For the Diamond & Pearl 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. Thunderbolt with Leftovers is the standard set.

What is Zapdos weak to?

In Diamond & Pearl, watch for Cloyster (Ice) and Golem (Rock) when using Zapdos. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

What is the best ability for Zapdos?

Pressure increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one. That's the one you want on Zapdos. Static is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.

What role does Zapdos play in battle?

Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Zapdos is a special attacker with base 125 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a support.

What counters Zapdos?

For Diamond & Pearl, Zapdos has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Ice and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.

Zapdos - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Support

ATier

100Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Speed carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. An Electric Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs per KO.

Base Stats

Pseudo

HP90

Attack90

Defense85

Sp. Atk125

Sp. Def90

Speed100

Total580

Details

Catch Rate

Legendary3 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.6 m

Weight52.6 kg

Base XP290

Abilities

PressureTop Pick

Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.

StaticHANot in game

Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe

Strong Special Attack training target

Pokedex Entries

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

Zapdos Weakness

Ice and Rock moves hit Zapdos for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 90 HP and balanced defenses, Zapdos can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

Zapdos Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Ice, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Fighting, Flying, Bug, Steel
0x (Immune)	Ground

Type ChartExcellent

2Weak

5Resist

1Immune

Score+4

Gen IV Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Ice Rock

½xResist

Grass Fighting Flying Bug Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Ground

STAB (5)

Water Flying Grass Fighting Bug

How to Beat Zapdos in Diamond & Pearl (Best Counters)

SkarmoryResists Flying, recovers with Roost, threatens with Stealth Rock SteelFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityKeeneye ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves SpikesHazard RoostRecovery WhirlwindUtility Brave Bird View Skarmory builds →
CrobatRecovers with Roost, outspeeds PoisonFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemBlack Sludge NatureJolly Moves U Turn Brave Bird RoostRecovery TauntUtility Damage vs Zapdos U Turn 6-8% View Crobat builds →
TentacruelThreatens with Ice Beam, walls special sets WaterPoison	B
Recommended Build AbilityLiquidooze ItemBlack Sludge NatureCalm Moves Rapid Spin SurfSTAB Toxic Spikes Sludge Bomb Damage vs Zapdos Rapid Spin 5-6% Surf 23-27% Sludge Bomb 23-27% View Tentacruel builds →
BlastoiseThreatens with Ice Beam Water	C
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves Rapid Spin Ice Beam SurfSTAB Hydro Pump Damage vs Zapdos Rapid Spin 6-7% Ice Beam 2x 33-39% Surf 25-29% Hydro Pump 30-35% View Blastoise builds →
FeraligatrThreatens with Ice Punch Water	C
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLum Berry NatureAdamant Moves WaterfallSTAB Ice Punch Swords Dance Aqua Jet Damage vs Zapdos Waterfall 27-31% Aqua Jet 14-16% View Feraligatr builds →

Diamond & Pearl Evolution

A Electric/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

No Evolution

#145ZapdosDoes not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable

Undiscovered egg group

Diamond & Pearl Zapdos Best Moveset

Zapdos's built to absorb hits. Bold nature leans into physical wall duty, Leftovers gives it passive recovery each turn, and Roost handles sustain. Pressure and max HP and Defense EVs tie the defensive profile together.

Best Build

Highly recommended

Wall

Ability

Pressure

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Zapdos

Bold+DEF

Zapdos best EVs are HP and Defense

EVs

Def

Spe

Wall Moveset

ThunderboltSTAB
RoostRecovery
Hidden Power Ice
Heat Wave

Recommended Teammates

TyranitarDecent

JirachiDecent

StarmieDecent

Moves

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Zapdos. TMs unlock Rock and Normal coverage and more and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Thunder and Fly into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Peck

—3510035Flying

Lv 1

Thunder Shock

—4010030Electric

Lv 8

Thunder Wave

C—10020Electric

Lv 15

Detect+4

D——5Fighting

Lv 22

Pluck

—6010020Flying

Lv 29

Ancient Power

C601005Rock

Lv 36

Charge

———20Electric

Lv 43

Agility

C——30Psychic

Lv 50

Discharge

B8010015Electric

Lv 57

Roost

S——10Flying

Lv 64

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

Lv 71

Drill Peck

C8010020Flying

Lv 78

Thunder

B1207010Electric

Lv 85

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM Moves

TM40

Aerial Ace

C60—20Flying

TM57

Charge Beam

C509010Electric

HM05

Defog

———15Flying

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM58

Endure+4

———10Normal

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM70

Flash

D—10020Normal

HM02

Fly

C909515Flying

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM68

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM16

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM83

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

TM88

Pluck

—6010020Flying

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C——20Normal

HM06

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM51

Roost

S——10Flying

TM37

Sandstorm

———10Rock

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM34

Shock Wave

C60—20Electric

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM47

Steel Wing

D709025Steel

TM90

Substitute

B——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM25

Thunder

B1207010Electric

TM73

Thunder Wave

C—10020Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

S9510015Electric

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

TM89

U-turn

A7010020Bug

Egg Moves

Zapdos doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Zapdos can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 3

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

How to Get Zapdos in Diamond & Pearl

Zapdos doesn't appear in Diamond & Pearl. Transfer it from Red, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu 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.

Available in:

PlatinumWalking · Roaming Sinnoh · Post-Elite Four HeartGoldSpecial encounter · Route 10

Then trade to Diamond & Pearl.

Also found in:

Red Yellow FireRed X Ultra Sun Let's Go Pikachu

Zapdos Guide

For the Diamond & Pearl 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. Thunderbolt with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Diamond & Pearl, watch for Cloyster (Ice) and Golem (Rock) when using Zapdos. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Pressure increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one. That's the one you want on Zapdos. Static is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Zapdos is a special attacker with base 125 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a support.
For Diamond & Pearl, Zapdos has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Ice and Rock-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

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