[OVERVIEW]
Zebstrika is one of the premier pivots of the metagame. With the highest speed stat in the tier of 116 and access to Volt Switch, it finds itself nestled on just about any offensive team. Zebstrika's access to Overheat also allows it to threaten the plethora of Grass-types that can usually switch in to resist its Electric-type attacks. However, Zebstrika does lack power, with only a mediocre base 80 Special Attack and no way of boosting it outside of items, it can struggle to beat specially defensive Pokemon like Audino and Scraggy. Zebstrika is also fairly one-dimensional, lacking any sort of variability other than the user's choice of Hidden Power and item, meaning that any player should know what to expect from team preview.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Overheat
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb / Magnet
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thunderbolt is Zebstrika's primary STAB move, while Volt Switch allows it to quickly pivot out. Overheat, as mentioned above, hits Grass-types like Maractus and Shiftry. Hidden Power Ice allows Zebstrika to hit Ground-types, namely Gabite, Torterra, and Stunfisk. Magnet can be used over Life Orb to help Zebstrika's longevity, but the power loss on Hidden Power Ice is especially notable. Lightning Rod is the preferred ability to allow Zebstrika to switch into and check other Electric-types while boosting its Special Attack, though Sap Sipper can be used to better check Jumpluff and Simisage.
Zebstrika's Speed is its main draw to be used on offensive teams, so slower hard-hitting wall-breakers like Choice Band Torterra, Beheeyem, and even some faster ones like Choice Specs Shiftry can help greatly weaken teams to the point of Zebstrika being able to clean. Grass- and Water-types such as the aforementioned Torterra, Maractus, and Swanna can help handle Ground-types, while also appreciating Zebstrika's ability to weaken other Grass- and Water-types with Overheat and Thunderbolt respectively. Many Choice Scarf Pokemon can still outspeed Zebstrika despite its high Speed, the most common being Golduck, Gabite, and Dodrio. Pokemon who can switch into and check these threats such as Vileplume, Torterra, and Klang greatly help Zebstrika. Pokemon with U-turn like Choice Scarf Monferno, Swoobat, and Purugly also help form nice momentum cores with Zebstrika.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Audino and Scraggy can easily switch into Zebstrika's attacks and heal the damage off. Even other walls like specially defensive Vileplume can take several Overheats with little issue due to the Special Attack drop.
**Faster Pokemon**: No Pokemon in the metagame outspeeds Zebstrika naturally but with Zebstrika's poor bulk, any Pokemon that outspeeds it with a Choice Scarf can threaten it such as Golduck, Mr. Mime, and Gabite. It is also threatened by priority moves from the likes of Shiftry, Purugly, and Monferno.
**Ground-types**: Any Ground-type means that Zebstrika can't spam its Volt Switch as easily and threaten back with their STAB. Torterra can sometimes live a Hidden Power Ice depending on its Special Defense investment and whether or not it has a Yache Berry. Stunfisk also can take a Hidden Power pretty easily and threaten to KO Zebstrika.
**Passive Damage**: Due to Zebstrika's high Speed and Volt Switch, a main way for most teams to beat it is by whittling it down through passive damage. Stealth Rock and Spikes are both key in this, limiting Zebstrika's switch-in opportunities as much as possible. Status conditions also limit Zebstrika's longevity, so it has to be wary of switching into Pokemon like Klang, Mawile, and Frillish in case it gets hit by Toxic or burned by Scald or Will-O-Wisp.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[SergioRules, 265399]]
- Quality checked by: [[Akir, 231726], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]
Zebstrika is one of the premier pivots of the metagame. With the highest speed stat in the tier of 116 and access to Volt Switch, it finds itself nestled on just about any offensive team. Zebstrika's access to Overheat also allows it to threaten the plethora of Grass-types that can usually switch in to resist its Electric-type attacks. However, Zebstrika does lack power, with only a mediocre base 80 Special Attack and no way of boosting it outside of items, it can struggle to beat specially defensive Pokemon like Audino and Scraggy. Zebstrika is also fairly one-dimensional, lacking any sort of variability other than the user's choice of Hidden Power and item, meaning that any player should know what to expect from team preview.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Overheat
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb / Magnet
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thunderbolt is Zebstrika's primary STAB move, while Volt Switch allows it to quickly pivot out. Overheat, as mentioned above, hits Grass-types like Maractus and Shiftry. Hidden Power Ice allows Zebstrika to hit Ground-types, namely Gabite, Torterra, and Stunfisk. Magnet can be used over Life Orb to help Zebstrika's longevity, but the power loss on Hidden Power Ice is especially notable. Lightning Rod is the preferred ability to allow Zebstrika to switch into and check other Electric-types while boosting its Special Attack, though Sap Sipper can be used to better check Jumpluff and Simisage.
Zebstrika's Speed is its main draw to be used on offensive teams, so slower hard-hitting wall-breakers like Choice Band Torterra, Beheeyem, and even some faster ones like Choice Specs Shiftry can help greatly weaken teams to the point of Zebstrika being able to clean. Grass- and Water-types such as the aforementioned Torterra, Maractus
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Audino and Scraggy can easily switch into Zebstrika's attacks and heal the damage off. Even other walls like specially defensive Vileplume can take several Overheats with little issue due to the Special Attack drop.
**Faster Pokemon**: No Pokemon in the metagame outspeeds Zebstrika naturally but with Zebstrika's poor bulk, any Pokemon that outspeeds it with a Choice Scarf can threaten it such as Golduck, Mr. Mime, and Gabite. It is also threatened by priority moves from the likes of Shiftry, Purugly, and Monferno.
**Ground-types**: Any Ground-type means that Zebstrika can't spam its Volt Switch as easily and threaten back with their STAB. Torterra can sometimes live a Hidden Power Ice depending on its Special Defense investment and whether or not it has a Yache Berry. Stunfisk also can take a Hidden Power pretty easily and threaten to KO Zebstrika.
**Passive Damage**: Due to Zebstrika's high Speed and Volt Switch, a main way for most teams to beat it is by whittling it down through passive damage. Stealth Rock and Spikes are both key in this, limiting Zebstrika's switch-in opportunities as much as possible. Status conditions also limit Zebstrika's longevity, so it has to be wary of switching into Pokemon like Klang, Mawile, and Frillish in case it gets hit by Toxic or burned by Scald or Will-O-Wisp.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[SergioRules, 265399]]
- Quality checked by: [[Akir, 231726], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]
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