Is Zapdos viable in Gen 3 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #8 in Gen 3 OU with 23.18% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 3 OU?

Tyranitar has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 68.2% of 110.64297838890398 relevant encounters. Standard error is 7.7 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 · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 23.2% #8

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 42.3% Hidden Power Ice 40.7% Baton Pass 37.6% Roar 32.5% Toxic 31.2% Thunder Wave 28.1% Substitute 24.5%

Items

Leftovers 99.5% Choice Band 0.4% Liechi Berry 0.1% Lum Berry 0.0% Magnet 0.0% Salac Berry 0.0% Petaya Berry 0.0% nothing 0.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Zapdos →

Explore Zapdos + Tyranitar teams 38 score Explore Zapdos + Blissey teams 33 score Explore Zapdos + Snorlax teams 26 score Explore Zapdos + Zapdos teams 6 score Explore Zapdos + Metagross teams 2 score Explore Zapdos + Claydol teams -5 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 57.3% 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

110.643

37.6

68.2% Standard error 7.65 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

101.017

33.4

65.7% Standard error 8.07 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 →

Snorlax

Normal DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

22.195

25.7

65.9% Standard error 10.06 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Snorlax: 113-133 (21.5 - 25.3%) -- possible 5HKO

View Snorlax counters → Teams with Snorlax →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.721

5.9

46.8% Standard error 10.25 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

24.801

1.7

41.3% Standard error 9.89 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 →

Claydol

GroundPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.594

-5.2

34.9% Standard error 10.03 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 →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

53.129

-7.7

25.2% Standard error 8.23 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 →

Swampert

WaterGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

83.402

-8.0

24.6% Standard error 8.15 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 →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

79.015

-12.2

5.7% Standard error 4.50 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

25.913

-12.6

16.6% Standard error 7.32 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 →

Ranked #8 with 23.18% usage. Sorted by conservative score.