NationalDex
zapdos
#145

Zapdos

Electric Pokémon

ElectricFlying

A legendary Pokémon that is said to live in thunderclouds. It freely controls lightning bolts.

Base Stats

HP 90
Attack 90
Defense 85
Sp. Atk 125
Sp. Def 90
Speed 100
Total 580

Type Effectiveness

Abilities

Pressure Static (Hidden)

Evolution Chain

Moves

Details

Category Electric Pokémon
Height 1.6 m
Weight 52.6 kg
Base Exp 261
Growth Rate Slow
Capture Rate 3
Base Happiness 35
Gender Genderless
Habitat Rare
Egg Groups No Eggs
Legendary Pokémon

Sprites

zapdos Front Front
zapdos Back Back
zapdos Front Shiny Front Shiny
zapdos Back Shiny Back Shiny
zapdos Official Art Official Art
zapdos Official Art (Shiny) Official Art (Shiny)

Competitive

ou Usage: 1.1%
Physically Defensive
Item
Leftovers
Nature
Bold
EVs
HP 248
Def 100
SpA 4
SpD 44
Spe 112

Strategy Overview

Though Zapdos competes with Rotom-W, it has several notable traits that separate it. Zapdos can threaten Ferrothorn while also checking Breloom and Scizor due to its access to Heat Wave. Its access to reliable recovery in Roost grants it much more longevity than Rotom-W, despite its vulnerability to Stealth Rock and sand. These traits allow it to see some use on sand teams as a Ground-immune Volt Switch user with good longevity. However, despite these promising traits, Rotom-W is generally used over Zapdos due to its Stealth Rock neutrality and resistance to Water- and Ice-type moves, allowing it to check Pokemon like Keldeo and Mamoswine. Zapdos also frequently gets forced out by strong special attackers like Latios, Alakazam, Reuniclus, Thundurus-T, and Volcarona. Outside of sand teams, Zapdos faces heavy competition with Thundurus-T, who is faster, stronger, and is immune to Electric courtesy of Volt Absorb.

Most Used Moves

Roost
96.1%
Heat Wave
67.4%
Discharge
24.6%

Most Used Items

Leftovers
93.1%

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc