基格尔德-中级形态 怎么配招

Dragon Dance gives Zygarde some much needed wallbreaking power and Speed. Substitute is extremely valuable to Zygarde, as it inherently wishes to get below 50% as quickly and safely as possible so that Power Construct triggers. Glare gives you more chances to set up a Substitute and boost with Dragon Dance. Toxic is the only tool Zygarde has to hit Shedinja, a Pokemon that otherwise blanket walls it. It also limits the longevity of the opponent's physically defensive walls. Dragon Tail guarantees Zygarde doesn't get phazed, as it's faster than every phazer in the metagame after just a single Dragon Dance, while also doing a fair bit of damage. 16 HP and 36 Defense EVs with an Impish nature guarantee that Zygarde-C's Substitute does not break from uninvested Ho-Oh's Brave Bird or Necrozma-DM's Sunsteel Strike. 232 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed maximum Speed Eternatus and Mewtwo after a boost. Zygarde struggles in front of Fairy- and Ice-type coverage and, as such, appreciates Steel-types such as Necrozma-DM, which can also provide Stealth Rock support. In return, Zygarde takes on the Fire-type attacks thrown their way. Ferrothorn sets Spikes, letting Thousand Arrows OHKO bulky Eternatus with one layer and Stealth Rock, while absorbing attacks from Kyogre, one of Zygarde's biggest checks. Toxic Spikes support is much appreciated, limiting the longevity of checks such as Tangrowth, opposing Zygarde, and defensive Kyogre, especially with Dragon Tail forcing the opponent into potentially unfavorable positions. Eternatus can set it up consistently while also absorbing it from your side, leaving Zygarde a clear pathway to switch in. Zygarde, in turn, is a switch-in to the Ground-type moves thrown Eternatus's way. Cleric support from Xerneas or Blissey is also appreciated, as Toxic and status from moves such as Sacred Fire can sometimes catch Zygarde off guard. Secondary setup sweepers like Swords Dance Groudon appreciate Zygarde weakening physical walls so that they can pick them off in case Zygarde falters.

This set bluffs a defensive Coil set by setting up with Coil, inviting in passive physically defensive Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Tangrowth without Leech Seed to trap. Thousand Waves allows Zygarde to trap a foe and either set up on it with Coil and Scale Shot or guarantee a teammate switches in safely. Once Zygarde has fully boosted with Coil, use Scale Shot to raise its Speed and limit revenge killing options. Rest maximizes the opportunities for it to max out on boosts. 220 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature allow Zygarde at +6 to OHKO defensive Kyogre with Thousand Waves and defensive Ho-Oh with a four-hit Scale Shot. 96 Speed EVs allow Zygarde-C at +2 Speed to outspeed Choice Scarf positive nature base 90 Pokemon, notably Kyogre, which can OHKO with Ice Beam. 80 HP EVs make Leftovers efficient. The team support this Zygarde appreciates overlaps greatly with that of other offensive boosting sets. Entry hazard setters allow Zygarde to blow through teams when the conditions for it to trap something aren't ideal. Stealth Rock setters such as Necrozma-DM and Spikes setters like Ferrothorn appreciate Zygarde removing the likes of Eternatus and Ho-Oh, and they provide protection from Fairy-type attacks. Powerful wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Kyogre and Xerneas pave the way for Zygarde to try and sweep by softening foes.

Coil boosts Zygarde's bulk, letting it take on opposing physical setup Pokemon such as Swords Dance Groudon, Dragon Dance Zygarde, and Substitute variants of Zekrom. Rest is the only way Zygarde has to recover HP and also turns it into a pseudo-status absorber. It also lets Zygarde take more advantage of its Complete forme's base HP increase. Glare is handy in checking physical attackers, giving Zygarde a chance to further boost its stats or get a Rest off. The 208 HP EVs make Leftovers efficient, while the 56 Speed EVs let Zygarde outspeed paralyzed Calyrex-S after transforming into its Complete forme. Answers to Xerneas, which might try to set up on Zygarde, are great partners. Necrozma-DM can switch in on Moonblast and set Stealth Rock for Zygarde or bother foes with Knock Off. Ho-Oh can also come in safely on Xerneas, while Zygarde answers to the potential Rock-type attacks thrown Ho-Oh's way. Blissey also pairs up quite nicely, alleviating the downsides of running Rest without Sleep Talk via Aromatherapy while also switching into Xerneas and Kyogre.

Thousand Arrows is Zygarde’s most spammable move because it has no immunities and few resistances as well as being a spread move with respectable power. Thousand Waves has the ability to trap both opposing Pokemon for as long as Zygarde is in play, but it can only damage grounded Pokemon unlike Thousand Arrows. Toxic can be used instead to wear down bulkier Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Cresselia. Superpower allows Zygarde to deal massive damage against Kyurem-B and Porygon2, which otherwise pivot into Zygarde easily and threaten it out. Extreme Speed allows Zygarde to pick off weakened targets that would normally outspeed and KO it, such as Dragon Dance Kyurem-B and Urshifu-R.

Due to Thousand Arrows's nature of having no immunities and a lack of resistances and being a spread move, it is the only move Zygarde needs. Thousand Arrows's decent power is also easily offset by Dragon Dance. Dragon Dance turns Zygarde into a threatening setup sweeper letting it outspeed the entire unboosted metagame at +1. Substitute allows Zygarde to block Fake Out and Intimidate, avoid a potential Spore or Toxic, and take a hit if needed. Protect keeps Zygarde safe for a turn and lets it accumulate an extra turn of Leftovers recovery, as well as stall out turns of Tailwind and Trick Room.

Life Orb Zygarde-C is a potent setup sweeper that utilizes its respectable bulk, valuable coverage, and beneficial Dynamax stat boosts to fit on all sorts of teams ranging from balance to hyper offense. Excellent coverage in Thousand Arrows and Outrage paired with a powerful setup move in Dragon Dance allows Life Orb Zygarde-C to threaten the entire metagame. Stone Edge allows Zygarde-C to KO Ho-Oh, Shedinja, and defensive Yveltal with a bit of chip. The brilliance of its Ground / Dragon coverage even extends to Dynamaxing, as their secondary effects allow Zygarde-C to overcome threats with Special Defense boosts from Max Quake and Attack drops from Max Wyrmwind. Max Rockfall also sets sand, opening opportunities for Zygarde-C by breaking Shadow Shield on Lunala. Rest can be used for longevity alongside possible cleric support to bring Zygarde-C back in the game later for an unexpected sweep after its initial checks have been worn down or KOed. A Jolly nature is preferred because the extra Speed ensures that it outspeeds most other Zygarde-C. Adamant is also a viable option because it gives a chance of breaking through Ferrothorn and defensive Kyogre after Stealth Rock chip with Dynamax. Offensively, Life Orb Zygarde-C benefits the most from teammates that force Necrozma-DM in such as Zacian-C and Xerneas. Necrozma-DM is one of the best foes for Life Orb Zygarde-C to set up on due to its inability to threaten Zygarde-C unless it carries Toxic. Wallbreakers that are also less reliant on Dynamax such as Choice Specs Kyogre pair well, as Zygarde-C appreciates the great deal of additional bulk, Special Defense boosts, and power it receives during Dynamax. Zygarde-C with Rest also appreciates cleric support from Aromatherapy and Heal Bell users such as Choice-item Calyrex-S, Xerneas, and Blissey. Defensively, Life Orb Zygarde-C values teammates that check Xerneas and Kyogre such as Ho-Oh and Ferrothorn, respectively. Life Orb Zygarde-C has no form of reliable recovery and is relatively frail, so it cannot be used to check bulky attackers such as Groudon without taking crippling amounts of damage that ruin its setup potential. Due to its fragility and preference to keep Power Construct intact for Dynamax, Life Orb Zygarde-C needs teammates such as defensive Kyogre that act as defensive cornerstones to switch into opposing attackers. Fairy-types such as Zacian-C and Xerneas are useful to switch into Ditto, which can revenge kill Zygarde-C with Outrage.

