Pokemon Sword and Shield

Zekrom - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Zekrom - Movesets and Counters.png

This is a strategy guide for using Zekrom in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Zekrom, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Zekrom - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Zekrom Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Zekrom Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Zekrom

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Dragon Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Electric Type
Abilities
Teravolt Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.

Zekrom Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Ice Image Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Dragon Image Pokemon Fairy Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fire Image Pokemon Water Image Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Flying Image Pokemon Steel Image
Takes 1/4x damage
Pokemon Electric Image
Takes 0x damage
-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
100 150 120 120 100 90

Best Nature for Zekrom

Best Natures
Jolly
(+Spd, -Sp.Atk)
Adamant
(+Atk, -Sp.Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Zekrom

Physical Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Physical Attacker Zekrom.png

Nature Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread Atk 252 / Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 175 / Atk 202 / Def 141 / Sp.Def 120 / Spd 156
Ability Teravolt
Held Item Life Orb
Weakness Policy
Moveset Bolt Strike
Outrage
Dual Wingbeat
Dragon Dance

Zekrom's unique dual typing makes it one of the more formidable physical attackers in Ranked Battle Series 8, and is one of the few that can threaten Lugia thanks to its Teravolt Ability.

About Zekrom's Moves

Bolt Strike is Zekrom's strongest STAB move and has a 20% chance to paralyze the target. It also becomes a base 140 Power Max Lightning during Dynamax, allowing the Deep Black Pokemon to KO Pokemon that don't resist it.

Outrage is its secondary STAB move and provides great neutral coverage, although it locks Zekrom into the move for 2-3 turns before it inflicts confusion. It's best used during Dynamax, where it becomes a powerful Max Wyrmwind.

Dual Wingbeat is a great coverage move, and since it hits twice, allows Zekrom to beat Substitute and Focus Sash users. It also becomes Max Airstream during Dynamax.

Dragon Dance is its last move and allows Zekrom to boost its Attack and Speed by 1 stage. Thanks to Zekrom's overwhelming offensive presence, it has plenty of chances to set up with this move.

About Zekrom's EV Spread

We're using a simple physical attacking EV spread with full investment in Attack and Speed so that Zekrom hits hard and as fast as possible, with the remaining 4 EVs invested in Defense to slightly boost its great physical defense.

About Zekrom's Ability

Teravolt is Zekrom's only Ability and is what makes it a very formidable physical attacker. This Ability ignores Abilities such as Lugia and Dragonite's Multiscale, Mimikyu's Disguise, or Sturdy, allowing Zekrom to attack them directly.

About Zekrom's Held Item

Zekrom has two options for held items.

The first is a Life Orb which boosts the power of its moves by 30% at the cost of recoil damage.

The second is a Weakness Policy that raises its Attack and Special Attack by two stages when hit with a super effective move. Thanks to Zekrom's great physical bulk, it can survive a super effective physical move during Dynamax and get the boost.

Other Viable Moves

Body Press An alternative coverage move that uses Zekrom's Defense stat when calculating damage. Becomes Max Knuckle during Dynamax.
Substitute Can replace Dragon Dance and is best used when you're expecting an opposing Ditto, preventing it from transforming with its Imposter Ability.

How to Use Zekrom Effectively

A Powerful Dynamax Pokemon

Zekrom is one of the best candidates for main Dynamax Pokemon or even Dynamax Lead for all kinds of teams. Its great dual typing gives it unique coverage with its powerful moves, and its respectable bulk means it doesn't go down easily - even if hit by a super effective attack!

Access to Max Airstream through its Flying-type coverage moves sets it apart from other bulky attackers, making it an even more attractive Dynamax Pokemon.

Teravolt Ignores Opposing Pokemon's Abilities

Zekrom is one of two Pokemon that has access to the Teravolt Ability, which gives it a niche over other physical attackers as it ignores opposing Pokemon's Abilities, such as Lugia and Dragonite's Multiscale and Mimikyu's Disguise.

Despite this, there are some Pokemon whose Abilities ignore Zekrom's Teravolt. These include Necrozma and its two formes who all have Prism Armor.

How to Build a Team with Zekrom

Zekrom is easy to fit into both offensive and defensive teams, although its great mixed bulk means it often finds itself into more defensive-oriented teams.

Use it as a Lead Dynamax for Defensive Teams

Zekrom provides valuable offensive presence for defensive teams, and with the right team building, can stay healthy throughout the match.

Example Build Team

Lead Dynamax Defensive Pivot Special Sweeper
Pokemon SWSH - Zekrom ImageZekrom Pokemon SWSH - Clefable ImageClefable Pokemon SWSH - Heatran ImageHeatran

Zekrom gives this defensive team some much needed offensive presence, firing off powerful Max Lightnings and Max Wyrmwinds at the start of the battle. Alternatively, it can set up with Dragon Dance if it faces with an opposing Pokemon that can't harm it and then Dynamax afterwards.

Clefable is a great partner for Zekrom, switching into opposing setup sweepers and providing valuable Wish support.

Heatran synergizes well with both Zekrom and Clefable, with its dual typing giving it 4x resistance to Fairy-type moves and immunity to Poison-type moves. It can also switch into an opposing Pokemon that's looking to burn Zekrom with Will-O-Wisp or Fire-type moves thanks to its Flash Fire Ability.

How to Build a Defensive Team

Counters for Zekrom

Zekrom
Weakness Pokemon Ice Image Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Dragon Image Pokemon Fairy Image

Outspeed it with a Faster Attacker

Zekrom is powerful but it has a rather mediocre 90 Base Speed stat, leaving it outsped by faster Pokemon or those holding Choice Scarf. As such, faster attackers can force it out or threaten the Deep Black Pokemon with their super effective coverage moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Landorus (Therian Forme) ImageLandorus (Therian Forme) Ranking: ★★★★★
・Lowers Zekrom's Attack with Intimidate
・Immune to Bolt Strike and can threaten Zekrom with Earthquake
Moveset & Best Build for Landorus (Therian Forme)
Pokemon SWSH - Xerneas ImageXerneas Ranking: ★★★★★
・Naturally faster than Zekrom
・Can switch into Zekrom's Outrage and set up with Geomancy to KO with Moonblast
Moveset & Best Build for Xerneas
Pokemon SWSH - Ditto ImageDitto Ranking: ★★★★★
・Copies Zekrom's stats, including Dragon Dance boosts with its Imposter Ability
・Requires a Choice Scarf to outspeed Zekrom
Moveset & Best Build for Ditto
Pokemon SWSH - Eternatus ImageEternatus Ranking: ★★★★
・Naturally faster than Zekrom and easily KOs Dynamax Zekrom with STAB boosted Dynamax Cannon
・Cannot switch into Zekrom that already has a Dragon Dance boost
Moveset & Best Build for Eternatus
Pokemon SWSH - Yveltal ImageYveltal Ranking: ★★★★
・Naturally faster than Zekrom and can flinch it with STAB Dark Aura boosted Dark Pulse
・Cannot switch into Zekrom that already has a Dragon Dance boost
Moveset & Best Build for Yveltal
Pokemon SWSH - Zacian ImageZacian Ranking: ★★★★
・Outspeeds Zekrom and can KO with Play Rough
・Cannot switch into Zekrom that already has a Dragon Dance boost
Moveset & Best Build for Zacian

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
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