Competitive Information for Zygarde [Sword/Shield]
Dragon / Ground
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Zygarde? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Zygarde is popular Dragon and Ground-typed Pokemon. It's pretty regular to find yourself dealing with Zygarde when battling in the 8th generation meta. Zygarde is weak to Dragon, Fairy, and Ice-typed attacks.
Item: Yache Berry / Eject Pack
Ability: Aura Break
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Outrage / Breaking Swipe
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- Superpower / Brick Break
- Body Slam / Facade
Physical Sweeper Zygarde (Aura Break)
Zygarde is a legendary Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. With Aura Break, while Zygarde is active the dark aura and fairy aura power modifier is 0.75x. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction.
♦ Breaking Swipe is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Dragon-type move (100% chance to lower the foes attack by 1 stage).
♦ Earthquake is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ High Horsepower is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Ground-type move that deals a large amount of damage.
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Zygarde's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
♦ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Facade is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if Zygarde is burn/poison/paralyzed).
Item: Yache Berry / Throat Spray
Ability: Aura Break
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Core Enforcer / Dragon Pulse
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Hyper Voice / Hyper Beam
Special Sweeper Zygarde (Aura Break)
Zygarde is a legendary Special Sweeper. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Hyper Voice) and increases Zygarde's special attack stat by 2 stages. With Aura Break, while Zygarde is active the dark aura and fairy aura power modifier is 0.75x.
♦ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a substantial amount of damage.
♦ Earth Power is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Sludge Wave is a special 95-base power Poison-type move (10% chance to poison adjacent pokemon).
♦ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Zygarde cannot move next turn).
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
Nature: Careful (+SpD, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Moveset:
- Coil / Dragon Dance
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
- Earthquake
Zygarde Special Wall (Catch Some Zzzzz)
Zygarde is a legendary Special Wall. It's designed to take a substantial amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Zygarde last longer regaining it's health every turn. With Aura Break, while Zygarde is active the dark aura and fairy aura power modifier is 0.75x. I have yet to try this out, but I think it will work. The high defence of zygarde can work well and max sp.d investment can make a mixed wall. Not as good as my Dragonair, I think, but worth a go.
♦ Dragon Dance is a status move (raises your Zygarde's attack and speed by 1 stage).
♦ Sleep Talk is a status move (Zygarde must be asleep. uses another known move).
♦ Rest is a status move (Zygarde sleeps 2 turns and restores hp and status).
♦ Earthquake is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Zygarde? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Yache Berry / Eject Pack
Ability: Aura Break
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Land's Wrath / Earthquake
- Outrage / Breaking Swipe
- Rock Slide
- Superpower / Brick Break
Doubles Physical Sweeper Zygarde (Aura Break)
Zygarde is a legendary Physical Sweeper. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. With Aura Break, while Zygarde is active the dark aura and fairy aura power modifier is 0.75x.
♦ Earthquake is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Outrage is a physical STAB-boosted 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. confuses your Zygarde afterwards).
♦ Breaking Swipe is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Dragon-type move (100% chance to lower the foes attack by 1 stage).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Zygarde's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
Item: Yache Berry / Throat Spray
Ability: Aura Break
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Core Enforcer / Dragon Pulse
- Hyper Voice / Hyper Beam
- Sludge Wave
- Earth Power
Doubles Special Sweeper Zygarde (Aura Break)
Zygarde is a legendary Special Sweeper. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Hyper Voice) and raises Zygarde's special attack stat by 2 stages. With Aura Break, while Zygarde is active the dark aura and fairy aura power modifier is 0.75x.
♦ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a good amount of damage.
♦ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Zygarde cannot move next turn).
♦ Sludge Wave is a special 95-base power Poison-type move (10% chance to poison adjacent pokemon).
♦ Earth Power is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Zygarde learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Zygarde can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Zygarde
- Moves: Safeguard + Outrage
- Moves: Endure + Reversal
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Substitute + Reversal
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Haze, Brick Break
Most notable and possible best moves for Zygarde
- Protect
- Rest
Common Effort Values for Zygarde in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Zygarde's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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