Quick facts
Species: Zapdos (Legendary)
Types: Electric / Flying
Primary weaknesses: Rock, Ice
Recommended lobby: 3–7 trainers
Zapdos Raid Guide in Pokémon GO: Best Counters, Weaknesses, Movesets & Catch Tips
Zapdos is a Legendary Electric/Flying-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO and one of the three Legendary birds from Kanto. It frequently appears in Tier 5 raids and is a very useful Pokémon for both raids and PvP. While Zapdos is not the hardest Legendary raid boss, it can still be dangerous if you use the wrong counters.
In this complete Zapdos raid guide, you will learn about Zapdos’s weaknesses, best counters, movesets, weather boosts, CP ranges, recommended team setups, and battle strategies to defeat and catch Zapdos efficiently.
Table of Contents
Weakness Best Pokemon Regular Counters Shadow Counters Mega Counters Moveset Weather Effects Size Rewards FAQsUse Golden Razz Berries and try to land excellent curveball throws to maximize your chances of catching Zapdos.
Weaknesses & resistances
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak to |
 Rock •
 Ice
|
| Resists to |
 Fighting •
 Flying •
 Ground •
 Bug •
 Steel •
 Grass
|
Best Zapdos Counters
Rock-type Counters
- Rhyperior: (Smack Down / Rock Wrecker)
- Diancie: (Rock Throw / Rock Slide)
- Tyranitar: (Smack Down / Stone Edge)
- Tyrantrum: (Rock Throw / Meteor Beam)
Ice-type Counters
- White Kyurem: (Ice Fang / Ice Burn)
- Mamoswine: (Powder Snow / Avalanche)
- Baxcalibur: (Ice Fang / Avalanche)
Dragon-type Counters
- Garchomp: (Dragon Tail / Breaking Swipe)
- Rayquaza: (Dragon Tail / Breaking Swipe)
Best Mega Evolutions
Recommended Megas to use against Zapdos:
- Diancie, Tyranitar, Aerodactyl – Rock boost
- Abomasnow, Gardevoir – Ice boost
- Rayquaza, Garchomp – Dragon boost
- Gardevoir – Psychic boost
Difficulty
Zapdos can use moves such as Thunderbolt, Zap Cannon, Drill Peck, and Thunder Shock. While it isn’t extremely bulky, its Electric-type charged moves hit hard, especially against Water or Flying-type counters.
Best Regular Counters
Regular pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Regular counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Kyurem | Dragon Breath / Steel Wing / Ice Fang | Blizzard / Ancient Power / Dragon Pulse / Focus Blast / Fusion Flare / Ice Burn | - | Steel Wing (14) and Focus Blast / Fusion Flare (140) |
| Rampardos | Smack Down / Zen Headbutt | Rock Slide / Flamethrower / Outrage | - | Smack Down (13) and Outrage (110) |
| Dawn Wings Necrozma | Shadow Claw / Metal Claw / Psycho Cut | Dark Pulse / Iron Head / Future Sight / Outrage / Moongeist Beam | - | Shadow Claw / Metal Claw (6) and Moongeist Beam (230) |
| Primal Kyogre | Waterfall | Hydro Pump / Surf / Thunder / Blizzard / Avalanche | Origin Pulse | Waterfall (13) and Hydro Pump (135) |
| Rhyperior | Mud Slap / Smack Down | Skull Bash / Superpower / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Surf / Breaking Swipe | Rock Wrecker | Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (140) |
| Baxcalibur | Ice Fang / Dragon Breath | Avalanche / Blizzard / Icy Wind / Dragon Claw / Outrage | - | Ice Fang (12) and Blizzard (130) |
| Terrakion | Double Kick / Smack Down / Zen Headbutt | Close Combat / Earthquake / Rock Slide | Sacred Sword | Smack Down (13) and Earthquake (140) |
| Eternatus | Poison Jab / Dragon Tail | Flamethrower / Dragon Pulse / Sludge Bomb | Dynamax Cannon | Dragon Tail (14) and Dynamax Cannon (215) |
| Mamoswine | Mud Slap / Powder Snow | Bulldoze / High Horsepower / Stone Edge / Avalanche / Icicle Spear | Ancient Power | Mud Slap (19) and High Horsepower / Stone Edge (105) |
| Tyrantrum | Rock Throw / Dragon Tail / Charm | Earthquake / Stone Edge / Meteor Beam / Rock Tomb / Crunch / Outrage | - | Charm (20) and Earthquake / Meteor Beam (140) |
