Choice Scarf
UU Generation 9- Item
- Choice Scarf
- Nature
- Adamant
- Tera Type
- Dark Fighting
- EVs
- Attack 252 / Sp. Def 4 / Speed 252
Moves
-
Power 65 Accuracy 100 PP 20
Knocks down the foe’s held item to prevent its use.
-
Power 120 Accuracy 85 PP 10
The user violently whirls its vines or tentacles to harshly lash the foe.
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Analysis
Choice Scarf Zarude provides a solid speed control option with a decent amount of defensive utility. Zarude's Speed grants it the ability to pressure Latios, Greninja, and Serperior. U-turn allows Zarude to pivot out against opposing switch-ins like Tinkaton and Cobalion, allowing it to bring in teammates that can threaten them. Close Combat gives Zarude super effective coverage for Ogerpon-C and Cobalion and an option to consistently hit Skarmory, while also OHKOing Excadrill, whereas Jungle Healing grants Zarude the ability to shrug off status from Slowking, Rotom-W, and Skeledirge. However, locking Zarude into Jungle Healing is very risky, due to the fact that the opponent will be able to switch anything in for free. Tera Dark gives Knock Off an extra boost in power, notably 2HKOing Serperior even after its item is removed, while Tera Fighting boosts Close Combat and makes Zarude less susceptible to revenge kill attempts from Lokix. However, Zarude loses its defensive utility when it Terastallizes, so it should only Terastallize when it is necessary to either revenge kill an opposing threat or clean up the rest of the game. Choice Scarf Zarude fits on offense teams that appreciate its compression as a revenge killer and Ground-resistant Pokemon. However, as a Choice item user, Zarude struggles with foes that can sponge its attacks and switch to a resist such as Hydrapple or Toxapex. As a result, it appreciates teammates that it can pivot to to pressure these foes such as Latios and Thundurus-T. Latios also outspeeds and pressures Skarmory and Cobalion, allowing Zarude to more easily slot Jungle Healing, while Thundurus-T can form a powerful pivoting core with Zarude. More offensively capable foes such as Enamorus-T can also switch into Zarude, so it appreciates defensive teammates that can withstand their attacks, like Tornadus-T and Skarmory. Zarude also appreciates teammates that can handle the tier's Flying-types in Mandibuzz and opposing Tornadus-T. Heatran and Excadrill help against these Pokemon, as well as Tinkaton, and can provide Stealth Rock to help wear down the aforementioned Flying-types after Zarude removes their Heavy-Duty Boots. Heatran also offensively pressures Tornadus-T and Mandibuzz, while Excadrill provides entry hazard removal to prevent Zarude from being worn down by opposing hazards. Sandy Shocks can act as a switch-in to Tornadus-T and Tinkaton while also offensively pressuring Mandibuzz and Enamorus-T. Sandy Shocks, alongside other potential teammates like Tornadus-T, Rotom-W, and Slowking, also functions as a pivot that can bring Zarude in on foes it can pressure out such as Latios.
