Is Zapdos viable in Gen 7 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #26 in Gen 7 OU with 7.33% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 7 OU?

Greninja has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 81.8% of 86.9715509478184 relevant encounters. Standard error is 4.1 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Zapdos matchup checks ranked in Gen 7 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 7 OU · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 7.3% #26

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 99.6% Heat Wave 88.5% Volt Switch 54.8% Hidden Power Ice 54.5% Defog 46.4% Discharge 27.5% Thunderbolt 13.3% Toxic 8.0%

Items

Rocky Helmet 47.2% Leftovers 29.9% Electrium Z 17.6% Chilan Berry 3.1% Eject Button 0.9% Expert Belt 0.4% Firium Z 0.3% Choice Scarf 0.2%

Abilities

Static74.2%Pressure25.8%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian16.9%

Sableye-Mega16.4%

Tyranitar-Mega14.6%

Browse Gen 7 OU teams using Zapdos →

Explore Zapdos + Greninja teams 65 score Explore Zapdos + Heatran teams 58 score Explore Zapdos + Tapu Koko teams 47 score Explore Zapdos + Magearna teams 30 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 28.7% 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

Greninja

WaterDark OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

86.972

65.2

81.8% Standard error 4.14 points

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 →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

26.603

58.3

85.5% Standard error 6.82 points

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 →

Swampert-Mega

WaterGround OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

52.925

48.1

72.6% Standard error 6.13 points

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 →

Tapu Koko

ElectricFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

81.959

47.2

67.8% Standard error 5.16 points

DAMAGE CALCElectric Terrain

Tapu Koko Nature's Madness vs. 252 HP Zapdos: 192-192 (50 - 50%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Tapu Koko counters → Teams with Tapu Koko →

Medicham-Mega

FightingPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

23.789

40.7

75.8% Standard error 8.78 points

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 →

Magearna

SteelFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

50.145

29.8

57.7% Standard error 6.98 points

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 →

Chansey

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

68.379

24.4

48.6% Standard error 6.04 points

DAMAGE CALC

Chansey Seismic Toss vs. 252 HP Zapdos: 100-100 (26 - 26%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Chansey counters → Teams with Chansey →

Toxapex

PoisonWater SOFT CHECK View matchup

133.62

18.8

35.4% Standard error 4.14 points

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 →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

113.517

15.6

33.3% Standard error 4.42 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 →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

166.369

10.3

23.5% Standard error 3.29 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 →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

129.369

4.5

17.9% Standard error 3.37 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 →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

27.993

-10.0

3.1% Standard error 3.30 points

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 →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.692

-14.4

8.5% Standard error 5.72 points

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 →

Ranked #26 with 7.33% usage. Sorted by conservative score.