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What is a good moveset for Zoroark?

5 votes
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This thread is for Unovan Zoroark. For Hisuian Zoroark, please go here.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Zoroark, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Zoroark Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Sprite

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dont forget to edit on a link to hisuian zoroark's page here
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They created a thread for HZoroark so I think there isn't a need to do that
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22 Answers

7 votes

I guess the best name for this set would be a Lead disruptor, this is my Zoroark:

Zoroark (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Sucker Punch
- U-turn
- Focus Blast
- Taunt

This guy is fast enough to out speed even base 100 leads, which is cool, he makes a good scout, and he hits hard, just what I like in a lead. Taunt is the go-to move in the set, it doesn't allow to get set-up on, and can often catch an opponent off guard when Zoroark doesn't look like someone who can Taunt. Sucker Punch has good synergy with Taunt, has STAB, and priority. U-Turn makes him a scout, while getting him out of the way of an incoming SE attack into something resistant. Focus Blast takes care of just about anything resistant to Sucker Punch for great coverage, making this a mixed set.
EVs boost the stats Zoro uses most, he isn't likely able to take more than 2 hits, so no point investing EVs in Def of HP. Focus Sash is a great item for Zoroark, allowing him to almost always survive two turns.
I like to use this guy with a Wish support Espeon; this allows him to use Espeon's magic bounce for faster opponent leads, and allows him to be healed by Wish, thus re-using Focus Sash. Also, making him look like a Ghost on the first turn might delay the use of Fighting type moves, avoiding weakness.

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Could you use night daze instead of sucker punch?
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Too Much info and u can only use focus sash 1 tine
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4 votes


Zoroark @ Focus Sash
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid Nature

  • Night Daze
  • Nasty Plot
  • Counter
  • Flamethrower / Taunt

I love this guy, despite what people might think about him. He is the very epitome of a dark Pokemon, depending on his cunning and trickery to get by. It kind of sucks that his identity is given away on wifi matches though. It kind of defeats the purpose.

Anyway, on to the set. This is intended as a lead to break through guys that try to go for a sweep. For the passive guys, you set up nasty plot and go for the kill, and for those physical hitters, you've got the focus sash+ counter to do a number on the opponent. It's a nice way to get a clean kill on a Pokemon. From my tests with this set, it makes an excellent partner with him using his illusion to be Xatu. Xatu's got a 4X fighting resistance, neutral to bug, and his magic bounce ability means people won't try to cripple or taunt Zoroark as a lead, so they'll think to attack (prompting a free turn of set up or use of counter)On top of that, Xatu can send a wish to him to bring back a bit of health if needed, though you probably won't need much of that due to his frailty. Flamethrower helps him break through steel types that try to resist him, or guys like Lucario and Cobalion that try to pick up on Justified boost. Taunt is there to disrupt guys that might give you trouble. Just remember that his HP will be a giveaway to his illusion.

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I spot a mistake, " Suggested Nature: Illusion ". Just saying Illusion isn't a nature.
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3 votes

Loki

Zoroark @ Focus Sash / Choice Scarf
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 6 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Toxic
- Protect
- Night Daze
- Flamethrower / Trick

First off Loki=Norse god of mischief. Second the Magikarp is joke having to do with his ability. Ok Toxic is super annoying and thanks to his ability and the focus-sash he has a very good chance of setting it up. Protect gives you another turn for the toxic. Night-daze has chance to lower acc which will drive you opponent insane. Flamethrower will get rid of steel type but if you already have something to do that go with Trick+Choice scarf, it will work well with an ability like his XD.

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Please note I am not suggested you put a Magikarp on your team for Zoroark to impersonate.
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lol i agree:)
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use a zorua for impersonate!
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Flamethrower also covers bug types
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2 votes

OK, this is one unique Pokemon, and he is devastating if you use him right. I have tried this set and it works well under the circumstances that I use it under.

Role: Special Sweeper

Zoroark @ Life Orb
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]

  • Nasty Plot (Boosts for sweeping)
  • Dark Pulse (STAB, more reliable than Night Daze)
  • Focus Blast (Coverage)
  • Hidden Power [Ice] (Coverage)

The trick here is that you set up your team so that Zoroark will be disguised as a Toxicroak, which is pretty much the perfect Pokemon for Zoroark to look like. With Toxicroak's 4X weakness to Psychic moves, and Zoroark's immunity to it, you are often able to set up with Nasty Plot and use Dark Pulse to belt the fool who switched in with a psychic type. Also, HP Ice covers all of Toxicroak's non-Psychic weaknesses, effectively murdering anything that switches in on Zoroark for what they believe is a type advantage. One more thing that makes this strategy ruthless is that Toxicroak can learn all of the moves in this set, leaving less suspicion as to whether it is an actual Toxicroak.

