Is Zapdos viable in Gen 3 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #7 in Gen 3 OU with 25.36% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 3 OU?

Tyranitar has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 66.4% of 171.20513305541675 relevant encounters. Standard error is 3.6 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Zapdos matchup checks ranked in Gen 3 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Zapdos was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Zapdos counters

Gen 3 OU · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 25.4% #7

ABILITYPressure

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 90

DEF 85

SPA 125

SPD 90

SPE 100

BST580

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

IceRock

½×

GrassFightingFlyingBugSteel

0×

Ground

Moves

Thunderbolt 99.9% Hidden Power Grass 54.9% Roar 33.3% Toxic 30.6% Baton Pass 30.2% Hidden Power Ice 29.2% Thunder Wave 28.3% Rest 25.7%

Items

Leftovers 99.3% Choice Band 0.4% Magnet 0.3% Lum Berry 0.0% Sharp Beak 0.0% Petaya Berry 0.0% Salac Berry 0.0% Liechi Berry 0.0%

Abilities

Pressure100.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Zapdos →

Explore Zapdos + Tyranitar teams 52 score Explore Zapdos + Blissey teams 51 score Explore Zapdos + Registeel teams 48 score Explore Zapdos + Aerodactyl teams 44 score Explore Zapdos + Celebi teams 29 score Explore Zapdos + Zapdos teams 21 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Zapdos + Tyranitar 55.4% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Tyranitar

RockDark OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

171.205

52.0

66.4% Standard error 3.61 points

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Tyranitar Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 317-374 (82.5 - 97.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery

View Tyranitar counters → Teams with Tyranitar →

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

172.341

51.4

65.8% Standard error 3.61 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Blissey: 97-115 (13.5 - 16.1%)

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Registeel

Steel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

31.176

48.1

77.9% Standard error 7.43 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Registeel: 90-106 (24.7 - 29.1%) -- possible 5HKO

View Registeel counters → Teams with Registeel →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

50.319

44.4

70.2% Standard error 6.45 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Aerodactyl Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 399-470 (103.9 - 122.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Aerodactyl counters → Teams with Aerodactyl →

Celebi

PsychicGrass SOFT CHECK View matchup

67.869

29.2

53.5% Standard error 6.05 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Celebi Psychic vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 105-124 (27.3 - 32.2%) -- 55% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Celebi counters → Teams with Celebi →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

58.692

20.6

46.6% Standard error 6.51 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 127-150 (33 - 39%) -- 9.6% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Metagross

SteelPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

63.793

10.8

34.6% Standard error 5.96 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Metagross Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 702-827 (182.8 - 215.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Metagross counters → Teams with Metagross →

Swampert

WaterGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

119.419

8.9

24.7% Standard error 3.95 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Swampert Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 132-156 (34.3 - 40.6%) -- 49.8% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Swampert counters → Teams with Swampert →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

72.543

6.8

27.9% Standard error 5.26 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Salamence Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 212-250 (55.2 - 65.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Salamence counters → Teams with Salamence →

Claydol

GroundPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

33.8

2.3

35.2% Standard error 8.21 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Claydol Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 455-536 (118.4 - 139.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Claydol counters → Teams with Claydol →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

133.584

0.6

11.7% Standard error 2.78 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Drill Peck vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 59-70 (15.3 - 18.2%) -- possible 8HKO

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Suicune

Water SOFT CHECK View matchup

59.092

-3.2

15.7% Standard error 4.73 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Suicune Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 137-162 (35.6 - 42.1%) -- 89.1% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Suicune counters → Teams with Suicune →

Starmie

WaterPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

57.579

-4.0

14.6% Standard error 4.66 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Starmie Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 147-174 (38.2 - 45.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Starmie counters → Teams with Starmie →

Gengar

GhostPoison SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.481

-8.9

31.0% Standard error 9.98 points

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Gengar Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 259-305 (67.4 - 79.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Gengar counters → Teams with Gengar →

Dugtrio

Ground SOFT CHECK View matchup

25.901

-13.2

14.2% Standard error 6.87 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 224-264 (58.3 - 68.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Dugtrio counters → Teams with Dugtrio →

Forretress

BugSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.988

-14.0

22.3% Standard error 9.09 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Forretress Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 531-625 (138.2 - 162.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Forretress counters → Teams with Forretress →

Ranked #7 with 25.36% usage. Sorted by conservative score.