Zapdos Raid Guide – Counters, Weakness, CP & Strategy

📊 Zapdos Stats

Zapdos has a very high attack stat, which means its Electric moves can deal significant damage during raids.

🎯 Catch CP & 100% IV

After defeating Zapdos, you will have a chance to catch it.

CP Range:

• No Weather Boost: 1,930-2,015 CP
• Weather Boost: 2,413-2,519 CP

100% IV:

• 2015 (Normal)
• 2519 (Weather Boosted)

Use:

• Golden Razz Berry
• Curveball Excellent Throws

💊 Revive & Potion Cost

• Average revives used: 8–14
• Average potions used: 10–18
• Dodging significantly reduces resource usage
• Using Mega Pokémon reduces total relobbies

❌ Common Raid Mistakes

• Not bringing a Mega Pokémon for team boosts
• Using weather-boosted Pokémon of the wrong type

🧩 Best Team Compositions

• Lead with strongest Rock-type attacker
• Follow with two additional Rock Pokémon
• Add one Ice-type attacker for coverage
• Keep backup Rock attackers for maximum DPS

Avoid Grass, Bug, or Fighting Pokémon, as Zapdos resists those types.

Optimized Team

• Mega Diancie
• Rampardos (Smack Down + Rock Slide)
• Rhyperior (Smack Down + Rock Wrecker)
• Mega Tyranitar (Smack Down + Stone Edge)
• Terrakion (Smack Down + Rock Slide)
• Tyranitar (Smack Down + Stone Edge)

Budget Team

If you don't have strong legendary Pokémon, try these:

• Rhyperior (Smack Down + Rock Wrecker)
• Tyranitar (Smack Down + Stone Edge)
• Aerodactyl
• Aggron
• Mamoswine
• Glaceon

If possible, use a Mega Rock-type Pokémon to boost your team’s Rock-type damage.

👥 Raid Difficulty & Trainers Needed

Recommended Group Size

Zapdos is moderately difficult compared to other Legendary raids. Proper counters make it manageable even with smaller groups.

• 2 Trainers: Possible with strong Rock teams
• 3 Trainers: Comfortable clear
• 4–5 Trainers: Easy win
• 6+ Trainers: Very safe

High-level trainers with optimized Rock counters can duo Zapdos under favorable weather conditions.

🧠 Raid Strategy & Advanced Tips

1. Avoid Ground Types

Although Electric types are normally weak to Ground, Zapdos’ Flying typing cancels that weakness. Ground-type Pokémon will deal no damage, so avoid using them in this raid.

2. Prioritize High DPS Rock Attackers

Stacking strong Rock-type attackers is the safest and most efficient strategy. They provide consistent damage and better survivability compared to many Ice-type Pokémon.

3. Dodge Charged Moves

Zapdos can use powerful Electric-type charged moves such as Thunder or Zap Cannon. Dodging charged attacks helps your strongest counters stay active longer and increases total raid damage.

Zapdos’s Flying/Electric dual typing gives it some interesting interactions. While it resists Electric and Fighting attacks, it has a **double weakness to Rock** and is also weak to Ice and Electric attacks when they hit its Flying typing. This makes **Rock-type counters** extremely valuable in this raid, particularly those with powerful Rock charged attacks like Stone Edge or Rock Slide. Pokémon such as **Tyranitar, Rampardos, and Terrakion** are consistent Rock counters because they hit Zapdos hard while resisting its attacks better than many other types.

Weather greatly affects damage output. In **Snowy or Partly Cloudy weather**, Rock-type moves receive a weather boost, making Rock counters even more powerful. In **Windy** conditions, Flying attacks are boosted, which indirectly reinforces Zapdos’s offense and gives Rock types an advantage because they resist many Flying moves. Train your team based on in-game weather to maximize your damage per second (DPS) and shorten the battle time.

Zapdos’s charged moves — such as **Thunderbolt**, **Drill Peck**, and **Ancient Power** — can hit hard and quickly reduce your counters to low health. Strategic **dodging** of the most damaging charged moves makes a big difference, especially in smaller raid lobbies where every HP counts. Try to anticipate when a charged move is coming to preserve your strongest counters longer and increase total damage dealt.

When building your team, start with the **highest DPS Rock and Ice-type counters** to exploit Zapdos’s weaknesses. Once these Pokémon begin to faint, rotate in secondary attackers that still hit super-effectively but offer better durability. In larger raid parties, coordinate your lineup so that counters with Rock charged moves go first, followed by fast Ice attackers, to keep constant pressure on Zapdos throughout the battle.

If you have **Mega Evolutions** that support your counter types — such as **Mega Aerodactyl** for boosted Rock damage — consider using them early to empower your team’s output. With thoughtful team composition, weather-aware planning, and careful dodging, you can defeat Zapdos reliably and efficiently, giving you a better shot at catching it with an excellent or shiny bonus.

🌦️ Weather Boost Effects

Weather conditions significantly affect Zapdos raids:

🌧️ Rainy Weather

• Boosts Electric-type moves and makes the raid slightly harder

🌬️ Windy Weather

• Boosts Flying-, Psychic-, Dragon-type moves

⛅ Partly Cloudy Weather

• Boosts Rock counters (Best condition)

🌨️ Snowy Weather

• Boosts Ice counters

Partly Cloudy weather provides the biggest advantage by boosting Rock-type damage. Avoid Rainy weather if possible, as it strengthens Zapdos’ Electric attacks.

🌀 Zapdos Moveset

🗡️ Fast Moves

• Charge Beam

💥 Charged Moves

• Zap Cannon
• Thunder
• Thunderbolt
• Ancient Power
• Drill Peck

🔄 Elite Moves

• Thunder Shock

🚶 Buddy Distance

20 km (per Pokémon GO buddy distance)

⚖️ Shadow & Mega Comparison