[Overview]
<p>Zapdos has a tremendous defensive typing, which includes resistances and immunities to the most common moves of top-tier OU threats such as Scizor, Lucario, and Flygon. Although Zapdos’ Stealth Rock weakness limits its walling capabilities, Roost and Rapid Spin support help combat that problem. Zapdos is capable of taking on many of the OU tier’s top physical threats thanks to its all-around great stats and typing. Zapdos’ high Special Attack and good Speed means that it can also perform wonderfully in an offensive role, and can even use Baton Pass to effectively support its teammates with stat boosts. Zapdos also struggles with the ever-popular Tyranitar, although this can be combated with proper team support. Despite a few flaws, Zapdos is still a very effective Pokémon, and a threat who should always be considered when building a team.</p>
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Heat Wave / Roar
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 228 Def / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With only two weaknesses, good stats overall, Roost for recovery, and Pressure to waste opponents' PP, this Zapdos makes a great tank. You can come in with relative safety against many top OU sweepers and various tanks and walls. From there you can stall out your opponents with Roost, or deal some damage with Thunderbolt, which will hurt even with no EV investment thanks to Zapdos’ base 125 Special Attack.</p>
<p>With Heat Wave, Zapdos can run Hidden Power Grass over Hidden Power Ice, losing super effective coverage on Gliscor and Salamence, but gaining the ability to beat its biggest counter, Swampert. If you do run Roar, use Hidden Power Ice so that you will have better type coverage. Be advised that to beat maximum HP Scizor, Heat Wave is needed to prevent it from Roosting off the damage dealt by a neutral Thunderbolt, since you lack attacking power when using this bulky EV spread. The 36 Speed EVs are used so that you can still outrun max Speed non-Scarf Tyranitar even with the Speed point lost by running Hidden Power Ice.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Even though this Zapdos makes a great defensive addition to any team, it is fairly easy to wall. As with any specially-based attacker, Blissey is the most effective counter to this set. Latias is another Pokémon who does not mind taking attacks from Zapdos thanks to her high Special Defense, resistance to Electric, Fire, and Grass, and access to Calm Mind. A bulky user of Pursuit can help cover these weaknesses; Scizor is a perfect candidate for this, as it resists both of Latias’ STAB moves (though he ( it wouldn't make sense the way this is being said so you should put he) must be wary of Hidden Power Fire). Metagross is another excellent choice, as it resists both of Zapdos' weaknesses and can damage both Blissey and Latias greatly with its STAB Meteor Mash. Zapdos also has issues with Stealth Rock, making a Rapid Spinner such as Starmie very beneficial on your team.</p>
<p>Other counters to Zapdos vary depending on which moves you choose. Swampert can easily stop any Zapdos who lacks Hidden Power Grass, while Celebi does not fear Zapdos who lack Heat Wave. Tyranitar’s high Special Defense and STAB Rock-type moves make it a suitable counter to Zapdos as well. A Celebi of your own can force out Swampert with the threat of a Leaf Storm or Grass Knot, while Life Orb Latias can take care of Salamence or Gliscor if you lack Hidden Power Ice. Both of these Pokemon can be easily Pursuited by Tyranitar, however.</p>
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Thunder Wave / Light Screen
move 4: Heat Wave / Hidden Power Ice
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 224 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is similar to the Defensive Roost set, but with a spread focused more on Special Defense. Though the sets are similar, they play very differently; the Special Defense EVs allow Zapdos to switch in much more easily against special attackers like Heatran. Zapdos still has enough Defense to switch in on most unboosted neutral physical attacks, though super effective hits will significantly damage it.</p>
