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 a marvelous Dragon and Ground-typed Pokemon. It's a pretty standard sight to see Zygarde out in the 8th generation battlefield. Zygarde is considered strong enough to compete with Uber tiered Pokemon. 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 for single battles. This moveset 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. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction. With a Yache Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective ice-type attack then the Yache Berry gets consumed. With a Eject Pack equipped to it, if Zygarde's stat stages are lowered, it switches to a chosen ally then the Eject Pack gets consumed.
◆ 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 considerable 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10a2ce
Item: Yache Berry / Throat Spray
Ability: Aura Break
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Core Enforcer / Dragon Pulse
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Hyper Voice / Hyper Beam
Special Sweeper Zygarde (Aura Break)
Zygarde is a legendary Special Sweeper for single battles. It's primary goal is 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. With a Yache Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective ice-type attack then the Yache Berry gets consumed.
◆ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a good 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a2ce
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 for single battles. It's meant to take a large 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 stamina 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is12a2ce
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: Figy Berry
Ability: Power Construct
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 148 Hp / 204 Atk / 44 Def / 100 SpD / 12 Spe
Moveset:
- Thousand Arrows
- Thousand Waves
- Coil
- Protect
Doubles Physical Tank Zygarde (Popular VGC)
Zygarde is a legendary Physical Tank for double battles. This particular build was popular during recent competitions. It was designed to take a decent amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. With Power Construct, if zygarde 10%/50% changes to complete if at 1/2 max hp or less at end of turn. With a Figy Berry equipped to it, restores 1/3 max hp at 1/4 max hp or less; confuses if -atk nature then the Figy Berry gets consumed.
◆ Thousand Waves is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent foes. Prevents them from switching).
◆ Coil is a status move (raises Zygarde's attack, defense, accuracy by 1 stage).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Zygarde this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a2ce
Item: Yache Berry / Eject Pack
Ability: Aura Break
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Thousand Waves / Thousand Arrows
- Outrage / Breaking Swipe
- Rock Slide
- Superpower / Brick Break
Doubles Physical Sweeper Zygarde (Aura Break)
Zygarde is a legendary Physical Sweeper for double battles. It's meant 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. With a Yache Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective ice-type attack then the Yache Berry gets consumed. With a Eject Pack equipped to it, if Zygarde's stat stages are lowered, it switches to a chosen ally then the Eject Pack gets consumed.
◆ Thousand Arrows is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Ground-type move (grounds adjacent foes. First hit neutral on flying).
◆ 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 make the foes flinch).
◆ 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11a2ce
Item: Yache Berry / Throat Spray
Ability: Aura Break
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
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 for double battles. This moveset is designed 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 boosts 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. With a Yache Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective ice-type attack then the Yache Berry gets consumed.
◆ Dragon Pulse is a special STAB-boosted 85-base power Dragon-type move that deals a hefty 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id12a2ce
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: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Substitute + Reversal
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Glare
Moves that boost Zygarde's stats
- Coil
- Dragon Dance
- Scale Shot
Most notable and possible best moves for Zygarde
- Earthquake
- 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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Here are the best movesets for Zygarde. Top rated Zygarde Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Zygarde builds Sword/Shield. Zygarde movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Zygarde Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Zygarde in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution