name: Heavy-Duty Boots
move 1: Darkest Lariat / Throat Chop
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Synthesis / Close Combat / Jungle Healing
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zarude is a phenomenal staple in the UU tier by virtue of its great typing, well-above-average bulk, access to reliable recovery, and great offensive capabilities. This set takes advantage of all of these factors, making it a premier check to Pokemon like Krookodile, Polteageist, Rotom-W, and Celebi. Darkest Lariat is Zarude's strongest Dark-type STAB option, which notably pressures Noivern thanks to its ability to 2HKO it. Throat Chop can be considered to prevent Sylveon from using Hyper Voice and Heal Bell; however, Zarude still has to be careful about taking a potential Choice Specs-boosted Mystical Fire. Throat Chop also helps against Doublade, as it doesn't ignore the Defense drop from Doublade's Close Combat, unlike Darkest Lariat. U-turn allows Zarude to generate momentum against foes it struggles to break, particularly Galarian Weezing. It also deters opposing Zarude from pivoting into it. Synthesis is generally preferred in the final slot for its greater healing output; however, Jungle Healing is a fine option to get rid of status conditions from foes Zarude attempts to check like Slowbro and Rotom-W. Close Combat is another option over Synthesis to hit Bisharp, Incineroar, and Cobalion; while it can also be considered over one of Zarude's other coverage options, this should only be done if you have a really poor matchup against the aforementioned threats, as Zarude is left walled by far more Pokemon otherwise. Iron Tail can be considered to give Zarude an option to break past Galarian Weezing, but Zarude struggles to fit this coverage move, and it is useless in most other matchups. Rock Tomb can be used to 2HKO Noivern and let Zarude beat it one-on-one by virtue of the Speed drop, as well as letting it OHKO Talonflame. Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Zarude from being worn down by entry hazards and improves its matchup against Sticky Web teams.
Wallbreakers like Keldeo, Terrakion, and Choice Specs Sylveon appreciate being brought in safely via U-turn against foes such as Incineroar and Galarian Weezing. Defensive variants of Sylveon can provide Heal Bell and Wish support, which is especially useful on sets without Jungle Healing due to Zarude's susceptibility to status effects from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Slowbro. Tentacruel and Galarian Slowbro can check Galarian Weezing, Cobalion, Sylveon, and Escavalier for Zarude. Galarian Slowbro can also provide Future Sight support to deter Galarian Weezing and Cobalion from switching into Zarude, forcing something else to take a hit from Zarude instead, while Tentacruel can provide Toxic Spikes support to help Zarude muscle past foes like Umbreon and Sylveon more easily. Cobalion and Rhyperior can set up Stealth Rock to wear down foes like Galarian Weezing and Escavalier, while the latter can also help check common revenge killers to Zarude like Noivern and Talonflame. Slowbro and Noivern can help check Fighting-types like Keldeo, Cobalion, and Mienshao, as well as forming a pivoting core with Zarude. Escavalier and Doublade can take pressure off Zarude by checking Psychic-types like Reuniclus and Celebi that commonly carry coverage for it. Rotom-W can pressure bulky Water-types like Slowbro, which can help Zarude avoid potentially being crippled by a Scald burn if it lacks Jungle Healing, as well as help pressure Escavalier and Incineroar and check common revenge killers such as Talonflame and Mamoswine.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Darkest Lariat
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Close Combat
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zarude is a phenomenal Choice Scarf user capable of revenge killing prominent threats like Keldeo, Lycanroc-D, and Terrakion. Thanks to Zarude's incredible bulk, it also is capable of checking foes such as Rotom-W and Celebi in a pinch; however, it is easily worn down, so its health needs to be conserved if it needs to revenge kill foes like Lycanroc-D that have access to strong priority. U-turn allows Zarude to generate momentum with all the switches it forces and offsets its inability to break past Pokemon like Galarian Weezing. Close Combat allows Zarude to hit Cobalion, Incineroar, and Bisharp.
Sylveon can provide Zarude with Wish and Heal Bell support, which can make up for this set's lack of reliable recovery to check threats like Celebi and Rotom-C consistently. Sylveon can also check Noivern and Choice Scarf Keldeo for Zarude. Choice Specs variants of Sylveon can break through Galarian Weezing, Escavalier, and Doublade, with the latter being a key threat that Zarude struggles to revenge kill unless it's severely worn down. Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro and Reuniclus can check Galarian Weezing, non-Swords Dance Cobalion, and Noivern for Zarude. In return, Zarude can remove threats like Krookodile and Polteageist for them. Galarian Weezing can pivot into Krookodile, which Zarude doesn't particularly want to switch into if it needs to keep its Choice Scarf, punish U-turn directed at Zarude from foes like opposing Zarude and Mienshao with Rocky Helmet, and provide Defog support to prevent Zarude from being worn down as easily. Rhyperior can help check foes like Talonflame, Incineroar, and Noivern, as well as setting up Stealth Rock to wear down Pokemon like Copperajah and Sylveon into range of Zarude's attacks. Keldeo and Heracross appreciate Zarude's ability to bring them in safely against foes such as Galarian Weezing and Incineroar to wallbreak. Keldeo can also form a pivoting core with Zarude and can help overwhelm their shared checks like Sylveon. In return, Zarude can pressure foes like Slowbro and Starmie that Keldeo struggles with. Similarly, Scyther and Rotom-W can also form a pivoting core with Zarude to help overwhelm threats like Cobalion and Sylveon for one another.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Darkest Lariat
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Close Combat
item: Choice Band
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set takes advantage of Zarude's limited switch-ins to fire off powerful Choice Band-boosted attacks capable of making its normal checks like Escavalier and offensive Galarian Weezing less reliable as switch-ins. Zarude can also take advantage of its fantastic bulk and great defensive typing to check Pokemon like Rotom-W and Slowbro; however, it has to be extremely cautious of being crippled with a burn. Zarude's Speed tier falling short of Pokemon like Cobalion, Terrakion, and Keldeo also makes it much easier to take advantage of the Choice lock. Close Combat breaks through Pokemon like Cobalion and Incineroar, while U-turn allows Zarude to generate momentum, especially against defensive variants of Galarian Weezing that it struggles to break through. Iron Tail is an option that allows Zarude to 2HKO defensive Galarian Weezing; however, it isn't useful outside of this matchup. Rock Tomb is also an option that can catch Noivern on the switch to beat it one-on-one thanks to the Speed drop, as well as giving Zarude coverage to OHKO Talonflame.
