For the Black & White 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. Heat Wave with Leftovers is the standard set.

What is Zapdos weak to?

In Black & White, 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.

What is the best ability for Zapdos?

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.

What role does Zapdos play in battle?

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.

What are the best moves for Zapdos?

In Black & White, run Heat Wave, Hiddenpowerice, Volt Switch, and Roost on Zapdos. Heat Wave is the most common pick at 20% usage. This set covers the sweeper role with a mix of damage and utility.

Zapdos - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

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

Attack90

Defense85

Sp. Atk125

Sp. Def90

Speed100

Total580

Details

Catch Rate

Legendary3 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.6 m

Weight52.6 kg

Base XP290

Abilities

PressureTop Pick

Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.

StaticHA

Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe

Strong Special Attack training target

Pokedex Entries

A legendary Pokémon that 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
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Ice, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Fighting, Flying, Bug, Steel
0x (Immune)	Ground

Type ChartExcellent

2Weak

5Resist

1Immune

Score+4

Gen V Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Ice Rock

½xResist

Grass Fighting Flying Bug Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Ground

STAB (5)

Water Flying Grass Fighting Bug

How to Beat Zapdos in Black & White (Best Counters)

ForretressThreatens with Stealth Rock, sturdy guarantees survival, walls physical sets BugSteel	B
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves Rapid Spin SpikesHazard Gyro Ball Stealth Rock Damage vs Zapdos Rapid Spin 12-14% View Forretress builds →
JellicentRecovers with Recover, burns with Scald WaterGhost	B
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves RecoverRecovery Will O Wisp TauntUtility ScaldSTAB Damage vs Zapdos Scald 26-30% View Jellicent builds →
BreloomResists Electric GrassFighting	B
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves Mach Punch Bullet Seed Swords Dance Low Sweep Damage vs Zapdos Mach Punch 17-20% Bullet Seed 11-12% View Breloom builds →
PolitoedBurns with Scald, wears down with Toxic, threatens with Ice Beam Water	B
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves ScaldSTAB EncoreUtility ProtectPriority ToxicUtility Damage vs Zapdos Scald 27-32% View Politoed builds →
GliscorImmune to Electric, wears down with Toxic, threatens with Stealth Rock GroundFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureImpish Moves EarthquakeSTAB ProtectPriority Stealth Rock Swords Dance View Gliscor builds →

Black & White 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

#145ZapdosDoes not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable

Undiscovered egg group

Black & White Zapdos Best Moveset

The build revolves around Volt Switch for safe pivoting. Pressure and Leftovers support Zapdos's hit-and-run approach, with max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs making sure each pivot actually threatens. The remaining moves adds versatility.

Best Build

Solid pick

Special Sweeper

Ability

Pressure

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Zapdos

Timid+SPE

Zapdos best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

SpA

SpD

Spe

Special Sweeper Moveset

Heat Wave
Hidden Power Ice
Volt SwitchSTAB
RoostRecovery

Recommended Teammates

StarmieDecent

ScizorDecent

FerrothornDecent

Moves

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Zapdos. TMs unlock coverage across 8 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Thunder and Fly into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Peck

—3510035Flying

Lv 1

Thunder Shock

—4010030Electric

Lv 8

Thunder Wave

C—10020Electric

Lv 15

Detect+4

D——5Fighting

Lv 22

Pluck

—6010020Flying

Lv 29

Ancient Power

C601005Rock

Lv 36

Charge

D——20Electric

Lv 43

Agility

C——30Psychic

Lv 50

Discharge

B8010015Electric

Lv 57

Roost

A——10Flying

Lv 64

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

Lv 71

Drill Peck

C8010020Flying

Lv 78

Thunder

B1207010Electric

Lv 85

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM Moves

TM40

Aerial Ace

C60—20Flying

TM57

Charge Beam

C509010Electric

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM70

Flash

D—10020Normal

HM02

Fly

C909515Flying

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM68

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM16

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM88

Pluck

—6010020Flying

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C—10020Normal

TM94

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM48

Round

—6010015Normal

TM37

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TM58

Sky Drop

—6010010Flying

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM25

Thunder

B1207010Electric

TM73

Thunder Wave

C—10020Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

A9510015Electric

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

TM89

U-turn

C7010020Bug

TM72

Volt Switch

S7010020Electric

TM93

Wild Charge

B9010015Electric

Egg Moves

Zapdos doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Zapdos can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 4

Air Cutter

C559525Flying

Gen 4

Defog

D——15Flying

Gen 3

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Gen 4

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

Gen 4

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Gen 4

Natural Gift

——10015Normal

Gen 4

Ominous Wind

—601005Ghost

Gen 4

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

Gen 4

Shock Wave

—60—20Electric

Gen 4

Steel Wing

—709025Steel

Gen 4

Swift

—60—20Normal

Gen 4

Twister

—4010020Dragon

How to Get Zapdos in Black & White

Zapdos can't be caught in Black & White. Bring it over from Red, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.

Zapdos is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

Red Yellow FireRed Platinum HeartGold X

Zapdos Guide

For the Black & White 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. Heat Wave with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Black & White, 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.
In Black & White, run Heat Wave, Hiddenpowerice, Volt Switch, and Roost on Zapdos. Heat Wave is the most common pick at 20% usage. This set covers the sweeper role with a mix of damage and utility.

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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