Zacian's spread isn't flashy. Speed leads, Sp. Atk trails, 6 stats clear the bar. Very hard to catch and worth 3 Speed EVs, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Known as a legendary hero, this Pokémon absorbs metal particles, transforming them into a weapon it uses to battle.
This Pokémon has slumbered for many years. Some say it’s Zamazenta’s elder sister—others say the two Pokémon are rivals.
Zacian is weak to Poison and Steel. On the flip side, it's immune to Dragon-type moves entirely. Zacian's overall bulk (92/115/115) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Poison, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Bug, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Dragon |
Gholdengo's Shadow Ball hits Zacian for 46-54%. Foongus's Sludge Bomb hits Zacian for 34-40%. Gengar deals 36-42% with Shadow Ball.
 Gholdengo SteelGhost | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityGoodasgold ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Zacian View Gholdengo builds →Shadow Ball46-54% | ||
 Foongus GrassPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemEviolite NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Zacian View Foongus builds →Sludge Bomb 2x34-40% Giga Drain14-17% | ||
 Gengar GhostPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityCursedbody ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Zacian View Gengar builds →Shadow Ball36-42% Focus Blast18-21% | ||
 Scizor BugSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Zacian View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch 2x59-70% U Turn26-30% Knock Off16-19% Close Combat29-34% | ||
Zacian is a powerhouse with 660 total stats as a Fairy legendary. Can't breed it, so you're locked to whatever you catch or receive. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Play Rough is the safe click most turns. Choice Band locks Zacian into it but rewards with raw power at the cost of move flexibility. Adamant nature and max Attack and Speed EVs maximize that first hit. Intrepidsword helps on the margins.
Best Build
Zacian best EVs are Attack and Speed
Doubles Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Play Rough
- Close Combat
- Crunch
- Fire Fang
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Play Rough
- Close Combat
- Iron Head
- Sacred Sword
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Play Rough
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
- Sacred Sword
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Utility Moveset
- Play Rough
- Protect
- Close Combat
- Iron Head
Recommended Teammates
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 12 types means almost nothing walls Zacian cleanly, with Moonblast and Play Rough anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 11 types means almost nothing walls Zacian cleanly, with Moonblast and Play Rough anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
No wild encounters for Zacian in Scarlet & Violet. It's available in Sword and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
You'll find Zacian at Tower Summit as a set encounter. It's always there at that location, so come prepared for the battle. The location details below cover exact positioning.
Best Locations to Catch Zacian in Sword & Shield
Zacian is a Legendary Pokemon rated B-Tier. At 660 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a sweeper. Base 138 Speed is where it shines.
Intrepid Sword is the go-to ability for Zacian. It boosts Attack in battle. It's Zacian's only ability.
Zacian fills the sweeper role. It's a physical attacker with base 120 Attack. Base 138 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
The core moveset is Play Rough, Close Combat, Crunch, and Fire Fang. Play Rough leads at 24% usage. This set covers the sweeper role with a mix of damage and utility.
Zacian has appeared in 2 games since Sword & Shield, spanning 3 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShDebut
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves