The strongest legendary bird in Yellow, Zapdos's Electric/Flying typing and 125 Special dominate competitive play at S-Tier like few others can.
615HP90Attack90Defense85Speed100Sp.Def125Sp.Atk125
Weak to
Mixed
Setup Sweeper
100Speed · Fast

Is Zapdos Good in Yellow Playthrough?

The strongest legendary bird for a Yellow playthrough. Zapdos combines speed, massive special damage, and enough bulk to not fold immediately. Found in the Power Plant and immediately useful against Lorelei's Water-types. Hard to leave out of any serious team.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadESESSEGESGGGGBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7ZapdosCatchableGiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Even

Zapdos trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Strong

Zapdos resists most of Misty's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Easy KO
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Zapdos trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Strong

Zapdos resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Easy KO
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Easy KO
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Strong

Zapdos resists most of Koga's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Zapdos trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Zapdos trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Avoid
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Strong

Zapdos resists most of Lorelei's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Easy KO
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Easy KO
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Easy KO
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Risky
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Easy KO
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Easy KO
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Risky
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Easy KO
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Easy KO
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Good

Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.

Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Good

Zapdos has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.

Even
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Risky
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
You Win
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 7
Type
ElectricFlying
Tier
S

Catch Zapdos in the Power Plant (interact, Lv 50, limited). Found deep inside the Power Plant east of Route 10. Surf south from the Pokemon Center near Rock Tunnel to reach the entrance. Zapdos is at the end of the facility.

View Zapdos locations

How to Get Zapdos in Yellow

The abandoned Power Plant hides Zapdos, found once you Surf your way in. Level 50, catch rate of 3, and no second chance: faint it and the thunderbird is gone from your file.

1 location to catch Zapdos

Badge 7

Zapdos Weakness

Ice and Rock moves hit Zapdos for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground-type moves can't touch it at all. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Zapdos's special bulk (base 125 Special) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

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

What is Zapdos Weak Against

Excellent
2Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Score+3
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Zapdos Strong Against

5Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+4
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Zapdos

Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
S
Articuno
Articuno
IceFlying
B
Lapras
Lapras
WaterIce
B
Dewgong
Dewgong
WaterIce
C
Graveler
Graveler
RockGround
C

Zapdos Evolutions

A Electric/Flying-type legendary, Zapdos doesn't evolve or breed. At 615 total stats, it's meant to stand on its own. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

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

Y Zapdos Best Moveset

Electric/Flying TermStab from MoveThunderbolt and MoveDrill Peck covers nearly everything without being resisted, and 125 Special fires both with top-tier power. 100 Speed outspeeds most threats, and Ground immunity via Flying removes the one type that Electric fears. MoveThunder Wave cripples anything faster. Complete offensive and defensive coverage.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Zapdos
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Drill PeckSTAB
  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • Thunder WaveSTAB
  • AgilitySetup

Moves List

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
B12010020Flying
Lv 1
Thunder Shock
—6010030Electric
Lv 51
Thunder
B1657010Electric
Lv 55
Agility
B——30Psychic
Lv 60
Light Screen
D——30Psychic

TM Moves

All 20 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
HM05D—7020Normal
HM02—1059515Flying
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
B150905Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM43
Sky AttackVictory Roadnot until badge 8
B210905Flying
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
C60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
B1657010Electric
TM45
Thunder WaveRoute 24badge 1
B—10020Electric
TM24B14210015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison
TM04
Whirlwind-6Route 4badge 1
———20Normal

Tutor Moves

Zapdos can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Legend
HP90
B
Attack90
B
Defense85
C
Sp. Atk125
A
Sp. Def125
A
Speed100
B
Total615
Details
Catch Rate
Legendary3 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.6 m
Weight52.6 kg
Base XP290
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Strong Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

This legendary bird POKéMON is said to appear when the sky turns dark and lightning showers down.

Pokemon Yellow

Zapdos Yellow Guide

  • Zapdos is a static encounter at Power Plant in Yellow. Zapdos appears at level 50. Prerequisite: Surf. Save before the encounter. These one-shot Pokemon don't respawn if you knock them out or run out of Poke Balls.

  • In Yellow, use Zapdos as a setup sweeper. Splits damage between physical and special. It outspeeds most threats, Thunderbolt is the primary attack. Set up with Agility when you get a free turn.

  • Zapdos has a Galarian form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 8. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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