
[SET]
Ice Scales (Zacian) @ Covert Cloak / Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers / Ability Shield
Ability: Ice Scales
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Shore Up
- Spirit Break / Magical Torque
- Haze
- Spikes / Spirit Shackle / Toxic
[SET COMMENTS]
Ice Scales Zacian is an effective special wall against prominent special attackers like Palkia-O and Arceus-Ghost. Spirit Break dissuades setup from Arceus formes, Eternatus, and Palkia-O, though Magical Torque is a stronger alternative. While seemingly counter-productive with Spirit Break, Haze is the best option to neuter Nasty Plot Palkia-O and Arceus-Ghost, and it also ensures Zacian beats No Retreat Arceus-Ghost. Spikes provides support for the team and makes progress against Strength Sap users. Spirit Shackle traps Imposter users, preventing them from recovering health for free on Zacian. Toxic punishes most setup special attackers like Calm Mind Arceus formes. Covert Cloak prevents burns from Palkia-O's Steam Eruption and protects against status conditions inflicted by Nuzzle and Mortal Spin. Alternatively, Heavy-Duty Boots and Leftovers help mitigate entry hazard damage and keep Zacian healthy. Ability Shield is useful against Normalize users like Dragapult and Mold Breaker users like Palkia-O. Zacian pairs very well with a secondary specially defensive pivot like RegenVest Ting-Lu or Dialga-O, as they can scout for moves from Choice Specs users while not being chipped down by Volt Switch. In return, Zacian provides a switch-in to strong Dragon-type moves while also checking setup Pokemon like Palkia-O and Nasty Plot Flutter Mane. Imposter-proofs for Spikes variants include Fur Coat Groudon and Arceus-Ground, while Toxic variants can be Imposter-proofed by Arceus-Poison and Corviknight. Tera Steel provides a resistance to Iron Bundle and Flutter Mane's Boomburst while retaining a Dragon resistance, as well as providing a Toxic immunity.
[SET]
Fur Coat (Zacian) @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers / Covert Cloak
Ability: Fur Coat
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Shore Up
- Magical Torque / Spirit Break
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp / Spirit Shackle / Toxic
[SET COMMENTS]
Fur Coat Zacian differentiates itself from other Fur Coat users with its high Speed, outspeeding dangerous physical threats like Koraidon and threatening them with Knock Off or Will-O-Wisp. Spirit Break is a weaker alternative to Magical Torque that offers more PP and a useful secondary effect, preventing Calm Mind Arceus formes and Torch Song Eternatus from freely setting up. Knock Off removes important items like Choice Band and Assault Vest from Pokemon like Groudon and Ting-Lu, respectively, as well as removing Imposter Chansey's Eviolite. Will-O-Wisp neutralizes most physical attackers like Koraidon. Spirit Shackle threatens to trap and eliminate Imposter users and physical threats walled by Zacian. Toxic cripples Imposter users and most Fur Coat users. Heavy-Duty Boots and Leftovers help mitigate entry hazard damage, allowing Zacian to check physical threats more reliably, while Covert Cloak provides protection against status conditions from Nuzzle and Mortal Spin. Zacian can struggle to handle extremely powerful physical wallbreakers like Slaking and Groudon by itself, so secondary physical walls like Fur Coat Arceus formes are appreciated as teammates; they can also Imposter-proof Zacian. Despite outspeeding threats like Palkia-O and Flutter Mane, Zacian cannot switch in, so a special wall like Ice Scales Dialga-O or Chansey can help pivot Zacian in. Tera Water grants a resistance to V-create and Gigaton Hammer, the latterof which Koraidon commonly uses to threaten Zacian.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/chessking345.355040/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tttech.338877/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sulo.528036/
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