[OVERVIEW]
Zangoose is one of the premier late-game cleaners in NU thanks to its access to Belly Drum, good coverage moves in Close Combat and Knock Off, and most importantly Quick Attack, which allows Zangoose to strike before pretty much every Pokemon in the NU tier and is very strong when backed up by a boost from Belly Drum and STAB. Knock Off and Close Combat allow Zangoose to beat Ghost-types and Steel-types. This is especially useful because both of these types deter Zangoose from spamming Quick Attack. While Zangoose does have relatively lacking Speed, its access to Quick Attack makes up for this relatively well. However, Zangoose is a very one-dimensional Pokemon that can't utilize much else other than Belly Drum and is thus very predictable. Zangoose also relies on team support from Pokemon like Uxie, Whimsicott, and Sneasel to do its job properly. This also means that Zangoose doesn't enable much diversity in teambuilding, as these Pokemon always take up three or four team slots together.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Quick Attack
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Close Combat / Frustration
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Immunity
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Belly Drum allows Zangoose to maximize its Attack, making it a very threatening Pokemon. Quick Attack makes up for Zangoose's relatively lacking Speed stat and is very strong when backed by a Belly Drum boost. After setup, it can be used to take out Pokemon like Whimsicott, Medicham, and Choice Scarf Delphox. Knock Off targets Ghost-types like Mismagius, Rotom, and Haunter, which are immune to Quick Attack. Close Combat lets Zangoose bypass Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Klinklang, and Rhydon, which can take Quick Attack and Knock Off with relative ease. Return may be used instead of Knock Off to OHKO Colbur Berry Slowbro, Venusaur, and Druddigon, but this leaves Zangoose overly reliant on Pursuit trappers like Sneasel to remove Ghost-types.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment makes Zangoose as strong and fast as possible. Sitrus Berry leaves Zangoose at 75% of its HP after it has used Belly Drum. Immunity means Zangoose can't be put on a timer by Toxic.
Usage Tips
========
Zangoose is best used as a late-game cleaner, as it can clean up especially well if the opposing team is weakened. Zangoose should be very patient with setting up; it should only do so whenever foes like Steelix and Slowbro are weakened enough. It is important to bring Zangoose in via Memento or Parting Shot, as this severely weakens the foe's attacks and allows Zangoose to comfortably take a hit while setting up. Ghost-types that are faster than Zangoose such as Mismagius, Rotom, and Haunter should be disposed of before setting up, as they deter Zangoose from spamming Quick Attack.
Team Options
========
A Pokemon that can Pursuit trap Ghost-types like Sneasel is a necessity when using Zangoose, as Zangoose struggles heavily against them. Memento support from Pokemon like Whimsicott and Uxie is also a necessity, as the stat drops that Memento provides gives Zangoose more setup opportunities, and Parting Shot can be used in the same manner while keeping the user alive. Pokemon that can bait Ghost-types like Type: Null are also valuable teammates, as they can allow Sneasel to successfully trap. Reflect and Light Screen support from Uxie grants Zangoose the bulk it needs to set up more easily. Entry hazard support is helpful, as it helps weaken the opposing team for Zangoose to sweep late-game; Stealth Rock setters like Uxie and Piloswine are especially useful.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Zangoose can utilize a Toxic Boost set to break through walls, but Zangoose's Belly Drum set heavily eclipses Toxic Boost, as late-game sweepers are much more valuable and rarer than wallbreakers, which are relatively common. Zangoose can run an Adamant nature in tandem with Feint to outrun Pokemon that utilize Protect, like Delphox. Zangoose can use Shadow Claw instead of Knock Off to deal more consistent damage to Psychic-types like Slowbro and increase its neutral coverage; unfortunately, Zangoose has a hard time fitting it onto its moveset, as Knock Off provides a lot of useful utility.
Checks and Counters
=============
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types deter the spam of Quick Attack, which Zangoose wants to use most of the time. Mismagius can easily outspeed Zangoose and OHKO it with Continental Crush after Zangoose has used Belly Drum. Rotom can cripple Zangoose with Will-O-Wisp for another teammate to take Zangoose on, or it can outright OHKO Zangoose with Thunderbolt after Stealth Rock damage and the use of Belly Drum. Haunter can OHKO Zangoose with Sludge Bomb.
**Steelix**: Steelix is capable of taking a Close Combat from Zangoose if its Sturdy is intact and OHKOing it in return with both Heavy Slam and Gyro Ball.
**Priority**: Belly Drum cuts into Zangoose's HP and brings it into KO range from Mach Punch from both Hitmonlee and Gurdurr; other priority users like Sneasel and Fake Out Medicham need a bit more chip damage before being able to KO Zangoose.
**Offensive Pressure**: Zangoose fails to set up against Pokemon like Emboar, Virizion, Venusaur, and Z-Move Houndoom, as its bulk and typing simply don't allow it to.
**Encore Users**: Whimsicott and Mega Audino can deter Zangoose's setup opportunities by locking it into Belly Drum. Shuckle, Liepard, and Aurorus can also do this, though they are rather rare.
