GamesAdventurePokemonPokemon Scarlet and Violet5 years after falling flat in its own game, Pokemon Sword and Shield’s worst legendary is back from the dead, and it’s running rampant in the competitive sceneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesAdventurePokemonPokemon Scarlet and Violet5 years after falling flat in its own game, Pokemon Sword and Shield’s worst legendary is back from the dead, and it’s running rampant in the competitive sceneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)
Back whenSword and Shieldlaunched, competitive Pokemon players everywhere were baffled as to why Zamazenta couldn’t learn the Fighting-type move Body Press, which calculates damage based on the user’s Defense stat rather than their Attack, giving bulky Pokemon an almighty move to thrash their opponents with. As a Defense-focused Fighting type, Zamazenta seemed like a perfect fit for the move, especially when transformed into the even greater fortified Fighting/Steel-type Crowned Shield form, but alas, it wasn’t to be.
With a lackluster move pool, Zamazenta never took off in popularity like the powerful Zacian, but its luck began to turn around in Scarlet and Violet when it was finally awarded the sought-after move it always deserved. Combined with the use of the status move Iron Defense to raise its Defense even further, and not forgetting the fact that its Ability, Dauntless Shield, boosts its Defense when sent out into battle, Scarlet and Violet’s Zamazenta is an unstoppable force, which can and will use Body Press on anything that gets in its way.
Although it’s been almost a year since players were able to transfer Zamazenta over into Scarlet and Violet from Sword and Shield, it’s only now become possible for it to test out its strength in the official Video Game Championship (VGC) thanks to a new ruleset. Right now in Scarlet and Violet, the VGC is following the ‘Regulation Set G’ ruleset, which began at the end of April and is set to run until the end of August. Thanks to these new rules, a large number of previously banned Pokemon, including Legendaries like Zacian and Zamazenta, are now classified as ‘Restricted Special Pokemon.’ This allows trainers to choose just one of these powerful Pokemon for their teams, which is certainly better than none at all.
(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)
Well, it’s been less than two weeks since these rules were rolled out, and Zamazenta is already making waves. Over the weekend, the 2024 Pokemon Stockholm Regional Championships took place, which saw player Michael Kelsh prevail as the Masters Champion with a Zamazenta on his team. He was far from the only one using it, however, as it was the most popular Restricted Pokemon in day two of the tournament, towering over Zacian, which was the ninth most popular. Oh, how the tables have turned.
Even the biggest names in the Pokemon competitive scene are amazed at Zamazenta’s comeback: “There were a lot of surprising things about Scarlet and Violet but Zamazenta not only surpassing Zacian but becoming the number one restricted mon after being one of the worst legendaries in Sword and Shield is something I never would have considered possible,” Pokemon’s 2016 VGC World Champion Wolfe Glickwriteson Twitter.
So, will Zamazenta’s big comeback continue? For now, it definitely seems as though that’ll be the case for the foreseeable future, although further changes to the VGC rules may see the old dog sat on the bench again. Almost five years on from its debut though, it’s just nice to see the Shield mascot get thrown a bone.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”