Is Zapdos viable in Gen 3 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #7 in Gen 3 OU with 26.89% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 3 OU?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 3 OU is Tyranitar with a 70.1% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Tyranitar, Snorlax, Blissey, Aerodactyl, Celebi.

What is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 3 OU?

Tyranitar is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 3 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 70.1% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

Gen 3 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 26.9% #7

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 99.4% Hidden Power Grass 43.5% Toxic 43.1% Baton Pass 33.7% Hidden Power Ice 30.4% Rest 28.2% Substitute 26.2% Thunder Wave 26.2%

Items

Leftovers 98.2% Choice Band 1.2% Lum Berry 0.2% Magnet 0.2% Liechi Berry 0.1% Black Belt 0.1% Chesto Berry 0.0% Quick Claw 0.0%

Common Teammates

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Tyranitar

RockDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

162.937

70.1% dies 6.17%

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 →

Snorlax

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

57.334

67.0% dies 8.42%

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 →

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

278.728

65.8% dies 4.85%

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Aerodactyl

RockFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

22.757

65.1% dies 9.99%

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 DEFENSIVE COUNTER

109.89

56.4% dies 8.15%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celebi: 119-140 (29.4 - 34.6%) -- 99.9% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Celebi counters → Teams with Celebi →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK

113.796

47.1% dies 8.08%

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

86.952

40.9% dies 8.99%

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

96.427

35.1% dies 8.27%

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 →

Gengar

GhostPoison SOFT CHECK

44.208

33.0% dies 9.96%

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 →

Swampert

WaterGround SOFT CHECK

150.782

30.7% dies 6.48%

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 →

Suicune

Water SOFT CHECK

131.891

28.1% dies 6.64%

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 →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK

114.923

25.9% dies 6.99%

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 →

Heracross

BugFighting SOFT CHECK

25.086

18.4% dies 7.73%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Heracross Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 202-238 (52.6 - 61.9%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Heracross counters → Teams with Heracross →

Starmie

WaterPsychic SOFT CHECK

81.376

17.0% dies 7.15%

DAMAGE CALC

0- SpA Starmie Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 96-114 (25 - 29.6%) -- 0.1% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Starmie counters → Teams with Starmie →

Dugtrio

Ground SOFT CHECK

44.057

16.8% dies 7.96%

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

20.66

14.3% dies 7.71%

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 →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

151.463

5.8% dies 3.27%

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 →

Ranked #7 with 26.89% usage. Sorted by reliability score.