Zekrom - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Zekrom

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Zekrom
Abilities
Teravolt	Moves can be used regardless of Abilities.

Zekrom Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Zekrom

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Zekrom

Physical Attacker Moveset & Best Build

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

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
Zekrom	Clefable	Heatran

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

Weakness

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
Landorus (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)
Xerneas	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
Ditto	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
Eternatus	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
Yveltal	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
Zacian	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

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Galarian Articuno	Galarian Zapdos	Galarian Moltres
Raikou	Entei	Suicune
Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres
Tornadus	Thundurus	Landorus
Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
Latios	Latias	Heatran
Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
Galarian Slowking	Nihilego	Naganadel
Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
Palkia	Regigigas	Registeel
Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex