MZ
And now for something completely different
[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Z-Celebrate
move 1: Celebrate
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Roost
item: Normalium Z
ability: Solar Power
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[SET]
name: Clear Skies
move 1: Sunny Day
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Solarbeam
move 4: Roost
item: Firium Z
ability: Solar Power
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Roost
move 4: Earthquake
item: Firium Z
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Hidden Power [Grass]
move 4: Air Slash
item: Choice Specs
ability: Blaze
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[SET]
name: Acrozard
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Acrobatics
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roost
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-Types**: Archeops, Lycanroc, and Choice Scarf Kabutops and Lycanroc-Midnight are all capable of revenge-killing Charizard before it sets up. Lycanroc can revenge all Charizard sets with Accelrock save for a healthy Z-Celebrate Charizard, while Archeops can take a single +1 hit from most sets from full. Regirock, Carracosta, and Cradily can all OHKO Charizard with their Rock-type STAB attacks but can fall to a boosted Solarbeam or Focus Blast. Aggron, Regirock, Carracosta, and Golem can also function as an emergency check to Charizard if Sturdy remains intact. Kabutops can threaten Charizard with Aqua Jet, but fails to OHKO and must watch out for Grass-type coverage or Earthquake.
**Faster Pokemon**: Before setting up, Charizard can be outsped and KOd by a number of naturally faster threats, including Liepard and Pyroar, as well as Choice Scarf users such as Mesprit and Primeape. However, very few Pokemon that lack a super effective STAB attack or Rock-type coverage are capable of KOing Charizard without Stealth Rock chip damage. The few Choice Scarf users capable of outspeeding a +1 Charizard such as Pyroar and Manectric can also make effective revenge killers.
**Electric-Types**: Zebstrika, Manectric, Raichu-A, and Choice Scarf Rotom-F are both capable of revenge killing Charizard before it sets up. Specially Defensive or Assault Vest Lanturn can tank Grass-type attacks but can lose to sets using Earthquake. Assault Vest Eelektross can check all Charizard sets except for offensive Dragon Dance, but can be KOed with minimal chip damage once Charizard has set up.
**Water-Types**: Offensive Water-types such as Swanna, Poliwrath, Silvally-Water, and Ludicolo can prevent Charizard from setting up but can be KOd if weakened. Floatzel can outspeed and OHKO Charizard and also threaten boosted sets with Aqua Jet. Defensive Carracosta and Gastrodon can defeat physical Charizard but will fall to sets with Solarbeam or Hidden Power Grass.
**Other Fire-type resists**: Guzzlord, Drampa, and Miltank are able to beat Sunny Day Charizard, but must watch out for physical or Focus Blast variants and remain at a good amount of health to keep Charizard in check. Assault Vest Magmortar is capable of taking a single hit from all non-Earthquake variants of Charizard but fails to OHKO with Thunderbolt and can be broken through with reasonable chip damage. Turtonator takes little from Fire Blast or Grass-type coverage, but a +1 Focus Blast or Earthquake will KO after Stealth Rock. Munchlax is 2HKOd by a +1 Focus Blast or a +4 Acrobatics, but takes minimal damage from anything else Charizard has to offer and can cripple Charizard with paralysis from Body Slam.
**Chip Damage**: Charizard becomes significantly easier to revenge kill if it loses 50% of its health from Stealth Rock. Some sets can also be worn down by recoil from Flare Blitz or Solar Power, all of which makes Charizard much easier to revenge kill by priority users such as Abomasnow.
