JockeMS
formerly SuperJOCKE
Zapdos
-Credits also goes to MysticClaydol for making the original thread for this analysis and getting it through QC, before it was locked for inactivity and re-write.
[Overview]
<p>Since the dawn of competitive Pokemon, Zapdos has always resided in OU. However, with all the new threats that arrived with BW, Zapdos has for the first time fallen into the UU tier. Nonetheless, Zapdos has a great Special Attack and a good Speed stat, coupled with a good typing and movepool, making it a Pokemon with great offensive prowess. Zapdos's secondary typing, on the other hand, makes it weak to the common Ice- and Rock-type moves, which includes Stealth Rock. And while Zapdos's Speed stat is by no means bad, many Pokemon in the tier are faster and can potentially KO it before Zapdos can hit back. Zapdos also faces competition offensively from other Electric-type Pokemon such as Jolteon, which is a lot faster, but Zapdos has something that sets it apart from its fellow Electric-types. Zapdos's secondary typing, good defensive stats, as well as access to Roost means it isn't limited to only pure offense, but can function defensively as well, making it a huge and unpredictable threat to face.</p>
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Water / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Roost / Volt Switch
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Thanks to its great Special Attack stat and good Speed stat, Zapdos is an amazing offensive threat, and can deal massive damage right off the bat. Thunderbolt is Zapdos's best and most reliable option for a STAB move, and hits everything that doesn't resist it hard. Heat Wave is mostly for Grass-types that resist Zapdos's STAB move, but also hits Ice- and Steel-type Pokemon for super effective damage. Hidden Power Water lets Zapdos hit opposing Ground-types, such as Donphan, Mamoswine, and Rhyperior, which Hidden Power Ice achieves as well, while also dealing super effective damage to Dragon-types, such as Flygon. Hidden Power Water also lets Zapdos hit Rotom-H for super effective damage. Roost can be used to recover health lost to Life Orb recoil or any other damaged suffered, enabling Zapdos to continue putting offensive pressure on the opponent's team. Volt Switch is also a viable option in the last slot; it gives Zapdos scouting capability and can deal a decent amount of damage on the switch.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Discharge is a less powerful option to use over Thunderbolt, and packs a greater chance of paralyzing the opponent, but the power difference is noticeable. Hidden Power Grass is Zapdos's best weapon against Quagsire. Signal Beam can be used to hit the many Psychic- and Dark-types in the tier, such as Mew and Zoroark, while still hitting Grass-types for super effective damage, but it hits only slightly harder than an ineffective STAB Thunderbolt. Timid is the preferred nature on this set to at least tie with the numerous base 100 Speed Pokemon, such as Shaymin and Mew, which can be the difference between life and death. However, Modest is still an option for more raw power.</p>
<p>Entry hazards can help secure some needed KOs against bulkier Pokemon such as Snorlax. Roserade is a good choice for this, as it can take care of Rock-types such as Rhyperior with ease. Rapid Spin support is a must, as Zapdos is weak to Stealth Rock. Hitmontop pairs best with Zapdos as a Rapid Spin user, as it resists Rock-type moves, and unlike Donphan, doesn't share a Ice-type weakness with Zapdos. Choice Scarf Heracross, Choice Scarf Flygon, and Froslass are examples of faster Pokemon that can KO Zapdos with their respective moves. While it needs to be careful when switching in, Darmanitan can take of both Heracross and Froslass with its Flare Blitz, and Suicune too has no problems dealing with any of the three. Though Zapdos can take care of most Donphan relatively easy, Donphan can surprise Zapdos with Head Smash, ending its sweep early. This makes defensive Water-types, such as Suicune and Milotic, good options to deal with Donphan for more cautious players.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Toxic / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Roar / Heat Wave
