Zamazenta the Warrior Pokémon. In times past, it worked together with a king of the people to save the Galar region. It absorbs metal that it then uses in battle. This Pokémon slept for aeons while in the form of a statue. It was asleep for so long, people forgot that it ever existed. Its ability to deflect any attack led to it being known as the Fighting Master's Shield. It was feared and respected by all. Now that it's equipped with its shield, it can shrug off impressive blows, including the attacks of Dynamax Pokémon.
Overview
As the box art legend of Shield, Zamazenta unsurprisingly excels in defense. 140 defenses combined with the Steel typing is absurd, allowing for Zamazenta to endure all sorts of blows. This is even before we get into Dauntless Shield, boosting Zamazenta the first time it comes in, making it very difficult to break on the physical side. Zamazenta can weaponize its Defense too, now that after a generation of inexplicable waiting, Zamazenta has access to Body Press, allowing it to 2HKO anything in its path after a single Iron Defense. Zamazenta has decent coverage to compliment Body Press, with Steel STAB for opposing Fairies and Crunch for Ghost types, few things are safe from Zamazenta’s Body Press assault, especially with its blistering base 128 Speed getting the jump on most legends.
Yet Body Press has not fixed all Zamazenta’s problems in singles. Zamazenta is a defensive Pokémon with an offensive movepool. The disruptive tools one would expect from a defensive Pokémon are completely absent on Zamazenta. Lacking a recovery move further complicates matters, leaving Zamazenta prone to being worn down. Having such an offensive movepool runs contrary to Zamazenta’s stats, where its base 120 Attack, while not bad, make Zamazenta all but passive in the face of the durable legends it must contend with. Dauntless Shield being nerfed to once per battle is another significant blow, running counter to one of the best reasons to use a defensive Pokémon being their ability to pivot in, which one cannot do without getting the most out of Zamazenta. The ninth generation’s massive speed creep has further hurt Zamazenta, leaving its absurd Base 128 Speed an afterthought to new threats like the Raidon’s, Flutter Mane, and Chien-Pao. As a defensive Steel type, Zamazenta finds itself playing second to Necrozma Dusk Mane, whose lesser defenses are contrasted by much better attack that denies passivity, Prism Armor blunting all super effective attacks and access to reliable recovery in Morning Sun giving it everything Zamazenta sorely lacks.
Positives
Base 140 Defenses and Steel typing enables Zamazenta to endure mind-bogglingly powerful attacks from numerous sources with ease.
Even as a once per battle effect, Dauntless Shield is a massive boon to Zamazenta’s durability.
Strongest Body Press user in the game with the coverage to destroy what Body Press can’t.
Base 128 Speed is fantastic, being amazingly fast for an offensive Pokémon, let alone one as bulky as Zamazenta.
Negatives
Movepool is completely at odds with Zamazenta’s stats, lacking the disruption and support expected for defensive Pokémon.
Lack of reliable recovery outside of Rest is a huge liability for a defensive Pokémon.
Coverage runs off much lower Attack, causing Zamazenta’s power to significantly drop when forced to use anything other than Body Press and Zamazenta cannot afford to invest in both.
Movesets
Rise of the Shield Dog
-Iron Defense
-Body Press
-Behemoth Bash
-Crunch
Ability: Dauntless Shield
Item: Rusted Shield
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Impish Nature
Body Press Zamazenta is a game ending threat, coming in when an opposing team’s special attackers have been compromised or removed, throw up an Iron Defense and Body Press the opposing team into oblivion. Iron Defense plus Dauntless Shield skyrocket’s Zamazenta’s Defense to the point that attacks like Banded Roaring Moon’s Earthquake, and Max Attack Ho-oh’s Sacred Fire merely 4HKO, Swords Dance Calyrex-Ice’s High Horsepower, Koraidon’s Sun Boosted Flare Blitz and Arceus-Ground’s Earthquake only manage to 3HKO and with Zamazenta-Crowned outspeeding all but Koraidon, it is incredibly reliable at getting this Iron Defense up before being struck. This also makes Zamazenta-Crowned a fantastic switch into the feared Extreme Speed Arceus who must hope for a Shadow Claw Crit to have any chance of meaningfully damaging Zamazenta-Crowned. Behemoth Bash is secondary STAB and the preferred method for removing the Fighting Resistant Fairy and Tera Fairy types, especially Arceus-Fairy and Flutter Mane. Crunch rounds out the set, hitting Ghost and to a lesser extent Psychic types like Giratina-Origin, Lunala, and Lugia that otherwise absorb Body Press with ease.
