Zacian and Zamazenta: Crowned Monarchs of Pokemon Go

Welcome to the Grand Coronation! Zacian and Zamazenta will make their royal debut in their respective Crowned Sword and Crowned Shield Forms in the soon upcoming GO Fest. Bearing titles fit for monarchs, these Crowned Forms emerge as some of the most powerful and useful Pokemon in the game to date, excelling in Raids, Max Battles, and the Master League, and this guide will showcase just how glorious they are!

Transformation

Trainers can transform any existing Zacian - Hero of Many Battles or Zamazenta - Hero of Many Battles into their respective Crowned Forms by using 30 Candies + 1000 Crowned Sword Energy or Crowned Shield Energy, respectively. In-person GO Fest attendees will gain early access to one of these Crowned Forms via a branching Special Research. More of these Energy can be obtained by attending multiple in-person GO Fests, or by defeating Crowned Zacian or Zamazenta raids during GO Fest: Global.

In addition, Zacian and Zamazenta must learn Iron Head in order to change form; fortunately, it is not a legacy move and can simply be taught via Charged TM. These moves will transform into Behemoth Blade for Zacian and Behemoth Bash for Zamazenta. Not only are these spectacularly powerful Charged Attacks, they are slated to have Adventure Effects* that improve Attack (Blade) or Defense (Bash) in Raids and Max Battles!

Once you change Zacian or Zamazenta’s form once, you can change that Zacian or Zamazenta form as many times as you like without using energy or candy.

Behemoth Bash and Behemoth Blade cannot be TMed away; Zamazenta and Zacian in their Crowned form will always have their respective signature move.

*Like with some past Adventure Effect moves, these Adventure Effects may not be available during their in-person debut. However, expect them to become usable leading up to GO Fest: Global.

Crowned Frormes as Raid Attackers

What we are looking at here are some of the most elite fighters in the entire game. A quick glance into the Comprehensive DPS/TDO Spreadsheet is all you need to confirm the immense power of Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta.

Let’s make this as simple as possible: tl;dr Zacian, Zamazenta, and the star of last year’s GO Fest, (Dusk Mane) Necrozma, all qualify as the #1 Steel Attacker, putting themselves well ahead of the longstanding veteran, Shadow Metagross. Literally, pick any combination of the three and you will not see any noticeable DPS differences between them.

But what if you wanted to dive deeper past the spreadsheet? Well, get ready to read up a bit! Zacian does top this list, which suggests that it is generally the best option. However, to say that it is definitively the best option is misleading, as DPS in Pokemon GO is more complex than simulations or spreadsheets will show. After all, formulas and simulations can only take so much into account of the many variables that alter DPS. Some of such factors include: energy management (ie. hot swapping at low HP to prevent fainting with energy), energy gains from tanking boss attacks, and boss-specific breakpoints. The Comprehensive DPS/TDO sheet certainly takes some of these factors into account, but it can only provide a general picture. A really good general picture, mind you, but it is important to remember the sheet only provides guidelines and not gospel, and it certainly does not paint the full picture.

Let’s dive into what makes each Pokemon stand out, shall we?

Party Power: In a 2-man Party Play, both Zacian and Dusk Mane are incredible choices thanks to their high power 1-bar signature moves. Zamazenta falls behind as the 2-bar Behemoth Bash doesn’t synergize as well with Party Power’s somewhat slow charging speed. However, Zamazenta picks up its performance in a 3-man Party Play, and Dusk Mane Necrozma begins to edge out Zacian by wielding Psycho Cut instead of Metal Claw.

A Note on Zacian as a Fairy attacker: Zacian also has the niche of being one of the best Fairy attackers in the game, on par with Pokemon such as Shadow Gardevoir and Enamorus. Unfortunately, the niche for Fairy attackers is very small, due to the plethora of powerful Dragon-, Psychic-, Fighting-, and Flying-type attacks that often serve as superior alternatives against the targets that Fairy-type damage would hit. It is worth noting that Zacian possesses a triple resistance to Dragon, which can help anchor your party in cases where relobbying is risky, such as when battling a powerful Dragon-type raid boss that has despawned.

TL;DR once more: All of Zacian, Zamazenta, and Dusk Mane Necrozma qualify as the best Steel attackers in the game, with miniscule differences that only matter for the most hardcore raid soloists. Zacian slightly outperforms the other two on average, but Zamazenta is the easiest to use and is the most reliable overall. Players who use 2-man Party Power frequently should favor Zacian and Dusk Mane Necrozma, as Zamazenta’s DPS falls off considerably under this setting (relatively speaking).

