#0145 ElectricFlying Legendary

Zapdos

Electric/Flying-type, Generation 1. Ranked #29 among Electric-type raid attackers (Tier D).

Gen 1 · Kanto Boosted in Rainy, Windy
Check IVs
Max CP
3,987
Lv 50 · Lv 40: 3,527
Attack
253
Defense
185
Stamina
207
Zapdos Pokemon GO sprite

Best moveset

Raids & gyms
Thunder Shock Zap Cannon 22.1 DPS

Same-type attack bonus on both moves. Thunder Shock is an Elite TM move. Zap Cannon costs 100 energy for 140 power.

Type effectiveness

Damage Zapdos takes from each attacking type

Base stats

Attack 253
Defense 185
Stamina 207
Stat total
645
Buddy distance
20.0 km per candy
Second charged move
100,000 Dust + 100 Candy
100% IV at Lv 20
2,015 CP

Zapdos moves

2 fast · 6 charged

Fast moves

MoveTypePWRENDURDPSEPS
Charge Beam STAB Electric 7 14 1.0s 7 14
Thunder Shock Best STAB Elite Electric 4 7 0.5s 8 14

Charged moves

MoveTypePWRENDURDPSDPE
Ancient Power Rock 70 33 3.5s 20 2.12
Drill Peck STAB Flying 70 33 2.5s 28 2.12
Heat Wave Fire 95 100 3.0s 31.7 0.95
Thunder STAB Electric 100 100 2.5s 40 1.00
Thunderbolt STAB Electric 80 50 2.5s 32 1.60
Zap Cannon Best STAB Electric 140 100 3.5s 40 1.40
Moveset analysis

For raids and gyms, Zapdos runs Thunder Shock with Zap Cannon — 22.1 DPS and 480 TDO as a Electric-type attacker.

The highest-damage fast move is Thunder Shock (8 DPS); Charge Beam builds energy fastest (14 EPS).

Rankings

Where Zapdos places in raids and PvP

Raid attacker

TypeRankTierDPSTDOMoveset
Electric #29 D 22.1 480 Thunder Shock Zap Cannon

Evolution

Zapdos does not evolve.

Family

Zapdos (Galarian)
Zapdos (Galarian) Galarian
Zapdos
Zapdos This page
Shadow forms Shadow Zapdos

Raids

Not in raids
Status
Zapdos is not in the current raid rotation

Best counters against Zapdos

1
Mega Diancie
Mega DiancieMega Rock ThrowRock Slide 31.8DPS 425TDO 2
Shadow Rampardos
Shadow RampardosShadow Smack DownRock Slide 31.4DPS 260TDO 3
Shadow Tyrantrum
Shadow TyrantrumShadow Rock ThrowMeteor Beam 29.7DPS 378TDO 4
Kyurem (White)
Kyurem (White) Ice FangBlizzard 29.5DPS 550TDO 5
Shadow Darmanitan (Galarian standard)
Shadow Darmanitan (Galarian standard)Shadow Ice FangAvalanche 28.6DPS 263TDO 6
Shadow Gigalith
Shadow GigalithShadow Smack DownMeteor Beam 28.4DPS 391TDO
Counters carrying Ice, Rock moves deal the most damage.

Use Zapdos against

Raid bosses where it ranks as a top counter

Gyarados
Gyarados Tier 5 #5rank
Mantine
Mantine Tier 5 #6rank
Brionne
Brionne Tier 5 #7rank
Wingull
Wingull Tier 5 #7rank
Tornadus (Incarnate)
Tornadus (Incarnate) Tier 5 #7rank
Pelipper
Pelipper Tier 5 #7rank
Ducklett
Ducklett Tier 5 #7rank
Swanna
Swanna Tier 5 #7rank
Luvdisc
Luvdisc Tier 5 #7rank
Finneon
Finneon Tier 5 #7rank

How to get Zapdos

Team GO Rocket
Shadow Zapdos arrives with Frustration, removable only during Rocket Takeover events
Purification
20,000 Dust + 20 Candy → Return

