QC: terrors / Misaka Mikoto / Eien
GP: CryoGyro
GP: CryoGyro
[OVERVIEW]
Electric
========
* Zapdos's typing, bulk, and invaluable immunity to Ground make it an excellent defensive pivot to use on Electric teams.
* It is the only entry hazard remover that the type has access to.
* It has access to reliable recovery in Roost, allowing it to keep its health up while tanking hits.
* Access to Heat Wave makes it a great check to Steel-types that Electric teams struggle with like Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and Magearna.
* Pressure is an excellent ability for a Defogger, as it allows Zapdos to PP stall Stealth Rock if it's set up again and again on it.
* However, its typing leaves it weak to Stealth Rock, limiting the number of times that it can switch into attacks and remove hazards.
* Without investment, Zapdos's Defense isn't amazing, so it's prone to being KOed by strong physical attackers like Victini and Mega Garchomp.
* It is prone to being setup fodder for Pokemon like Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Mega Garchomp due to underwhelming offensive presence and usual lack of status moves.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive Pivot (Electric)
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Heat Wave
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 132 SpD / 108 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Volt Switch allows Zapdos to bring in a teammate safely after removing entry hazards or taking damage.
* Roost is a reliable source of recovery and lets Zapdos keep its health up during the battle, which is especially important for switching into Stealth Rock. It also lets Zapdos use Defog safely and continue tanking attacks from the opposing team, being able to switch into the likes of Hydreigon, Alakazam, and most other special attackers that can only hit it neutrally.
* Defog allows Zapdos to clear up any annoying hazards, mostly Stealth Rock, that hinder an Electric-type team's ability to pivot often.
* Heat Wave gives Zapdos a way of hitting Steel-types like Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and Bisharp as well as Grass-types like Breloom and Tapu Bulu.
Set Details
========
* 108 EVs in Speed allow Zapdos to outspeed Pokemon with base 70 Speed and a speed-boosting nature such as Jolly Bisharp as well as Timid Magearna, allowing Zapdos to switch into Twinkle Tackle and recover its health with Roost to survive a Fleur Cannon.
* 16 EVs in Defense let Zapdos always survive a Sucker Punch from Jolly Life Orb Bisharp after a Swords Dance.
* The remaining EVs are put into HP and Special Defense to increase its overall bulk and allow it to tank hits more effectively.
* Leftovers give it passive recovery over time, increasing its longevity.
* Pressure is useful for stalling out PP on attacking moves that have low PP, such as Fire Blast and Hydro Pump. It also allows Zapdos to stall out Stealth Rock if it is set up repeatedly against it.
* An alternative spread of 252 HP / 192 SpD / 64 Spe may be used to invest more in its Special Defense while still outspeeding Timid Magearna and Adamant Diggersby.
Usage Tips
========
* Zapdos may be sent it against Pokemon that do not threaten it such as Hippowdon, Pelipper, Magnezone, and Mega Scizor. Said Pokemon don't have much to threaten Zapdos with, providing opportunities to remove entry hazards or preserve momentum with Volt Switch.
* If Stealth Rock is being set up, Zapdos may switch in on the same turn to avoid having to switch in and take Stealth Rock damage later on. It exerts Pressure upon switching in as well, causing the target to lose more PP while setting Stealth Rock up. However, it must not attempt to use Defog against a Pokemon that threatens it with super effective moves.
* Although it is weak to Stealth Rock, Zapdos can switch in and Defog them away against a slower Pokemon.
* Zapdos should use Roost whenever possible to keep its health up and allow it to switch in again later on in the battle.
* Zapdos can switch in relatively easily against Excadrill, as if Excadrill goes for Rock Slide, it is then trapped and walled by Magnezone, since most Excadrill tend to run a Choice item.
* Whenever against a Pokemon that has a good matchup against Zapdos, Volt Switch should be used to bring in a teammate that can check the opposing Pokemon safely.
* Pressure allows Zapdos to stall out special attackers like Magearna with Roost, making it a good switch-in to them.
* If the opponent has an Electric-immune Pokemon, care should be taken when choosing to use Volt Switch, as it would be an easy switch-in for said Pokemon.
* However, if the opposing Pokemon threatens to KO Zapdos, it would be a better idea to immediately switch out into a more appropriate check, as Zapdos's bulk can come in useful later on in the battle.
* Zapdos must be kept away from Toxic, as it hinders its longevity immensely, prevents it from continuously keeping its health up with Roost, and eventually forces it to switch out.
Team Options
========
* Zapdos fits on almost any Electric team due to its ability to pivot in and remove entry hazards efficiently.
