Funbot28
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
Zapdos has numerous defining qualities that let it stand out as one of the best pivots in the metagame. A great Electric / Flying typing, which offers it an immunity to Ground-type attacks alongside resistances to Fighting-, Grass-, Steel-, and Bug-type moves, lets Zapdos check menacing threats such as Melmetal, Mega Venusaur, Mega Beedrill, and Poliwrath. A good movepool consisting of useful moves such as U-turn, Toxic, and Roost enables Zapdos to annoy the opposing team by pivoting around its checks and crippling the opposing threat while sustaining itself. This in tandem with good bulk prevents Zapdos from being significantly weakened by the majority of attackers. Zapdos also has quite the specially offensive presence, being able to pressure many foes via Thunderbolt alone while utilizing Drill Peck to target threats that resist or do not take a significant amount of damage from its Electric-type attacks such as Mega Venusaur and Chansey. Unfortunately, Zapdos has weaknesses to common offensive types, being Ice and Rock, meaning it must be weary of coverage moves such as Ice Punch, Ice Beam, and Rock Slide that are seen on quite a few of threats. This is compounded by the fact that Zapdos also holds a weakness to Stealth Rock, forcing it to recover repeatedly as it attempts to pivot around the enemy team.
[SET]
name: Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Roost
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Toxic / Drill Peck
nature: Timid / Calm
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is a reliable and powerful STAB Electric-type move that enables Zapdos to deal a significant amount of damage to the majority of the metagame. Roost provides crucial sustainability for Zapdos, as repeatedly switching into Stealth Rock can hinder its ability to check the threats it's intended to take on. It also helps Zapdos take on Ice- and Rock-type moves from slower attackers such as Rhydon and Alolan Sandslash due to its newfound neutrality; however, it must be wary of its resulting weakness to Ground-type attacks. U-turn enables Zapdos to pivot on common switch-ins such as Rhydon, Alolan Dugtrio, and Nidoqueen in order to provide useful momentum for its team. Toxic provides a useful tool in crippling opposing walls like Mew and opposing Zapdos. Drill Peck provides a means of not only dealing significant damage damage to specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Mega Venusaur but also damaging Alolan Dugtrio for a decent amount of damage, being able to 4HKO it and take advantage of its susceptibility to being chipped down rapidly. A Timid nature allows Zapdos to pivot out and simply Speed tie against threats such as Mew and Mega Charizard X, potentially avoiding being inflicted by status or weakened significantly by a powerful Fire Blast, respectively. It also may help against opposing Zapdos, as whichever manages to utilize Thunderbolt first generally tends to win the mirror matchup due to it 2HKOing opposing Zapdos after Stealth Rock damage. A Calm nature can be used instead to better take on the likes of Starmie and Mew, remaining out of range of Ice Beam from the former and having a better chance of being 3HKOed by Psychic from the latter. If Zapdos chooses to run a Calm nature, lowering its Speed IVs is advised in order to provide slower pivoting against the likes of Mew and opposing Zapdos, giving crucial momentum to Zapdos's teammates.
Usage Tips
========
Zapdos can usually be brought in against the likes of Melmetal, Poliwrath, and Mega Venusaur in order to force them out. However, it must be wary of coverage options such as Ice Punch from Melmetal and Poliwrath and Sleep Powder from Mega Venusaur, as both can severely cripple it. If the opposing team has a Ground-type such as Alolan Dugtrio, Rhydon, or Nidoqueen, it is best advised to pivot with U-turn if Zapdos is at a relatively high amount of health, as they can take on any other move Zapdos tries to throw against them with the sole exception being Drill Peck against Alolan Dugtrio and Nidoqueen. Many physical attackers carry Earthquake as coverage, with the most notable examples being Melmetal, Dragonite, and Poliwrath. Therefore, Zapdos must be cautious in recovering against these threats, as it can be severely weakened in the process. Toxic is best used against incoming bulky threats that commonly switch into Zapdos such as Mew and Mega Charizard X, putting them on a timer over the course of the match.
Team Options
========
Since Ground-types are a huge nuisance to Zapdos, Water-types such as Poliwrath, Starmie, and Mega Gyarados can threaten them out, while Zapdos can help check Grass-types like Mega Venusaur in return. Starmie and Poliwrath also provide extra insurance against Melmetal, being able to come in against Ice Punch and threaten it out subsequently. Other pivots such as Mew and Mega Beedrill can form a great VoltTurn core with Zapdos, being able to provide great momentum for their team. Mega Beedrill is a notable example, as Zapdos can check Melmetal, one of Mega Beedrill's most common answers. Specially defensive walls such as Alolan Muk and Snorlax can provide extra insurance against threats like Mega Gengar and Mega Alakazam, while Zapdos can come in against Ground- and Fighting-type moves. Eevee-S can provide crucial support for Zapdos by removing any status ailments, which it tends to get inflicted with throughout the course of the match.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Bold nature can be considered to help Zapdos better handle threats such as Melmetal, Snorlax, and Dragonite. However, the benefits that come from the other two natures are generally preferred. A set running both Substitute and Toxic can let Zapdos annoy many walls, as its great Speed and bulk can let it stall out opposing defensive threats. However, the lack of pivoting can make it lose all momentum against teams that carry a Ground-type. Reflect can be considered as a utility option to provide Zapdos and its teammates extra physical bulk, although it means that Zapdos will need to forego another crucial moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Pokemon such as Rhydon, Alolan Dugtrio, and Nidoqueen can completely shut down Zapdos's attempt to deal damage with Thunderbolt and absorb poison in the latter two cases. However, Zapdos can still pivot out against these threats and deal a significant damage against the likes of Alolan Dugtrio and Nidoqueen with Drill Peck.
**Special Walls**: Specially bulky threats such as Snorlax, Alolan Muk, Mega Venusaur, and Chansey do not take much damage from Thunderbolt and retaliate with STAB moves or status ailments, although Zapdos can still threaten the likes of Chansey with Drill Peck.
**Faster Threats**: Mega Alakazam, Mega Gengar, Mega Aerodactyl, and Mega Beedrill can all threaten to revenge kill Zapdos after a slight amount of chip damage, although none of them appreciate switching into Thunderbolt.
**Status**: Zapdos hates being inflicted with poison or burn, as it forces it to recover more often, especially when considering Stealth Rock chip damage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Funbot28, 255984]]
- Quality checked by: [[Theorymon, 29010], [Ivy, 173336], [McCoolDude, 469684]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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