[Overview]
Zarude provides solid role compression in Ubers. It checks a lot of threats, such as Calyrex-S, Groudon, Calm Mind Kyogre, and Zekrom, as well as more passive Pokemon like Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn depending on its set. Its high base Speed lets it get the jump on a lot of targets like positive-natured base 90s with a good amount of investment and slower targets like Choice Band Dracovish with minimal investment. Its typing also gives it resistances to strong offensive types like Electric, Ground, Ghost, and Water, giving it a wide range of uses depending on what it wants to check. Its typing also comes with a lot of weaknesses, though, leaving it susceptible to getting lured by niche coverage moves on Pokemon like Calyrex-S and Groudon while also being weak to coverage commonly thrown out by the top Dark-type in the metagame, Yveltal.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Darkest Lariat
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Jungle Healing / Synthesis
item: Leftovers
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 120 SpD / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Bulk Up and Darkest Lariat let Zarude break Zygarde, bypassing defensive sets trying to set up Coil against it and checking offensive sets more reliably. Jungle Healing makes Zarude a true counter to Dragon Dance + Toxic Zygarde sets. It also allows Zarude to switch into Thunder Wave Necrozma-DM and be a status absorber in many cases. Alternatively, Synthesis gives Zarude more healing, letting it better check Choice Specs Calyrex-S and other Pokemon. 136 Speed EVs give Zarude the jump on positive-natured base 90s like Kyogre and Groudon, with maximum HP for overall bulk and the rest of the EVs in Special Defense to better check Calyrex-S and Kyogre.
Ho-Oh is a great natural partner, scouting what move a Choice-locked Calyrex-S uses and absorbing Trick so Zarude continues consistently checking it as well as other wallbreakers like Kyogre. Offensive Yveltal can be used with Zarude, utilizing Hone Claws to break through Eternatus so Zarude can sweep; it also appreciates Zarude checking Calyrex-S. Groudon is an important teammate if Synthesis is used, increasing Synthesis's recovery and activating Zarude's Leaf Guard. A cleric like Blissey, Xerneas, or Calyrex-S can also make up for Jungle Healing being dropped for Synthesis. Necrozma-DM is another excellent partner, checking Xerneas and Eternatus, which easily threaten Zarude. With Zarude outspeeding Groudon and checking opposing Zygarde, your own Zygarde can run a Dragon Dance set instead of a defensive one. Eternatus checks Fighting-types like Marshadow and switches into Ho-Oh, making it a great and almost mandatory teammate to check some of the biggest threats to Zarude.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Darkest Lariat
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Synthesis
item: Leftovers
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Impish
evs: 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Physically defensive Zarude goes all-in on using its typing and Bulk Up to check dangerous physical threats, namely Zekrom, Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM, Zygarde, and non-Life Orb and non-Fire-type coverage Groudon. Darkest Lariat lets Zarude beat Coil Zygarde and Bulk Up Groudon one-on-one while also reliably damaging Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM. Power Whip gives Zarude a better matchup against Life Orb Groudon, at worst letting Zarude net some damage against it. Power Whip is also helpful because Zarude can act as a last-ditch Kyogre check, although it can't take repeated hits very well. Synthesis is needed to check Life Orb Zekrom, as Zarude very narrowly takes it on with the extra recovery compared to Jungle Healing. 16 Speed EVs let Zarude outrun Adamant maximum Speed Dracovish, while the rest maximize its physical bulk.
As physically defensive Zarude is a Dark-type that fails to reliably check Choice Specs Calyrex-S, Yveltal is a pivotal teammate that beats it as well as other foes such as Lunala and Special Attacking Giratina-O. Groudon is an incredible teammate for providing reliable sun to boost Zarude's Synthesis recovery and make it immune to status. Fighting-types like Marshadow, Urshifu-S, and Buzzwole are some physical attackers that Zarude can't handle, meaning teammates like Eternatus and Xerneas are helpful for covering those matchups. Without any Speed or Special Defense investment, Zarude can't reliably pressure Kyogre. This makes teammates like Blissey and specially defensive Eternatus necessary to have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
U-turn can be used as a pivoting option, maintaining momentum even if Zarude is crippled by Calyrex-S's Trick, but losing Bulk Up makes Zarude fairly susceptible to strong wallbreakers like Zygarde.
Checks and Counters
====
**Eternatus**: With access to strong super effective coverage, Dragon Tail, and Toxic, Eternatus can force a lot of damage on Zarude while deterring setup and taking minimal damage from even boosted Darkest Lariat.
**Xerneas**: Defensive Xerneas completely shuts down Zarude, and Geomancy variants can use it as setup fodder.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh can threaten a lot of damage on Zarude with Brave Bird and Sacred Fire and phaze Bulk Up variants with Whirlwind.
**Defensive Fighting-types**: With their recovery options and great natural bulk, Buzzwole and Zamazenta-C can both switch into Zarude multiple times and force it out with their strong STAB options.
**Offensive Fighting-types**: Marshadow, Urshifu-S, and Pheromosa all can threaten Zarude with Close Combat and force it out, but they can be quickly worn down if switched in on an attack.
