NationalDex
zapdos
#145

Zapdos

Electric Pokémon

ElectricFlying

This legendary bird Pokémon is said to appear when the sky turns dark and lightning showers down.

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

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

Offensive Tailwind
Moves
Hidden Power Ice / Heat Wave
Detect / Heat Wave
Item
Electrium Z
Nature
Modest / Timid
EVs
HP 60
Def 108
SpA 148
SpD 4
Spe 188
Terrain Abuser
Item
Misty Seed / Psychic Seed
Nature
Modest
EVs
HP 204
Def 124
SpA 36
SpD 100
Spe 44
Bulky Tailwind
Moves
Hidden Power Ice / Heat Wave
Roost / Detect
Item
Wiki Berry / Sitrus Berry
Nature
Calm
EVs
HP 252
Def 36
SpA 4
SpD 172
Spe 44

Strategy Overview

  • Thanks to its above-average bulk and decent Speed, Zapdos is one of the best Tailwind setters in VGC.

  • Zapdos's typing is pretty good defensively, leaving it with some good resistances and immunity to Ground-type attacks. Unfortunately, Zapdos has a weakness to the very common Rock Slide.

  • It can survive strong neutral attacks such as Mega Kangaskhan's Double-Edge, super effective hits such as Mega Tyranitar's Rock Slide, and even some Z-Moves like Incineroar's Malicious Moonsault, but it is unable to take on any stronger attacks.

  • Pressure allows Zapdos to leech PP from low-PP moves such as Tapu Bulu's Stone Edge.

  • On the offensive side, Zapdos faces competition from faster and stronger Pokemon like Thundurus-T, Mega Manectric, and Tapu Koko. Zapdos sets itself apart from them with its bulk, and, unlike Mega Manectric, Zapdos doesn't use a Mega slot.

Most Used Moves

Tailwind
94.7%
Roost
57.6%
Heat Wave
40.9%
Roar
38.1%

Most Used Items

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc