Is Zapdos viable in Gen 7 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #21 in Gen 7 OU with 8.19% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 7 OU?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 7 OU is Kyurem-Black with a 91.9% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Kyurem-Black, Tapu Lele, Medicham-Mega, Tyranitar-Mega, Kommo-o.

What is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 7 OU?

Kyurem-Black is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 7 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 91.9% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

Gen 7 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Apr 2026 - Jun 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 8.2% #21

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 89.4% Volt Switch 69.2% Hidden Power Ice 67.7% Defog 25.1% Discharge 23.4% Toxic 9.5% Thunderbolt 7.7%

Items

Rocky Helmet 69.4% Leftovers 19.6% Electrium Z 8.6% Firium Z 1.1% Choice Scarf 0.4% Lagging Tail 0.3% Eject Button 0.2% Wise Glasses 0.1%

Abilities

Static95.8%Pressure4.2%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian19.4%

Tyranitar-Mega18.5%

Browse Gen 7 OU teams using Zapdos →

Teams using Kyurem-Black 92% Teams using Tapu Lele 91% Teams using Kommo-o 83% Teams using Heatran 81%

Checks & Counters

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

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Kyurem-Black

DragonIce OFFENSIVE CHECK

25.426

91.9% dies 5.40%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kyurem-Black Freeze Shock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 704-830 (183.3 - 216.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Kyurem-Black counters → Teams with Kyurem-Black →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

32.037

91.0% dies 5.06%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos in Psychic Terrain: 370-436 (96.3 - 113.5%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO

View Tapu Lele counters → Teams with Tapu Lele →

Medicham-Mega

FightingPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK

50.709

84.2% dies 7.21%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 342-404 (89 - 105.2%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO

View Medicham-Mega counters → Teams with Medicham-Mega →

Tyranitar-Mega

RockDark DEFENSIVE COUNTER

29.664

84.0% dies 6.74%

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar-Mega in Sand: 67-79 (16.5 - 19.5%) -- possible 6HKO

View Tyranitar-Mega counters → Teams with Tyranitar-Mega →

Kommo-o

DragonFighting DEFENSIVE COUNTER

22.358

83.3% dies 7.88%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Kommo-o: 98-116 (27.6 - 32.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Kommo-o counters → Teams with Kommo-o →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

60.43

80.9% dies 6.94%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 139-165 (36.1 - 42.9%) -- 91% chance to 2HKO after trapping damage

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Chansey

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

42.377

74.6% dies 8.85%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Chansey: 73-87 (10.3 - 12.3%) -- possible 9HKO

View Chansey counters → Teams with Chansey →

Greninja

WaterDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

103.241

74.2% dies 7.37%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Greninja Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 214-252 (55.7 - 65.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Greninja counters → Teams with Greninja →

Tapu Koko

ElectricFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

58.049

64.1% dies 8.78%

DAMAGE CALCElectric Terrain

252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos in Electric Terrain: 196-231 (51 - 60.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Tapu Koko counters → Teams with Tapu Koko →

Swampert-Mega

WaterGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

65.288

61.6% dies 8.48%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Swampert-Mega Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 228-270 (59.3 - 70.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Swampert-Mega counters → Teams with Swampert-Mega →

Toxapex

PoisonWater SOFT CHECK

201.485

54.6% dies 5.91%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Toxapex Scald vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 64-76 (16.6 - 19.7%) -- guaranteed 6HKO

View Toxapex counters → Teams with Toxapex →

Magearna

SteelFairy SOFT CHECK

104.586

51.0% dies 8.45%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 180-213 (46.8 - 55.4%) -- 72.7% chance to 2HKO

View Magearna counters → Teams with Magearna →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK

21.645

45.0% dies 10.69%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 121-144 (31.5 - 37.5%) -- 86.8% chance to 3HKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Celesteela

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

86.469

38.5% dies 8.90%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Celesteela Heavy Slam (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 103-122 (26.8 - 31.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Celesteela counters → Teams with Celesteela →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

131.208

34.4% dies 7.02%

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 →

Kartana

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

121.812

27.7% dies 6.94%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kartana Frustration vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 180-212 (46.8 - 55.2%) -- 69.5% chance to 2HKO

View Kartana counters → Teams with Kartana →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

224.794

25.9% dies 5.03%

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 →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

130.826

24.2% dies 6.40%

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 →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK

80.855

19.2% dies 7.58%

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Excadrill counters → Teams with Excadrill →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying SOFT CHECK

101.367

14.8% dies 5.98%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Tornadus-Therian Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 79-93 (20.5 - 24.2%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

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

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

23.516

4.4% dies 4.25%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Skarmory Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 89-105 (23.1 - 27.3%) -- 59.8% chance to 4HKO

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Ranked #21 with 8.19% usage. Sorted by reliability score.