Is Zapdos viable in Gen 3 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #9 in Gen 3 OU with 23.25% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 3 OU?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 3 OU is Blissey with a 68.2% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Blissey, Tyranitar, Snorlax, Aerodactyl, Celebi.

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

Blissey is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 3 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 68.2% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

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

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 23.3% #9

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 99.8% Hidden Power Ice 41.5% Hidden Power Grass 40.1% Toxic 38.5% Baton Pass 31.8% Roar 29.9% Thunder Wave 27.2% Rest 24.9%

Items

Leftovers 99.3% Choice Band 0.5% Black Belt 0.1% Liechi Berry 0.0% Lum Berry 0.0% Magnet 0.0% Salac Berry 0.0% Petaya Berry 0.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 3 OU teams using Zapdos →

Teams using Blissey 68% Teams using Tyranitar 66% Teams using Snorlax 66% Teams using Aerodactyl 65% Teams using Celebi 60% Teams using Zapdos 47%

Checks & Counters

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

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

138.718

68.2% dies 6.74%

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Tyranitar

RockDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

134.161

66.4% dies 6.99%

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

22.195

65.9% dies 10.06%

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 →

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

44.888

60.3% dies 7.30%

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

69.082

47.2% dies 8.39%

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

53.291

38.2% dies 9.40%

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

48.42

33.0% dies 9.55%

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

23.757

29.2% dies 9.33%

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 →

Salamence

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK

85.653

26.2% dies 8.09%

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

119.243

24.9% dies 6.72%

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

60.913

22.8% dies 7.44%

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

22.311

21.8% dies 8.75%

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 →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

106.089

6.5% dies 3.99%

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 #9 with 23.25% usage. Sorted by reliability score.