| Black Kyurem | Shadow Claw / Dragon Tail | Stone Edge / Blizzard / Iron Head / Outrage / Fusion Bolt / Freeze Shock | - | Dragon Tail (14) and Freeze Shock (160) |
Best Shadow Counters
Shadow pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Shadow counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Rhyperior | Mud Slap / Smack Down | Skull Bash / Superpower / Earthquake / Stone Edge / Surf / Breaking Swipe | Rock Wrecker | Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Golem | Mud Slap / Mud Shot / Rock Throw | Stone Edge / Earthquake / Rock Blast / Ancient Power | - | Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Mewtwo | Psycho Cut / Confusion | Focus Blast / Flamethrower / Thunderbolt / Psychic / Ice Beam | Hyper Beam / Shadow Ball / Psystrike | Confusion (19) and Hyper Beam (150) |
| Shadow Mamoswine | Mud Slap / Powder Snow | Bulldoze / High Horsepower / Stone Edge / Avalanche / Icicle Spear | Ancient Power | Mud Slap (19) and High Horsepower / Stone Edge (105) |
| Shadow Rampardos | Smack Down / Zen Headbutt | Rock Slide / Flamethrower / Outrage | - | Smack Down (13) and Outrage (110) |
| Shadow Gigalith | Mud Slap / Smack Down | Superpower / Rock SLide / Heavy Slam / Solar Beam | Meteor Beam | Mud Slap (19) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Shadow Tyranitar | Iron Tail / Dragon Breath / Bite | Stone Edge / Fire Blast / Crunch / Brutal Swing | Smack Down | Iron Tail (14) and Fire Blast (140) |
| Shadow Regigigas | Hidden Power / Zen Headbutt | Giga Impact / Focus Blast / Thunder | Crush Grip | Hidden Power (15) and Crush Grip (210) |
| Shadow Tyrantrum | Rock Throw / Dragon Tail / Charm | Earthquake / Stone Edge / Meteor Beam / Rock Tomb / Crunch / Outrage | - | Charm (20) and Earthquake / Meteor Beam (140) |
| Shadow Weavile | Ice Shard / Feint Attack / Snarl | Focus Blast / Avalanche / Triple Axel / Foul Play | - | Feint Attack / Snarl (11) and Focus Blast (140) |
| Shadow Aggron | Smack Down / Iron Tail / Metal Sound / Dragon Tail | Stone Edge / Rock Tomb / Meteor Beam / Heavy Slam / Thunder | - | Iron Tail / Dragon Tail (14) and Meteor Beam (140) |
| Shadow Aurorus | Rock Throw / Powder Snow / Frost Breath | Ancient Power / Meteor Beam / Hyper Beam / Weather Ball / Blizzard / Thunderbolt | - | Rock Throw (13) and Hyper Beam (150) |
Best Mega Counters
Mega pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Mega counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Gardevoir | Magical Leaf / Charge Beam / Confusion / Charm | Shadow Ball / Psychic / Triple Axel / Dazzling Gleam | Synchronoise | Charm (20) and Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam (180) |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot / Dragon Tail | Earthquake / Sand Tomb / Fire Blast / Outrage / Breaking Swipe | Earth Power | Dragon Tail (14) and Fire Blast / Earthquake(140) |
| Mega Aerodactyl | Rock Throw / Steel Wing / Dragon Breath / Bite | Hyper Beam / Earth Power / Ancient Power / Rock Slide / Iron Head | - | Steel Wing (14) and Hyper Beam (150) |
| Mega Abomasnow | Razor Leaf / Powder Snow / Leafage | Energy Ball / Weather Ball / Blizzard / Icy Wind / Outrage | - | Razor Leaf (13) and Blizzard (130) |
| Mega Tyranitar | Iron Tail / Dragon Breath / Bite | Stone Edge / Fire Blast / Crunch / Brutal Swing | Smack Down | Iron Tail (14) and Fire Blast (140) |
| Mega Diancie | Tackle / Rock Throw | Rock Slide / Power Gem / Moonblast | - | Rock Throw (13) and Moonblast (130) |
| Mega Rayquaza | Air Slash / Dragon Tail | Aerial Ace / Dragon Ascent / Ancient Power / Outrage | Hurricane / Breaking Swipe | Dragon Tail (14) and Dragon Ascent (140) |
Moves & Threats
Zapdos common fast moves are Charge Beam. Charged moves include Drill Peck or Ancient Power and Zap Cannon or Thunderbolt and Thunder. Elite moves include Thunder Shock.
