Is Zapdos viable in Gen 8 National Dex?

Zapdos is ranked #5 in Gen 8 National Dex with 21.64% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 8 National Dex?

Greninja has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 73.9% of 53.503713397140615 relevant encounters. Standard error is 6.0 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Zapdos matchup checks ranked in Gen 8 National Dex?

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 8 National Dex · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 21.6% #5

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 98.0% Heat Wave 52.2% Hurricane 51.8% Volt Switch 47.9% Defog 43.5% Hidden Power Ice 37.7% Thunderbolt 22.3% Discharge 22.3%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 81.6% Flyinium Z 8.5% Leftovers 6.2% Assault Vest 1.2% Rocky Helmet 0.7% Electrium Z 0.6% Choice Specs 0.5% Salac Berry 0.3%

Abilities

Static94.0%Pressure6.0%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 8 National Dex teams using Zapdos →

Explore Zapdos + Greninja teams 50 score Explore Zapdos + Zapdos teams 15 score Explore Zapdos + Tapu Koko teams 2 score Explore Zapdos + Ferrothorn teams -4 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 + Pelipper 39.4% 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

53.504

49.9

73.9% Standard error 6.00 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

32.526

30.9

64.4% Standard error 8.39 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 →

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

21.709

27.9

68.0% Standard error 10.01 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clefable: 148-175 (37.5 - 44.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Clefable counters →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

35.177

14.9

48.6% Standard error 8.43 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 →

Tapu Koko

ElectricFairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.074

2.5

47.0% Standard error 11.14 points

DAMAGE CALCElectric Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos in Electric Terrain: 130-154 (33.8 - 40.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Tapu Koko counters → Teams with Tapu Koko →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

47.191

-4.2

18.3% Standard error 5.63 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 →

Swampert-Mega

WaterGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

24.349

-6.9

30.3% Standard error 9.31 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 →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

29.061

-10.5

17.9% Standard error 7.11 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 →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.9

-10.8

27.3% Standard error 9.52 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Corviknight Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 93-111 (24.2 - 28.9%) -- 99.2% chance to 4HKO

View Corviknight counters → Teams with Corviknight →

Scizor-Mega

BugSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.318

-11.6

2.7% Standard error 3.58 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 →

Pelipper

WaterFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.774

-14.9

6.1% Standard error 5.25 points

DAMAGE CALCRain

0- SpA Pelipper Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos in Rain: 108-127 (28.1 - 33%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Pelipper counters → Teams with Pelipper →

Tapu Fini

WaterFairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.356

-16.8

13.5% Standard error 7.57 points

DAMAGE CALCMisty Terrain

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

View Tapu Fini counters → Teams with Tapu Fini →

Ranked #5 with 21.64% usage. Sorted by conservative score.