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Zapdos
[Overview]
<p>Zapdos has all the right tools to be one of the most dangerous and versatile Pokemon in the UU metagame. Its amazing typing gives it only two weaknesses, albeit to common attacking types, and a very potent STAB. Base 125 Special Attack allows Zapdos to hit like a truck, and sitting at the excellent base 100 tier, it has the Speed to take advantage of this too. Zapdos can run a variety of sets and coverage combinations, making it very unpredictable. Furthermore, with the lack of Chansey in the tier, Zapdos can sweep with greater ease than ever. However, its not all peaches for the god of thunder, as switching in, even on Water-types, can be difficult with a Stealth Rock weakness and the fear of getting burnt by Scald. Despite these shortcomings, Zapdos is a huge asset to almost any team, and will rarely disappoint you.</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
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set's raw power, Speed, and coverage make it incredibly difficult to safely switch into, especially if you don't know which Hidden Power it's carrying. Thunderbolt is the obligatory STAB, hitting everything that isn't immune to it extremely hard while denting even the Pokemon that resist it. Heat Wave covers Grass-types and hits Steel- and Ice-types harder than Thunderbolt. Hidden Power Grass destroys Swampert and Rhyperior, while Hidden Power Ice covers Flygon while still hitting Rhyperior hard. The former is generally preferred though, as Flygon has a harder time damaging Zapdos than Swampert does. Roost lets Zapdos use its nice resistances to come in multiple times throughout the battle, heal off residual damage, and generally stick around for a long time.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set's EVs are pretty straightforward: Special Attack and Speed are maximized so it can hit as hard and as fast as possible. As for Zapdos's nature, a Modest one is preferred if you don't mind it being outsped by positive-natured base 90 and 95 Speed foes, such as Roserade and non-Choice Scarf Darmanitan. Discharge can be used over Thunderbolt for the increased paralysis chance, but the power difference is very noticeable. Hidden Power Flying can be used as secondary STAB, as it has pretty good coverage with Thunderbolt, hitting Heracross and Grass-types. However, Heat Wave usually suffices against these threats. While Signal Beam might look like an appealing choice to hit Dark- and Psychic-types hard with while maintaining coverage on Grass-types, one should remember that a neutral STAB Thunderbolt will out-damage a super effective Signal Beam, and Heat Wave covers Grass-types better. Volt Switch and U-turn are always options for Zapdos, especially if used with a Choice item.</p>
<p>Snorlax is a surefire counter to this set, so pairing Zapdos with a Fighting-type such as Machamp, provides good offensive synergy. As a bonus, Machamp can take Rock-type moves for Zapdos. Spikes support from the likes of Deoxys-D, Roserade, or Froslass is appreciated. They all have decent offensive or defensive synergy with Zapdos: Roserade can cure status with Aromatherapy, Froslass can take Ice-type moves for it, and Deoxys-D can break special walls with Taunt. Rapid Spin support is very useful for Pokemon who are weak to Stealth Rock, so pairing Zapdos with Hitmontop or Blastoise is usually a good idea.</p>
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Discharge / Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Flying
move 4: Heat Wave / Toxic / Roar
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 236 Def / 24 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is best suited for balanced or stall teams that have problems with strong Fighting- or Bug-types such as Heracross and Escavalier. Discharge becomes the main STAB option here due to the increased chance of paralysis. However, if you have enough status inducers in your team, Thunderbolt is preferred for its greater Base Power. Roost is an absolute staple on this set, as it allows Zapdos to heal off residual damage from Stealth Rock, making switching in easier, and wall more threats. Hidden Power Grass is the main option for the third moveslot because it prevents Swampert and Rhyperior from setting up on Zapdos. STAB Hidden Power Flying is usable too, however, as it scores an OHKO on Heracross and has good coverage with Electric-type moves, hitting Grass-types for super effective damage. Heat Wave should be used with Hidden Power Grass for optimal coverage and preventing Roserade from using Zapdos as setup bait. Toxic can be used if you opted for Hidden Power Flying and Thunderbolt, as the former will scare off Roserade and the latter will rarely cause status interference. Roar is also a good move on this set, especially if your team can provide entry hazard support.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs let Zapdos outrun Adamant Honchkrow and provide optimal physical bulk. Be careful when using Hidden Power Flying though, as it can lower your Speed IVs. When using Hidden Power Grass to stomp on Ground-types, this set is pretty good at spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave, but Discharge is usually enough. Zapdos can always run a variety of Hidden Powers for coverage: Hidden Power Ice for Dragon-, Grass- and Ground-types, and Hidden Power Water for Rotom-H and Rhyperior.</p>
<p>Rapid Spin support is very useful as always, as switching into Stealth Rock puts Zapdos in the 2HKO range of attacks such as Choice Scarf Heracross's Stone Edge. Because of this, Hitmontop and Blastoise make good partners, especially since the former can also take Rock-type moves while the latter can take Ice-type moves for Zapdos. This set really hates status and also likes having Spikes on the opponent's side, especially if it's carrying Roar, so pairing it with Aromatherapy + Spikes Roserade is a very good idea.</p>
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Discharge / Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Heat Wave / Hidden Power Flying
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Roar
