Competitive Information for Zapdos [Sword/Shield]
Electric / Flying
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield 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 Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Tapu FiniPorygon2UrshifuIncineroarGrimmsnarlRillaboomHeatranTyranitarKartanaCresselia
Zapdos is a remarkable Electric and Flying-typed Pokemon. It's pretty usual to find yourself dealing with Zapdos when battling in the 8th generation meta. Zapdos can usually be found in the OU tier (Overused). Zapdos's only type-related weaknesses are Ice and Rock.
Item: Life Orb / Sharp Beak
Ability: Static
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Hurricane
- Heat Wave
- Thunderbolt / Volt Switch
- Detect
Special Sweeper Zapdos (Popular/Trending)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper for single battles. It's primary goal 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 Static, 30% chance a pokemon making contact with Zapdos will be paralyzed. With a Sharp Beak equipped to it, Zapdos's flying-type attacks have 1.2x power.
◆ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
◆ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Volt Switch is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Electric-type move (Zapdos switches out after damaging the target).
◆ Detect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Zapdos this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10a91
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Air Cutter
- Heat Wave
- Extrasensory
Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper for single battles. It's purpose 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 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 make the target flinch).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a91
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Zapdos? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield 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 Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Tapu FiniPorygon2UrshifuIncineroarGrimmsnarlRillaboomHeatranTyranitarKartanaCresselia
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Static
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 28 Hp / 4 Def / 220 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt
- Hurricane
- Weather Ball
- Eerie Impulse
Doubles Special Sweeper Zapdos (Popular VGC)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper for double battles. This particular build was popular during earlier competitions. 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 Static, 30% chance a pokemon making contact with Zapdos will be paralyzed.
◆ Hurricane is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to confuse target. Can't miss in rain).
◆ Weather Ball is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (power doubles and type varies in each weather).
◆ Eerie Impulse is a status move (lowers the target's special attack by 2 stages).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a91
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 12 Hp / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Air Cutter
- Discharge / Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Extrasensory
Doubles Special Sweeper Zapdos (Pressure)
Zapdos is a legendary Special Sweeper for double battles. It's 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 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).
◆ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to make the target flinch).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11a91
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 Sword/Shield. 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 SS 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
- Curse
- Steel Wing
Most notable and possible best moves for Zapdos
- Baton Pass
- Detect
- Heat Wave
- Hurricane
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Rising Voltage
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic
- U-turn
- Volt Switch
Common Effort Values for Zapdos in Sword and Shield
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/4/252 )
- Timid Nature ( 4/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Zapdos's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Zapdos. Top rated Zapdos Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Zapdos builds Sword/Shield. Zapdos movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Zapdos Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Zapdos in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution