Is Zapdos Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Galarian Zapdos (Fighting/Flying) roams the Wild Area during the Crown Tundra story, while the original Electric/Flying version is in Dynamax Adventures. Galarian Zapdos with AbilityDefiant punishes Intimidate users hard. Both are postgame picks that arrive after everything story-related is finished.
Zapdos resists most of Milo's coverage and hits back hard.
Zapdos resists most of Nessa's coverage and hits back hard.
Zapdos resists most of Kabu's coverage and hits back hard.
Zapdos resists most of Bea's coverage and hits back hard.
Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Opal's team.
Zapdos resists most of Gordie's coverage and hits back hard.
Zapdos resists most of Piers's coverage and hits back hard.
Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Raihan's team.
Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Bede's team.
Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Leon's team.
Catch Zapdos on Crown Shrine (Dynamax Adventure, Lv 70). Dynamax Adventure final boss. Catch at the end of a Dynamax Adventure in the Crown Tundra Max Lair. One attempt per adventure — choose whether to keep the legendary or pass.
How to Get Galarian Zapdos in Sword & Shield
No wild encounters for Galarian 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.
Galarian 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 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
 Raichu Electric | C | |
 Jolteon Electric | B | |
 Munna Psychic | C | |
 Joltik BugElectric | D | |
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Butterfree builds →Psybeam 2x35-42% Gust 2x35-42% | ||
 Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x88-104%KO Psybeam 2x60-72% | ||
 Toxtricity ElectricPoison | C | |
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Vikavolt builds →Thunderbolt 2x94-112%KO Fly 2x35-41% | ||
Raichu Electric | C | |
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x88-103%KO Psybeam 2x59-70% | ||
Toxtricity ElectricPoison | C | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Vikavolt builds →Thunderbolt 2x93-110%KO Fly 2x34-41% | ||
Raichu Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Raichu builds →Thunderbolt 2x63-75% Draining Kiss 2x25-30% | ||
 Corviknight Steel | A | |
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x85-101%KO Psychic 2x80-94% | ||
 Hatterene PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Hatterene builds →Dazzling Gleam 2x76-90% Psybeam 2x64-75% | ||
 Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
 Reuniclus Psychic | B | |
 Lunatone RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Lunatone builds →Future Sight 2x85-101%KO Moonblast 2x44-53% Acrobatics 2x18-21% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x85-101%KO Psychic 2x82-97% Icy Wind 2x34-40% | ||
Hatterene PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Hatterene builds →Dazzling Gleam 2x78-92% Psybeam 2x64-76% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Reuniclus Psychic | B | |
Lunatone RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Lunatone builds →Future Sight 2x85-101%KO Moonblast 2x45-53% Icy Wind 2x27-32% Acrobatics 2x18-22% | ||
 Musharna Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Musharna builds →Future Sight 2x96-113%KO Moonblast 2x50-59% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x86-102%KO Psychic 2x82-96% Icy Wind 2x34-40% | ||
Hatterene PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Hatterene builds →Psychic 2x88-104%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x78-92% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Reuniclus Psychic | B | |
Reuniclus Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Reuniclus builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Ice Punch 2x27-32% Thunder Punch 2x27-32% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Moonblast 2x86-102%KO Icy Wind 2x33-40% Thunder Punch 2x27-32% | ||
Musharna Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Musharna builds →Future Sight 2x95-112%KO Moonblast 2x51-60% | ||
 Braviary Normal | C | |
 Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x104-123%KO Ice Punch 2x18-21% Thunder Punch 2x18-21% | ||
Reuniclus Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Reuniclus builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Thunder 2x67-78% Ice Punch 2x27-32% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Moonblast 2x86-102%KO Icy Wind 2x33-40% Thunder Punch 2x27-32% | ||
Musharna Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Musharna builds →Future Sight 2x95-112%KO Moonblast 2x51-60% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x104-123%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x47-56% Ice Punch 2x18-21% Thunder Punch 2x18-21% | ||
Reuniclus Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Reuniclus builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Thunder 2x67-78% Ice Punch 2x27-32% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Moonblast 2x86-102%KO Icy Wind 2x33-40% Thunder Punch 2x27-32% | ||
Musharna Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Musharna builds →Future Sight 2x95-112%KO Moonblast 2x51-60% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x104-123%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x47-56% Ice Punch 2x18-21% Thunder Punch 2x18-21% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Corviknight builds →U Turn2-3% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Slowbro builds →Scald16-20% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemRocky Helmet NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Tangrowth builds →Knock Off5-6% Giga Drain8-10% Focus Blast13-16% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Zapdos View Pelipper builds →U Turn1-2% Hurricane 2x43-51% | ||
Zapdos Evolutions
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
SwSh Zapdos Best Moveset
No exploitable weakness across the stat line. 125 Sp. Atk and 100 Speed behind Electric/Flying TermStab threaten most of the format, Held ItemHeavy Duty Boots blocks the MoveStealth Rock chip that plagues other Flying-types, and AbilityPressure drains PP in extended matchups. S-tier with a moveset that just works everywhere.
Best Build
Zapdos best EVs are HP and Defense
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Hurricane
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Zapdos. TMs unlock coverage across 8 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Close Combat and Brave Bird into something with actual range.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
When its feathers rub together, they produce a crackling sound like the zapping of electricity. That's why this Pokémon is called Zapdos.
One kick from its powerful legs will pulverize a dump truck. Supposedly, this Pokémon runs through the mountains at over 180 mph
Zapdos Sword & Shield Guide
For the Sword & Shield meta, At 580 BST, Zapdos is built different. We rank it A-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a support. Roost with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, 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 support.
For Sword & Shield, Zapdos has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Ice, and Flying-type attackers hit hardest.
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