Is Zapdos viable in Gen 7 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #19 in Gen 7 OU with 9.13% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 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 Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Kyurem-Black, Tapu Lele, Heatran, Tyranitar-Mega, Medicham-Mega.

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 · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 9.1% #19

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 99.2% Heat Wave 88.5% Volt Switch 75.3% Hidden Power Ice 72.6% Defog 27.7% Discharge 19.4% Thunderbolt 5.5% Toxic 4.1%

Items

Rocky Helmet 76.8% Leftovers 17.0% Electrium Z 4.9% Choice Scarf 0.4% Firium Z 0.2% Eject Button 0.2% Assault Vest 0.2% Wise Glasses 0.1%

Abilities

Static93.2%Pressure6.8%

Common Teammates

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

54.755

89.9% dies 5.74%

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 →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

104.929

87.8% dies 5.52%

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 →

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 →

Medicham-Mega

FightingPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK

81.472

81.0% dies 6.02%

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 →

Chansey

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

83.759

76.4% dies 7.69%

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

98.215

71.0% dies 7.84%

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

122.736

61.5% dies 7.46%

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 →

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

30.212

61.1% dies 8.87%

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 →

Swampert-Mega

WaterGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

32.663

57.0% dies 8.66%

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 →

Hippowdon

Ground SOFT CHECK

32.212

54.1% dies 8.78%

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Hippowdon Ice Fang vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 162-192 (42.1 - 50%) -- 91.8% chance to 2HKO after sandstorm damage

View Hippowdon counters → Teams with Hippowdon →

Magearna

SteelFairy SOFT CHECK

79.517

53.5% dies 9.64%

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 →

Toxapex

PoisonWater SOFT CHECK

212.962

52.1% dies 5.80%

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 →

Celesteela

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

38.413

37.5% dies 7.81%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Celesteela Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 288-339 (75 - 88.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Celesteela counters → Teams with Celesteela →

Kartana

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

115.654

28.9% dies 7.24%

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 →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

157.121

28.7% dies 6.20%

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

261.144

25.4% dies 4.66%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 298-352 (77.6 - 91.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

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

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

133.237

21.9% dies 6.04%

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

91.54

20.5% dies 7.28%

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

109.648

18.2% dies 6.36%

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 →

Scizor-Mega

BugSteel SOFT CHECK

59.625

7.1% dies 4.15%

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 → Teams with Scizor-Mega →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

28.331

0.0% dies 0.00%

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 #19 with 9.13% usage. Sorted by reliability score.