[OVERVIEW]
Zapdos is a formidable threat in the OU tier thanks to its ability Static, solid base stats, defensive typing, and movepool with access to Volt Switch, Roost, solid coverage options in Heat Wave and Hidden Power Ice, and an amazing utility option in Defog. The combination of Static and Rocky Helmet enables Zapdos to serve as a fantastic punisher of U-turn, shut down key contact users like Mega Lopunny, Mega Swampert, and Choice-locked Kartana, and help prevent monstrous physical setup sweepers like Mega Charizard X, Hawlucha, Gyarados, and Dragonite from getting out of hand. Its coverage options ensure that Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Garchomp do not come onto the field scot-free. However, Zapdos's typing leaves it terrified of Stealth Rock, which digs into its HP, forces it to waste its PP in Roost to stay healthy, and makes it more difficult to handle physical attacks like Mega Lopunny's Frustration and Mega Swampert's rain-boosted Waterfall. Its weaknesses to Ice and Rock are everywhere in the tier, as plenty of Pokemon like Protean Greninja, Magearna, Landorus-T, and Garchomp often carry these coverage options to prey on it; Swords Dance Kartana, despite lacking Ice- and Rock-type coverage, sometimes runs Normalium Z with Breakneck Blitz to bust past Zapdos. Additionally, Zapdos struggles against common Pokemon like Mega Diancie, Mega Tyranitar, and Chansey, all of which discourage it from attempting to remove Stealth Rock with super effective damage or spreading status, respectively. Despite its solid Speed tier, Zapdos can't afford to invest its EVs in a lot of Speed, as it needs the physical bulk to make the most out of Static, leaving it outpaced by Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Kyurem-B, and faster variants of Landorus-T.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Volt Switch / Discharge
move 2: Heat Wave / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Defog / Heat Wave / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Static
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 188 Def / 72 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Volt Switch allows Zapdos to scare out Water- and Flying-types like Gyarados, Tornadus-T, and Skarmory, and dart out of unfavorable matchups against Pokemon like Chansey and Mega Tyranitar to safely bring in a teammate that threatens them. If one of Zapdos's teammates has reserved room for Volt Switch, it can use Discharge instead, letting Zapdos more consistently threaten Hawlucha. The chance of paralysis also lets Zapdos potentially cripple common checks like Heatran and Mega Tyranitar, as well as setup sweepers like Volcarona. Heat Wave melts Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Kartana, and Mega Scizor. Hidden Power Ice punishes Ground-types that attempt to switch into Zapdos's Electric-type moves like Landorus-T and Garchomp. Defog helps Zapdos rid the battlefield of entry hazards, which are very annoying for bulky structures. Lastly, Roost helps Zapdos stay healthy throughout the game, allowing more opportunities to take advantage of Static, Volt Switch, and chip damage from Rocky Helmet.
Set Details
========
The given Speed investment lets Zapdos outspeed Modest Heatran, while the rest of its EVs are dumped into HP and Physical Defense, allowing Zapdos to more easily handle a multitude of physical attackers like Landorus-T, Hawlucha, Mega Lopunny, and Gyarados. Alternatively, Zapdos can bump its Speed EVs to 120 to outspeed Jolly Mega Tyranitar at the cost of reducing its physical bulk. Static is Zapdos's preferred ability to punish contact moves with paralysis, like U-turn from Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Greninja, Leaf Blade from Kartana, Flare Blitz from Mega Charizard X, and Waterfall from Mega Swampert. Rocky Helmet is recommended to punish the aforementioned contact moves with chip damage and synergizes well with Static. Leftovers is an option to provide Zapdos with extra longevity in conjunction with Roost.
