Base Stats
Abilities
Type Matchups
View full type chart →Damage multipliers vs. dark typing. Ability-based immunities (e.g. Levitate) are not included.
Forms · 2 variations
Evolution Line
Battle & Lore Hub
Battle Strategy
Zoroark relies on its Illusion ability to masquerade as teammates that bait in Psychic or Ghost-type attacks, allowing it to punish opponents with powerful STAB moves. It functions as a glass cannon revenge killer or late-game cleaner that forces difficult mind games during the Team Preview phase.
Best Used In
Zoroark excels in lower Smogon tiers like NU or RU as a lure for bulky Psychic-types, and it occasionally finds niche success in Gen 9 UU as a Tera-boosted Special attacker.
Strengths
- ›High base Special Attack and Speed
- ›Pressure through Illusion-based psychological warfare
- ›Access to utility moves like Knock Off and U-turn
- ›Immune to Psychic-type moves
Weaknesses
- ›Extremely low defensive stats (60/60/60)
- ›Vulnerable to common Mach Punch and U-turn users
- ›Illusion is broken by any direct damage or entry hazards
- ›Strongly hindered by Fairy and Fighting-type priority
Competitive Tips
- ›Equip a Choice Specs to maximize damage from Dark Pulse and Sludge Bomb to punish switch-ins.
- ›Use Illusion to transform into a Fighting-type like Toxicroak to bait Psychic-type moves you can ignore.
- ›Utilize Nasty Plot on forced switches to turn Zoroark into a wallbreaker.
- ›Run U-turn to maintain momentum and scout the opponent's reaction to your Illusion disguise.
- ›Always place Zoroark in the final slot of your party to ensure it transforms into the desired teammate.
Recommended Teammates
Toxicroak
Bates Psychic-type attacks that Zoroark is immune to.
Gengar
Shares a similar glass-cannon profile but lures Ghost-type moves for Zoroark to resist.
Conkeldurr
Draws in Psychic and Fairy moves; Zoroark can punish the former while Conkeldurr handles Dark-types.
Corviknight
Provides slow U-turn or Defog support to keep Zoroark's Illusion intact from hazards.
Lucario
Opponents often use Fire or Ground moves against Lucario, which Zoroark can navigate through team pressure.
Game History
Zoroark was introduced in Generation V as a 'Mythical-adjacent' event Pokemon, initially obtainable only through special distributions involving the Enigma Crystal or Shiny Beasts. It served as a central figure in the film 'Zoroark: Master of Illusions' and later became a resident of the Lostlorn Forest in Black and White.
Trivia
- ◆It is the only non-Legendary/Mythical Pokemon capable of being the star of its own movie debut.
- ◆Its design is heavily inspired by the kitsune of Japanese mythology, specifically the trickster 'nogitsune'.
- ◆In Pokémon Black and White, N uses a Zoroark that remembers its previous owner's moves.
- ◆Zoroark’s voice in the Japanese anime was provided by Romi Park, famous for voicing Edward Elric.
- ◆Despite its bipedal stance, its sprites and models often emphasize its fox-like agility and fur patterns resembling a ponytail.
- ◆It is one of the few Pokemon whose signature ability, Illusion, is entirely unique to its evolutionary line.
Moves · 98 total
Level-Up
7 movesTM / HM
18 movesMove Tutor
3 movesOther
70 movesWhere to find· 13 games
Black
1 spot- •Lostlorn Forest
White
1 spot- •Lostlorn Forest
Black 2
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
White 2
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
X
2 spots- •Kalos Route 20
- •Pokemon Village
Y
2 spots- •Kalos Route 20
- •Pokemon Village
Omega Ruby
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Alpha Sapphire
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Ultra Sun
1 spot- •Poni Grove
Ultra Moon
1 spot- •Poni Grove
Sword
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Shield
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.
Legends: Arceus
PokédexIn this game's Pokédex — wild location data unavailable.