**Amoonguss and Ferrothorn**: Unlike other Grass-types that can't offensively threaten Zarude, Iron Defense + Body Press Ferrothorn pressures it and weakens it with Iron Barbs, and Amoonguss can threaten it with Sludge Bomb or remove its boosts with Clear Smog.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Fc, 511624]]
- Quality checked by: [[Manaphy, 50695], [Aberforth, 249682]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [dex, 277988]]
Zarude provides solid role compression in Ubers. It checks a lot of threats, such as Calyrex-S, Groudon, Calm Mind Kyogre, and Zekrom, as well as more passive Pokemon like Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn depending on its set. Its high base Speed lets it get the jump on a lot of targets like positive-natured base 90s with a good amount of investment and slower targets like Choice Band Dracovish with minimal investment. Its typing also gives it resistances to strong offensive types like Electric, Ground, Ghost, and Water, giving it a wide range of uses depending on what it wants to check. Its typing also comes with a lot of weaknesses, though, leaving it susceptible to getting lured by niche coverage moves on Pokemon like Calyrex-S and Groudon while also being weak to coverage commonly thrown out by the top Dark-type in the metagame, Yveltal.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Darkest Lariat
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Jungle Healing / Synthesis
item: Leftovers
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 120 SpD / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Bulk Up and Darkest Lariat let Zarude break Zygarde, bypassing defensive sets trying to set up Coil against it and checking offensive sets more reliably. Jungle Healing makes Zarude a true counter to Dragon Dance + Toxic Zygarde sets. It also allows Zarude to switch into Thunder Wave Necrozma-DM and be a status absorber in many cases. Alternatively, Synthesis gives Zarude more healing, letting it better check Choice Specs Calyrex-S and other Pokemon. 136 Speed EVs give Zarude the jump on positive-natured base 90s like Kyogre and Groudon, with maximum HP for overall bulk and the rest of the EVs in Special Defense to better check Calyrex-S and Kyogre.
Ho-Oh is a great natural partner, scouting what move a Choice-locked Calyrex-S uses and absorbing Trick so Zarude continues consistently checking it as well as other wallbreakers like Kyogre. Offensive Yveltal can be used with Zarude, utilizing Hone Claws to break through Eternatus so Zarude can sweep; it also appreciates Zarude checking Calyrex-S. Groudon is an important teammate if Synthesis is used, increasing Synthesis's recovery and activating Zarude's Leaf Guard. A cleric like Blissey, Xerneas, or Calyrex-S can also make up for Jungle Healing being dropped for Synthesis. Necrozma-DM is another excellent partner, checking Xerneas and Eternatus, which easily threaten Zarude. With Zarude outspeeding Groudon and checking opposing Zygarde, your own Zygarde can run a Dragon Dance set instead of a defensive one. Eternatus checks Fighting-types like Marshadow and switches into Ho-Oh, making it a great and almost mandatory teammate to check some of the biggest threats to Zarude.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Darkest Lariat
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Synthesis
item: Leftovers
ability: Leaf Guard
nature: Impish
evs: 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Physically defensive Zarude goes all-in on using its typing and Bulk Up to check dangerous physical threats, namely Zekrom, Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM, Zygarde, and non-Life Orb and non-Fire-type coverage Groudon. Darkest Lariat lets Zarude beat Coil Zygarde and Bulk Up Groudon one-on-one while also reliably damaging Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM. Power Whip gives Zarude a better matchup against Life Orb Groudon, at worst letting Zarude net some damage against it. Power Whip is also helpful because Zarude can act as a last-ditch Kyogre check, although it can't take repeated hits very well. Synthesis is needed to check Life Orb Zekrom, as Zarude very narrowly takes it on with the extra recovery compared to Jungle Healing. 16 Speed EVs let Zarude outrun Adamant maximum Speed Dracovish, while the rest maximize its physical bulk.
As physically defensive Zarude is a Dark-type that fails to reliably check Choice Specs Calyrex-S, Yveltal is a pivotal teammate that beats it as well as other foes such as Lunala and Special Attacking Giratina-O. Groudon is an incredible teammate for providing reliable sun to boost Zarude's Synthesis recovery and make it immune to status. Fighting-types like Marshadow, Urshifu-S, and Buzzwole are some physical attackers that Zarude can't handle, meaning teammates like Eternatus and Xerneas are helpful for covering those matchups. Without any Speed or Special Defense investment, Zarude can't reliably pressure Kyogre. This makes teammates like Blissey and specially defensive Eternatus necessary to have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
U-turn can be used as a pivoting option, maintaining momentum even if Zarude is crippled by Calyrex-S's Trick, but losing Bulk Up makes Zarude fairly susceptible to strong wallbreakers like Zygarde.
Checks and Counters
====
**Eternatus**: With access to strong super effective coverage, Dragon Tail, and Toxic, Eternatus can force a lot of damage on Zarude while deterring setup and taking minimal damage from even boosted Darkest Lariat.
**Xerneas**: Defensive Xerneas completely shuts down Zarude, and Geomancy variants can use it as setup fodder.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh can threaten a lot of damage on Zarude with Brave Bird and Sacred Fire and phaze Bulk Up variants with Whirlwind.
**Defensive Fighting-types**: With their recovery options and great natural bulk, Buzzwole and Zamazenta-C can both switch into Zarude multiple times and force it out with their strong STAB options.
**Offensive Fighting-types**: Marshadow, Urshifu-S, and Pheromosa all can threaten Zarude with Close Combat and force it out, but they can be quickly worn down if switched in on an attack.
**Amoonguss and Ferrothorn**: Unlike other Grass-types that can't offensively threaten Zarude, Iron Defense + Body Press Ferrothorn pressures it and weakens it with Iron Barbs, and Amoonguss can threaten it with Sludge Bomb or remove its boosts with Clear Smog.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Fc, 511624]]
- Quality checked by: [[Manaphy, 50695], [Aberforth, 249682]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [dex, 277988]]
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