Zapdos (Pokémon)

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Zapdos
サンダー Thunder

Artwork from FR/LG
National Dex #145
Johto Dex #236
Hoenn Dex #300
Sinnoh Dex #—
Fiore Browser R—
Almia Browser R—
Type Electric / Flying
Species Electric Pokémon
Height 5′03″ (1.6m)
Weight 116.0 lbs. (52.6kg)
Ability Pressure
Egg group No eggs
Time to hatch 20,480 steps
Effort yield 3 SpA
Exp. yield 216 base exp.
Lv100 at 1,250,000 exp.
Gender
Pokédex color Yellow
Catch rate 3

Zapdos (Japanese: サンダー Thunder) is an Electric/Flying-type Pokémon. It's found in the Kanto Region at the abandoned power plant. Zapdos appeared in the movie The Power of One.

Contents

Biology

Physiology

Zapdos takes the form of a large bird with black and yellow plumage. Its spiky feathers make it look like it's made of, or struck by lightning. Its tail feathers stick out in several directions, furthering this illusion. It has a large crest of feathers around its head, and distinctive black rings around its eyes. Its beak is very long and thin, and is the same orange color as its legs. While Zapdos is the smallest and lightest of the legendary birds, it is still a fairly large Pokémon.

Gender differences

Zapdos is a genderless species.

Special abilities

When Zapdos flaps its glittering wings, it releases electricity, potentially causing thunder storms.

Behavior

Zapdos is one of the legendary birds of Kanto. They are a poorly understood species, believed by many to be pure myth. It is always seen in conjunction with thunderstorms. It is believed that it gathers energy from the electricity in the atmosphere. It is also reported to cause massive crackling and snapping sounds when it flies; these are contributed to the lightning bolts it is said to shed when it flies.

Habitat

Zapdos is usually always seen during electrical storms, and appears to live in thunderclouds. One is said to live in an abandoned power plant in Kanto. It can be construed that it is attracted by the electricity of the plant. They are extremely rare, possibly one-of-a-kind.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

The first time Zapdos was seen was in Island of the Giant Pokémon. However, it wasn't a real Zapdos, just a machine.

Later, in The Bike Bridge Gang, the gang's leader rode a Zapdos-like bike.

Zapdos made its first true appearance in The Power of One. Lawrence III wanted to capture the three Kanto Legendary Birds as well as Lugia.

The Thunderbird Pokémon made another appearance in As Clear As Crystal. When Team Rocket made an attempt to steal a crystal that gave a lake the ability to heal Electric-type Pokémon, they were side-tracked when Zapdos showed up and changed their objective to capture Zapdos instead.

A Zapdos made an appearance in the credits of Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. It landed on a mountaintop and then Jackie captured it with a Capture Styler and flew away on it.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Special manga

Lt. Surge appears with Zapdos in his team during the events of Volume 3, using it as a neverending power source for his Electric-types. It leaves his team, and Team Rocket, once he and Sabrina are defeated.

Blue later captures Zapdos and uses it against Will and Karen, having caught it on her personal training journey to overcome her fear of birds.

In the TCG

Main article: Zapdos (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Melee

When released from a Poké Ball, Zapdos uses a powerful ThunderShock that hits opponents several times to produce a substantial amount of damage.

Trophy information

Zapdos flaps its wings, and summer storms appear, throwing lightning every which way. It's said that you can hear this legendary Pokémon coming, as its wings make a very distinctive popping sound as it flies. In addition to electrical moves like the dreaded Thunder, it also wields a vicious move called Drill Peck.

Game data

NPC appearances

  • Zapdos is the first legendary Pokémon encountered in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. After it kidnaps Shiftry, the player must fight it at the top of Mt. Thunder. It is possible to recruit Zapdos by returning for another fight after the credits.

Pokédex entries

Gen Game Pokédex entry
I Red A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.
Blue
Yellow This legendary bird Pokémon is said to appear when the sky turns dark and lightning showers down.
Stadium A legendary bird Pokémon that appears with a gigantic thunderstorm. It flies with the buzz and crack of electricity.
II Gold This legendary bird Pokémon cause savage thunderstorms by flapping its glittering wings.
Silver This legendary bird Pokémon is said to appear only when a thundercloud parts into two halves.
Crystal Legendary bird Pokémon. They say lightning caused by the flapping of its wings causes summer storms.
Stadium 2 This legendary bird Pokémon cause savage thunderstorms by flapping its glittering wings.
III Ruby Zapdos is a legendary bird Pokémon that has the ability to control electricity. It usually lives in thunderclouds. The Pokémon gains power if it is stricken by lightning bolts.
Sapphire Zapdos is a legendary bird Pokémon that has the ability to control electricity. It usually lives in thunderclouds. The Pokémon gains power if it is stricken by lightning bolts.
Emerald Zapdos is a legendary bird Pokémon that has the ability to control electricity. It usually lives in thunderclouds. It gains power if it is stricken by lightning bolts.
FireRed One of the legendary bird Pokémon. While it is flying, it makes crackling and snapping sounds.
LeafGreen A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.
IV Diamond A Legendary Pokémon that is said to live inside thunder clouds. It can freely control thunder.
Pearl A Legendary Pokémon that is said to live inside thunder clouds. It can freely control thunder.