Defensive Zygarde-C is one of AG's premier physically defensive walls due to its decent typing, great utility moves, and gigantic bulk letting it check a ton of offensive and defensive Pokemon such as Groudon, Marshadow lacking Ice Punch, Necrozma-DM, Zacian-C lacking Play Rough, and Ho-Oh. Thousand Arrows ignores Ground immunities from Pokemon like Ho-Oh and Yveltal, offering nearly unresisted coverage. Rest is Zygarde-C's only recovery move and circumvents Toxic and Will-O-Wisp from the likes of Lunala, Ho-Oh, Giratina, and Necrozma-DM, allowing it to serve as a reliable status absorber. Coil turns Zygarde-C into a threatening bulky sweeper, letting it take advantage of defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Ho-Oh, and Necrozma-DM and go toe to toe with offensive Pokemon like Groudon, Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM, and Swords Dance Zacian-C. Alternatively, Haze can be run over Coil to remove boosts from threatening setup sweepers like offensive Groudon, Dragon Dance Zygarde-C, Swords Dance Zacian-C, and Bulk Up Marshadow, although it makes Zygarde-C almost entirely passive. Glare provides amazing support, paralyzing faster foes like Calyrex-S, Xerneas, and Marshadow for Zygarde-C and its teammates. Dragon Tail is also an option over Glare to phaze bulky walls that can handle Zygarde-C like Lunala and Gothitelle, which is otherwise able to trap and PP stall it, and counteract Ho-Oh's Whirlwind. It also becomes Max Wyrmwind under Dynamax, letting Zygarde-C check Groudon better. Scale Shot is a noteworthy mention, as it enables Zygarde-C to outspeed foes like bulky Eternatus, offensive Yveltal, and unboosted Zekrom, making it an even more threatening bulky sweeper paired with Coil. Thousand Waves alongside Scale Shot gives Zygarde-C plenty of room to boost up to nigh-invincible levels after trapping a passive foe such as Ferrothorn or Necrozma-DM. However, Glare and Dragon Tail are generally more useful because they offer better utility to teams, and the Defense drop from Scale Shot disrupts Coil's Defense increases, making it useless without Thousand Waves. 56 Speed EVs let Zygarde-C outspeed some Gothitelle spreads, paralyzed Zacian-C, and paralyzed Calyrex-S, while the remaining EVs and the Impish nature make Zygarde-C more effective against physical attackers such as Groudon, Zacian-C, and Marshadow. If forgoing Glare, Zygarde-C can run an alternative spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD. Zygarde-C fits best on balance teams, since it can check threats like Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and Ho-Oh while providing invaluable support with Glare. However, it can be exploited by a bunch of top-tier threats in AG such as Xerneas, Eternatus, Calyrex-S, and Kyogre. Teammates that check these threats such as Necrozma-DM, Calyrex-S, Yveltal, and Eternatus or Kyurem-W, respectively, are thus useful. Necrozma-DM can also deal with Play Rough Zacian-C, which is particularly threatening to Zygarde-C, while also providing Stealth Rock support, which Zygarde-C can take advantage of using Dragon Tail. Partners that can deal with Lunala like Yveltal, Marshadow, and Calyrex-S are also appreciated. Ferrothorn synergizes fantastically with Zygarde-C, as it provides Spikes support, which lets Zygarde-C chip down grounded foes using Dragon Tail, while also checking Xerneas and Kyogre for it. In return, Zygarde-C checks Pokemon that threaten Ferrothorn like Ho-Oh, Groudon, and Marshadow lacking Ice Punch. Offensive teammates like Zacian-C and Marshadow benefit a lot from Zygarde-C's Glare support, as it enables them to outspeed fast foes like Calyrex-S and Zacian-C, respectively. Despite Zygarde-C checking Groudon and Marshadow, Zygarde can be OHKOed by Precipice Blades after a Swords Dance boost before Power Construct activates, and Marshadow can carry Ice Punch to beat Zygarde-C. As a result, revenge killers or secondary checks to them like Ditto, Xerneas, and Eternatus are useful.

Dragon Dance Zygarde-C is a threatening setup sweeper, wincon, and Dynamax user in AG because it uses passive Pokemon like Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Ho-Oh as setup bait, giving it a good matchup against defensive teams. Substitute protects Zygarde-C against moves such as Toxic, Knock Off, Leech Seed, and Sacred Fire from Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Ho-Oh while giving it safe opportunities to set Dragon Dance up to take on faster foes. Thousand Arrows heavily damages prominent Pokemon such as Zacian-C, Eternatus, and Necrozma-DM after a boost while hitting the vast majority of the metagame for at least neutral damage. Dragon Tail allows Zygarde-C to get rid of threats such as Ho-Oh and Lugia before they phaze it with Whirlwind. Alternatively, Toxic may be used to severely cripple both Lunala and Lugia and defeat the niche Shedinja. Under Dynamax, Thousand Arrows turns into Max Quake, which boosts Zygarde-C's Special Defense, allowing it to tank even super effective attacks such as Ice Beam from Lunala and Moonblast from Xerneas. Dragon Tail turns into Max Wyrmwind under Dynamax, allowing Zygarde-C to hit Flying- and Dragon-types such as Yveltal and opposing Zygarde-C without negative priority. 16 HP EVs increase Zygarde-C's Leftovers recovery, and, with an Impish nature and 36 Defense EVs, prevent moves such as Ferrothorn's Power Whip, defensive Necrozma-DM's Sunsteel Strike, and Ho-Oh's Brave Bird from breaking its Substitute in its Complete forme. 232 EVs invested in Speed allow Zygarde-C to outspeed everything up to Adamant Zacian-C and Eternatus at +1 Speed. The remaining EVs are allocated into Attack in order to maximize firepower. An alternative 16 HP / 100 Atk / 148 Def / 244 Spe EV spread with a Jolly nature may be run instead in order to outspeed Calyrex-S at +1 without losing bulk. It comes at the cost of some power, however. Zygarde-C best fits on balance teams. A way to pressure Lunala and Lugia is crucial if Zygarde-C forgoes Toxic, as both can easily check it for a long period of time. The likes of Tyranitar, Calyrex-S, Ho-Oh, and Yveltal can work well in this regard, but the latter three must be wary of either Moongeist Beam or Meteor Beam from Power Herb Lunala. Ferrothorn and bulky Eternatus can check Zygarde-C's next largest roadblock in Kyogre, which threatens Zygarde-C with Ice Beam, while setting up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, respectively, making Dragon Tail more threatening for the opponent. Teammates such as Zacian-C and Necrozma-DM can check another common threat to Zygarde-C in Xerneas. Necrozma-DM can check Play Rough Zacian-C, which can OHKO an unboosted Zygarde-C. Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Zacian-C can pressure Haze Zygarde-C variants, which may trouble Dragon Dance Zygarde-C by preventing it from setting up. On top of that, Zygarde-C hugely benefits from Xerneas and Zacian-C's ability to lure in Necrozma-DM and Ho-Oh, which creates setup opportunities for Zygarde-C.

Defensive Zygarde-C is a premier wall in AG thanks to its ability to check the majority of physical attackers, including Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, Necrozma-DM, Dragon Dance Mega Rayquaza, and Zacian-C lacking Play Rough. Rest is important to keep Zygarde-C healthy and remove status ailments such as Toxic poison from Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, and Necrozma-DM. An anti-setup move is mandatory in order to check sweepers like Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM properly. Haze lets Zygarde-C check opposing Zygarde-C with Dragon Tail, avoid being setup fodder for special attackers like Geomancy Xerneas, and deal with Baton Pass strategies. Alternatively, Coil makes Zygarde-C more threatening offensively thanks to the Attack boosts it provides, but it makes this set setup fodder for opposing Dragon Dance Zygarde-C. Glare is a good option to cripple sweepers like Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM and annoy offensive checks like Xerneas and Primal Kyogre, preventing them from switching in freely. Dragon Tail in tandem with Coil allows Zygarde-C to set up on Ho-Oh and opposing Zygarde-C if they're slower or lack phazing moves and rack up entry hazard damage. However, it is not acceptable as the only move to deal with setup sweepers because Dynamax blocks phazing. Toxic is another option that pressures bulky foes like Ho-Oh more harshly than Glare, but makes it harder to force out Pokemon like defensive Necrozma-DM. Zygarde-C has good Dynamax potential; Max Quake lets it comfortably take even super effective special attacks such as Ice Beam from support Arceus formes and Moonblast from Xerneas. If running Dragon Tail, Max Wyrmwind lets Zygarde-C hit Flying-types while it's Dynamaxed and also OHKOes or severely dents Mega Rayquaza and opposing Zygarde-C after Coil boosts. 48 Speed EVs allow Zygarde-C to outspeed Zacian-C after paralysis from Glare or, if Dragon Tail is run, uninvested Ho-Oh so that Dragon Tail phazes Ho-Oh before it can phaze Zygarde-C with Whirlwind. Leftovers gives Zygarde-C passive recovery so that it does not need to use Rest as often. Safety Goggles can be used with Haze to safely switch into and remove stat boosts from sleep inducers such as Smeargle and Vivillon. Zygarde-C fits best on balance and bulky offense teams that appreciate its defensive utility as a status absorber and blanket check to physical attackers. The biggest threats to it are support Arceus formes with Ice Beam and strong special attackers such as Xerneas, Yveltal, and Primal Kyogre; therefore, checks to them like defensive Necrozma-DM, Ho-Oh, and Ferrothorn make for excellent teammates. Ferrothorn can also provide Spikes support to increase the effectiveness of Dragon Tail sets. Zacian-C with Play Rough is a notable physical attacker that Zygarde-C cannot handle, so teammates like defensive Necrozma-DM, Primal Groudon, and Ditto are great for their ability to check or revenge kill it. Mega Gengar and Gothitelle are good partners thanks to their ability to dispose of common checks to Zygarde-C like support Arceus formes and Ho-Oh. Because Zygarde-C is rather passive, wallbreakers like Zacian-C, Xerneas, Yveltal, and Primal Kyogre are good partners to pressure bulky teams. The former two can take advantage of Pokemon that must lock into Outrage to break past Zygarde-C, such as Mega Rayquaza, Ultra Necrozma, and Zekrom; Primal Kyogre appreciates paralysis support from Glare and Zygarde-C's ability to switch into the physical attackers that threaten it.

This Zygarde-C set is very good against defensive teams, which usually include multiple passive Pokemon it can use as setup fodder. Substitute protects Zygarde-C from status moves such as Toxic and Leech Seed, letting it set up on most foes that can't break its Substitute and scouting for the foe prematurely Dynamaxing in an attempt to stop its sweep. Dragon Tail allows Zygarde-C to bypass usual means of counterplay to setup sweepers such as phazing and Defense-boosting moves from Pokemon like Ho-Oh and opposing Zygarde-C. Under Dynamax, Max Quake gives Zygarde-C Special Defense boosts and allows it to comfortably tank even super effective hits like Ice Beam from support Arceus formes. Max Wyrmwind allows Zygarde-C to hit Flying-types when it's Dynamaxed and severely damage or OHKO opposing Zygarde-C, Ditto, and Mega Rayquaza after boosts. 16 HP EVs are used to maximize Leftovers recovery, while 232 Speed EVs allow Zygarde-C to outspeed foes like Eternatus, Mega Gengar, and Adamant Zacian-C at +1. 36 Defense EVs with an Impish nature prevent Zygarde-C's Substitute from being broken by attacks like Ho-Oh's Brave Bird, defensive Necrozma-DM's Sunsteel Strike, and Ferrothorn's Gyro Ball in a single hit. The remaining EVs are put into Attack and greatly improve Zygarde-C's offensive presence, letting it 2HKO support Arceus formes with +2 Max Quake and usually OHKO Zacian-C with +1 Thousand Arrows. This set's EV spread is fairly customizable, and more EVs can be put into Attack, Defense, or Speed if desired at the cost of the other two stats. Ferrothorn is a great partner for this set, as it can check Primal Kyogre and support Arceus formes that threaten Zygarde-C, and it makes Dragon Tail more threatening thanks to the support it provides through Spikes and Knock Off. Necrozma-DM is also appreciated for its ability to handle Xerneas and Zacian-C, while Ho-Oh is able to handle support Arceus formes. This set shouldn't be used as a switch-in to Ho-Oh or defensive Necrozma-DM, as the lack of Rest means it won't appreciate status from Toxic or Sacred Fire or having its Leftovers removed by Knock Off. Instead, a partner that can absorb status and Knock Off from these foes such as Refresh Arceus-Water, Rest Primal Kyogre, or even defensive Zygarde-C is recommended. Mega Gengar and Gothitelle are good partners, as they can trap and remove Zygarde-C's checks such as support Arceus formes and opposing Zygarde-C with Haze; Mega Gengar can also force checkmate situations in which the opponent is forced to use their Dynamax, letting Zygarde-C sweep more easily after it Dynamaxes itself. Zacian-C and Eternatus are non-Dynamax-reliant wallbreakers that have good offensive synergy with Zygarde-C, as they can pressure support Arceus formes, while Zygarde-C can take advantage of foes like Ho-Oh, Necrozma-DM, and Tyranitar for them.

EV Spreads 236 HP / 116 SpD / 156 Spe with Careful: This spread survives Life Orb Modest Yveltal's Max Darkness while in the 50% forme, and outspeeds +1 Timid Yveltal as Zygarde-C after paralyzing it with Glare. 252 HP / 204 SpD / 52 Spe with Careful: This bulkier spread allows Zygarde-C to outspeed a paralyzed Calyrex-S.

EV Spreads 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 Spe with Impish: The given Speed EVs lets Zygarde outspeed Choice Scarf Mimikyu after Glare. 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe with Impish: With these Speed EVs, Zygarde outspeeds up to paralyzed Calyrex-S.