Max Battles

That’s right! Zacian and Zamazenta in their Crowned Forms will gain the exclusive ability to participate in Max Battles!

Trainers who have played through Pokemon Sword and Shield may recall that Zacian and Zamazenta have special interactions with Dynamax. These Pokemon cannot Dynamax themselves, but their signature moves deal double damage to Dynamaxed Pokemon. Their Pokedex entries talk about them fighting Dynamaxed Pokemon. Additionally, they face off against Eternatus in a Max Raid-style battle during the game’s climax. Naturally, we were all wondering whether Pokemon GO would respect their connections.

…And the answer is yes! Zacian and Zamazenta will gain the ability to participate in Max Battles, despite being incapable of Dynamaxing themselves. Instead of using Max Moves, they will instead wield their own Spirit and Guard moves, alongside a modified, “Max Phase” version of Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash. These modified signature moves have 250, 300, 350 power based on their level, making them effectively clones of Max Steelspike.

At this moment in time, we do not know if their Guard and Spirit moves have different effects compared to Max Guard and Max Spirit.

Leveling Up

Much like other Max Moves, Zacian and Zamazenta’s “Max” moves can be unlocked and leveled up, with Behemoth Blade or Behemoth Bash automatically unlocked at Level 1. The following table details the level up costs for these moves.

The total cost for fully leveling up all 3 Moves is 550 Candies, 165 Candy XL, and 500,000 Stardust. It is definitely a hefty investment, but you most certainly don’t have to unlock and max out everything.

Zamazenta

Zamazenta is one of the most formidable tanks in the game, boasting 9 resistances and bulk surpassing that of Registeel’s. It is tankier than Blissey against resisted moves, and it is the tankiest option in the game against Rock- and Bug-type attacks. Let’s assume that Guard is similar to Max Guard - in that it grants a flat HP shield that also redirects the boss’s single target attacks while the shield remains active. Zamazenta’s Defense-weighted stat spread has tremendous synergy with Guard; multiple casts of it can make Zamazenta feel immortal as it protects its teammates from deadly targeted attacks.

Zamazenta’s moveset perfectly compliments its role as a tank. Metal Claw’s 0.5 second duration ensures that Zamazenta will quickly charge up the Max Meter. Behemoth Bash also has a snappy 1.5 second duration - Zamazenta can easily find opportunities to use it in the non-max phase without overly disrupting the Max Meter charging speed. A great opportunity to use Behemoth Bash is when you know that the boss will not reach another Charged Attack before the Max Meter becomes fully charged. This allows Zamazenta to deal a great burst of damage at virtually no cost!

Unlocking Guard on Zamazenta grants it one shield upon entering a Max Battle, further improving its already impressive tankiness. Its ability to redirect targeted attacks is also excellent for protecting vulnerable teammates, allowing them to safely reach the first Max Phase without fear of being knocked out.

Max Move Level Up Order: Prioritize Guard to capitalize on Zamazenta’s tankiness, and then Spirit for emergency healing. Zamazenta should rarely use “Max” Behemoth Bash, but there will be times where attacking is the most sensible option.

Zacian

Wielding a jaw dropping 332 base Attack stat, Zacian is a natural fit for the Attacker role. Even with a 350 power Behemoth Blade, Zacian’s raw power is comparable to the top Gigantamaxes. It is most comparable to Gigantamax Urshifu - Single Strike Style, and is only slightly weaker than Gigantamax Inteleon and Gigantamax Gengar. Zacian also pulls well ahead of any other future Gigantamax Steel-type Pokemon (Gigantamax Copperajah and Gigantamax Melmetal). As an attacker, Zacian should typically only come out during the Dynamax phase and let its other teammates absorb damage from the boss. However, Zacian is far from being a one-trick pony and can contribute in more ways than simply pure offense.

Zacian is also a surprisingly bulky Pokemon with a bevy of resistances - including a triple resistance to Dragon. It is the tankiest Pokemon in the game against Dragon-type damage, which will prove helpful against future Dragon-type Legendary Pokemon or Gigantamax Duraludon. Its Fairy/Steel typing is incredible defensively, and Zacian is more than capable of acting as a backup tank should its tankier teammates fall.