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1 vote

I used this guy on a UU team for quite a while, and after looking through all these, I was surprised to find no Choice Scarf sets.

Zoroark @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-Turn
- Sucker Punch
- Trick
- Low Kick / Pursuit / Knock Off / ???

This set excels at preserving Zoroark throughout the match, keeping the opponent in a state of uncertainty whenever you switch. As such, it’s less of an all-out sweeper and more of a fast, powerful pivot with ScarfTrick disruption. Although it can certainly nab its fair share of KOs when needed; its Atk may not be as high as its SpA, but 105 base Atk is still perfectly serviceable. You can really run whatever you want in the last slot; I found the coverage of Low Kick to be really useful, but Pursuit has really good synergy with ScarfTrick.

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1 vote

Gen 8 NU
Role: Looking Like a Toxicroak
Zoroark
Zoroark @ Choice Specs
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Dark Pulse
Explanation: Zoroark should be used when Toxicroak is in the last Pokemon in your party. That way, Zoroark can be disguised as Toxicroak, which can scare away Fairy Types. What can make it scarier for the opponent is that the moves Zoroark knows in this moveset are moves that Toxicroak can learn. Focus Blast is coverage against Fighting Types. Shadow Ball is to make use of Zoroark's Special Attack. Sludge Bomb is for Fairy Types. Dark Pulse is STAB.

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Not only that, but Psychic types will get quite a surprise when they find that they're 4x move dosent effect the Toxicroak at all! :]
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1 vote

Gen 8 UU

Partner it up with a Steel type that is neutral to or immune to Fighting, like Metagross or Aegislash.

Zoroark @ Life Orb
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid Nature

  • Dark Pulse / Night Daze
  • Sludge Bomb
  • Flamethrower
  • Nasty Plot / Focus Blast / U-Turn

Dark Pulse is STAB, Night Daze is stronger but less accurate and has no flinch chance, but can lower accuracy. Sludge Bomb covers those darn Fairies, Flamethrower for Steel and bug types. Nasty Plot to set up, usually used when your Illusion is up and you're disguised as Aegislash. Focus Blast is coverage, U-Turn to pivot.

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this is pretty good, but what is the nature? i wish this pokemon can take a hit you didn`t even boost it low defense a bit
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1 vote

Gen 9 NU Choice Specs

Zoroark @ Choice Specs
Ability: Illusion
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Psychic
- U-turn

With the current low power of NU and the only good Fairy-types in the tier being Pokemon who Tera into a Fairy-type, Choice Specs Zoroark is a scary set in Gen 9 NU. Dark Pulse is used for your Dark STAB that has a chance to flinch. Flamethrower provides coverage against Pokemon such as Copperajah, Perrserker, Rotom-Frost, Crabominable, and Cacturne. Psychic targets Poison-types such as Qwilfish and Muk. U-turn allows Zoroark to deal chip damage while escaping from bad matchups. Tera Dark is used to make Dark Pulse stronger.

Be sure to have Choice Scarf Passimian as the 6th slot on your team, as disguising yourself as Choice Scarf Passimian is quite brutal. Disguing yourself as Passimian lures in physically defensive such as Sandaconda, Drifblim, and Oricorio-Sensu to check Passimian, which can let you severely weaken or delete the defensive Pokemon. You can also just use U-turn to not give much or any information about if the Zoroark disguised as a Passimian is actually a Passimian or a Zoroark.

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1 vote

Gen 9 NU Choice Band

Zoroark @ Choice Band
Ability: Illusion
Tera Type: Poison / Dark
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- U-turn
- Tera Blast / Low Kick

With Abomasnow and Cetitian recently dropping to NU, Snow teams are a thing now. Why is this relevant, you might ask? Well, Frosmoth can be used on Snow teams, and Choice Band Zoroark can disguise itself as Frosmoth on Snow teams. There are two reasons Zoroark disguising itself as Frosmoth on Snow teams is good. 1: Looking like Frosmoth makes people switch to specially defensive checks, allowing Choice Band Zoroark to deal nice damage to them. 2: Unlike previous generations, Snow doesn't chip non-Ice-types, which means people will have a hard time figuring out if it's Frosmoth or Zoroark since they can't rely on the hail chip to find out.

Knock Off is used for Zoroark's main Dark STAB move since it removes item from opposing Pokemon. Sucker Punch is used for a Dark STAB that revenge kills faster Pokemon. U-turn allows Zoroark to chip and escape from opposing Pokemon it cannot beat. Tera Blast with Poison as your Tera Type allows Zoroark to deal super effective damage to Pokemon who use Fairy as their Tera Type. Tera Blast Poison also hits the current only actual Fairy-type named Dachsbun super effectively. Low Kick can be used to deal super effective damage to Pokemon such as Copperajah. Tera Poison is used with Tera Blast so Zoroark can have a coverage move against "Fairy"-types. Tera Dark is used if you use Low Kick so you can boost the power of Zoroark's Dark STABs.

