#0041

Zubat Movesets & Competitive Sets

Zubat ズバット

Zubat movesets cover 5 generations and 6 formats with 8 sets in total. Each set lists moves, ability, item, nature, EVs and Tera type picks with analysis, and can be copied with one click.

Poison Flying Generation I

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Generation: 5
Format: 6
set: 8

Zubat Competitive Movesets & Sets

Generation 7 Sets （Format 1 · 1 set）

Choice Scarf

LC Generation 7

Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs: HP 36 / Attack 236 / Speed 236

Moves

Brave Bird Flying Physical

Power 120 Accuracy 100 PP 15

The user tucks in its wings and charges from a low altitude. The user also takes serious damage.
U-turn Bug Physical

Power 70 Accuracy 100 PP 20

After making its attack, the user rushes back to switch places with a party Pokémon in waiting.

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Analysis

Choice Scarf takes advantage of the only positive traits Zubat has: 16 Speed and U-turn. This gives Zubat some ability to be useful in a match, though Vullaby and Rufflet serve essentially the same purpose with their vastly superior stats and coverage.

Generation 6 Sets （Format 1 · 1 set）

Support

LC Generation 6

Item: Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
Nature: Jolly
EVs: HP 196 / Attack 76 / Speed 236

Moves

Defog Flying Status

Accuracy — PP 15

Obstacles are moved, reducing the foe’s evasion stat. It can also be used to clear deep fog, etc.
Brave Bird Flying Physical

Power 120 Accuracy 100 PP 15

The user tucks in its wings and charges from a low altitude. The user also takes serious damage.

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Analysis

Moves Defog is immensely important, as it allows Zubat to remove troublesome entry hazards. Brave Bird is Zubat's most powerful STAB attack and its best chance of being a threat to opposing Fighting-types. U-turn allows Zubat to switch out while dealing some damage, allowing Zubat to act as a pivot. Roost gives Zubat reliable recovery, as it takes heavy damage from switching into Stealth Rock, and therefore needs some means of recovering that health. Set Details Maximum investment in Speed and Attack is used so that Zubat can have as much offensive presence as possible, and a Jolly nature increases its Speed so that it can outspeed max Speed Scraggy. Eviolite should be run in order to increase Zubat's defenses. Without it, Zubat isn't likely to be able to survive most attacks, as Zubat's natural defenses are pitiful. Infiltrator allows Zubat to hit through Substitutes. Usage Tips Zubat can easily switch in on any Fighting-type move, as its Poison / Flying typing blesses it with a 4x resistance. From there, the opposing player will be forced to choose between staying in and taking a super effective STAB Brave Bird or switching, giving Zubat a free turn to Defog. However, offensive Mienfoo outspeeds Zubat, meaning that Mienfoo can simply U-turn out and take advantage of the opposing loss of momentum. Zubat's main job is to be a Defog user, keeping the field clear for its teammates. If possible, avoid using it as a sweeper, as so many other Pokemon are much better at this job. Also, avoid using Defog when the opponent has a Pokemon with Defiant, which would most likely be Pawniard. A free +2 Attack boost to an opposing Pokemon is not worth clearing the field of hazards. Team Options Volt Absorb Chinchou takes care of the Electric-type Pokemon that threaten Zubat, and Dark-type Pokemon easily neutralize Psychic-types. Running a Defog user like Zubat is optimal on a team with Sturdy + Berry Juice users, such as Magnemite and Tirtouga. Zubat helps keep the field clear of entry hazards that would break Sturdy, and it effortlessly switches in on the Ground- and Grass-type moves that these two Pokemon fear. Don't run a Zubat if your team is also dependent on entry hazards, dual screens, or Sticky Web. Defog removes your team's entry hazards and screens as well, so Defog should only be used when you don't need those advantages.

Generation 5 Sets （Format 1 · 2 set）

Choice Bat

LC Generation 5

Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Jolly
EVs: HP 36 / Attack 236 / Speed 236

Moves

Brave Bird Flying Physical

Power 120 Accuracy 100 PP 15

The user tucks in its wings and charges from a low altitude. The user also takes serious damage.
Pick one

Steel Wing Steel Physical

Power 70 Accuracy 90 PP 25

Super Fang Normal Physical

Power — Accuracy 90 PP 10

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Analysis

Zubat makes for a pretty good lead, starting the match and firing off immensely powerful Brave Birds with the added power of STAB and Choice Band. Steel Wing is mostly unused, but it helps to 2HKO the occasional Rock-type which switches into a predicted Brave Bird. The third slot provides more type coverage; Zubat can use a Dark-type move to damage opponents without resorting to Brave Bird. The last move is filler and should be chosen to best suit your team. Pursuit can still be used if you didn't choose it as your primary Dark-type move, although without Heat Wave, Steel-types wall this set cold. If you decide to run Heat Wave, a Naive or Hasty nature can be used. U-turn is also a great option to force offensive pressure on the opponent. If you don't mind the Brave Bird recoil, you can use it to hit Ghost-types for plenty of damage and forgo a Dark-type attack; this allows you to run both U-turn and Heat Wave. Double-Edge or Facade can be used in the final slot, but they're pretty lackluster compared to the other good options available. Zubat's 4x resistance to Fighting-type attacks makes it an excellent counter to Fighting-types in Little Cup, giving it an easy switch-in to start firing off STAB Brave Birds. Ferroseed is the main Steel-type seen in Little Cup, but is still hit neutrally by Brave Bird because of its Grass / Steel typing, making Heat Wave less important. Choice Scarf Zubat is also great check to Choice Scarf Mienfoo, a huge threat in Little Cup. Life Orb is also viable on this set, giving Zubat the freedom to switch moves.

