Darts to remove problematic targets like Roaring Moon, Dragonite, and Kyurem for Hisuian Zoroark. Mimikyu can come in on Dark-types like Hisuian Samurott and Bisharp attempting to deal with Hisuian Zoroark with Sucker Punch and handle them with Drain Punch thanks to Disguise. Froslass and Brambleghast provide Spikes support, wearing down physical walls such as Toxapex, Iron Hands, and Archaludon. Froslass can also prevent entry hazards from the likes of Garchomp and Skarmory and use Destiny Bond to remove problematic walls like Moltres, while Brambleghast provides hazard removal to keep Hisuian Zoroark healthy.

This is a winning set from the Monotype Rising sets project. This will be updated as we work on new analyses. Stay tuned!

Hisuian Zoroark provides a vital role on Normal teams thanks to its Fighting immunity, empowering it to check otherwise problematic threats like Choice Specs Keldeo and Body Press Skarmory. Shadow Ball consistently blasts through threats like Archaludon, Gholdengo, and Sinistcha. Flamethrower melts through Steel-types such as Iron Treads, Corviknight, and Excadrill. Focus Blast slams Dark- and Normal-types such as Ting-Lu, Hydreigon, and Porygon2, along with majorly pressuring Hisuian Goodra. Finally, Trick can cripple would-be checks to Hisuian Zoroark, such as Blissey and Alolan Muk. Ursaluna serves as a great offensive complement to Hisuian Zoroark, easily breaking through special walls like Clodsire, Hisuian Goodra, and Swampert while appreciating Hisuian Zoroark checking physical walls such as Skarmory and Sinistcha. Blissey provides strong support with Stealth Rock to wear down threats such as Landorus and Hoopa-U and Thunder Wave to enable Hisuian Zoroark to outspeed Flutter Mane and Darkrai while checking these threats thanks to its titanic special bulk. Porygon2 checks physical attackers that outspeed Hisuian Zoroark, like Iron Boulder, physical Dragapult variants, and Cinderace. Braviary's Ground immunity enables it to check the likes of Choice Scarf Great Tusk and Sand Rush Excadrill, and it can use U-turn to safely bring Hisuian Zoroark in. Terapagos can use Rapid Spin to help Hisuian Zoroark stay healthy, along with powerful coverage options like Ice Beam and Flamethrower to deal with annoying threats such as Gliscor and Choice Scarf Gholdengo. Choice Scarf Ditto can turn setup attempts on Hisuian Zoroark from foes like Hisuian Samurott and Calm Mind Raging Bolt against them. Choice Scarf Indeedee-M can outspeed and check non–Choice Scarf variants of threats like Sneasler and Iron Valiant, along with providing Psychic Terrain that prevents priority from Scizor and Bisharp from removing Hisuian Zoroark.

Hisuian Zoroark's combination of high Special Attack and Speed, access to Nasty Plot, and excellent typing and ability that provide setup opportunities makes it a great wallbreaker and sweeper. Focus Blast primarily targets the Dark- and Normal-types that resist or are immune to Hisuian Zoroark's Shadow Ball, notably OHKOing most variants of Tyranitar and 2HKOing Hydreigon unboosted. It also targets Steel-types like Excadrill. Fightinium Z serves the dual purpose of letting Hisuian Zoroark avoid having to rely on Focus Blast's terrible accuracy while giving it the power to OHKO foes like Hydreigon and Tyranitar unboosted and Garganacl at +2. Grass Knot hits Ground-types like Hippowdon and Gastrodon, OHKOing most of them after Nasty Plot. Hisuian Zoroark fits best on offense teams with other wallbreakers and sweepers. Teammates like Iron Moth can KO or weaken Hisuian Zoroark's checks like specially defensive Celesteela, while it can remove foes like Hippowdon. Despite its good Speed, Hisuian Zoroark is vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster foes like Choice Scarf Mienshao and Choice Scarf Hydreigon, making walls such as Skarmory for the former and Clefable for the latter useful partners. Illusion makes Hisuian Zoroark pair nicely with Pokemon weak to Fighting and Ghost, such as Tyranitar and Victini, forcing the opponent into an uneasy guessing game that can allow it or its teammates to set up. Pretending to be a physical attacker can also lure in physical walls like Skarmory and Buzzwole. Hazard setters like Excadrill and Mew can weaken checks like Mega Venusaur into Hisuian Zoroark's KO range.

