Competitive Information for Zapdos [Sun/Moon]
Electric / Flying
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sun/Moon 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 Sun/Moon generation metagame.
HeatranTapu%20LeleToxapexChanseyClefableAlakazam-MegaTapu%20FiniTyranitarScizor-MegaJirachi
Zapdos is a marvelous Electric and Flying-typed Pokemon. It's frequent to see Zapdos show up as a Sun/Moon opponent. Zapdos can usually be found in the OU tier (Overused). Zapdos's only type-related weaknesses are Ice and Rock.
Item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
Ability: Static
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 248 Hp / 240 Def / 20 Spe
Moveset:
- Heat Wave
- Discharge / Volt Switch
- Defog
- Roost
Physical Wall Zapdos (Popular/Trending)
Zapdos is a legendary Physical Wall. It is designed to take a good amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Zapdos last longer regaining it's stamina every turn. With Static, 30% chance a pokemon making contact with Zapdos will be paralyzed.
♦ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
♦ Volt Switch is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Electric-type move (Zapdos switches out after damaging the target).
♦ Defog is a status move (-1 evasion; clears Zapdos and target side's hazards).
♦ Roost is a status move (heals 50% hp. flying-type removed until turn ends).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hs10a91
Item: Electrium Z / Life Orb
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. It attempts 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).
♦ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Heat Wave is a special 95-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/hs11a91
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Sun/Moon 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 Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Kyogre-PrimalRayquaza-MegaTapu%20FiniAmoongussKangaskhan-MegaLunalaNihilegoStakatakaNaganadelPalkia
Item: Flyinium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moveset:
- Air Cutter
- Discharge / Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Razor Wind
Doubles Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset 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 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
♦ Razor Wind is a special 80-base power Normal-type move (charges, then hits foes turn 2. high crit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hd10a91
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 Sun/Moon. 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 SM 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: Bide, 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
- Curse
- Ominous Wind
- Rage
- Steel Wing
Most notable and possible best moves for Zapdos
- Baton Pass
- Defog
- Discharge
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power
- Hidden Power Ice
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Roost
- Toxic
- U-turn
- Volt Switch
Common Effort Values for Zapdos in Sun and Moon
- Bold Nature ( 248/0/240/0/0/20/ )
- Bold Nature ( 248/0/252/4/0/0/ )
- Optimize Zapdos's EV spread for Pokemon Sun and Moon
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Zapdos. Top rated Zapdos Sun/Moon movesets. You can find Zapdos builds Sun/Moon. Zapdos movesets Sun/Moon are listed here. VGC Zapdos Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Zapdos in Sun/Moon along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution