Machoke

Machoke has cemented itself in ZU as an exceptional tank thanks to its notable Eviolite-boosted bulk and access to a great STAB attack in No Guard-boosted Dynamic Punch to threaten potential switch-ins and cause confusion. Its mixed bulk allows it to easily check Pokemon such as Electivire, Poliwrath, and a multitude of Silvally formes, while its pure Fighting typing is somewhat unique in ZU and allows it to check certain Pokemon such as Floatzel, Electivire, and multiple Silvally formes that threaten other Fighting-types in the tier such as Monferno, Combusken, Hakamo-o, and Poliwrath. A physically defensive set handles common threats such as Electivire, Pinsir, and Bouffalant. Alternatively, a specially defensive Machoke can be used to combat ZU's special attackers such as Combusken, Silvally-Dragon, and Poliwrath. Unfortunately, Machoke's reliance on Eviolite to accomplish its role as a tank limits how effective Machoke can be as a Dark-type check due to Knock Off being the most common Dark-type move in the tier. Common Psychic- and Flying-types in the tier such as Beheeyem, Kadabra, and Swanna also heavily threaten Machoke. Machoke's lackluster Speed stat means that it can be taken advantage of when against common pivots such as Rotom-S, Mareanie, Zebstrika, and Choice Band Komala.