<p>Thunderbolt is Zapdos’ main form of STAB, and even with no EV investment in Special Attack, it will deal a healthy amount of damage to any Pokemon who doesn’t resist it. Roost allows Zapdos to restore 50% of its health in one turn, which helps on such a defensive Pokemon. Thunder Wave is the main choice in the third slot to provide paralysis support, but Light Screen can be used to better sponge special hits and support your team. Heat Wave is the best choice in the final slot to hit Steel-types, but Hidden Power Ice can be used instead if you wish to hit Dragons.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set runs into many of the same problems as the previous set. Blissey, Latias, and Tyranitar still wall this set. Metagross, Scizor, Tyranitar, and Machamp are very good partners to this set to help cover Zapdos' weakness to the aforementioned Pokemon. Swampert and Celebi are also good switch-ins against this set, although they will struggle to beat Zapdos one on one. Toxic Spikes are a great complement to this set as well since Zapdos’ counters are usually grounded specially-based walls who rely on recovery to win. It is also important to note that this set will have more difficulty countering powerful physical threats due to its lower Defense stat, so make sure to back Zapdos up appropriately with Pokémon like Gliscor, Rotom-A, and Skarmory.</p>
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Toxic
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 184 SpD / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Zapdos' best way of annoying the opponent is stalling them out with Substitute and Roost when Toxic Spikes are up, and it does quite a good job at it. The aim of this set is to be used in conjunction with Toxic Spikes to accumulate poison damage on some of Zapdos's usual switch-ins, while taking advantage of Pressure to waste your opponent's PP. This includes Tyranitar, non-Cleric Blissey, and Thick Fat Snorlax. Substitute and Roost used wisely will keep you at high health while also being able to block status.</p>
<p>Almost all Flying Pokémon immune to Toxic Spikes will fall to Zapdos' STAB Thunderbolt, or in Gliscor's case, Hidden Power Ice. Toxic is also a viable option in the last slot if you decide to not run this set alongside Toxic Spikes, though it is recommended that you do. Toxic has additional usefulness in poisoning Pokémon immune to Toxic Spikes, namely Levitators. Few Steel-type Pokémon can reliably switch in (with the exception of Heatran and Calm Mind Wish Jirachi). Metagross without Ice Punch can be outstalled and worn down with Thunderbolt, and Empoleon has a very little chance of not falling.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Zapdos does a good job outstalling most walls and outspeeding many Pokémon, and this set combines those two assets perfectly. This version of Zapdos outspeeds Adamant Lucario and can take multiple hits from it. Maximizing Speed can also prove to be a worthwhile investment on this set, as Zapdos has a great base 100 Speed to abuse. This can prove invaluable in letting you set up a fast Substitute before taking hits from threats such as Salamence and Jolly Lucario. It also gets a free Substitute if it comes in on a Choice-locked Ground-type move.</p>
<p>Since the aim of this set is to stall, this Zapdos works best when paired with Toxic Spikes. Forretress and Tentacruel both resist Ice moves aimed at Zapdos and can set up Toxic Spikes, while also being able to Rapid Spin Stealth Rock away to benefit Zapdos even more. Roserade and Smeargle do not particularly work well with Zapdos defensively, but they deserve mention because they are the only other Pokémon who can reliably set Toxic Spikes up for your team in OU, and can also put a Pokemon to sleep with Sleep Powder and Spore respectively. If you find yourself in a situation where Zapdos is easily countered by your opponent’s team, Baton Pass might prove to be a worthwhile option in conjunction with Substitute on this set, allowing your teammates to get in for free even if Zapdos is incapable of stalling.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Offensive Zapdos can be quite a threat to teams that expect a weaker, more defensive Zapdos. The given attacks provide surprisingly good coverage in OU, and with Zapdos' massive Special Attack, can cause quite some havoc. With Hidden Power Ice as your last move, no Pokémon resists all of the moves besides the uncommon Lanturn. Add in the fact that Zapdos is very bulky even with no EV investment and has access to Roost to heal off damage, and you’ll find that this Zapdos can be a very durable offensive powerhouse.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Life Orb is the recommended item for the extra power, but Leftovers is somewhat viable as well for allowing Zapdos to heal damage gradually. If Swampert isn't a problem for you, Hidden Power Grass can be dropped for Hidden Power Ice for a psuedo-BoltBeam combo. A Timid nature is the preferred choice for the purpose of outspeeding more threats, but a Modest nature can be used instead if you would rather have more power as opposed to more Speed.</p>
