Competitive Information for Zapdos [Diamond/Pearl]
Electric / Flying
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Diamond/Pearl 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 Diamond/Pearl generation metagame.
Zapdos is a sensational Electric and Flying-typed Pokemon. Zapdos are common Pokemon to see in the DP metagame. Zapdos can usually be found in the OU tier (Overused). Zapdos's only type-related weaknesses are Ice and Rock.
Item: Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Heat Wave
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Roost
- Toxic
Special Sweeper Zapdos (Popular/Trending)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. It is primarily designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Zapdos last longer regaining it's health points every turn. 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 move that move loses one additional pp.
♦ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 95-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
♦ Roost is a status move (heals 50% hp. flying-type removed until turn ends).
♦ Toxic is a status move (badly poisons the target).
Link (click to copy):
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Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Air Cutter
- Heat Wave
- Extrasensory
Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Zapdos's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. 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 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).
♦ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. hits adjacent foes).
♦ 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/es11a91
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Diamond/Pearl 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 Diamond/Pearl generation metagame.
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Air Cutter
- Heat Wave
- Discharge / Thunderbolt
- Twister
Doubles Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Zapdos's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. 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 move that move loses one additional pp.
♦ Heat Wave is a special 100-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
♦ 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).
♦ Twister is a special 40-base power Dragon-type move (20% chance to flinch the foes).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ed10a91
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 Diamond/Pearl. 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 DP 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
- 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
- Baton Pass
- Discharge
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power Fighting
- Hidden Power Flying
- Hidden Power Grass
- Hidden Power Ice
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Rest
- Roost
- Sleep Talk
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic
- U-turn
Common Effort Values for Zapdos in Diamond and Pearl
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/4/252/ )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/4/252/0/252/ )
- Optimize Zapdos's EV spread for Pokemon Diamond and Pearl
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Zapdos. Top rated Zapdos Diamond/Pearl movesets. You can find Zapdos builds Diamond/Pearl. Zapdos movesets Diamond/Pearl are listed here. VGC Zapdos Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Zapdos in Diamond/Pearl along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution