Zapdos

Snunch

Snunch

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Spr_5b_145.png

Electric / Flying
Pressure
90 HP
90 Atk
85 Def
125 SAtk
90 SDef
100 Spe

Zapdos' well balanced stats and great typing kept it solidly OU for four straight generations, but in the fifth generation Thundurus has usurped Zapdos' position. Fortunately for us, this means that Zapdos can bring its aforementioned strengths to UU! Zapdos checks a lot of powerful threats in UU like Heracross, Togekiss, and Suicune, and well rounded stats makes Zapdos very unpredictable. Sadly, Zapdos is also walled by powerful threats like Chansey and Nidoking, and Stealth Rock is still everywhere to limit its effectiveness. Still, with one of the highest BSTs in UU and great typing, Zapdos is sure to make a significant impact on the tier.

Possible sets:

Subroost
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 196 HP / 60 Def / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Substitute
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ice / Heat Wave / Toxic

Offensive
Zapdos @ Life Orb / Leftovers Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power Ice
- Roost

Specially Defensive
Zapdos @ Leftovers Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Thunder Wave / Toxic
- Heat Wave / Hidden Power Ice

Physically Defensive
Zapdos @ Leftovers Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Roar / Hidden Power Ice
- Heat Wave / Hidden Power Ice

Baton Pass
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 140 Def / 66 SpA / 44 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Agility
- Thunderbolt

Choice sets and resttalk are also viable, though generally outclassed by its other sets. Discuss away!
 
<3 Zapdos, it's incredible. One thing about the SubRooster; I use 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD because I really don't find the need for speed and the bulk has saved me alot when toxic stalling. I think this spread could be slashed in.
 
Yay, near direct CP from analysis I wrote! :3

Anyways, Zapdos does look to be a prime contender in UU this gen, as it can take out some really prominent threats, namely Celebi and Shaymin with Heat Wave.

Interestingly enough, with enough Speed investment, I'm prety sure it can outspeed all nonboosted Kyurem and do some good damage.
 
Offensive
Zapdos @ Life Orb / Leftovers Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave / Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Ice / Volt Switch
- Roost
Click to expand...
 
Lightningrod is pretty awesome, but unfprtunately illegalwith Heat Wave / Roost. I guess you could use it on offensive sets, but Heat Wave / Roost is usually better. Otherwise I would definitely use him.

Edit: Lightningrod on the Baton Pass set!
 
Tomahawk9 said:
Lightningrod is pretty awesome, but unfprtunately illegalwith Heat Wave / Roost. I guess you could use it on offensive sets, but Heat Wave / Roost is usually better. Otherwise I would definitely use him.

Edit: Lightningrod on the Baton Pass set!
Click to expand...

Baton Pass is also illegal with LightningRod (as it wasn't even released yet so we have no idea of its DW moves, if any).

Speaking of which, would Metal Sound be any good?
 
Zapdos @ Damp Rock
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
- Rain Dance
- Volt Switch / Thunder
- Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Water
- Roost
 
Worth noting that Zapdos and Cobalion cover each other's weaknesses very well and have excellent coverage between them, especially if Zapdos runs HP Ice.
 
The SubRoost set should have Toxic in the fourth slot with HP Ice and Heat Wave slashed in.
 
Breludicolo said:
How does the latter take Choice scarf kyurem blizzards?
Click to expand...

Standard Scarf Kyurem (252 SpA/252 Spe Timid) does 39.9~47.1% to Cobalion with 4 HP/0 SpD. Unboosted, Cobalion's Close Combat does 85.9% minimum to 4 HP/0 Def Kyurem, a guaranteed OHKO after SR and a very high chance of OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes.
 
My point was not that.

Nobody is stupid enough to keep kyurem in. once switched out, if it uses DM the next time (which also OHKOes Zapdos, I think), with a combination of hail damage (from switching in both times), prior blizzard, and Draco Meteor, it will very likely kill Cobalion. SR makes this closer to a guarantee.

EDIT: I'm assuming both are forced out.
 
Alternatively, Cobalion could CM and OHKO with Focus Blast and survive another blizzard/DM if it switches in again. It also deals good damage to anything else that comes in.
 
Breludicolo said:
My point was not that.

Nobody is stupid enough to keep kyurem in. once switched out, if it uses DM the next time (which also OHKOes Zapdos, I think), with a combination of hail damage (from switching in both times), prior blizzard, and Draco Meteor, it will very likely kill Cobalion. SR makes this closer to a guarantee.

EDIT: I'm assuming both are forced out.
Click to expand...
ummm i think kyurem does that with basically any core
except for something ridiculous like chansey/registeel or something like that
but chansey gets 2HKOed by outrage and registeel by FB
so yeah
 
Durant also has 58/48 SpD.

0 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs 0/0 Durant: 85.6% - 101.56%

And then with Rocks or a layer of spikes... yeah.
 
I guess stone edge has 1% accuracy and doesn't exist on durant's moveset.

I've actually ran Shrang's exact set before but with Sunny day and Heat Wave instead.
 
UltiMario said:
Durant also has 58/48 SpD.

0 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs 0/0 Durant: 85.6% - 101.56%

And then with Rocks or a layer of spikes... yeah.
Click to expand...

well considering Durant has 109 speed I doubt Zapdos would win against him. Every match ive played with my Durant against a Zapdos he OHKO'd it with either Rock Slide or Stone Edge.
 
Zapdos used Substitute!

Durant can only come in on revenge on a Subless Zapdos, otherwise it loses. It can also lose if Hustle kicks in like the bitch it is.
 
Boarbeque said:
well considering Durant has 109 speed I doubt Zapdos would win against him. Every match ive played with my Durant against a Zapdos he OHKO'd it with either Rock Slide or Stone Edge.
Click to expand...

I'm not fan of Zapdos (I like Durant more too) but even before you made that statement of "Durant > Zapdos" exactly on what ground were you comparing the two? Considering just how different their roles are - Zapdos obviously can play many sets (most of them are for pressure stall purposes) of which Durant can only play one (sweeper) so its really apples and oranges here. Also as already noted in your thread for Durant he's still not particularly as easy or safe to use given that you will need to set up (unless you really want to gamble with the accuracy drop by hustle) and thanks to his paltry HP & SpD he just won't last long.
 
Durant used Hone Claws! Zapdos used Thunderbolt!

yeah that doesn't work either. You're relying on a 64 accuracy move to hit if you attack a SubLess Zapdos with Stone Edge. Those aren't good odds.
 
I saw this on a Warstory. Don't think I got it exactly, but whatever.

Zapdos
Timid/Modest
252 Speed, 252 Sp. Atk, 4 HP
Choice Scarf

Thunderbolt
HeatWave
Volt Switch
HP Ice

Whoever had this used it really well, it was really effective. (Wish I could remember who used it.)

Now that Thundurus is Uber, will Zapdos go back to being OU?
 
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