<p>This set is a bit more difficult to counter than the previous two sets because it makes use of Zapdos’ impressive Special Attack stat and type coverage, but it is still stopped cold by Blissey. Physically-bulky Pursuit users are a great way to deal with her. Because of the lack of defensive investment, this Zapdos is especially prone to revenge killing. When using this offensive set, it is important that you also pair it up with Pokémon who can switch into the likes of Mamoswine’s Ice Shard, Lucario’s ExtremeSpeed, and to a lesser extent, Scizor’s Bullet Punch. A Skarmory, Choice Scarf Magnezone, or your own Scizor can be used to remedy this weakness. Skarmory gets a special mention as it can effectively use Spikes to rack up residual damage on the opponent and punish them for switching in and out of Zapdos.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Scarf Zapdos is meant to lead and give issues to common leads like Azelf, Metagross, and Heatran. If the opposing lead is not a great match up, Zapdos can U-turn away to an appropriate counter. Hidden Power Ice is chosen because it complements Thunderbolt well, and offers the chance to revenge kill Dragonite and Salamence. If defeating Swampert is of absolute importance, Hidden Power Grass is also completely viable on this set. With Heat Wave, Zapdos can reliably revenge kill opposing Steel-types like Agility Metagross. The given EVs allow Zapdos to Speed tie with +1 Dragon Dance Salamence (if Zapdos is holding Choice Scarf), and possibly revenge kill it with Hidden Power Ice. This is very important, as Dragon Dance Salamence is arguably the most threatening sweeper in today’s metagame. Choice Specs could be used as an alternative item on this set for more power, but Choice Scarf is generally preferred as it allows Zapdos to act as a more effective revenge killer.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Much like with other Zapdos sets, Blissey will wall you to no end. Swampert is a pretty good match-up against this set, as is Tyranitar (though both need to watch out for Hidden Power Grass). If your opponent is especially gutsy, they could even send in a Water-type to resist Heat Wave or Hidden Power Ice and force you to take more damage from Stealth Rock. Latias also switches into this set with impunity, but she must be wary of U-turn. In order to fix these problems, Scizor makes a great partner, since it is capable of dealing with Tyranitar, Blissey, and Latias quite easily. Zapdos’ weakness to Stealth Rock is a massive hindrance for this set, as without Roost you are sacrificing one of its best assets in its defensive longevity. Because of that, pairing this Zapdos with a Wish user such as Jirachi or Blissey can greatly prolong Zapdos' lifespan. Rapid Spin support is also helpful; Starmie and Tentacruel are good choices to supply this.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 88 SpA / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is fairly straightforward: set up an Agility while your opponent switches to a Zapdos counter, Substitute while you’re faster than the opposing Pokemon, and then Baton Pass to a sweeper with low Speed. Physical attackers are often the best choices as they scare off Blissey, who is a very common switch-in to Zapdos, while also doing well against generic Electric-types like Jolteon who may also switch into Zapdos. It is important to note that this set is meant to be played defensively, utilizing Zapdos’ amazing typing and bulk to get the Baton Pass off instead of just boosting your stats, setting up a Substitute, and attempting to sweep.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set has a defensive set-up to ensure that Zapdos has the bulk for pulling off an Agility and Substitute. You can afford to cut down on Speed here because you will be outspeeding everything after an Agility except Choice Scarfers like Latias or Starmie. The 36 Speed EVs are recommended to allow you to beat Jolly Tyranitar even if your Speed IV is 30 (because of Hidden Power), but you may want to use a bit more Speed in order to outpace common Choice Scarfers such as Flygon or Heatran after an Agility. The Defense is here so you can take physical hits from Pokémon like Gyarados or Metagross, but you can shift it to Special Defense so you stand a better chance against Starmie, Latias, and other special attackers.</p>