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 236 Def / 24 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With above-average bulk, a good defensive typing, and access to Roost, Zapdos makes a great defensive Pokemon. Thunderbolt gives Zapdos an excellent attacking option, and by virtue of Zapdos's great Special Attack stat, still does much damage, despite the lack of investment. Toxic is a great move on almost any defensive Pokemon, and Zapdos is no exception. In combination with Roost, Toxic enables Zapdos to wear down most opponents, while maintaining high health. Roar, another great move allows Zapdos to phaze out the opponent, possibly racking up entry hazard damage or removing the opponent's boosts. Hidden Power Ice and Heat Wave are still viable options, though. Hidden Power Ice lets Zapdos deal with pesky Ground-types, such as Donphan, Gligar, Flygon, and Nidoking, which would otherwise cause a lot of trouble for Zapdos, while Heat Wave hits Grass- and Ice-types, mainly Abomasnow and the rare Ferroseed, for super effective damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Discharge can be used over Thunderbolt, allowing Zapdos to provide paralysis support, but it often conflicts with Toxic. The given EVs give Zapdos the best bulk possible, while letting it outrun Adamant Honchkrow and max Speed Abomasnow. The Defense EVs could also go into Special Defense with a Calm nature to make Zapdos specially defensive instead, but given its useful resistances to Fighting- and Ground-type moves, this is not recommended.</p>
<p>Though not as crucial as on the more offensive sets, Rapid Spin support is still appreciated to prevent Zapdos from taking any unnecessary damage. Hitmontop and Donphan are both good choices, as they resist Rock-type moves. Donphan can also set up Stealth Rock alongside providing Rapid Spin support, but shares a Ice-type weakness with Zapdos, making Hitmontop a better choice overall. If Zapdos has Roar or lacks Toxic, entry hazards in form of Spikes, Stealth Rock, and Toxic Spikes is recommended. As Roar forces switches, Spikes and Stealth Rock help rack up damage against the opponent's Pokemon. Roserade and Nidoqueen can set up Spikes and Stealth Rock respectively, and if Zapdos lacks Toxic, both of them can set up Toxic Spikes. It is also wise to remove any Pokemon that can threaten Zapdos with strong Rock-type moves. Rhyperior, Heracross, and Flygon are all examples of Pokemon that can easily KO Zapdos with Stone Edge. Suicune can easily handle Rhyperior and Flygon, and to some extent Heracross. Darmanitan is another great choice for dealing with Heracross.</p>
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Toxic / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Leftovers
evs: 192 HP / 64 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a combination of good bulk, Substitute, Roost, Pressure, and Toxic, Zapdos can effectively outstall both the opponent's moves and the opponent itself. Courtesy of its good Speed stat, Zapdos can easily set up a Substitute on slower walls or Pokemon it forces out, while its bulk allows it to keep the Substitute up against weaker attackers. Thunderbolt gives Zapdos a strong and reliable attacking option, making it less susceptible to Taunt. With proper Toxic Spikes support, Hidden Power Ice is still a viable option to take on various Ground-types, most notably Nidoqueen, Nidoking, and Immunity Gligar.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread can be changed to suit your team's needs; however, max Speed is needed to allow Zapdos able to put up Substitute as easily as possible. 248 HP EVs add to Zapdos's overall bulk, making its Substitutes last longer. The 64 Defense EVs can also be moved to Special Defense instead, but physical bulk is generally preferred.</p>
<p>As stated before, Toxic Spikes support is needed especially if you opt to use Hidden Power Ice over Toxic or even to ease the stalling process, as it removes the need for Zapdos to use Toxic itself. Roserade and Nidoqueen are both viable users of Toxic Spikes, and can also take care of Rock Blast Rhyperior fairly easy. Cleric support is helpful, as Zapdos has no way of removing status itself, and status will ruin its stalling attempts. Chansey is the best choice for this, as it can comfortably tank special moves directed at Zapdos, while Zapdos can take care of threatening Fighting-types for Chansey. Rapid Spin support will ensure that Zapdos comes it at full health; again, Hitmontop and Donphan are both viable options, with the latter also being able to set up Stealth Rock. As previously mentioned, something to take care of Rock Blast Rhyperior is helpful, as it will easily break through Zapdos's Substitutes. Other than Roserade and Nidoqueen, Suicune and Milotic can take it on with ease.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Water / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: Volt Switch / U-turn
