For the Sword & Shield 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 sweeper. Roost with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.

What is Zapdos weak to?

In Sword & Shield, 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 counters Zapdos?

For Sword & Shield, Zapdos has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

Zapdos - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Sweeper

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

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

PressureRare

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

When its feathers rub together, they produce a crackling sound like the zapping of electricity. That’s why this Pokémon is called Zapdos.

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

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 Sword & Shield (Best Counters)

TangrowthResists Electric, recovers HP on switch via Regenerator, walls physical sets Grass	A
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemAssault Vest NatureRelaxed Moves Knock Off Sludge Bomb Power Whip Focus Blast Damage vs Zapdos Knock Off 10-12% Sludge Bomb 20-24% Focus Blast 13-16% View Tangrowth builds →
CorviknightResists Flying, recovers with Roost FlyingSteel	A
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves RoostRecovery DefogUtility U Turn Body Press Damage vs Zapdos U Turn 5-6% View Corviknight builds →
ScizorRecovers with Roost BugSteel	A
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureAdamant Moves Bullet Punch Knock Off RoostRecovery Swords Dance Damage vs Zapdos Bullet Punch 6-8% Knock Off 14-16% View Scizor builds →
SkarmoryResists Flying, recovers with Roost, sturdy guarantees survival SteelFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves RoostRecovery Body Press SpikesHazard Iron Defense View Skarmory builds →
PelipperRecovers with Roost, burns with Scald WaterFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureBold Moves U Turn RoostRecovery DefogUtility ScaldSTAB Damage vs Zapdos U Turn 3-3% Scald 24-28% View Pelipper builds →

Sword & Shield 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

Sword & Shield Zapdos Best Moveset

Zapdos's built to absorb hits. Bold nature leans into physical wall duty, Heavy-Duty Boots gives it hazard immunity on every switch-in, and Roost handles sustain. Static and max HP and Defense EVs tie the defensive profile together.

Best Build

Recommended

Ability

Static

Item

Heavy Duty Boots

Best Nature for Zapdos

Bold+DEF

Zapdos best EVs are HP and Defense

EVs

Def

Spe

Wall Moveset

RoostRecovery
HurricaneSTAB
Volt SwitchSTAB
Heat Wave

Recommended Teammates

FerrothornDecent

DragapultDecent

Moves

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

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Peck

—3510035Flying

Lv 1

Thunder Wave

C—9020Electric

Lv 5

Thunder Shock

—4010030Electric

Lv 10

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

Lv 15

Pluck

—6010020Flying

Lv 20

Agility

C——30Psychic

Lv 25

Ancient Power

C601005Rock

Lv 30

Charge

D——20Electric

Lv 35

Drill Peck

C8010020Flying

Lv 40

Roost

S——10Flying

Lv 45

Discharge

B8010015Electric

Lv 50

Rain Dance

C——5Water

Lv 55

Thunder

B1107010Electric

Lv 60

Detect+4

C——5Fighting

Lv 65

Magnetic Flux

———20Electric

Lv 70

Zap Cannon

C120505Electric

TM Moves

TR12

Agility

C——30Psychic

TR29

Baton Pass

C——40Normal

TR66

Brave Bird

B12010015Flying

TM93

Eerie Impulse

D—10015Electric

TR26

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TM39

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM06

Fly

C909515Flying

TM09

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TM35

Hail

C——10Ice

TR36

Heat Wave

S959010Fire

TR89

Hurricane

S1107010Flying

TM08

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM17

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM25

Protect+4

A——10Normal

TM33

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM21

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM76

Round

C6010015Normal

TM32

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TR27

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM24

Snore

—5010015Normal

TM30

Steel Wing

D709025Steel

TR20

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM34

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM40

Swift

C60—20Normal

TR09

Thunder

B1107010Electric

TM14

Thunder Wave

C—9020Electric

TR08

Thunderbolt

S9010015Electric

TM56

U-turn

C7010020Bug

TM80

Volt Switch

S7010020Electric

TM46

Weather Ball

C5010010Normal

TR86

Wild Charge

B9010015Electric

Egg Moves

Zapdos doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Dual Wingbeat

D409010Flying

Tutor

Rising Voltage

B7010020Electric

How to Get Zapdos in Sword & Shield

No wild encounters for Zapdos in Sword & Shield. It's available in Red, Yellow, or Let's Go Pikachu and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.

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

Also found in:

Red Yellow FireRed Platinum HeartGold X

Zapdos Guide

For the Sword & Shield 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 sweeper. Roost with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, 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.
For Sword & Shield, Zapdos has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

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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