[SET]
Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog / Heat Wave
- Roost
- Volt Switch
- Hurricane / Hidden Power [Ice]
[SET COMMENTS]
Leveraging an incredible ability in Static accompanied by a powerful Volt Switch and Hurricane, Zapdos serves as a stellar defensive pivot. Zapdos effectively switches into physical attackers such as Mega Lopunny, Zamazenta, Kartana, and Great Tusk, discouraging them from attacking by threatening a chance of paralysis. Zapdos can Volt Switch out as it pleases because of common Ground-types like Landorus-T, Garchomp, and the aforementioned Great Tusk fearing its powerful Hurricane. Hidden Power Ice can be used to threaten Ground-types like the aforementioned Landorus-T and Garchomp while additionally hitting Gliscor harder and much more reliably than Hurricane. Carrying Heat Wave is recommended with Hidden Power Ice to maintain the ability to OHKO Kartana. These positive matchups into many Ground-types allow Zapdos to serve as a solid Defog user, but it struggles to beat bulkier Stealth Rock users such as Heatran, Mega Tyranitar, and Clodsire. Alternatively, Zapdos can forgo Defog for Heat Wave, allowing it to threaten Pokemon such as Kingambit, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Gholdengo. Tera Steel is utilized by Zapdos to flip its Rock- and Ice-type weaknesses versus Pokemon like Mega Tyranitar, Weavile, and Mega Diancie as well as check Choice Specs Iron Valiant and Tapu Lele in a pinch. However, it becomes weak to common Ground- and Fighting-type moves from Pokemon it wants to check. Teammates that appreciate the spread of paralysis, such as Mega Medicham, Urshifu-R, and Weavile, naturally pair well with Zapdos. Mega Medicham particularly pairs nicely with it, as Mega Medicham threatens Clodsire while enjoying Zapdos pivoting it into favorable matchups such as Heatran, with Zapdos punishing Tornadus-T and Mega Lopunny looking to revenge kill Mega Medicham in return. Pursuit users like Kingambit and the aforementioned Weavile are useful teammates to assist in chipping down Clodsire as well as punishing Dragapult. Rock-types like Mega Diancie and Mega Tyranitar threaten Zapdos, so teammates that mitigate these weaknesses, like Hippowdon and Gastrodon, are appreciated.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sealoo.514772/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/chrispbacon.544502/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ryuji.515767/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
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