Is Zapdos viable in Gen 9 National Dex?

Zapdos is ranked #9 in Gen 9 National Dex with 14.33% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 9 National Dex?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 National Dex is Ogerpon-Cornerstone with a 98.2% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Ogerpon-Cornerstone, Diancie-Mega, Tyranitar-Mega, Kyurem, Latios-Mega.

What is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 National Dex?

Ogerpon-Cornerstone is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 National Dex, KOing or forcing it out in 98.2% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

Gen 9 National Dex · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Apr 2026 - Jun 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 14.3% #9

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 90.5% Volt Switch 87.4% Hurricane 81.1% Defog 56.4% Heat Wave 46.6% Hidden Power Ice 8.2% Thunderbolt 8.1% Discharge 5.2%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 80.3% Flyinium Z 8.8% Choice Specs 6.6% Rocky Helmet 1.7% Assault Vest 0.9% Choice Scarf 0.8% Leftovers 0.3% Throat Spray 0.2%

Abilities

Static98.4%Pressure1.6%

Common Teammates

Ogerpon-Wellspring15.2%

Browse Gen 9 National Dex teams using Zapdos →

Teams using Kyurem 88% Teams using Tyranitar 84%

Checks & Counters

Reliability ranks observed matchups; KO rate is how often the checker knocked out or forced out the target. “Checker faints” reports the checker's own observed death rate. Categories use matchup reliability plus offensive and defensive base stats.

How to read this table

Use encounter count to judge sample size. A high-reliability check with a modest KO rate can still be useful when it consistently forces switches or limits the target.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Ogerpon-Cornerstone

GrassRock OFFENSIVE CHECK

23.291

98.2% checker faints 2.73%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon-Cornerstone Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 468-552 (121.8 - 143.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Ogerpon-Cornerstone counters →

Diancie-Mega

RockFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

183.842

96.8% checker faints 2.18%

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Diancie-Mega Diamond Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 336-396 (87.5 - 103.1%) -- 25% chance to OHKO

View Diancie-Mega counters →

Tyranitar-Mega

RockDark DEFENSIVE COUNTER

175.481

90.2% checker faints 3.80%

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 →

Kyurem

DragonIce OFFENSIVE CHECK

264.331

88.2% checker faints 3.33%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Kyurem Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 252-296 (65.6 - 77%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kyurem counters → Teams with Kyurem →

Latios-Mega

DragonPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK

60.223

84.9% checker faints 4.61%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Latios-Mega Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 211-249 (54.9 - 64.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Latios-Mega counters →

Tyranitar

RockDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

90.414

84.2% checker faints 6.50%

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Choice Band Tyranitar Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 630-744 (164 - 193.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Tyranitar counters → Teams with Tyranitar →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

180.674

83.4% checker faints 4.71%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Eruption (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 208-246 (54.1 - 64%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Charizard-Mega-X

FireDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK

99.828

82.3% checker faints 6.61%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Tough Claws Charizard-Mega-X Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 321-378 (83.5 - 98.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Charizard-Mega-X counters →

Hoopa-Unbound

PsychicDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

44.064

81.3% checker faints 5.87%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Hoopa-Unbound Hyperspace Fury vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 240-283 (62.5 - 73.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Hoopa-Unbound counters →

Ceruledge

FireGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK

29.403

80.8% checker faints 7.27%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ceruledge Poltergeist vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 220-259 (57.2 - 67.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Ceruledge counters → Teams with Ceruledge →

Garchomp-Mega

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

20.65

80.6% checker faints 8.70%

Terapagos

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

216.203

80.4% checker faints 4.61%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Terapagos: 153-181 (39.8 - 47.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Terapagos counters → Teams with Terapagos →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

200.482

80.1% checker faints 4.79%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Future Sight vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos in Psychic Terrain: 216-255 (56.2 - 66.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Tapu Lele counters → Teams with Tapu Lele →

Archaludon

SteelDragon DEFENSIVE COUNTER

22.665

78.5% checker faints 8.63%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Archaludon: 70-83 (18.2 - 21.6%) -- possible 5HKO

View Archaludon counters →

Charizard-Mega-Y

FireFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

126.935

78.0% checker faints 6.24%

DAMAGE CALCSun

252+ SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos in Sun: 313-370 (81.5 - 96.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Charizard-Mega-Y counters →

Blaziken

FireFighting OFFENSIVE CHECK

22.744

74.8% checker faints 9.11%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Blaziken Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 260-306 (67.7 - 79.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Blaziken counters →

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

104.792

73.7% checker faints 5.91%

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 →

Clodsire

PoisonGround DEFENSIVE COUNTER

280.829

73.3% checker faints 4.35%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clodsire: 138-163 (29.7 - 35.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery

View Clodsire counters → Teams with Clodsire →

Dragonite

DragonFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

260.127

72.8% checker faints 4.76%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Outrage vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 253-298 (65.8 - 77.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragonite counters → Teams with Dragonite →

Ursaluna

GroundNormal OFFENSIVE CHECK

136.254

71.9% checker faints 6.59%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Ursaluna Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 218-258 (56.7 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Ursaluna counters →

Volcarona

BugFire OFFENSIVE CHECK

43.244

70.8% checker faints 6.92%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Volcarona Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 129-153 (33.5 - 39.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Volcarona counters → Teams with Volcarona →

Garchomp

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

297.663

67.0% checker faints 4.67%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Outrage vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 246-291 (64 - 75.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Raging Bolt

ElectricDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK

363.615

67.0% checker faints 4.25%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Raging Bolt Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 280-331 (72.9 - 86.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Raging Bolt counters → Teams with Raging Bolt →

Mawile-Mega

SteelFairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

56.23

66.2% checker faints 8.81%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Mawile-Mega: 166-196 (54.6 - 64.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Mawile-Mega counters →

Gliscor

GroundFlying DEFENSIVE COUNTER

632.377

64.0% checker faints 3.22%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gliscor: 244-288 (68.9 - 81.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround DEFENSIVE COUNTER

313.561

63.5% checker faints 4.61%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Vessel of Ruin Ting-Lu: 120-142 (23.3 - 27.6%) -- possible 5HKO

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

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

79.816

61.2% checker faints 5.45%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Blissey: 112-133 (15.6 - 18.6%) -- possible 6HKO

View Blissey counters → Teams with Blissey →

Iron Valiant

FairyFighting OFFENSIVE CHECK

183.049

60.5% checker faints 6.03%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Iron Valiant Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 206-244 (53.6 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Iron Valiant counters → Teams with Iron Valiant →

Iron Hands

FightingElectric DEFENSIVE COUNTER

21.706

59.7% checker faints 10.53%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Hands: 177-208 (34.5 - 40.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Iron Hands counters →

Tapu Koko

ElectricFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

131.577

59.0% checker faints 7.41%

DAMAGE CALCElectric Terrain

252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos in Electric Terrain: 195-231 (50.7 - 60.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Tapu Koko counters →

Ranked #9 with 14.33% usage. Sorted by reliability score.