<p>As with most Baton Passers, this Zapdos is fairly difficult for your opponent to counter directly. Good supporters would be Pokémon such as Metagross or Lucario, who would both be relatively easy to Baton Pass to considering they resist both of Zapdos’ weaknesses. Other slow-but-powerful Pokémon can use this to their advantage, such as Swords Dance Heracross or Rhyperior, and Nasty Plot Porygon-Z. Since nearly every Pokémon in the game benefits from a +2 Speed boost, this Zapdos will surely be an asset to your team. Many Pokemon also benefit from being Passed a Substitute, and Zapdos can effectively do that as well. Frail Pokemon in particular appreciate a Substitute Pass, as it allows them to take a hit that they would otherwise take heavy damage from.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Like nearly every special attacker in the game, Zapdos is walled by Blissey. It is important to carry a Pokémon who can reliably switch into her so that Zapdos does not get hit with a harmful status effect. Pokémon such as Tyranitar, Machamp, Metagross, and Snorlax are perfect for this role. Latias also laughs at most Zapdos sets due to her typing, but Steel-types such as Scizor, Metagross, and Bronzong can once again come in handy here. Since most of Zapdos’ counters are vulnerable to Pursuit, you will want to pair Zapdos with a reliable user of the move, like Scizor or Tyranitar.</p>
<p>Bulky Ground-types such as Swampert and Hippowdon can reliably counter Zapdos. Hidden Power Grass is mentioned on almost every set solely to prevent these Pokémon from easily walling you. Using a Grass-type such as Celebi or Tangrowth can also help to get rid of these counters. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune, Gyarados, or your own Swampert could be just as useful in dealing with these threats.</p>
<p>One of Zapdos’ biggest issues is its weakness to Stealth Rock. For this reason, Rapid Spin support is hugely appreciated. Life Orb Starmie makes a great partner as it can reliably deal with Ground-types who wall Zapdos, and can also defeat common Spin blockers with its STAB Hydro Pump. Tentacruel and Forretress are also good partners, as they can supply both Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes support; Toxic Spikes will greatly benefit Zapdos in stalling out its counters, so they are very beneficial to have if you are using Zapdos in a defensive role.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Zapdos is a sturdy user of Rain Dance and can back it up with a 100% accurate, STAB Thunder off of one of the highest Special Attack stats in OU. It can also use a defensive set utilizing Rest and Sleep Talk that was standard in Advance, but it is much more difficult to use in the heavily offensive metagame of the 4th generation. Thunder Wave is good as ever to support a slower team, especially a slow sweeper like Rhyperior. Discharge is a very viable choice for Zapdos thanks to its 30% paralysis rate. Zapdos is also capable of utilizing a Metal Sound set, but it is very similar to the offensive set already listed here.</p>
<p>Generally, you'll want a defensive Zapdos to have nearly maxed out HP and a ton in either of its defenses. It is important to remember that using 248 HP EVs is more beneficial than fully maximizing HP, since it allows you to switch into Stealth Rock five times instead of four, in addition to reducing residual damage. Using max HP does allow you recover additional HP with Leftovers, but the common weather conditions in OU will nullify Leftovers recovery. On sweeping sets, you should invest in Speed. On offensive Zapdos, you should always max Speed to at least Speed tie with opposing max Speed Salamence. The defensive Roost sets can opt for a faster spread if you want them to beat Lucario more easily. 176 Speed EVs with a Speed-boosting nature will outspeed all non-Scarfed Lucario. HP should then be maxed and the remaining 80 EVs poured into Special Attack or Defense.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Blissey and Snorlax stop all of Zapdos’ attacks cold. Electric-types do well against Zapdos, especially those immune to Thunderbolt, like Jolteon or Electivire. Flygon and Gliscor have a relatively easy time against Zapdos without Hidden Power Ice, while Swampert can wall Zapdos without Hidden Power Grass. Latias isn’t hit hard by any of Zapdos’ attacks, and can Calm Mind in its face. Grass-types such as Celebi or Roserade can do well against some Zapdos, but must be wary of Heat Wave and U-turn. Steelix also does decently against versions who lack Heat Wave, and even boasts an immunity to Toxic. With Sand Stream boosting its Special Defense, Tyranitar makes an excellent counter, particularly the specially defensive versions. Although Zapdos can conceivably stall out Stone Edge's low PP (Pressure only gives Tyranitar four chances to use it), Tyranitar will beat Zapdos by using Crunch.</p>
