[OVERVIEW]
Flying
========
Galarian Zapdos stands out as a good wallbreaker for Flying teams thanks to its good Attack stat, excellent coverage, and part-Fighting typing, which allows it to help against matchups such as Dark, Steel, and Normal. Close Combat, Brave Bird, and Blaze Kick or Stomping Tantrum hit almost the entire metagame for neutral damage, and it is able to pivot against checks like Slowbro, Hippowdon, and Zapdos with U-turn. Defiant is useful to pressure Defoggers such as Mandibuzz, Galarian Weezing, and Corviknight, preventing them from removing entry hazards off the field. It also takes advantage of Intimidate from Landorus-T, becoming almost unwallable after an Attack boost. However, Galarian Zapdos is outsped and revenge killed by many threats such as Weavile, Blacephalon, Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, and Spectrier due to its only average Speed stat. While Galarian Zapdos is good at wallbreaking, it can easily be worn down in a match through Brave Bird recoil and Stealth Rock damage. Each of its moves can be easy to switch into, meaning that Steel-type core of Aegislash + Heatran + Celesteela can deal with it if they predict correctly. Lastly, using Galarian Zapdos comes at the cost of not being able to run Zapdos.
[SET]
name: Choice Band (Flying)
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Blaze Kick / Stomping Tantrum
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Defiant
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Close Combat hits Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types that give Flying teams trouble, such as Tyranitar, Porygon2, and Celesteela. Brave Bird hits Fighting-resistant foes such as Toxapex, Amoonguss, and Galarian Zapdos for good damage. Both of these moves can be very hard to switch into, as even physically defensive walls like Hippowdon, Clefable, and Skarmory get 2HKOed. Blaze Kick is mainly used to hit Aegislash, which otherwise completely walls Galarian Zapdos. Stomping Tantrum can be used as a more powerful alternative to hit both Aegislash and Heatran super effectively, but it risks being Choice-locked against Skarmory and Celesteela. U-turn lets Galarian Zapdos pivot against checks such as Slowbro and Galarian Corsola and bring in a teammate to deal with them. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Galarian Zapdos to outspeed threats like Hydreigon, Kyurem, Mimikyu, and Tapu Lele.
Landorus-T is an invaluable teammate, as it switches into Electric-type attacks from foes like Zeraora and Tapu Koko, provides Stealth Rock, Knock Off, and U-turn support, and can revenge kill foes like Dragapult and Spectrier with Choice Scarf. Stealth Rock is especially useful to wear down foes and give Galarian Zapdos opportunities to gain Defiant boosts because of Defog. In return, Galarian Zapdos can pressure walls that give Landorus-T trouble such as Celesteela, Galarian Weezing, and Swampert, as well as Defoggers like Corviknight and Mandibuzz thanks to Defiant. Celesteela or Corviknight can be used to provide a switch-in against Psychic-, Ice-, and Fairy-type attacks from foes like Latias, Kyurem, and Alolan Ninetales. Skarmory can also be used as an excellent physically defensive wall, shutting down threatening physical attackers such as Weavile, Mamoswine, and Urshifu-R more easily. In addition, it provides Spikes support, making Galarian Zapdos more difficult to switch into. Mantine provides a useful Water immunity, handling threats that can overpower Galarian Zapdos like Barraskewda and Kingdra. Thundurus-T is also a useful way to deal with Water teams, as it can defeat the entirety of it with Thunderbolt + Grass Knot while being hard to stop after a Nasty Plot and Agility boost. Galarian Moltres is a great tool against Psychic, Ghost, and Poison teams, notably dealing with answers to Galarian Zapdos such as Slowbro, Galarian Corsola, and Galarian Weezing. Tornadus-T is a great offensive pivot that can bring in Galarian Zapdos safely with U-turn while helping against types like Psychic and Ghost thanks to Knock Off.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flying
--------
Choice Scarf lets Galarian Zapdos outspeed fast foes like Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, Zeraora, and Dragapult; however, it loses a significant amount of damage output without Choice Band, limiting its role as a wallbreaker. A Substitute + Bulk Up set may also be used to let Galarian Zapdos set up on foes like Ferrothorn, Mandibuzz, and Amoonguss and become more dangerous in matchups such as Dark and Steel.
Checks and Counters
===================
Flying
--------
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Physically defensive walls such as Slowbro, Galarian Corsola, and Skarmory can deal with Galarian Zapdos and take advantage of it being Choice-locked into one of its STAB moves. Slowbro can burn it with Scald and force it out with Future Sight, Galarian Corsola cripples it with Will-O-Wisp and Strength Sap, and Skarmory can phaze it with Whirlwind. However, Slowbro can be 2HKOed by Brave Bird, Galarian Corsola can be 2HKOed by Brave Bird after minor chip damage, and Skarmory fears switching into Close Combat.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Victini, Alolan Raichu, and Spectrier outspeed and threaten Galarian Zapdos with their STAB attacks.
**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock wears down Galarian Zapdos every time it switches in, making it unable to wallbreak more consistently. Galarian Zapdos is also significantly worn down by Brave Bird recoil, making it unable to spam the move freely.
**Status**: Burn limits Galarian Zapdos's wallbreaking, Toxic puts it on a timer, and paralysis leaves it outsped by slower foes like Hydreigon, Nidoking, and Kyurem.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Flying analysis by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Quality checked by: [[mushamu, 362454], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [DC, 449990]], [Estronic, 240732]]
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