Stallbreaker

LC Generation 5

Item: Eviolite
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Jolly
EVs: HP 236 / Attack 32 / Speed 236

Moves

Brave Bird Flying Physical

Power 120 Accuracy 100 PP 15

The user tucks in its wings and charges from a low altitude. The user also takes serious damage.
Super Fang Normal Physical

Power — Accuracy 90 PP 10

Cuts the foe's HP by 1/2.

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Analysis

Although stall is very uncommon in Little Cup, ignoring it would be a folly, as it can be a very successful strategy when done right. Zubat thus makes a good candidate for teams troubled by stall, as it can run a very effective stallbreaking set. With an Eviolite, most slower defensive Pokemon are not going to outdamage Zubat's Roost, and Taunt also stops them from setting up or inflicting status. Super Fang bypasses defenses and swiftly deals 50% to the opposing Pokemon. Even when you're not playing against stall, this set still functions as a decent bulky Pokemon capable of checking many Fighting-types. Zubat can deal a hefty amount of damage with STAB Brave Bird, even without many Attack EVs. Toxic can be used over Taunt, but it is down to personal preference. With Taunt and Roost, Zubat can switch into and defeat boosted Timburr. Any Pokemon slower than it can be hit with Super Fang and usually knocked out by a follow-up Brave Bird. Zubat also renders Ferroseed useless; not only does it break stall, but it can also do a decent job of stalling itself between Taunt, Roost, and its respectable bulk.

Generation 4 Sets （Format 1 · 2 set）

Lead

LC Generation 4

Item: Life Orb
Nature: Jolly
EVs: HP 36 / Attack 196 / Speed 196

Moves

Taunt Dark Status

Accuracy 100 PP 20

Taunts the foe into only using attack moves.
Brave Bird Flying Physical

Power 120 Accuracy 100 PP 15

The user tucks in its wings and charges from a low altitude. The user also takes serious damage.

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Analysis

Zubat has many defining qualities that allow it to become a viable lead. Taunt, coupled with 16 Speed, allow it to stop slow leads such as Hippopotas from setting up Stealth Rock. Brave Bird is a powerful STAB attack, being able to OHKO Oran Berry Machop, a common lead in today's metagame. Roost is also a helpful option, healing off the recoil damage dealt from Brave Bird, while also allowing Zubat to deal more damage. U-turn allows Zubat to scout for counters, and allows the team to gain momentum. The given EV spread maximizes Zubat's Attack and Speed stats, while increasing its HP by one point, allowing it to take hits better. Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon such as Kabuto will be troublesome, since they take little damage from any of Zubat's attacks, and can set up Stealth Rock. Like Kabuto, Bronzor also has an easy time dealing with Zubat, being able to set up Stealth Rock, before firing off STAB Psychic. As such, teammates that can deal with Kabuto and Bronzor are good to pair up with Zubat. Wooper is a great Kabuto counter, having Water Absorb to prevent it from being hurt by Kabuto's Water attacks, while it also resists Rock Slide thanks to its Ground typing. In return, Wooper can hit Kabuto hard with STAB Earthquake, and Recover off any lost health. Magnet Rise Magnemite is a great counter to Bronzor, being able to trap it and switch in on any move not named Earthquake. From there, Magnemite can use Magnet Rise while it attempts to Earthquake, before taking Bronzor out with repeated Thunderbolts.

Choice Scarf

LC Generation 4

Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
EVs: HP 36 / Attack 236 / Speed 236

Moves

Pick one

Brave Bird Flying Physical

Power 120 Accuracy 100 PP 15

Pluck Flying Physical

Power 60 Accuracy 100 PP 20
U-turn Bug Physical

Power 70 Accuracy 100 PP 20

After making its attack, the user rushes back to switch places with a party Pokémon in waiting.

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Analysis

With 16 Speed, Zubat can effectively utilize a Choice Scarf set in order to scout and revenge kill the opponent. Brave Bird is Zubat's most powerful STAB attack, though the recoil damage may hurt. Pluck is a good alternative to Brave Bird since it allows Zubat to heal itself when attacking a Pokemon holding Oran Berry, though the power drop is significant. U-turn is a very useful attack, allowing Zubat to scout for counters that may want to switch in. Return provides good neutral coverage, and is its strongest attack without recoil. Finally, Pursuit allows Zubat to checkmate weakened Pokemon. Super Fang is a viable option to use instead of Return, and is much more effective early-game, when most Pokemon are at full health, as it will force all switch-ins (bar Ghost-types) to lose half of their health, and eases prediction for the player. Since holding a Choice Scarf will make Zubat switch a lot, a Rapid Spinner will pair up great with Zubat. Sandshrew is a prime choice for a spinner because it resists Rock-type attacks and is immune to Electric-type attacks, while Zubat quad-resists Grass-type attacks, though they do share a nasty Ice-type weakness. Sandshrew also has the bulk to set up Stealth Rock, making it the best choice. To take care of the Ice weakness, utilizing Pokemon such as Aron and Bronzor is ideal. Aron can switch in and weaken the foe with Head Smash, while Bronzor can tank several hits and retaliate back its coverage moves.

Generation 1 Sets （Format 2 · 2 set）

Mixed Attacker

LC Generation 1

Moves

Confuse Ray Ghost Status

Accuracy 100 PP 10

A move that causes confusion.
Double-Edge Normal Physical

Power 120 Accuracy 100 PP 15

A tackle that also hurts the user.

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Offensive

LC Generation 1

Moves

Pick one

Confuse Ray Ghost Status

Accuracy 100 PP 10

Haze Ice Status

Accuracy — PP 30
Wing Attack Flying Physical

Power 60 Accuracy 100 PP 35

Strikes the target with wings.

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