Is Zapdos viable in Gen 9 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #37 in Gen 9 OU with 5.94% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 9 OU?

Kyurem has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 87.6% of 36.09286740889401 relevant encounters. Standard error is 5.5 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Zapdos matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 OU?

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 9 OU · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 5.9% #37

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 99.4% Roost 87.5% Volt Switch 65.5% Thunder Wave 42.6% Discharge 31.9% U-turn 30.3% Heat Wave 22.7% Thunderbolt 11.8%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 71.1% Rocky Helmet 15.7% Choice Specs 10.7% Leftovers 1.5% Throat Spray 0.6% Choice Scarf 0.1% Sharp Beak 0.1% Assault Vest 0.1%

Abilities

Static97.9%Pressure2.1%

Tera Types

Grass 21.8% Steel 19.9% Fire 14.7% Fairy 14.1% Water 13.2% Flying 6.0% Ghost 3.0% Dragon 3.0%

Common Teammates

Ogerpon-Wellspring27.0%

Gholdengo25.9%

Cinderace24.1%

Zamazenta22.0%

Browse Gen 9 OU teams using Zapdos →

Explore Zapdos + Kyurem teams 66 score Explore Zapdos + Gholdengo teams 24 score Explore Zapdos + Gliscor teams 22 score Explore Zapdos + Ting-Lu teams 16 score Explore Zapdos + Zamazenta teams 3 score Explore Zapdos + Iron Treads teams -0 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 + Great Tusk 55.7% 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

Kyurem

DragonIce OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

36.093

65.7

87.6% Standard error 5.48 points

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 →

Gholdengo

SteelGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

55.272

23.5

60.6% Standard error 9.26 points

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 →

Gliscor

GroundFlying DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

64.624

21.7

56.6% Standard error 8.72 points

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 →

Ting-Lu

DarkGround DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

25.883

16.1

55.2% Standard error 9.78 points

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 →

Zamazenta

Fighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

69.673

2.8

34.8% Standard error 8.00 points

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 →

Iron Treads

GroundSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.681

-0.5

43.1% Standard error 10.89 points

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 →

Great Tusk

GroundFighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

101.024

-6.6

21.2% Standard error 6.94 points

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 →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

25.329

-13.2

6.9% Standard error 5.04 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 →

Ranked #37 with 5.94% usage. Sorted by conservative score.