Introduction: Zapdos is a very pleasing Pokemon both aesthetically and competitively. Whether it’s being used from an offensive or defensive standpoint, Zapdos brings many unique qualities to the game just from its typing and excellent movepool coverage. Knowing this, I decided to get back into the UU metagame and create a team around my favorite UU Pokemon.
Team Building Part 1 of 2: What will we need to support Zapdos with?
Before we begin building a team based around Zapdos it’s important to understand what things trouble Zapdos. One of the things we must ask ourselves is what can’t Zapdos 1 hko or 2 hko.
This first group of Pokemon that Zapdos has trouble with are bulky ground types. Without hidden power grass (which we will not be using on our Zapdos) Zapdos has trouble dealing with Pokemon like Swampert, Quagsire, Rhyperior, Nidoqueen and Claydol.
The second group of Pokemon that Zadpos has trouble with are dedicated special walls like Snorlax, Porygon2, and MIltank. All of these Pokemon can hit Zapdos back with their stab moves or simply status Zapdos while Zapdos cannot 2 hko them.
Thirdly, faster ice types can bring down Zapdos fairly quickly, this includes Pokemon such as Frosslass and Weavile.
Team Building Part 2 of 2: Which Pokemon do we use?
The first thing I said to myself was that I needed a lure. A Pokemon that could tempt some of Zapdos’ counters to come in and either eliminate some of them or deal with them in some way (such as u-turning or volt-switching out). Rotom-H with Will-O-Wisp is a great choice for luring in some of Zapdos counters. The both share some common counters and Rotom –H can status Swampert, Quagsire, Rhyperior and Claydol. Even better is the fact that Rotom-H could take on some of the faster ice types that plague Zapdos.
The next thing I needed was a Pokemon who can deal with the dedicated special walls mentioned above. I also needed it to be a status absorber. I decided to use a fighting type and in UU there are two fighting types who can absorb status: Machamp and Heracross. I went with Heracross because it can deal with Claydol much better than Machamp could.
Next I found myself needing a revenge killer. Something that could check dragon dance Kingdra which my team was very weak to. I settled on scarf Krookodile who add some good synergy to the team while maintaining its status as a revenge killer for my team.
With the main skeleton of my team complete I now looked to cover some holes in my team. I noticed that I had nothing to deal with Chandelure and in UU there are three Pokemon who can counter Chandelure. Those three are Porygon2, Snorlax and Miltank. Since my team was already physically inclined in terms of offense I decided to go with Porygon2.
Finally glancing over my team I noticed I did not have a bulky water and was missing a physical Victini check. I also needed a something that could remove stealth rock for Zapdos and Rotom-H. Blastoise was chosen since he partially checks Victini and can remove stealth rocks with rapid spin.
A closer look:
Rotom-H (The Lure)
Timid
Levitate
Leftovers
252 Special Attack/ 252 Speed/ 6 Hp
Overheat/ Hidden Power (Ice)/ Will-O-Wisp/ Volt Switch
Rotom-H is like the glue that holds together the team. It lures in ground types and hits them with Will-O-Wisp thus crippling them for the remainder of the match. If Rotom-H finds itself face to face with a Pokemon it cannot handle, no problem, I simply volt switch out to an appropriate member of the team which can handle the opposition. Overheat and Thunderbolt are my main offense. Hidden Power Ice is there for Flygon and Gligar which grabs an unexpected KO. Gligar gives my team many problems since it walls Krookodile and Heracross perfectly.
Heracross (The Powerful Check)
Adamant
Guts
Toxic Orb
252 Attack/ 252 Speed/ 6 Hp
Close Combat/ Megahorn/ Stone edge/ Night Slash
Heracross is on my team for two reasons. First, it doesn’t mind status thanks to Guts and Toxic Orb working together. Secondly it checks the special walls that Zapdos and Rotom-H cannot deal with. Thanks to Volt-Switch on both my Zapdos and Rotom-H, Heracross can come in safely as my opponent switches to their Zapdos/Rotom-H check in the very same turn and activate its Toxic Orb, which now activates its Guts ability. Close Combat and Megahorn are my primary offense. Stone Edge is for Zapdos switch in’s as well as Xatu while Night Slash is there for Dusclops and Dusknoir.
Krookodile (The Revenger)
Jolly
Moxie
Choice Scarf
252 Attack/ 252 Speed/ 6 Hp
Pursuit/Crunch/Earthqauke/Stone Edge
Krookodile is an amazing revenger for my team. Threats such as Swords dance Cobalion, Dragon Dance Kindgra, and Chandelure are revenged by this amazing guy. It even has the potential to sweep late game once it's counters have been weakened or eliminated. Pursuit lets me play mind games with foes such as Stoutland and Victini.
Porygon2 (The Patient Wall)
Modest
Trace
Eviolite
252 Special Attack/ 252 hp/ 6 def
Discharge/ Ice Beam/ Tri attack/ Recover
Thanks to suggestions from some raters I removed Snorlax from my team since it was pretty redundant with Krookodile and replaced it was a specially offensive Porygon2. Porygon2 acts as my main Chandelure switch in and walls most special attackers. While its main job is walling it also supports my team by paralyzing opponents with Discharge so that my team can gain the initiative and strike first. Bolt-Beam for coverage, Tri-Attack is for stab and recover is so that Porygon2 can come in consistently again and again to check special attackers.
Blastoise ( The Bulky Water)
Bold
Torrent
Leftovers
252 Hp/ 252 Def/ 4 sp def
Scald/Ice Beam/Rapid Spin/Roar
Blastoise is my bulky water for the team and has the role of removing entry hazards (mainly stealth rock) for my team. Aside from the Blastoise provides minor physical walling for my team and help sponge attacks from Weavile, Cobalion, Bisharp and any other physical attackers. This is also the closest thing I have for dealing with Victini for my team. Though it is important to note that even if my opponent predicts well and goes for the Fusion Bolt, I can switch to Krookodile next turn and trap it with pursuit. Scald is my primary form of offense and Ice beam complements nicely. Rapid Spin is the most important move on this set for its ability to remove hazards. Roar gives my team a phazer which is very welcome. Another thing I like about this set is that it lures ghost types which want to spinblock and are later removed by my scarfed Krookodile.
Zadpos (The late Game Sweeper)
Timid
Pressure
Life Orb
252 Special Attack/ 252 Speed/ 6 Hp
Thunderbolt/ Heatwave/ Hidden Power (Grass)/ Roost
Zapdos is my favorite Pokemon in UU right now. With a typing shared only by Flying Rotom and the banned Thundurus, Zapdos is a great late game sweeper for my team and is what my entire team is based around of. Thunderbolt and Heatwave give Zapdos the coverage to hit most of the metagame right now for at least neutral coverage. In addition to this, Hp Grass lets Zadpos get past its own counters. Sometimes I need Zapdos early in the match to check threats like Calm Mind Suicune and Heracross. If Zapdos is hurt during that time I can simply roost to heal off any excess damage it has taken or life orb damage. I usually roost only when under dual screen support from my Xatu.
Conclusion: Well that’s my UU team that I made as sort of a tribute to Zapdos. Any constructive criticism is appreciated and will be taken into account as I continue to use the team. I hope I gave you guys that didn’t know too much about Zapdos have a better understanding of it and those of you who do know about him perhaps can give me some criticism so that I may better understand how to use Zadpos in UU.