<p>Zapdos has a tremendous defensive typing, which includes resistances and immunities to the most common moves of top-tier OU threats such as Scizor, Lucario, and Flygon. Although Zapdos’ Stealth Rock weakness limits its walling capabilities, Roost and Rapid Spin support help combat that problem. Zapdos is capable of taking on many of the OU tier’s top physical threats thanks to its all-around great stats and typing. Zapdos’ high Special Attack and good Speed means that it can also perform wonderfully in an offensive role, and can even use Baton Pass to effectively support its teammates with stat boosts. Zapdos also struggles with the ever-popular Tyranitar, although this can be combated with proper team support. Despite a few flaws, Zapdos is still a very effective Pokémon, and a threat who should always be considered when building a team.</p>
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Heat Wave / Roar
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 228 Def / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With only two weaknesses, good stats overall, Roost for recovery, and Pressure to waste opponents' PP, this Zapdos makes a great tank. You can come in with relative safety against many top OU sweepers and various tanks and walls. From there you can stall out your opponents with Roost, or deal some damage with Thunderbolt, which will hurt even with no EV investment thanks to Zapdos’ base 125 Special Attack.</p>
<p>With Heat Wave, Zapdos can run Hidden Power Grass over Hidden Power Ice, losing super effective coverage on Gliscor and Salamence, but gaining the ability to beat its biggest counter, Swampert. If you do run Roar, use Hidden Power Ice so that you will have better type coverage. Be advised that to beat maximum HP Scizor, Heat Wave is needed to prevent it from Roosting off the damage dealt by a neutral Thunderbolt, since you lack attacking power when using this bulky EV spread. The 36 Speed EVs are used so that you can still outrun max Speed non-Scarf Tyranitar even with the Speed point lost by running Hidden Power Ice.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Even though this Zapdos makes a great defensive addition to any team, it is fairly easy to wall. As with any specially-based attacker, Blissey is the most effective counter to this set. Latias is another Pokémon who does not mind taking attacks from Zapdos thanks to her high Special Defense, resistance to Electric, Fire, and Grass, and access to Calm Mind. A bulky user of Pursuit can help cover these weaknesses; Scizor is a perfect candidate for this, as it resists both of Latias’ STAB moves (though he ( it wouldn't make sense the way this is being said so you should put he) must be wary of Hidden Power Fire). Metagross is another excellent choice, as it resists both of Zapdos' weaknesses and can damage both Blissey and Latias greatly with its STAB Meteor Mash. Zapdos also has issues with Stealth Rock, making a Rapid Spinner such as Starmie very beneficial on your team.</p>
<p>Other counters to Zapdos vary depending on which moves you choose. Swampert can easily stop any Zapdos who lacks Hidden Power Grass, while Celebi does not fear Zapdos who lack Heat Wave. Tyranitar’s high Special Defense and STAB Rock-type moves make it a suitable counter to Zapdos as well. A Celebi of your own can force out Swampert with the threat of a Leaf Storm or Grass Knot, while Life Orb Latias can take care of Salamence or Gliscor if you lack Hidden Power Ice. Both of these Pokemon can be easily Pursuited by Tyranitar, however.</p>
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Thunder Wave / Light Screen
move 4: Heat Wave / Hidden Power Ice
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 224 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is similar to the Defensive Roost set, but with a spread focused more on Special Defense. Though the sets are similar, they play very differently; the Special Defense EVs allow Zapdos to switch in much more easily against special attackers like Heatran. Zapdos still has enough Defense to switch in on most unboosted neutral physical attacks, though super effective hits will significantly damage it.</p>