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0 votes


Zoroark @ Focus Sash
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Counter
- Night Slash

  • Protect: To see if wat you would have gotten hit with was physical or its not the right Pokemon
  • Counter: S.A.W. (Survive, Annihilate, Wait for Death)
  • Night Slash: For one last hit, if your fast enough and there are no priority moves.
  • Whatever last move you wish, though it is not needed.
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pokemons can learn 4 moves , where is the fourth move ?
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You have one move slot left...
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I know they can learn 4 moves, but Zoroark does not need one with this Stragety. Put whatever you want.
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he needs ,you know what ? flamethower
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He is EV Trained in Attack though.
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a good last move is good with his signature move NIGHT BURST if you have the time to use it ANNOY THE HECK OUT OF YOUR OPPONET WITH IT TO
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0 votes

My favorite set for this guy:

2Chic4U (Zoroark) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SpA / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Extrasensory
- Hyper Voice

  • Dark Pulse (good STAB move)
  • Flamethrower (Bug)
  • Extrasensory (fighting)
  • Hyper Voice

Usually my strategy with Zoroark is having a ghost type in the last slot of my party because nobody would be crazy enough to use a fighting move on a ghost, right? Or even a bug type move. Timid nature and EV investment in speed almost always guarantees Zoroark going first.
I gave Zoroark Hyper Voice because I know one Pokemon that keeps screwing me up. Yes, you better believe it: Houndoom. I can't use Flamethrower because of Flash Fire, no Extrasensory because of immunity, and I cooould use Dark Pulse, but, well. Hyper Voice KOs Houndoom. A lot of people say Focus Blast is good, but I find it misses way too much, especially when you need it most :/
So, hope you like this set!

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2Chic4U <3 :D
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0 votes

I have used a Zoroark many times before and I know a pretty nice moveset for a sweeper:

Zoroark @ Focus Sash
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower
- Grass Knot
- Dark Pulse / Shadow Ball

  • Nasty Plot: Focus Sash guarantees at least one Nasty Plot, and your Special Attack will be almost 400 after one.
  • Flamethrower: Coverage for Grass/Ice types
  • Grass Knot: Coverage for Water/Ground types
  • Dark Pulse / Shadow Ball: STAB / Coverage for Psychic/Poison types

Try this out and you will have a Zoroark with over 330 Speed, and if you use Nasty Plot with 252 Sp Attack EVs you will get over 360 Sp Attack.

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Coverage not Covarage and we usually use it at weakness not a move's super effective type.
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0 votes

Most of the time I use Zoroark in Doubles so this set is more of a Doubles set, but it can still be used in Singles well.

US/UM Shenanigans Set:

Salty (Zoroark) (M) @ Toxic Orb / Black Sludge
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Night Daze
- Focus Blast
- Flamethrower
- Trick

  • Night Daze (STAB+Signature Move+High chance of lowering target's accuracy)
  • Focus Blast (Coverage)
  • Flamethrower (Deals with Bug)
  • Trick (Set Gimmick)

Suggested Disguise: Delphox

Trick is the key to this strategy. On the first turn you have Zoroark out you trick your item onto an opponent. Try to figure out which Pokemon has the best item to steal and/or who would be crippled the most by Toxic Orb/BlackSludge,
i.e. if there's an opposing Dusclops on the field, use Trick on it; it'll most likely have an Eviolite you could steal to lessen the Dusclops' stalling potential. If you're playing Doubles I suggest having the other lead Pokemon have Frisk to scout the opponents' items.
The reason I suggest Delphox as the disguise is that Delphox learns Trick, Focus Blast, and Flamethrower. A key to a good Zoroark strategy is to have it disguised as a Pokemon that can learn the majority of your Zoroark's moveset. This way opponents won't immediately be suspicious when you use your Zoroark.
Save Night Daze for later in battle/when you get hurt, so you don't immediately give away your illusion
Another suggested second lead (Doubles) or just a lead with Zoroark being the second Pokemon (Singles) aside from a Frisk Pokemon is a Pokemon that can set up Psychic Terrain. This is entirely because priority moves such as Fake Out are this Zoroark's worst nightmare,
i.e. first turn your Zoroark is hit with Fake Out before it can Trick; not only is your Illusion busted but you will be badly poisoned from the Toxic Orb. This is a scenario you do not want.

