Zapdos (Pokémon)

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Articuno #144: Articuno
Pokémon
#146: Moltres Moltres
Zapdos
サンダー Thunder
#145
145Zapdos.png
Artwork from FR/LG
Type
Electric Flying
Category
Electric Pokémon
Ability
Pressure
Exp. at Lv. 100
1,250,000
Regional Pokédex numbers
Kanto
#145
Johto
#241
Hoenn
#300
Regional Browser numbers
Height
5'03"
Imperial
1.6 m
Metric
Weight
116.0 lbs.
Imperial
52.6 kg
Metric
Dex color
Yellow
Catch rate
3 (0.4%)
Body style
Body09.png BodyUnknown.png
Blue-Striped
Footprint
 F145.png   F487O.png
Blue-Striped
Gender ratio
Gender unknown
Breeding
Undiscovered group 81 cycles*
(20655 minimum steps)
EV yield
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
3
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
Base Exp.: 216 Battle Exp.: 2161*

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

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. 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 Source Entry
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.

In the manga

Pokémon Special

Lt. Surge appears with Zapdos in his team during the events of Template:PSV, 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

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation 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.
Generation 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.
Generation 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.
Generation 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.
Platinum A legendary Pokémon that is said to live in thunderclouds. It freely controls lightning bolts.
HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}}
SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V
Black {{{blackdex}}}
White {{{whitedex}}}
Black 2 {{{black2dex}}}
White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI
X Unknown
Y Unknown


Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I
Red Blue
One Power Plant
Blue (Japan)
None Trade
Yellow
One Power Plant
Generation II
Gold Silver
None Time Capsule
Crystal
None Time Capsule
Generation III
Ruby Sapphire
None Trade
Emerald
None Trade
FireRed LeafGreen
One Power Plant
Colosseum
None Trade
XD
One Citadark Isle (Shadow)
Generation IV
Diamond Pearl
None Trade
Platinum
One Roaming Sinnoh
HeartGold SoulSilver
One Power Plant
Pal Park
Mountain
Pokéwalker
None
Generation V
Black White
None Trade
Black 2 White 2
None Trade
Dream World
None
Generation VI
X Y
None Trade



In side games

Game Location
Pokémon Snap Tunnel
Pokémon Trozei! Random Agent Cards
Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Red/Blue Rescue Team
Mt. Thunder Peak (3F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Explorers of Time/Darkness
Amp Plains (7F)
(with Mystery Part or Secret Slab in the bag)
Pokémon Rumble Tower of Eternity

Held Items

Game Held Item(s)
Red* Blue* BrightPowder BrightPowder (100%)
Yellow*

Base stats

Stat Range
At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
90
150 - 197 290 - 384
90
85 - 156 166 - 306
85
81 - 150 157 - 295
125
117 - 194 229 - 383
90
85 - 156 166 - 306
100
94 - 167 184 - 328
Total:
580
Other Pokémon with this total
  • Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
  • Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
  • This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 125.

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:
Damaged
normally by:
Normal
Fighting ½×
Flying ½×
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel ½×
Fire
Water
Grass ½×
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Weak to:
Normal
Fighting ½×
Flying ½×
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel ½×
Fire
Water
Grass ½×
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Immune to:
Normal
Fighting ½×
Flying ½×
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel ½×
Fire
Water
Grass ½×
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Resistant to:
Normal
Fighting ½×
Flying ½×
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug ½×
Ghost
Steel ½×
Fire
Water
Grass ½×
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
None
Notes:

Learnset

Template:Learnset intro

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | electric | style="background:#81B9EF" |  flying 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Zapdos | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By TM/HM

Template:Movelisttm Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By breeding

None.

By tutoring

Template:Tutor Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4


|- style="background:#FCD659" | colspan="13" | Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon
A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game,
while a colored background indicates that the move is available.
|} |}

Special moves

Shadow moves <span style="color:#{{{2}}};">Level 50+ Purified moves
Shadow Bolt File:Box xd 145.png Baton Pass Normal
Shadow Rush Metal Sound Steel
Shadow Shed Extrasensory Psychic
Shadow Sky Thunderbolt Electric

Side game data

Template:Side game

Evolution

Zapdos
Does not evolve
Zapdos
 Electric  Flying 


Sprites

Gen Game
I Red Blue Yellow Red (Ja) Green Back
Spr 1b 145.png Spr 1y 145.png Spr 1g 145.png Spr b g1 145.png
II Gold Silver Crystal   Back
Spr 2g 145.png Spr 2s 145.png Spr 2c 145.png Spr b 2g 145.png
Spr 2g 145 s.png Spr 2s 145 s.png Spr 2c 145 s.png Spr b 2g 145 s.png
III Ruby Sapphire Emerald FireRed LeafGreen Back
Spr 3r 145.png Spr 3e 145.png Spr 3f 145.png Spr b 3r 145.png
Spr 3r 145 s.png Spr 3e 145 s.png Spr 3f 145 s.png Spr b 3r 145 s.png
IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Back
Spr 4d 145.png Spr 4p 145.png Spr 4h 145.png Spr b 4d 145.png
Spr 4d 145 s.png Spr 4p 145 s.png Spr 4h 145 s.png Spr b 4d 145 s.png
V Black White Black 2 White 2 Back
Spr 5b 145.png Spr 5b2 145.png Spr b 5b 145.png
Spr 5b 145 s.png Spr 5b2 145 s.png Spr b 5b 145 s.png
Zapdos For other sprites and images, please see Zapdos images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

  • In Generation I, Zapdos was the only dual-type Electric Pokémon. This was changed in Generation II with the addition of Template:Type2 to the Magnemite line and the introduction of the Chinchou family.
  • 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 of 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 Template:Type2 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, many Pokédex entries state that Zapdos is able to bring and control summer storms.
  • Zapdos shares its cry with 'M.

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

Generation I: ArticunoZapdosMoltresMewtwo
Generation II: RaikouEnteiSuicuneLugiaHo-Oh
Generation III: RegirockRegiceRegisteelLatias
LatiosKyogreGroudonRayquaza
Generation IV: UxieMespritAzelfDialgaPalkia
HeatranRegigigasGiratinaCresselia
Generation V: CobalionTerrakionVirizionTornadusThundurus
ReshiramZekromLandorusKyurem
Generation VI: XerneasYveltalZygarde
Generation VII: Type: NullSilvallyTapu KokoTapu LeleTapu BuluTapu Fini
CosmogCosmoemSolgaleoLunalaNecrozma
Generation VIII: ZacianZamazentaEternatusKubfuUrshifu
RegielekiRegidragoGlastrierSpectrierCalyrexEnamorus
Generation IX: Wo-ChienChien-PaoTing-LuChi-YuKoraidonMiraidon
OkidogiMunkidoriFezandipitiOgerponTerapagos
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Articuno #144: Articuno
Pokémon
#146: Moltres Moltres
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