[OVERVIEW]
Zapdos is an incredibly unique threat; as the premier mixed attacker of the tier, it naturally cleaves through physical walls like Cloyster and special walls like Chansey alike. With access to Thunder Wave and Agility on top of its killer STAB combination, Zapdos is self sufficient and complete in that it can spread chip damage and trade paralysis in the midgame and still go in during the endgame. Typically it's found in the back on standard balance teams or among other threats on hyper offense, but Zapdos has proven to be quite an efficient lead as well, going for paralysis and aggressive one-on-ones against anything in front of it. However, Zapdos has a huge problem; the existence of Rhydon, a hardcounter that is immune to Zapdos's Thunderbolt and paralysis attempts and uses its resistance and huge physical bulk to shrug off Drill Peck. In addition to this, Zapdos’s weakness to Ice means that plenty of Pokemon like Chansey and Jynx have an avenue to hit back hard, placing immense pressure on Zapdos to not waste its HP by getting fully paralyzed.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Drill Peck
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Agility / Rest
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Zapdos's powerful STAB Thunderbolt is an incredible asset to have, giving Zapdos the means to blow through Starmie and Cloyster, among others. Drill Peck is a perfect complement, hitting Chansey and Exeggutor hard on their weaker physical side. Thunder Wave allows Zapdos to butter up targets like Chansey and Alakazam, creating an opportunity to break through with repeated Drill Pecks until full paralysis. Additionally, it gives Zapdos an instant and potent punish to Tauros looking to use its Speed to beat Zapdos one-on-one. Agility allows Zapdos to shrug off the paralysis Speed drop, making it an elite cleaner that works through paralysis and can pick off faster threats like Tauros and Starmie. Rest is a more slow-paced option that sacrifices Zapdos's cleaning prowess to tap into longevity and giving it an option to clear its own paralysis later on.
For Zapdos's typical use in the back, it should be brought out in the early-midgame. Ideally, Zapdos wants to enter the field against something it threatens out, getting a free Thunder Wave on a Chansey or opposing Zapdos switching in and forcing them to take chip and risk full paralysis in order to respond. An ideal scenario to get Zapdos in is against a sleeping Psychic-type like Exeggutor and Starmie fishing to wake up early, or against Cloyster locked into Clamp, though it's perfectly fine to directly trade paralysis. It's better to time this for after an opposing Pokemon is already slept so that there is no downside to spreading paralysis, as dealing with Chansey and Alakazam hinges on pressuring them until they get fully paralyzed. Though it is easy to feel dread upon seeing an opposing Rhydon, it is fortunately quite abusable by other teammates due to its Speed and horrible special stat. In Rhydon matchups, Zapdos serves to build momentum with smart doubles into teammates that can threaten Rhydon, with the logic that it isn't worth it for the opponent to allow Zapdos to make progress when Rhydon can wall it so freely. If Rhydon comes out to check Zapdos before its team has a sleep sac, then it's heavily pressured to double back out to prevent Zapdos from switching to Exeggutor and getting an easy advantage. Therefore, attacking again into Rhydon in this circumstance is a calculated risk. In the lead slot, Zapdos functions as more of an anti-lead similar to Tauros that spreads paralysis without regard for keeping sleep open and tries to force progress with repeated attacks.