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0 votes

Here is my shiny team’s sweeper.
Zoroark @ Choice Specs
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (mine has rash, but modest is better, if you can get it)
• Night Daze
• Focus Blast
• Flamethrower
• Grass Knot

• Night Daze: STAB, signature move, good power.
• Focus Blast: covers ice, steel, rock, and normal
• Flamethrower: also covers ice and steel and covers bug and grass
• Grass Knot: covers water, ground, and rock. Awesome against Kyogre and groudon.

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Night daze is inaccurate. Run dark pulse instead
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You can use dark pulse if you prefer dark pulse but the 40% chance to lower opponent’s accuracy and 5 higher power and the fact it is his signature move makes me choose night daze. 95 accuracy is still almost perfect accuracy.
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0 votes

Physical zoroark
I was researching a strategy and realised zoroarak has the ability to carry it out and get STAB.

swag master (Zoroark) @ Leftovers
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swagger
- Punishment
- U-turn
- Sucker Punch / Psych Up / Swords Dance / Return / Frustration / Low Kick

Max speed is essential but adamant is still possible. Can swap some evs into def.
Moves:

  • Swagger: hope for them to whack themselves with a hammer

  • Punishment: Yep. Swag then punishment(for not bowing down to the swag master). Punishment hits with a 100bp or more if you swag more or they boost themselves.
    Many other Pokemon can do these strategy, I just chose zoroark as I felt it would be interesting.

  • U-turn: Pivot out of any bad situation

  • Sucker Punch/Psych up/Swords Dance/ Return / Frustration / Low Kick:

  • Sucker punch - priority

  • Psych up/sword dance- to hit harder with punishment and dish more damage with U-turn. Psych up can get copy opponents boost (if they boost themselves) but also copies negative ones.
  • Return/frustration - have you been nice to ur Pokemon?
  • Low kick - coverage. there are few other options.

Other items like life orb, berries(no juice), and many others are good but no choice or assault vest.

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0 votes

Role: Special Sweeper

Zoroark @ Life Orb(?)
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty / Timid Nature
- Night Daze
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower
- Extrasensory / Focus Blast

Night Daze: STAB, has a good chance of lowering opponents accuracy
Nasty Plot: Increases Sp. Attack by 2 stages.
Flamethrower: Covers Bug weakness, good power
Extrasensory or Focus Blast: Extrasensory covers Fighting weakness. Focus Blast has really bad accuracy, but has really good power. I would go with Extrasensory.

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why hasty over timid when you aren't running a mixed set?
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Well no real reason. I just like my Zoroark's Hasty.
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0 votes

Sneky Sweeper

Zoroark (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Focus Blast
- U-Turn
- Grass Knot / Sludge Bomb

This set is designed so that you can deal damage or U-Turn Pivot when necessary. Dark Pulse is STAB, Focus Miss is great coverage, U-Turn is for pivot, Grass Knot is for extra coverage as most threats in OU/UU are kinda heavy and Sludge bomb is for Fairy's and tanky grass-types. The best mon to impersonte for me, is gengar. He got nerfed but he is still good and most ground types are slow so you can U-Turn or Grass knot in that scenario. Gengar's weak to what Zoroark resists and can let Zoroark survive at least 1 hit. Gengar also gets most of the moves Zoroark gets so its less suspicous. The only problem is team preview, so if that wasn't a thing Zoroark would DOMINATE.

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0 votes

Gen 8 NU
Zoroark
Zoroark @ Life Orb
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Low Kick
- Sucker Punch

Swords Dance boosts Zoroark's attack. Knock Off is STAB and removes the opponent's item. Low Kick is for coverage. Sucker Punch is for revenge killing weakned Pokémon that are faster than you.

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0 votes

Gen 8 NU
Encore + Roar
Zoroark
Zoroark @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Encore
- Roar
- Knock Off
- U-turn​

The idea of this set is to lock a foe into a stat raising move such as Swords Dance. Since the foe will probably switch Pokémon, you could use Knock Off to remove the item of the Pokemon switching in. Here is why Roar is on this set. If your opponent has the nerves to stay in after you use Encore to make them use a stat raising move for a few turns, Roar will force the Pokemon out, losing its stat boosts. To make Roar more fun to use, you should setup entry hazards such as Spikes and Stealth Rock, to make the new Pokémon being forced in from Roar to take chip damage. U-Turn is to get away as long as your opponent isn't faster than you.

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0 votes

Gen 8 NU

Zoroark @ Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Illusion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower / Trick
- U-turn / Trick

Dark Pulse is STAB. Sludge Bomb deals with fairy types. Flamethrower can deal with steel types. Trick is an option to get rid of your Specs/Scarf. U-Turn is for pivoting. Trick can be used on the slot for U-Turn if you didn't chose Trick in the slot for Flamethrower. A couple of Pokemon that are good for Zoroark to be disguised as are Toxicroak and Tyrantrum.

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