Special
Setup Sweeper
580Very High
100Fast
STier

Ground moves don't affect Zapdos at all — that's the advantage of Electric/Flying typing. It clears the crowded base-100 Speed benchmark. The stat spread leans into special offense. An original Gen 1 pick.

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
580Pseudo
HP90
B
Attack90
B
Defense85
C
Sp. Atk125
A
Sp. Def90
B
Speed100
B
Total580
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Zapdos yields +3 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Details
Catch3Legendary•Slow1.25M XP•1.6m / 5'03"•52.6kg / 116 lbs•290Base XP
Pokedex Entries

A legendary bird POKéMON that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.

Red / Blue

Zapdos Weakness

Excellent

Ice and Rock-type moves hit Zapdos for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 90 HP and balanced defenses, Zapdos can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
IceRock
½xResisti
GrassFightingFlyingBug
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
Ground
STAB (5)i
WaterFlyingGrassFightingBug
2Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Scorei+3
Stealth Rock25% on switch
Abilities
PressureIncreases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
StaticHAHas a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.

A Electric/Flying-type legendary, Zapdos doesn't evolve or breed. At 580 total stats, it's meant to stand on its own.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Zapdos
#145ZapdosDoes not evolve
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

The recommended build leans into Zapdos's strengths as a setup attacker. An item provides extra utility, and flexible EVs EVs back that up. An ability rounds out the package.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 1
Item
Not in Gen 1
Nature
Not in Gen 1

Best Zapdos Moveset

  • Drill PeckSTAB
  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • Thunder WaveSTAB
  • AgilitySetup

Recommended Teammates

Tauros
TaurosGood
Snorlax
SnorlaxGood
Chansey
ChanseyGood

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

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Drill Peck
8010020Flying
Lv 1
Thunder Shock
4010030Electric
Lv 51
Thunder
1107010Electric
Lv 55
Agility
——30Psychic
Lv 60
Light Screen
——30Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM34
Bide+1
——10Normal
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
HM05
Flash
—7020Normal
HM02
Fly
709515Flying
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM31
Mimic
——10Normal
TM20
Rage
2010020Normal
TM02
Razor Wind
8010010Normal
TM33
Reflect
——20Psychic
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM43
Sky Attack
140905Flying
TM50
Substitute
——10Normal
TM39
Swift
60—20Normal
TM09
Take Down
908520Normal
TM25
Thunder
1107010Electric
TM45
Thunder Wave
—10020Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM04
Whirlwind-6
——20Normal

Egg Moves

Zapdos doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Zapdos can't learn any Tutor moves

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.

Best Locations

Power Plant
RedInteract with PokemonLv.50LimitedPostPower-plant
HARD
Power Plant
BlueInteract with PokemonLv.50LimitedPostPower-plant
HARD

  • At 580 BST, Zapdos is built different. We rank it S-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a setup sweeper.

  • 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.

  • Zapdos doesn't evolve. As a Legendary Pokemon, it stands on its own without an evolutionary line. It's a Electric/Flying type with 580 BST.

  • 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 setup sweeper.

  • Zapdos appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

First obtainable in Red & Blue, Zapdos has been featured in 20 titles across 9 generations. Legendary status means a single encounter per playthrough in most games.