[OVERVIEW]
Zekrom is one of the tier's best wallbreakers, wielding a terrifying Electric / Dragon STAB combination and access to Dragon Dance to further enhance its already great Attack and serviceable Speed. The vast number of Flying- and Dragon-types that dominate the metagame makes Zekrom a very scary prospect for any team without a dedicated answer to it. Moreover, Zekrom can be tailored to beat some of its checks, leaving the opponent to guess what move rounds out its moveset. Zekrom is also a potent stallbreaker thanks to its signature ability, Teravolt, which allows it to break walls such as Multiscale Lugia and Shedinja. However, without a Speed boost, Zekrom is easily outsped and disposed of by the multitude of Fairy- and Dragon-types in the metagame. Even with a Speed boost, it contests with common Choice Scarf users that either Speed tie with it such as Kyogre or outspeed it such as Calyrex-S and Yveltal, and Ditto, all of which OHKO it.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Bolt Strike
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Roost / Draco Meteor / Substitute
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Teravolt
nature: Jolly / Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragon Dance boosts Zekrom's already stellar damage output while also boosting its Speed so that it can outspeed fast revenge killers such as Calyrex-S, Palkia and Eternatus. A Jolly nature is run over Adamant to outspeed Calyrex-S. Bolt Strike allows Zekrom to secure 2HKOs against neutral targets such as Necrozma-DM while also guaranteeing OHKOs against Xerneas. Dragon Claw breaks past the Dragon-types that resist Bolt Strike. The final moveslot is open for what you wish to have Zekrom accomplish. Roost lets Zekrom stay healthy while getting chipped by its Life Orb and also provides some much-appreciated recovery on a predicted double switch, while Draco Meteor can be run with a Naive nature to deal with physical walls such as Groudon and Tangrowth that can stomach any other hit and force Zekrom out. A set combining Substitute and Leftovers aims to minimize the chance of Zekrom getting statused while also protecting it from Ferrothorn's Leech Seed.
Zekrom appreciates being paired up with special attackers like Xerneas and Kyogre that can break past Zekrom's checks such as Groudon, physically defensive Ferrothorn, and Lunala, while they benefit from Zekrom threatening their respective checks. Sticky Web setters such as Shuckle and Slurpuff mitigate the need for Zekrom to boost its Speed and instead allow it to attack the opposition without fear of being outsped while also making Choice Scarf Calyrex-S outsped by a boosted Zekrom. Spikes support from the likes of Froslass and Ferrothorn punishes switching from the opponent, slowly whittling their team down. Ferrothorn in particular is a fantastic partner, as removing foes' items in a tier where Heavy-Duty Boots is prevalent makes hazard stacking an even more potent strategy.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Giving Zekrom an Air Balloon allows it to set up Dragon Dance in front of some of its common checks, such as Necrozma-DM and Groudon, especially on teams that can set Reflect for it. Similarly, Magnet Rise lets Zekrom completely invalidate any Ground-type move thrown its way, but most Ground-types can still deal with it such as Roar or Toxic from Groudon and Thousand Arrows from Zygarde-C hitting regardless. Weather Ball with a Naive nature is an option when paired up with Groudon to hit the various Grass-types that wish to switch in like Tangrowth and Ferrothorn, but it requires Zekrom to come in while sun is still up and is also very prediction heavy. Outrage blows past Zygarde prior to Power Construct activating and has a much higher damage output against all targets, but the abundance of Fairy-types in the metagame means Zekrom being locked into it will end with it getting KOed the very next turn. A damage-reducing Berry in either Roseli or Shuca to sponge a Fairy- or Ground-type move respectively will let Zekrom take an otherwise super effective move, thus limiting the chances the opponent has of revenge killing it.
Checks and Counters
=============
**Groudon**: Groudon can take on Zekrom's physical hits with ease and threaten it out with its Ground-type attack. However, it needs to be wary of Draco Meteor.
**Revenge Killers**: Excadrill in sand and Choice Scarf Calyrex-S and Yveltal can all outspeed Zekrom and have a consistent way to OHKO it. Yveltal can also pick off a weakened Zekrom with Sucker Punch.
**Dialga**: Dialga resists Bolt Strike and, regardless of bulk investment, can take Zekrom's +1 Dragon Claw while threatening to OHKO it back with a strong Dragon-type move. If it's not invested in bulk, however, it must be wary of the rare Outrage.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Physically defensive Ferrothorn and Tangrowth can both switch into Zekrom, with the former being able to chip it slowly with Leech Seed and Iron Barbs or even boost alongside it, while the latter can use a Ground-type coverage move such as Earthquake or Bulldoze to dispose of it.
**Lunala**: Lunala outspeeds and can always switch in on Zekrom and take a boosted hit thanks to Shadow Shield. It can then cripple Zekrom with Will-O-Wisp, phaze it with Roar, or 2HKO it with Ice Beam or Moongeist Beam.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lasen, 273339]]
- Quality checked by: [[Manaphy, 50695], [Minority, 222996]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [lotiasite, 302985]
Last edited:
