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[OVERVIEW]
Zapdos has an uncommon niche in 1v1 as a hybrid of offense and stall, giving it a unique matchup spread that can't easily be achieved using exclusively one or the other. Gigavolt Havoc can OHKO the many bulky Water-types in 1v1, such as Primarina, Tapu Fini, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Gyarados, while slower, bulkier Pokemon such as Necrozma and Porygon2 get Toxic stalled. Zapdos's nature as a hybrid Pokemon adds a degree of unpredictability that makes it difficult to play against. Pressure is a useful ability that lets Zapdos PP stall Pokemon that rely on a single move, such as Magearna. However, Zapdos is held back by its mediocre bulk, necessitating a very defensive spread that can't afford to invest in Speed. Zapdos's average bulk and inability to invest in Speed keep it from reliably tanking hits from powerhouses like Mega Charizard Y and Substitute Torrent Greninja or outspeeding threats such as Tapu Lele and Jumpluff. Zapdos's lack of access to Taunt means that it is outclassed as a staller by Pokemon that can use it, such as Mew and Deoxys-S, and it cannot win against other stallers such as Whimsicott and Registeel.
[SET]
name: Hybird
move 1: Thunder / Zap Cannon
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Roost
move 4: Substitute
item: Electrium Z
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
evs: 240 HP / 104 Def / 28 SpA / 136 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunder is Zapdos's best offensive move and should be used whenever stalling the opposing Pokemon isn't a viable choice. Common threats defeated by Gigavolt Havoc include Mega Gyarados, Primarina, Mega Slowbro, Tapu Fini, Kartana, Celesteela, Choice Scarf Porygon-Z, and Heatran. Zap Cannon is a viable option over Thunder, giving Zapdos a harder-hitting Z-Move and a better chance of hitting and paralyzing the foe. However, not having the higher accuracy of Thunder means you can lose out on important 2HKOs such as against Mega Mawile, Heatran, and Choice Scarf Timid Genesect. Zap Cannon can also make PP stall matchups more difficult, because a Pokemon does not lose PP if it is fully paralyzed. In exchange, the higher paralysis chance of Zap Cannon gives higher chances of winning against faster threats Zapdos can 2HKO, such as Naganadel. Toxic is present to outstall threats that can tank or are immune to Gigavolt Havoc, such as Mega Altaria, Donphan, Clefable, Necrozma, and Porygon2. Roost is a reliable recovery option that can also be useful in shedding Zapdos's Flying typing for a turn, allowing Zapdos to win mind games and defeat Pokemon with coverage moves for Flying-types, such as Donphan and Mega Swampert. Because Electric shares no weakness with Electric / Flying typing, being able to use Roost to change typing is a powerful asset. The final move is Substitute, giving Zapdos a reliable win against the ever-present Magearna, as well as wins over important threats such as Necrozma, Porygon2, Chansey, and usually Aegislash.
Set Details
========
240 HP EVs and 136 Special Defense EVs with a Calm nature allow Zapdos to survive a Hyper Beam from Modest Porygon-Z and an Ice Beam from Timid Choice Specs Greninja. 28 Special Attack EVs ensure an OHKO against uninvested Porygon-Z. 112 Defense EVs with the given HP investment give Zapdos enough physical bulk to sometimes keep a Substitute against Donphan's Ice Shard, as eventually having a Substitute not broken is critical in order to beat Donphan. Pressure allows Zapdos to PP stall, in conjunction with Substitute and Roost, Pokemon that use Choice items or simply don't have much PP, such as Magearna and Choice Specs Necrozma. Electrium Z is the best item for this set, allowing Zapdos to pick up many OHKOs with very little Special Attack investment.
Usage Tips
========
A safe turn 1 play against most slower Pokemon is often Substitute, allowing Zapdos to block any status moves or Z-Moves they may want to use immediately. This is especially true against Magearna, Chansey, and Aegislash. Against Magearna, make sure Zapdos always stays behind a Substitute to avoid potentially taking a critical hit. Eventually, Fleur Cannon will not break the Substitute, and you can use Roost to guarantee the win. Against Donphan, you need to be aware of the mind game between Roost and Earthquake and of the possible Head Smash. Use Substitute on turn 1 to scout for Head Smash. If Donphan has Head Smash, you need to choose the correct turn to Roost. Using Roost on turn 2 or 3 is much better than on turn 4, because on turn 4 Zapdos will be in range of being KOed by Ice Shard. If Donphan has Rock Tomb instead, purposefully tank the hit so Zapdos becomes slower and no longer needs to worry about Earthquake. Eventually, this matchup becomes a loop of Ice Shard against Substitute and Roost. Continue using Roost and Substitute until Ice Shard fails to break the Substitute. Then, use Toxic to ensure the win. Against Aegislash, use Substitute and Roost to survive and recover against Never-Ending Nightmare. Use Gigavolt Havoc on a turn you think the opponent will not use King's Shield. Against Heatran, use Thunder on turn 1. If it misses, use Roost; otherwise, Gigavolt Havoc KOes. Zap Cannon and Thunder have decent chances of inflicting paralysis, which can be used to occasionally win matches you would otherwise lose, such as against Choice Specs Genesect and Naganadel.
Team Options
========
Zapdos has losing matchups against many of the bulky offense Pokemon that can't be reliably Toxic stalled, such as Mega Charizard X and Y, physical Dragonite, Mega Gardevoir, and Zygarde. Bulky Water- and Fairy-types, such as Primarina, Mega Slowbro, and Tapu Lele, can each handle a combination of those threats, while Zapdos handles threats such as Metal Sound Celesteela, Magearna, and other Water-types that threaten these complements. Zapdos also has excellent synergy with Fire-types such as Heatran and Victini that can handle the various Fairy-, Steel-, and Grass-types that Zapdos may not be able to, notably Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, Choice Specs Genesect, and Tapu Bulu. Zapdos deals with Protean Greninja, Porygon2, and bulky Water-types that threaten such Fire-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Reflect is an alternative option with a faster EV spread that aims to improve Zapdos's matchups against physical attackers such as Mega Metagross. Combined with Hidden Power Ice, Reflect gives Zapdos consistent wins over notable physical attackers like Garchomp and Landorus-T. Laser Focus and Metal Sound are options over Substitute that can be used to defeat Kee Berry Mew and Type: Null, respectively. Heat Wave is an option for a more offensive Zapdos set that can beat Ferrothorn and Genesect. Charge is a niche choice, allowing Zapdos to double the damage of Gigavolt Havoc, gaining OHKOs it otherwise misses, such as Choice Scarf Genesect.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Stall**: Pokemon with better stall tools than Zapdos such as Rest Zygarde and Amnesia Registeel reliably beat it.
**Faster Rock-types**: Faster Rock-types or Rock-types with Speed-boosting moves, such as Carracosta, Mega Diancie, and Crustle, all OHKO or 2HKO Zapdos comfortably.
**Substitute Bypass**: Pokemon that use sound moves and other moves that bypass Substitute makes Toxic stalling a difficult prospect for Zapdos. This list includes Hoopa-U, Mega Gardevoir, Meloetta, Jumpluff, and Kommo-o.
**Defensive Taunt Users**: Pokemon that Zapdos can neither KO nor Toxic stall due to Taunt or their typing tend to beat it. These include Whimsicott, Deoxys-S, and Kee Berry Mew.
