Zapdos
Electric/Flying-type, Generation 1. No raid or PvP ranking; stat total 645.
Best moveset
- Highest damage
- Thunder Shock Thunder
Same-type attack bonus on both moves. Thunder Shock is an Elite TM move. Thunder costs 100 energy for 100 power.
Type effectiveness
Damage Zapdos takes from each attacking type
Base stats
- 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
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge Beam STAB | Electric | 7 | 14 | 1.0s | 7 | 14 |
| Thunder Shock Best STAB Elite | Electric | 4 | 7 | 0.5s | 8 | 14 |
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | DPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Best STAB | Electric | 100 | 100 | 2.5s | 40 | 1.00 |
| Thunderbolt STAB | Electric | 80 | 50 | 2.5s | 32 | 1.60 |
| Zap Cannon STAB | Electric | 140 | 100 | 3.5s | 40 | 1.40 |
Fast moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | Turns | DPT | EPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge Beam | Electric | 5 | 11 | 2 | 2.50 | 5.50 |
| Thunder Shock | Electric | 4 | 9 | 1 | 4.00 | 9.00 |
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DPE | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Power | Rock | 60 | 45 | 1.33 | Buff / debuff |
| Drill Peck | Flying | 70 | 40 | 1.75 | — |
| Heat Wave | Fire | 75 | 45 | 1.67 | — |
| Thunder | Electric | 100 | 60 | 1.67 | — |
| Thunderbolt | Electric | 90 | 55 | 1.64 | — |
| Zap Cannon | Electric | 150 | 80 | 1.88 | Buff / debuff |
Moveset analysis
The highest-damage fast move is Thunder Shock (8 DPS); Charge Beam builds energy fastest (14 EPS).
Evolution
Raids
- Raid tier
- 5-Star
- Shiny
- Can be shiny after the raid
- Raid guide
- Full Zapdos raid guide
Best counters against Zapdos
Use Zapdos against
Raid bosses where it ranks as a top counter
How to get Zapdos
- Raids
- 5-Star raid boss
- Team GO Rocket
- Shadow Zapdos knows Frustration — swap it with a Charged TM
- Purification
- 20,000 Dust + 20 Candy → Return
- Trading
- Can be traded between trainers
Catch CP
| Source | Level | Min CP | Max 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 |
Is Zapdos good in Pokemon GO?
| Power up | Stardust | Candy | XL Candy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 20 → 40 | 135,000 | 15 | — |
Zapdos has no raid or PvP ranking right now. Keep a high-IV one for the Pokedex and for future move updates or limited-format cups, and spend your Stardust elsewhere.
- Attack is its highest stat (253), so it hits harder than it survives — a glass-cannon raid slot rather than a gym defender.
- A second charged move costs 100,000 Dust and 100 Candy, and with 6 charged moves to pick from it is the single biggest PvP upgrade you can buy.
- Shadow Zapdos deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more: better for raids, riskier in PvP.
- Its moves get a damage boost in Rainy and Windy weather — worth timing raids around.
CP by level
Maximum CP with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at every level
| Level | Max 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 |
| Level | Max 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 |
| Level | Max 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 |
| Level | Max 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 (fast) with Thunder (charged). Use a Fast TM or Charged TM to reroll onto it.
What are Zapdos's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?
Zapdos takes super effective damage from Ice, Rock-type moves. It resists Bug, Fighting, Flying, Grass, Ground, Steel, so avoid those types against it.
What is Zapdos's max CP in Pokemon GO?
Zapdos reaches 3,987 CP at level 50 with XL Candy, or 3,527 CP at level 40. Level 50 needs XL Candy, which only unlocks at Trainer Level 31 and comes from catching, hatching, transferring and walking.
What CP is a 100% IV Zapdos?
A perfect 15/15/15 Zapdos shows 2,015 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches) and 2,519 CP at level 25 (weather boosted). Seeing that exact number on the catch screen means it is a hundo — favourite it before you transfer anything.
Is Shadow Zapdos better than regular Zapdos?
Shadow Zapdos deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more. For raids the trade is worth it; for PvP the lost bulk often is not. It arrives knowing Frustration, which should be replaced with a Charged TM during a Team GO Rocket event before you power it up.
How do you get Zapdos in Pokemon GO?
Zapdos spawns in the wild, though how often depends on your biome and the active event. It is currently a 5-Star Raids raid boss. It can be traded between trainers.
Can Zapdos be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Shiny Zapdos depends on whether Niantic has released the form. Check the events page for Community Days and event weekends, which is when shiny rates are boosted.