
[SET]
Setup Sweeper (Zacian-Crowned) @ Rusted Sword
Level: 50
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 204 HP / 76 Atk / 28 Def / 12 SpD / 188 Spe
Tera Type: Water / Grass / Stellar
Adamant Nature
- Behemoth Blade
- Play Rough / Sacred Sword
- Swords Dance / Substitute
- Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
Zacian-C is an excellent setup sweeper in Regulation G, with a fantastic typing and extraordinary Attack and Speed stats. These qualities allow it to take on metagame staples such as Calyrex-I, Chien-Pao, and Flutter Mane. Play Rough threatens Koraidon and common Steel-resistant foes such as Miraidon, Raging Bolt, and Urshifu-R. Sacred Sword can be opted for to 2HKO Incineroar, Ogerpon-H, and Zamazenta-C. Swords Dance allows Zacian-C to OHKO the entire unresisted metagame and boost faster than Incineroar's Intimidate cycling. Alternatively, Substitute can be used to let Zacian-C become immune to Intimidate and Fake Out once it is set up. The EV spread allows Zacian-C to survive Groudon's Precipice Blades and almost always +2 Behemoth Blade from opposing Zacian-C, as well as avoid the 2HKO from Calyrex-S's Astral Barrage. The Attack EVs help Zacian-C 2HKO Groudon, and the Speed enables Zacian-C to outspeed Adamant Chien-Pao. Zacian-C may opt for 164 Speed and 108 Attack with a Jolly nature to outspeed unboosted Iron Bundle while still threatening a 2HKO on Incineroar. Tera Water is Zacian-C's best Tera type, granting a resistance to Fire-type moves like Flare Blitz from Koraidon and Incineroar, while also being a great neutral typing against the metagame. Tera Grass is a good alternative on rain teams, providing Zacian-C with a resistance to Ground-type moves from Groudon and Landorus, as well as a Spore immunity. Both of these give it a crucial resistance to Kyogre's Water Spout. Zacian-C may opt for Tera Stellar to pick up OHKOs on Kyogre and Landorus with Play Rough and Behemoth Blade, respectively.
Zacian-C struggles against Fire- and Steel-types like Ogerpon-H, Entei, and Gholdengo, as they wall its STAB moves and threaten it back. Incineroar especially is an issue, as it easily switches into Behemoth Blade and weakens Zacian-C with Intimidate. This is significant, as it negates Zacian-C's one-time Intrepid Sword boost, and lowers its sweeping potential. This makes Pokemon that can threaten them like Urshifu-R and Landorus fantastic partners. Zacian-C can threaten Raging Bolt and Chien-Pao for Urshifu-R and Landorus. Incineroar, Rillaboom, and Amoonguss are also great partners, providing Zacian-C with free turns thanks to Fake Out, Grassy Terrain recovery, and Rage Powder. Pelipper also pairs well with Zacian-C, providing rain to mitigate its weakness to Fire-type moves like Ogerpon-H's Ivy Cudgel and Incineroar's Flare Blitz. Wide Guard helps greatly against Calyrex-S, Kyogre, and Groudon; Zacian-C, in return, threatens Raging Bolt for Pelipper.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lovelyluna.641287/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/soulboyvgc.558405/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sole-survivor.518634/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
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