Hey everyone, the OU tiering council has decided to test Zamazenta-Hero!
Zamazenta-Hero was a part of the two most recent tiering radars (1 & 2). Each time, it narrowly escaped a ban with a 4-5 and 5-4 margin respectively, leaving it just one vote short of entering the Ubers tier. As we pivot into a more normal metagame state, the SV OU tiering council wants to use this opportunity to suspect Zamazenta-Hero so the community can decide its placement. It is likely that other surveys and suspects are to follow as well! For reference, here is the last vote on Zamazenta-Hero.
| Zamazenta-Hero | |
|---|---|
| Finchinator | Ban |
| Ruft | Ban |
| ausma | Do not ban |
| ima | Ban |
| mind gaming | Do not ban |
| NJNP | Do not ban |
| Star | Ban |
| TPP | Ban |
| xavgb | Do no ban |
Again: only 5 of the nine councilmen voted to ban Zamazenta-Hero when it needed a minimum of 6 to get banned, so we announced yesterday we were going to let a suspect determine it as the metagame pivots forward.
In one of the most interesting developments of this young generation, Zamazenta's Hero form finds itself in the rare position of being a cover legend that is not a surefire Uber. While the heroics of being anointed an Uber seemed to be destiny for its crowned counterpart, the Warrior Pokemon's original form has been a topic of debate throughout the community since it dropped into OU upon the release of Pokemon HOME!
Zamazenta-Hero has always been a very fast Pokemon with 138 base Speed and it was able to pack a punch with 120 base Attack. However, this generation the ability Dauntless Shield was weakened to only improve Zamazenta's defense by one stage the first time it entered rather than each individual time. It was not all negatives for Zamazenta though; it gained access to Body Press, which is ultimately what broke Zamazenta-Crowned and what most Zamazenta-Hero run. While it is true that Zamazenta-Hero can opt to run an offensively focused set such as Choice Band to make the most of its aforementioned superb speed and high attack, these sets tend to be checked by fairly standard defensive countermeasures that we already see within our metagame often enough. Offensive variants are plenty viable and deserve mention, but these Zamazenta-Hero sets are not the bulk of why it is being suspected.
A mini-game known as Iron Defense + Body Press simulator exists when Zamazenta-Hero is summoned onto the field in most instances. Not every adversary is worthy of trying to outmaneuver the protagonist, but some can as our metagame is littered with Fighting resists and some Fighting immunities. In addition, this caused the uptick in opposing Tera Ghost Pokemon and Encore utilization. Truth be told: Zamazenta-Hero is a polarizing Pokemon with bolstered defenses thanks to the newly found Body Press. It typically runs a set with Iron Defense, Body Press, Crunch -- oftentimes with Tera type Dark, and Substitute, but it can opt for other coverage moves over Crunch or even Rest or another attack over Substitute if it so pleases. It learns moves such as Stone Edge, Heavy Slam, Psychic Fangs, and Wild Charge which all are worth mentioning here (not to mention Close Combat, which is a staple on the aforementioned offensive variants). Speaking of these moves, there is a big juxtaposition between the Iron Defense variants and the offensive variants of Zamazenta-Hero, which has very little overlap in counterplay. Most of the time someone can tell from team preview and the defensive variants tend to be Leftovers, but it does make preparation challenging.
Zamazenta-Hero draws in a handful of specific Pokemon that can shut down its normal, defensive set such as Haze Toxapex, an accurate Zapdos, Iron Valiant or most Unaware Pokemon depending on how it specifically fills out its set. It abuses the lack of reliable Fairy types we see and abuses the prominence of dark types, too. Overall, there is a decent amount of defensive counterplay to Zamazenta-Hero. However, most, but not all, of these Pokemon are more passive and reserved for defensive teams; a few exceptions do exist and can help, but it can also be argued that offensive teams are quite limited as a result of this. To perhaps amplify this dynamic, revenge killing Zamazenta-Hero is far more challenging than stopping it defensively. It is already among the fastest Pokemon in the game, but it also boosts its physical defense regularly, leaving it to only be possible on the special end and by something that is either faster or equipped with a Choice Scarf. This is possible, but not particularly common outside a smaller pool of Pokemon such as Dragapult or Scarf Enamorus, which both have things to watch out for on their own within this match-up as well. For example, Zamazenta-Hero can run Tera Fire to take Will-O-Wisp from Dragapult and Moonblast from Enamorus.
Overall, Zamazenta-Hero is a Pokemon with a very unique offensive profile, which oftentimes focuses on boosting its physical defense to do damage. This dynamic playing out on such a fast and sturdy Pokemon can be very polarizing for the metagame, making revenge killing a challenge and leaving teams to rely on a limited, passive leaning group of checks to stop it. With this in mind, there are a handful of things that dwarf Zamazenta-Hero's sweeping prospects, leaving it unable to have the intended impact on game states. Unlike some things we recently banned, it does not pose as immediate a threat, taking a turn to Body Press potentially while offensive sets are unable to break without consistently good prediction usually. There is an awful lot going for Zamazenta-Hero, which could be more than enough to leave it in Ubers, but it is can be stopped with the tools we have in the tier.
