Zapdos
サンダー Thunder
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Artwork from FR/LG
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| EV yield
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HP
0
| Atk
0
| Def
0
| Sp.Atk
3
| Sp.Def
0
| Speed
0
| Exp.
216
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Zapdos (Japanese: サンダー Thunder) is a dual-type Electric/Flying legendary Pokémon.
It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
It is, along with Articuno and Moltres, one of the three legendary birds of Kanto.
Biology
Physiology
Zapdos has the form of a large bird with black and yellow plumage. Its spiky feathers make it look like it is made of lightning. Its tail feathers stick out in several directions, furthering this illusion. A large crest of feathers decorates its head, and distinctive black rings encircle its eyes. Its beak is very long and thin. 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 thunderstorms.
Behavior
Zapdos is one of the legendary birds of Kanto. It is a poorly understood species, believed by many to be pure myth. It is always seen in conjunction with thunderstorms, leading many to believe 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 airborne.
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.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
In the anime
Major Appearances
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.
Other
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.
Minor Appearances
The first time Zapdos was seen was in Island of the Giant Pokémon. However, it wasn't a real Zapdos, just a machine.
A Zapdos made an appearance in the credits of Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. Jackie had captured it with a Capture Styler and flew away on it.
A Zapdos made a cameo appearance in Doc Brock!. This may have been taken from Pokémon Platinum, where in this version, there is a Zapdos roaming Sinnoh.
Pokédex entries
| Episode
| Pokémon
| Pokédex
| Entry
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| EP242
| Zapdos
| Ash's Pokédex
| Zapdos, the Electric Pokémon. Zapdos has both electric and flying elements and the flappage of its wings can create lightning.
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| This concludes the entries from the original series.
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In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
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.
Green 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
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
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| I
| Red
| A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.
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| Blue
| A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.
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| Yellow
| This legendary bird Pokémon is said to appear when the sky turns dark and lightning showers down.
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| Stadium
| A legendary bird Pokémon that appears with a gigantic thunderstorm. It flies with the buzz and crack of electricity.
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| II
| Gold
| This legendary bird Pokémon cause savage thunderstorms by flapping its glittering wings.
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| Silver
| This legendary bird Pokémon is said to appear only when a thundercloud parts into two halves.
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| Crystal
| Legendary bird Pokémon. They say lightning caused by the flapping of its wings causes summer storms.
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| Stadium 2
| This legendary bird Pokémon cause savage thunderstorms by flapping its glittering wings.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| FireRed
| One of the legendary bird Pokémon. While it is flying, it makes crackling and snapping sounds.
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| LeafGreen
| A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.
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| IV
| Diamond
| A legendary Pokémon that is said to live inside thunder clouds. It can freely control thunder.
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| Pearl
| A legendary Pokémon that is said to live inside thunder clouds. It can freely control thunder.
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| Platinum
| A legendary Pokémon that is said to live in thunderclouds. It freely controls lightning bolts.
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| HeartGold
| Currently unknown
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| SoulSilver
| Currently unknown
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Game locations
In side games
Held Items
Stats
Base stats
| Stat
| Range
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| At Lv. 50
| At Lv. 100
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| 150 - 197
| 290 - 384
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| 85 - 156
| 166 - 306
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| 81 - 150
| 157 - 295
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| 117 - 194
| 229 - 383
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| 85 - 156
| 166 - 306
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| 94 - 167
| 184 - 328
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature.
- This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 125.
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Pokéthlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Weak to
| Resistant to
| Immune to
| Normal effectiveness
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| Notes:
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Learnset
Zapdos is capable of learning the following moves in Generation IV.
- Moves in bold are damaging moves to which STAB applies.
None.
Special moves
Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Trivia
- In Generation I, Zapdos was the only dual-type Electric Pokémon, as Magnemite and Magneton did not gain a secondary type until Steel was introduced in Generation II.
- Although legendaries cannot breed, in Pokémon Snap Zapdos and the other birds hatch from eggs.
- Zapdos shares the same species name with Elekid and Electabuzz. They are all known as Electric Pokémon.
- Zapdos and Jolteon have almost the same Japanese name, a final s being the only difference.
- In Generation I, Zapdos had a different base stat total (490) then the other members of its trio - Articuno had 485 and Moltres had 495. Since Generation II, due to the Special Attack/Defense split, all three legendary birds have had a base stat total of 580.
- Zapdos and the Chinchou evolution family (without Volt Absorb) are the only Electric-type Pokémon that receive neutral damage from Electric-type moves.
- Zapdos is the only one of the legendary birds to not have a double weakness to Rock.
- It is so far the only dual-type Electric/Flying Pokémon.
- Zapdos is the only one of the legendary birds not to have a season mentioned in its Pokédex entries. Articuno is said to bring winter, and Moltres is said to bring spring.
- However, the Crystal Pokédex entry state that Zapdos is able to bring and control summer storms.
- Zapdos shares its cry with 'M.
- Zapdos is the only one of the legendary birds to never be seen on its feet in a sprite: it is always in the air.
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.
- Korean: 썬더 Thunder
Related articles
External links
Notes
BrightPowder (100%)*
Body size: 2
For other sprites and images, please see Zapdos images on Bulbagarden Archives.