Usage Tips
========
Zapdos fills a crucial role as a pivot and Defogger, serving as an effective check against Tornadus-T, Kartana, and setup sweepers like Hawlucha, Gyarados, and Dragonite. Try to utilize Volt Switch as much as possible, even against Pokemon that Zapdos scares out like Tornadus-T, so that it can hightail its way out of predicted switch-ins like Chansey and Mega Tyranitar and bring in a teammate that can deal with these Pokemon. It is highly recommended to consistently keep Zapdos healthy with Roost so that it can continue checking the Pokemon that it is meant to, especially if Zapdos is holding a Rocky Helmet. If Pokemon like Tornadus-T and Landorus-T are predicted to use U-turn, try to bring Zapdos in as you switch out a teammate that is weak to U-turn, as the chip damage from Rocky Helmet and paralysis from Static makes it easier for Zapdos's teammates to deal with them later in the game. The battlefield must also be clear of Stealth Rock before Zapdos can come in, as the presence of Stealth Rock will hinder its ability to punish U-turn and other contact moves like Choice Scarf Kartana's Leaf Blade. Speaking of Stealth Rock, bring Zapdos in as it is being set up so that it can use Defog to get rid of it. Don't try to bring Zapdos in to remove Stealth Rock if Rock-types like Mega Tyranitar and Mega Diancie are the ones setting them up due to its poor matchup against these Pokemon. Burn and Toxic are very detrimental to Zapdos's longevity and must be avoided, as this will put it on a timer and force it to burn through its Roost PP quickly to stay healthy, making it more difficult to consistently stick around.
Team Options
========
Zapdos fits perfectly on bulky archetypes like bulky offense, balance, and semi-stall teams, where it is tasked with punishing U-turn, keeping hazards off the field, and bringing its hard-hitting teammates in with Volt Switch. Strong wallbreakers like Mega Mawile, Mega Medicham, Mega Pinsir, and Hoopa-U capitalize on Zapdos bringing them in with Volt Switch, setting the stage for them to deliver serious pain against bulky targets like Chansey and Magearna. Hoopa-U is a notable case, as its crippling weakness to U-turn makes it very easy for Zapdos to come in and punish the move with Static and Rocky Helmet. Weavile and Mega Tyranitar are solid teammates for similar reasons, as the safe entry from Zapdos's Volt Switch provides them with easy opportunities to trap and eliminate bulky Psychic-types like Mega Latias and Cresselia with Pursuit, and Weavile can remove important items like Magearna's Leftovers with Knock Off. Mega Lopunny is another solid teammate that enjoys the free entry from Volt Switch, pressures the likes of Chansey, Mega Tyranitar, and Weavile, and helps revenge kill boosted sweepers like Mega Charizard X and Volcarona. On the topic of Mega Tyranitar, Sand Rush Excadrill is an incredible partner, removing entry hazards with Rapid Spin and taking on checks like Mega Diancie, Magearna, and Tapu Koko, while Zapdos handles Skarmory, Hawlucha, and punishes Mega Swampert with Static and Rocky Helmet, weakening an otherwise huge threat to sand teams. Kartana heavily pressures Ground-types not weak to Hidden Power Ice like Gastrodon and Seimitoad, and in return, Zapdos handles Steel-type checks like Mega Scizor, Celesteela, and Skarmory. Celesteela provides a solid answer to Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele and immediately threatens them with Heavy Slam. Pivot support from Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, Mega Scizor, Tapu Koko, and Magearna complements Zapdos very well because not only do they provide a safe entry via U-turn and Volt Switch, but they can also chain momentum from both moves. Additionally, Magearna provides cleric support with Heal Bell and covers Rock-types that pose a serious threat to Zapdos, like Mega Diancie and Choice Scarf Tyranitar, while Zapdos switches into Ground-type attacks aimed at Magearna. Tapu Fini checks Weavile, summons Misty Terrain to protect it and Zapdos's team from status ailments, and removes entry hazards with Defog, allowing Zapdos to more easily fit both Heat Wave and Hidden Power Ice into its moveset. Heatran sets up Stealth Rock and it traps and removes Chansey with Magma Storm + Taunt, taking a lot of pressure off of Zapdos. Spikes support from Ferrothorn and Skarmory also complement Zapdos well, as they dig into checks like Mega Tyranitar and make it easier for Zapdos to pressure the opposing team in conjunction with Volt Switch. Toxapex lays down Toxic Spikes, putting pressure on Pokemon like Weavile and Kyurem-B. Chansey, while a major nuisance, is also an incredible partner for Zapdos because it can soak up status ailments with Natural Cure, threatens checks like Mega Latias and Cresselia with Toxic and Magearna with Seismic Toss, provides Wish support to restore Zapdos's health and help it conserve its Roost PP, and benefits from Zapdos handling Fighting-types like Mega Lopunny and Hawlucha. Bulky Ground-types like Gastrodon and Seismitoad solidly answer Mega Tyranitar, while Zapdos handles Grass-types like Ferrothorn and Kartana in return. Defensive Garchomp is also worth mentioning, as it benefits from the safe entry from Volt Switch, sets up Stealth Rock, and pressures the opposing team with Dragon Tail and Toxic in conjunction with the chip damage from Stealth Rock. Specially defensive Kommo-o punishes Tapu Lele with Toxic on the switch and utilizes its typing to handle Ash-Greninja and Volcarona, and can threaten the latter with Rock Slide.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electrium Z with Thunderbolt can be utilized for a more offensive approach, but this sacrifices Zapdos's defensive utility and forces it to give up crucial chip damage it inflicts with Rocky Helmet or extra longevity from Leftovers. Zapdos can also run other moves, such as U-turn over Volt Switch, as it isn't blocked by Ground-types; Toxic punishes checks that attempt to force Zapdos out, like Mega Latias and Gastrodon; and Roar pairs well with support from entry hazards and wear down checks that are unaffected by Toxic like Magearna. However, these moves force Zapdos to ditch Defog or a crucial coverage move like Heat Wave or Hidden Power Ice, leaving it without an option to remove entry hazards or threaten targets like Ferrothorn and Landorus-T. Thunder is an option if Zapdos is used on a rain team due to its higher Special Attack stat than Tapu Koko; however, Zapdos is outclassed as a rain attacker by Tapu Koko due to its Stealth Rock weakness and slower Speed stat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Mega Tyranitar and Mega Diancie don't take much from Zapdos's moves, discourage it from attempting to remove Stealth Rock, and chase it out with their super effective attacks; however, they don't like being paralyzed by Discharge. Zapdos must also be wary of Pokemon that can threaten it with Rock-type coverage, like Stone Edge from Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Tapu Bulu. However, the former two must watch out for Hidden Power Ice. Additionally, Hawlucha sometimes runs Stone Edge specifically for Zapdos, but it has to land a hit or else it becomes mincemeat.
**Ice-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Weavile and Kyurem-B are both faster than Zapdos and immediately force it out with their super effective STAB moves, but they cannot switch in safely due to Zapdos threatening the former with Heat Wave while both are threatened with the chance of paralysis from Discharge. Kyurem-B can also punish Zapdos switching out by blasting a gaping hole through one of its teammates with Subzero Slammer. On top of this, Pokemon that commonly carry Ice-type coverage, like Ice Beam from Protean Greninja, Magearna, and Mega Latias, and Ice Punch from Mega Medicham, also threaten Zapdos with major damage.
**Dragon-types**: Bulky Dragon-types like Mega Latias and Mega Latios don't take much from Hidden Power Ice, heal off the damage with Recover, and force it out with Ice Beam in return. Specially defensive Kommo-o and Mega Altaria don't come close to being 3HKOed by Hidden Power Ice, and they can either cripple Zapdos with Toxic or phaze it out with Roar, while Mega Altaria also heals with Roost. Mega Charizard X is worth a mention because it can use Zapdos as setup fodder and smash it with a boosted Flare Blitz; however, it must do so at its own risk due to the chance of being paralyzed by Static, and it is punished with extra chip damage courtesy of Rocky Helmet.
