Competitive Information for Zapdos [Ruby/Sapphire]
Electric / Flying
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Ruby/Sapphire 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 Ruby/Sapphire generation metagame.
Zapdos is a phenomenal Electric and Flying-typed Pokemon. It's a pretty common sight to see Zapdos out in the 3rd generation battlefield. Zapdos can usually be found in the OU tier (Overused). Zapdos's only type-related weaknesses are Ice and Rock.
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Thunder Wave
- Baton Pass
- Roar
- Toxic
Special Sweeper Zapdos (Popular/Trending)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. It's meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Previously before Generation IV, a move's damage category was determined by its type. 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 move that move loses one additional pp.
♦ Thunder Wave is a status move (paralyzes the target).
♦ Baton Pass is a status move (Zapdos switches, passing stat changes and more).
♦ Roar is a status move (forces the target to switch to a random ally).
♦ Toxic is a status move (badly poisons the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ds10a91
Item: Magnet
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Thunder Shock
- Extrasensory
- Detect
- Thunder Wave
Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. It attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Prior to Generation IV, a move's damage category was determined by its type. With Pressure, if Zapdos is the target of a move that move loses one additional pp.
♦ Thunder Shock is a special STAB-boosted 40-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Detect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Zapdos this turn).
♦ Thunder Wave is a status move (paralyzes the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ds11a91
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Ruby/Sapphire 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 Ruby/Sapphire generation metagame.
Item: Magnet
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Thunder Shock
- Extrasensory
- Detect
- Thunder Wave
Doubles Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. It's goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. In the old days before Generation IV, a move's damage category was determined by its type. With Pressure, if Zapdos is the target of a move that move loses one additional pp.
♦ Thunder Shock is a special STAB-boosted 40-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Detect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Zapdos this turn).
♦ Thunder Wave is a status move (paralyzes the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/dd10a91
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 Ruby/Sapphire. 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 RS 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 inflict status: Thunder Wave, Toxic
Moves that boost Zapdos's stats
- Agility
- Charge
- Steel Wing
Most notable and possible best moves for Zapdos
- Agility
- Baton Pass
- Drill Peck
- Hidden Power Grass
- Hidden Power Ice
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Rest
- Roar
- Substitute
- Thunder Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Zapdos in Ruby and Sapphire
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/4/252/ )
- Timid Nature ( 4/0/0/252/0/252/ )
- Optimize Zapdos's EV spread for Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Zapdos. Top rated Zapdos Ruby/Sapphire movesets. You can find Zapdos builds Ruby/Sapphire. Zapdos movesets Ruby/Sapphire are listed here. VGC Zapdos Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Zapdos in Ruby/Sapphire along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution