[SET]
Primordial Sea (Zapdos) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe or 252 HP / 104 SpA / 152 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Hurricane / Weather Ball
- U-turn / Weather Ball
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Zapdos is an amazing pivot thanks to its great Special Attack, longevity with Roost, and typing letting it check Great Tusk and Garchomp and threaten physical walls like Corviknight, Skarmory, and Great Tusk. Primordial Sea further enhances this, letting Zapdos switch into threats like Heatran, Iron Moth, Cinderace, and Ogerpon-H thanks to the Fire immunity granted by it. Thunder OHKOes Moltres and offensive Primarina, significantly pressures RegenVest Manaphy and Primarina, and can cripple switch-ins like RegenVest Roaring Moon and Hisuian Goodra with paralysis, while Hurricane OHKOes Fighting-types like Great Tusk and Zamazenta and deals solid damage against Electric-resistant foes like Roaring Moon, Iron Hands, and Garchomp. Weather Ball threatens Ground-types like Ting-Lu, Sandy Shocks, and non-Bulletproof Iron Treads, as well as Fire-types like Ceruledge and Heatran in the rain. A bulkier EV spread with 152 Speed lets Zapdos outspeed max Speed Great Tusk while also giving it an easier time against Zamazenta, Landorus-T, and the aformentioned Great Tusk.
Physically defensive Corviknight makes a great core with Zapdos, as it can switch into physical attackers that threaten Zapdos like Roaring Moon, Chien-Pao, and Iron Boulder; in return, Zapdos can check Fire-types that trouble Corviknight like Cinderace, Iron Moth, and Ogerpon-H. Powerful special attackers like Deoxys-S, Azelf, and Latios easily force Zapdos out, making teammates that can handle them like Heatran and Iron Treads appreciated. Zapdos usually invites in special walls like Heatran, Iron Treads, and RegenVest Swampert, so powerful physical attackers that can handle them like Zamazenta, Roaring Moon, and Meowscarada make for a great pairing. In return, Zapdos helps pressure physical walls like Corviknight and Great tusk who trouble the aformentioned physical attackers. Knock Off absorbers like Great Tusk and the aforementioned Corviknight can help Zapdos keep its Heavy-Duty Boots, preventing it from being crippled by its weakness to Stealth Rock; they can also remove entry hazards for it in case it gets hit by a Knock Off. Bulky Ghost-types such as Pecharunt and Defensive Gholdengo can be great teammates if Zapdos chooses to forgo Hurricane, as they are able to assist in handling Fighting-types such as Zamazenta and Iron Hands; Well-Baked Body Gholdengo specifically can also act as a second check to Fire-types like Iron Moth and Cinderace who are able to override Primordial Sea with Desolate Land, rendering Zapdos vulnerable.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kinetic.552227/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gambit.652656/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/april.540420/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Both Primordial Sea and No Guard can run a Choice Specs set to act as a wallbreaker and catch the opponent off guard, being able to OHKO specally defensive Manaphy after entry hazard damage and 2HKO Swampert once they have lost their Assault Vest. However, the entry hazard weakness requires significant hazard removal support from teammates like Corviknight, Great Tusk, and Iron Treads, and Primordial Sea Zapdos especially loses a significant amount of its defensive utility while Choice-locked. No Guard sets can forego Roost for Heat Wave to hit Electric immune Steel-types like Iron Treads and Volt Absorb Corviknight. Volt Switch over Thunder is also an alternative, letting Zapdos run both Hurricane and Weather Ball while still having the ability to pivot, although at the cost of being blocked by Electric-immune foes such as Swampert, Iron Treads, and Volt Absorb Corviknight. Fully physically defensive sets running Intimidate or Fluffy expand on its defensive capabilities, letting it more comfortably check Ogerpon-W, Kingambit, and Roaring Moon as well as earlier mentioned Fighting-types like Zamazenta, Iron Hands, and Great Tusk, although it still really dislikes having its Heavy-Duty Boots knocked off. Choice Scarf, while generally inferior to other items, can be ran on both Primordial Sea and No Guard set, letting it get the jump on faster threats like Deoxys-S, Zamazenta, and Chien-Pao who otherwise threaten to OHKO it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-immune foes:** Ground-types like Ting-Lu and Iron Treads and Volt Absorb users like Corviknight and Empoleon can wall most Zapdos sets while threatening it with Knock Off, pivoting to another teammate, or getting up entry hazards.
**RegenVest users:** RegenVest users like Swampert, Roaring Moon, and Iron Hands can all switch into Zapdos without taking large amounts of damage, and can either threaten it with a Knock Off or pivot out into a teammate that can force Zapdos out while offsetting Zapdos's damage with Regenerator.