Game locations

Gen Game Rarity Location
I Pokémon Red and Blue One Power Plant
Pokémon Yellow One Power Plant
II Pokémon Gold and Silver None Trade
Pokémon Crystal None Trade
III Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire None Trade
Pokémon Emerald None Trade
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen One Power Plant
Pokémon Colosseum None Trade
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness One Citadark Isle (Shadow)
IV Pokémon Diamond and Pearl None Pal Park
Pokémon Platinum Unknown
Pal Park Mountain


In side games

Game Location
Pokémon Snap Tunnel
Pokémon Trozei! Random Agent Cards
Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Mt. Thunder Peak (3F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2 Amp Plains (7F)

Base stats

HP: 90
 
Attack: 90
 
Defense: 85
 
Special: 125
 
SpAtk: 125
 
SpDef: 90
 
Speed: 100
 

The Special stat was used only in Generation I; it was later split into Special Attack and Special Defense.

Type effectiveness

Weakness Resistance

Note: If Zapdos is given the Iron Ball, the effectiveness of Ground-type attacks becomes 2×.

Learnset

Zapdos is capable of learning the following moves.
Moves in bold are damage moves to which STAB apply.

By leveling up

Generation I
Level Move Type
Start Drill Peck Flying
ThunderShock Electric
51 Thunder electric
55 Agility Psychic
60 Light Screen Psychic
Generation II
Level Move Type
Start Peck Flying
ThunderShock electric
13 Thunder Wave electric
25 Agility Psychic
37 Detect fighting
49 Drill Peck flying
61 Light Screen psychic
73 Thunder electric
Generation III
Level Move Type
Start Peck Flying
ThunderShock electric
13 Thunder Wave electric
25 Agility Psychic
37 Detect fighting
49 Drill Peck flying
61 Charge electric
73 Light Screen psychic
85 Thunder electric
Generation IV
Level Move Type Cat.
Start Peck Flying Physical
ThunderShock electric Special
8 Thunder Wave electric Status
15 Detect Fighting status
22 Pluck flying Physical
29 AncientPower Rock Special
36 Charge electric Status
43 Agility psychic status
50 Discharge electric special
57 Roost Flying Status
64 Light Screen psychic Status
71 Drill Peck flying Physical
78 Thunder Electric Special
85 Rain Dance water Status

By TM/HM

Generation I
# Move Type
TM02 Razor Wind Normal
TM04 Whirlwind Normal
TM06 Toxic Poison
TM09 Take Down Normal
TM10 Double-Edge Normal
TM15 Hyper Beam Normal
TM20 Rage Normal
TM24 Thunderbolt Electric
TM25 Thunder Electric
TM31 Mimic Normal
TM32 Double Team Normal
TM33 Reflect Psychic
TM34 Bide Normal
TM39 Swift Normal
TM43 Sky Attack Flying
TM44 Rest Psychic
TM45 Thunder Wave Electric
TM50 Substitute Normal
HM02 Fly Flying
HM05 Flash Normal
Generation II
# Move Type
TM03 Curse Unknown
TM06 Toxic Poison
TM07 Zap Cannon Electric
TM08 Rock Smash Fighting
TM10 Hidden Power Normal
TM11 Sunny Day Fire
TM13 Snore Normal
TM15 Hyper Beam Normal
TM17 Protect Normal
TM18 Rain Dance Water
TM20 Endure Normal
TM21 Frustration Normal
TM25 Thunder Electric
TM27 Return Normal
TM31 Mud-Slap Ground
TM32 Double Team Normal
TM34 Swagger Normal
TM35 Sleep Talk Normal
TM37 Sandstorm Rock
TM39 Swift Normal
TM43 Detect Fighting
TM44 Rest Psychic
TM47 Steel Wing Steel
HM02 Fly Flying
HM05 Flash Normal
Generation III
# Move Type
TM05 Roar Normal
TM06 Toxic Poison
TM10 Hidden Power Normal
TM11 Sunny Day Fire
TM15 Hyper Beam Normal
TM16 Light Screen Psychic
TM17 Protect Normal
TM18 Rain Dance Water
TM21 Frustration Normal
TM24 Thunderbolt Electric
TM25 Thunder Electric
TM27 Return Normal
TM32 Double Team Normal
TM34 Shock Wave Electric
TM37 Sandstorm Rock
TM40 Aerial Ace Flying
TM42 Facade Normal
TM43 Secret Power Normal
TM44 Rest Psychic
TM47 Steel Wing Steel
HM02 Fly Flying
HM05 Flash Normal
HM06 Rock Smash Fighting
Generation IV
# Move Type Cat.
TM05 Roar Normal Status
TM06 Toxic Poison Status
TM10 Hidden Power Normal Special
TM11 Sunny Day Fire Status
TM15 Hyper Beam Normal Special
TM16 Light Screen Psychic Status
TM17 Protect Normal Status
TM18 Rain Dance Water Status
TM21 Frustration Normal Physical
TM24 Thunderbolt Electric Special
TM25 Thunder Electric Special
TM27 Return Normal Physical
TM32 Double Team Normal Status
TM34 Shock Wave Electric Special
TM37 Sandstorm Rock Status
TM40 Aerial Ace Flying Physical
TM42 Facade Normal Physical
TM43 Secret Power Normal Physical
TM44 Rest Psychic Status
TM47 Steel Wing Steel Physical
TM51 Roost Flying Status
TM57 Charge Beam Electric Special
TM58 Endure Normal Status
TM68 Giga Impact Normal Physical
TM70 Flash Normal Status
TM73 Thunder Wave Electric Status
TM82 Sleep Talk Normal Status
TM83 Natural Gift Normal Physical
TM87 Swagger Normal Status
TM88 Pluck Flying Physical
TM89 U-turn Bug Physical
TM90 Substitute Normal Status
HM02 Fly Flying Physical
HM05 Defog Flying Status
HM06 Rock Smash Fighting Physical

