Namranan
:)))))))))))
Ok so apparently if you didn't know, the new mythical Pokemon Zarude was made playable on Showdown today. This means that both Dark and Grass have a new toy to play with, but in the interest of sparking discussion, I'll talk about what this mon offers to the table for both types.
But first, let's talk a little about the mon itself:
(Dark/Grass-type)
HP: 105
Atk: 120
Def: 105
SpA: 70
SpD: 95
Spe: 105
Signature move: Jungle Healing (Heals self for 25% and cures status)
Initial notes:
* Its speed is very nice against base 100s but doesn't notably outpace anything else. With a Choice Scarf, it outspeeds +2 Cloyster and Polteageist if they aren't +Spe.
* Its bulk is incredible for a physical attacker, with 105/105/95 being pretty darn fat and can likely allow him to live some rediculous attacks. (see below)
* Its Dark-STAB is a little lacking due to it not having access to Knock Off.
* 101 HP Substitutes are possible (means its sub can't be broken by Night Shade, Seismic toss, etc.
* Might have a niche on Sun Grass thanks to it being immune to status while under the sun, which can be great vs Toxapex and other walls.
* Doesn't have Swords Dance but has access to Nasty Plot and good special STAB moves.
Offensive calcs coming soon:
Dark thoughts:
Grass thoughts:
I'll share some sets as well to get discussion rolling on its potential use:
Dark sets:
Grass sets:
But first, let's talk a little about the mon itself:
(Dark/Grass-type)
HP: 105
Atk: 120
Def: 105
SpA: 70
SpD: 95
Spe: 105
Signature move: Jungle Healing (Heals self for 25% and cures status)
Bulk Up, Bullet Seed, Close Combat, Crunch, Darkest Lariat, Dark Pulse, Drain Punch, Energy Ball, Giga Drain, Grassy Glide, Growth, Iron Tail, Nasty Plot, Power Whip, Seed Bomb, Solar Beam, Solar Blade, Rock Slide, Stomping Tantrum, Synthesis, Taunt, Throat Chop, U-turn
Initial notes:
* Its speed is very nice against base 100s but doesn't notably outpace anything else. With a Choice Scarf, it outspeeds +2 Cloyster and Polteageist if they aren't +Spe.
* Its bulk is incredible for a physical attacker, with 105/105/95 being pretty darn fat and can likely allow him to live some rediculous attacks. (see below)
* Its Dark-STAB is a little lacking due to it not having access to Knock Off.
* 101 HP Substitutes are possible (means its sub can't be broken by Night Shade, Seismic toss, etc.
* Might have a niche on Sun Grass thanks to it being immune to status while under the sun, which can be great vs Toxapex and other walls.
* Doesn't have Swords Dance but has access to Nasty Plot and good special STAB moves.
252 SpA Keldeo Secret Sword vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 266-314 (75.7 - 89.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Raichu-Alola Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zarude: 312-369 (88.8 - 105.1%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude in Electric Terrain: 137-162 (39 - 46.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Mimikyu Play Rough vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 283-338 (80.6 - 96.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Mimikyu Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 32-39 (9.1 - 11.1%) -- possible 9HKO
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Dragapult Dragon Darts (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 320-376 (91.1 - 107.1%) -- approx. 43.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Dragapult Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zarude: 208-246 (59.2 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Raichu-Alola Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zarude: 312-369 (88.8 - 105.1%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude in Electric Terrain: 137-162 (39 - 46.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Mimikyu Play Rough vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 283-338 (80.6 - 96.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Mimikyu Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 32-39 (9.1 - 11.1%) -- possible 9HKO
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Dragapult Dragon Darts (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 320-376 (91.1 - 107.1%) -- approx. 43.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Dragapult Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zarude: 208-246 (59.2 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Offensive calcs coming soon:
Dark thoughts:
Dark has notoriously been a type that has had a poor matchup against water. Keldeo, Toxapex, and others made it really hard for Dark to actually break the type, despite having mons like Urshifu-S. Zarude with its access to powerful Grass-type moves like Power Whip and Seed Bomb allows it to effectively manage most of the water types in the tier. As a scarfer, this thing is very welcomed thanks to its ability to actually outspeed key Pokemon like Darmanitan Galar, opposing Scarf Hydreigon, and +2 speed Adamant Cloyster and actually OHKO them back thanks to Close Combat. Alternatively, you can also use it like Stallbreaker Keldeo and run Taunt + Bulk up to act as a Stallbreaker with Darkest Lariat and Power Whip / Seed Bomb as your STAB moves. Whether or not this is effective I do not know yet, but the potential is there. Despite Dark already having Obstagoon for stallbreaking, it couldn't really act as a setup sweeper and had a nasty defensive typing. Zarude might not be much better defensively, but its ability to become a win condition for the team is definitely something I think separates it from Obstagoon. Overall, I think this mon can work nicely on Dark, not super necessary but definitely a nice addition.
Grass thoughts:
Grass has been doing ok as a type, but one thing it lacked was powerful Scarf users. Virizion is incredibly weak and Rillaboom likes to use Choice Band or Swords Dance more, so consistent speed control was not really a thing that was common on Grass. Enter Zarude. It may have a worse speed tier than Virizion, but its typing, coverage, and power definitely make it more of a threat. Being able to beat Psychic and Ghost-types without being forced to use the slow Decidueye is a welcome addition to the type. Pair that with its access to U-turn and now you have a great offensive pivot that can either hit hard or pivot into one of grass' many walls. When it comes to how Zarude can be used with Sun, I touched on this a little in my notes but this thing with its ability, Leaf Guard, allows it to not get statused by things like Scald or Toxic while the Sun is up. This could be great if it was used as a setup sweeper on Sun, but I don't know if that will be how it's used in the future. Overall, I think this mon might be ok on Grass, but not a defining feature.
I'll share some sets as well to get discussion rolling on its potential use:
Dark sets:
Scarfer (Zarude) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power Whip
- Darkest Lariat
- Close Combat
- U-turn
Stallbreaker (Zarude) @ Leftovers
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Taunt
- Power Whip
- Darkest Lariat
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power Whip
- Darkest Lariat
- Close Combat
- U-turn
Stallbreaker (Zarude) @ Leftovers
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Taunt
- Power Whip
- Darkest Lariat
Grass sets:
Sun abuser (Zarude) @ Life Orb
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Growth
- Solar Blade
- Synthesis / Close Combat
- Darkest Lariat
Scarfer (Zarude) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Darkest Lariat
- Power Whip
- Close Combat
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Growth
- Solar Blade
- Synthesis / Close Combat
- Darkest Lariat
Scarfer (Zarude) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Darkest Lariat
- Power Whip
- Close Combat