Catch CP

SourceLevelMin CPMax CP (100% IV)
Wild Catch Lv 1–30 90 3,048
Wild (Weather Boost) Lv 1–35 90 3,300
Raid Catch Lv 20 1,979 2,065
Raid (Weather Boost) Lv 25 2,461 2,569
Egg Hatch Lv 20 1,979 2,065
Research Encounter Lv 15 1,496 1,562
GO Battle League Lv 20 1,979 2,065

Zapdos in events

Most recent first

All events
EventDateRoleShiny
Road of Legends 6 Jul 2026 Raid boss Yes
Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in 5-star Raid Battles 1 Jul 2026 Raid boss Yes

Is Zapdos good in Pokemon GO?

Low priority
Power upStardustCandyXL Candy
Lv 20 → 40 135,000 15 —

#29 among Electric-type raid attackers (Tier D, 22.1 DPS). The same Stardust goes further on a higher-ranked Electric attacker.

CP by level

Maximum CP with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at every level

LevelMax CP
Lv 1 49
Lv 2 156
Lv 3 262
Lv 4 369
Lv 5 475
Lv 6 582
Lv 7 688
Lv 8 795
Lv 9 901
Lv 10 1,008
Lv 11 1,108
Lv 12 1,209
Lv 13 1,310
LevelMax CP
Lv 14 1,410
Lv 15 1,511
Lv 16 1,612
Lv 17 1,713
Lv 18 1,813
Lv 19 1,914
Lv 20 2,015
Lv 21 2,116
Lv 22 2,216
Lv 23 2,317
Lv 24 2,418
Lv 25 2,519
Lv 26 2,620
LevelMax CP
Lv 27 2,720
Lv 28 2,821
Lv 29 2,922
Lv 30 3,023
Lv 31 3,073
Lv 32 3,124
Lv 33 3,174
Lv 34 3,224
Lv 35 3,275
Lv 36 3,325
Lv 37 3,375
Lv 38 3,426
Lv 39 3,476
LevelMax CP
Lv 40 3,527
Lv 41 3,571
Lv 42 3,616
Lv 43 3,662
Lv 44 3,707
Lv 45 3,753
Lv 46 3,799
Lv 47 3,846
Lv 48 3,893
Lv 49 3,940
Lv 50 3,987

Pokedex info

Pokedex number
#0145
Height
1.60 m
Weight
52.60 kg
Buddy size
Flying
Family forms
3 released forms
Game ID
V0145_POKEMON_ZAPDOS

FAQ

What is the best moveset for Zapdos in Pokemon GO?

Zapdos's best moveset is Thunder Shock with Zap Cannon, worth 22.1 DPS as a Electric-type raid attacker. Thunder Shock is a legacy move: a regular TM never rolls it, so it takes an Elite TM or the event that brings it back.

What are Zapdos's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

Zapdos takes super effective damage from Ice, Rock. It resists Bug, Fighting, Flying, Grass, Ground, Steel.

What is Zapdos's max CP in Pokemon GO?

Zapdos reaches 3,987 CP at level 50 and 3,527 CP at level 40, both with 15/15/15 IVs.

What CP is a 100% IV Zapdos?

A 15/15/15 Zapdos shows 2,015 CP from a raid or egg (level 20) and 2,519 CP from a weather-boosted raid (level 25). From a research encounter (level 15) it is 1,511 CP.

Is Shadow Zapdos better than regular Zapdos?

In raids, yes: Shadow Zapdos deals 26.5 DPS (#9 Electric) against 22.1 DPS (#29 Electric) for the regular form. It pays for that with 20% more damage taken, so it faints sooner. See Shadow Zapdos.

How do you get Zapdos in Pokemon GO?

Its most recent event was Road of Legends (July 2026).

Can Zapdos be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Yes, shiny Zapdos is in the game. It could be shiny in Road of Legends (July 2026).

Explore more

Electric-type Pokedex Every Electric-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO Best Electric attackers Top DPS picks for Electric raids Great League tier list Full PvP rankings and movesets Electric moves Power, energy and DPS for every Electric move