<p>Thunderbolt is Zapdos’ main form of STAB, and even with no EV investment in Special Attack, it will deal a healthy amount of damage to any Pokemon who doesn’t resist it. Roost allows Zapdos to restore 50% of its health in one turn, which helps on such a defensive Pokemon. Thunder Wave is the main choice in the third slot to provide paralysis support, but Light Screen can be used to better sponge special hits and support your team. Heat Wave is the best choice in the final slot to hit Steel-types, but Hidden Power Ice can be used instead if you wish to hit Dragons.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set runs into many of the same problems as the previous set. Blissey, Latias, and Tyranitar still wall this set. Metagross, Scizor, Tyranitar, and Machamp are very good partners to this set to help cover Zapdos' weakness to the aforementioned Pokemon. Swampert and Celebi are also good switch-ins against this set, although they will struggle to beat Zapdos one on one. Toxic Spikes are a great complement to this set as well since Zapdos’ counters are usually grounded specially-based walls who rely on recovery to win. It is also important to note that this set will have more difficulty countering powerful physical threats due to its lower Defense stat, so make sure to back Zapdos up appropriately with Pokémon like Gliscor, Rotom-A, and Skarmory.</p>
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Toxic
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 184 SpD / 76 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Zapdos' best way of annoying the opponent is stalling them out with Substitute and Roost when Toxic Spikes are up, and it does quite a good job at it. The aim of this set is to be used in conjunction with Toxic Spikes to accumulate poison damage on some of Zapdos's usual switch-ins, while taking advantage of Pressure to waste your opponent's PP. This includes Tyranitar, non-Cleric Blissey, and Thick Fat Snorlax. Substitute and Roost used wisely will keep you at high health while also being able to block status.</p>
<p>Almost all Flying Pokémon immune to Toxic Spikes will fall to Zapdos' STAB Thunderbolt, or in Gliscor's case, Hidden Power Ice. Toxic is also a viable option in the last slot if you decide to not run this set alongside Toxic Spikes, though it is recommended that you do. Toxic has additional usefulness in poisoning Pokémon immune to Toxic Spikes, namely Levitators. Few Steel-type Pokémon can reliably switch in (with the exception of Heatran and Calm Mind Wish Jirachi). Metagross without Ice Punch can be outstalled and worn down with Thunderbolt, and Empoleon has a very little chance of not falling.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Zapdos does a good job outstalling most walls and outspeeding many Pokémon, and this set combines those two assets perfectly. This version of Zapdos outspeeds Adamant Lucario and can take multiple hits from it. Maximizing Speed can also prove to be a worthwhile investment on this set, as Zapdos has a great base 100 Speed to abuse. This can prove invaluable in letting you set up a fast Substitute before taking hits from threats such as Salamence and Jolly Lucario. It also gets a free Substitute if it comes in on a Choice-locked Ground-type move.</p>
<p>Since the aim of this set is to stall, this Zapdos works best when paired with Toxic Spikes. Forretress and Tentacruel both resist Ice moves aimed at Zapdos and can set up Toxic Spikes, while also being able to Rapid Spin Stealth Rock away to benefit Zapdos even more. Roserade and Smeargle do not particularly work well with Zapdos defensively, but they deserve mention because they are the only other Pokémon who can reliably set Toxic Spikes up for your team in OU, and can also put a Pokemon to sleep with Sleep Powder and Spore respectively. If you find yourself in a situation where Zapdos is easily countered by your opponent’s team, Baton Pass might prove to be a worthwhile option in conjunction with Substitute on this set, allowing your teammates to get in for free even if Zapdos is incapable of stalling.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Offensive Zapdos can be quite a threat to teams that expect a weaker, more defensive Zapdos. The given attacks provide surprisingly good coverage in OU, and with Zapdos' massive Special Attack, can cause quite some havoc. With Hidden Power Ice as your last move, no Pokémon resists all of the moves besides the uncommon Lanturn. Add in the fact that Zapdos is very bulky even with no EV investment and has access to Roost to heal off damage, and you’ll find that this Zapdos can be a very durable offensive powerhouse.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Life Orb is the recommended item for the extra power, but Leftovers is somewhat viable as well for allowing Zapdos to heal damage gradually. If Swampert isn't a problem for you, Hidden Power Grass can be dropped for Hidden Power Ice for a psuedo-BoltBeam combo. A Timid nature is the preferred choice for the purpose of outspeeding more threats, but a Modest nature can be used instead if you would rather have more power as opposed to more Speed.</p>
