Is Zapdos viable in Gen 9 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #34 in Gen 9 OU with 5.51% usage according to Smogon Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 9 OU?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 OU is Gholdengo with a 58.6% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Apr 2026 - Jun 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Gholdengo, Ting-Lu, Gliscor, Iron Treads, Zamazenta.

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

Gholdengo is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 9 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 58.6% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

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

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 5.5% #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 90.5% Volt Switch 67.2% Thunder Wave 45.8% Discharge 29.9% U-turn 28.4% Heat Wave 20.3% Thunderbolt 7.3%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 84.8% Choice Specs 6.6% Rocky Helmet 5.5% Leftovers 1.6% Throat Spray 0.7% Choice Scarf 0.4% Assault Vest 0.1% Sharp Beak 0.1%

Abilities

Static97.7%Pressure2.3%

Tera Types

Grass 24.7% Steel 20.0% Water 12.9% Fairy 12.6% Fire 11.2% Flying 6.7% Ghost 4.2% Dragon 2.7%

Common Teammates

Ogerpon-Wellspring25.3%

Cinderace24.1%

Iron Treads19.3%

Browse Gen 9 OU teams using Zapdos →

Teams using Gholdengo 59% Teams using Ting-Lu 57% Teams using Gliscor 57% Teams using Iron Treads 43% Teams using Zamazenta 34% Teams using Great Tusk 19%

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