**Powerful Offense**: Faster Pokemon that have immediate power such as Mega Charizard X and Y, Mega Gardevoir, and Tapu Lele won't give Zapdos a chance to inflict them with Toxic or set up a Substitute.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Boat (phiwings99), 475993]]
- Quality checked by: [[Osra, 239997], [Synonimous, 457703], [Alakazam, 276708]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Zapdos has an uncommon niche in 1v1 as a hybrid of offense and stall, giving it a unique matchup spread that can't easily be achieved using exclusively one or the other. Gigavolt Havoc can OHKO the many bulky Water-types in 1v1, such as Primarina, Tapu Fini, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Gyarados, while slower, bulkier Pokemon such as Necrozma and Porygon2 get Toxic stalled. Zapdos's nature as a hybrid Pokemon adds a degree of unpredictability that makes it difficult to play against. Pressure is a useful ability that lets Zapdos PP stall Pokemon that rely on a single move, such as Magearna. However, Zapdos is held back by its mediocre bulk, necessitating a very defensive spread that can't afford to invest in Speed. Zapdos's average bulk and inability to invest in Speed keep it from reliably tanking hits from powerhouses like Mega Charizard Y and Substitute Torrent Greninja or outspeeding threats such as Tapu Lele and Jumpluff. Zapdos's lack of access to Taunt means that it is outclassed as a staller by Pokemon that can use it, such as Mew and Deoxys-S, and it cannot win against other stallers such as Whimsicott and Registeel.
[SET]
name: Hybird
move 1: Thunder / Zap Cannon
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Roost
move 4: Substitute
item: Electrium Z
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
evs: 240 HP / 104 Def / 28 SpA / 136 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunder is Zapdos's best offensive move and should be used whenever stalling the opposing Pokemon isn't a viable choice. Common threats defeated by Gigavolt Havoc include Mega Gyarados, Primarina, Mega Slowbro, Tapu Fini, Kartana, Celesteela, Choice Scarf Porygon-Z, and Heatran. Zap Cannon is a viable option over Thunder, giving Zapdos a harder-hitting Z-Move and a better chance of hitting and paralyzing the foe. However, not having the higher accuracy of Thunder means you can lose out on important 2HKOs such as against Mega Mawile, Heatran, and Choice Scarf Timid Genesect. Zap Cannon can also make PP stall matchups more difficult, because a Pokemon does not lose PP if it is fully paralyzed. In exchange, the higher paralysis chance of Zap Cannon gives higher chances of winning against faster threats Zapdos can 2HKO, such as Naganadel. Toxic is present to outstall threats that can tank or are immune to Gigavolt Havoc, such as Mega Altaria, Donphan, Clefable, Necrozma, and Porygon2. Roost is a reliable recovery option that can also be useful in shedding Zapdos's Flying typing for a turn, allowing Zapdos to win mind games and defeat Pokemon with coverage moves for Flying-types, such as Donphan and Mega Swampert. Because Electric shares no weakness with Electric / Flying typing, being able to use Roost to change typing is a powerful asset. The final move is Substitute, giving Zapdos a reliable win against the ever-present Magearna, as well as wins over important threats such as Necrozma, Porygon2, Chansey, and usually Aegislash.
Set Details
========
240 HP EVs and 136 Special Defense EVs with a Calm nature allow Zapdos to survive a Hyper Beam from Modest Porygon-Z and an Ice Beam from Timid Choice Specs Greninja. 28 Special Attack EVs ensure an OHKO against uninvested Porygon-Z. 112 Defense EVs with the given HP investment give Zapdos enough physical bulk to sometimes keep a Substitute against Donphan's Ice Shard, as eventually having a Substitute not broken is critical in order to beat Donphan. Pressure allows Zapdos to PP stall, in conjunction with Substitute and Roost, Pokemon that use Choice items or simply don't have much PP, such as Magearna and Choice Specs Necrozma. Electrium Z is the best item for this set, allowing Zapdos to pick up many OHKOs with very little Special Attack investment.
