Community POTW #5

[caterpie_is_awesome_123]

all the sets i had in mind have been posted but you could use an attacking lead while using illusion to be a Magic Mirror Espeon so your opponent won't set up entry hazards whith risk of them being bounced back to him.

[Zachmac]

It's a chancy! It's a gliscor! It's neither of them!
Zoraork
252 Sp.attack/252 Speed
Modest/Timid
Agility/Nasty plot
DarkPulse/NightBurst
FocusBlast
Flamethrower

Pretend it's a wall, and if it looks like a special wall, "Force out" a special attacker. If it's a "Physical wall", "force out" a physical sweeper. If it's modest, use agility, and if it's timid, use nasty plot.

Zoroark@life orb
modest
substitute
nasty plot
focus blast
night burst/dark pulse
252sp atk 252spd
basically, set up a sub on the fooled opponent, then proceed to nasty plot. Focus blast and dark pulse have pretty good coverage. Leftovers maybe better than life orb for this set because of the substitute.

What's the point of a modest nature if you get a special attack boost from nasty plot? Timid is better.

[bulber]

I personally like

BaitSweep
Zoroark@Life Orb
Timid (+Spe,-Atk)
-Night Burst
-Flamethrower
-Focus Blast
-Substitute

This guy is a staple on my team. Disguise him as Gengar and use him as Psychic/Dark bait. His Flamethrower matches Gengar's, so it maintains the Illusion. Flamethrower is great for catching Ferrothorns by surprise! Substitute keeps the Illusion up even longer. Another idea is to disguise him as Blaziken, and lure a Psychic attack (or Rooshoobin [spelling fail]). Life Orb lets him KO easily with Focus Blast dealing with Tyranitar and Steels, while Night Burst is STAB.

[assassinsceptile]

I personally like

BaitSweep
Zoroark@Life Orb
Timid (+Spe,-Atk)
-Night Burst
-Flamethrower
-Focus Blast
-Substitute

This guy is a staple on my team. Disguise him as Gengar and use him as Psychic/Dark bait. His Flamethrower matches Gengar's, so it maintains the Illusion. Flamethrower is great for catching Ferrothorns by surprise! Substitute keeps the Illusion up even longer. Another idea is to disguise him as Blaziken, and lure a Psychic attack (or Rooshoobin [spelling fail]). Life Orb lets him KO easily with Focus Blast dealing with Tyranitar and Steels, while Night Burst is STAB.

Gengar gets Flamethrower now???????????????//

HORY SHET

[Nijaskills]

I feel the need to mention that Focus Blast should not be slashed, ever on special sets as it is Zoroark's only decent option against Tyranitar on the specially based sets. Continuing, they all want max speed to as to outspeed base 100s, and it's worth mentioning that team preview can mess up Zoroark a ton.

Anyways, the NP set should look like this, not the ones posted earlier:

Zoroark@Life Orb
Timid | Illusion
252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP

- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse / Night Burst
- Focus Blast
- Flamethrower / Grass Knot / Extrasensory

Nasty Plot is easy to set up provided you can come in disguised as something that will force the opponent out with relative ease, making Zoroark a perfect user of the move. Dark Pulse or Night Burst is up to the person using Zoroark, but it should be mentioned that Night Burst will immediately give away the fact that it is a Zoroark, whereas Dark Pulse will not. Focus Blast rounds off for excellent type coverage when paired with a Dark attack, and most importantly hits Tyranitar. The final slot is essentially just a filler, with Flamethrower hitting Nattorei and Breloom, Grass Knot damaging bulky waters other than Rotom-W pretty heavily, and Extrasensory hitting Roobushin switch ins.

Swords Dance set should look something like this:

Zoroark@Life Orb
Naughty / Naive | Illusion
252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP

- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch / Night Slash
- Flamethrower
- Ankle Sweep / U-Turn / Night Slash

The SD set has a bit of surprise value, and can come in disguised as something like Kobalon or Landlos pretty easily, which is massively helpful in setting up. Sucker Punch versus Night Slash on the first attacking slot is basically personal choice, but Sucker Punch is often better, hitting Latias, Gengar, and Latios, all of whom outspeed you. Flamethrower is the single best option in the next slot, for hitting Nattorei and Breloom, who both sort of wall the set, and the final slot is essentially just a filler, with Ankle sweep hitting Nattorei and steels for a bit of damage, U-Turn being a solid scouting move for midgame, and Night Slash being a secondary option if not used in the primary attacking slot.

Partners

Decided to add this after I saw the post where someone listed Weezing as a partner. =/

Partners for Zoroark should never be stuff that take different amounts of hazard damage than he does. That means pairing him up with, say, Gengar to "lure Psychic moves" is rather stupid, as Zoroark cannot effectively disguise himself as Gengar due to them receiving different amounts of hazard damage (Zoroark is hit by Spikes). Something like Scizor though, for example, would be a solid partner, though it doesn't quite lure the perfect moves for Zoroark, it can let Zoroark beat a switch in come to take an +2 Bullet Punch and facing a +2 Sucker Punch or +2 Dark Pulse.

The fact that Zoroark can be hit by Spikes while Gengar cannot is mitigated by the fact that their typing has perfect synergy. There are also multiple ways around that problem. First and foremost, you can rapid spin. If that isn't an option, you can always bring Zoroark in before the spikes go up. An added bonus to that, is that the most common spikers (Forretress, Ferrothorn, Deoxys) can be easily dispatched by Flamethrower and Dark Pulse/Night Burst.

[assassinsceptile]

The fact that Zoroark can be hit by Spikes while Gengar cannot is mitigated by the fact that their typing has perfect synergy. There are also multiple ways around that problem. First and foremost, you can rapid spin. If that isn't an option, you can always bring Zoroark in before the spikes go up. An added bonus to that, is that the most common spikers (Forretress, Ferrothorn, Deoxys) can be easily dispatched by Flamethrower and Dark Pulse/Night Burst.