**Ground-types and Electric-immune Pokemon**: Any Ground-type can get in Zapdos's way and block Volt Switch, but some are more annoying than others. Offensive Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp pose a major threat to Zapdos variants that lack Hidden Power Ice, while Substitute variants of Mega Swampert can put it on a timer with Toxic. Gliscor is bulky enough to survive Hidden Power Ice, regain health with Roost, and threaten it back with Toxic, and it is even better against Zapdos sets that don't have Hidden Power Ice. Hippowdon is also worth mentioning, as it isn't 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ice, heals with Slack Off, and either threatens Zapdos with Toxic or phazes it out with Whirlwind. Seismitoad and Gastrodon take pitifully low damage from anything that Zapdos throws at them and retaliate back with Toxic. Thundurus-T outspeeds Zapdos, isn't OHKOed by Hidden Power Ice, and blocks Volt Switch thanks to Volt Absorb; Nasty Plot variants threaten Zapdos with a guaranteed OHKO at +2 after Stealth Rock while utility variants can stop it from healing thanks to Taunt. Lower down the line are Mega Camerupt and Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak, both of which not only take little damage from Zapdos's coverage, but they can fire back with heavy damage in return.
**Special Attackers**: Due to Zapdos investing in physical bulk to handle a multitude of physical attackers, powerful special attackers like Mega Alakazam, Tapu Lele, and Ash-Greninja threaten it with heavy damage. Calm Mind and Shift Gear variants of Magearna are also notable examples because they can use Zapdos as setup fodder.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Chansey takes little damage from Zapdos's attacks, easily stalls out its PP, and forces it out with Toxic; however, Chansey is in trouble if Zapdos brings in a teammate with Volt Switch as Chansey comes in, especially if it takes damage from entry hazards upon switching in. Cresselia deserves a mention because Calm Mind variants can use Zapdos as setup fodder, while the support variant can stop Zapdos from switching out if its Eject Button is intact. Mega Venusaur takes little from Zapdos's coverage moves thanks to Thick Fat and threatens it in return with Sludge Bomb.
**Passive Damage**: The presence of Stealth Rock is very annoying for Zapdos, as it reduces its ability to handle physical attacks like Choice Scarf Kartana's Leaf Blade. Status ailments from burn and especially Toxic compound with the damage taken from Stealth Rock, forcing Zapdos to waste its Roost PP and making it more difficult for it to stick around.
**Certain Physical Attacks**: Swords Dance Kartana sometimes runs Normalium Z with Breakneck Blitz, which can bowl over Zapdos after a boost.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/favmon-garchomp.653095/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Zapdos is a formidable threat in the OU tier thanks to its ability Static, solid base stats, defensive typing, and movepool with access to Volt Switch, Roost, solid coverage options in Heat Wave and Hidden Power Ice, and an amazing utility option in Defog. The combination of Static and Rocky Helmet enables Zapdos to serve as a fantastic punisher of U-turn, shut down key contact users like Mega Lopunny, Mega Swampert, and Choice-locked Kartana, and help prevent monstrous physical setup sweepers like Mega Charizard X, Hawlucha, Gyarados, and Dragonite from getting out of hand. Its coverage options ensure that Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Garchomp do not come onto the field scot-free. However, Zapdos's typing leaves it terrified of Stealth Rock, which digs into its HP, forces it to waste its PP in Roost to stay healthy, and makes it more difficult to handle physical attacks like Mega Lopunny's Frustration and Mega Swampert's rain-boosted Waterfall. Its weaknesses to Ice and Rock are everywhere in the tier, as plenty of Pokemon like Protean Greninja, Magearna, Landorus-T, and Garchomp often carry these coverage options to prey on it; Swords Dance Kartana, despite lacking Ice- and Rock-type coverage, sometimes runs Normalium Z with Breakneck Blitz to bust past Zapdos. Additionally, Zapdos struggles against common Pokemon like Mega Diancie, Mega Tyranitar, and Chansey, all of which discourage it from attempting to remove Stealth Rock with super effective damage or spreading status, respectively. Despite its solid Speed tier, Zapdos can't afford to invest its EVs in a lot of Speed, as it needs the physical bulk to make the most out of Static, leaving it outpaced by Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Kyurem-B, and faster variants of Landorus-T.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Volt Switch / Discharge
move 2: Heat Wave / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Defog / Heat Wave / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Static
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 188 Def / 72 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Volt Switch allows Zapdos to scare out Water- and Flying-types like Gyarados, Tornadus-T, and Skarmory, and dart out of unfavorable matchups against Pokemon like Chansey and Mega Tyranitar to safely bring in a teammate that threatens them. If one of Zapdos's teammates has reserved room for Volt Switch, it can use Discharge instead, letting Zapdos more consistently threaten Hawlucha. The chance of paralysis also lets Zapdos potentially cripple common checks like Heatran and Mega Tyranitar, as well as setup sweepers like Volcarona. Heat Wave melts Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Kartana, and Mega Scizor. Hidden Power Ice punishes Ground-types that attempt to switch into Zapdos's Electric-type moves like Landorus-T and Garchomp. Defog helps Zapdos rid the battlefield of entry hazards, which are very annoying for bulky structures. Lastly, Roost helps Zapdos stay healthy throughout the game, allowing more opportunities to take advantage of Static, Volt Switch, and chip damage from Rocky Helmet.
