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

Evolution Chain

Moves

Locations

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: 13.7%
Physically Defensive
Moves
Thunderbolt / Discharge
Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
U-turn / Heat Wave / Toxic
Item
Leftovers
Nature
Bold
EVs
HP 248
Def 228
Spe 32
SubRoost
Item
Leftovers
Nature
Timid
EVs
HP 192
Def 64
Spe 252
Choice Specs
Moves
Hidden Power Flying / Hidden Power Ice
Heat Wave / Sleep Talk
Item
Choice Specs
Nature
Modest / Timid
EVs
HP 4
SpA 252
Spe 252
Specially Defensive
Item
Leftovers
Nature
Calm
EVs
HP 248
SpD 228
Spe 32
Agility
Moves
Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Flying
Roost / Heat Wave
Item
Leftovers / Life Orb
Nature
Modest
EVs
HP 112
SpA 252
Spe 144

Strategy Overview

Zapdos has an excellent typing, both offensively and defensively, which boasts resistances and immunities to the most common attacks of top-tier OU threats such as Jirachi, Metagross, Lucario, and Flygon. The Electric type is phenomenal offensively, as it lets Zapdos hit the majority of the metagame with neutral damage. Although Zapdos's Stealth Rock weakness limits its walling capabilities, Roost and Rapid Spin support help combat that problem. Zapdos is capable of taking on many of the OU tier's top physical and special threats thanks to its all-around great stats and typing. Its high Special Attack and good Speed allow it to perform wonderfully in an offensive role, and it has great coverage options in Heat Wave, Hidden Power Ice, and Hidden Power Grass. It can also use U-turn to function as a fantastic pivot, taking advantage of its defensive capabilities to open up safe switches for its teammates. Unfortunately, Zapdos struggles with the ever-popular Tyranitar, Nidoqueen, Latias, and Clefable, four of the strongest defensive options in the tier, although this can be remedied with proper team support. Zapdos is one of the most difficult Pokemon to counter in OU overall, as its generous movepool and great assets are near unparalleled on paper.

Most Used Moves

Roost
73.4%
U-turn
44.2%
Heat Wave
43.2%

Most Used Items

Leftovers
70.3%
Magnet
5.2%

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc