Of all the Pokémon that returned for Sword & Shield’s Crown Tundra Expansion, Zygarde is one of the strongest. This legendary introduced in the Kalos region is a dragon with different forms, depending on how much health it currently has. It’s destined to protect ecosystems from danger and watch over them.
One of several dual Dragon and Ground types, Zygarde has three signature moves at its disposal. One of which, Core Enforcer, is an attack that can neutralize enemy abilities; perfect for taking out threats that rely on their abilities during battle. In regard to its stats, Zygarde is very balanced with its defense being the standout boon. Here’s how trainers looking for an edge in battle can catch this force of nature.
Defeating Zygarde in Dynamax Adventures
Like the majority of legendaries that returned for the Crown Tundra, Zygarde can only be found as the final boss in the Dynamax Adventures game mode. Players have access to this game mode early on in the expansion (right after they beat Peony), but there’s no guarantee they’ll encounter Zygarde right away. Each legendary boss is chosen at random, so players will need to continue playing until they find the one they want. Thankfully, trainers can also record the location of the boss they fought for rematches. Catching it is easy, as catches are always guaranteed if players can defeat them; that’s the hard part.
Zygarde is one of the most difficult encounters in the Max Lair thanks to its Power Construct ability. When it reaches half health, it will transform into its 100% form: a giant jötunn-like being with increased HP and attack power. Given that dynamaxed Pokémon have inflated HP to begin with, Zygarde will have an enormous amount of health players will need to deplete if they want to catch it. Though it’s a little predictable due to the type of its moves, it's Thousand Arrows can not only hit Flying types, but ground them permanently. As players cannot bring their own Pokémon into the Max Lair, here are some rental mons that can help counter Zygarde. Note that other Pokémon that have their skills and moves are available, just that these are the ones that have the best moveset compositions.
Togetic
- The evolved form of Togepi, this Flying and Fairy-type can disrupt Zygarde’s attacks with Follow Me. When used, all enemy attacks are diverted to the user. Because Togetic is immune to Dragon and Ground-type moves, everything Zygarde has, it can reliably wall the boss while the player’s teammates wail away on it. If it ever needs a break from Follow Me, it can heal itself and allies with Life Dew.
Mantine
- Not only is it immune to Zygarde’s Ground moves, until Thousand Arrows hits it, but it can negate one of them as well. Thousand Waves is a signature move of Zygarde’s that damages all opponents. Mantine’s Wide Guard negates all damage from hit-all moves, protecting the team from this powerful attack. This Water-type also comes with Water Pulse, to confuse foes, and Dive, to evade all attacks for one turn.
Hitmontop
- The third in Tyrogue’s trio of evolutions, Hitmontop’s kit can help ward off Zygarde. To kick things off, it’s Intimidate ability will lower the boss’s attack at the start of a battle. They can also beef up their friend’s attack and defense with coaching to deal more damage and take less. And lastly, it can deal supereffective damage with its Ice move, Triple Axel. Zygarde’s type combination makes it four times as weak to Ice attacks, so any Pokémon that can learn them will be useful in this fight.
Cryogonal
- This Unovan Ice type will evade all Ground-type moves with it’s Levitate ability (unless hit by Thousand Arrows, of course), hit hard with Blizzard and Ice Beam, and fortify the defenses of its team using Reflect. Should Zygarde manage to hit it with Dragon Pulse, it won’t do much, thanks to Cryogonal’s hefty special defense stat.
Hatterene
- Galar's Psychic and Fairy witch is immune to Zygarde’s Dragon moves. Further, it’s competent bulk will let it withstand other attacks this boss may have. Life Dew is one of its support moves, allowing it to heal all allies simultaneously (though not completely). Hatterene also comes with Play Rough, a Fairy move that has a chance to lower Zygarde’s attack. Trainers that are able to Dynamax their Hatterene during the fight will instead have access to G-Max Smite, a unique Fairy attack that will always confuse the target.
Pokémon Sword & Shield are available for Nintendo Switch.