<p>This set is a bit more difficult to counter than the previous two sets because it makes use of Zapdos’ impressive Special Attack stat and type coverage, but it is still stopped cold by Blissey. Physically-bulky Pursuit users are a great way to deal with her. Because of the lack of defensive investment, this Zapdos is especially prone to revenge killing. When using this offensive set, it is important that you also pair it up with Pokémon who can switch into the likes of Mamoswine’s Ice Shard, Lucario’s ExtremeSpeed, and to a lesser extent, Scizor’s Bullet Punch. A Skarmory, Choice Scarf Magnezone, or your own Scizor can be used to remedy this weakness. Skarmory gets a special mention as it can effectively use Spikes to rack up residual damage on the opponent and punish them for switching in and out of Zapdos.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Scarf Zapdos is meant to lead and give issues to common leads like Azelf, Metagross, and Heatran. If the opposing lead is not a great match up, Zapdos can U-turn away to an appropriate counter. Hidden Power Ice is chosen because it complements Thunderbolt well, and offers the chance to revenge kill Dragonite and Salamence. If defeating Swampert is of absolute importance, Hidden Power Grass is also completely viable on this set. With Heat Wave, Zapdos can reliably revenge kill opposing Steel-types like Agility Metagross. The given EVs allow Zapdos to Speed tie with +1 Dragon Dance Salamence (if Zapdos is holding Choice Scarf), and possibly revenge kill it with Hidden Power Ice. This is very important, as Dragon Dance Salamence is arguably the most threatening sweeper in today’s metagame. Choice Specs could be used as an alternative item on this set for more power, but Choice Scarf is generally preferred as it allows Zapdos to act as a more effective revenge killer.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Much like with other Zapdos sets, Blissey will wall you to no end. Swampert is a pretty good match-up against this set, as is Tyranitar (though both need to watch out for Hidden Power Grass). If your opponent is especially gutsy, they could even send in a Water-type to resist Heat Wave or Hidden Power Ice and force you to take more damage from Stealth Rock. Latias also switches into this set with impunity, but she must be wary of U-turn. In order to fix these problems, Scizor makes a great partner, since it is capable of dealing with Tyranitar, Blissey, and Latias quite easily. Zapdos’ weakness to Stealth Rock is a massive hindrance for this set, as without Roost you are sacrificing one of its best assets in its defensive longevity. Because of that, pairing this Zapdos with a Wish user such as Jirachi or Blissey can greatly prolong Zapdos' lifespan. Rapid Spin support is also helpful; Starmie and Tentacruel are good choices to supply this.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 88 SpA / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is fairly straightforward: set up an Agility while your opponent switches to a Zapdos counter, Substitute while you’re faster than the opposing Pokemon, and then Baton Pass to a sweeper with low Speed. Physical attackers are often the best choices as they scare off Blissey, who is a very common switch-in to Zapdos, while also doing well against generic Electric-types like Jolteon who may also switch into Zapdos. It is important to note that this set is meant to be played defensively, utilizing Zapdos’ amazing typing and bulk to get the Baton Pass off instead of just boosting your stats, setting up a Substitute, and attempting to sweep.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set has a defensive set-up to ensure that Zapdos has the bulk for pulling off an Agility and Substitute. You can afford to cut down on Speed here because you will be outspeeding everything after an Agility except Choice Scarfers like Latias or Starmie. The 36 Speed EVs are recommended to allow you to beat Jolly Tyranitar even if your Speed IV is 30 (because of Hidden Power), but you may want to use a bit more Speed in order to outpace common Choice Scarfers such as Flygon or Heatran after an Agility. The Defense is here so you can take physical hits from Pokémon like Gyarados or Metagross, but you can shift it to Special Defense so you stand a better chance against Starmie, Latias, and other special attackers.</p>
