Competitive Information for Zapdos [Black/White]
Electric / Flying
Abilities:
Note: Pokemon with the Lightning Rod ability are immune to Electric attacks.
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Black/White Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Black/White generation metagame.
Zapdos is a fabulous Electric and Flying-typed Pokemon. It's pretty standard to see Zapdos show up as a Black/White opponent. Zapdos is typically seen in the UU tier (Underused). Zapdos's only type-related weaknesses are Ice and Rock.
Item: Leftovers / Expert Belt
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 192 Hp / 108 SpA / 24 SpD / 184 Spe
Moveset:
- Heat Wave
- Discharge / Thunder
- Roost
- Substitute
Special Tank Zapdos (Popular/Trending)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Tank. It's meant to take a good amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Zapdos last longer regaining it's it's vitality every turn. With Pressure, if Zapdos is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp.
♦ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
♦ Thunder is a special STAB-boosted 120-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze. can't miss in rain).
♦ Roost is a status move (heals 50% hp. flying-type removed until turn ends).
♦ Substitute is a status move (Zapdos takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fs10a91
Item: Life Orb / Magnet
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Heat Wave
- Extrasensory
- Air Cutter
Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. It's meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Zapdos's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Pressure, if Zapdos is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp.
♦ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
♦ Heat Wave is a special 100-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
♦ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. hits adjacent foes).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fs11a91
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Black/White Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Black/White generation metagame.
Item: Life Orb / Charcoal
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Heat Wave
- Discharge / Thunderbolt
- Air Cutter
- Twister
Doubles Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Life Orb boosts the power of Zapdos's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Pressure, if Zapdos is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp.
♦ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
♦ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 95-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Twister is a special 40-base power Dragon-type move (20% chance to flinch the foes).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/fd10a91
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Zapdos learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Zapdos can perform in Black/White. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive BW Move and Ability Combos for Zapdos
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Zap Cannon
- Moves with Priority: Detect, Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Defog
- Moves that inflict status: Thunder Wave, Toxic
Moves that boost Zapdos's stats
- Agility
- Ancient Power
- Charge
- Charge Beam
- Ominous Wind
- Steel Wing
Most notable and possible best moves for Zapdos
- Agility
- Baton Pass
- Baton Pass
- Discharge
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power Ice
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Rest
- Roost
- Substitute
- Thunder
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic
- U-turn
- Volt Switch
Common Effort Values for Zapdos in Black and White
- Timid Nature ( 192/0/0/108/24/184/ )
- Calm Nature ( 232/0/0/0/240/36/ )
- Optimize Zapdos's EV spread for Pokemon Black and White
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Zapdos. Top rated Zapdos Black/White movesets. You can find Zapdos builds Black/White. Zapdos movesets Black/White are listed here. VGC Zapdos Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Zapdos in Black/White along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution