Special
Sweeper
BTier
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
B
Attack90
B
Defense85
C
Sp. Atk125
A
Sp. Def90
B
Speed100
B
Total580
Details
Catch Rate
Legendary3 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.6 m
5'03"Average
Weight52.6 kg
116.0 lbsStandard
Base XP290
Elite Yield
Abilities
PressureRare
Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
StaticHATop Pick
Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Strong Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entries
No Scarlet Violet entries available

This legendary Pokémon 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
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ice, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, Flying, Bug, Steel
0x (Immune)Ground
Type ChartExcellent
2Weak
5Resist
1Immune
Score+4
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
IceRock
½xResist
GrassFightingFlyingBugSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Ground
STAB (5)
WaterFlyingGrassFightingBug
How to Beat Zapdos in Scarlet & Violet (Best Counters)
Chien-Pao
Chien-Pao
DarkIce
S
Ice is super effective against ZapdosView Chien-Pao →

Scarlet & Violet 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
Zapdos
#145ZapdosDoes not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

Scarlet & Violet Zapdos Best Moveset

Zapdos's built to absorb hits. Bold nature leans into physical wall duty, Heavy-Duty Boots gives it hazard immunity on every switch-in, and Roost handles sustain. Static and max HP and Defense EVs tie the defensive profile together.

Best Build

Highly recommended
Ability
Static
Item
Heavy Duty Boots
Best Nature for Zapdos
Bold+DEF

Zapdos best EVs are Defense and HP

EVs

Wall Moveset

  • HurricaneSTAB
  • RoostRecovery
  • Volt SwitchSTAB
  • Heat Wave

Recommended Teammates

Great Tusk
Great TuskDecent

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 Zap Cannon and Brave Bird into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Peck
—3510035Flying
Lv 1
Thunder Wave
S—9020Electric
Lv 5
Thunder Shock
—4010030Electric
Lv 10
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
Lv 15
Pluck
—6010020Flying
Lv 20
Agility
C——30Psychic
Lv 25
Ancient Power
C601005Rock
Lv 30
Charge
C——20Electric
Lv 35
Drill Peck
C8010020Flying
Lv 40
Roost
S——5Flying
Lv 45
Discharge
S8010015Electric
Lv 50
Rain Dance
C——5Water
Lv 55
Thunder
A1107010Electric
Lv 60
Detect+4
C——5Fighting
Lv 65
Magnetic Flux
———20Electric
Lv 70
Zap Cannon
C120505Electric

TM Moves

TM
TM14
Acrobatics
C5510015Flying
TM27
Aerial Ace
C60—20Flying
TM04
Agility
C——30Psychic
TM40
Air Cutter
C609525Flying
TM132
Baton Pass
C——40Normal
TM164
Brave Bird
B12010015Flying
TM173
Charge
C——20Electric
TM197
Dual Wingbeat
D409010Flying
TM96
Eerie Impulse
C—10015Electric
TM136
Electric Terrain
C——10Electric
TM72
Electro Ball
D—10010Electric
TM47
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM25
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM97
Fly
C909515Flying
TM152
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM118
Heat Wave
A959010Fire
TM130
Helping Hand+5
C——20Normal
TM160
Hurricane
S1107010Flying
TM163
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM75
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
TM223
Metal Sound
D—8540Steel
TM07
Protect+4
A——10Normal
TM50
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM85
Rest
C——5Psychic
TM51
Sandstorm
C——10Rock
TM70
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM103
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM49
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM210
Supercell Slam
B1009515Electric
TM32
Swift
C60—20Normal
TM113
Tailwind
S——15Flying
TM01
Take Down
C908520Normal
TM171
Tera Blast
C8010010Normal
TM166
Thunder
A1107010Electric
TM82
Thunder Wave
S—9020Electric
TM126
Thunderbolt
A9010015Electric
TM60
U-turn
C7010020Bug
TM48
Volt Switch
S7010020Electric
TM193
Weather Ball
C5010010Normal
TM147
Wild Charge
B9010015Electric

Egg Moves

Zapdos doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Zapdos can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Zapdos in Scarlet & Violet

Zapdos doesn't appear in Scarlet & Violet. 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.

Also found in:

RedYellowFireRedPlatinumHeartGoldX

Zapdos Guide

  • For the Scarlet & Violet meta, 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. Hurricane with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.

  • In Scarlet & Violet, 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 sweeper.

  • For Scarlet & Violet, Zapdos has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

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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