Moves Rest is mandatory, as it is the only way Zygarde can recover health. In addition, the move provides Zygarde with more opportunities to activate Power Construct. Coil boosts Zygarde's bulk to further levels, letting it prevail against Swords Dance variants of Primal Groudon, Arceus, and Arceus-Ground. Coil also prevents Zygarde from being set up on by the latter two using Substitute. Sleep Talk prevents Zygarde from being completely passive while it is asleep. Thousand Arrows prevents Zygarde from being completely passive against Xerneas and Magearna. Thousand Arrows is also helpful for punishing Mega Gengar, checking Mega Lucario, and wearing down Primal Groudon. Glare harshly punishes foes, should they switch into Zygarde to force it out. It also proves extremely useful due to its ability to paralyze Primal Groudon, letting Zygarde be one of the few Pokemon that can shut down Rock Polish variants. Dragon Tail allows Zygarde to reliably check its foes by phazing them, and it can also be used to rack up good amounts of damage with entry hazards on the field. More notably, it prevents Zygarde from being trapped by Gothitelle. Toxic is another possible utility option that lets Zygarde more reliably check Primal Groudon by putting it on timer while punishing its checks like support Arceus formes harder than Glare would. Set Details Maximum investment in HP and Defense and an Impish nature allow Zygarde to fulfill its role as a defensive wall. The EV spread is also the most sensible option to allow Zygarde to take on boosted Primal Groudon and Mega Lucario prior to its transformation, as Zygarde cannot survive +2 Precipice Blades or +2 Close Combat from said foes while running less bulk investment. Leftovers provides Zygarde with passive recovery, leaving it less reliant on Rest and letting it narrowly avoid two consecutive Close Combats from Mega Lucario. Power Construct, once activated, turns Zygarde into a formidable physical wall that becomes very difficult to surmount with physical attackers without brute force. Usage Tips Zygarde should be switched into weak or resisted attacks from Pokemon such as defensive variants of Primal Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and Ho-Oh. Zygarde can also switch into a predicted status move from foes that cannot pose an immediate threat, as the residual damage will eventually activate Power Construct, and Zygarde can simply use Rest to rid itself of its status ailment anyway. Even when taking weak attacks, one must carefully observe the amount of damage that Zygarde takes and draft plans about making defensive reactions. Necrozma-DM has a considerable chance to carry a Z-Crystal, which is capable of taking out Zygarde prior to transformation at an unexpected situation. Coverage moves are another factor that Zygarde must be concerned of, as foes it would otherwise check, such as Primal Groudon and Rayquaza, may carry moves like Hidden Power Ice or Draco Meteor. This necessitates scouting before one decides to stay in against them, unless there are no other teammates that can feasibly deal with them. When running a moveset with Coil, carefully observe threats that Zygarde will be tasked to deal with. For example, when taking on Primal Groudon, take note of how much damage it does with physical attacks. If the damage output is far above defensive variants', it is better for Zygarde to start setting up Coil, as there is a considerable chance that it may be taking on a Swords Dance variant. Another case when Coil should be set up with haste is when dealing with Swords Dance Arceus formes, as they commonly carry Substitute or use Z-Moves to defeat Zygarde prior to transformation. As Zygarde lacking Coil or Dragon Tail is set up on by Substitute users like opposing Zygarde, Arceus-Ground, and Extreme Killer Arceus, ensure that they are scouted beforehand to prevent them from gaining free turns of setup. Zygarde's health should be managed even after transformation, especially if he opponent has wallbreakers employing a setup move, a Z-Move, or both. Zygarde won't always be in the healthiest condition after transformation, and failure to properly manage its health may leave it unable to check them. Team Options Thanks to Zygarde's ability to check the majority of physical attackers in the tier with its sheer bulk, it can easily form a defensive core with teammates that can patch up its vulnerability to special attackers. Zygarde desires a teammate that can deal with Fairy-types and support Arceus formes, which commonly carry Ice Beam. Ferrothorn and Magearna are solid partners in this regard. Ferrothorn makes Zygarde's Dragon Tail more useful with Spikes, allows Zygarde to safely manage its health with Leech Seed, and appreciates Zygarde's ability to take on most Primal Groudon variants and Fighting-types. Magearna is also a reliable switch-in to support Arceus formes and, unlike Ferrothorn, serves as a strong check to Xerneas. Zygarde can assist and benefit from a number of very common Pokemon as well. Primal Groudon enjoys the spread of paralysis, as this allows it to threaten faster foes it would otherwise cautiously contend against. Zygarde functioning as a status absorber and occasionally removing Ground immunities from Pokemon is also appreciated. Primal Groudon sets up Stealth Rock so Zygarde can take advantage of it with Dragon Tail, and it can check Xerneas and Primal Kyogre. Mega Gengar, especially Hex variants, benefit from the spread of paralysis, as this boosts Hex and may occasionally provide Mega Gengar with room to breathe. In return, Mega Gengar can remove Fairy-types and any relevant clerics apart from Magearna, which would otherwise limit Zygarde's usefulness. Zygarde can handle Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh, which Mega Gengar normally does not enjoy facing. Ho-Oh is a great check to Xerneas and the majority of support Arceus formes that can threaten Zygarde with Ice Beam, and it can render physical attackers useless with Sacred Fire burns. As a number of physical attackers like Primal Groudon and Mega Salamence can overwhelm Ho-Oh, Zygarde's ability to blanket check the majority of them is appreciated. Ho-Oh also checks Marshadow lacking Rock Tomb, while Zygarde can check Marshadow lacking Hidden Power Ice. Necrozma-DM similarly benefits from utility options that Zygarde provides. Defensive variants can set Stealth Rock and punish support Arceus formes with Toxic. Various support Arceus formes aid Zygarde. Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Water can function as a secondary check to Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, which Zygarde will have a much shakier matchup against when it is asleep. As most support Arceus formes despise Toxic, Zygarde's ability to switch into said move is always appreciated. Zygarde can also check boosted Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, as most Arceus formes struggle properly handling boosted attacks from them. Both Magearna and Blissey are excellent checks to Fairy-types, and they can alleviate Zygarde lacking Sleep Talk thanks to their access to Heal Bell.

Moves Dragon Dance and Thousand Arrows are mandatory for any Zygarde variant attempting to sweep. Thousand Waves prevents a foe from switching once it has been hit by the move. Depending on what foe Zygarde traps, it can either fully set up or safely switch to a teammate that can deal with the foe. Rest fully restores Zygarde's health and removes status, letting it consistently take hits from foes like defensive Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh that can't immediately threaten it and fully set up. Set Details 220 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature allow Zygarde to OHKO any relevant Arceus forme, including Arceus-Ground, with +6 Thousand Arrows after Stealth Rock damage. 80 HP EVs let Zygarde survive an Ice Beam from a support Arceus forme, if it proves to be a necessity. The rest of the EVs are invested in Defense, letting Zygarde avoid the 4HKO from defensive Primal Groudon's Precipice Blades most of the time with Leftovers recovery so it can reliably set up Dragon Dance while consistently taking hits. Power Construct allows Zygarde to transform into its Complete forme when its HP is under 50% at the end of the turn. Usage Tips This set takes advantage of Zygarde's checks' tendencies to switch into it by trapping them on switch using Thousand Waves and switching to a teammate that can deal with them. Therefore, Thousand Waves is what Zygarde should usually use. However, Zygarde can situationally use Dragon Dance to punish foes like support Arceus formes that switch into it. On the other hand, Zygarde can fully set up on foes that are not powerful enough to surmount its Complete forme such as defensive Primal Groudon, Ferrothorn, defensive Necrozma-DM, and Excadrill. Occasionally, these foes may stay in against Zygarde to either set entry hazards or status it before switching out. Zygarde can take advantage of this to trap them with Thousand Waves and fully set up on them. Once a foe has been trapped, Zygarde can simply repeat setting up Dragon Dance and using Rest when its health is low. While a fully boosted Zygarde may seem impossible to stop, certain foes like Lugia, Skarmory, and opposing Zygarde can still survive +6 Thousand Arrows and phaze Zygarde. Setting entry hazards up before attempting to sweep with Zygarde is a good plan in this regard. Defensive teams typically rely on support Arceus formes or phazing to check setup sweepers. Due to this, Zygarde can be preserved until late-game. Once it doesn't have any teammates left, Zygarde can freely set up, as many common Pokemon on defensive teams are not capable of sufficiently pressuring it. Ensure that problematic foes like support Arceus formes have been eliminated beforehand, however. Team Options This set appreciates similar team support to other Dragon Dance sets, but certain Pokemon pair with this variant of Zygarde especially well. Mega Gengar and Gothitelle are the most notable ones, as after Zygarde traps a passive foe with Thousand Waves on the switch, they can promptly switch in and proceed to trap and remove them. Mega Gengar can either eliminate or force a trade with a problematic foe, while Gothitelle can trap and remove almost every relevant support Arceus forme. Primal Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and Arceus-Fairy are all valid users of Stealth Rock. When Zygarde is paired with Gothitelle, any support Arceus forme that attempts to use Defog to remove entry hazards can be trapped early-game, providing Zygarde with better opportunities to set up. Spikes support, while not effective as Stealth Rock, can still aid Zygarde, as Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes give +6 Zygarde a good chance to OHKO opposing defensive Zygarde in its base forme. Ferrothorn is a good Spikes setter for this reason, as its tendency to draw in Primal Groudon is also appreciated. Various wallbreakers like Yveltal, Primal Kyogre, and Marshadow can be paired with set, as they aid Zygarde's sweep in a situation where there are no foes that Zygarde can trap and use as setup fodder.

Moves Dragon Dance compensates Zygarde's lacking damage output and lets it outspeed many Pokemon after a boost, turning it into an offensive threat. Thousand Arrows is a spammable STAB move that hits almost the entire tier for at least neutral damage while naturally threatening extremely common threats like Primal Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and Ho-Oh. Groundium Z makes the move into an immensely powerful Tectonic Rage that is capable of OHKOing Zygarde's offensive checks like Xerneas with or without prior damage. Zygarde can opt to use Substitute thanks to its massive bulk and Thousand Arrows freeing up a moveslot that would otherwise go to a coverage move. Substitute greatly aids Zygarde by letting it effectively manage HP to safely activate Power Construct, letting it avoid status moves and Dragon Tail from Giratina and opposing defensive Zygarde, easing predictions, and punishing its switch-in with Dragon Tail or Glare. Dragon Tail may not seem to be the most viable option on an offensive Dragon Dance set, but it prevents Zygarde from getting phazed by Lugia and Skarmory, as a boosted Zygarde can phaze them first before it is phazed by Whirlwind. Dragon Tail also helps Zygarde punish Arceus formes and its other offensive checks by forcing them to switch into a random teammate while doing a considerable amount of damage and drawing them closer to KO range. It is important to note that if Zygarde is running Dragonium Z with Dragon Tail, it will have favorable matchup against occasional Ditto and Dragon-types like Mega Salamence and Giratina-O, as Devastating Drake does not have negative priority like Dragon Tail, so Zygarde can strike them first. Glare punishes offensive foes that attempt to switch in and check Zygarde, and paralysis can occasionally give Zygarde a free turn to set up or attack. Protect guards Zygarde for a turn, protecting it from attacks while letting it gain an extra turn of recovery from Leftovers and possibly stall more residual damage on a foe. Repeated use of Substitute and Protect can effectively stall out a foe, as Zygarde only ends up using a small portion of its health to do so. Outrage can be used over Dragon Tail so Zygarde can use a stronger Devastating Drake, which, when boosted, can quickly dispose of Mega Salamence, Giratina-O, and opposing Zygarde. Set Details 232 Speed EVs allow Zygarde to outspeed Mega Gengar and Marshadow in its Complete forme after a Dragon Dance, preventing the latter from stealing Zygarde's boosts before Zygarde gets to attack. If outspeeding more threats is desired, 248 Speed EVs can be used to allow Zygarde to outspeed Rash Deoxys-A after a Dragon Dance. 30 HP IVs should be used if Zygarde is not running any HP EVs and is not holding Leftovers so it can activate Power Construct after using Substitute twice. 12 HP EVs maximize Zygarde's Leftovers recovery in its Complete forme. If Zygarde is holding a Z-Crystal, they make Zygarde's HP number divisible by four so that Power Construct activates after two uses of Substitute. 48 Special Defense EVs allow Zygarde to survive an Ice Beam from support Arceus formes from full HP in its base forme. The rest of the EVs are put into Attack, combined with an Adamant nature, to maximize Zygarde's damage output. A bulkier EV spread of 12 HP / 160 Atk / 56 Def / 48 SpD / 232 Spe and an Impish nature allow Zygarde to survive +2 Sunsteel Strike from Necrozma-DM, +2 Photon Geyser from Ultra Necrozma, and uninvested Ice Beam from support Arceus formes, as well as ensuring that Zygarde-C's Substitute will always block defensive Necrozma-DM's Sunsteel Strike. This EV investment comes at the cost of a noticeable drop in damage output, however. A different EV spread of 44 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 200 Spe can be used if Zygarde isn't running Leftovers, as this maximizes Zygarde's damage output, allows it to activate Power Construct after using Substitute twice, and ensures that Zygarde outspeeds Marshadow at +1 in its Complete forme. Note that Zygarde's inability to outspeed Mega Gengar at +1 in Complete forme can be detrimental. Leftovers provides Zygarde with passive recovery, allowing it to set up Substitute multiple times and aiding its attempt to stall a foe with paralysis from Glare. Groundium Z allows Zygarde to use Tectonic Rage, which, at +1, is capable of outright taking out Xerneas, defensive Primal Groudon, and support Arceus formes after some prior damage. Dragonium Z is an alternative Z-Crystal that can be used so Zygarde can hit Dragon-types with Devastating Drake for super effective damage. Power Construct transforms Zygarde into its Complete forme when it has lost a half or more of its HP, giving it a massive boost in HP and letting it ease setup and set more Substitutes. Usage Tips Dragon Dance Zygarde requires a number of conditions to be fulfilled for it to effectively sweep or cause serious damage to the opponent's team. As it is reliant on prior damage on foes like support Arceus formes even when opting to use a Z-Crystal, outright attempting to sweep with Zygarde is never a sensible strategy unless another teammate requires Zygarde to damage a foe that it draws in. Support Arceus formes are one of the most problematic foes for Zygarde to confront, as they are commonly prepared to check Zygarde and have sufficient bulk to survive a Z-Move when healthy. They are required to be damaged for Zygarde to bypass them. Statusing them with Toxic is a good idea, as this allows Zygarde to rack up the residual damage with Substitute. Setting up entry hazards is also helpful, as this leaves Zygarde with an option to wear down its checks with Dragon Tail to the point where they can no longer effectively handle boosted attacks. Even after Zygarde's traditional checks like support Arceus formes and Xerneas have been eliminated, recklessly setting up Dragon Dance is discouraged, especially if Zygarde is using a bulkier EV spread. As some foes like Mega Gengar, Ultra Necrozma, and Deoxys-A can outspeed boosted Zygarde depending on its EV spread, one must draft a plan to deal with them beforehand if Zygarde is not capable of outspeeding them at +1. All relevant Choice Scarf users are also capable of revenge killing boosted Zygarde, so possible Choice Scarf users like Xerneas and Yveltal have to be scouted with caution. Zygarde's primary setup targets are passive foes that rely on status, such as Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Chansey. It is best to set Substitute against them first to avoid status moves and grant Zygarde temporary protection should the opponent immediately switch into Zygarde's checks; this allows Zygarde to either wear them down with Dragon Tail or paralyze them without getting harmed. Frequently setting Substitute also allows Zygarde to safely activate Power Construct. Both Glare and Protect provide Zygarde with valuable utility options even when it is not able to successfully set up. Glare allows Zygarde to check Rock Polish Primal Groudon while essentially punishing every foe that tries to take it on by paralyzing them. Paralyzed foes can easily be taken advantage of by Zygarde's teammates, and paralysis can even provide Zygarde with a free turn to set up. Protect, while it is very handy for further improving Zygarde's ability to stall a statused foe, can also be used to scout a foe's move while providing Zygarde with an extra turn of recovery. Although this variant of Zygarde isn't very durable and lacks recovery apart from Leftovers, it can still be used as an offensive check to Primal Groudon and Extreme Killer Arceus. Zygarde using a Z-Crystal becomes predictable once it reveals that it lacks Leftovers, and an opponent may attempt to predict a Z-Move. Be prepared to make predictions, especially if an opponent's only check to a boosted Zygarde has to avoid a Z-Move to prevent the sweep. Team Options Zygarde appreciates entry hazard support. All variations of entry hazards are beneficial for Zygarde in different ways. It is recommended for hazard setters to carry some form of a status move, as they naturally draw in Defog users, which Zygarde can easily deal with later if they are statused. Stealth Rock support allows Zygarde to better deal with Lugia if Dragon Tail is not used, and it also helps punish defensive Yveltal and Salamence, should the latter attempt switching in to hinder Zygarde's setup with Intimidate. Offensive teams can have a dedicated Stealth Rock setter, such as Excadrill and Deoxys-S. On more balanced teams, Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM can provide Stealth Rock support while functioning as solid checks to Fairy-types. Spikes support is particularly helpful for Zygarde using a Z-Crystal, as this wears down grounded foes much faster. Both Cloyster and Deoxys-S can set Spikes for Zygarde on offensive teams to pressure the opposing team early-game. Cloyster can also set Toxic Spikes, and Zygarde can take advantage of this well, as many foes that are immune to said entry hazard can be set up on by Zygarde or cannot contend with Zygarde. Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Klefki can set Spikes, check certain support Arceus formes, and spread status. A myriad of offensive Pokemon can benefit from the damage that Zygarde-C spreads onto the opposing team or can assist Zygarde-C themselves in a similar way. Xerneas benefits from Zygarde-C threatening Primal Groudon and Steel-types, can deal with defensive Yveltal, and easily clean a weakened team after a Geomancy. Choice Scarf variants can cure Zygarde of status and provide revenge killing utilities against faster foes. Mega Gengar is one of the best offensive partners to Zygarde, as it can take advantage of weakened teams, trap and eliminate Fairy-types, and even force a trade with Destiny Bond against a foe that has to be eliminated for Zygarde to be successful. Hex variants in particular appreciate Zygarde spreading paralysis with Glare, and Mega Gengar can soften a passive wall with Will-O-Wisp, providing a better setup condition for Zygarde against the likes of defensive Necrozma-DM. Other setup sweepers like Rock Polish Primal Groudon and powerhouses like Yveltal and Primal Kyogre can wreak havoc on opponent's defensive backbones early-game for Zygarde. Gothitelle can remove support Arceus formes and other passive foes for Zygarde. Its ability to neutralize a foe and provide Zygarde with a safe environment to set up is generally appreciated.

Moves Thousand Arrows operates as Zygarde's primary attack and the main reason its Choice Band set is effective, offering powerful spread damage that hits every foe. Extreme Speed picks off weakened foes and adds to Zygarde's late-game cleaning ability, hitting decently hard thanks to the Choice Band boost. The remaining moveslots are largely filler, and thus they are used for very specific targets or matchups that the team struggles with. Unlike Thousand Arrows, Superpower OHKOes Tyranitar, and it also hits Ferrothorn harder and takes a chunk out of Kyurem-B. Dragon Tail forces the target to switch, making it useful for preventing opposing setup—primarily of Trick Room. Thousand Waves offers redundant coverage with Thousand Arrows and can't hit Flying-type foes, but it is a superior move in some situations due to its ability to trap targets. Set Details A Choice Band offers impressive power behind Zygarde's moves without the need to set up, which is especially useful thanks to Zygarde's rare need to use any attacks other than Thousand Arrows. Zygarde's Attack is maximized to go along with this goal. With the given spread, Zygarde is guaranteed to outspeed Modest Kingdra in neutral conditions, either with its own Tailwind up in the rain or with no field effect present. The split between HP and Special Defense EVs prevents Choice Scarf Tapu Lele's Moonblast from OHKOing Zygarde. Usage Tips The only move Zygarde should be using most of the time is Thousand Arrows, with its other moves best reserved for specific threats. With its other moves, Zygarde risks being locked into a move the opponent can take advantage of later. If this happens, you should switch Zygarde out to regain momentum. After incurring Intimidate drops, Zygarde's damage output will become very disappointing, so it should be switched out to reset those drops. This particular set works during all points in the game, either breaking down threats for a teammate to close out the game or cleaning up weakened foes. Retaining Zygarde's HP isn't overly important for this set to do its job, but playing too recklessly is never advisable. Team Options Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and Ludicolo are some of the few foes that resist Thousand Arrows, so Kyurem-B and Genesect are solid partners. Since sets lacking Dragon Dance have mediocre Speed, Tailwind support from Zapdos or Suicune allows Zygarde to take on faster foes without resorting to Extreme Speed. With Choice Band locking Zygarde into an attack, it will need teammates to pivot in; Steel-types, such as Genesect, Mega Metagross, and Mega Scizor, are the best options for this role, as they can take the Ice- and Fairy-type attacks aimed at Zygarde. Milotic helps preserve Zygarde's power by deterring Intimidate users from switching in, also appreciating Zygarde's handling of Electric-types. Tapu Koko and other Electric-types take out bulky Water-types, which often carry an attack that will hit Zygarde for significant damage. They also help Zygarde out against Araquanid, which boasts a resistance to Thousand Arrows and access to Wide Guard to stop a locked Zygarde from doing its job.

