Charge Beam Zapdos

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Siegrin

I'm still a beginner in QC, please help out!

[SET]

www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/zapdos

Name: Charge Beam Zapdos

move 1: Charge Beam
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice / Roost
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252Sp.Atk / 252Spe

[SET COMMENTS]


- Zapdos’ natural bulk allows it to take many neutral hits and setup Charge Beam
- Zapdos has a high Special Attack and a good movepool
- Hidden Power Grass can be used to hit Swampert, which otherwise walls this set.
- Hidden Power Ice can be used to deal more damage to Dragonite
- Leftovers should be used if you choose an extra coverage move, so you have a bit more bulk overall
- Roost can be used over Hidden Power if you prefer bulk over coverage, and works great in tandem with Life Orb


[OPTIONAL CHANGES]

- A bulkier EV spread of 220 HP/36 Sp. Atk/252 Spe can be used to further increase Zapdos’ bulk, while still hitting hard after a Charge Beam boost
- Since Zapdos has good coverage, you can opt for Expert Belt to increase damage of super effective moves without losing 10% health after you attack
- Modest nature is an option if you prefer more power

[TEAM OPTIONS]

-Zapdos hates Stealth Rock, so a Rapid Spinner is helpful
-Zapdos also hugely benefits from entry hazards on the opposing field, turning some 3HKOs into 2HKOs
-Forretress is a great teammate, taking Ice attacks for Zapdos, while providing Rapid Spin support and setting up its own entry hazards
-Machamp is also a good teammate as it can take on special walls such as Blissey and Snorlax

[COUNTERS]

-Swampert counters this set unless you use Hidden Power Grass.
-Blissey also walls this sent because it can Thunder Wave and Seismic Toss you to death.
 
You should list its counters too.

For example, Swampert counters this set unless it has Hidden Power Grass. You need something to take it out.

Blissey also walls this set and can Thunder Wave and Seismic Toss you to death.

List Machamp as a teammate, so it can take on special walls like Blissey and Snorlax, perhaps?
 
heatran walls this set, as he is .25 resistant to both hidden powers, can easily switch into heat wave with flash fire, and is neutral to thunderbolt. And after you hit him with a thunderbolt, he can retaliate with a stone edge.
 
@ boyofrito: You're not going to use Hidden Power on Heatran, and Thunderbolt does a good deal of damage. Unless Heatran does switch in on a Heat Wave from Zapdos, its not threatening Zapdos much. Stone Edge on Heatran? Are you out of your mind? How often have you seen Stone Edge on Heatran? -_-
 
boyofrito said:
heatran walls this set, as he is .25 resistant to both hidden powers, can easily switch into heat wave with flash fire, and is neutral to thunderbolt. And after you hit him with a thunderbolt, he can retaliate with a stone edge.
Click to expand...

This begs the question "When the hell does Heatran ever carry Stone Edge?"
 
I don't really see any problem with this set, but I'm not sure if it really deserves its own spot. I mean I can see it working, but including accuracy, there's only a 63% chance of getting a boost from charge beam and the boost is pitiful. More or less, its just the special attacker zapdos set, with charge beam slashed in. I think its more deserving of a spot in other options, or in the AC section for the set.
 
There's only a 60% chance of Jirachi flinching you with Iron Head.

Also, it plays different enough from the special attacker set to be on the analysis imo.
 
@ Aqueos

What this set is basically trying to suggest is that it could use it's bulk to create some boosts while attacking. The 70% chance seemed riskable, and also, the general idea is different from the Special Attack set, it's a set that utilizes it's bulk to charge up and sweep.
 
Aqueos said:
I don't really see any problem with this set, but I'm not sure if it really deserves its own spot. I mean I can see it working, but including accuracy, there's only a 63% chance of getting a boost from charge beam and the boost is pitiful. More or less, its just the special attacker zapdos set, with charge beam slashed in. I think its more deserving of a spot in other options, or in the AC section for the set.
Click to expand...

This post pretty much expresses my current views of this set. The set is nearly identical to the special attacker set, and i currently dont feel this warrants a seperate analysis. The "playing differently arguement" isnt so true in this case, all your doing differently is Charge Beam + T-Bolt instead of two consecutive T-bolts. I can see the appeal of Charge Beam but i feel Roost is superior most of the time. First off, a 63% chance of landing the special attack boost isnt exactly reliable, most of the time I'd rather go for the stronger, more reliable Thunderbolt. Two Thunderbolts hit nearly as hard as a Charge Beam followed by a +1 Thunderbolt assuming it does land anyways. Also, Zapdos will also really miss Roost on this set. Having reliable recovery is important for Zapdos. Although, Charge Beam does have its uses so i will approve an AC mention of charge beam, possibly even a slash with Roost, but definitly not a seperate set.
 
I feel the same way about this set. I see nothing wrong with it, but I don't think the idea warrants its own place onsite -- Megan raised a lot of good points in his post regarding this. I approve of an AC mention of Charge Beam in the Special Attacker set.
 
I strongly oppose a slash over Roost, considering that Roost is one of the biggest advantages that Zapdos has over other Electric-types, especially Rotom-A. An understated AC mention is the best way to go about it- it's a novel idea, but using it gives up too many of Zapdos' advantages, such as:

Instant Recovery (used over Roost)
Coverage (used over HP)
Strong STAB (used over Thunderbolt)

There's no real way to slash it on, and honestly, I'm not even sure about AC. In my opinion, this is more OC than anything.
 
I would suggest putting a Flygon in or a water type that counters Heatran as well in the Counters list. Either way Zapdos gives up his advantages like Roost unless you are willing to lose essential coverage. This could be a novel idea and is worth mentioning though. Mention it in the Optional Changes section.
 
Heatran is not that big of a counter to Zapdos. Unless it switches into a Heat Wave and grabs a Flash Fire boost, its not THAT dangerous. If Heatran switches in on Charge Beam, and Zapdos gets a boost, Thunderbolt is going to do a ton of damage, and if Heatran is weakned, Zapdos could take it out. Heatran is not that dangerous, you just can't switch Zapdos into it.
 
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