This is a strategy guide for using Zygarde 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 Zygarde, as well as its strengths and weak points.
| Zygarde - Related Guides | |
|---|---|
| Evolution and Learnset |  Build for Ranked Battle |
List of Contents
- Basic Information for Zygarde
- Singles Movesets for Zygarde
- How to Use Zygarde Effectively
- How to Build a Team with Zygarde
- Counters for Zygarde
- Related Links
Basic Information for Zygarde
Types and Abilities
| Pokemon | Type 1 | Type 2 |
|---|---|---|
Zygarde | ||
| Abilities | ||
| Aura Break | Reduces power of Dark-type and Fairy-type moves. | |
| Power Construct | Changes form when HP drops below half. | |
Zygarde 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
| HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 108 | 100 | 121 | 81 | 95 | 95 |
Best Nature for Zygarde
| Best Natures | |
|---|---|
| Careful (+Sp.Def, -Sp.Atk) | Impish (+Def, -Sp.Atk) |
| Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk) | |
What are Natures?
Singles Movesets for Zygarde
Coil Moveset & Best Build
| Nature | Careful (+Sp.Def, -Sp.Atk) |
|---|---|
| EV Spread | HP 236 / Sp.Def 60 / Spd 212 |
| Final Stat Values | 50% Forme HP 213 / Atk 120 / Def 141 / Sp.Def 135 / Spd 142Complete Forme HP 321 / Atk 120 / Def 141 / Sp.Def 135 / Spd 132 |
| Ability | Power Construct |
| Held Item | Leftovers |
| Moveset | ・Thousand Arrows ・Coil ・Glare ・Substitute |
At first glance, Zygarde appears like any bully attacking Pokemon in the metagame. What separates itself from other bulky attackers is its ability to change into an even bulkier forme with its Power Construct Ability.
Access to great utility moves and Coil make it Zygarde a threatening Pokemon that can turn the tide of the battle in your team's favor.
About Zygarde's Moves
Thousand Arrows is Zygarde's main attacking move - a Ground-type STAB that hits Flying-types, Pokemon with the Ability Levitate, or holding an Air Ballon.
This allows Zygarde to hit Flying-types that would otherwise wall it, such as Landorus (Therian Forme), Wash Rotom, and Corviknight to name a a few.
Coil boosts Zygarde's Attack, Defense, and Accuracy by 1 stage, allowing it to become even bulkier over the course of the match. Glare is its main support move, and is capable of inflicting paralysis on opposing Ground-type Pokemon.
It's last move is Substitute, which when set up, protects Zygarde from Status moves. Thanks to Zygarde's increased HP in itsComplete Forme, it's substitute is difficult to break - especially after it gets enough Coil boosts.
About Zygarde's EV Spread
We're using a bulkier attacking EV spead for this Zygarde build. 236 HP and 60 Sp.Def EVs make it as bulky as possible, especially after Power Construct activates, while 212 Spd EVs make it as fast as possible.
About Zygarde's Ability
Power Construct is Zygarde's best Ability. When its HP falls to half of its maximum, Zygarde changes to its Perfect Forme.
This changes its immediate stats. Its Perfect Forme is slightly slower than its 50% Forme, but its Base HP increases to 216.
At Level 50 and with the given HP EVs, Zygarde's Perfect Forme has an immediate 321 HP!
About Zygarde's Held Item
Since Zygarde lacks a recovery move outside of Rest, it's best to give it Leftovers to provide it passive healing.
Other Viable Moves
| Rest | A great alternative to Substitute. This move completely heals Zygarde to maximum HP, removing existing status conditions but causes Zygarde to fall asleep for three turns. |
|---|
How to Use Zygarde Effectively
A Powerful Bulky Attacker
Great mixed defenses, powerful utility moves, and a great boosting move in Coil make Zygarde one of the premiere bulky attackers in Ranked Battle Series 8. It's capable of turning the tide of battle against powerful Legendary Pokemon such as Dialga,
Power Construct Makes it Even Bulkier
Zygarde's Power Construct makes it one of the most formidable bulky Pokemon. When its HP reaches half of its maximum, it changes to its Perfect Forme and its Base HP increase by 108 from its 50% Forme.
This makes Zygarde very difficult to beat, especially after it recovers its lost HP, allowing it to stay in matches without switching.
Full HP Recovery During Dynamax
Zygarde's Power Construct increases the real value of its HP. This means that if its HP gets halved during Dynamax, it instantly recovers 216 HP. This makes it one of the best Dynamax users as it's essentially a free heal during Dynamax once it changes formes.
How to Build a Team with Zygarde
Zygarde is a great addition to any team and is best used as a Dynamax Pokemon. Due to its bulk and reliance on boosting moves, it's best used in balanced and defensive-oriented teams.
A Bullky Dynamax Pokemon for Defensive Teams
Zygarde is the perfect Dynamax Pokemon for defensive teams and is capable of stopping opposing Offensive teams once it changes to its Perfect Forme.
Example Coil Build + Defensive Team
| Lead Dynamax | Special Attacker | Utility Pokemon |
|---|---|---|
| Zygarde | Heatran | Vaporeon |
Zygarde functions as this team's lead, boosting its Attack, Defense, and Accuracy with Coil before Dynamaxing. It's best to Dynamax once Zygarde's HP is close to falling to half, so that it changes forme during Dynamax and gets a free heal from its Power Construct Ability.
Heatran is a great partner for Zygarde, boasting 4x Resistances to Fairy-types that Zygarde is weak to, and provides great special coverage for the team.
Vaporeon serves as this team's Utility Pokemon, passing Wish to its wounded teammates. Zygarde lacks reliable recovery beyond Leftovers and Rest, so it really appreciates Vaporeon's healing. Its Water typing also synergizes well with Heatran.
How to Build a Defensive Team
Counters for Zygarde
| Weakness |
|---|
Overpower it with Ice and Fairy-type Moves
Despite Zygarde's massive bulk and Ability to instantly heal during Dynamax, it can get overwhelmed by strong Pokemon with Fairy and Ice-type coverage moves.
Zygarde is especially vulnerable to powerful Ice-types due to its 4x Weakness to the type, especially when targetted at its lower Special Defense stat.
Best Pokemon to Use
| Pokemon | Description |
|---|---|
| White Kyurem | Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Easily KOs Zygarde's 50% Forme with Max Hailstorm ・Faster than Zygarde's Perfect Forme |
| Black Kyurem | Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Easily KOs Zygarde's 50% Forme with Max Hailstorm ・Can break Zygarde's Substitute with Icicle Spear |
| Lapras | Ranking: [red]★★★★ ・Easily KOs Zygarde's 50% Forme with G-Max Resonance ・G-Max Resonance sets up Aurora Veil, reducing damage for 5 turns |
| Zacian | Ranking: ★★★★ ・Outspeeds and easily KOs Zygarde's 50% Forme with Play Rough ・Can heavily damage Dynamax Zygarde with Behemoth Blade |
| Kyogre | Ranking: ★★★★ ・Outspeeds Zygarde's 50% Forme with Choice Scarf ・Easily KOs Zygarde with Max Hailstorm |
| Xerneas | Ranking: ★★★★ ・Outspeeds 50% Zygarde after using Geomancy ・Easily KOs Zygarde with Geomancy-boosted Moonblast or Max Starfall |
| Calyrex (Ice Rider) | Ranking: ★★★ ・Easily KOs Zygarde's 50% Forme with Glacial Lance ・Lower Speed means it can wear down Zygarde with boosted Avalanche |
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 | ||