Zarude appreciates pivots such as Noivern, Scyther, and Keldeo to bring it in safely against foes like Rhyperior and Slowbro to wallbreak, as it can be easily worn down. Noivern can also help check Fighting-types like Keldeo, Mienshao, and Cobalion that threaten to revenge kill Zarude. Rotom-W and Heliolisk can form a pivoting core with Zarude and also help pivot into Water-types like Slowbro and Milotic to prevent Zarude from getting worn down as easily and potentially being crippled by a Scald burn. Rotom-W can also provide Defog support and pressure Incineroar and Cobalion. Escavalier and Copperajah can help take pressure off Zarude by providing a secondary check to Psychic-types like Celebi and Reuniclus. Escavalier can also remove Heavy-Duty Boots from Pokemon like Incineroar and Noivern with Knock Off, allowing Zarude to KO them more easily with their newfound weakness to Stealth Rock. Cobalion, Klefki, and Rhyperior can set up entry hazards to help weaken foes like Galarian Weezing and opposing Cobalion into range of Zarude's attacks. The latter two can also help check Noivern for Zarude. Late-game cleaners like Doublade and Mimikyu appreciate Zarude's wallbreaking capabilities to weaken their shared checks such as Incineroar and Galarian Weezing. Sylveon can provide Zarude with Wish and Heal Bell support, as well as check threats such as Keldeo, Noivern, and Choice Scarf Mienshao. Slowbro and Galarian Slowbro can provide Future Sight support to prevent Zarude's common answers like Galarian Weezing and Cobalion from switching in and force something to take a strong attack from Zarude.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Throat Chop
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Jungle Healing
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Bulk Up Zarude is a decent late-game cleaner that further amplifies its already above-average bulk and Attack. However, this set struggles to fit alternative move options outside of dual STAB moves, which leaves it unable to break foes like Cobalion and opposing Zarude as easily. Throat Chop shuts down Hyper Voice Sylveon so that Zarude can use it as an opportunity to accumulate multiple Bulk Up boosts. Jungle Healing provides Zarude with reliable recovery that also lets it safely set up without fear of being crippled by status such as Toxic. Synthesis is an option for greater recovery at the cost of increased susceptibility to status effects; however, Heavy-Duty Boots does offset its vulnerability to Toxic Spikes. Close Combat can be considered to break foes like Cobalion and opposing Zarude; however, Zarude struggles to fit this coverage move without having to drop a STAB move. The drawback of lowering Zarude's defenses also counteracts Zarude's Bulk Up boosts and makes it much easier to revenge kill. Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Zarude from being easily worn down by entry hazards, allowing it to take advantage of its defensive typing throughout the match to check foes like Slowbro, Celebi, and Rotom-W more reliably. Leftovers is an option to provide Zarude with passive recovery to set up more easily. A bulkier spread of 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe can be considered to help Zarude set up on foes like Ice Beam Milotic more easily.
Wallbreakers like Keldeo and Chandelure can pressure foes like Cobalion and Galarian Weezing for Zarude, with the latter being capable of pivoting into these Pokemon. Keldeo can also check Incineroar for Zarude, which, in return, can remove Water-types like Slowbro and Jellicent. Galarian Weezing and Sylveon can check Fighting-types like Terrakion and Heracross. Galarian Weezing can also provide Toxic Spikes support to help Zarude break through bulkier teams, while Sylveon can provide Wish support and check Noivern. Slowbro can help check Keldeo, Cobalion, and Terrakion, bring Zarude in safely with Teleport, and, if using Future Sight, help Zarude wallbreak by deterring Galarian Weezing and Cobalion from switching in. Rhyperior can help check Flying-types like Noivern, Talonflame, and Scyther for Zarude, as well as provide Stealth Rock support to help wear down foes like Galarian Weezing. It can also lure in opposing Zarude and remove them with Megahorn and severely chip Galarian Weezing with Heavy Slam. Cobalion can provide Stealth Rock support but also check and remove opposing Zarude, which Zarude otherwise lacks the coverage to break through. Noivern can check revenge killers to Zarude like Cobalion, Keldeo, and opposing Zarude, bring Zarude in against foes such as Rhyperior and Slowbro to set up, and help weaken foes like Klefki into range of a boosted attack from Zarude.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Twilight, 344575]]
- Quality checked by: [[Estarossa, 461329], [Lilburr, 481709]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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otherwise, it is best to run it in the final slot at the cost of its longevity. 
help check Fighting-types like Keldeo, Cobalion, and Mienshao, as well as form a pivot core with Zarude. Escavalier and Doublade can take pressure off Zarude checking Psychic-types like Reuniclus and Celebi that commonly carry coverage for it. 
