Question

What is a good moveset for Zapdos? I think a good moveset for it would be: Thunder, Thunderbolt, Drill Peck, Steel Wing.

Zapdos Learnset

Comments

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Trait: Lightningrod
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Agility
- Discharge
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Roost

Answer 1

Having Thunder AND Thunderbolt is a complete waste of a move spot.

Zapdos has great Special Attack so tailor towards that:
- Thunderbolt (more reliable than Thunder)
- Heat Wave (via tutor)
- Ancientpower (covers Ice weakness)
- either Steel Wing to cover Rock weakness, or Signal Beam (tutor), or something like Roost for recovery.

Comments

Steel Wing also covers weakness to Ice. So does Heat Wave.

Answer 2

Pressure Stall Zapdos*

Zapdos # Leftovers
Nature: Timid (^Speed -Atk)
Ability: Pressure
~ 252 Speed EVs / 200 HP EVs / 58 Defense EVs

• Thunderbolt
• Substitute
• Roost
• Toxic / Roar

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Note: This set works a kajillion times better if the enemies are already Poisoned, from my experience. (Like Toxic Spikes, or a previous staller using Toxic) Although Zapdos comes with Toxic here, you can replace it with Roar if you have Toxic Spikes. Zapdos needs as much time as possible to set up a Substitute, and with the Speed to do it!

Zapdos can make a pretty good Pressure Staller! Although you can still sweep normally with this set, once you encounter something that bothers you, you can just start Substituting, and Roosting to begin the stall! Thunderbolt is there for the STAB, and just to help finish foes off. Substitute is there so that you can Sub & Roost all day long! :D
Have Toxic if you do not have a team with Toxic Spikes. If you have Toxic Spikes, repalce instead with Roar since you won't need Toxic anymore if they are already poisoned, and to bring in some foes to get them poisoned too!

Answer 3

Here is my Current Zapdos Moveset on my UU Team:

Zapdos@ Choice Specs

Trait: Pressure

EVs: 4 HP, 252 Sp. Attack, 252 Speed

Timid Nature:(-Attack, +Speed)

• U-Turn
• Thunderbolt
• Heat Wave
• Hidden Power [Ice]

This Movesrt is self explanatory. U-Turn makes Zapdos Scout, chosen over Volt Switch to strike opposing Lead Azelf and Mew. Thunderbolt is STAB, which strikes really hard paired with Choice Specs. Heat Wave is there for pesky Steel Types like Bronzong who can utterly wall Zapdos that lack Heat Wave. HP Ice is great coverage over Flygon, who rules the current UU Metagame* Considering most Zapdos are Scarfed, Most people won't dare keep Flygon in on a Zapdos.

*I mentioned Smogon Tiers there, not DB Tiers

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-Mike

Answer 4

My predicted Moveset for Zapdos once it goes OU(If it does):

Zapdos @Life Orb/Choice Specs
Trait: Lightningrod
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunder/Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power Ground/Fighting/Ice
- Ancientpower/Roost

This is it. Thunder should be used on Rain Teams, but can be used on a non-weather Team due to Rain being so common in OU. Heat Wave nails those annoying Steels that plague OU. The Type of Hidden Power depends on what you need to be covered. HP Ground nails Heatran, HP Fighting nails Tyranitar, and HP Ice nails Dragonite/Salamence/Garchomp. Use Ancientpower with HP Ground/Fighting only, and Never with HP Ice. Roost can be used if you run HP Ice, but HP Ground and Ancientpower are the more prefered Moves(EdgeQuake Coverage). Item really varies on what you prefer, run Life Orb with Roost, and Choice Specs with All-Out Offense Variant.

Answer 5

Gen V

Zapdos @ Life Orb

Trait: Pressure

EVs: 64 HP / 252 SAtk / 64 SDef / 128 Spd

Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

• Heat Wave
• Discharge
• Roost
• Tailwind

Discharge gives you a nice STAB that can paralyze the foe. Tailwind helps Zapdos and the rest of the team move faster, which can help change the tide of battle. Roost heals Zapdos, and Heat Wave provides type coverage. Life Orb puts more power behind your attacks, and you can just heal off the damage with Roost. Your EVs give you decent bulk that works well with good typing and Roost, good Speed for use with Tailwind, and good Special Attack.

Answer 6

Zapdos @ Life Orb

Role: Rain Scout

Trait: Pressure

EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd

Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

• Thunder
• Hidden Power [Water]
• Extrasensory
• Volt Switch

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Thunder gets STAB , perfect accuracy in the rain, and 30% chance to paralyze.
HP Water gets a rain boost, while Extrasensory is Coverage. And Volt Switch lets him scout.

Comments

Don't you mean a Modest Nature? A Timid Nature ups speed, but lowers attack. A Modest Nature ups special attack but lowers attack.

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No, he means Timid for the boost in speed.

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XD  Sorry!!! I made a stupid mistake! It looked like it said special attack instead of speed for a second!

Answer 7

Double/Triple Battle

Zapdos @ Life Orb
Trait: Lightningrod
EVs: 196 Atk / 60 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Light Screen
- Drill Peck
- Discharge
- Hidden Power [Ground]

I have to admit, I feel strange passing up Air Cutter, Heat Wave, and Tailwind. But Lightningrod is worth it. However, your movepool becomes limited, so I put in EVs in Attack to allow for Drill Peck. Okay, yeah, really feeling strange about this. Drill Peck thankfully gets STAB and can hit any foe in a Triple Battle. As for 300 Special Attack, just use a Discharge teammate. Light Screen provides team support, and makes me feel weird about using a Defense lowering nature. Discharge is STAB and a great move in multi-battles. HP is coverage. Yeah, this set just makes me feel weird. I've used it a few times (I love Zapdos) and it works out pretty good, but I still can't get over all the lessons I've learned throughout the years all being thrown away in one set.