<p>As with most Baton Passers, this Zapdos is fairly difficult for your opponent to counter directly. Good supporters would be Pokémon such as Metagross or Lucario, who would both be relatively easy to Baton Pass to considering they resist both of Zapdos’ weaknesses. Other slow-but-powerful Pokémon can use this to their advantage, such as Swords Dance Heracross or Rhyperior, and Nasty Plot Porygon-Z. Since nearly every Pokémon in the game benefits from a +2 Speed boost, this Zapdos will surely be an asset to your team. Many Pokemon also benefit from being Passed a Substitute, and Zapdos can effectively do that as well. Frail Pokemon in particular appreciate a Substitute Pass, as it allows them to take a hit that they would otherwise take heavy damage from.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Like nearly every special attacker in the game, Zapdos is walled by Blissey. It is important to carry a Pokémon who can reliably switch into her so that Zapdos does not get hit with a harmful status effect. Pokémon such as Tyranitar, Machamp, Metagross, and Snorlax are perfect for this role. Latias also laughs at most Zapdos sets due to her typing, but Steel-types such as Scizor, Metagross, and Bronzong can once again come in handy here. Since most of Zapdos’ counters are vulnerable to Pursuit, you will want to pair Zapdos with a reliable user of the move, like Scizor or Tyranitar.</p>
<p>Bulky Ground-types such as Swampert and Hippowdon can reliably counter Zapdos. Hidden Power Grass is mentioned on almost every set solely to prevent these Pokémon from easily walling you. Using a Grass-type such as Celebi or Tangrowth can also help to get rid of these counters. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune, Gyarados, or your own Swampert could be just as useful in dealing with these threats.</p>
<p>One of Zapdos’ biggest issues is its weakness to Stealth Rock. For this reason, Rapid Spin support is hugely appreciated. Life Orb Starmie makes a great partner as it can reliably deal with Ground-types who wall Zapdos, and can also defeat common Spin blockers with its STAB Hydro Pump. Tentacruel and Forretress are also good partners, as they can supply both Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes support; Toxic Spikes will greatly benefit Zapdos in stalling out its counters, so they are very beneficial to have if you are using Zapdos in a defensive role.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Zapdos is a sturdy user of Rain Dance and can back it up with a 100% accurate, STAB Thunder off of one of the highest Special Attack stats in OU. It can also use a defensive set utilizing Rest and Sleep Talk that was standard in Advance, but it is much more difficult to use in the heavily offensive metagame of the 4th generation. Thunder Wave is good as ever to support a slower team, especially a slow sweeper like Rhyperior. Discharge is a very viable choice for Zapdos thanks to its 30% paralysis rate. Zapdos is also capable of utilizing a Metal Sound set, but it is very similar to the offensive set already listed here.</p>
<p>Generally, you'll want a defensive Zapdos to have nearly maxed out HP and a ton in either of its defenses. It is important to remember that using 248 HP EVs is more beneficial than fully maximizing HP, since it allows you to switch into Stealth Rock five times instead of four, in addition to reducing residual damage. Using max HP does allow you recover additional HP with Leftovers, but the common weather conditions in OU will nullify Leftovers recovery. On sweeping sets, you should invest in Speed. On offensive Zapdos, you should always max Speed to at least Speed tie with opposing max Speed Salamence. The defensive Roost sets can opt for a faster spread if you want them to beat Lucario more easily. 176 Speed EVs with a Speed-boosting nature will outspeed all non-Scarfed Lucario. HP should then be maxed and the remaining 80 EVs poured into Special Attack or Defense.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Blissey and Snorlax stop all of Zapdos’ attacks cold. Electric-types do well against Zapdos, especially those immune to Thunderbolt, like Jolteon or Electivire. Flygon and Gliscor have a relatively easy time against Zapdos without Hidden Power Ice, while Swampert can wall Zapdos without Hidden Power Grass. Latias isn’t hit hard by any of Zapdos’ attacks, and can Calm Mind in its face. Grass-types such as Celebi or Roserade can do well against some Zapdos, but must be wary of Heat Wave and U-turn. Steelix also does decently against versions who lack Heat Wave, and even boasts an immunity to Toxic. With Sand Stream boosting its Special Defense, Tyranitar makes an excellent counter, particularly the specially defensive versions. Although Zapdos can conceivably stall out Stone Edge's low PP (Pressure only gives Tyranitar four chances to use it), Tyranitar will beat Zapdos by using Crunch.</p>
Changes in bold
