Zapdos
Taking over this for G80, credits to him
Combined some sets into one, cut out the bullshit, and tried not to write too much crap.
[Overview]
<p>Zapdos has excellent stats and is useful for both offensive and defensive roles. In general, defensive Zapdos is more common and dangerous. A wall in Advance is more useful depending on how much of a Toxic Sandstorm Spikes team it can handle. With its Ground immunity and ability to brush aside Toxic by Resting, Sandstorm is the only real issue. In reality, the leftovers negation often helps Zapdos more than it hurts, as it assists in wearing down your counters. Thanks to Pressure, defensive sets can stall problem Pokemon out of moves like Ice Beam, Leech Seed, and Toxic. Hard to bring down and hard to deal with, Zapdos is one of the most dominant Pokemon in Advance.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive Zapdos
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk / Light Screen
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 228 SpD / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Zapdos has significantly more Special Attack than HP or Special Defense, its most common job is to shut down enemy Water-types and act as a wall. 384 HP and 300 Special Defense allow it to take a beating from Surfs and even un-STABed Ice Beams. Most bulky waters in question do about 30-35% with STAB-less Ice Beam and a paltry 20-25% with Surf. Light Screen is a good option if you have a Pokemon with Heal Bell or Aromatherapy on your team and you need the extra special coverage.</p>
<p>Generally you will want to use Hidden Power Grass because Zapdos is one of the best Swampert counters. Hidden Power Ice is viable to dent Celebi and other Grass-types. Ice is also useful for Flygons that boldly switch in. However, it is not recommended to stay in on such a Flygon if you did not get the Hidden Power off on the switch as you may be flinched by Rock Slide.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The Speed investment allows you to outrun Pokemon with base 70 Speed with a neutral Speed nature. Going for exactly 240 is not recommended as other Pokemon who try to break 239 will likely invest more in Speed than you.</p>
[SET]
name: Roar
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Roar
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 228 SpD / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set plays slightly different from the one above. The most important point to make here is that Roar Zapdos is not worth using without Spikes. Having Thunderbolt as your only attacking move means Flygon and Claydol switch in on you without fear and then proceed to attack with no risk to themselves. However, Spikes is a huge deterrent to your other counters, Celebi, Blissey, Regice, and Snorlax, all of whom will take Spikes damage and get Roared away before they can do anything.</p>
<p>It is a good idea to use this set with a Ghost-type on your team. Dusclops is bulkier than Gengar but often gets trashed by the very common Toxic Sandstorm Spikes (TSS) teams. Skarmory makes for a good partner here as it comes in on some of your counters pretty well to lay down Spikes.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Passer
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Substitute / Agility
move 4: Baton Pass
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 100 SpA / 156 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Zapdos is fast and reasonably bulky, so it makes for a good Baton Passer. In general, Zapdos is a superior version of Jolteon (although Jolteon can usually set up on other Electric-types). Passing both Substitute and Agility is useful. Substitute works well with frail Pokemon because it gives them an easier time switching in. Passing Agility to a slow, hard-hitting Pokemon like Rhydon or Marowak can lead to a sweep.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Agility users do not need to be fast. Usually you can keep your Speed stat at around 240-250 and invest more in Special Attack or Special Defense. This Zapdos can also function pretty well defensively even if the very common Tyranitar cuts off your only natural method of recovery. Using a Pokemon with Wish will enhance the longevity of Zapdos.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band Zapdos
move 1: Drill Peck
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Steel Wing
item: Choice Band
ability: Pressure
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 100 SpA / 156 Spe
<p>Choice Band is rarely used on Zapdos, but it is viable. On paper, this set is very hard to counter. Swampert will almost never try to take on a Zapdos, and will take about 35% damage from Drill Peck if it does. With a 418 Attack stat, 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey takes 39-46% from Drill Peck or 46-54% from Hidden Power Fighting. Tyranitar is nearly OHKOed by Hidden Power Fighting, and most Metagross will take about 40-50% from Thunderbolt or Hidden Power Ground.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>The main draw of Zapdos as a Choice Bander instead of the more conventional Salamence or Metagross is its ability to OHKO the most common Choice Band counter in the game: Skarmory. While being hard to switch in on, this set has major flaws with longevity. Usually you have to predict an Earthquake (or another move that does very little damage to you). You can no longer brave Ice Beams on the switch. Like with all Choice Banders, using this set with Wish support is a good idea.</p>
[SET]
name: MS-Dos
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Metal Sound
move 4: Thunder Wave / Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Modest
evs: 188 HP / 172 SpA / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>A straight-up Special Attacking Zapdos. With Metal Sound on the switch, Blissey takes about 34-40%. Snorlax can take as much as 50% damage, and your counters will generally not want to stay around for another attack. Using this with Spikes makes it work much like Screech Flygon: stay in and lose a lot of HP or run and take Spikes damage. Thunder Wave can aid in taking down sturdy foes as well. Substitute is useful for dodging moves like Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Leech Seed. The EVs allow you to outrun threats like Adamant Heracross and standard Dragon Dance Salamence.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Defensive Zapdos is good glue for a team, and is an excellent addition to a stall team. Generally, you want Spikes along with Zapdos whether or not it has Roar. Toxic Sandstorm Spikes teams are usually weak to Swampert and its fellow Water-types. Zapdos fills in the gaps almost perfectly here.</p>
<p>Baton Pass Zapdos is a good teammate for a slow Pokemon that needs assistance in setting up. Rhydon may not be common, but he works well with Zapdos. Zapdos can take Ground and Fighting attacks while Rhydon can take Rock and Normal attacks. Marowak is another good choice for an Agility recipient.</p>
<p>Other offensive Zapdos sets work well with Celebi. Have Celebi set up a few Calm Minds and pass to a Pokemon with superior sweeping ability like Zapdos. In case you get an unwelcome match-up, Zapdos can even Baton Pass to something else and keep the Calm Mind boosts.</p>
<p>Also worth noting is that Zapdos is arguably the best recipient of a Baton Pass chain. Marowak is another popular choice, although Zapdos can keep the chain going if necessary. Make sure to max out Attack and Special Attack for such a set.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Thunder over Thunderbolt if you want to take the risk of missing in exchange for huge damage and an effective 21% chance to paralyze the opponent. Toxic is a decent option on a more defensive set as it completely screws Flygon and Claydol. Toxic also prevents Celebi from getting too many Calm Minds in, and it stalls Blissey well too. Rain Dance is the only other thing worth mentioning. In the rarely played Advance Doubles metagame, Rain Dance Zapdos was often used to set up Pokemon that benefited from it, like Kingdra.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Blissey, Regice, Celebi, Snorlax, Venusaur, and the combination of Swampert and Flygon are the most common ways to deal with Zapdos. The last option is more risky and involves playing off of resistances. You will have to make some switches to figure out which Hidden Power Zapdos is packing.</p>
<p>Most other Electric-types are also good counters. Raikou has to watch out for Thunder Wave, but will take Thunderbolts and Hidden Powers pretty well. Consider though, that Zapdos usually has an easier time switching in than Raikou does, and that it also is more likely to pack Rest and Sleep Talk. Jolteon can turn Thunderbolts into free HP, but is a situational Pokemon overall.</p>
