Set Description

Plasma Fists OHKOes most Urshifu-R, Celesteela, Tapu Fini, and non-Custap Berry Primarina, and as an added bonus it makes Normal-type moves Electric-type, which lets Zeraora absorb them with Volt Absorb. This is useful versus non-Choice Scarf Porygon-Z. Knock Off defeats Dragapult and Spectrier and has good odds to win against Naganadel. Play Rough OHKOes Urshifu-S and non-Choice Scarf Haxorus. Close Combat OHKOes Galarian Darmanitan, non-Chople Berry Tyranitar, and some Heatran. Outrage beats many Dragon-types, such as Dracovish, Dracozolt, and occasionally Goodra. It also guarantees beating Naganadel, but Knock Off is usually adequate there, as Modest Naganadel's Draco Meteor only occasionally OHKOes Zeraora. Blaze Kick OHKOes Ferrothorn and Kartana.

EVs

The Speed investment and the Jolly nature are for opposing Zeraora and Dragapult; the Special Defense is for surviving Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Beam from Regieleki.

Usage Tips

Choice Band Zeraora is quite straightforward; use the move that does the most damage.

Set Description

Zeraora can hold an Assault Vest to take on various special attackers, such as Sylveon and Porygon-Z, which other sets typically struggle with. Knock Off allows Zeraora to defeat all Haxorus with Outrage and Heatran with Close Combat. Iron Tail helps out versus Sylveon and Aromatisse; it 2HKOes bulky Sylveon, and Iron Tail + Plasma Fists 2HKOes Aromatisse. Fire Punch OHKOes Kartana and 2HKOes Ferrothorn.

EVs

The HP investment allows Zeraora to survive Porygon-Z's Hyper Beam; the Defense investment is for Choice Scarf Haxorus's Earthquake. The Speed is for outspeeding base 110 Speed Pokemon, such as Archeops and Latios.

Usage Tips

In most matchups, use the move that does the most damage.

Against Haxorus and Heatran, use Knock Off and then a super effective move. This removes any counterplay option they may have, including a Choice Scarf or a Custap Berry.

Set Description

Close Combat is for various Fighting-weak Pokemon, such as Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan and non-Chople Berry Tyranitar. Taunt + Bulk Up allows Zeraora to break through walls like Chansey, Registeel, and Galarian Corsola.

EVs

The EV spread allows Zeraora to survive Choice Specs Regieleki's Hyper Beam and non-Life Orb or Choice Band Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes into Aqua Jet.

Usage Tips

Life Orb Zeraora aims to deal as much damage as possible while occasionally removing opposing counterplay with Taunt and Bulk Up.

Against passive Pokemon such as Chansey, Registeel, and Galarian Corsola, Zeraora should use Taunt turn 1 for the best chance to win. Zeraora wins against Chansey with the following sequence: Taunt to block Charm or Toxic, then two Bulk Ups, and then Close Combat. To shut down stall Registeel, use Taunt, and then use Bulk Up three times to OHKO it with Close Combat. If Registeel reveals Earthquake, it is Assault Vest Registeel, so a +2 Close Combat will OHKO if Zeraora survives long enough..

Versus Regieleki, use Bulk Up and then Close Combat so that Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Beam doesn't KO Zeraora after Life Orb recoil.

Other Options

Weakness Policy Zeraora is a somewhat common Metagross lure, since all other sets are quite unreliable against it. With an EV spread of 8 HP / 176 Atk / 176 Def / 148 Spe, an Adamant nature, and Bulk Up + Knock Off, it defeats all Metagross variants bar Jolly Choice Scarf.

Air Balloon Zeraora with Fake Out and Outrage defeats some Ground-types and some strong Pokemon with Ground-type coverage, such as Landorus, Nidoking, Galarian Darmanitan, and Haxorus.

Quick Attack or Protect on Life Orb Zeraora allows it to check Custap Berry users like Primarina better.

A special Zeraora set can lure in a few answers to Zeraora, but it is usually not advisable. If a team requires it, use Fake Out + Thunderbolt for Avalugg, Grass Knot for Swampert and Rhyperior, and Thunder for Crustle.