Lag Compensation Guide Zoroark - arcabark
When your ping is high for no reason but you already wasted your gems
Build Path
Fury SwipesFirst Pick
Damage. CDR.
Cut
Nightfall DazeUNITE
Razor Claw
After using a move, the Pokémon's next basic attack deals more damage. If held by a melee Pokémon, the basic attack also slows opposing Pokémon.
Float Stone
Move faster when not in combat.
Focus Band
When HP is low, gradually recovers HP.
Full Heal
Temporarily makes you immune to status effects.
Stat Boosts
Guide
(Note that this guide is based on experience with Night Slash failing even with stationary Pokémon generally due to lag. If you struggle with Night Slash this guide should also be sort of viable. This guide should work in theory as I sort of follow it myself.)
As Night Slash is a very lag dependent move, it's difficult to max out its combo on orange/red bars or when the servers are particularly struggling on a certain day. This guide isn't focused on the held items or emblem set, however, and is more focused on its lag compensation. (Besides, unless you are playing for your daily missions, there is no reason to be playing with such irritating ping as you're not only hurting others' experience, but yourself.)
Take note of when the lag spikes, if you can handle quick battles then there's a chance you can take Zoroark to standard. Just not ranked ever, as you'll want to have low ping so you can play as efficiently as possible. Play in solo queue even if you despise it, as it may be because of long distance online play that may be causing the lag in the first place. If the lag only settles in sometimes, then focus on your default build and test the waters until getting to your first move decision.
You should leave center area to whoever on the team has better ping if possible, and try to be a support Pokémon at the very least. Too much engaging can leave your lane defenseless when you die. Your goal is actually to pressure the opposing team since the dreaded "Reconnecting..." message will always be looming above you. If they think they don't have a chance of getting through defenses, then it may buy you time as you wait for your internet to get better.
The given held items are there for compensation, as is will be most of the guide. Float Stone should allow you to run towards your goal zone as quickly as possible even with low ping. If you don't really want to be the one fighting, I suggest replacing Focus Band with Score Shield and aim to score for the team in small increments. Too high and your shield will disappear once someone hits you, so make sure to score within reach when they're distracted.
Full Heal, X Speed, or Slow Smoke should be great for getting away from a battle. Full Heal to remove Status Effects and gain Unstoppable for a short moment (allowing you to get away from stun-spammers like Mr. Mime and Crustle) while Slow Smoke ensures a good getaway for Pokémon not blessed with range or a dash move (or for example if Crustle decided not to pick X-Scissor). X Speed allows you to run along the opposing team's lanes without being hindered, and should be great for escaping into jungle.
Cut can help regain lost health, and try to aim towards wild Pokémon to chain dashes while you escape. These moves have more distance than the other set, which makes it great with lag.
If you still want to play with friends, there are a few decent Pokémon to pair it with, otherwise, you're at the mercy of Unite's Servers and the horrible matchmaking.
Works Well With
With Spirit Shackle and Razor Leaf in its arsenal, a Decidueye can help keep opponents at bay as you slam at any stragglers who run away from its Unite Move or those hit by Spirit Shackle during a team fight.
No matter which moves it picks, it will always save you from trouble. With Razor Leaf allowing for quick strong bursts of damage and Spirit Shackle to slow down opponents and allow you and your teammates to go in for a final blow. A Decidueye player can keep an eye on you and protect you whenever your internet begins to dip.
Duraludon can keep you safe using its arsenal of moves. Dragon Pulse and Flash Cannon can scare away cautious opponents, and kill anyone that's underleveled who dares get near. Despite your ping, you may be able to bait opponents into going into his range of attack, allowing you to clean up or help Duraludon damage enemies as it charges up or waits for cooldown to end.
(Can be substituted with any healing support Pokémon, even Mr. Mime so long as it uses Power Swap, although the range is dangerously low so I recommend Clefable or Blissey over him)
With a healing support Pokémon, you can push through a team fight despite your disadvantage.
Clefable's Gravity and Follow Me will force opponents to use basic attack moves, hindering Pokémon such as Aegislash which would normally be a dangerous adversary for Speedsters as it needs to max out its counter to deal the maximum amount of damage. This strategy is still going to fail if the opposing team has majority of their Pokémon with a focus on their basic attack, even opposing Zoroarks.
Blissey's Soft Boiled and Safeguard can provide extra hit points, and Egg Bomb and Helping Hand can give you some chances to escape or damage opponents.
Hoopa mains finally have a reason to use Hyperspace Hole over Trick. If you notice the Zoroark is standing still or running in an obviously laggy way, you can time it to [safely] teleport them back to base. This should be great for preventing the team from sneaking easy XP from killing teammates.
Sorry Eldegoss mains, but with this (horrible) guide it's not going to be viable to protect a Zoroark at all let alone one that's running into the wall because they're reconnecting.
Unfortunately as a last resort, the game will give up trying to reconnect them. You should be the first person to have them follow you, giving you some strong protection as long as you protect them as well. And if all else fails, the surrender button exists.
This build was created in the game version of 1.7.1.7. It may contain inaccuracies in the data that is used compared to the current version of 1.12.1.5.
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