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Zapdos's great Special Attack stat and good Speed stat make it a great user of either Choice Scarf or Choice Specs. With Choice Scarf, Zapdos takes on more of a revenge killing role, easily outspeeding most of the tier, while Zapdos can become more of a wallbreaker thanks to the raw power output of Choice Specs. Thunderbolt is Zapdos's best STAB option which depending on Zapdos's held item either enables it to finish off frail Water- and Flying-types, or plow through dedicated walls, such as Milotic and Suicune. Hidden Power Ice lets Zapdos super effectively damage both Ground- and Dragon-types, most notably Gligar, Nidoking, Donphan, and Flygon, while Hidden Power Water is Zapdos best chance against Mamoswine and Rhyperior. Heat Wave hits Grass-types that resists Zapdos's Thunderbolt, and in the process nails Steel- and Ice-types as well. Volt Switch lets Zapdos scout and deal some decent damage on the way out. However, Volt Switch is easily stopped by Ground-types, which makes U-turn a weaker, but more reliable option.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Hidden Power Flying can be a surprising option for a secondary STAB move, and can hit the many Fighting-types in the tier, as well as Ludicolo, for super effective damage. Hidden Power Grass is also an option, as it will hit Quagsire harder than any other move in Zapdos's arsenal. The choice of nature and held item depends on whether your team needs Zapdos to outspeed and revenge kill up to base 100 Speed Choice Scarf users, such as Victini and Flygon, or to plow through the opponent's team with a Modest nature and Choice Specs; either combination is an option. Rapid Spin support is needed, as Zapdos is going to be switching around a lot. Hitmontop and Donphan are the best options to choose between; the former doesn't share an Ice-type weakness with Zapdos, but the latter can also set up Stealth Rock alongside providing Rapid Spin support, which might allow Zapdos to secure some KOs. Rotom-H resists every move except Hidden Power Water on this set, and needs to be dealt with if Zapdos doesn't carry Hidden Power Water. Quagsire is the best option to take care of it, as Quagsire resists or is immune to Rotom-H's STAB moves. Chansey and Snorlax will stop this set with ease, so hard-hitting Fighting-types, such as Heracross, Hitmontop, and Gallade, are all viable options to take care of them.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Zapdos can also support its team with weather, as it can set up both Rain Dance and Sunny Day; Zapdos can even abuse both sun and rain itself; in rain, Zapdos gets a 100% accurate Thunder to dish out, while in sun, Heat Wave gets a power boost and it will get easier for Zapdos to deal with Water-types. Zapdos also has access to Baton Pass and Agility to pass Speed boosts, but it's not recommended outside of a Baton Pass chain. A set with Rest and Sleep Talk can also be used, as, unlike Roost, Rest can also heal status conditions. However, this combination is unreliable, so it's usually better to stick with Roost.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Since Zapdos is a special attacker, specially defensive Pokemon will stop it in its tracks. Chansey has the easiest time against any Zapdos set, as she can not only take any hit Zapdos throws at her and heal any status problem with Aromatherapy, but also wear down Zapdos with Toxic and Seismic Toss. Snorlax is another Pokemon with huge HP and Special Defense stats, but unlike Chansey, it can hit Zapdos hard from the start, instead of slowly wearing it down, and can recover health with Rest. Rotom-H resists most of Zapdos's typical moves, and does a lot of damage with its STAB Overheat. Opposing Electric-types, such as Jolteon, Manectric, and Electivire, can come in on Zapdos's Electric-type moves, receive a boost of some sort, and KO Zapdos with Hidden Power Ice and Ice Punch respectively.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Zapdos receives Lightningrod as its Dream World ability. Lightningrod gives Zapdos an immunity to Electric-type moves and gives it a Special Attack boost when hit by an Electric-type attack. It's a really useful ability on all sets except the SubRoost set, where Pressure is needed in the stalling process. However, there are drawbacks with using Lightningrod, the greatest one being the loss of Heat Wave.</p>