RNGIsFatal
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
Unlike other Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Thundurus, Zapdos has the ability to run defensive sets to take on dangerous attackers, such as Mega Salamence, Mega Gyarados, Mega Lucario, and others. In addition, Zapdos has unique niche that comes from access to the move Heat Wave, which immensely threatens Steel-types, particularly Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, making it a good fit on many archetype of teams, and Roost that helps Zapdos stay healthy over the match.
However, Zapdos' defensive capability is sometimes hindered by omnipresent Stealth Rock; in addition, Zapdos' defensive stats are not stellar and is unfortunately reliant on its typing to function as a wall.
Below are some sample sets. These sets are likely to be standard, but they will be expanded and updated as the metagame progresses.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Volt Switch / Discharge
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Toxic
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet / Sitrus Berry / Leftovers
ability: Static / Pressure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Volt Switch functions as a STAB move that hits Water-types and Flying-types supereffectively, and a move that helps Zapdos' team to gain momentum and bring in its team in safety. However, being forced to switch is not always a positive trait of this move, especially if Zapdos has to stay in against the likes of Mega Gyarados and take it down.
* Discharge has considerable chance of paralyzing foes and leave them significantly more vulnerable from being revenge killed. Because of the chance that Paralysis status and Poison status from Toxic may happen on a same target, it is better used with Hidden Power Ice.
* Heat Wave is the reason to run Zapdos over other walls; it keeps Ferrothorn from staying in and setting hazards or chipping away health using Leech Seed, puts an end to Kartana, Excadrill, and Mega Scizor's sweep, and hits Tapu Bulu, Tangrowth, and others supereffectively.
* Toxic is a good utility move that puts a timer on defensive behemoth such as Porygon2 and Cresselia With the combination with Roost, Zapdos is able to stall them out.
* Hidden Power Ice does immediate huge chunk of damage to Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Mega Salamence, and keeps them from setting up further and forcing them to launch last-ditch effort attack or to simply switch out.
* Roost is vitally important move for Zapdos to fulfill its role as a defensive wall and stay healthy.
Set Details
========
* EVs are used to maximize HP and Defense, and Bold nature is chosen to maximize Zapdos' defensive bulk, letting it handle physical threats such as Mega Salamence with Dragon Dance boost.
* Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers every time they use a contact move, and this is incredibly useful against Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Salamence, and Mega Gyarados.
* Sitrus Berry and Leftovers help Zapdos avoid important 2HKOs from various physical attackers, as well as alleviating damage taken from Stealth Rock if it is up.
* Static, especially when combined with Discharge, has very high chance of 51% to paralyze foes on the turn they make a contact with Zapdos and take Discharge. This sometimes let Zapdos shut down boosted sweepers, or at least leave them vulnerable to the next ally.
* Pressure helps Zapdos stall out foes that rely on low PP moves such as Stone Edge and Fire Blast along with Roost.
Usage Tips
========
* Since this set makes Zapdos a formidable physical wall, switching it into various threats, such as Mega Salamence, Mega Gyarados, Azumarill, Mega Scizor, and others is ideal way to use it.
* Especially if opponent has a physical attacker that commonly carries Focus Sash, such as Kartana, Breloom, Pheromosa, Garchomp, Mimikyu, or has Multiscale Dragonite, Rocky Helmet can potentially wear them off.
* Switching Zapdos into aforementioned physical attackers may also induce paralysis thanks to Static.
* Against non-STAB Stone Edge users, such as unboosted Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu, Zapdos can stall out the move's pp using Pressure and Roost, thanks to its good natural bulk improved by heavy investment.
* Take advantage of high 100 Speed that lets Zapdos recover against slower opponents with Ice, Electric, and Rock-type moves, since Roost will lesson their damage on the same turn.
Team Options
========
* Chansey, Porygon2, Cresselia, and Umbreon are good partners that can handle strong special attackers such as Mega Charizard Y, Kingdra, Xurkitree, and others.
* Suicune, Slowbro, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill can switch in to take Ice-type moves and strong Fire-type moves for Zapdos, while Zapdos can take Grass-type moves for them.
* Steel-types, such as Aegislash, Heatran, and others can switch in to Toxic which cripples Zapdos, while they can benefit from Zapdos that can switch into Ground-type attacks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Venusaur**: While being resistant to Electric-type moves and Toxic, Mega Venusaur's ability in Thick Fat lets it handle Heat Wave and Hidden Power Ice with ease. It can also wear down Zapdos with Leech Seed and potential poison damage from Sludge Bomb.
**Strong Ice-type attacks**: Mamoswine, Cloyster and Protean Greninja are able to supereffectively hit Zapdos using their STAB Ice-type moves and dangerously weaken it.
**Rock-types opponents and coverages**: Tyranitar and Nihilego immensely threatens Zapdos with STAB Rock-type moves, while Mega Heracross can get last Zapdos using Rock Blast and Landorus-T can 2HKO it using Stone Edge.
**Strong neutral hits**: Zapdos is often reliant on its typing to take on various threats. Because of its mediocre defensive stats strong neutral hits can overwhelm Zapdos. For example, Mega Charizard X can OHKO Zapdos with Flare Blitz or Outrage after Stealth Rock damage and a Dragon Dance, Mega Charizard Y can easily 2HKO Zapdos with Drought-boosted STAB Fire-type move of its choice, Tapu Lele 2HKOs it using Psychic, and Tapu Koko 2HKOs it using Thunderbolt without any item.
**Status**: Due to the fact that Zapdos has to keep itself healthy throughout the match to function as a wall, and it dislikes any residual damage. Especially Toxic poison will put a timer on Zapdos and will slowly wear it down.
Last edited: