Doubles Zapdos

qsns

qsns

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[OVERVIEW]

Zapdos offers a premium speed control option in Tailwind backed by a great 100 base Speed, making it a reliable user of the move. Its Electric typing offensively covers Urshifu-R, Volcanion, and Tapu Fini, while its Flying type allows it to defensively cover Rillaboom and Genesect. Zapdos' high Special Attack and ability to pivot out of the field means it is rarely passive as a support Pokemon. These traits and respectable bulk place it as a useful glue on fast-paced teams, supporting offensive behemoths such as Urshifu-R and Kyurem-B. On these types of teams, it faces competition from other Tailwind users such as the speedier and more offensive Naganadel, though its Volt Switch and durability set it apart. Zapdos is plagued by some poor matchups into tier mainstays such as Kyurem-B, Zygarde, and Diancie. Additionally, most of Zapdos's utility comes from its relatively fast Tailwind, meaning Taunt and Trick Room will render its main strength useless.

[SET]
name: Offensive Tailwind
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Tailwind
move 4: Protect
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Static
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 Spa / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

* Volt Switch offers a decently powerful and accurate STAB move that OHKOs Urshifu-R while giving Zapdos a pivoting option. This is quite important for bringing in strong offensive threats shortly after Zapdos has set Tailwind.

* Hurricane is Zapdos's primary damage-dealing option, slamming Rillaboom for a super effective hit while offering a strong neutral hit on Pokemon such as Zygarde and Kyurem-B.

* Tailwind is Zapdos's main niche, allowing Pokemon with otherwise middling Speed stats such as Heatran and Zygarde to outspeed the vast majority of the tier, and pushing faster teammates to unmatched Speeds.

* Protect allows Zapdos to dance around the opponent's dangerous moves and let its user to maneuver themselves into a better position.

* Sitrus Berry allows Zapdos to survive a Choice Band Surging Strikes from Urshifu-R and gives it general longevity.

* Static can inflict game-changing status against attacking Rillaboom, Genesect, and Urshifu-R, the latter of which hits three times with Surging Strikes.

* The given EV spread and nature maximizes Zapdos' speed, allowing it to outspeed Urshifu-R and Speed tie with opposing Zapdos and Mew. More bulk can be added to survive specific attacks—a spread of 232 HP / 24 SpA / 252 Spe can be used to survive a Modest Choice Specs Dragapult Draco Meteor and a Jolly Choice Band Urshifu-R Surging Strikes without Sitrus Berry.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Heat Wave can be useful coverage for OHKOing Genesect and providing spread damage, though replacing Hurricane leaves Zapdos quite desperate for power in the face of bulkier opponents such as Rillaboom and completely blanked by Zygarde. Safety Goggles allows Zapdos to switch into and completely ignore opposing Amoonguss, but the loss of Sitrus Berry recovery is noticeable. A all-out rain attacking set with Life Orb, carrying Thunder as its Electric-type STAB move, turns Zapdos into a major threat that also carries useful speed control. Whirlwind can be used to force out foes that have accumulated stat boosts or are setting Trick Room.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[qsns, 230771]]
- Quality checked by: [[emma, 294304], [Memoric, 215000]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
 
Last edited:
ready for QC, I haven't written one of these in a while so lmk if I need to expand anything (feels a bit bare)
 
[OVERVIEW]
  • I would specifically highlight Zapdos' Speed in the opening sentence, since Base 100 lets it outrun a lot of important things like Urshifu-R, Kyurem-B, Zygarde, etc. Maybe instead of doing great all-around-stats you can just focus on Speed, and then end the sentence with how it makes Zapdos a reliable form of speed control instead of solid matchups into prominent threats.
  • I would just say Genesect. You have Shift Gear covered of course, and even with Choice Scarf you force Genesect to lock into Ice Beam and have Protect to scout.
  • Throw in pivot move to gain momentum where you talk about offensive presence.
  • Mention good partners (Urshifu-R loves Tailwind support and kills Kyurem-B while Zapdos handles Grass-type for example)
  • Throw in Taunt in the last sentence as ways to counteract Tailwind.
[SET]
  • Make Sitrus Berry the main item and move Safety Goggles to OO.
  • Replace the Volcanion mention with Zygarde in the Tailwind line.
  • Remove Pressure. It sounds interesting in theory but I don't think anyone has ever used it. Also mention Urshifu-R in the Static line since it hits three times.
  • Make sure it is Urshifu-R and not Urshifu throughout!
[OTHER OPTIONS]
  • Mention Safety Goggles here.
  • Order of OO should be Safety Goggles --> Heat Wave --> Rain Attacking set. Remove Yache and Charti Berries.
  • Mention downsides of Safety Goggles (no recovery) and Heat Wave (not as good as Hurricane).
  • End with how Zapdos can also be used as a Life Orb attack with Thunder on Rain as an alternative set.
Good work qsns, and I'm glad you decided to write an analysis :toast:

emma-gif.351860


QC 1/2
 
check

Overview
  • Mention that Zapdos particularly faces competition from Naga as an offensive TWinder, along with the appropriate brief comparison (in particular that Zapdos is more "pivoty" and durable)
Set Details
  • Mention that Hurricane also lets it hit Zyg
  • Say that Sitrus is also for general longevity
  • Add Mew for stuff you can speedtie with.
OO
  • Say going for Heat Wave (and dropping cane) also leaves you owned by Zygarde
  • Add Whirlwind
2/2 upon implementation
 
Add/Fix Remove Comment
(AC): Add Comma
[OVERVIEW]

Zapdos offers a premium speed control option in Tailwind backed by a great 100 base Speed, making it a reliable user of the move. Its Electric typing offensively offers coverage into covers Urshifu-R, Volcanion, and Tapu Fini, while its Flying type (removed hyphen) allows it to defensively cover Rillaboom and Genesect. Zapdos' high 125 base Special Attack along with the Zapdos's high Special Attack and ability to pivot out of the field means it is rarely passive as a support Pokemon. These traits and respectable bulk place it as a useful glue on fast-paced teams, (AC) that appreciate the speed buff backed by respectable bulk and power, supporting offensive behemoths such as Urshifu-R and Kyurem-B. On these types of teams, it faces competition from other Tailwind users such as the speedier and more offensive Naganadel, though its Volt Switch and durability set it apart. Though it has its positive matchups, Zapdos is also plagued by poor ones into some poor matchups against (I imagine this checks out but lmk if not)tier mainstays such as Kyurem-B, Zygarde, and Diancie. Additionally, most of Zapdos's utility comes from its relatively fast Tailwind, meaning Taunt and Trick Room will render its main strengths useless.

[SET]
name: Offensive Tailwind
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Tailwind
move 4: Protect
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Static
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 Spa / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

* Volt Switch offers a decently powerful & and accurate STAB move that OHKOes Urshifu-R while giving Zapdos a pivoting option. This is quite important for bringing in strong offensive threats shortly after Zapdos has set Tailwind.

* Hurricane is Zapdos's primary damage-dealing (added hyphen) option, slamming Rillaboom for a super effective hit while offering a strong neutral hit on Pokemon such as Zygarde and Kyurem-B.

* Tailwind is Zapdos's main niche, giving it and its teammates 4 turns of doubled speed. This supports allowing Pokemon with otherwise middling Speed stats such as Heatran and Zygarde to outspeed the vast majority of the tier, and pushes even pushing faster teammates to unmatched Speeds.

* Protect allows Zapdos to dance around the opponent's dangerous moves and allow its user to lets its user maneuver themselves into a better position.

* Sitrus Berry allows Zapdos to survive a Choice Band Surging Strikes from Urshifu-R and gives it general longevity.

* Static is chosen to paralyze opponents on contact moves, which can be game-changing against incoming can inflict game-changing paralysis against attacking Rillaboom, Genesect, and Urshifu-R, the latter of which hits 3 three times with Surging Strikes.

* The given EV spread and nature maximizes Zapdos' speed, maximize Zapdos's Speed, allowing it to outspeed all variants of both Urshifu formes and Speed tie with opposing Zapdos and Mew. More bulk can be added to survive specific attacks—a spread of 232 HP / 24 SpA / 252 Spe can be used to survive a Modest Choice Specs Dragapult Draco Meteor and a Jolly Choice Band Urshifu-R Surging Strikes without Sitrus Berry.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Heat Wave can be useful coverage for OHKOing Genesect and providing spread damage, though replacing Hurricane leaves Zapdos quite desperate for power in the face of bulkier opponents such as Rillaboom and completely blanked by Zygarde. Safety Goggles allows Zapdos to switch into and completely ignore opposing Amoonguss, but the loss of Sitrus Berry recovery is noticeable. A full-out Rain An all-out rain attacking set with Life Orb, carrying Thunder as its Electric-type STAB move, turns Zapdos into a major threat that also carries useful speed control. Whirlwind can be used to force out opponents foes that have accumulated stat boosts or are setting Trick Room.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[qsns, 230771]]
- Quality checked by: [[emma, 294304], [Memoric, 215000]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
adeleine.gif
1/1
 
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