Trick your opponents and treat them to mayhem with Zoroark in Pokémon UNITE! This Melee Speedster from the Unova region is ready to surprise the competition and take over Aeos Island. You can obtain Zoroark for 14,000 Aeos coins or 575 Aeos gems at the Unite Battle Committee shop. Zoroark will only be obtainable with Aeos gems as part of a Holowear bundle (for 1,625 gems) for the first seven days of its release.

Read on to learn more about everything Zoroark has to offer and to pick up a few tips before battling on Aeos Island.

Zoroark Basics

Zoroark begins each match as Zorua, but it evolves into Zoroark at Lv. 5. Both Zorua and Zoroark’s basic attack becomes a boosted attack with every third attack, dealing increased damage. Zorua and Zoroark also share the Ability Illusion. When either Pokémon uses this Ability, the Pokémon takes the form of a random wild Pokémon or Pokémon from the opposing team. The Pokémon returns to its original form when it takes damage or uses a basic attack or move. Surprise your opponents with some classic disguise trickery!

Lv. 1 & 3 Moves

Slash

The user dashes in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon.

Fury Swipes

The user dashes in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon. If Fury Swipes hits an opposing Pokémon, for a short time, it can be used again.

Lv. 5 Moves

Night Slash

Night Slash changes Zoroark’s normal movement to dash attacks for a short time. After Zoroark performs a dash attack, its next basic attack becomes a special boosted basic attack. Then, after that special boosted basic attack (or another move) hits an opposing Pokémon, Zoroark’s next movement becomes a dash attack again, and so on. Night Slash’s effect duration is limited, but after each time Zoroark hits with a dash attack, a special boosted basic attack, or another move, the duration resets.

If Zoroark moves when unable to do a dash attack, Night Slash’s effect duration immediately ends. During Night Slash, if Zoroark hits opposing Pokémon with a combined total of six dash attacks and special boosted basic attacks (or other moves), Zoroark will jump into the air and then land with a slash in a set area of effect, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon. If this slash attack hits opposing Pokémon, Zoroark recovers HP. While jumping, Zoroark is able to use Shadow Claw or Cut to move a set distance. Night Slash can be upgraded to reduce its cooldown.

Feint Attack

Zoroark dashes in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon and reducing all of its move cooldowns. If Feint Attack hits an opposing Pokémon, the dash’s start point is marked for a short time, and Zoroark is able to use Feint Attack again. If Feint Attack is used again, the new dash’s start point is marked, and Zoroark dashes back toward the previous one, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits along the way. As long as a point is marked, if Zoroark uses certain moves other than Feint Attack, the point where the move was used becomes the new marked point.

If Zoroark hits opposing Pokémon four times with either Feint Attack or certain other moves without interrupting the chain of marking, the next use of Feint Attack changes. If this changed Feint Attack is used, Zoroark leaps at the designated opposing Pokémon and deals damage to it before landing in a designated direction. Feint Attack can be upgraded to reduce its cooldown.

Lv. 7 Moves

Shadow Claw

Zoroark dashes in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon and leaving them unable to act for a short time. If Shadow Claw hits an opposing Pokémon near the dash’s end point, that Pokémon will be thrown instead of left unable to act. Shadow Claw can be upgraded to increase the length of time opposing Pokémon are thrown.

Cut

Zoroark dashes in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon and restoring its own HP. Cut can be upgraded to increase the amount of HP it restores.

Zoroark’s Unite Move, Nightfall Daze

Zoroark releases three dark shock waves with increasing areas of effect, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon. Zoroark is immune to hindrances while releasing shock waves.

Metagame Watch

Zoroark joins a steadily growing class of powerful Speedsters in Pokémon UNITE, and it may even be the most mobile of them all. Night Slash and Feint Attack both provide numerous opportunities for Zoroark to zip around during battle, changing targets and dealing damage in ways similar to both Lucario and Tsareena. Shadow Claw and Cut don’t provide as much mobility, but they’re crucial for getting the most out of Night Slash or Feint Attack, as they extend Zoroark’s ability to combine moves and deal damage. Keep their cooldowns in mind as you chase down targets.

Strong Against: Espeon

Espeon is a powerful Ranged Attacker that benefits from evolving early in battle, at Lv. 4—just like fellow Eevee Evolutions Sylveon and Glaceon. Espeon can do plenty of damage from a distance, but once a Pokémon gets close to Espeon, Espeon can have trouble keeping it away without the strength of Stored Power or Psybeam, which are weak up close. With Night Slash and Feint Attack as strong gap-closing options—and with Espeon having relatively low HP—Zoroark has little issue knocking Espeon out.

Weak Against: Clefable

Clefable’s Gravity negates most of Zoroark’s mobility and makes it difficult for just about any Speedster to pursue enemy Pokémon. If Clefable times Gravity to interrupt Zoroark’s Night Slash or Feint Attack, it can even leave Zoroark unable to act for a short time. As Zoroark, it’s best to avoid Clefable in team fights—or wait out its key cooldowns before launching your attack.