- Fantastic sweeper capable of running multiple sets to beat different checks
- Excellent Speed tier, nuking power, and coverage all make it a terrifying offensive presence
- One of the few sweepers to beat all common scarfers fairly reliably
- Specs is a really strong wallbreaker, especially in this meta where Fire immunities are very rare
- Requires rocks removal to be effective, often wants to take up your Z-move
- Hard checked by common rocks like regirock, archeops, and also especially lycanroc bc accelrock invalidates zard as a sweeper. Random bulky waters are also annoying for some sets
[SET]
name: Z-Celebrate
move 1: Celebrate
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Roost
item: Normalium Z
ability: Solar Power
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Z-Celebrate makes Zard fast, strong, and bulky all at the same time
- Fire Blast is main STAB, Focus Blast hits Water/Rock/Fire types
- Roost lets Zard abuse that bulk and chip away at mons that still take a few hits to kill like AV Guzz
Set Details
========
- Solar Power is the only legal ability with Celebrate
- max speed and special attack because zard is a sweeper
- Normal-Z is what makes the set possible
Usage Tips
========
- The set is very much designed for being a late-game sweeper
- Avoid setting up until sturdy/sashes have been broken and any bulky Water-types or other specially bulky tanks like Guzzlord have been sufficiently weakened
- Do not bring this in if Stealth Rock is up unless absolutely necessary, as it becomes significantly easier to KO before setting up
Team Options
========
- Hazard removers like Skuntank are crucial for keeping Charizard healthy
- Hazard setters like Golurk are also useful for chip damage and sturdy breaking
- Special wallbreakers in general are useful for wearing down Charizard checks. In particular, Water-types such as Floatzel can bait in and weaken opposing Water- and Dragon-types
- Rock-type checks like Gastrodon can be useful if looking to save Charizard when faced with a revenge killer like Lycanroc or Archeops
- Lures for Gastrodon and Lanturn can be useful since the lack of HP Grass and Earthquake makes them both hard counters to this. This can include sets like HP Grass Skuntank
[SET]
name: Clear Skies
move 1: Sunny Day
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Solarbeam
move 4: Roost
item: Firium Z
ability: Solar Power
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Z-Sunny Day makes Zard faster and boosts attacks thanks to Solar Power
- Fire Blast is main STAB, Solarbeam hits Water/Rock types
- Fire Blast can also be used as the Z-move if Zard is needed to nuke something rather than sweep
- Roost stops you from getting chipped so hard by the Solar Power recoil
- Focus Blast is an OK alternative to Roost for hitting Guzzlord and Miltank (and Drampa)
Set Details
========
- Firium Z lets you use Z-Sunny Day
- Solar Power boosts Zard's power under Sun
- Max speed/special attack for sweeping role
Usage Tips
========
- This set can work as either a late-game cleaner or more of a wallbreaker depending on the composition of the opposing team. If faced with only one hard counter like Guzzlord it might be more effective to save Charizard for a sweep, but if faced with a few conditional checks wallbreaking early is a good option as well
- Don't bring this in if Stealth Rock is up
- Be cautious about taking too much damage while setting up Sunny Day, as the Solar Power recoil can rack up quickly
- Bluffing a lack of Solarbeam early game can be useful in leading opponents to rely on something like Gastrodon or Poliwrath as their Charizard check
Team Options
========
- This Charizard set best fits on offensive teams with the ability to break down special walls like Miltank better than they remove Fire-resists, since Solarbeam hits almost all of those
- Stealth Rock removers such as Hitmonchan are vital
- Strong special wallbreakers are needed since this Charizard variant doesn't hit quite as hard as others. Mons like Exeggutor-Alola and Shiftry (especially this because sun abuse and defog) go well with this
- A secondary cleaner such as Choice Scarf Primeape isn't a bad idea, as recoil and/or being somewhat weak can sometimes leave Charizard unable to finish the job
- Spikes and Toxic Spikes are great for weakening this set's checks, since POkemon like Miltank and Guzzlord are grounded and lack a Poison immunity
- If Charizard is used in more of a wallbreaker function, special cleaners such as Scarf Jynx are good to mop up opposing teams
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Roost
move 4: Earthquake
item: Firium Z
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Dragon Dance boosts attack and speed because sweeping
- Flare Blitz is main STAB, Earthquake hits the Rock and Water types that resist it
- Roost is useful for setting up on weaker Pokemon like Togedemaru
Set Details
========
- Firium Z allows Flare Blitz to hit incredibly hard, removing random stops like Archeops and Cradily that could otherwise take a single hit
- Blaze also increases Charizard's power conditionally
- Max speed+attack helps sweep
- Groundium Z can be an excellent way to lure numerous Fire resists including Gastrodon and Regirock
Usage Tips
========
- This Charizard set is far less relegated to a late-game role, especially if it's needed to check/revenge kill Pokemon such as Magmortar
- Avoid bring it in with rocks up- i swear ill vary how these are written up
- Look to wear down bulky Water-types before sweeping, as all except Lanturn are capable of tanking an Earthquake or two
- Due to the prevalence of special Charizard sets, luring in specially bulky Pokemon and revealing Z-Flare Blitz can be an excellent way to net surprise kills. However, this can fail vs Charizard checks that can blanket check all sets like Regirock
Team Options
========
- Hazard removers like Lurantis etc
- This Charizard set in particular gets a lot out of Toxic Spikes, which wear down Gastrodon, Regirock, Poliwrath, Miltank, etc. so use mons like Weezing and Qwilfish with it
- General stuff that threatens waters like Shiftry and Manectric
- Other physical wallbreakers like Zangoose can help break down Zard's checks
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Hidden Power [Grass]
move 4: Air Slash
item: Choice Specs
ability: Blaze
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Fire Blast is Zard's main STAB attack and most spammable move
- Focus Blast covers Rock-type switchins and Miltank/Munchlax
- Hidden Power Grass is a more accurate albeit weaker move for Rock types and hits Water-types like Gastrodon
- Air Slash is mostly for neutral coverage in specific situations
Set Details
========
- Blaze lets you hit harder if weakened but doesn't do much. If running this on a Sun team, use Solar Power
- Choice Specs and max special attack makes zard hit really hard
- Max speed lets you outspeed and KO a lot of slightly slower attackers like Pinsir
Usage Tips
========
- Charizard should be brought in early and frequently versus anything passive or lacking a good attack to hit Charizard with like Lurantis or Weezing to spam its strong Fire Blast and occasionally coverage
- Not when rocks are up though
- Although the set can be somewhat prediction reliant, often using the move with the best neutral coverage is ideal for wearing down teams rather than trying to make a right call and OHKO something
Team Options
========
- Hazard removers like Kabutops
- Special sweepers such as Lilligant and Regice love Charizard's wallbreaking and ability to wear down AV Magmortar
- Electric checks like Piloswine and Rock checks like Torterra and Water checks like Lanturn- this mon gets forced out by a fair bit after it picks up a kill
- Rock setters like Golem and Spikes setters like Roselia are cool since they pressure teams reliant on Lanturn or Magmortar to check special Fire-types
[SET]
name: Acrozard
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Acrobatics
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roost
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Acrobatics is there for strong Flying STAB
- Swords Dance makes Zard stronk breaker
- Earthquake covers Electric and Rock types that resist your main STAB
- Roost is useful to keep Zard healthy while setting up
- Will-O-Wisp can be an option over Earthquake for crippling switchins and using Charizard in a more defensive role, but leads it to struggle much harder with Rock- and Steel-types
Set Details
========
- Max speed Jolly lets Zard outspeed as much as possible to smack with acro
- No item because acro
- The HP EVs make Charizard surprisingly bulky, allowing it to set up Swords Dance more effectively
Usage Tips
========
- Designed to set up on kinda weak mons or mons at a type disadvantage like non-status Miltank, Granbull, Lurantis, etc. before breaking
- Charizard can be rather weak before setting up a Swords Dance, try to get at least one up before doing serious damage
- Mostly useful early-to-mid game, in particular if the opposing team lacks a solid Flying resist or it's something like Lanturn that Charizard can chip quite nicely but also in general to be used as a defensive switchin to certain Grass/Fire/Fairy-types like Shiftry