Tera Types:
As a Steel type, Zamazenta-Crowned generally prefers its own base typing for the numerous resistances it provides, though Dauntless Shield’s one time activation means switching out for Zamazenta-Crowned is painful, so Defensive Teras that help Zamaenta-Crowned stick on the field can be handy. Tera Water is by far the most popular for Steel types and Zamazenta-Crowned is no exception, adoring the resistance to Fire and neutrality to Ground and Fighting the typing provides on top of being a generally good defensive type. Tera Flying completely negates Ground attacks and provides a badly needed resistance to Fighting, removing two prominent coverage types normally called upon to answer Zamazenta-Crowned. Tera Fire does share the same Ground weakness as the base form but is excellent for the Fire resistance and negating Giratina’s and Arceus’ Will-O-Wisp that can put a stop to Zamazenta-Crowned before it gets going.
EVs and Items:
Max Defense and Speed are recommended to get the most out of Body Press sweeping. Impish nature is preferred to squeeze more Defense out of Zamazenta, as there are no relevant targets Zamazenta would outspeed with a Jolly Nature bar the incredibly scarce Modest Mewtwo. Attack investment is worth considering if one wishes to get more oomph from Zamazenta-Crowned’s coverage moves. 124 Attack Guarantees a 2HKO on Gholdengo, while Max Attack investment would be needed to 3HKO most Giratina after Stealth Rock as well as Lugia. Rusted Shield is the only item that can be run due to being necessary for Zamazenta’s Crowned Form
Partners:
:
Zamazenta-Crowned has a small niche on Sticky Web offense teams, being an excellent answer into Extreme Speed Arceus that other members of Sticky Web offense that struggle into it, while simultaneously appreciating Ribombee’s Webs improving Zamazenta’s matchups into naturally faster Pokémon like Koraidon, Flutter Mane and Chien-Pao.
Ghost types make for good allies for Zamazenta Crowned, able to soften opposing Ghost and Psychic types that give Zamazenta trouble while luring in Darks like Chien-Pao, Arceus Dark, and Ting-Lu that Zamazenta-Crowned can use as setup fodder in turn. Giratina-Origin stands out being able to pivot into Ground attacks in a pinch while irrevocably ruining Pokémon with either Will-O-Wisp or Thunder Wave. Lunala and Arceus-Ghost can also fulfill a similar role. All three also block Rapid Spin and can serve as a method to preserve Sticky Webs.
Other Options:
Stone Edge is Zamazenta-Crowned’s best answer to Ho-oh who can otherwise shutdown Body Press hard with Will-O-Wisp burns and is a decent answer to opposing Flying tyupes like Rayquaza.
Agility offers the makings of a unique Double Dance set, allowing Zamazenta to forgo Speed investment and instead focus on bulk, but with Fighting’s many resistances, you are leaning even harder on Body Press to make up the difference.
Rest is Zamazenta’s only option to heal and can be invaluable against the many Arceus forms and Giratina who all can carry Will-O-Wisp and happily use it to shutdown Zamazenta, though with Zamazenta-Crowned locked out of Chesto Berry as an item, it is all but forced to run Sleep Talk in a mono-Attacking set to make up the difference.
Doubles and VGC Options
The addition of Body Press to Zamazenta’s moveset has been all it needed to rise to one of the best in the world in the Doubles format. While this can be partially attributed to the restricted format only allowing one legendary Pokémon, effectively reducing the power being thrown at Zamazenta-Crowned. Thus after a single Iron Defense, Zamazenta becomes all but immune to physical attacks, and can 2HKO almost everything in the game while avoiding disruption from every form of Attack drop, leaving just burns and Reflect as the only ways to slow it down. The latest format being dominated by Spread Special Attackers was quite the boon for Zamazenta-Crowned as well, allowing it to partially negate its weaker defense with Wide Guard and have its teammate take care of the one Pokémon on the opposing team that could threaten it. While Zamazenta-Crowned’s difficulties against Ghosts and lack of natural recovery still limit it greatly, it is one of the best in the world and must be planned for.
Bronze Shield
-Iron Defense
-Body Press
-Heavy Slam
-Wide Guard
Ability: Dauntless Shield
Item: Rusted Shield
Tera Type: Dragon/Grass/Ghost
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 100 Def / 156 SDef
Impish Nature
Zamazenta's flagship set turns it into an unstoppable bulwark. Iron Defense and Body Press is terrifying, especially with Dauntless Shield active. At +3 Defense, even targets as bulky as Torkoal and Raging Bolt are still losing three fourths of their health while attacks like Urshifu’s Super Effective Close Combat merely 4HKOs. Heavy Slam compliments Body Press hitting the very light Flutter Mane and Calyrex-Shadow Rider for reliable 1-2HKOs that cannot be saved by going Tera Fairy. Wide Guard is invaluable for this set, blocking the numerous special spread moves being thrown, including, but not limited to, Kyogre’s Water Spout and Origin Pulse, Miraidon’s Discharge, Calyrex-Shadow’s Astral Barrage, Terapagos-Stellar’s Terastarstorm, Gholdengo’s Make It Rain, Chi-Yu’s Heat Wave, Flutter Mane’s Dazzling Gleam, Torkoal’s Eruption, etc.