A well-built Zapdos team will have enough support for opposing Rhydon to be a neutral or even positive matchup. The main example of this is Exeggutor; it's a completely crucial teammate for taking advantage of and checking Rhydon and it can keep Zapdos's hands clean and give it an edge against Alakazam and Chansey by paralysing them with Stun Spore before Zapdos hits the field. Since Zapdos can strongly threaten Starmie, chip Exeggutor significantly, and paralyse and even remove Alakazam and Chansey, Cloyster stands to gain a lot from its presence. In return, it can handle Ice-type moves aimed at Zapdos incredibly well and can pressure walls like Snorlax and Rhydon well. Surf Snorlax is a strong option for a teammate that can snipe Rhydon and it just generally appreciates paralysis support from Zapdos and can open it up to clean with Self-Destruct. In a similar fashion, Blizzard Tauros is the most synergistic variant for Zapdos teams, as it comfortably 2HKOes Rhydon. Lead Zapdos is typically tailored towards more offensive builds, and can regularly be seen with Articuno, an alternate cleaner that allows Zapdos to relinquish its lategame responsibilities to toss itself at opposing Starmie, Alakazam, and Chansey off the rip to set up Articuno long-term.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic is an option that pesters counters like Rhydon and Jolteon and can enable partial trapping teammates like Cloyster and Moltres, but it's a much less consistent option since its aforementioned targets regularly use Rest, and is outclassed by other options outside of partial trapping-heavy offensive builds. Hyper Beam gives Zapdos an easier time confirming KOs against specially bulky targets like Chansey and Alakazam, and is Zapdos's best way to hit Jolteon, though Zapdos has to give up crucial support in either Thunder Wave or Agility to accommodate it, which is rarely worth it. Reflect can give Zapdos the edge in damage trading situations against physical attackers like Snorlax and Tauros, but has the aforementioned issue of taking up a crucial moveslot from more complete options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Rhydon is the premier Zapdos counter in the tier, shrugging off anything it can throw at it, and pressuring it back with Rock Slide or Body Slam without having to worry about getting paralysed. Golem, albeit more niche, has a similarly rock-solid matchup against Zapdos and requires heavy support to get through.
**Electric-types**: Jolteon resists Zapdos's STAB combination and can pester it with Thunder Wave and faster Thunderbolts, even having the option to run Rest to check Zapdos long-term. Opposing Zapdos can pivot in freely on Drill Peck and trade down efficiently if needed.
**Bulky Normal-types**: Snorlax can use its sheer bulk and damage output to win fair one-on-one interactions, able to fish for paralysis with Body Slam, finish off Zapdos early with Hyper Beam, or even come in while chipped to survive a hit and use Self-Destruct straight away. Chansey can shrug off Thunderbolt and threaten back with Thunder Wave and Ice Beam, though it does take huge damage from Drill Peck and shouldn't be tossed in carefree. Other variants of Chansey like Reflect and Defense Curl can bypass its glaring Drill Peck weakness barring critical hits.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Zapdos is an incredibly unique threat; as the premier mixed attacker of the tier, it naturally cleaves through physical walls like Cloyster and special walls like Chansey alike. With access to Thunder Wave and Agility on top of its killer STAB combination, Zapdos is self sufficient and complete in that it can spread chip damage and trade paralysis in the midgame and still go in during the endgame. Typically it's found in the back on standard balance teams or among other threats on hyper offense, but Zapdos has proven to be quite an efficient lead as well, going for paralysis and aggressive one-on-ones against anything in front of it. However, Zapdos has a huge problem; the existence of Rhydon, a hardcounter that is immune to Zapdos's Thunderbolt and paralysis attempts and uses its resistance and huge physical bulk to shrug off Drill Peck. In addition to this, Zapdos’s weakness to Ice means that plenty of Pokemon like Chansey and Jynx have an avenue to hit back hard, placing immense pressure on Zapdos to not waste its HP by getting fully paralyzed.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Drill Peck
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Agility / Rest
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Zapdos's powerful STAB Thunderbolt is an incredible asset to have, giving Zapdos the means to blow through Starmie and Cloyster, among others. Drill Peck is a perfect complement, hitting Chansey and Exeggutor hard on their weaker physical side. Thunder Wave allows Zapdos to butter up targets like Chansey and Alakazam, creating an opportunity to break through with repeated Drill Pecks until full paralysis. Additionally, it gives Zapdos an instant and potent punish to Tauros looking to use its Speed to beat Zapdos one-on-one. Agility allows Zapdos to shrug off the paralysis Speed drop, making it an elite cleaner that works through paralysis and can pick off faster threats like Tauros and Starmie. Rest is a more slow-paced option that sacrifices Zapdos's cleaning prowess to tap into longevity and giving it an option to clear its own paralysis later on.