- Don't use this to wear down sturdier Flying resists like Regirock, its teammates should be better at that
- Excellent Knock Off absorber, easy to bring into mons like Gurdurr or Shiftry if Stealth Rock is not up
Team Options
========
- Hazard removers like Togetic- in particular bulkier, non-spinblockable ones since this Zard likes to come in and out a decent amount
- Physical Normal-types like Kangaskhan and Zangoose can wear down Rock-types and break down really physically bulky stuff like Weezing
- Also likes spikes and tspikes
- A decent Water-type check like Poliwrath can come in handy
- Similarly, Electric-type checks like Lanturn can be useful for handling revenge killers
- Charizard is intended to wallbreak for sweeping partners, so pair it with stuff like Lycanroc or Liepard
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Swords Dance turns Charizard into a deadly physical wallbreaker, but all the sweeping sets are fairly strong anyway and it's a lot easier to revenge kill
- LO special/mixed wallbreaker is fine if you don't want to use specs for whatever reason
- Acrozard can run Will-O-Wisp to concentrate on more of a defensive setup niche, but Earthquake is just really good coverage
- HP Grass on Z-Celebrate bops Gastrodon and is more accurate than Focus Blast, but is too weak to get KOs on like every Rock-type so basically just for gastro
- Z-Celebrate can try to run a physical set, but this is generally outclassed by Dragon Dance other than the better bulk
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-Types**: Archeops, Lycanroc, and Choice Scarf Kabutops and Lycanroc-Midnight are all capable of revenge-killing Charizard before it sets up. Lycanroc can revenge all Charizard sets with Accelrock save for a healthy Z-Celebrate Charizard, while Archeops can take a single +1 hit from most sets from full. Regirock, Carracosta, and Cradily can all OHKO Charizard with their Rock-type STAB attacks but can fall to a boosted Solarbeam or Focus Blast. Aggron, Regirock, Carracosta, and Golem can also function as an emergency check to Charizard if Sturdy remains intact. Kabutops can threaten Charizard with Aqua Jet, but fails to OHKO and must watch out for Grass-type coverage or Earthquake.
**Faster Pokemon**: Before setting up, Charizard can be outsped and KOd by a number of naturally faster threats, including Liepard and Pyroar, as well as Choice Scarf users such as Mesprit and Primeape. However, very few Pokemon that lack a super effective STAB attack or Rock-type coverage are capable of KOing Charizard without Stealth Rock chip damage. The few Choice Scarf users capable of outspeeding a +1 Charizard such as Pyroar and Manectric can also make effective revenge killers.
**Electric-Types**: Zebstrika, Manectric, Raichu-A, and Choice Scarf Rotom-F are both capable of revenge killing Charizard before it sets up. Specially Defensive or Assault Vest Lanturn can tank Grass-type attacks but can lose to sets using Earthquake. Assault Vest Eelektross can check all Charizard sets except for offensive Dragon Dance, but can be KOed with minimal chip damage once Charizard has set up.
**Water-Types**: Offensive Water-types such as Swanna, Poliwrath, Silvally-Water, and Ludicolo can prevent Charizard from setting up but can be KOd if weakened. Floatzel can outspeed and OHKO Charizard and also threaten boosted sets with Aqua Jet. Defensive Carracosta and Gastrodon can defeat physical Charizard but will fall to sets with Solarbeam or Hidden Power Grass.
**Other Fire-type resists**: Guzzlord, Drampa, and Miltank are able to beat Sunny Day Charizard, but must watch out for physical or Focus Blast variants and remain at a good amount of health to keep Charizard in check. Assault Vest Magmortar is capable of taking a single hit from all non-Earthquake variants of Charizard but fails to OHKO with Thunderbolt and can be broken through with reasonable chip damage. Turtonator takes little from Fire Blast or Grass-type coverage, but a +1 Focus Blast or Earthquake will KO after Stealth Rock. Munchlax is 2HKOd by a +1 Focus Blast or a +4 Acrobatics, but takes minimal damage from anything else Charizard has to offer and can cripple Charizard with paralysis from Body Slam.
**Chip Damage**: Charizard becomes significantly easier to revenge kill if it loses 50% of its health from Stealth Rock. Some sets can also be worn down by recoil from Flare Blitz or Solar Power, all of which makes Charizard much easier to revenge kill by priority users such as Abomasnow.
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