Moves Thousand Arrows provides Zygarde with a fantastic tool for dealing damage to both foes, even circumventing Ground-immune targets. That alone serves as Zygarde's best way to attack, so the next moveslot is dedicated to patching up a few issues to make cleaning with Thousand Arrows easier, with Substitute shielding it from status and ensuring survival of most hits and Extreme Speed allowing Zygarde to pick off frail faster foes. Dragon Dance boosts Zygarde's power and Speed, making up for its mediocre Speed tier and the spread reduction on its main attack. Protect shields Zygarde from damage while it stalls out opposing field effects, scouts for the foe's attack, or waits for its teammate to take out a threat. Set Details With the given spread, Zygarde is able to outrun Mega Manectric and anything slower after using Dragon Dance. After maximizing Attack for general damage output, the remaining EVs are dumped into HP. The choice between Groundium Z and Mago Berry either gives Zygarde the ability to plow through a tanky target or gives it increased survivability. A Mago Berry is typically only used on Substitute sets; however, the reverse isn't necessarily true, as Substitute Groundium Z sets can be quite successful. A variety of bulkier sets are also viable. A spread of 96 HP / 224 Atk / 8 SpD / 180 Spe with an Adamant nature ensures Zygarde can take Choice Scarf Tapu Lele's Moonblast. An Impish spread using 144 HP / 96 Atk / 92 Def / 12 SpD / 164 Spe retains that benchmark and also allows Zygarde to beat Mega Metagross in a one-on-one situation by guaranteeing Zygarde's ability to take Mega Metagross's Ice Punch and OHKO in return with Tectonic Rage. This leaves Zygarde outsped by Mega Manectric but still faster than Tapu Koko and neutral-natured Deoxys-A after a Dragon Dance. For Substitute sets, 188 HP and 4 Defense EVs ensure that opposing Zygarde can't break its Substitute with an unboosted Thousand Arrows. Usage Tips Zygarde is best used late-game when it can set up and clean with its counters removed. However, Dragon Dance is also effective earlier on to apply pressure and either negate Intimidate drops or force a response from the opponent. If Zygarde isn't in a good position to clean, don't be afraid to switch Zygarde out of the field for another chance later, especially if the opponent's Intimidate users have left Zygarde with only its Speed boosted. As much as Dragon Dance helps Zygarde be more effective, sometimes simply attacking is the better play. If Zygarde is carrying Substitute, set that up to shield Zygarde from Intimidate and a potential stronger hit knocking it out. This is best done on a predicted status move or switch or against foes unlikely to be able to break it. In any other situation, this simply wastes Zygarde's valuable HP. Try to keep Zygarde's health high if it's your best way to win in the endgame, as its bulk is invaluable in aiding eventual setup. Team Options Volt Switch and U-turn users help Zygarde get in safely, with many popular users also offering added benefits. Genesect beats Kyurem-B, Landorus-T, and Tapu Bulu, Mega Manectric eases setup through Snarl and takes on Tapu Fini and Araquanid, and Incineroar threatens multiple of Zygarde's checks including Wide Guard Aegislash and Celesteela as well as Choice Scarf Genesect. Steel-types like Mega Metagross, Mega Scizor, and Aegislash are among the most valuable teammates for Zygarde, as they take on threatening Ice- and Fairy-types and benefit from Zygarde's removal of opposing Fire- and Steel-types. To ease setup pressure, a redirection user such as Amoonguss or Volcarona can prevent a super effective attack from hitting Zygarde. Gothitelle offers a different kind of support for setup variants of Zygarde, ensuring the foes that would prevent it from safely setting up are unable to switch in. Gothitelle takes a more passive route in aiding Zygarde through its access to Heal Pulse and Helping Hand. Milotic deters Intimidate users from switching in and removing Zygarde's boosts. Tapu Fini pairs especially well with Dragon Dance Zygarde, benefiting from Zygarde's ability to take on Tapu Koko while also offering Heal Pulse support and some safety from Dragon-type moves, most notably Kommo-o's Clanging Scales and its Z-Move counterpart.

Moves Rest is Zygarde's only source of recovery. It has the benefit of removing status incurred from Pokemon like Ho-Oh, defensive Primal Groudon, and Arceus-Poison that cannot otherwise punish Zygarde. Thousand Arrows provides Zygarde with a STAB attack that targets most of the metagame for at least neutral damage and hits important targets like Primal Groudon and Mega Gengar super effectively. Glare paralyzes foes that attempt to switch into Zygarde and force it out; it's also useful for slowing down setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Mega Rayquaza, allowing teammates to deal with them more easily. Toxic can be used instead of Glare if the residual damage it inflicts is more beneficial for your team; it should be used alongside Coil so that Zygarde can force out bulky Pokemon like Ferrothorn and support Necrozma-DM. The final moveslot gives Zygarde a method of dealing with setup sweepers: Dragon Tail phazes Pokemon that are not Fairy-types or behind Substitute, racks up damage from entry hazards, and prevents Zygarde from being trapped by Gothitelle. Most importantly, it enables Zygarde to handle Dragon Dance Mega Rayquaza more effectively than other options; a paralyzed Mega Rayquaza will still outspeed Zygarde if it's already at +1, and Zygarde will still be overwhelmed by boosted hits if it tries to use Coil alongside a Life Orb variant. Alternatively, Coil boosts Zygarde's Attack and Defense by one stage each, letting it go toe-to-toe with Swords Dance users (including ones behind Substitute) and possibly pull off a late-game sweep once its checks have been weakened or eliminated. Haze is an option that allows Zygarde to deal with Baton Pass teams, opposing Zygarde, and Substitute + Bulk Up Marshadow and possibly waste Xerneas's Power Herb. Set Details Maximum investment in HP and Defense alongside an Impish nature maximizes Zygarde's already impressive physical bulk. This allows it to withstand very strong neutral hits prior to transformation, including +1 Dragon Ascent from Life Orb Mega Rayquaza and +2 Precipice Blades from Primal Groudon, so that it can activate Power Construct. Leftovers provides Zygarde with a source of passive recovery that leaves it less reliant on Rest. Usage Tips Oftentimes, using Glare or Toxic has the fewest drawbacks. Electric-types are virtually nonexistent in Anything Goes, and Zygarde naturally scares them away along with Steel- and Poison-types, so its status moves can be spammed quite liberally. Use Rest to keep Zygarde healthy and rid it of status; however, do so sparingly unless Zygarde's team provides cleric support, since it will leave Zygarde very exploitable for two turns. Variants with Coil should avoid trying to sweep until revenge killers such as Xerneas and support Arceus formes have been crippled or removed. A healthy Marshadow can also punish the use of excessive Coil boosts with Spectral Thief; this is particularly undesirable if Zygarde is the team's primary switch-in to Marshadow. Finally, Zygarde should be wary of coverage moves like Draco Meteor from Mega Rayquaza, Outrage from Ultra Necrozma, and Hidden Power Ice from Marshadow. Team Options Mega Gengar is a great partner for Zygarde, since it can trap and remove the Fairy-types and support Arceus formes that threaten it. It can also revenge kill threats like mixed Mega Rayquaza and Outrage Ultra Necrozma that are capable of muscling past Zygarde, ensuring that they do not deal further damage to the team. In return, Zygarde can easily switch into Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh for Mega Gengar, and the paralysis it spreads via Glare boosts the power of Mega Gengar's Hex and can potentially buy it free turns to use Substitute. Alternatively, Mega Rayquaza has an easier time breaking through Fairy-types and support Arceus formes once Zygarde lures them in and cripples them with status. It also appreciates Zygarde's ability to threaten Flying-type switch-ins like Arceus-Steel, Tyranitar, and Celesteela. Steel-types possess natural defensive synergy with Zygarde: Celesteela checks Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Ground, and Choice Scarf Xerneas for it, while Zygarde switches into Fire-types like Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh for Celesteela. Ferrothorn can switch into the majority of support Arceus formes and Primal Kyogre, and it can set Spikes to help wear down Zygarde's grounded checks. Support Necrozma-DM and Magearna perform similar roles, but they also reliably check Xerneas. Arceus-Fairy and Choice Scarf Xerneas make for effective partners, as they can pivot into Dragon-type moves such as Draco Meteor from Mega Rayquaza and provide extra security against Marshadow in case it's running Hidden Power Ice or Substitute + Bulk Up. Xerneas and Magearna also provide cleric support so that Zygarde can wake up quickly after it uses Rest. In return, Zygarde can very easily switch into and take advantage of Fairy-type switch-ins like Arceus-Poison, Necrozma-DM, and Ho-Oh. Arceus-Poison checks Fairy-types and provides extra security against Marshadow in case it's running Hidden Power Ice, while Zygarde can deal with common switch-ins to Arceus-Poison like Steel-types and Primal Groudon. Primal Groudon checks both Primal Kyogre and Xerneas for Zygarde, while Zygarde can check opposing Primal Groudon and some Mega Rayquaza variants. It's worth noting that despite sharing a Ground typing, the two don't stack any type weaknesses. Slow wallbreakers and setup sweepers including Life Orb or Choice Band Mega Rayquaza, Life Orb Yveltal, Calm Mind Primal Kyogre, and Swords Dance Necrozma-DM can take advantage of the paralysis that Zygarde spreads.