Hisuian Zoroark's high Speed, power, and spammable Shadow Ball make it a potent wallbreaker. Focus Blast OHKOes Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Hydreigon and Steel-types such as Excadrill. Grass Knot 2HKOes Ground-types like Hippowdon and Gastrodon; it also 2HKOes or 3HKOes most variants of the Tyranitar formes, easing prediction and letting Hisuian Zoroark sometimes avoid having to rely on the inaccurate Focus Blast. Trick can cripple walls Hisuian Zoroark otherwise can't touch, such as Blissey and Chansey. Hisuian Zoroark fits best on offense teams. Pivots such as Victini and Iron Moth can provide Hisuian Zoroark safe entry for it to wallbreak. Hisuian Zoroark struggles against Dark-types after being locked into Shadow Ball, especially Pursuit users like the Tyranitar formes, making Fighting-types like Buzzwole great partners for their ability to threaten them. They also work well at threatening Normal-types like Chansey and Blissey. In return, Hisuian Zoroark can eliminate physical walls like Clefable and Skarmory, and can notably lure them in thanks to Illusion. Setup sweepers like Booster Energy Iron Moth and Hydreigon can take advantage of Hisuian Zoroark weakening the opposing team's defensive cores by sweeping late-game. Entry hazard setters like Mew and Excadrill can chip Hisuian Zoroark's targets into KO range, something which notably punishes checks with limited longevity like Tapu Fini and the Tyranitar formes.

Hisuian Zoroark finds a niche on semi-stall and offensive teams as a progress maker or as an offensive pivot with its wide variety of utility options and ability to ignore passive damage thanks to Magic Guard. Knock Off cripples special walls by depraving RegenVest users such as Manaphy and Swampert of their Assault Vests or by limiting Blissey's, Empoleon's, and Mandibuzz's longevity by removing their Leftovers or Heavy-Duty Boots, allowing Hisuian Zoroark or teammates like Iron Moth and Azelf to break past them later in the game. Will-O-Wisp further weakens these special walls, forcing them to be worn down over time and notably enabling Hisuian Zoroark's Hex to break past them; it also cripples physical threats like Great Tusk and Iron Hands. U-turn allows Hisuian Zoroark to generate free momentum for its team while forcing its switch-ins to take chip damage from entry hazards as it pivots out, whereas Taunt denies Blissey and Empoleon recovery. Hisuian Zoroark should be paired with offensive entry hazard setters like Sandy Shocks, Pixilate Scream Tail, and Galvanize Kommo-o that can keep up the pressure on hazard removers to maximize its ability to wear the opposing team down over time. Sturdy checks to offensive threats that force Hisuian Zoroark out like Roaring Moon, Choice Scarf Gholdengo, and Azelf are needed, so good teammates that can stave them off like Great Tusk and Empoleon are recommended.

Hisuian Zoroark serves as a threatening sweeper and wallbreaker thanks to its great Special Attack, good Speed, and incredible moveset. Body Slam allows Hisuian Zoroark to hit specially defensive walls such as Manaphy, Swampert, and Meloetta. Focus Blast hits foes like Hisuian Goodra, Roaring Moon, Chien-Pao, Blissey, and Mandibuzz. Knock Off allows Hisuian Zoroark to remove crucial items like Manaphy's and Swampert's Assault Vests and Mandibuzz's Heavy-Duty Boots, helping it and its teammates break through these Pokemon and allowing it to be more self sufficient, as it does not rely on teammates to get rid of said items. Psychic is an alternative option that dents Iron Hands, Zamazenta, Great Tusk, and Iron Moth. Sheer Force lets Hisuian Zoroark hit harder to achieve feats such as 2HKOing non-Unaware Mandibuzz. A Timid nature should be used on sets with Nasty Plot, as a higher Attack is not needed. Teammates such as Iron Moth and Azelf appreciate Hisuian Zoroark's ability to force chip damage on special walls such as RegenVest Manaphy and Meloetta. Hisuian Zoroark is very frail, leaving it prone to revenge killing attempts from revenge killers like Roaring Moon and Azelf, so it appreciates slow pivots like Corviknight and Manaphy that can help it switch in safely. Hisuian Zoroark appreciates entry hazard setters like Great Tusk and Deoxys-D, as they can help chip walls that would otherwise beat it.