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 236 SpD / 24 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is best suited for teams in need of a reliable answer to threats such as Shaymin and bulky Water-types. Discharge is the main STAB option, as the paralysis chance is cool, but Thunderbolt should be used if Zapdos's teammates pack many other status-inflicting moves. Roost lets Zapdos stick around for a while and do its job, mitigating its Stealth Rock weakness somewhat. Heat Wave and Hidden Power Flying provide coverage on Grass-types and Heracross, and are pretty much interchangeable so long as you don't plan on running another Hidden Power. Hidden Power Grass eliminates Swampert and Rhyperior, and is Zapdos's most powerful option against most Ground-types. Roar prevents Calm Mind users such as Suicune and Slowbro, from setting up on Zapdos, and also wears the opposing team down in conjunction with entry hazards.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs are to outpace Adamant Honchkrow and optimize special bulk. Zapdos can also use Hidden Power Water or Hidden Power Ice for coverage on threats such as Rotom-H and Flygon, respectively. Thunder Wave is a good support option if your team can take advantage of the paralysis. Light Screen is an option as well, temporarily making it easier for Zapdos and its teammates to take special attacks.</p>
<p>Due to Zapdos's vulnerability to status, cleric support from the likes of Roserade or Clefable is greatly appreciated. Rapid Spin support from Hitmontop or Blastoise is also very useful, as the removal of Stealth Rock will let Zapdos switch in much more easily. Entry hazards have very good synergy with this set, as it forces a lot of switches and can even use Roar to take further advantage of them.</p>
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Toxic / Hidden Power Ice
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set works well on a variety of teams, but more so on balanced teams in need of a defensive pivot with significant staying power. The idea is simple: use Substitute as Zapdos forces the likes of Slowbro or Bisharp out, hit the switch-in with Toxic, and proceed to stall it out through repeated use of Roost and Substitute, throwing out Thunderbolts whenever Zapdos gets a free turn. Substitute lets Zapdos protect itself from status and stall foes out; Roost provides reliable recovery so that it can heal the HP it sacrifices to create Substitutes. Thunderbolt is this set's preferred STAB for both its higher damage output and lower paralysis rate than Discharge, as Zapdos's aim is to spread Toxic around its opponent's team. Toxic is the move that lets Zapdos stall out opposing Pokemon, but Hidden Power Ice can be used to catch some of this set's common counters, namely Roserade, Nidoking and Nidoqueen, off-guard.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs for this set are pretty straightforward: maximum Speed is required in order to Toxic stall as much as possible through repeated use of Substitute and Roost. The remaining EVs are used to optimize Zapdos's bulk. Because of this set's specific role on a team, there really isn't much one can vary on it without changing its purpose. That being said, Zapdos can always pick and choose the targets it wants to hit with Hidden Power—if Zapdos decides to run it, of course. Heat Wave can also be used, as it does a number on Roserade, Steelix, and other Steel-type Pokemon who are immune to or resist the rest of Zapdos's moves.</p>
<p>If you opt not to run Toxic on this set, pairing Zapdos with a Pokemon that can lay down Toxic Spikes is a great idea. Roserade makes a good partner because of this and its ability to heal status Zapdos might incur through the use of Aromatherapy. Furthermore, if one chooses to give Zapdos Toxic Spikes support, it would be wise to pack a Pokemon who can get rid of grounded Poison-types. Earthquake Heracross does an excellent job at this, luring in and KOing Nidoking and Nidoqueen. Additionally, Weavile can use his strong Pursuit to catch a fleeing Roserade and make sure it cannot come back to absorb Toxic Spikes.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Thanks to Zapdos's surprisingly large movepool for an Electric-type, it can run a variety of moves which can take the opposition by surprise. Charge Beam is Zapdos's only way of boosting its Special Attack, making it a good option with Substitute. Baton Pass is also available to the god of thunder, which it can use with Agility or the aforementioned Charge Beam or Substitute. Good Speed and the ability to take advantage of both weathers lets Zapdos make for an excellent user of Sunny Day or Rain Dance. A Choice set with Volt Switch or U-turn has been mentioned before, but it deserves emphasis here due to being very good at maintaining momentum for you during the battle. As an alternative to Roost, Zapdos can use Rest and Sleep Talk for recovery. However, this is unreliable and requires him to stay in for extended periods of time if he ever hopes to wake up.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Due to the variety of Hidden Powers Zapdos can viably run, its counters aren't always as solid as might seem at first sight. Swampert can safely come in on any set that lacks Hidden Power Grass; the same goes for Flygon and Hidden Power Ice. Steelix is safe from anything Zapdos usually carries, bar Hidden Power Water and Heat Wave. Rotom-H is a very solid check, as Hidden Power Water is very rarely seen on Zapdos. Being only 3HKOed by uninvested Heat Wave, Roserade can come in on defensive sets with impunity and proceed to either set up Spikes or pummel Zapdos with Sludge Bomb. Nidoking and Nidoqueen are in a similar boat as Roserade is, as they only fear Hidden Power Water or Ice, and can scare Zapdos away with the threat of a Sheer Force-boosted Ice Beam. Snorlax is as hard a counter you can get, as it has plenty of special bulk to take any of Zapdos's attacks, can hit back quite hard, and commonly carries Rest to heal itself when it needs to. Status is also a great hindrance to the god of thunder, as it will severely hinder Zapdos's ability to take hits.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Zapdos receives the ability Lightningrod from the Dream World. This is a fantastic addition to Zapdos's repertoire, as it gives it an immunity to Electric-type moves, and hence more switch-in opportunities.</p>