EVs look to maximize bulk with the heavy investment in Special Defense so Modest Specs Miraidon can't OHKO Zamazenta with a neutral Electric STAB/Draco Meteor, while merely being 3HKO'd by Timid Calyrex-Shadow's Psychic Terrain boosted Psychics. Everything else goes into Defense to weaponize Body Press. One can invest in Defense for more power on Body Press; 144 Defense is needed to guarantee OHKO the 44 HP / 4 Def Miraidon, while turning Koraidon into a coin flip on the OHKO. Tera Dragon is preferred for providing resistance to Fire, Electric and Water, all prominent attacking types, though the weakness to Fairy and Dragon is unfortunate. Grass is another popular option, providing resistance to Urshifu-Rapid's auto Crit Surging Strikes, negating Amoonguss' Spore and playing a 50-50 game with Miraidon regarding its Electric and Dragon STABs.
Other Options:
Protect is the best move in the Doubles, with its ability to scout for Terastalizations, Attacks, stall out opposing field conditions, stall for allied field conditions and more, Protect does so much for any Pokémon that most feel frailer without it.
Crunch is Zamazenta's best option for Gholdengo and does hit opposing Ghost types hard but leaves Zamazenta exposed to Tera Fairy and does not get the OHKO on Flutter Mane.
Behemoth Bash is a more reliable option if one is specifically worried about Tera Fairy on absurdly heavy Pokémon like Ting-Lu, but more often than not Heavy Slam will out damage Behemoth Bash.
Preferred Partners:
Allies that can provide recovery to Zamazenta are invaluable, keeping it around longer and removing one of its main weaknesses in being worn down. Rillaboom is the gold standard for this with its Grassy Terrain, since that also overwrites Miraidon's Electric Terrain, greatly defanging that threat, while blunting the damage of any Earthquake sent Zamazenta's way.
Chien-Pao is another popular partner, not only threatening key threats like Koraidon, Miraidon, Gholdengo and Calyrex-Shadow, but paradoxically (hah!) increasing Body Press' power, making it easier for Zamazenta to reach KOs while opponents struggle to do the same.
Countering Zamazenta
While Zamazenta is truly terrifying once it gets going, several factors are always holding it back. Zamazenta-Crowned’s reliance on Body Press is a huge issue and anything that can stomach Body Press while not being too overtly frail can work wonders against Zamazenta-Crowned. Ghost types are at the forefront, using Body Press as a free switch in opportunity and can further cripple Zamazenta with Will-O-Wisp or Thunder Wave, if not smash Zamazenta’s shield with Special offense. Giratina, and Arceus-Ghost stand out for their ability to cripple Zamazenta while being bulky enough to laugh off its hits. Flutter Mane and Lunala can pick off a half health Zamazenta, though they must be wary of Steel STAB and Crunch respectively.
Bulky Fighting resists can also work well, though things start getting dicey after multiple Calm Minds Lugia easily outlasts Zamazenta-Crowned, and wipe away Dauntless Shield and any Iron Defenses with Whirlwind, though it does struggle to down Zamazenta quickly itself. Ho-oh fears only Stone Edge, but otherwise can tank a boosted +3 Body Press and potentially cripple back with Sacred Fire.
Special Attackers are otherwise highly recommended to deal with Zamazenta-Crowned. Between Dauntless Shield and Iron Defense, breaking through Zamazenta physically requires either luck to critically hit through the boosts, or truly overwhelming power. Tera Fire Koraidon is perhaps the only Pokémon who can outright break through Zamazenta Crowned with physical force, thanks to naturally outspeeding it and downing Zamazenta-Crowned before it can get an Iron Defense off (which even after still is a solid 2HKO). Specs Iron Bundle, Eternatus, Deoxys Attack and Mewtwo are prominent at this thanks to naturally outrunning Zamazenta-Crowned, while Chi-Yu, and Kyogre are excellent Choice Scarf users that can overwhelm Zamazenta-Crowned. Due to lack of natural recovery, every little bit adds up with Zamazenta and it will fall sooner rather than later.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Not in game
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game
Sun/Moon:
Not in game
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Not in game
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Slumbering Weald (Shield)
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Not in game
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Scarlet/Violet:
Transfer through Pokémon HOME
Anime Appearences
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Zamazenta has made a few appearances in the anime. Most notably, it joined Zacian in helping Ash & Goh stop Eternatus. |
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