This is a sample set before we work on new analyses. This will be updated as the metagame continues to develop. Stay tuned!

This is a sample set before we work on new analyses. This will be updated as the metagame continues to develop. Stay tuned!

With a Ghost immunity, Hisuian Zoroark covers a crucial weakness for its team and makes use of it alongside Illusion to bluff as any of its allies efficiently and gain opportunities to set up and sweep. Focus Blast is unresisted alongside Shadow Ball and hits Dark-types that could be difficult to answer otherwise such as Hydreigon and Mega Tyranitar. Hyper Voice provides a complementary STAB option that shines in neutral matchups, 2HKOing Mega Venusaur and Toxapex after a boost, but Flamethrower complements Focus Blast to hit Steel-types such as Corviknight and Scizor. Hisuian Zoroark's sole weakness to Dark can lure in checks that can threaten a good portion of its team such as Alolan Muk and Mandibuzz. Mega Sableye is a good partner to check them in turn, and it can also prevent entry hazards from being set on its side with Magic Bounce to increase Hisuian Zoroark's longevity and allow it to bluff with Illusion further. Mimikyu discourages Dark-type attacks thanks to its Fairy typing, giving a safe option for Hisuian Zoroark to bluff as with Illusion, and an intact Disguise also lures the opposing team to expect setup and either bring in a physical wall or use utility moves such as Taunt and Will-O-Wisp that don't hinder Hisuian Zoroark as much they would Mimikyu, easing setup. Hisuian Zoroark's Illusion in general can be used to bluff as other Pokemon to lure counterplay to them that it exploits; for example, as Gholdengo, it can discourage status moves by pretending to have Good as Gold, and as Sinistcha, it can revenge kill unsuspecting foes that would normally outspeed Sinistcha.

Hisuian Zoroark provides defensive utility relevant to its team by being immune to Fighting, allowing it to easily pose as any of its allies with Illusion to find setup opportunities and sweep. Focus Blast and Shadow Ball provide unresisted coverage, allowing Hisuian Zoroark to defeat checks such as Mega Tyranitar, Heatran, and Hydreigon. Flamethrower hits foes it wouldn't OHKO otherwise, even after a boost, such as Ferrothorn, Corviknight after minimal chip, and opposing Hisuian Zoroark. Flamethrower alongside Focus Blast considerably eases the Steel matchup for its team, but Hyper Voice is an alternative that deals the most damage in neutral matchups, OHKOing Tapu Koko and Tornadus-T at +1 after Stealth Rock. Hyper Voice can also be used to trigger Breakneck Blitz over Z-Happy Hour to allow Hisuian Zoroark to lure in and overwhelm foes such as Keldeo, Hisuian Lilligant, and Landorus in a pinch. As Hisuian Zoroark lures in Dark-types to check it, Mega Lopunny is a solid partner to keep momentum against such foes, especially as Hisuian Zoroark can bluff as Mega Lopunny more effectively than other teammates, as both hold an item that cannot be removed by Trick or Switcheroo. Mega Lopunny also pressures special walls that Hisuian Zoroark can otherwise struggle with, such as Mega Sableye, Blissey, and Alolan Muk. Entry hazard control by Staraptor is also valuable to ensure Hisuan Zoroark's bluffing capabilities and raise its longevity; Staraptor can also provide a slow pivot to let Hisuian Zoroark come in safely. Chansey and Blissey can set Stealth Rock to let Hisuian Zoroark more easily threaten a sweep and can support it by providing safe pivoting for it with Teleport. In particular, it is easier for Hisuian Zoroark to disguise as Chansey due to a shared vulnerability to entry hazards.

This is a sample set before we work on new analyses. This will be updated as the metagame continues to develop. Stay tuned!