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Counter guide · Electric / Flying · Gen I

What beats Zapdos?

The 5 hardest counters to Zapdos ranked by type effectiveness, base-stat total, and Speed.

Zapdos
No. 145
Zapdos
Electric Flying
BST 580 · Speed 100 · Atk 90 · SpA 125

Top 5 counters

  1. #1
    Iron Thorns
    No. 995
    Iron Thorns
    Rock Electric
    Hits Zapdos for 2× via rock-type STAB Takes ½× back from electric-type STAB Speed: 72 ≤ 100 (slower) Lean: Physical (Atk 134)
  2. #2
    Rhyperior
    No. 464
    Rhyperior
    Ground Rock
    Hits Zapdos for 2× via rock-type STAB Takes ½× back from flying-type STAB Speed: 40 ≤ 100 (slower) Lean: Physical (Atk 140)
  3. #3
    Terrakion
    No. 639
    Terrakion
    Rock Fighting
    Hits Zapdos for 2× via rock-type STAB Takes 1× back from electric-type STAB Speed: 108 > 100 (outspeeds) Lean: Physical (Atk 129)
  4. #4
    Iron Boulder
    No. 1022
    Iron Boulder
    Rock Psychic
    Hits Zapdos for 2× via rock-type STAB Takes 1× back from electric-type STAB Speed: 124 > 100 (outspeeds) Lean: Physical (Atk 120)
  5. #5
    Nihilego
    No. 793
    Nihilego
    Rock Poison
    Hits Zapdos for 2× via rock-type STAB Takes 1× back from electric-type STAB Speed: 103 > 100 (outspeeds) Lean: Special (SpA 127)

Zapdos's type weaknesses

2× weak to
Ice Rock
Immune to
Ground

How this list is computed

Each candidate is scored on best-STAB damage into Zapdos, the damage taken back, Speed comparison, base-stat total, and offensive lean (Attack vs Sp. Attack). Candidates that Zapdos hits super-effectively for 2× or more without taking comparable damage back are filtered out — they die first. Type-immune candidates are excluded entirely.

Counters are theoretical type-chart matchups, not damage calculations. Item, ability, and move-set choices can swing real battles. Use this list as a starting point, not a final answer.