Like Zamazenta, Zacian possesses a 0.5 second Fast Attack in Metal Claw, allowing it to rapidly charge up the Max Meter. However, Zacian’s Behemoth Blade is far less spammable than Zamazenta’s Behemoth Bash due to its lengthy 3.5 second duration. Nevertheless, Behemoth Blade’s immense 200 power can likely contribute multiple Max Energy to the Max Meter in Tier 5s, especially against Steel-weak bosses, making up for the move’s long duration to some degree.

Max Move Level Up Order: Prioritize “Max” Behemoth Blade to transform Zacian into the strongest Steel attacker in the game, and then Guard to capitalize on Zacian’s surprisingly strong defensive profile. Spirit is generally the weakest option as Zacian does not have the greatest HP stat.

PvP

Boasting wonderful defensive typings and some of the highest stats in the game, the Crowned Forms of Zacian and Zamazenta are poised to warp the Master League metagame. Their similarities in typing and moveset offer some interchangeability with each other, but they also possess significant differences to set themselves apart. Once again, we will dive into the qualities that make each of them stand out

Zacian

Behind Zacian’s towering 5629 maximum CP (5696 with Best Buddy) is the highest stat product out of any non-Mega Pokemon in the game. Zacian not only possesses a towering Attack stat - higher than any other relevant Master League Pokemon, but also respectable bulk and a stellar defensive typing. Complementing its crown-worthy traits is a potent moveset - nuclear, moderate cost Charged Attacks in Close Combat and Behemoth Blade, backed by the decent energy gains of Metal Claw. With great coverage offered by its Fighting- and Steel-type attacks, a well played Zacian can take down almost any adversary.

The defensive potency of Zacian’s Fairy/Steel typing cannot be understated. It boasts 11 resistances, with a triple Dragon resistance being a standout in a metagame historically dominated by heavy Dragon-type damage. At the same time, it is only weak to Fire and Ground. With such a fantastic defensive profile, Zacian can easily complement any Pokemon that aren’t weak to those two types, making it extremely easy to insert into teams.

Armed with impeccable qualities, Zacian counters many current metagame staples such as Dialga (Origin Forme), Palkia (Origin Forme), Florges, Xerneas, White Kyurem and Black Kyurem. This can contribute to a potential decline of some of these Pokemon, especially if they share a type with Zacian itself and have overlaps in roles. On the other hand, Pokemon that have fallen off in usage in recent times, such as Giratina (Origin Forme), Dawn Wings Necrozma, and Kyogre, can all find the opportunity to return into the metagame. They have decent matchups against Zacian themselves, enjoy Zacian’s ability to cover their weaknesses, and can ward off some of Zacian’s counters.

According to the official Pokemon Sword and Shield website, Zacian’s movements are graceful and have been compared to a dance. Players can skillfully replicate this dance in Pokemon GO by taking advantage of Zacian’s full offensive and defensive package. Make full use of Zacian’s defensive typing and unmatched Charged Attack Priority (CAP) to maximize its energy, and weave in and out of the battlefield to circumvent Close Combat’s Defense drops.

Sample Team

As a lead, Zacian has the opportunity to switch out more freely to clear Close Combat’s Defense debuff. The newly buffed Lunala is a fantastic safe switch, courtesy of its wide coverage and few weaknesses - it can force shield or switch advantage against most opponents. Even Dark-type Pokemon will not enjoy taking a Moonblast. Kyogre rounds out the team by covering Zacian’s weaknesses to Ho-Oh and Landorus, and can benefit from Lunala baiting out a potential Black Kyurem beforehand.

Zamazenta

To nobody’s surprise, the shield-bearing Pokemon personifies Defense, and Zamazenta is a stalwart tank. It is about 20% bulkier than Zacian and Dialga-O, the latter being a well known moderately bulky Pokemon. Although Zamazenta’s Fighting/Steel typing is generally less amazing defensively than Zacian’s Fairy/Steel typing, it does perform significantly better in two key matchups, Rhyperior and Dusk Mane Necrozma, thanks having extra Rock- and Steel resistances.

Much like their raid performances, Zamazenta embodies consistency in contrast to Zacian’s explosiveness. This is reflected in Zamazenta’s cheaper, but less powerful Behemoth Bash compared to the latter’s more nuclear Behemoth Blade. By having a move of equal cost to the risky Close Combat, Zamazenta has a safe alternative for shield pressure and for finishing off low HP opponents.

