Best Singles Team for Ranked Battle

This is a strategy guide and complete explanation of an Offensive Singles Team for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for the rental code and tips on how to use this team effectively in competitive play, recommended movesets and best builds, and strategies and synergies for each Pokemon.

Team Summary and Rental Code

Offensive Singles Team
Zacian	Kyogre	Zapdos
Porygon2	Gastrodon	Landorus (Therian Forme)
Battle Season	Ranked Battle Series 12
Rental Code	0000 0001 PX91 JD

How to Use the Team Effectively

With the two restricted Pokemon on the team (Zacian and Kyogre) complementing each other's strengths and covering each others' weaknesses, choosing the final Pokemon for the match will be your first important decision going into a match. Having a 'checkmate' endgame in mind, and positioning yourself to achieve this will often spell victory for this team. To do this, we must eliminate threats to the Pokemon we've chosen to have in the back.

Zacian and Kyogre will not always be present in every match, so it is important to keep your wits about in matches when you don't have access to both restricted Pokemon.

Kyogre, Zapdos, Gastrodon, and Landorus are all great Dynamax options, so be sure to try and get the most value out of their Dynamax turns.

Carefully analyze your opponent's team during team preview. Think of what they want to bring to the match, what restricted pair their team has, what strategies might they employ.
The 3 Pokemon you bring to a match will ultimately decide the match's outcome so be sure to use analyze your opponent's available Pokemon before deciding which Pokemon to bring.

Gaining an advantage quickly, steamrolling, and closing out games quickly is the team's go-to gameplan.

Team Movesets & Best Builds

Wall Breaker Zacian

Zacian - Best Build for Ranked Battle

Moveset & Best Build for Zacian
Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
EV Spread	HP 172 / Atk 252 / Spe 84
Final Stat Values	HP 189 / Atk 244 / Def 135 / Sp. Def 135 / Spe 179
Ability	Intrepid Sword
Held Item	Rusted Sword
Moveset	・Behemoth Blade ・Play Rough ・Sacred Sword ・Substitute

Zacian is often a solid choice as a lead, being able to immediately put offensive pressure on your opponent. Very few Pokemon can comfortably tank Zacian's offense, so leading with it means you want to start the game swinging.

About Zacian's Moves

Behemoth Blade is an all around great attack, whether it's attacking into opposing Dynamaxed Pokemon for 200 base damage, or just attacking into regular un-Dynamaxed Pokemon. This move can usually score knock outs, or put opposing Pokemon into 2HKO range at worst.

Play Rough is Zacian's secondary STAB move. It is able to deal unresisted damage to most types, and score knock outs on Pokemon that are weak to Fairy.

Sacred Sword gives Zacian Fighting-type coverage. It is also good against Pokemon who would want to set up Iron Defense + Body Press strategies such as Ferrothorn.

Substitute is good for passive turns, like when anticipating an opponent to switch. Setting up a Substitute for Zacian allows it to stay longer in games and wreak as much havoc as possible.

About Zacian's EV Spread

Maximum Attack EV investment and an Adamant Nature allows Zacian break any wall in its path.

84 Speed EV's lets Zacian outspeed Pokemon that are base 110 or slower. Noteworthy Pokemon that can outspeed this Zacian are Cinderace and Talonflame who can knock out Zacian with a super-effective Fire-type move, or Dragapult and Calyrex (Shadow Rider) who can burn Zacian with Will-O-Wisp.

140 Speed EV's allow Zacian to outspeed Pokemon with base 116 or slower. These are Pokemon like Timid Whimsicott or Tornadus outside of Tailwind. It is also important to scout out your opponent's Choice Scarf because they may outspeed Zacian and potentially knock it out.

The remaining EV's are put into its HP for maximum bulk while hitting an important Speed benchmark.

About Zacian's Ability

Intrepid Sword is Zacian's only Ability, which boosts its Attack by 1 stage upon entering the battle.

About Zacian's Held Item

Zacian's best held item is the Rusted Sword since this is what transforms it into its Crowned Sword form. This item also turns Iron Head into Behemoth Blade.

Choice Scarf Kyogre

Kyogre - Best Build for Ranked Battle

Moveset & Best Build for Kyogre
Nature	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	Def 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 175 / Def 111 / Sp.Atk 202 / Sp.Def 160 / Spd 156
Ability	Drizzle
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・Water Spout ・Thunder ・Ice Beam ・Origin Pulse

Kyogre's flagship Choice Scarf set from the Advance Generation is still as potent as ever, and can now threaten opposing teams after getting worn down thanks to its Origin Pulse move.

About Kyogre's Moves

Water Spout is a powerful Water-type STAB with a Base 150 Power when Kyogre has full health, which is often guaranteed with its held item. Thunder is its main coverage move, and gets perfect accuracy in Rain.

Ice Beam is its secondary STAB and provides BoltBeam coverage alongside Thunder. Its last move is Origin Pulse, a Base 110 Power Water-type move that allows Kyogre to take threatening teams even after it gets worn down.

About Kyogre's EV Spread

We're using a standard special attacking EV spread with a Timid Nature, with full investment in Special Attack and Speed. The remaining 4 EVs are invested in Defense to round off its natural bulk.

