Special
Support
ATier
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
PressureNiche
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 Ultrasun Ultramoon 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 Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon (Best Counters)
Graveler
Graveler
RockGround
C
Available Moves
Moves
  • Stone EdgeTM71
  • Rock SlideTM80
  • Rock TombTM39
  • Rock ThrowLv. 16
Damage vs Zapdos
Stone Edge 2x
77-91%
Rock Slide 2x
58-69%
Rock Tomb 2x
46-55%
Rock Throw 2x
40-47%
View Graveler builds →

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon 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

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Zapdos Best Moveset

Zapdos's built to absorb hits. Calm nature leans into special wall duty, Leftovers gives it passive recovery each turn, and Roost handles sustain. Static and spread EVs tie the defensive profile together.

Best Build

Situational pick
Ability
Static
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Zapdos
Calm+SPD

Zapdos best EVs are HP and Sp. Atk

EVs

Doubles Support Moveset

  • Heat Wave
  • TailwindUtility
  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • RoostRecovery

Recommended Teammates

Incineroar
IncineroarDecent
Tapu Fini
Tapu FiniDecent

Moves

Leveling does the heavy lifting. Zapdos picks up Thunder and Zap Cannon along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add coverage across 9 types, but the foundation's already strong by then.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Peck
D3510035Flying
Lv 1
Thunder Shock
—4010030Electric
Lv 8
Thunder Wave
C—9020Electric
Lv 15
Detect+4
C——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
Rain Dance
C——5Water
Lv 64
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
Lv 71
Drill Peck
C8010020Flying
Lv 78
Thunder
B1107010Electric
Lv 85
Roost
S——10Flying
Lv 92
Magnetic Flux
———20Electric
Lv 99
Zap Cannon
—120505Electric

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
C60—20Flying
TM57
Charge Beam
C509010Electric
TM100
Confide
D——20Normal
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM76
Fly
C909515Flying
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM16
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
TM19
Roost
S——10Flying
TM48
Round
C6010015Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
D——10Rock
TM58
Sky Drop
—6010010Flying
TM88
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM51
Steel Wing
D709025Steel
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
D—8515Normal
TM25
Thunder
B1107010Electric
TM73
Thunder Wave
C—9020Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
A9010015Electric
TM06
Toxic
C—9010Poison
TM89
U-turn
C7010020Bug
TM72
Volt Switch
A7010020Electric
TM93
Wild Charge
B9010015Electric

Egg Moves

Zapdos doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Defog
A——15Flying
Tutor
Heat Wave
S959010Fire
Tutor
Laser Focus
———30Normal
Tutor
Shock Wave
—60—20Electric
Tutor
Signal Beam
C7510015Bug
Tutor
Sky Attack
B200905Flying
Tutor
Snore
—5010015Normal
Tutor
Tailwind
S——15Flying

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 4
Air Cutter
C609525Flying
Gen 1
Bide+1
———10Normal
Gen 2
Curse
C——10Ghost
Gen 3
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
C——10Normal
Gen 6
Flash
D—10020Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
D——10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
——10015Normal
Gen 4
Ominous Wind
—601005Ghost
Gen 1
Rage
D2010020Normal
Gen 1
Razor Wind
—8010010Normal
Gen 1
Reflect
C——20Psychic
Gen 6
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
Gen 6
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
Gen 4
Swift
C60—20Normal
Gen 1
Take Down
—908520Normal
Gen 4
Twister
D4010020Dragon
Gen 1
Whirlwind-6
C——20Normal

How to Get Zapdos in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

Zapdos is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Ultra Space Wilds when your team is ready for the fight.

Best Locations to Catch Zapdos in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

Ultra Space Wilds - Cliff
Ultra SunInteract with Pokemon Lv.60 Distortion
Post
Ultra Space Wilds - Cliff
Ultra MoonInteract with Pokemon Lv.60 Distortion
Post

Zapdos Guide

  • For the Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon meta, At 580 BST, Zapdos is built different. We rank it A-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a support. Heat Wave with Leftovers is the standard set.

  • In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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 support.

  • For Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Zapdos has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Ice and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.

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

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback