OU Zapdos

[airfare]

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hurricane
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave / Thunderbolt
- Roost

In addition to its usual defensive use in deterring contact attackers like Melmetal, Kartana, and Galarian Zapdos with Static, Zapdos has a spammable Hurricane and convenient coverage for a strong offensive presence. Hurricane hits the vast majority of the tier for powerful neutral damage and is extremely potent alongside moves targeting specific switch-ins. Volt Switch generates momentum against sturdy walls like Heatran, Galarian Slowking, and Blissey, while Heat Wave can hit Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Melmetal. Thunderbolt alternatively gives it more staying power against Toxapex and Slowking while offering a more accurate STAB option. Heavy-Duty Boots adds to its long-term pivoting, attacking, and tanking potential. Zapdos appreciates teammates like Heatran and Ferrothorn that can break through the bulkier structures it falters against, and it appreciates the insurance they offer against Kyurem, Weavile, and Dragapult. It also fits well alongside frail physical attackers like Kartana and Weavile, which take advantage of it pivoting out of specially defensive walls for wallbreaking opportunities.

Here's a replay from Smogon Champion's League showing how Zapdos can tear apart typical balance backbones with its strong coverage and easy entry courtesy of its typing. https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-584926

 

[ausma]

you know the drill (peck)

comments in orange
changes in purple
removals are striked

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hurricane
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave / Thunderbolt
- Roost

In addition to its usual defensive use as a deterrent to contact physical attackers like Melmetal, Kartana, and Urshifu-R with Static, Zapdos' spammable Hurricane and convenient coverage moves give it a strong offensive presence. Gzap rising in use warrants a mention of it I feel, especially since you can't really lure Zapdos in the first place unless you want to Toxic it I guess? I'd probably also mention its general defensive utility against things like Landorus-T and Tornadus-T too. Hurricane hits the vast majority of the tier for powerful neutral damage and is extremely potent when combined with other moves targeting specific switch-ins. Volt Switch generates momentum against sturdy walls like Galarian Slowking and Blissey, while Heat Wave can hit Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Melmetal. I think mentioning how Volt Switch lets it safely chip Heatran on the switch and get into a proper abuser is also really nifty too, especially considering many Heatran structures tend to rely on it as their long term Electric-type answer. Thunderbolt alternatively gives it more staying power against Toxapex and Tapu Fini Slowking while offering a more accurate STAB option. Tapu Fini I feel is a stronger example than Slowking currently. Heavy-Duty Boots adds to its pivoting potential throughout the game and lets it be a long-term check to Melmetal and Kartana; because of this, Zapdos usually enjoys support from a Defogger like Tapu Fini or Landorus-T. This only really comes to play if its Heavy-Duty Boots are knocked off which I think is a situation that is realistic but not as necessary to mention in a spotlight; this might be a remnant from when you had Metronome on here, so I think it'd just be good to focus more on the defensive merits of teammates that can check revenge killers like Dragapult and Weavile. It also fits well alongside frail physical attackers like Kartana and Weavile that take advantage of its pivoting for wallbreaking opportunities. Pivoting against what in particular?

Here's a replay from Smogon Champion's League showing how Zapdos can tear apart typical balance backbones with its strong coverage and easy entry courtesy of its typing. https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-584926

qc 1/1

 

[Adeleine]

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Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hurricane
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave / Thunderbolt
- Roost

In addition to its usual defensive use as a deterrent to contact physical in deterring contact attackers like Melmetal, Kartana, and Galarian Zapdos with Static, Zapdos' Zapdos has a spammable Hurricane and convenient coverage moves give it for a strong offensive presence. Hurricane hits the vast majority of the tier for powerful neutral damage and is extremely potent when combined with other alongside moves targeting specific switch-ins. Volt Switch generates momentum against sturdy walls like Heatran, Galarian Slowking, and Blissey, while Heat Wave can hit Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Melmetal. Thunderbolt alternatively gives it more staying power against Toxapex and Slowking while offering a more accurate STAB option. Heavy-Duty Boots adds to its pivoting potential throughout the game and lets it be a long-term threat both offensively and defensively. long-term pivoting, attacking, and tanking potential. (if eg "tanking" not appropriate for "defensively", ofc you can replace) Zapdos appreciates teammates like Heatran and Ferrothorn that can help break through the fatter bulkier structures it falters against, while appreciating and it appreciates the insurance they offer against Kyurem, Weavile, and Dragapult. It also fits well alongside frail physical attackers like Kartana and Weavile that Weavile, which take advantage of its pivoting out of specially defensive walls for wallbreaking opportunities.

Here's a replay from Smogon Champion's League showing how Zapdos can tear apart typical balance backbones with its strong coverage and easy entry courtesy of its typing. https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ou-584926

1/1

 

[Eisenherz]