About Kyogre's Ability

Drizzle is Kyogre's only Ability and sets up Rain Dance for 5 turns.

About Kyogre's Held Item

Choice Scarf doubles Kyogre's Speed, ensuring it can fire off Water Spouts at full power. At level 50 and a Choice Scarf boost, Kyogre's effective Speed stat is 234. This lets Kyogre outspeed Pokemon with base 151 speed or lower.

Note: This held item restricts Kyogre to using only the initial move it used during its turn.

Specially Offensive Zapdos

Zapdos - Best Build for Ranked Battle

Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Nature	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	Def 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 165 / Atk 99 / Def. 106 / Sp.Atk 177 / Sp.Def 110 / Spd 167
Ability	Static
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・Thunderbolt ・Hurricane ・Volt Switch ・Roost

As Zapdos can get STAB on both Electric and Flying moves it's difficult to wall it effectively, making Zapdos effective even when compared to other Dynamax sweepers.

About Zapdos's Moves

Thunderbolt and Hurricane serve as Zapdos' main STAB moves. The former has the bonus of causing paralysis, while the latter will always hit during Rain.

Volt Switch lets Zapdos pivot out of the active spot into a teammate who's better suited for a matchup. This move is well-suited to Zapdos because of its decent bulk and good speed stat, allowing it to either tank a hit or get out of the active spot before taking damage.

Roost is a good means of recovery for a moderately tanky Pokemon such as Zapdos. It turns into Max Guard when Zapdos is Dynamaxed, which is great for stalling out an opposing Dynamaxed Pokemon's Dynamax turns. Roost also works well to offset residual damage caused by Zapdos's Life Orb.

About Zapdos's EV Spread

This build utilizes a standard specially offensive spread to maximize Zapdos' damage, so maximum EV investments are put into its Special Attack and Speed. The remaining EVs are then put into Zapdos's Defense.

About Zapdos's Ability

Static gives Zapdos a chance to cause paralysis to opposing physical attackers. When hit by a contact move, there is a 30% chance to paralyze the opponent.

About Zapdos's Held Item

Life Orb works well as a way to boost Zapdos' damage output.

Utility Porygon2

Porygon2 - Best Build for Ranked Battle

Moveset & Best Build for Porygon2
Nature	Bold
EV Spread	HP 248 / Def 252 / Sp. Def 8
Final Stat Values	HP 191 / Def 156 / Sp. Atk 125 / Sp. Def 116 / Spe 80
Ability	Analytic
Held Item	Eviolite
Moveset	・Tri-Attack ・Ice Beam ・Foul Play ・Recover

Porygon2 is one of the most defensive Pokemon available. With Eviolite boosting its defenses even further, this Pokemon will rarely go down easily.

About Porygon2's Moves

Tri Attack serves as Porygon2's STAB move of choice which has the added bonus of possibly inflicting status onto the opponent. Otherwise it can rely on its very useful coverage move, Ice Beam.
When up against especially strong physical-attacking teams, Foul Play gives Porygon 2 an option to use their offense against them.

Recover is an excellent recovery move that allows Porygon2 to survive for as long as possible. It is also good for stalling out Dynamax turns.

About Porygon2's EV Spread

We put maximum EV investment to its Defense stat so that Porygon2 can comfortably take super-effective hits from its one weakness to Fighting. 8 EV investments into Special Defense gives it more than enough Special Bulk, while the rest are then put into its HP stat.

About Porygon2's Ability

Since this Porygon2 has naturally low speed, it always gets an Analytic boost when facing against faster attackers. Analytic gives Porygon2 a 30% boost to its attacking moves.

About Porygon2's Held Item

Eviolite raises the Defense and Special Defense of the user by 50% as long as the user is not a fully-evolved Pokemon.

Defensive Gastrodon

Gastrodon - Best Build for Ranked Battle

Moveset & Best Build for Gastrodon
Nature	Calm (+Sp. Def, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 188 / Sp. Atk 4 / Sp. Def 60
Final Stat Values	HP 218 / Def 112 / Sp. Atk 113 / Sp. Def 121 / Spe 59
Ability	Storm Drain
Held Item	Sitrus Berry
Moveset	・Scald ・Earth Power ・Recover ・Yawn

Gastrodon makes for an excellent switch in against opposing Kyogre, with Storm Drain being able to boost its own Special Attack stat if it switches into a Water-type move, taking neutral damage from Ice, and an immunity to Electric.

It is also able to get 3HKO'd by Zacian's Behemoth Blade, or Play Rough. Teammates that can eliminate Grass-type Pokemon can help shape an endgame wherein knocking out Gastrodon is nigh-impossible.

About Gastrodon's Moves

Scald is Gastrodon's most important STAB move. This move is able to inflict burns on opponents, neutralizing physical attackers in the process.

Earth Power is good Ground-type coverage that lets it do damage to Steel-type Pokemon.

Gastrodon is able to replenish its health with Recover. Recover on Gastrodon can sometimes be a win condition if Gastrodon can outlast an opposing Pokemon that can't do enough damage to it.

