[OVERVIEW]
Zeraora uses its speed and access to valuable utility moves to support a variety of different teamstyles, from balance to hyper offense, by acting as a solid offensive pivot. Fake Out is always valuable, and Zeraora also can threaten the Ghost-types like Dragapult that are immune to it with a faster Knock Off. Being the fastest Pokemon in the tier is one of Zeraora's most helpful traits, especially benefitting Fake Out and Taunt. Zeraora's bulk isn't stellar, but when combined with an immunity to Electric, two resistances, and only one weakness, it's generally sufficient to pivot throughout the battle. Grass-types like Rillaboom, Amoonguss, and Tsareena can cause problems for Zeraora, so Fire-types like Heatran and Volcarona are solid teammates, and they also appreciate Zeraora's ability to threaten Water-type foes. Zeraora also needs help handling Zygarde and other Ground-type enemies, so Kyurem-B is another solid option, and it also helps with those Grass-types. Although Zeraora's utility moves can be valuable in many situations, if one of those situations isn't currently happening, then it can be a bit of a momentum sink, struggling to scare many popular threats.
[SET]
name: Fast Utility
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Plasma Fists
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Taunt
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* The fastest Fake Out in the tier is very important to Zeraora's role, providing its teammates free turns and some time to improve field positioning.
* Plasma Fists is a reliable STAB move, hitting threats that Zeraora is meant to check like Tapu Fini and Urshifu-R.
* Knock Off provides coverage to hit Ghost-types, which is notable, as Dragapult outspeeds every other unboosted presence in the metagame. It also removes key items like Kyurem-B's Assault Vest and Porygon2's Eviolite.
* A fast Taunt most notably prevents foes like Mew and Naganadel from setting Tailwind, though it also has utility in shutting down redirectors like Amoonguss and Trick Room setters like Diancie and Porygon2.
* With a Sitrus Berry equipped, Zeraora is able to fulfill its role for a bit longer in the game, and the boost in recovery is also beneficial for taking a multi-hit attack like Surging Strikes.
* Zeraora's Speed is maximized to outrun Dragapult and tie with opposing Zeraora and its Fake Out. 252 Attack EVs give it the greatest chance to OHKO Urshifu-R and generally pick off the foes it can outspeed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Coaching offers external setup to physical attackers like Zygarde, Shift Gear Genesect, and Dragon Dance Kyurem-B, but it must replace Taunt or Knock Off, and not every team can afford to make the switch. If Zeraora drops Knock Off, then it can also shift the 252 Attack EVs to HP for a significant boost in bulk, since investing so heavily in Attack for only one significant attack is inefficient. An Assault Vest allows Zeraora to sit in on foes it is meant to beat like Tapu Fini and Zapdos a bit more reliably; however, this forces it to drop Taunt in favor of another attacking move, which typically is one of three options. Volt Switch offers fast pivoting that can also deal okay damage, Electroweb gives fast, spread speed control to support middling-Speed wallbreakers, and Snarl expands upon the special bulk provided by Assault Vest while annoying special attackers. For a more offensive take on Zeraora, it can use a Life Orb and drop Fake Out in favor of Protect. Close Combat often finds its way onto such sets, as it hits Kyurem-B super effectively as well as Incineroar and Porygon2. Using an Adamant nature is a different way to get a bit more power, notably increasing the chance to KO Urshifu-R with Plasma Fists. This misses out on outrunning Dragapult and Spectrier and Speed tying with opposing Zeraora, but teams with adequate answers for these foes can get away with it. Equipping a Magnet guarantees the Plasma Fists OHKO on Urshifu-R without changing the makeup of Zeraora's standard set, but this is the only benchmark it enables.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[talkingtree, 232101]]
- Quality checked by: [[emma, 294304], [zeefable, 501951]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Zeraora uses its speed and access to valuable utility moves to support a variety of different teamstyles, from balance to hyper offense, by acting as a solid offensive pivot. Fake Out is always valuable, and Zeraora also can threaten the Ghost-types like Dragapult that are immune to it with a faster Knock Off. Being the fastest Pokemon in the tier is one of Zeraora's most helpful traits, especially benefitting Fake Out and Taunt. Zeraora's bulk isn't stellar, but when combined with an immunity to Electric, two resistances, and only one weakness, it's generally sufficient to pivot throughout the battle. Grass-types like Rillaboom, Amoonguss, and Tsareena can cause problems for Zeraora, so Fire-types like Heatran and Volcarona are solid teammates, and they also appreciate Zeraora's ability to threaten Water-type foes. Zeraora also needs help handling Zygarde and other Ground-type enemies, so Kyurem-B is another solid option, and it also helps with those Grass-types. Although Zeraora's utility moves can be valuable in many situations, if one of those situations isn't currently happening, then it can be a bit of a momentum sink, struggling to scare many popular threats.
[SET]
name: Fast Utility
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Plasma Fists
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Taunt
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* The fastest Fake Out in the tier is very important to Zeraora's role, providing its teammates free turns and some time to improve field positioning.
* Plasma Fists is a reliable STAB move, hitting threats that Zeraora is meant to check like Tapu Fini and Urshifu-R.
* Knock Off provides coverage to hit Ghost-types, which is notable, as Dragapult outspeeds every other unboosted presence in the metagame. It also removes key items like Kyurem-B's Assault Vest and Porygon2's Eviolite.
* A fast Taunt most notably prevents foes like Mew and Naganadel from setting Tailwind, though it also has utility in shutting down redirectors like Amoonguss and Trick Room setters like Diancie and Porygon2.
* With a Sitrus Berry equipped, Zeraora is able to fulfill its role for a bit longer in the game, and the boost in recovery is also beneficial for taking a multi-hit attack like Surging Strikes.
* Zeraora's Speed is maximized to outrun Dragapult and tie with opposing Zeraora and its Fake Out. 252 Attack EVs give it the greatest chance to OHKO Urshifu-R and generally pick off the foes it can outspeed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Coaching offers external setup to physical attackers like Zygarde, Shift Gear Genesect, and Dragon Dance Kyurem-B, but it must replace Taunt or Knock Off, and not every team can afford to make the switch. If Zeraora drops Knock Off, then it can also shift the 252 Attack EVs to HP for a significant boost in bulk, since investing so heavily in Attack for only one significant attack is inefficient. An Assault Vest allows Zeraora to sit in on foes it is meant to beat like Tapu Fini and Zapdos a bit more reliably; however, this forces it to drop Taunt in favor of another attacking move, which typically is one of three options. Volt Switch offers fast pivoting that can also deal okay damage, Electroweb gives fast, spread speed control to support middling-Speed wallbreakers, and Snarl expands upon the special bulk provided by Assault Vest while annoying special attackers. For a more offensive take on Zeraora, it can use a Life Orb and drop Fake Out in favor of Protect. Close Combat often finds its way onto such sets, as it hits Kyurem-B super effectively as well as Incineroar and Porygon2. Using an Adamant nature is a different way to get a bit more power, notably increasing the chance to KO Urshifu-R with Plasma Fists. This misses out on outrunning Dragapult and Spectrier and Speed tying with opposing Zeraora, but teams with adequate answers for these foes can get away with it. Equipping a Magnet guarantees the Plasma Fists OHKO on Urshifu-R without changing the makeup of Zeraora's standard set, but this is the only benchmark it enables.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[talkingtree, 232101]]
- Quality checked by: [[emma, 294304], [zeefable, 501951]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