Zangoose is one of the premier late-game cleaners in NU thanks to its access to Belly Drum, good coverage moves in Close Combat and Knock Off, and most importantly Quick Attack, which allows Zangoose to strike before pretty much every Pokemon in the NU tier and is very strong when backed up by a boost from Belly Drum and STAB. Knock Off and Close Combat allow Zangoose to beat Ghost-types and Steel-types. This is especially useful because both of these types deter Zangoose from spamming Quick Attack. While Zangoose does have relatively lacking Speed, its access to Quick Attack makes up for this relatively well. However, Zangoose is a very one-dimensional Pokemon that can't utilize much else other than Belly Drum and is thus very predictable. Zangoose also relies on team support from Pokemon like Uxie, Whimsicott, and Sneasel to do its job properly. This also means that Zangoose doesn't enable much diversity in teambuilding, as these Pokemon always take up three or four team slots together.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Quick Attack
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Close Combat / Frustration
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Immunity
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Belly Drum allows Zangoose to maximize its Attack, making it a very threatening Pokemon. Quick Attack makes up for Zangoose's relatively lacking Speed stat and is very strong when backed by a Belly Drum boost. After setup, it can be used to take out Pokemon like Whimsicott, Medicham, and Choice Scarf Delphox. Knock Off targets Ghost-types like Mismagius, Rotom, and Haunter, which are immune to Quick Attack. Close Combat lets Zangoose bypass Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Klinklang, and Rhydon, which can take Quick Attack and Knock Off with relative ease. Return may be used instead of Knock Off to OHKO Colbur Berry Slowbro, Venusaur, and Druddigon, but this leaves Zangoose overly reliant on Pursuit trappers like Sneasel to remove Ghost-types.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment makes Zangoose as strong and fast as possible. Sitrus Berry leaves Zangoose at 75% of its HP after it has used Belly Drum. Immunity means Zangoose can't be put on a timer by Toxic.
Usage Tips
========
Zangoose is best used as a late-game cleaner, as it can clean up especially well if the opposing team is weakened. Zangoose should be very patient with setting up; it should only do so whenever foes like Steelix and Slowbro are weakened enough. It is important to bring Zangoose in via Memento or Parting Shot, as this severely weakens the foe's attacks and allows Zangoose to comfortably take a hit while setting up. Ghost-types that are faster than Zangoose such as Mismagius, Rotom, and Haunter should be disposed of before setting up, as they deter Zangoose from spamming Quick Attack.
Team Options
========
A Pokemon that can Pursuit trap Ghost-types like Sneasel is a necessity when using Zangoose, as Zangoose struggles heavily against them. Memento support from Pokemon like Whimsicott and Uxie is also a necessity, as the stat drops that Memento provides gives Zangoose more setup opportunities, and Parting Shot can be used in the same manner while keeping the user alive. Pokemon that can bait Ghost-types like Type: Null are also valuable teammates, as they can allow Sneasel to successfully trap. Reflect and Light Screen support from Uxie grants Zangoose the bulk it needs to set up more easily. Entry hazard support is helpful, as it helps weaken the opposing team for Zangoose to sweep late-game; Stealth Rock setters like Uxie and Piloswine are especially useful.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Zangoose can utilize a Toxic Boost set to break through walls, but Zangoose's Belly Drum set heavily eclipses Toxic Boost, as late-game sweepers are much more valuable and rarer than wallbreakers, which are relatively common. Zangoose can run an Adamant nature in tandem with Feint to outrun Pokemon that utilize Protect, like Delphox. Zangoose can use Shadow Claw instead of Knock Off to deal more consistent damage to Psychic-types like Slowbro and increase its neutral coverage; unfortunately, Zangoose has a hard time fitting it onto its moveset, as Knock Off provides a lot of useful utility.
Checks and Counters
=============
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types deter the spam of Quick Attack, which Zangoose wants to use most of the time. Mismagius can easily outspeed Zangoose and OHKO it with Continental Crush after Zangoose has used Belly Drum. Rotom can cripple Zangoose with Will-O-Wisp for another teammate to take Zangoose on, or it can outright OHKO Zangoose with Thunderbolt after Stealth Rock damage and the use of Belly Drum. Haunter can OHKO Zangoose with Sludge Bomb.
**Steelix**: Steelix is capable of taking a Close Combat from Zangoose if its Sturdy is intact and OHKOing it in return with both Heavy Slam and Gyro Ball.
**Priority**: Belly Drum cuts into Zangoose's HP and brings it into KO range from Mach Punch from both Hitmonlee and Gurdurr; other priority users like Sneasel and Fake Out Medicham need a bit more chip damage before being able to KO Zangoose.
**Offensive Pressure**: Zangoose fails to set up against Pokemon like Emboar, Virizion, Venusaur, and Z-Move Houndoom, as its bulk and typing simply don't allow it to.
**Encore Users**: Whimsicott and Mega Audino can deter Zangoose's setup opportunities by locking it into Belly Drum. Shuckle, Liepard, and Aurorus can also do this, though they are rather rare.
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