Dangerous Moves: Zap Cannon and Thunderbolt deal massive damage. Ancient Power is dangerous for Rock and Ice attackers.
Zapdos becomes more dangerous when it uses Electric-type charged moves, especially against Water- or Flying-type Pokémon.
Best Team Compositions
Small Group (2–3 Trainers)
Zapdos can be defeated by 2 to 3 high-level trainers using strong Rock-type counters.
Medium Group (4–6 Trainers)
A group of 4 to 6 trainers will defeat Zapdos very easily, even without perfect counters.
Large Group (7+ Trainers)
Zapdos becomes extremely easy with a large group. Avoid overfilling the lobby to save raid passes.
Weather Boost Effects
- Windy weather: Boosts Electric-type moves and makes Zapdos stronger
- Rainy weather: Boosts Electric-type moves and makes the raid slightly harder
- Partly Cloudy weather: Boosts Rock-type counters (best for you)
Partly Cloudy weather is the best condition for fighting Zapdos because it boosts your Rock-type attackers.
Recommended Teams
Optimized Team
- Mega Diancie
- Rampardos
- Rhyperior
- Mega Tyranitar
- Terrakion
- Tyranitar
Budget Team
- Rhyperior
- Tyranitar
- Aerodactyl
- Aggron
- Mamoswine
- Glaceon
Battle Tips and Strategy
- Use only Rock-type attackers if possible.
- Do not use Ground-types because Zapdos is immune to Ground moves.
- Avoid Water and Flying types.
- Dodge charged moves if using glass cannons like Rampardos.
- Rejoin the battle quickly if your team faints.
Shiny Zapdos
Shiny Zapdos is available in Pokémon GO. The shiny version has an orange coloration and is very popular among collectors.
Rewards
- Chance to catch Shiny Zapdos (with boosted IVs)
- Rare Candy & XL Candy
Why Raid Zapdos?
It is a strong Electric-type attacker in many PvE situations. It gives useful XL Candy for long-term powering up. It’s one of the original Legendary birds from Kanto.
FAQ
Can Zapdos be shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes! Shiny Zapdos is available in Pokémon GO. It has more orange-toned beak and legs.
What are best moveset of Zapdos?
Best moveset of Zapdos are Charge Beam which does damage of 7 under Fast Attack and Zap Cannon of 140 under Charged Attack.
Are Shadow Pokémon better?
Yes—Shadow forms have +20% attack, making them excellent choices if available.
What is the best weather to raid Zapdos?
Snow weather to boosts Ice type moves, Partly Cloudy weather to boosts Rock type moves.
What makes Zapdos strong?
Its high attack, strong resistances, and Meteor Mash make it a top-tier raid and PvP option.
Conclusion
Zapdos is a relatively easy Legendary raid boss thanks to its double weakness to Rock-type moves. Prepare strong Rock-type counters, use Mega Pokémon to boost your team, and take advantage of Partly Cloudy weather to defeat and catch Zapdos efficiently.
Related Guides
Looking for more counters? Check out our Mega Diancie Raid Guide, Mega Tyranitar Raid Guide
Summary
- Rock-type Pokémon are by far the best counters.
- Watch out for Zap Cannon and Thunderbolt.
- Keep your team away from Water and Flying types.
- Maintain high DPS with aggressive rotations.
- Proper preparation makes this raid very easy.