Is Zapdos viable in Gen 9 National Dex?

Zapdos is ranked #9 in Gen 9 National Dex with 14.40% usage according to Smogon Mar 2026 - May 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 9 National Dex?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 National Dex is Diancie-Mega with a 96.5% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Mar 2026 - May 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Diancie-Mega, Tyranitar-Mega, Hoopa-Unbound, Kyurem, Latios-Mega.

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

Diancie-Mega is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 National Dex, KOing or forcing it out in 96.5% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

Gen 9 National Dex · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Mar 2026 - May 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 14.4% #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 89.2% Volt Switch 84.3% Hurricane 78.6% Defog 57.9% Heat Wave 49.3% Hidden Power Ice 10.5% Thunderbolt 8.1% Discharge 5.5%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 81.7% Flyinium Z 6.7% Choice Specs 6.1% Assault Vest 2.4% Rocky Helmet 1.5% Choice Scarf 0.4% Metronome 0.4% Leftovers 0.3%

Abilities

Static98.4%Pressure1.6%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian16.6%

Great Tusk14.7%

Browse Gen 9 National Dex teams using Zapdos →

Teams using Diancie-Mega 97% Teams using Tyranitar-Mega 92% Teams using Hoopa-Unbound 90% Teams using Kyurem 89% Teams using Latios-Mega 89% Teams using Tyranitar 85%

Checks & Counters

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

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Diancie-Mega

RockFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

136.565

96.5% dies 2.67%

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 → Teams with Diancie-Mega →

Tyranitar-Mega

RockDark DEFENSIVE COUNTER

141.352

91.8% dies 3.96%

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 →

Hoopa-Unbound

PsychicDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

21.822

89.8% dies 6.49%

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 → Teams with Hoopa-Unbound →

Kyurem

DragonIce OFFENSIVE CHECK

166.875

89.5% dies 4.07%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Kyurem Icicle Spear (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 312-378 (81.2 - 98.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Kyurem counters → Teams with Kyurem →

Latios-Mega

DragonPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK

26.912

88.9% dies 6.06%

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 → Teams with Latios-Mega →

Tyranitar

RockDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

93.513

85.3% dies 6.24%

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 →

Blissey

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

41.181

84.7% dies 5.61%

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 →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

146.029

84.3% dies 5.20%

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

64.774

82.1% dies 6.73%

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 → Teams with Charizard-Mega-X →

Terapagos

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

160.77

79.6% dies 5.47%

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 →

Clodsire

PoisonGround DEFENSIVE COUNTER

186.267

76.6% dies 5.35%

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 →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

160.825

76.6% dies 5.67%

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 →

Charizard-Mega-Y

FireFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

103.883

73.8% dies 7.35%

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 → Teams with Charizard-Mega-Y →

Ursaluna

GroundNormal OFFENSIVE CHECK

136.194

73.4% dies 6.49%

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Ursaluna counters → Teams with Ursaluna →

Dragonite

DragonFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

208.244

71.4% dies 5.38%

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 →

Raging Bolt

ElectricDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK

283.998

67.0% dies 4.81%

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 →

Garchomp

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

232.273

66.6% dies 5.33%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 274-324 (71.3 - 84.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Iron Valiant

FairyFighting OFFENSIVE CHECK

137.509

64.0% dies 6.95%

DAMAGE CALC

0- Atk Iron Valiant Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 140-166 (36.4 - 43.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Iron Valiant counters → Teams with Iron Valiant →

Gliscor

GroundFlying DEFENSIVE COUNTER

565.339

63.9% dies 3.41%

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

244.101

61.1% dies 5.36%

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 →

Tapu Koko

ElectricFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

118.138

60.3% dies 7.74%

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 → Teams with Tapu Koko →

Clefable

Fairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

61.211

59.3% dies 8.83%

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 → Teams with Clefable →

Hatterene

PsychicFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

70.258

59.1% dies 10.09%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Hatterene Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 171-202 (44.5 - 52.6%) -- 22.7% chance to 2HKO

View Hatterene counters → Teams with Hatterene →

Mawile-Mega

SteelFairy DEFENSIVE COUNTER

48.012

57.9% dies 10.07%

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 → Teams with Mawile-Mega →

Chansey

Normal DEFENSIVE COUNTER

79.289

57.9% dies 9.00%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Chansey: 90-106 (12.7 - 15%) -- possible 7HKO

View Chansey counters → Teams with Chansey →

Zamazenta

Fighting SOFT CHECK

379.64

53.9% dies 4.43%

DAMAGE CALC

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

View Zamazenta counters → Teams with Zamazenta →

Ogerpon-Wellspring

GrassWater SOFT CHECK

256.824

53.9% dies 5.36%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 234-276 (60.9 - 71.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Ogerpon-Wellspring counters → Teams with Ogerpon-Wellspring →

Swampert-Mega

WaterGround SOFT CHECK

49.485

53.2% dies 9.90%

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 →

Gholdengo

SteelGhost SOFT CHECK

389.181

52.4% dies 4.38%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 114-135 (29.6 - 35.1%) -- 15.6% chance to 3HKO

View Gholdengo counters → Teams with Gholdengo →

Cinderace

Fire SOFT CHECK

69.751

52.3% dies 10.30%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Cinderace Pyro Ball vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 229-270 (59.6 - 70.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Cinderace counters → Teams with Cinderace →

Ranked #9 with 14.40% usage. Sorted by reliability score.