[Overview]
-Zapdos' great ability in Pressure allows it to wear down a variety of teams with its good STAB combination of Electric and Flying, while also draining PP from threats.
-Zapdos is one of the most effective and consistent Defog users in the tier due to its typing, ability to punish U-turn with a great Ability in Static, and its pivoting potential with Volt Switch and Heavy-Duty Boots.
-It checks prominent threats in the current metagame, including Rillaboom, Excadrill, Kartana, and Tornadus-Therian, which allows it to remove hazards on forced switches.
-It has the unique property of being able to threaten Defog users such as Corviknight, Tornadus-Therian, and Mandibuzz with STAB Electric-type attacks while staying in on them comfortably, allowing even more pivot opportunities and chip damage.
-Access to Hurricane allows it to threaten Ground-type switchins with chip damage, namely Garchomp and Landorus-T, while Heat Wave lets it pressure Ferrothorn and other Steel-types.
-Zapdos can, however, struggle against several notable Pokemon, such as Tyranitar and Kyurem, which easily threaten it off the field. In addition to that, each resists one of Zapdos' STAB attacks.
-Zapdos also dislikes Toxic and Knock Off. Toxic puts it on a timer, while Knock Off is carried by several Pokemon it wants to check. Knock Off takes its item and allows it to get whittled down by Stealth Rock damage.
[SET]
name: Substitute+Pressure
move 1: Discharge
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 160 HP / 108 SpA / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
-This set allows Zapdos to make headway against many balance and bulky offense teams.
-Zapdos can take advantage of common Pokemon, namely Toxapex and Corviknight, and it is able to set up Substitute as it forces a switch out. This removes the need for prediction, and with its surprisingly good STAB combination, it is able to threaten a variety of teams without fearing much in direct retaliation.
-Substitute also enables Zapdos to click Hurricane freely with less fear of missing.
-Pressure is crucial, as it allows Zapdos to PP stall moves like Clefable's Moonblast, Heatran's Magma Storm,
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Discharge / Volt Switch
move 2: Roost
move 3: Hurricane / Heat Wave
move 4: Defog / Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Static
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
-Zapdos can choose between Discharge and Volt Switch for its Electric move. Discharge helps it spread paralysis more effectively and has more power, while Volt Switch allows it to pivot on the many switches it can force and support pivoting teams.
-Roost gives Zapdos reliable recovery so that it can continue to switch into threats like Hawlucha and Rillaboom and keep its longevity for more Defogs.
-Hurricane is a secondary STAB choice and allows Zapdos to hit Rillaboom and other Pokemon it switches into hard. It also allows it to heavily chip Ground-types like Landorus-Therian and Garchomp.
-Heat Wave allows Zapdos to threaten common Steel-type switchins like Ferrothorn, Excadrill, or Melmetal.
-Defog is an essential utility move for Zapdos, since it forces switches from other Flying-types and offensive Pokemon like Kartana, which allows it to consistently remove hazards.
-Toxic is an option to pressure Ground-types and other Pokemon like Tyranitar that Zapdos normally would not threaten.
-Heavy-Duty Boots allow Zapdos to remove entry hazards with little risk, and help its pivoting ability and defensive utility when switching into the Pokemon it checks.
-40 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Zapdos to outpace Rillaboom and force it out with Hurricane or Heat Wave.
-Good teammates for Zapdos include Pokemon that appreciate paralysis on faster Pokemon that would usually revenge kill them, like Tapu Lele, Hydreigon, and Nidoking. Volcarona also enjoys not having to worry about Tornadus-Therian while Zapdos is around.
-Hippowdon, Tyranitar, and Swampert appreciate the checking and removal of Rillaboom and Kartana, while Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal appreciate Fighting-types like Hawlucha being held back.
-Zapdos itself struggles somewhat against Heatran, so Pokemon like Garchomp are good partners for it.
-Zapdos also appreciates the pressure Rillaboom and Kartana exert on Tyranitar and the tier's Ground-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Checks and Counters
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***Specially Defensive Walls*** Though passive, Blissey is a common switchin to Zapdos' attacks, can punish non-Substitute sets with Toxic, set up Stealth Rock, or Teleport into an offensive threat. Zapdos can barely touch Tyranitar, and it's forced out by its Rock-type moves, allowing it to set up Stealth Rock for almost free every time it comes in. Slowking-Galar also checks Zapdos. Uninvested Discharge isn't even a guaranteed 6HKO on the standard Assault Vest set. It can also threaten poisoning with Sludge Bomb or set up a Future Sight.
***Garchomp*** Garchomp's electric immunity allows it to switch into Zapdos and threaten it with Stone Edge while outspeeding it; another scenario where Stealth Rock is set up on Zapdos fleeing.
***Ice-Types*** Kyurem and Weavile in particular take advantage of Zapdos, with the former getting to set up Substitutes or force the Zapdos user to find a switchin, while the latter is able to Swords Dance, Knock Off a switchin's item, or just kill Zapdos with a STAB ice move.
***Knock Off*** Zapdos despises Knock Off, which is carried by Pokemon it wants to switch into such as Rillaboom, Kartana, and Tornadus-T, and once its Heavy-Duty Boots are gone it finds it difficult to switch into threats, as it will lose a quarter of its health upon doing so, as well as losing some of its overall longevity.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[qwertyman888, 515221]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
Last edited:
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