- Reading this is mandatory for participating in the suspect test!!! The voting requirements are a minimum GXE of 80 with at least 50 games played. In addition, you may play 1 less game for every 0.2 GXE you have above 80 GXE, down to a minimum of 30 games at a GXE of 84. Also, needing more than 50 games to reach 80 GXE will suffice.
| GXE | minimum games |
| 80 | 50 |
| 80.2 | 49 |
| 80.4 | 48 |
| 80.6 | 47 |
| 80.8 | 46 |
| 81 | 45 |
| 81.2 | 44 |
| 81.4 | 43 |
| 81.6 | 42 |
| 81.8 | 41 |
| 82 | 40 |
| 82.2 | 39 |
| 82.4 | 38 |
| 82.6 | 37 |
| 82.8 | 36 |
| 83 | 35 |
| 83.2 | 34 |
| 83.4 | 33 |
| 83.6 | 32 |
| 83.8 | 31 |
| 84 | 30 |
- You must signup with a newly registered account on Pokemon Showdown! that begins with the appropriate prefix for the suspect test. For this suspect test, the prefix will be OUHF. For example, I might signup with the ladder account OUHF Finch.
- Laddering with an account that impersonates, mocks, or insults another Smogon user or breaks Pokemon Showdown! rules may be disqualified from voting and infracted. Moderator discretion will be applied here. If there is any doubt or hesitance when making the alt, just pick another name. There are infinite possibilities and we have had trouble for this repeatedly. If you wish to participate in the suspect, you should be able to exhibit decent enough judgement here. We will not be lenient.
- We will be using the regular OU ladder for this suspect test. We will not be creating a new Suspect Ladder. At the beginning of every battle, there will be an announcement denoting the ongoing suspect with a link to this thread.
- The suspect being tested, Zamazenta-Hero, will be allowed on the ladder.
- Any form of voting manipulation will result in swift and severe punishment. You are more than welcome to state your argument to as many people as you so please, but do not use any kind of underhanded tactics to get a result you desire. Bribery, blackmail, or any other type of tactic used to sway votes will be handled and sanctioned.
- Do not attempt to cheat the ladder. We will know if you did not actually achieve voting requisites, so don't do it. Harsh sanctions will be applied.
- Unlike previous tests, we will be posting the voting identification thread immediately after this thread. Your voting requisites will be confirmed by a Council member or OU moderator, to which we will edit in confirmation. Please avoid getting more games before getting confirmed.
- The suspect test will go on for roughly two weeks, lasting until June 26th at 11:59 pm (GMT-4), and then we will put up the voting thread in the Blind Voting subforum.
- No unhelpful one liners nor uninformed posts;
- No discussion on other potential suspects;
- No discussion on the suspect process -- this includes testing Zamazenta-Hero vs other potential suspects;
- You are required to make respectful posts;
- You are required to read this thread before posting.
- Failure to follow these simple guidelines will result in your post being deleted and infracted without any prior warning.
- Please also take a moment to read over some suggestions from the OU Council and the OU Moderation team for posting in this thread; adhering these will help out our time moderating the thread and present your arguments better and more educated.
- Do not argue because it's your favorite Pokemon. This should be common sense, but please don't do this, because we will delete posts like this.
- You do not need a boatload of experience to have an informed opinion, but please try to minimize the theorymon aspect and use your experiences watching and playing. Playing some on the ladder before posting is plenty if you're concerned about this.
- Do not flame, belittle, or be disrespectful to users in this thread. While not everyone will read this post in its entirety nor will everyone have an informed opinion, please be sure not to be disrespectful. If there's an issue, bring it up to a moderator.
- Do not use the argument of broken checking broken. Should your argument rest on your opinion that banning the Pokemon or mechanic being tested in this suspect test will make a Pokemon or mechanic broken, overpowered, and/or uncompetitive; don't. If something needs to be banned because of the result this suspect, then so be it.
- This thread is not to voice complaints about the suspect process or decisions of the council. While we are more than open to hearing complaints that may arise, this isn't the place for it. I suggest you message the OU Council, PM our Tier Leaders, Finchinator and Ruft, or make a post in Senior Staff requests, should you have a badge.
Keep in mind that our suspect tests are decided by the community; anyone who rightfully achieves voting requisites is allowed to vote. The outcome is up to you.
, 
(so much for "just use dirge bro"), and more niche potential answers like 
, defensive 
, and 
. It also has many auxiliary coverage. Most notably, it has crunch to kill ghosts, but also wild charge and psychic fangs, both hit 
and the latter hits 
.
: Fuck it, we stone edge
: Fuck it, we stone edge
Takes a lot from wild charge and Close Combat. Also, set up fodder without ID
crunch. It’s also frail initially
Gets outsped without BE active or scarf, and fears psychic fangs
See above.
Does not like crunch. If it’s defensive, Zamazenta lives psychic.
Relies on draining kiss and takes good damage from crunch.
: crunch
Actually answers it, but ur telling everyone to run fat balance or stall.
