Zapdos PvP Guide: Best Movesets, IVs & Rankings

Zapdos ranks #100 of 850 in Ultra League, with a PvPoke score of 86.3 and tier B in our list. This is its highest overall score among the three leagues shown. Check its moves, weaknesses and team fit before investing; a high rank does not guarantee wins.

The recommended Great League PvP moveset for Zapdos is Thunder Shock* with Drill Peck and Heat Wave, according to the imported PvPoke ranking.

The recommended Ultra League PvP moveset for Zapdos is Thunder Shock* with Drill Peck and Thunderbolt, according to the imported PvPoke ranking.

The recommended Master League PvP moveset for Zapdos is Thunder Shock* with Drill Peck and Thunderbolt, according to the imported PvPoke ranking.

Ultra League has its highest imported PvPoke score (86.3) among Great, Ultra and Master League. This compares overall scores within each league, not win rates across leagues. Your available team, IVs and investment budget may favor another league.

These legacy moves appear in its recommended movesets for the leagues shown:

Thunder Shock*

A legacy move may require an event, an Elite TM or another special method. Not every legacy move is available through an Elite TM. Check the move and Pokémon before spending one.

These IVs maximize Attack × Defense × HP under the league's CP cap and the calculator's level limit. They are a useful starting point, but matchup breakpoints and Charged Attack priority can favor other spreads.

In Great League, Pokémon that can exceed 1500 CP often benefit from lower Attack IVs, which can leave room for more total stats under the cap. The exact best spread depends on the Pokémon; it is not always 0/15/15.

The same principle applies to Ultra League's 2500 CP cap. Pokémon that cannot reach the cap at the allowed level generally benefit from higher IVs in all three stats.

Master League has no CP cap, so 15/15/15 maximizes a Pokémon's stats at a given level. Some other spreads perform similarly in particular matchups.

Compare your own Pokémon in the IV checker before spending resources. The highest stat product is a benchmark, not a promise of the best result in every matchup; the displayed spread is not necessarily the IV spread used by PvPoke simulations.

Base second Charged Attack cost: 100,000 Stardust and 100 Candy.

Levels and Candy XL needs refer to the highest stat-product build shown. Power-up costs depend on your starting level. Second Charged Attack costs shown are base costs; Shadow and Purified modifiers may apply.

Matchup ratings measure this Pokémon’s performance out of 1,000. 500 is a tie; higher is better. A dash means the rating is unavailable in our imported data.

Overall rankings combine several battle roles. PvPoke’s key wins and counters for these rankings come from its Leads scenario, with two shields on each side. They are examples, not guaranteed outcomes: IVs, energy, shields, move timing and baiting can change a battle.

Each number is the additional Fast Attacks needed before using the same Charged Attack again. The first starts from zero energy; the second and third retain leftover energy, with a 100-energy cap. Time to first charge counts Fast Attack time only. Switching moves, overfarming and battle interruptions change this sequence. A dash means the move cannot be reached with the available data.

Compare energy generation, damage per turn, and attack duration. Faster energy gain helps reach Charged Attacks sooner, while shorter Fast Attacks offer more flexibility. The recommended move depends on the Pokémon's full moveset and matchups.

Move-card power, DPT and DPE include this Pokémon’s same-type and Shadow attack bonuses. They do not predict damage against a specific opponent. EPT is energy per turn; one turn lasts 0.5 seconds.

Charged Attacks cost energy to use, deal a large amount of damage, and some of them even have Special Effects that can change your or your Opponents stats.

Charged cards show adjusted power, energy cost and DPE (power divided by energy cost). Charge counts use the Fast Attack selected above the cards, starting at zero energy and carrying leftover energy into the next two uses.

These pages use an imported PvPoke snapshot, not live rankings. The import date is recorded only when ranking data is refreshed; it is not the page build date. Older snapshots may have no recorded import date. Standard overall rankings do not describe every limited cup or current GO Battle League rotation.

Source: PvPoke · Format: standard 1500 CP · Overall rankings · Imported Oct 18, 2026, 6:16 AM UTC

Source: PvPoke · Format: standard 2500 CP · Overall rankings · Imported Oct 18, 2026, 6:16 AM UTC

Source: PvPoke · Format: standard uncapped · Overall rankings · Imported Oct 18, 2026, 6:16 AM UTC