Set Details
========
The given Speed investment lets Zapdos outspeed Modest Heatran, while the rest of its EVs are dumped into HP and Physical Defense, allowing Zapdos to more easily handle a multitude of physical attackers like Landorus-T, Hawlucha, Mega Lopunny, and Gyarados. Alternatively, Zapdos can bump its Speed EVs to 120 to outspeed Jolly Mega Tyranitar at the cost of reducing its physical bulk. Static is Zapdos's preferred ability to punish contact moves with paralysis, like U-turn from Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Greninja, Leaf Blade from Kartana, Flare Blitz from Mega Charizard X, and Waterfall from Mega Swampert. Rocky Helmet is recommended to punish the aforementioned contact moves with chip damage and synergizes well with Static. Leftovers is an option to provide Zapdos with extra longevity in conjunction with Roost.
Usage Tips
========
Zapdos fills a crucial role as a pivot and Defogger, serving as an effective check against Tornadus-T, Kartana, and setup sweepers like Hawlucha, Gyarados, and Dragonite. Try to utilize Volt Switch as much as possible, even against Pokemon that Zapdos scares out like Tornadus-T, so that it can hightail its way out of predicted switch-ins like Chansey and Mega Tyranitar and bring in a teammate that can deal with these Pokemon. It is highly recommended to consistently keep Zapdos healthy with Roost so that it can continue checking the Pokemon that it is meant to, especially if Zapdos is holding a Rocky Helmet. If Pokemon like Tornadus-T and Landorus-T are predicted to use U-turn, try to bring Zapdos in as you switch out a teammate that is weak to U-turn, as the chip damage from Rocky Helmet and paralysis from Static makes it easier for Zapdos's teammates to deal with them later in the game. The battlefield must also be clear of Stealth Rock before Zapdos can come in, as the presence of Stealth Rock will hinder its ability to punish U-turn and other contact moves like Choice Scarf Kartana's Leaf Blade. Speaking of Stealth Rock, bring Zapdos in as it is being set up so that it can use Defog to get rid of it. Don't try to bring Zapdos in to remove Stealth Rock if Rock-types like Mega Tyranitar and Mega Diancie are the ones setting them up due to its poor matchup against these Pokemon. Burn and Toxic are very detrimental to Zapdos's longevity and must be avoided, as this will put it on a timer and force it to burn through its Roost PP quickly to stay healthy, making it more difficult to consistently stick around.
