[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Grassy Glide
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Power Whip / Close Combat
move 4: Darkest Lariat / Close Combat
item: Choice Band
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zarude is a formidable offensive pivot and doubles as one of the strongest priority users in the metagame. With Choice Band and a Terrain-boosted Grassy Glide, Zarude can force out the majority of relevant wallbreakers, such as Tapu Koko and Azelf, as they risk getting OHKOed. U-turn capitalizes on the switches Zarude forces, bringing in offensive partners like Heatran and Blacephalon. Power Whip is the strongest STAB move available, OHKOing or 2HKOing common defensive pivots like Swampert, Tapu Fini, Zapdos, and Toxapex. Darkest Lariat is a spammable STAB move that also bypasses Dauntless Shield boosts, scoring 2HKOs on Heatran, Mew, and Moltres. However, Close Combat is a strong alternative over either Power Whip or Darkest Lariat, allowing it to break through specific checks like Ferrothorn and Incineroar. A Jolly nature puts it above Zapdos and Garchomp, among others, that it can 2HKO on the switch. However, this is not essential; using an Adamant nature instead boosts Zarude's already strong priority move, notably giving a better chance to OHKO Tapu Koko.
Zarude provides valuable utility including priority, Terrain control, and passive recovery, making it a great fit on balance and bulky offense teams. As Zarude cannot switch into most attackers, a strong defensive core often helps bring it in safely. Zarude also handily beats Swampert and Tapu Fini, making it a great partner for a multitude of wallbreakers, such as Heatran, Blacephalon, Zapdos, and Tapu Koko. In return, Zarude gives them good switch-in opportunities by using U-turn on the Steel-types it invites in, mainly Corviknight and Cobalion. Zarude appreciates any teammates that can set entry hazards, chipping down foes like Tapu Koko, Ferrothorn, and Corviknight into OHKO or 2HKO range. Teammates carrying Rocky Helmet such as Corviknight and Swampert also provide chip damage, and they can notably punish offensive pivots freely clicking U-turn on Zarude; Wandering Spirit Corviknight is especially valuable, as it can nullify opposing Regenerator on a U-turn. Lastly, teammates running Knock Off are useful to remove opposing Rocky Helmet and Heavy-Duty Boots, respectively allowing Zarude to attack more freely and better chip walls—especially Flying-types—in combination with hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Adamant Tough Claws is rarely run, as Zarude loses priority on Grassy Glide, leaving it unable to revenge kill any attacker, as well as losing passive recovery and Terrain control. On the other hand, however, it provides a decent power boost on all other moves and makes Darkest Lariat very spammable: it now 2HKOes non-Intimidate Corviknight, Zapdos, and Heatran, easing prediction and pivoting.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Corviknight, especially Intimidate variants, takes minimal damage from Zarude; Cobalion outspeeds and forces out Zarude while recovering any chip damage via Regenerator; and other Steel-types like Ferrothorn require noticeable chip damage for non-Close Combat Zarude to break through them.
**Flying-types**: Resisting Grassy Glide, common Flying-types like Zapdos, Togekiss, and Mandibuzz can either outspeed and force out Zarude or completely wall it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Zarude often finds itself unable to threaten common fast pivots with Grassy Glide, such as Choice Scarf Genesect and Talonflame. Both carry super effective moves to hit Zarude in return. Additionally, Zarude is forced out by U-turn users given its glaring 4x Bug weakness, especially Azelf, which replaces its Grassy Terrain with Psychic Terrain: this often gives free momentum to offensive pivots, as they can freely use U-turn without taking Grassy Glide.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[lph, 476520]]
- Quality checked by: [[Think, 375662], [UT, 523866]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Grassy Glide
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Power Whip / Close Combat
move 4: Darkest Lariat / Close Combat
item: Choice Band
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Zarude is a formidable offensive pivot and doubles as one of the strongest priority users in the metagame. With Choice Band and a Terrain-boosted Grassy Glide, Zarude can force out the majority of relevant wallbreakers, such as Tapu Koko and Azelf, as they risk getting OHKOed. U-turn capitalizes on the switches Zarude forces, bringing in offensive partners like Heatran and Blacephalon. Power Whip is the strongest STAB move available, OHKOing or 2HKOing common defensive pivots like Swampert, Tapu Fini, Zapdos, and Toxapex. Darkest Lariat is a spammable STAB move that also bypasses Dauntless Shield boosts, scoring 2HKOs on Heatran, Mew, and Moltres. However, Close Combat is a strong alternative over either Power Whip or Darkest Lariat, allowing it to break through specific checks like Ferrothorn and Incineroar. A Jolly nature puts it above Zapdos and Garchomp, among others, that it can 2HKO on the switch. However, this is not essential; using an Adamant nature instead boosts Zarude's already strong priority move, notably giving a better chance to OHKO Tapu Koko.
Zarude provides valuable utility including priority, Terrain control, and passive recovery, making it a great fit on balance and bulky offense teams. As Zarude cannot switch into most attackers, a strong defensive core often helps bring it in safely. Zarude also handily beats Swampert and Tapu Fini, making it a great partner for a multitude of wallbreakers, such as Heatran, Blacephalon, Zapdos, and Tapu Koko. In return, Zarude gives them good switch-in opportunities by using U-turn on the Steel-types it invites in, mainly Corviknight and Cobalion. Zarude appreciates any teammates that can set entry hazards, chipping down foes like Tapu Koko, Ferrothorn, and Corviknight into OHKO or 2HKO range. Teammates carrying Rocky Helmet such as Corviknight and Swampert also provide chip damage, and they can notably punish offensive pivots freely clicking U-turn on Zarude; Wandering Spirit Corviknight is especially valuable, as it can nullify opposing Regenerator on a U-turn. Lastly, teammates running Knock Off are useful to remove opposing Rocky Helmet and Heavy-Duty Boots, respectively allowing Zarude to attack more freely and better chip walls—especially Flying-types—in combination with hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Adamant Tough Claws is rarely run, as Zarude loses priority on Grassy Glide, leaving it unable to revenge kill any attacker, as well as losing passive recovery and Terrain control. On the other hand, however, it provides a decent power boost on all other moves and makes Darkest Lariat very spammable: it now 2HKOes non-Intimidate Corviknight, Zapdos, and Heatran, easing prediction and pivoting.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Corviknight, especially Intimidate variants, takes minimal damage from Zarude; Cobalion outspeeds and forces out Zarude while recovering any chip damage via Regenerator; and other Steel-types like Ferrothorn require noticeable chip damage for non-Close Combat Zarude to break through them.
**Flying-types**: Resisting Grassy Glide, common Flying-types like Zapdos, Togekiss, and Mandibuzz can either outspeed and force out Zarude or completely wall it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Zarude often finds itself unable to threaten common fast pivots with Grassy Glide, such as Choice Scarf Genesect and Talonflame. Both carry super effective moves to hit Zarude in return. Additionally, Zarude is forced out by U-turn users given its glaring 4x Bug weakness, especially Azelf, which replaces its Grassy Terrain with Psychic Terrain: this often gives free momentum to offensive pivots, as they can freely use U-turn without taking Grassy Glide.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[lph, 476520]]
- Quality checked by: [[Think, 375662], [UT, 523866]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