Perhaps most interestingly, both of Zamazenta’s Fast Attacks, Ice Fang and Metal Claw, are viable. Metal Claw enables Zamazenta to replicate Zacian’s playstyle, trading raw power for consistency. Ice Fang, on the other hand, grants improved matchups against Ground- and Dragon-type enemies. In particular, this uniquely allows Zamazenta to outright counter Landorus (Therian Forme), a Pokemon that is usually a nightmare for Steel-type Pokemon to deal with. This makes Ice Fang Zamazenta a serious consideration as a partner for Pokemon such as Rhyperior or Reshiram - it offers them the Steel-type’s defensive benefits without the drawback of compounding a weakness to Landorus.

Sample Team

Ho-Oh is well positioned to take down the Crowned Forms, but struggles with awkward weaknesses to Rhyperior, Palkia, and Landorus-T - a difficult combination of Pokemon to cover for. Luckily, Ice Fang Zamazenta is disruptive to all of them, and holds itself decently against Kyogre as well. It can bait out an opposing Zacian, which Ho-Oh can then farm down with Incinerate after Zamazenta faints. Palkia rounds out the team by covering for Ho-Oh and Kyogre, and may have an easier time sweeping if the opposing Zacian has been baited out and taken care of.

Double Dogs?

Zacian and Zamazenta are different species, so naturally you’ll be able to run both on a team in GO Battle League! Players who go the extra mile to attend multiple in-person GO Fests can obtain both Pokemon before their Global release. However, the vast majority of players will not have this option before Global GO Fest.

As these Pokemon can be quite challenging to counter, it is a reasonable gameplan to run both on a team. In the most traditional ABB-team fashion, one of them can bait out a potential counter for the other to open up a sweep.

Sample Team

The lead Pokemon should be one that can absorb blows from Ho-Oh and Landorus and have a decent matchup into opposing Crowned Forms. Giratina-O is not the only option - Kyogre can work too! If White Kyurem is too problematic, Zamazenta can opt to run Metal Claw.

Countering the Crowns

So how do we counter the Crowned Forms exactly? Well, the answer isn’t exactly easy thanks to their great coverage, power, and ample opportunities to farm extra energy. The most straightforward answer is Ho-Oh, as it resists all of their STAB options and can quickly melt them with its Fire-type attacks. Outside of Ho-Oh (and the upcoming Volcanion), you may need to be creative to answer them.

Solgaleo is a decent choice, but can lose to 0s to Zacian if Zacian has a one Metal Claw advantage. This can be circumvented by running Flamethrower, but Solgaleo worsens its matchups against Kyurem and Rhyperior that way.

Landorus (Therian Forme) is a generally good choice, but it must expend a shield to defeat Zacian and loses horribly to Ice Fang Zamazenta.

Kyogre resists Steel and forces them to Close Combat - which it is bulky enough to take. However, this is a very close matchup, and Kyogre may appreciate a little chip damage from its teammate before taking them on.

Speaking of which, some situations may arise where you need to chip them before switching into your own response. Let’s say a Zacian has switched into your Black Kyurem. You can threaten it with Fusion Bolt before switching your own Zacian to finish theirs off.

Zacian itself is a good check to opposing Zamazenta, sporting a super effective Close Combat against the latter. However, it must be wary when behind on energy. Additionally, both Crowned Forms are great at keeping Ice Fang Zamazenta in check, as they resist Ice and their Metal Claw provides more energy generation to reach Close Combat more quickly.

This is not a comprehensive list of counters, and there will be more creative approaches to handling them as we learn more about the upcoming metagame.

Conclusion

As to be expected with the stars of Niantic’s flagship events, Crowned Zacian and Zamazenta’s glorious performances across multiple battle modes makes them some of the best Pokemon to invest in. Niantic has also done a fantastic job in ensuring that both Pokemon are just about equally appealing - Trainers are encouraged to get their hands on both of these monarchs.

But of course, not every player will be able to afford to invest in both. While there is no wrong option, picking one to focus on can still be challenging. If you are one of those players, perhaps some of these questions can help you choose:

• Do you frequently make use of 2-man Party Power?

• Are you typically a Defensive or Offensive player in Max Battles?

• In battles, do you favor consistency, or more explosive moments?

And perhaps most importantly, which Pokemon do you like more?