Zapdos Best Moveset
Electric/Flying at 125 Sp. Atk and 100 Speed with AbilityStatic threatening paralysis on contact. Held ItemHeavy Duty Boots blocks TermEntry Hazards damage. NatureBold with defensive investment creates one of the best defensive pivots in the format. The moveset clears hazards with Defog, absorbs hits, and fires back with special Electric TermStab. S-Tier since the competitive scene started.
Electric/Flying with 125 Special was elite in Gen I (Red & Blue). Thunderbolt hit hard, Drill Peck provided coverage, and Zapdos outclassed every other Electric-type in bulk.
Best Moves
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Drill Peck
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave
- Agility
Recommended Teammates
RestTalk sets made Zapdos incredibly frustrating to bring down in Gen II (Gold & Silver). 125 Sp. Atk chipped while Rest kept it healthy.
Utility Moveset
- Hidden Power Ice
- Thunder
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Recommended Teammates
Pressure wasted PP, and Zapdos's bulk made it a premier check to physical threats. Baton Pass let it transfer Agility or Substitute to teammates.
Special Attacker Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Grass
- Baton Pass
- Thunder Wave
Recommended Teammates
Four straight gens at the top. Roost provided reliable recovery in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl) that most Electric-types lacked. Heat Wave covered Steel-types.
Wall Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Hidden Power Ice
- Heat Wave
Recommended Teammates
Dropped for the only time in nine generations in Gen V (Black & White). Thundurus outclassed it as an Electric/Flying type with Prankster and higher Speed.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power Ice
- Volt Switch
- Roost
Recommended Teammates
Back on top in Gen VI (X & Y). Defog made Zapdos the best offensive hazard remover available. Roost kept it healthy, Heat Wave threatened Steels.
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Ice
Recommended Teammates
Six total gens at the highest tier in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Zapdos adapted to every metagame — offensive sets, defensive pivots, support builds.
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Volt Switch
- Defog
Recommended Teammates
Teleport pivoting in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield) gave Zapdos yet another tool. Slow pivot, Roost off damage, repeat. Endlessly adaptable.
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Hurricane
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave
Recommended Teammates
Eight of nine gens at the top in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Zapdos's bulk, Speed, typing, and movepool make it one of the most consistent Pokemon in competitive history.
Wall Moveset
- Hurricane
- Roost
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave
Recommended Teammates
Zapdos Weakness
Electric, Ice, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy moves hit Zapdos for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Dark |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
What is Zapdos Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Zapdos
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Corviknight builds →U Turn2-3% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIcebody ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Avalugg builds →Rapid Spin9-10% Avalanche 2x20-24% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityBulletproof ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Chesnaught builds →Knock Off5-6% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Pelipper builds →Hurricane 2x43-51% U Turn1-2% | ||
Evolution
A Fighting/Flying-type legendary, Zapdos doesn't evolve or breed. At 580 total stats, it's meant to stand on its own. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
How to Get Galarian Zapdos
Zapdos doesn't appear in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer it from Red & Blue, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Zapdos is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Zapdos can't be caught in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Bring it over from Red & Blue, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Zapdos is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
No wild encounters for Zapdos in Sword & Shield. It's available in Red & Blue, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Zapdos is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Zapdos is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Power Plant when your team is ready for the fight.
How to Get Zapdos in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
Base Stats
Attack and Speed carry most of Zapdos's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Near-impossible to catch and yields 3 Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
One kick from its powerful legs will pulverize a dump truck. Supposedly, this Pokémon runs through the mountains at over 180 mph
Zapdos Guide
At 580 BST, Zapdos is built different. We rank it B-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a sweeper.
Watch for Raikou (Electric), Lapras (Ice), and Aerodactyl (Flying) when using Zapdos. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Psychic and Fairy-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Defiant raises Attack two stages upon having any stat lowered. That's the one you want on Zapdos. It's the only ability Zapdos has.
Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Zapdos is a special attacker with base 85 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.
Run Hurricane, Roost, Volt Switch, and Heat Wave on Zapdos. Hurricane is the most common pick at 0% usage. Hurricane provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
First obtainable in Red & Blue, Zapdos has been featured in 20 titles across 10 generations. Legendary status means a single encounter per playthrough in most games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves