Is Zapdos viable in Gen 6 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #10 in Gen 6 OU with 15.41% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 6 OU?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 6 OU is Weavile with a 96.1% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Weavile, Chansey, Clefable, Gliscor, Zapdos.

What is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 6 OU?

Weavile is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 6 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 96.1% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

Gen 6 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 15.4% #10

ABILITYStatic

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 90

DEF 85

SPA 125

SPD 90

SPE 100

BST580

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

IceRock

½×

GrassFightingFlyingBugSteel

0×

Ground

Moves

Roost 99.4% Heat Wave 86.9% Hidden Power Ice 65.7% Volt Switch 61.0% Defog 35.5% Discharge 29.1% Thunderbolt 10.0% Toxic 7.0%

Items

Leftovers 71.6% Rocky Helmet 24.9% Expert Belt 1.7% Magnet 0.8% Safety Goggles 0.4% Life Orb 0.3% Choice Specs 0.2% Wise Glasses 0.0%

Abilities

Static62.9%Pressure37.1%

Common Teammates

Checks & Counters

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

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Weavile

DarkIce OFFENSIVE CHECK

20.861

96.1% dies 4.23%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Weavile Icicle Crash vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 494-584 (128.6 - 152%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Weavile counters → Teams with Weavile →

Chansey

Normal SOFT CHECK

28.722

54.6% dies 9.29%

DAMAGE CALC

Chansey Seismic Toss vs. 252 HP Zapdos: 100-100 (26 - 26%) -- guaranteed 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Chansey counters → Teams with Chansey →

Clefable

Fairy SOFT CHECK

65.018

50.2% dies 6.20%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Clefable Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 136-160 (35.4 - 41.6%) -- 78.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

45.751

46.4% dies 7.37%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Gliscor Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 107-127 (27.8 - 33%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK

36.632

38.7% dies 8.05%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 121-144 (31.5 - 37.5%) -- 0.1% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK

51.642

31.1% dies 9.08%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 274-324 (71.3 - 84.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK

145.387

25.4% dies 6.20%

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Excadrill counters → Teams with Excadrill →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

49.082

25.0% dies 8.56%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 371-437 (96.6 - 113.8%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

33.254

2.5% dies 2.73%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 89-105 (23.1 - 27.3%) -- possible 5HKO

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Ranked #10 with 15.41% usage. Sorted by reliability score.