**Faster threats:** Offensive threats like Roaring Moon, Deoxys-S, and Chien-Pao can outspeed and threaten Zapdos.
**Desolate Land:** Users like Iron Moth, Heatran, and Landorus-T can counter Zapdos if they are able to switch in after, overriding Primordial Sea, which leaves Zapdos unable to reliably check them.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kinetic.552227/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gambit.652656/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/april.540420/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Primordial Sea (Zapdos) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe or 252 HP / 104 SpA / 152 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Hurricane / Weather Ball
- U-turn / Weather Ball
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Zapdos is an amazing pivot thanks to its great Special Attack, longevity with Roost, and typing letting it check Great Tusk and Garchomp and threaten physical walls like Corviknight, Skarmory, and Great Tusk. Primordial Sea further enhances this, letting Zapdos switch into threats like Heatran, Iron Moth, Cinderace, and Ogerpon-H thanks to the Fire immunity granted by it. Thunder OHKOes Moltres and offensive Primarina, significantly pressures RegenVest Manaphy and Primarina, and can cripple switch-ins like RegenVest Roaring Moon and Hisuian Goodra with paralysis, while Hurricane OHKOes Fighting-types like Great Tusk and Zamazenta and deals solid damage against Electric-resistant foes like Roaring Moon, Iron Hands, and Garchomp. Weather Ball threatens Ground-types like Ting-Lu, Sandy Shocks, and non-Bulletproof Iron Treads, as well as Fire-types like Ceruledge and Heatran in the rain. A bulkier EV spread with 152 Speed lets Zapdos outspeed max Speed Great Tusk while also giving it an easier time against Zamazenta, Landorus-T, and the aformentioned Great Tusk.
Physically defensive Corviknight makes a great core with Zapdos, as it can switch into physical attackers that threaten Zapdos like Roaring Moon, Chien-Pao, and Iron Boulder; in return, Zapdos can check Fire-types that trouble Corviknight like Cinderace, Iron Moth, and Ogerpon-H. Powerful special attackers like Deoxys-S, Azelf, and Latios easily force Zapdos out, making teammates that can handle them like Heatran and Iron Treads appreciated. Zapdos usually invites in special walls like Heatran, Iron Treads, and RegenVest Swampert, so powerful physical attackers that can handle them like Zamazenta, Roaring Moon, and Meowscarada make for a great pairing. In return, Zapdos helps pressure physical walls like Corviknight and Great tusk who trouble the aformentioned physical attackers. Knock Off absorbers like Great Tusk and the aforementioned Corviknight can help Zapdos keep its Heavy-Duty Boots, preventing it from being crippled by its weakness to Stealth Rock; they can also remove entry hazards for it in case it gets hit by a Knock Off. Bulky Ghost-types such as Pecharunt and Defensive Gholdengo can be great teammates if Zapdos chooses to forgo Hurricane, as they are able to assist in handling Fighting-types such as Zamazenta and Iron Hands; Well-Baked Body Gholdengo specifically can also act as a second check to Fire-types like Iron Moth and Cinderace who are able to override Primordial Sea with Desolate Land, rendering Zapdos vulnerable.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kinetic.552227/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gambit.652656/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/april.540420/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Both Primordial Sea and No Guard can run a Choice Specs set to act as a wallbreaker and catch the opponent off guard, being able to OHKO specally defensive Manaphy after entry hazard damage and 2HKO Swampert once they have lost their Assault Vest. However, the entry hazard weakness requires significant hazard removal support from teammates like Corviknight, Great Tusk, and Iron Treads, and Primordial Sea Zapdos especially loses a significant amount of its defensive utility while Choice-locked. No Guard sets can forego Roost for Heat Wave to hit Electric immune Steel-types like Iron Treads and Volt Absorb Corviknight. Volt Switch over Thunder is also an alternative, letting Zapdos run both Hurricane and Weather Ball while still having the ability to pivot, although at the cost of being blocked by Electric-immune foes such as Swampert, Iron Treads, and Volt Absorb Corviknight. Fully physically defensive sets running Intimidate or Fluffy expand on its defensive capabilities, letting it more comfortably check Ogerpon-W, Kingambit, and Roaring Moon as well as earlier mentioned Fighting-types like Zamazenta, Iron Hands, and Great Tusk, although it still really dislikes having its Heavy-Duty Boots knocked off. Choice Scarf, while generally inferior to other items, can be ran on both Primordial Sea and No Guard set, letting it get the jump on faster threats like Deoxys-S, Zamazenta, and Chien-Pao who otherwise threaten to OHKO it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-immune foes:** Ground-types like Ting-Lu and Iron Treads and Volt Absorb users like Corviknight and Empoleon can wall most Zapdos sets while threatening it with Knock Off, pivoting to another teammate, or getting up entry hazards.
**RegenVest users:** RegenVest users like Swampert, Roaring Moon, and Iron Hands can all switch into Zapdos without taking large amounts of damage, and can either threaten it with a Knock Off or pivot out into a teammate that can force Zapdos out while offsetting Zapdos's damage with Regenerator.
**Faster threats:** Offensive threats like Roaring Moon, Deoxys-S, and Chien-Pao can outspeed and threaten Zapdos.
**Desolate Land:** Users like Iron Moth, Heatran, and Landorus-T can counter Zapdos if they are able to switch in after, overriding Primordial Sea, which leaves Zapdos unable to reliably check them.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kinetic.552227/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gambit.652656/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/april.540420/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Last edited:
