Is Zapdos viable in Gen 6 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #12 in Gen 6 OU with 15.24% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 6 OU?

Heatran has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 82.1% of 65.18953061430366 relevant encounters. Standard error is 4.7 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Zapdos matchup checks ranked in Gen 6 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 6 OU · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 15.2% #12

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 98.7% Heat Wave 93.2% Volt Switch 73.7% Hidden Power Ice 61.8% Defog 35.0% Discharge 20.1% Toxic 8.3% Thunderbolt 6.0%

Items

Leftovers 63.8% Rocky Helmet 29.2% Expert Belt 3.0% Safety Goggles 1.8% Life Orb 0.9% Magnet 0.6% Choice Specs 0.3% Sitrus Berry 0.2%

Abilities

Static62.8%Pressure37.2%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 6 OU teams using Zapdos →

Explore Zapdos + Heatran teams 63 score Explore Zapdos + Weavile teams 58 score Explore Zapdos + Clefable teams 42 score Explore Zapdos + Hippowdon teams 22 score Explore Zapdos + Keldeo teams 22 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 + Excadrill 51.9% 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

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

65.19

63.2

82.1% Standard error 4.74 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 139-165 (36.1 - 42.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery and trapping damage

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Weavile

DarkIce OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

34.567

57.9

83.3% Standard error 6.35 points

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 →

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

122.878

42.0

59.7% Standard error 4.42 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clefable: 121-144 (30.7 - 36.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Metagross-Mega

SteelPsychic DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

32.038

23.4

58.2% Standard error 8.71 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Metagross-Mega: 150-178 (41.2 - 48.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Metagross-Mega counters →

Hippowdon

Ground DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

23.85

22.2

62.0% Standard error 9.94 points

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ SpA Zapdos Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 124-148 (29.5 - 35.2%) -- 99.9% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Hippowdon counters → Teams with Hippowdon →

Keldeo

WaterFighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

45.405

22.1

51.8% Standard error 7.42 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 228-268 (59.3 - 69.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Keldeo counters → Teams with Keldeo →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

67.607

17.9

42.0% Standard error 6.00 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Outrage vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 246-291 (64 - 75.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

166.675

15.6

29.8% Standard error 3.54 points

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 →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.484

5.7

49.9% Standard error 11.05 points

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 View matchup

22.509

-0.4

41.0% Standard error 10.37 points

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 →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

80.644

-1.4

14.1% Standard error 3.87 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ferrothorn Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 107-126 (27.8 - 32.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Ferrothorn counters → Teams with Ferrothorn →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

45.675

-4.7

18.0% Standard error 5.69 points

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 View matchup

50.8

-6.4

2.7% Standard error 2.28 points

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 →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying SOFT CHECK View matchup

47.055

-6.7

12.7% Standard error 4.86 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Tornadus-Therian Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 111-131 (28.9 - 34.1%) -- 2% chance to 3HKO

View Tornadus-Therian counters → Teams with Tornadus-Therian →

Scizor-Mega

BugSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

26.584

-13.2

12.1% Standard error 6.33 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Scizor-Mega Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 148-175 (38.5 - 45.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Scizor-Mega counters →

Ranked #12 with 15.24% usage. Sorted by conservative score.