Moves Dragon Dance turns Zygarde into an offensive threat by boosting its Attack and Speed by one stage. Thousand Arrows is Zygarde's primary attacking move that hits most relevant Pokemon in the tier for at least neutral damage. Substitute shields Zygarde from status moves like Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, and Leech Seed. It also allows Zygarde to set up on any Pokemon that cannot break its Substitute in one hit; once it's in its Complete forme, this list includes various passive Pokemon such as support Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela. Dragon Tail allows Zygarde to circumvent checks such as Giratina, Lugia, and opposing Zygarde that rely on phazing to deal with it, as they will be phazed by Dragon Tail themselves before they can do the same to Zygarde. Glare punishes offensive foes that attempt to switch in and check Zygarde, and paralysis can occasionally give Zygarde a free turn to set up or attack. Toxic is more effective at pressuring bulky foes such as support Arceus formes and Lugia; after Zygarde poisons one of its checks, it can use Substitute repeatedly to stall out Toxic damage on said check until it is in range of being knocked out by Thousand Arrows. Set Details 12 HP EVs ensure that Zygarde survives Life Orb Mega Rayquaza's Dragon Ascent prior to transformation, and they maximize Zygarde's Leftovers recovery in its Complete forme. If Zygarde is holding Groundium Z, they make Zygarde's HP number divisible by four so that Power Construct will activate after two uses of Substitute. 48 Special Defense EVs ensure that Zygarde survives an uninvested Ice Beam from support Arceus formes or Judgment from Arceus-Fairy prior to transformation. 232 Speed EVs allow Zygarde-C to outspeed Mega Gengar after a Dragon Dance boost. The rest of the EVs are placed into Attack with an Adamant nature to ensure that Zygarde hits as hard as possible. Leftovers provides Zygarde with passive recovery, increasing the number of times it can use Substitute and aiding its attempts to stall out foes with Glare or Toxic. Groundium Z allows Zygarde to use Tectonic Rage, which lets it bypass some of its usual checks. At +1, the Z-Move OHKOes Geomancy Xerneas after Stealth Rock damage and takes out defensive Arceus formes after they have been hit by Thousand Arrows. Usage Tips Zygarde should be brought in via a free switch into Pokemon that it forces out, like Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, or passive Pokemon that are unable to break its Substitute, like Ferrothorn and Celesteela. Switching directly into these Pokemon is risky, however, since they can set up or cripple Zygarde with status moves before it can use Substitute. Once Zygarde is safely in, use Substitute initially to scout for status moves or a switch from the opponent; even if the foe is likely to attack, it can still be useful for safely activating Power Construct. After Zygarde is behind a Substitute, it can start setting up if the opponent's Pokemon does not pose a significant threat to it. Alternatively, Glare or Toxic can be used to cripple the opponent's check to Zygarde so that it will be harder to deal with later in the game. Zygarde should not attempt to sweep until its checks and revenge killers have been weakened or removed. Have a plan to deal with support Arceus formes; crippling them with status or setting entry hazards is usually a good idea. Try to secure prior damage on offensive checks like Primal Kyogre and Xerneas, as they can tank a boosted Thousand Arrows from full HP and proceed to OHKO back if Zygarde is not behind a Substitute. Scout for potential Choice Scarf users like Mega Rayquaza, Xerneas, and Yveltal, as they outspeed a +1 Zygarde and can revenge kill it with Draco Meteor, Moonblast, or Foul Play. This set is not especially bulky due to the lack of defensive investment, so do not attempt to use it as a check to setup sweepers like Mega Rayquaza and Swords Dance Primal Groudon, especially prior to transformation. Zygarde can sometimes beat said threats in a one-on-one scenario thanks to Glare and Power Construct, but it cannot do so if they are given a free turn of setup. Team Options Mega Gengar is one of the best partners for Zygarde, as it can trap and remove the Fairy-types and support Arceus formes that stand in the way of a sweep. It takes advantage of the status Zygarde spreads via Glare and Toxic, which boosts the power of its Hex and can potentially buy it free turns to use Substitute. Entry hazard support is crucial for pressuring Zygarde's checks. Primal Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and Arceus-Poison can set Stealth Rock and also check Fairy-types for Zygarde. Ferrothorn and Skarmory can set Spikes and switch into many of Zygarde's checks. Toxapex provides Toxic Spikes support, which enables Zygarde to stall out foes indefinitely with Substitute and Protect. More offensive teams can employ dedicated entry hazard leads such as Deoxys-S and Excadrill. Wallbreakers like Life Orb or Choice Band Mega Rayquaza and Life Orb Yveltal break down checks they share with Zygarde and take advantage of paralysis spread by Glare. Fairy-types can pivot into Dragon-type attacks from Pokemon like Mega Rayquaza, and they tend to lure in Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-types that Zygarde can use as setup fodder. Defensive Arceus-Fairy checks dangerous physical attackers such as Mega Rayquaza and Marshadow and can set Stealth Rock for Zygarde's team. Xerneas and Magearna provide invaluable cleric support, curing this set of status ailments inflicted by Pokemon like Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, and Arceus-Poison, allowing Zygarde to switch into said foes more liberally. Gothitelle can neutralize passive foes like support Arceus formes and provide Zygarde a safe environment in which to set up; unlike Mega Gengar, it can switch into most of them rather comfortably provided they don't use boosting moves like Calm Mind.

56 Speed EVs lets it outspeed Bisharp, Volcanion, and Breloom. 200 HP EVs makes Zygarde's Substitute not be broken by Seismic Toss. This is a sample set. We aren't working on ORAS Monotype analyses at the moment, but check out ORAS Monotype resources for more information about the metagame.