By breeding

As a Legendary Pokémon, Zapdos cannot breed.

By tutoring

Special moves

In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Zapdos knows Shadow Bolt, Shadow Rush, Shadow Shed and Shadow Sky as a Shadow Pokémon, and learns Baton Pass, Metal Sound and Extrasensory after being purified.

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
Image:Pin145.png Acquisition: Catch Image:Pin145.gif


Pokémon Trozei!
Image:Trozeiani145.gif Rarity: Rare Image:Trozeiani145.gif
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Body size: 4 Recruit Rate: 30% Friend Area: Legendary Island
Phrases
51%-100% HP I represent the power of lightning!
26%-50% HP I am troubled... My health is down by half already...
1%-25% HP I fear the worst... Even my thunderbolts grow weak...
Level Up I've leveled! My lightning grows more powerful!



Evolution

Basic
Image:145.png
Zapdos


Sprites

Gen Game
I Red Blue Yellow Red (Ja) Green Back
Image:Spr_1b_145.png Image:Spr_1y_145.gif Image:Spr_1g_145.png Image:Spr_b_g1_145.png
II Gold Silver Crystal   Back
Image:Spr_2g_145.png Image:Spr_2s_145.png Image:Spr 2c 145.gif Image:Spr_b_g2_145.png
Image:Spr_2g_145_s.png Image:Spr_2s_145_s.png Image:Spr 2c 145 s.gif Image:Spr b g2 145 s.png
III Ruby Sapphire Emerald FireRed LeafGreen Back
Image:Spr 3r 145.png Image:Spr_3e_145.gif Image:Spr 3f 145.png Image:Spr_b_g3_145.png
Image:Spr 3r 145 s.png Image:Spr 3e 145 s.gif Image:Spr 3f 145 s.png Image:Spr b g3 145 s.png
IV Diamond Pearl Platinum   Back
Image:Spr 4d 145.png Image:Spr 4p 145.png Image:Spr b g4 145.png
Image:Spr_4d_145_s.png Image:Spr 4p 145 s.png Image:Spr b g4 145 s.png
Zapdos For other sprites and images, please see Zapdos images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

  • No other Pokémon shares the same type combination as Zapdos.
  • In the Red and Blue sprites, Zapdos is shown as having two toes on the front of its feet. Starting in Pokémon Yellow, there are three.
  • Although Legendaries can not be bred, in Pokémon Snap Zapdos and the other birds are in eggs, which shows that they were bred in some type of way.

Origin

Zapdos is based on the Native American legend of the thunderbird. The thunderbird was known for being the spirit of thunder, lightning, and rain in the form of a giant bird. The beating of the wings was said to create thunder.

Name origin

Zapdos's name is a combination of the word zap and the Spanish word for two, dos, indicating that it is the second in the series of Kanto legendary birds. Its Japanese name is simply Thunder.

In other languages

  • German: Zapdos
  • French: Electhor - A combination of electric and Thor, the Norse God of thunder.

Related Articles

External links

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