For Zapdos's typical use in the back, it should be brought out in the early-midgame. Ideally, Zapdos wants to enter the field against something it threatens out, getting a free Thunder Wave on a Chansey or opposing Zapdos switching in and forcing them to take chip and risk full paralysis in order to respond. An ideal scenario to get Zapdos in is against a sleeping Psychic-type like Exeggutor and Starmie fishing to wake up early, or against Cloyster locked into Clamp, though it's perfectly fine to directly trade paralysis. It's better to time this for after an opposing Pokemon is already slept so that there is no downside to spreading paralysis, as dealing with Chansey and Alakazam hinges on pressuring them until they get fully paralyzed. Though it is easy to feel dread upon seeing an opposing Rhydon, it is fortunately quite abusable by other teammates due to its Speed and horrible special stat. In Rhydon matchups, Zapdos serves to build momentum with smart doubles into teammates that can threaten Rhydon, with the logic that it isn't worth it for the opponent to allow Zapdos to make progress when Rhydon can wall it so freely. If Rhydon comes out to check Zapdos before its team has a sleep sac, then it's heavily pressured to double back out to prevent Zapdos from switching to Exeggutor and getting an easy advantage. Therefore, attacking again into Rhydon in this circumstance is a calculated risk. In the lead slot, Zapdos functions as more of an anti-lead similar to Tauros that spreads paralysis without regard for keeping sleep open and tries to force progress with repeated attacks.
A well-built Zapdos team will have enough support for opposing Rhydon to be a neutral or even positive matchup. The main example of this is Exeggutor; it's a completely crucial teammate for taking advantage of and checking Rhydon and it can keep Zapdos's hands clean and give it an edge against Alakazam and Chansey by paralysing them with Stun Spore before Zapdos hits the field. Since Zapdos can strongly threaten Starmie, chip Exeggutor significantly, and paralyse and even remove Alakazam and Chansey, Cloyster stands to gain a lot from its presence. In return, it can handle Ice-type moves aimed at Zapdos incredibly well and can pressure walls like Snorlax and Rhydon well. Surf Snorlax is a strong option for a teammate that can snipe Rhydon and it just generally appreciates paralysis support from Zapdos and can open it up to clean with Self-Destruct. In a similar fashion, Blizzard Tauros is the most synergistic variant for Zapdos teams, as it comfortably 2HKOes Rhydon. Lead Zapdos is typically tailored towards more offensive builds, and can regularly be seen with Articuno, an alternate cleaner that allows Zapdos to relinquish its lategame responsibilities to toss itself at opposing Starmie, Alakazam, and Chansey off the rip to set up Articuno long-term.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic is an option that pesters counters like Rhydon and Jolteon and can enable partial trapping teammates like Cloyster and Moltres, but it's a much less consistent option since its aforementioned targets regularly use Rest, and is outclassed by other options outside of partial trapping-heavy offensive builds. Hyper Beam gives Zapdos an easier time confirming KOs against specially bulky targets like Chansey and Alakazam, and is Zapdos's best way to hit Jolteon, though Zapdos has to give up crucial support in either Thunder Wave or Agility to accommodate it, which is rarely worth it. Reflect can give Zapdos the edge in damage trading situations against physical attackers like Snorlax and Tauros, but has the aforementioned issue of taking up a crucial moveslot from more complete options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Rhydon is the premier Zapdos counter in the tier, shrugging off anything it can throw at it, and pressuring it back with Rock Slide or Body Slam without having to worry about getting paralysed. Golem, albeit more niche, has a similarly rock-solid matchup against Zapdos and requires heavy support to get through.
**Electric-types**: Jolteon resists Zapdos's STAB combination and can pester it with Thunder Wave and faster Thunderbolts, even having the option to run Rest to check Zapdos long-term. Opposing Zapdos can pivot in freely on Drill Peck and trade down efficiently if needed.
**Bulky Normal-types**: Snorlax can use its sheer bulk and damage output to win fair one-on-one interactions, able to fish for paralysis with Body Slam, finish off Zapdos early with Hyper Beam, or even come in while chipped to survive a hit and use Self-Destruct straight away. Chansey can shrug off Thunderbolt and threaten back with Thunder Wave and Ice Beam, though it does take huge damage from Drill Peck and shouldn't be tossed in carefree. Other variants of Chansey like Reflect and Defense Curl can bypass its glaring Drill Peck weakness barring critical hits.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited:
