Is Zapdos viable in Gen 9 Almost Any Ability?

Zapdos is ranked #8 in Gen 9 Almost Any Ability with 17.82% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 9 Almost Any Ability?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 Almost Any Ability is Goodra-Hisui with a 83.8% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Goodra-Hisui, Roaring Moon, Iron Moth, Ting-Lu, Pecharunt.

What is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 Almost Any Ability?

Goodra-Hisui is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 Almost Any Ability, KOing or forcing it out in 83.8% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

Gen 9 Almost Any Ability · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 17.8% #8

ABILITYPrimordial Sea

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 90

DEF 85

SPA 125

SPD 90

SPE 100

BST580

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

IceRock

½×

GrassFightingFlyingBugSteel

0×

Ground

Moves

Hurricane 86.8% Roost 75.8% U-turn 57.7% Thunder 51.6% Weather Ball 36.6% Heat Wave 20.5% Volt Switch 19.8% Zap Cannon 13.7%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 66.9% Choice Scarf 10.9% Life Orb 9.6% Choice Specs 7.6% Leftovers 3.1% Damp Rock 0.9% Heat Rock 0.5% Wise Glasses 0.3%

Abilities

Primordial Sea53.9%No Guard13.7%Unaware7.5%Magic Guard7.2%Well-Baked Body4.4%Fluffy3.7%Adaptability3.2%Swift Swim1.3%

Common Teammates

Checks & Counters

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

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Goodra-Hisui

SteelDragon DEFENSIVE COUNTER

22.838

83.8% dies 7.70%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

252+ SpA Zapdos Zap Cannon vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Goodra-Hisui: 38-45 (10.4 - 12.3%) -- possible 9HKO

View Goodra-Hisui counters → Teams with Goodra-Hisui →

Roaring Moon

DragonDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

42.734

68.5% dies 7.11%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

252+ Atk Sword of Ruin Roaring Moon Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 384-454 (100 - 118.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Roaring Moon counters → Teams with Roaring Moon →

Iron Moth

FirePoison SOFT CHECK

20.218

43.5% dies 11.03%

DAMAGE CALCHarsh Sunshine

252+ SpA Iron Moth Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos in Harsh Sunshine: 241-285 (62.7 - 74.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Iron Moth counters → Teams with Iron Moth →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround SOFT CHECK

55.562

40.2% dies 6.58%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

0- Atk Ting-Lu Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 160-190 (41.6 - 49.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Ting-Lu counters → Teams with Ting-Lu →

Pecharunt

PoisonGhost SOFT CHECK

38.098

26.3% dies 7.14%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

252+ SpA Pecharunt Malignant Chain vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 106-126 (27.6 - 32.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Pecharunt counters → Teams with Pecharunt →

Gholdengo

SteelGhost SOFT CHECK

36.392

22.7% dies 6.95%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

252+ SpA Adaptability Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 152-180 (39.5 - 46.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Gholdengo counters → Teams with Gholdengo →

Great Tusk

GroundFighting SOFT CHECK

49.871

14.5% dies 4.98%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

252+ Atk Great Tusk Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 135-159 (35.1 - 41.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Great Tusk counters → Teams with Great Tusk →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK

63.742

11.8% dies 4.04%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

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 →

Cobalion

SteelFighting SOFT CHECK

24.073

8.6% dies 5.70%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

252+ SpA Life Orb Cobalion Steel Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 97-116 (25.2 - 30.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Cobalion counters → Teams with Cobalion →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK

20.998

0.2% dies 1.07%

DAMAGE CALCHeavy Rain

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 #8 with 17.82% usage. Sorted by reliability score.