In X & Y, Lightning Rod changes the entire equation for Zebstrika. The 497 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a sweeper. Hiddenpowerice with Life Orb is the standard set.

What is Zebstrika weak to?

In X & Y, watch for Rhydon (Ground) when using Zebstrika. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. Zebstrika's base 116 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.

What is the best ability for Zebstrika?

Lightning Rod is what you want on Zebstrika. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Motor Drive, Sap Sipper) work on paper but Lightning Rod is what makes Zebstrika worth using. With base 116 Speed, Lightning Rod gives Zebstrika an edge before opponents can react.

What role does Zebstrika play in battle?

Base 116 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Zebstrika is a mixed attacker with base 100 Attack and 80 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.

What are the best moves for Zebstrika?

In X & Y, run Hiddenpowerice, Wild Charge, Thunderbolt, and Volt Switch on Zebstrika. Hiddenpowerice is the most common pick at 13% usage. Thunderbolt provides reliable STAB damage.

Zebstrika - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Mixed

Sweeper

CTier

116Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Attack carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Thunderbolt Pokemon on a medium-fast 1M XP curve, worth 2 Speed EVs per KO.

Base Stats

Above

HP75

Attack100

Defense63

Sp. Atk80

Sp. Def63

Speed116

Total497

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging75 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height1.6 m

Weight79.5 kg

Base XP174

Abilities

Lightning RodPopular

Redirects single-target electric moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Electric moves, raising Special Attack one stage.

Motor Drive

Absorbs electric moves, raising Speed one stage.

Sap SipperHAPopular

Absorbs grass moves, raising Attack one stage.

Lightning Rod grants Electric immunity · Motor Drive grants Electric immunity · Sap Sipper grants Grass immunity

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2

Speed training target

Pokedex Entries

When this ill-tempered Pokémon runs wild, it shoots lightning from its mane in all directions.

Zebstrika Weakness

Zebstrika's Electric typing leaves it vulnerable to Ground. Few weaknesses and 3 resistances make the typing clean. Lightning Rod grants an additional Electric immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Zebstrika leans offensive (base 100 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

Zebstrika Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Ground
0.5x (Resist)	Electric, Flying, Steel

Type ChartGood

1Weak

3Resist

2Immune

Score+1

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Ground

½xResist

Electric Flying Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Electric Grass

STAB (2)

Water Flying

How to Beat Zebstrika in X & Y (Best Counters)

In X & Y, Excadrill can KO Zebstrika with Earthquake (188-222%). Garchomp threatens a KO with Earthquake (183-215%).

Excadrill GroundSteel	S
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Rapid Spin Iron Head Stealth Rock Damage vs Zebstrika Earthquake 2x 188-222%KO Rapid Spin 31-37% View Excadrill builds →
Garchomp DragonGround	A
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Stealth Rock Swords Dance Dragon Claw Damage vs Zebstrika Earthquake 2x 183-215%KO View Garchomp builds →

X & Y Evolution

Evolved from Blitzle. Zebstrika is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Attack grew the most through evolution (+40 over Blitzle), and Zebstrika peaks at 497 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#522Blitzle

Level 27

#523Zebstrika

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Blitzle

Electric

Zebstrika

Electric

75+30

ATK

100+40

DEF

63+31

SP.ATK

80+30

SP.DEF

63+31

SPE

116+40

BST

295C-Tier

497C-Tier+202

ROLE

Balanced

Sweeper

TYPE

Utility

Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Zebstrika to get Blitzle eggs easily using 200 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Double Kick, Double-Edge, Endure and 7 more.

Egg Groups

Ground

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

10moves

Breed With (best first)

X & Y Zebstrika Best Moveset

Volt Switch keeps your team's momentum going. Zebstrika doesn't need to stay in long, Life Orb provides extra damage on every hit for a health trade and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs make every visit count. Thunderbolt threatens on the way out. Sapsipper adds passive value.

Best Build

Experimental

Special Sweeper

Ability

Sap Sipper

Item

Life OrbPOWER

Best Nature for Zebstrika

Hasty+SPE

Zebstrika best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

SpA

SpD

Spe

Special Sweeper Moveset

Hidden Power Ice
Wild ChargeSTAB
ThunderboltSTAB
Volt SwitchSTAB

Recommended Teammates

MachampDecent

TentacruelDecent

HoundoomDecent

Moves

You'll want to breed for Double Kick and Double-Edge on Zebstrika. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Thunder and Wild Charge, they expand what Zebstrika can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Charge

D——20Electric

Lv 1

Ion Deluge+1

———25Electric

Lv 1

Quick Attack+1

D4010030Normal

Lv 1

Tail Whip

——10030Normal

Lv 1

Thunder Wave

C—10020Electric

Lv 4

Tail Whip

——10030Normal

Lv 8

Charge

D——20Electric

Lv 11

Shock Wave

—60—20Electric

Lv 15

Thunder Wave

C—10020Electric

Lv 18

Flame Charge

B5010020Fire

Lv 22

Pursuit

B4010020Dark

Lv 25

Spark

C6510020Electric

Lv 31

Stomp

—6510020Normal

Lv 36

Discharge

C8010015Electric

Lv 42

Agility

C——30Psychic

Lv 47

Wild Charge

A9010015Electric

Lv 53

Thrash

—12010010Normal

Lv 58

Ion Deluge+1

———25Electric

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

D—10015Normal

TM57

Charge Beam

D509010Electric

TM100

Confide

———20Normal

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM43

Flame Charge

B5010020Fire

TM70

Flash

D—10020Normal

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM68

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM16

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM50

Overheat

C130905Fire

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM94

Rock Smash

—4010015Fighting

TM48

Round

D6010015Normal

TM88

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM25

Thunder

C1107010Electric

TM73

Thunder Wave

C—10020Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

A9010015Electric

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

TM72

Volt Switch

A7010020Electric

TM93

Wild Charge

A9010015Electric

Egg Moves

Egg

Double Kick

—3010030Fighting

Egg

Double-Edge

B12010015Normal

Egg

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Egg

Me First

———20Normal

Egg

Rage

—2010020Normal

Egg

Sand Attack

——10015Ground

Egg

Screech

——8540Normal

Egg

Shock Wave

—60—20Electric

Egg

Snatch+4

———10Dark

Egg

Take Down

—908520Normal

Tutor Moves

Zebstrika can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Zebstrika in X & Y

Zebstrika isn't available in the wild in X & Y. Start by transferring Blitzle from Black. The evolution path from Blitzle to Zebstrika is covered in the steps below.

How to Obtain Zebstrika in X & Y

Step 1Obtain Blitzle
Also found in:
Black
Train until Level 27
Step 2Zebstrika ✓

Zebstrika Guide

In X & Y, Lightning Rod changes the entire equation for Zebstrika. The 497 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a sweeper. Hiddenpowerice with Life Orb is the standard set.
In X & Y, watch for Rhydon (Ground) when using Zebstrika. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. Zebstrika's base 116 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.
Lightning Rod is what you want on Zebstrika. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Motor Drive, Sap Sipper) work on paper but Lightning Rod is what makes Zebstrika worth using. With base 116 Speed, Lightning Rod gives Zebstrika an edge before opponents can react.
Base 116 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Zebstrika is a mixed attacker with base 100 Attack and 80 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.
In X & Y, run Hiddenpowerice, Wild Charge, Thunderbolt, and Volt Switch on Zebstrika. Hiddenpowerice is the most common pick at 13% usage. Thunderbolt provides reliable STAB damage.

Game Availability

Zebstrika joined the series in Black & White and has been available in 7 titles so far. With 6 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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