SS Ubers Dragon Dance Zygarde Balance

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Introduction
Sword and Shield has turned Ubers into a war of attrition, with former heavy hitters like Mega Evolutions, Primal formes, all Arceus formes, and Z-moves all gone. Former offensive behemoths like Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Xerneas all have embraced the Timbs from hell named Heavy-Duty Boots and have taken on more defensive or supportive roles. But make no mistake, a true Ubers master always finds a way to bring a more aggressive flair to even the sturdiest of metagames! This team necessitates offensive plays and, on occasion, hard reads to take full advantage of it. It is built around Life Orb Dragon Dance Zygarde, a very underrated threat that catches its checks like Yveltal and non-Choice Scarf Calyrex-S off-guard and OHKOes them with Stone Edge and Outrage at +1, respectively. Groudon serves as a solid defensive backbone that checks physical attackers like Marshadow and Urshifu-S. It also creates a potent double-Ground core alongside Zygarde, helping whittle down their shared checks in defensive Xerneas, bulky Yveltal, and bulky Kyogre. Necrozma-DM, Yveltal, and Eternatus form one of the most solid defensive cores in the metagame, checking practically anything from Geomancy Xerneas to Choice Specs Calyrex-S to Kyogre. The team is rounded out by Choice Scarf Calyrex-S, which is a great form of speed control and is also an emergency cleric.

In-Depth
:xy/zygarde:
Zygarde @ Life Orb
Ability: Power Construct
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Thousand Arrows
- Stone Edge

Zygarde is usually seen running a bulkier set utilizing Glare + Coil or a Substitute + Dragon Dance, both of which win games in the long-run. This Zygarde set puts all its eggs in one basket and functions as an immediately threatening setup sweeper. After a Dragon Dance boost, it both outspeeds and OHKOes Calyrex-S. Stone Edge is a great tool that allows Zygarde to catch Yveltal off-guard, 2HKOing fast sets; this allow it to pave the road for a Calyrex-S sweep.

:xy/necrozma-dusk-mane:
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Iron Head
- Moonlight

Necrozma-DM serves as the team's Stealth Rock setter, Xerneas and Eternatus answer, and paralysis spreader. Iron Head is the only attacking move and is preferred over Sunsteel Strike due to its higher PP and flinch chance, which pairs nicely with Thunder Wave to give it a solid shot at paraflinching any foe down. The speed investment allows it to outspeed non-Choice Scarf Calyrex-S once it's paralyzed.

:xy/yveltal:
Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 248 HP / 32 Atk / 228 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost

Yveltal has become the face of the tier, so it's only natural it'd show its face here. As the dedicated Ground-type immunity and Ghost-type blanket check, (looking at you, Calyrex-S) it's overall just super nice to have. It's a great entry hazard remover thanks to Defog, beating the most common Stealth Rock setter in Necrozma-DM. U-turn with this Attack investment lets Yveltal break most Calyrex-S's Substitutes and pivots nicely into the two Ground-types of the team or even Calyrex-S, all of which apply pressure thanks to their great offensive stats.

:xy/eternatus:
Eternatus @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 164 SpD / 96 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Recover
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Dynamax Cannon

Eternatus rounds out the Yveltal-Eternatus+Necrozma+DM core colloquially known as "YEN". It serves as the Kyogre check of the team, eating up its Water-type attacks. It's also a decent Marshadow check, outspeeding Adamant Marshadow and depleting its PP while threatening with Dynamax Cannon if it's been chipped. Sludge Bomb is a good mid-ground that one can use to catch both Kyogre and Yveltal and ensures that Eternatus doesn't become set-up fodder for Geomancy Xerneas. Special Defense is prioritized in its EVs to be able to occasionally beat opposing specially defensive Eternatus, as well as most Kyogre sets.

:xy/groudon:
Groudon @ Leftovers
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 52 Atk / 172 Def / 32 Spe
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Precipice Blades
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave

Groudon helps Zygarde out by merely existing, as two Ground-types with setup moves can easily overwhelm an opponent lacking Ground-resistant Pokemon. Combining Swords Dance with Thunder Wave allows Groudon to slow the game and its foes down to its own pace and get free turns to boost its Attack. While it may seem counterproductive to stick Swords Dance on a Pokemon EVed to be physically defensive, even with minimal investment, Groudon can easily break through unprepared teams. Groudon also serves as a Marshadow and Urshifu-S answer, both of which are otherwise problematic for this team.

:xy/calyrex-shadow:
Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Trick
- Aromatherapy

The last piece of this puzzle is Choice Scarf Calyrex-S. One of, if not THE best late-game cleaners, any team can get swept by this offensive behemoth if it's positioned correctly. Aromatherapy helps out the entire team, which is quite susceptible to being statused. Trick can cripple opposing Yveltal, which is usually the dedicated switch-in to Calyrex-S, making it susceptible to Stealth Rock by removing its Heavy-Duty Boots. The same applies to other common Calyrex-S checks such as Ho-Oh and Blissey, both of which absolutely hate losing their items.

Threatlist
:kyogre:
While Eternatus covers Choice item sets and monoattacker sets to an extent, Kyogre can run a plethora of different lure sets that let it beat Eternatus. If given a free turn, Substitute + Calm Mind Kyogre can boost its Special Defense enough so that Dynamax Cannon doesn't break its Substitute, allowing Kyogre to set up for practically free. Similarly, Block + Rest sets can trap Eternatus and PP stall it out of any threatening moves it might have.

:weavile:
Weavile outspeeds most of the team and can revenge kill Zygarde even if it's in its Complete forme. Choice Band sets need perfect pivoting to beat while Swords Dance sets require at least 1 of Eternatus, Necrozma-DM, or Yveltal to take significant chip to be able to revenge with Calyrex-S. Groudon can take a +2 Triple Axel, but it must be at full HP to do so.

:rayquaza:
Rayquaza inherently has no dedicated answers outside of stall, and this team is no different. Good pivoting between Groudon, Eternatus, and Necrozma-DM is necessary to beat it.

:mewtwo:
Mewtwo is fast enough that only Calyrex-S can outspeed it, with nothing on the team 2HKOing it consistently. Furthermore, if sun is up, Fire Blast annihilates Necrozma-DM. It can't really switch into much on this team, though, and its HP is depleted rather easily between Stealth Rock, having to switch into an attack, and Life Orb recoil.


Importable
Zygarde @ Life Orb
Ability: Power Construct
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Thousand Arrows
- Stone Edge

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Iron Head
- Moonlight

Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 248 HP / 32 Atk / 228 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost

Eternatus @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 164 SpD / 96 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Recover
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Dynamax Cannon

Groudon @ Leftovers
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 52 Atk / 172 Def / 32 Spe
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Precipice Blades
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave

Calyrex-Shadow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Trick
- Aromatherapy

Credits
created by: Lasen
written by: Lasen
Quality Checked by: Aberforth
Grammar Checked by: dex
Art by: Ticken
 
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