* Rotom-W forms an excellent defensive core with Zapdos; it is a good defensive check to physical attackers like Garchomp and Landorus-T with Will-O-Wisp, is able to threaten Ground- and Rock-types with Hydro Pump, and can switch into Ice-type moves. Zapdos in turn can switch into Grass-type moves that threaten Rotom-W.
* Air Balloon Magnezone is able to trap and remove Excadrill, easing the pressure on Zapdos to constantly switch into it.
* Tapu Koko is brought in safely with a Volt Switch from Zapdos and is able to threaten Dragon teams with Dazzling Gleam. It also appreciates the entry hazard removal from Zapdos due to its tendency to switch in and out repeatedly.
* Alolan Golem is able to get past special walls that Zapdos struggles with like Alolan Muk. Chansey is also dealt with if Alolan Golem holds a Life Orb. It appreciates the Volt Switch from Zapdos to come in and break walls, as its poor defensive typing and bulk make it hard to switch into an attack directly. It is also able to set up Stealth Rock, and with constant pressure from Zapdos can force the opponent to take chip damage on any forced switch.
* Alolan Raichu is able to threaten Ground-types immensely with its coverage options in Grass Knot and Surf and also helps in getting past Poison-types like Mega Venusaur and Nidoking with Psychic.
* Xurkitree is a great wallbreaker that pairs well with Zapdos. It's able to dent Ground teams with a combination of Energy Ball and Hidden Power Ice and is able to completely beat stall Water teams that Zapdos has trouble with. It can be safely brought in with a Volt Switch to even utilize a Z-Hypnosis and Tail Glow set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
--------
* Toxic may be used to passively wear down defensive threats like opposing Zapdos, Hippowdon, Porygon2, and Cradily.
* Discharge may be used to fish for paralysis. However, it is not worth using over the pivot utility from Volt Switch.
* Hidden Power Ice may be used to hit the likes of Gliscor, Landorus, and Garchomp for much more damage. However, without investment in Special Attack, it is rather weak, and it doesn't do much to anything else.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
--------
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Zapdos is beaten by special walls like Chansey, Gastrodon, and Cradily, which are able to easily tank any of its attacks and may retaliate using status moves. Zapdos should never try to take them on directly and should pivot out with Volt Switch instead.
**Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers like Mega Charizard Y, Victini, and Choice Specs Meloetta threaten to 2HKO Zapdos with powerful attacks, preventing Zapdos from switching into them. They are usually faster as well, preventing Zapdos from attempting to heal damage taken with Roost.
**Stallbreakers**: Stallbreakers like Mew, Mega Sableye, and Gliscor take minimal damage from Zapdos's attacks and can proceed to set up on it, cripple it with status, or prevent it from using Defog and Roost. Gliscor and Mew carry Taunt to prevent Zapdos from using support moves, while Mega Sableye is able to outstall its Roost while removing its item with Knock Off.
**Setup Sweepers**: Due to Zapdos's underwhelming offensive presence, it is prone to being setup fodder. Many Pokemon like Mega Garchomp, Gliscor, and Landorus-T easily find ways to set up on it, since they aren't threatened by its attacks, and threaten to KO it in return.
**Electric-immune Pokemon**: Pokemon like Lanturn and Alolan Marowak completely wall Zapdos and may retaliate with status moves or hard-hitting attacks in the case of Alolan Marowak. They also prevent Zapdos from pivoting out with Volt Switch and resist all of its coverage moves, forcing Zapdos to switch out manually, causing a loss of momentum.
**Dragon-types**: Zapdos is easily walled by almost every Dragon-type. Although it is able to switch into Latios's Draco Meteor, it is threatened by Kyurem-B and Garchomp. Garchomp is especially problematic, as it can set up Stealth Rock to damage Zapdos when it comes back in or proceed to fire off powerful Dragon-type moves.
**Rock-types**: Rock-type Pokemon threaten to KO Zapdos with their Rock-type STAB moves, some notable threats being Rhyperior, Terrakion, Nihilego, and Mega Aerodactyl. They force Zapdos to pivot out and easily set up Stealth Rock multiple times to hinder it when it switches back in.
**Ice-types**: Although Zapdos is able to hit slower Ice-types like Lapras and Avalugg, it is threatened directly by faster Ice-types like Kyurem-B, Alolan Ninetales, and Cloyster, which are able to heavily dent Zapdos or even KO it with prior damage.
**Toxic Poison**: Despite being immune to paralysis and not affected much by burns, Zapdos is easily worn down by Toxic. Being the only source of entry hazard removal on an Electric team, repeated chip damage from switching into Stealth Rock coupled with damage taken from Toxic and switching into special attacks can affect its longevity by a lot and may leave it unable to clear away hazards effectively.
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