Is Zapdos viable in Gen 9 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #34 in Gen 9 OU with 5.61% usage according to Smogon Mar 2026 - May 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 9 OU?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 OU is Slowking-Galar with a 64.5% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Mar 2026 - May 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Slowking-Galar, Gholdengo, Ting-Lu, Gliscor, Iron Treads.

What is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 OU?

Slowking-Galar is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 64.5% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

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

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 5.6% #34

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

Hurricane 99.2% Roost 92.1% Volt Switch 70.7% Thunder Wave 47.2% Discharge 28.2% U-turn 25.3% Heat Wave 19.7% Weather Ball 5.4%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 83.9% Rocky Helmet 8.1% Choice Specs 4.5% Leftovers 2.1% Choice Scarf 0.7% Throat Spray 0.4% Assault Vest 0.1% Life Orb 0.1%

Abilities

Static98.3%Pressure1.7%

Tera Types

Grass 23.0% Steel 22.5% Fairy 12.2% Water 11.7% Fire 9.0% Flying 6.3% Ghost 4.0% Electric 3.9%

Common Teammates

Great Tusk39.7%

Kingambit37.5%

Slowking-Galar25.1%

Ogerpon-Wellspring24.3%

Browse Gen 9 OU teams using Zapdos →

Teams using Slowking-Galar 65% Teams using Gholdengo 59% Teams using Ting-Lu 57% Teams using Gliscor 57% Teams using Iron Treads 43% Teams using Zamazenta 34%

Checks & Counters

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

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Slowking-Galar

PoisonPsychic DEFENSIVE COUNTER

28.163

64.5% dies 9.02%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Slowking-Galar: 130-154 (32.9 - 39%) -- 99.8% chance to 3HKO

View Slowking-Galar counters → Teams with Slowking-Galar →

Gholdengo

SteelGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK

30.955

58.6% dies 8.85%

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 →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround DEFENSIVE COUNTER

24.09

57.3% dies 10.08%

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 →

Gliscor

GroundFlying DEFENSIVE COUNTER

34.027

56.8% dies 8.49%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gliscor: 166-196 (46.8 - 55.3%) -- 71.1% chance to 2HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Iron Treads

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK

20.681

43.1% dies 10.89%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Iron Treads Ice Spinner vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 198-234 (51.5 - 60.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Iron Treads counters → Teams with Iron Treads →

Zamazenta

Fighting SOFT CHECK

26.389

33.9% dies 9.22%

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 →

Great Tusk

GroundFighting SOFT CHECK

70.939

19.5% dies 6.62%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Great Tusk Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 414-488 (107.8 - 127%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Great Tusk counters → Teams with Great Tusk →

Ranked #34 with 5.61% usage. Sorted by reliability score.