Yawn is good for forcing switches. An opponent is made to choose whether they want to attack into Gastrodon or have their Pokemon fall asleep. Sleep turns can often spell victory because rendering an opposing Pokemon unable to attack gives you more opportunities to get the upper hand.

About Gastrodon's EV Spread

Maximizing Gastrodon's already massive HP stat makes for a very difficult Pokemon to knock out. With a generous 188 EV's in its Defense stat, Gastrodon is able to survive multiple hits against even the most frightening physical attackers.
4 Special Attack EV's are put into its Special Attack stat so that it can hit a little harder. This lets Gastrodon 2HKO most Zacian builds, while the rest of the EV's are put into its Special Defense to let it better tank special hits.

About Gastrodon's Ability

Storm Drain lets Gastrodon boost its Special Attack every time an opponent uses a Water-type move. This makes Gastrodon a powerful switch-in against Water-type foes.

About Gastrodon's Held Item

Sitrus Berry gives Gastrodon extra HP, which is valuable for letting it survive matches longer.

Physically Offensive Landorus (Therian Forme)

Landorus (Therian Forme) - Best Build for Ranked Battle

Moveset & Best Build for Landorus (Therian Forme)
Nature	Adamant (+Atk, - Sp Atk)
EV Spread	HP 60 / Atk 196 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 172 / Atk 209 / Def 110 / Sp. Def 100 / Spe 143
Ability	Intimidate
Held Item	Lum Berry
Moveset	・Earthquake ・Fly ・Stone Edge ・Swords Dance

Landorus is one of the game's premiere physical attackers. Finding a spot for it is rarely a bad decision when team building. It does not match up favorably against Kyogre though, so this is something to consider before choosing it for a battle.

About Landorus (Therian Forme)'s Moves

Earthquake is Landorus' best STAB move. It has decent odds at knocking out Zacian cleanly if it is bulky like the Zacian on our team, or KO-ing it outright if it is not.
Fly is Landorus' secondary STAB move, turning into the powerful Max Airstream when it is Dynamaxed.
Stone Edge is a powerful Rock-type move though inaccurate. It is also good for Flying-type Pokemon who would want to switch into our Earthquakes.
Swords Dance is great for passive turns, boosting Landorus' already impressive attack stat to astronomical levels.

About Landorus (Therian Forme)'s EV Spread

60 HP EV's lets us survive a Behemoth Blade if Zacian does not have its +1 boost from Intrepid Sword.

We then put 196 EV's to its Attack stat so that Landorus can deal good damage to most Pokemon who don't resist it.

252 EV's are put into its Speed. With a 143 Speed total, Landorus can reach 214 Speed after a successful Max Airstream. This effectively lets it outspeed Pokemon with base 142 speed or lower. These are Pokemon that are as quick as Dragapult or slower.

About Landorus (Therian Forme)'s Ability

Intimidate lowers the attack stat of the opponent by one stage. This allows Landorus to survive a Behemoth Blade if it is able to Intimidate an opposing Zacian. However switching into a Behemoth Blade is not always a good idea, because Zacian will always outspeed Landorus and 2HKO it.

About Landorus (Therian Forme)'s Held Item

Lum Berry protects Landorus from status conditions, most importantly sleep and burn.

Team Strategies

Zacian, Kyogre, Gastrodon
Zacian	Kyogre	Gastrodon

Team Analysis

This is a good team composition if we see that our opponent does not have any Grass-type coverage. Having Gastrodon in the back to switch into an Electric-type move for Kyogre can help preserve Kyogre's HP for powerful Water Spouts later in the game. Leading with Kyogre is a good choice against teams with Intimidate users so that we're able to keep Zacian's Intrepid Sword Attack boost.
With this team composition, Kyogre and Gastrodon will be our choices for Dynamax.

This team composition may have trouble against Pokemon with Freeze-Dry, so it is important that Gastrodon or Kyogre face these Pokemon while they are in Dynamax where they can comfortably tank Max Hailstorms.

Zacian, Kyogre, Landorus (Therian Forme)
Zacian	Kyogre	Landorus (Therian Forme)

Team Analysis

Landorus (Therian Forme) works as a great defensive switch-in for both Zacian and Kyogre, being immune to both Pokemon's weaknesses to Ground and Electric respectively. This team follows the same gameplan as the previous team comp, with our choice of lead being dependent on the match-up. Landorus can threaten knock outs on Grass Pokemon, while Zacian can tank damage from them. Kyogre and Landorus can both switch into Fire-type moves and threeaten a KO, eliminating potential threats to Zacian.

Zacian, Kyogre, Landorus (Therian Forme)
Landorus (Therian Forme)	Zapdos	Kyogre

Team Analysis

Against teams with tanky Pokemon such as Dialga or Ho-oh that Zacian may not want to go up against, leading with Landorus can be a solid choice. It is able to boost its Special Defense with Max Quake, set up a Sand Storm with Max Rockfall, or set up sweeps with Max Airstream provided Landorus is able to find itself in a comfortable enough position to Dynamax. Kyogre can work as a defensive switch-in to super-effective Ice-type moves for both Landorus and Zapdos.

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