Usage Tips
========
A safe turn 1 play against most slower Pokemon is often Substitute, allowing Zapdos to block any status moves or Z-Moves they may want to use immediately. This is especially true against Magearna, Chansey, and Aegislash. Against Magearna, make sure Zapdos always stays behind a Substitute to avoid potentially taking a critical hit. Eventually, Fleur Cannon will not break the Substitute, and you can use Roost to guarantee the win. Against Donphan, you need to be aware of the mind game between Roost and Earthquake and of the possible Head Smash. Use Substitute on turn 1 to scout for Head Smash. If Donphan has Head Smash, you need to choose the correct turn to Roost. Using Roost on turn 2 or 3 is much better than on turn 4, because on turn 4 Zapdos will be in range of being KOed by Ice Shard. If Donphan has Rock Tomb instead, purposefully tank the hit so Zapdos becomes slower and no longer needs to worry about Earthquake. Eventually, this matchup becomes a loop of Ice Shard against Substitute and Roost. Continue using Roost and Substitute until Ice Shard fails to break the Substitute. Then, use Toxic to ensure the win. Against Aegislash, use Substitute and Roost to survive and recover against Never-Ending Nightmare. Use Gigavolt Havoc on a turn you think the opponent will not use King's Shield. Against Heatran, use Thunder on turn 1. If it misses, use Roost; otherwise, Gigavolt Havoc KOes. Zap Cannon and Thunder have decent chances of inflicting paralysis, which can be used to occasionally win matches you would otherwise lose, such as against Choice Specs Genesect and Naganadel.
Team Options
========
Zapdos has losing matchups against many of the bulky offense Pokemon that can't be reliably Toxic stalled, such as Mega Charizard X and Y, physical Dragonite, Mega Gardevoir, and Zygarde. Bulky Water- and Fairy-types, such as Primarina, Mega Slowbro, and Tapu Lele, can each handle a combination of those threats, while Zapdos handles threats such as Metal Sound Celesteela, Magearna, and other Water-types that threaten these complements. Zapdos also has excellent synergy with Fire-types such as Heatran and Victini that can handle the various Fairy-, Steel-, and Grass-types that Zapdos may not be able to, notably Mega Gardevoir, Tapu Lele, Choice Specs Genesect, and Tapu Bulu. Zapdos deals with Protean Greninja, Porygon2, and bulky Water-types that threaten such Fire-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Reflect is an alternative option with a faster EV spread that aims to improve Zapdos's matchups against physical attackers such as Mega Metagross. Combined with Hidden Power Ice, Reflect gives Zapdos consistent wins over notable physical attackers like Garchomp and Landorus-T. Laser Focus and Metal Sound are options over Substitute that can be used to defeat Kee Berry Mew and Type: Null, respectively. Heat Wave is an option for a more offensive Zapdos set that can beat Ferrothorn and Genesect. Charge is a niche choice, allowing Zapdos to double the damage of Gigavolt Havoc, gaining OHKOs it otherwise misses, such as Choice Scarf Genesect.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Stall**: Pokemon with better stall tools than Zapdos such as Rest Zygarde and Amnesia Registeel reliably beat it.
**Faster Rock-types**: Faster Rock-types or Rock-types with Speed-boosting moves, such as Carracosta, Mega Diancie, and Crustle, all OHKO or 2HKO Zapdos comfortably.
**Substitute Bypass**: Pokemon that use sound moves and other moves that bypass Substitute makes Toxic stalling a difficult prospect for Zapdos. This list includes Hoopa-U, Mega Gardevoir, Meloetta, Jumpluff, and Kommo-o.
**Defensive Taunt Users**: Pokemon that Zapdos can neither KO nor Toxic stall due to Taunt or their typing tend to beat it. These include Whimsicott, Deoxys-S, and Kee Berry Mew.
**Powerful Offense**: Faster Pokemon that have immediate power such as Mega Charizard X and Y, Mega Gardevoir, and Tapu Lele won't give Zapdos a chance to inflict them with Toxic or set up a Substitute.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Boat (phiwings99), 475993]]
- Quality checked by: [[Osra, 239997], [Synonimous, 457703], [Alakazam, 276708]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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