Situational
Keep the best copies
Legendary Pokemon are hard to get back once they leave rotation. Keep hundos, shinies, and one for the collection; transfer the weak duplicates.
Battle roles
- BUltra League#97 of 844 · score 86.4
It is ranked #97 in Ultra League on PvPoke with Thunder Shock / Drill Peck / Thunderbolt.
- BElectric raid attackershadow#12 Electric · 16.3 DPS
As a Shadow it ranks #12 of 247 Electric-type attackers with Thunder Shock / Thunderbolt (needs an Elite TM).
- BFlying raid attackershadow#14 Flying · 16.9 DPS
As a Shadow it ranks #14 of 235 Flying-type attackers with Thunder Shock / Drill Peck (needs an Elite TM).
- BMax Battle attackerdynamaxB-tier Dynamax
Dynamax Zapdos is B-tier for Max Battle damage with Max Lightning (GO Hub tier list). Only a copy caught in a Max Battle can use it.
- CGreat Leagueshadow#290 of 1146 · score 80.9
The Shadow version is ranked #290 in Great League on PvPoke with Thunder Shock / Drill Peck / Heat Wave.
- CMaster League#87 of 406 · score 77.7
It is ranked #87 in Master League on PvPoke with Thunder Shock / Drill Peck / Thunderbolt.
- CElectric raid attacker#29 Electric · 13.8 DPS
It ranks #29 of 247 Electric-type attackers with Thunder Shock / Thunderbolt (needs an Elite TM).
- CMax Battle tankdynamaxC-tier Dynamax
C-tier Max Battle tank: it charges the Max meter fast and soaks hits with Max Guard.
Collection value
- Legendary: keep at least one, and hold on to hundos and shinies.
- Can Dynamax: only copies caught in Max Battles can Dynamax, so keep at least one Max copy.
- Shadow version exists: Shadows hit 20% harder and are worth a raid slot even with low IVs.
Tiers: S = meta-defining, A = strong, B = playable, C = niche. PvP from PvPoke overall rankings; raids from computed DPS/TDO within each attacking type; Max Battles from GO Hub tier lists.
Base stats
Base stats. Bars are scaled to the strongest Pokemon in the game.
Evolution line
Does not evolve.
Check your Pokemon's IVs
Ranks all 4,096 spreads for each leagueLoading IV checker…
PvP rankings (GO Battle League)
| League | Tier | Rank | Score | Recommended moves | Typical build |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great League | C | #319 / 1146 | 80.2 | Thunder Shock · Drill Peck · Heat Wave | L15.5 · 5/14/13 |
| Great LeagueShadow | C | #290 / 1146 | 80.9 | Thunder Shock · Drill Peck · Heat Wave | L15.5 · 5/14/13 |
| Ultra League | B | #97 / 844 | 86.4 | Thunder Shock · Drill Peck · Thunderbolt | L25.5 · 8/14/15 |
| Ultra LeagueShadow | B | #111 / 844 | 85.7 | Thunder Shock · Drill Peck · Thunderbolt | L25.5 · 8/14/15 |
| Master League | C | #87 / 406 | 77.7 | Thunder Shock · Drill Peck · Thunderbolt | L50 · 15/15/15 |
| Master LeagueShadow | C | #88 / 406 | 77.7 | Thunder Shock · Drill Peck · Heat Wave | L50 · 15/15/15 |
Source: PvPoke overall rankings. Score is relative to the league meta (100 = best). Typical build is the IV spread PvPoke assumes.
Max Battles (Dynamax & Gigantamax)
Zapdos can Dynamax. Only copies caught in Max Battles (or from Max research) can enter Power Spot battles.
Max Moves
- electricMax Lightningfrom Charge Beam250 / 300 / 350 power
- Max Guard+20 / +40 / +60 HP shield
- Max Spiritheals 8 / 12 / 16% HP
Max Battle roles
- AttackerB Dynamax
- Tank (Max Guard)C Dynamax
Max Move power is per level 1 / 2 / 3; levels are unlocked with Max Particles and Candy. Tiers from GO Hub's Max Battle tier lists (Aug 2026).
Raid attacker rankings
| Attacking type | Tier | Rank | DPS | TDO | Best moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| electricShadow | B | #12 / 247 | 16.3 | 281 | Thunder Shock · ThunderboltElite TM |
| flyingShadow | B | #14 / 235 | 16.9 | 291 | Thunder Shock · Drill PeckElite TM |
| electric | C | #29 / 247 | 13.8 | 285 | Thunder Shock · ThunderboltElite TM |
| flying | – | #31 / 235 | 14.2 | 294 | Thunder Shock · Drill PeckElite TM |
| rockShadow | – | #65 / 291 | 12.0 | 207 | Thunder Shock · Ancient PowerElite TM |
| fireShadow | – | #92 / 260 | 11.6 | 200 | Thunder Shock · Heat WaveElite TM |
| rock | – | #102 / 291 | 10.1 | 209 | Thunder Shock · Ancient PowerElite TM |
| fire | – | #112 / 260 | 10.0 | 206 | Thunder Shock · Heat WaveElite TM |
Level 40, 15/15/15, neutral target. DPS = damage per second, TDO = total damage output before fainting. Rank is among every Pokemon using that attacking type.
Moves
| Fast move | Type | Raid power | Energy | Duration | DPS | PvP power | PvP energy | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charge BeamSTAB | electric | 7 | +14 | 1.0s | 7.0 | 6 | +11 | 3 turns |
Thunder ShockElite TMSTAB | electric | 4 | +7 | 0.5s | 8.0 | 4 | +9 | 2 turns |
| Charged move | Type | Raid power | Energy | Duration | Dmg/energy | PvP power | PvP energy | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zap CannonSTAB | electric | 140 | -100 | 3.5s | 1.40 | 150 | -80 | 33% chance: -1 foe Atk |
ThunderboltSTAB | electric | 80 | -50 | 2.5s | 1.60 | 90 | -55 | |
ThunderSTAB | electric | 100 | -100 | 2.5s | 1.00 | 100 | -60 | |
Ancient Power | rock | 70 | -33 | 3.5s | 2.12 | 60 | -45 | 10% chance: +1 own Atk, +1 own Def |
Drill PeckSTAB | flying | 70 | -33 | 2.5s | 2.12 | 70 | -40 | |
Heat Wave | fire | 95 | -100 | 3.0s | 0.95 | 75 | -45 |
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