That is like saying Moltres is perfect for OU because you can Rapid Spin SR away, when it reality there are these nifty little things got spin blockers, i.e. Burungeru or whatever the Water/Ghost is called, that block Rapid Spin cold and stop your strategy, so the spikes difference is actually relevant.

[GarSlizer]

I would like to mention that Zoroark loves support from U-Turn pokes like Scizor (who can revenge whatever kills Zoroark) and Azelf (who can set up SR) since he can get in unscathed and with an intact Illusion. Second, passive damage WILL NOT break the Illusion. Third, Zoroark can check Choice Latios, he can come in using U-Turn or after something has fainted and pose as a Blissey/Chansey. Instinctively, Latios will go for Psycho Shock, which Zoroark is immune to, netting you 2 turns of set-up.

On Blissey in particular, Zoroark posing as a Blissey can give your foes headaches, Psycho Shock (used to check Blissey) does not affect Zororark, and Natural Cure means your opponent wont be suprised if the Blissey that they Toxic'ed is back with no status. Also of note, Blisseys are known to carry Flamethrower (to hit Scizor and Nattorei) so it's easier to maintain the Illusion if your are using it, and your opponent will pay the price if the Fox has Choice Specs.

[Crobat Ray]

This is my first post on potw woot Im sorry if i cant post because i dont know

Back off! You're in the way!
Illusion @ Black Glasses
176 Atk/ 80 SpA/ 252 Spe
Naive
Bark Out
U-Turn
Hidden Power Ground/Nasty Plot
Taunt/Counter/Flamethrower

Basically this set is to phaze or support the team. Most special sweepers are Psychic/Ghost types such as Azelf, etc. Bark Out exists to reduce its special attack and most likeliy to switch, and if you're lucky you can U-Turn and switch into the good pokemon who can deal damage. HP Ground for clear body users like Shell Smash Torkoal or Special Registeel. The last slot is for support/additional attack. Blackglasses is to make Bark Out less wierd

[Blue Harvest]

Zoro isn't very good long term because once his disguise is ruined your opponent will be constantly wary of your switch ins. But he is very good at removing a key wall early game. This is something you should capitalize on. I only run Zoro on extremely offensive teams.


Zoroark @ Life Orb / Focus Sash
Timid
252 Special Attack / 252 Speed / 4 HP

Dark Pulse
Focus Blast / HP Ice (30 Attack / 30 Defense IVs lets you run 31 speed)
Flamethrower
Grass Knot

**Good disguises
- Swampert, Scizor, Metagross, Lucario, Terakion, Heatran, Doryuuzu, Gengar, Machamp, Suicune etc. Anything that will tempt a defensive lead to stay in and attack / set up Spikes only to get OHKOed. Dark Pulse is a superior option over Night Burst as Dark Pulse flinches more than NB makes misses.

Don't expect to stay hidden long with this set. All you have to do is use your cover to get a single hit on a target wall. Pretend you are a lead Metagross and you may kill a lead Nattorei or Swampert leaving the opposing team very weak to Agiligross. Blow away that Gliscor or Skarmory and nothing will stop Doryuuzu. Zoroark does ok against most offensive leads but not great.

Keep in mind Zorro takes hits about as well as Swellow. Looking at Lucario and Infernapes as tanks is a bad place to be defensively, and Zorro's Mach Punch weakness and somewhat low 105 base speed means he will NEVER pull off a successful Nasty Plot sweep.

You can also try a mixed set with U-turn but if you can't get that crucial early game kill then you're basically using an inferior Azelf or Gengar.

[garchompkid]

surely you should pretend to be machamp as it has no guard and would draw in psychic?
if they don't use psychic they might try to take advantage of No Guard (and fail).

[Lucario0708]

can't do well with movesets ince i dont know a thing about the 5th gen ones, but i ca help with partners

gengar as best choice for illusion though, have them use psychic and BOOM no effect

[garchompkid]

I still think machamp is best and i like the team

[Lucario0708]

Zoroark (Jolly) @Life Orb?
Illusion
252 Atk. 252 Speed
~Swords Dance
~Night Slash
~Aerial Ace
~Ankle Sweep

[Dr. Leggs]

I guess something people should keep in mind is that as mind-gamey as Illusion is, don't endeavour to be keeping it up more than a single turn; Night Burst v. Dark Pulse boils down to preference I suppose, I usually go with the former. I think the goal with Zoroark is to pull out a counter and immediately get rid of it. That seems to be a priority; if you've got spare HP left over, continue attempting a sweep or switch out for later use with Illusion.

[Del Mundo]

I'd personally love a disguised revenge killer.

Zoroark-Timid/Naive-Choice Scarf

252SAtk 252Spd 4Blah

Dark Pulse/ Night burst
Flamethrower
Focus Blast? HP Ice?
U turn

[garchompkid]

does anyone know what haappens to ditto if it transforms into a illusioned zorro?

Zoroark (Jolly) @Life Orb?
Illusion
252 Atk. 252 Speed
~Swords Dance
~Night Slash
~Aerial Ace
~Ankle Sweep

LOL

[Blue Harvest]

IIRC Transform / Ditto's ability fails against zorro. But don't quote me on that.

[garchompkid]

thank you that is helpful!

[Lucario0708]

does anyone know what haappens to ditto if it transforms into a illusioned zorro?



LOL

scuse me, im sorry but, what's wrong? it is an effective set

[garchompkid]

scuse me, im sorry but, what's wrong? it is an effective set

nothing i just wanted to know what happened to ditto, ditto's cool

also when i said lol i meant it in a good way

also you could set up a sub-punch set