Team Options
========
Zapdos fits perfectly on bulky archetypes like bulky offense, balance, and semi-stall teams, where it is tasked with punishing U-turn, keeping hazards off the field, and bringing its hard-hitting teammates in with Volt Switch. Strong wallbreakers like Mega Mawile, Mega Medicham, Mega Pinsir, and Hoopa-U capitalize on Zapdos bringing them in with Volt Switch, setting the stage for them to deliver serious pain against bulky targets like Chansey and Magearna. Hoopa-U is a notable case, as its crippling weakness to U-turn makes it very easy for Zapdos to come in and punish the move with Static and Rocky Helmet. Weavile and Mega Tyranitar are solid teammates for similar reasons, as the safe entry from Zapdos's Volt Switch provides them with easy opportunities to trap and eliminate bulky Psychic-types like Mega Latias and Cresselia with Pursuit, and Weavile can remove important items like Magearna's Leftovers with Knock Off. Mega Lopunny is another solid teammate that enjoys the free entry from Volt Switch, pressures the likes of Chansey, Mega Tyranitar, and Weavile, and helps revenge kill boosted sweepers like Mega Charizard X and Volcarona. On the topic of Mega Tyranitar, Sand Rush Excadrill is an incredible partner, removing entry hazards with Rapid Spin and taking on checks like Mega Diancie, Magearna, and Tapu Koko, while Zapdos handles Skarmory, Hawlucha, and punishes Mega Swampert with Static and Rocky Helmet, weakening an otherwise huge threat to sand teams. Kartana heavily pressures Ground-types not weak to Hidden Power Ice like Gastrodon and Seimitoad, and in return, Zapdos handles Steel-type checks like Mega Scizor, Celesteela, and Skarmory. Celesteela provides a solid answer to Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele and immediately threatens them with Heavy Slam. Pivot support from Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, Mega Scizor, Tapu Koko, and Magearna complements Zapdos very well because not only do they provide a safe entry via U-turn and Volt Switch, but they can also chain momentum from both moves. Additionally, Magearna provides cleric support with Heal Bell and covers Rock-types that pose a serious threat to Zapdos, like Mega Diancie and Choice Scarf Tyranitar, while Zapdos switches into Ground-type attacks aimed at Magearna. Tapu Fini checks Weavile, summons Misty Terrain to protect it and Zapdos's team from status ailments, and removes entry hazards with Defog, allowing Zapdos to more easily fit both Heat Wave and Hidden Power Ice into its moveset. Heatran sets up Stealth Rock and it traps and removes Chansey with Magma Storm + Taunt, taking a lot of pressure off of Zapdos. Spikes support from Ferrothorn and Skarmory also complement Zapdos well, as they dig into checks like Mega Tyranitar and make it easier for Zapdos to pressure the opposing team in conjunction with Volt Switch. Toxapex lays down Toxic Spikes, putting pressure on Pokemon like Weavile and Kyurem-B. Chansey, while a major nuisance, is also an incredible partner for Zapdos because it can soak up status ailments with Natural Cure, threatens checks like Mega Latias and Cresselia with Toxic and Magearna with Seismic Toss, provides Wish support to restore Zapdos's health and help it conserve its Roost PP, and benefits from Zapdos handling Fighting-types like Mega Lopunny and Hawlucha. Bulky Ground-types like Gastrodon and Seismitoad solidly answer Mega Tyranitar, while Zapdos handles Grass-types like Ferrothorn and Kartana in return. Defensive Garchomp is also worth mentioning, as it benefits from the safe entry from Volt Switch, sets up Stealth Rock, and pressures the opposing team with Dragon Tail and Toxic in conjunction with the chip damage from Stealth Rock. Specially defensive Kommo-o punishes Tapu Lele with Toxic on the switch and utilizes its typing to handle Ash-Greninja and Volcarona, and can threaten the latter with Rock Slide.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electrium Z with Thunderbolt can be utilized for a more offensive approach, but this sacrifices Zapdos's defensive utility and forces it to give up crucial chip damage it inflicts with Rocky Helmet or extra longevity from Leftovers. Zapdos can also run other moves, such as U-turn over Volt Switch, as it isn't blocked by Ground-types; Toxic punishes checks that attempt to force Zapdos out, like Mega Latias and Gastrodon; and Roar pairs well with support from entry hazards and wear down checks that are unaffected by Toxic like Magearna. However, these moves force Zapdos to ditch Defog or a crucial coverage move like Heat Wave or Hidden Power Ice, leaving it without an option to remove entry hazards or threaten targets like Ferrothorn and Landorus-T. Thunder is an option if Zapdos is used on a rain team due to its higher Special Attack stat than Tapu Koko; however, Zapdos is outclassed as a rain attacker by Tapu Koko due to its Stealth Rock weakness and slower Speed stat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Mega Tyranitar and Mega Diancie don't take much from Zapdos's moves, discourage it from attempting to remove Stealth Rock, and chase it out with their super effective attacks; however, they don't like being paralyzed by Discharge. Zapdos must also be wary of Pokemon that can threaten it with Rock-type coverage, like Stone Edge from Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Tapu Bulu. However, the former two must watch out for Hidden Power Ice. Additionally, Hawlucha sometimes runs Stone Edge specifically for Zapdos, but it has to land a hit or else it becomes mincemeat.
**Ice-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Weavile and Kyurem-B are both faster than Zapdos and immediately force it out with their super effective STAB moves, but they cannot switch in safely due to Zapdos threatening the former with Heat Wave while both are threatened with the chance of paralysis from Discharge. Kyurem-B can also punish Zapdos switching out by blasting a gaping hole through one of its teammates with Subzero Slammer. On top of this, Pokemon that commonly carry Ice-type coverage, like Ice Beam from Protean Greninja, Magearna, and Mega Latias, and Ice Punch from Mega Medicham, also threaten Zapdos with major damage.
**Dragon-types**: Bulky Dragon-types like Mega Latias and Mega Latios don't take much from Hidden Power Ice, heal off the damage with Recover, and force it out with Ice Beam in return. Specially defensive Kommo-o and Mega Altaria don't come close to being 3HKOed by Hidden Power Ice, and they can either cripple Zapdos with Toxic or phaze it out with Roar, while Mega Altaria also heals with Roost. Mega Charizard X is worth a mention because it can use Zapdos as setup fodder and smash it with a boosted Flare Blitz; however, it must do so at its own risk due to the chance of being paralyzed by Static, and it is punished with extra chip damage courtesy of Rocky Helmet.
**Ground-types and Electric-immune Pokemon**: Any Ground-type can get in Zapdos's way and block Volt Switch, but some are more annoying than others. Offensive Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp pose a major threat to Zapdos variants that lack Hidden Power Ice, while Substitute variants of Mega Swampert can put it on a timer with Toxic. Gliscor is bulky enough to survive Hidden Power Ice, regain health with Roost, and threaten it back with Toxic, and it is even better against Zapdos sets that don't have Hidden Power Ice. Hippowdon is also worth mentioning, as it isn't 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ice, heals with Slack Off, and either threatens Zapdos with Toxic or phazes it out with Whirlwind. Seismitoad and Gastrodon take pitifully low damage from anything that Zapdos throws at them and retaliate back with Toxic. Thundurus-T outspeeds Zapdos, isn't OHKOed by Hidden Power Ice, and blocks Volt Switch thanks to Volt Absorb; Nasty Plot variants threaten Zapdos with a guaranteed OHKO at +2 after Stealth Rock while utility variants can stop it from healing thanks to Taunt. Lower down the line are Mega Camerupt and Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak, both of which not only take little damage from Zapdos's coverage, but they can fire back with heavy damage in return.
**Special Attackers**: Due to Zapdos investing in physical bulk to handle a multitude of physical attackers, powerful special attackers like Mega Alakazam, Tapu Lele, and Ash-Greninja threaten it with heavy damage. Calm Mind and Shift Gear variants of Magearna are also notable examples because they can use Zapdos as setup fodder.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Chansey takes little damage from Zapdos's attacks, easily stalls out its PP, and forces it out with Toxic; however, Chansey is in trouble if Zapdos brings in a teammate with Volt Switch as Chansey comes in, especially if it takes damage from entry hazards upon switching in. Cresselia deserves a mention because Calm Mind variants can use Zapdos as setup fodder, while the support variant can stop Zapdos from switching out if its Eject Button is intact. Mega Venusaur takes little from Zapdos's coverage moves thanks to Thick Fat and threatens it in return with Sludge Bomb.
**Passive Damage**: The presence of Stealth Rock is very annoying for Zapdos, as it reduces its ability to handle physical attacks like Choice Scarf Kartana's Leaf Blade. Status ailments from burn and especially Toxic compound with the damage taken from Stealth Rock, forcing Zapdos to waste its Roost PP and making it more difficult for it to stick around.
**Certain Physical Attacks**: Swords Dance Kartana sometimes runs Normalium Z with Breakneck Blitz, which can bowl over Zapdos after a boost.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/favmon-garchomp.653095/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/