Is Zapdos viable in Gen 7 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #22 in Gen 7 OU with 7.98% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 7 OU?

Heatran has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 80.4% of 61.95365070639164 relevant encounters. Standard error is 7.0 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 · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 8.0% #22

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 99.8% Heat Wave 87.6% Volt Switch 64.7% Hidden Power Ice 64.6% Defog 31.5% Discharge 24.6% Toxic 10.9% Thunderbolt 7.6%

Items

Rocky Helmet 63.1% Leftovers 23.2% Electrium Z 9.3% Chilan Berry 2.4% Firium Z 1.2% Lagging Tail 0.3% Eject Button 0.3% Choice Scarf 0.1%

Abilities

Static90.1%Pressure9.9%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian21.0%

Magearna17.3%

Kyurem-Black17.2%

Browse Gen 7 OU teams using Zapdos →

Explore Zapdos + Heatran teams 52 score Explore Zapdos + Kommo-o teams 52 score Explore Zapdos + Greninja teams 48 score Explore Zapdos + Tapu Koko teams 39 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 37.0% 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

61.954

52.4

80.4% Standard error 7.00 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 →

Kommo-o

DragonFighting DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

22.358

51.8

83.3% Standard error 7.88 points

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 →

Greninja

WaterDark OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

109.344

48.2

76.1% Standard error 6.96 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 →

Medicham-Mega

FightingPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

43.838

45.1

79.4% Standard error 8.55 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 →

Tapu Koko

ElectricFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

55.739

38.7

72.4% Standard error 8.43 points

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 View matchup

96.363

30.7

64.3% Standard error 8.40 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 →

Toxapex

PoisonWater SOFT CHECK View matchup

138.776

22.1

51.2% Standard error 7.28 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 →

Magearna

SteelFairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

101.557

19.7

53.6% Standard error 8.48 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 DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

41.045

19.5

62.3% Standard error 10.69 points

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 →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

218.422

4.9

25.1% Standard error 5.04 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 →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

115.026

3.6

33.1% Standard error 7.38 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

21.645

2.3

45.0% Standard error 10.69 points

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 View matchup

48.056

0.2

39.3% Standard error 9.76 points

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 →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

138.869

-2.4

21.6% Standard error 6.01 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 →

Kartana

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

68.664

-2.9

27.2% Standard error 7.52 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kartana Giga Impact vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 265-312 (69 - 81.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kartana counters → Teams with Kartana →

Tornadus-Therian

Flying SOFT CHECK View matchup

94.885

-10.9

10.6% Standard error 5.38 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 →

Excadrill

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

51.148

-11.5

20.3% Standard error 7.95 points

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 →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.516

-12.5

4.4% Standard error 4.25 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 →

Ranked #22 with 7.98% usage. Sorted by conservative score.