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.
Along with Articuno and Moltres, it is one of the three Legendary birds of Kanto.
Biology
Zapdos is an avian Pokémon with predominantly yellow plumage. Black rings encircle its eyes, and it has a long, thin, light orange beak. Its wings and tail are a mass of spiky feathers, with black feathers covering the back of its wings and inner tail feathers. A large crest of spiked feathers surrounds its head. Its thighs are a khaki color, and it has anisodactyl feet ending in talons.
When Zapdos flaps its glittering wings, it releases electricity that can potentially cause thunderstorms. It produces massive crackling and snapping sounds when it flies; these are attributed to the lightning bolts sheds when airborne. When stricken by lightning, it gains power. Zapdos reportedly appears only during thunderstorms, and is said to live among thunderclouds. However, it is rarely seen.
In the anime
Major appearances
Zapdos made its first true appearance in The Power of One. Lawrence III wanted to capture the three Legendary birds as well as their master Lugia.
Other
A rough image of Zapdos was first seen etched in a stone hanging in the Viridian Pokémon Center in Pokémon Emergency.
The Electric Pokémon made its anime debut 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 they 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 appeared in An EGG-sighting Adventure! as part of Team Rocket's fantasy.
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. Presumably the same Zapdos made a cameo in a flashback in Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama!, and both of Narissa's Ditto transformed into it.
A Zapdos made a cameo in the intro of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, The Rise of Darkrai and Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP242
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Zapdos
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Ash's Pokédex
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Zapdos, the Electric Pokémon. Zapdos has both electric and flying elements and the flappage of its wings can create lightning.
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In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Having captured this Legendary bird in the abandoned Power Plant as in the games, Lt. Surge appears with Zapdos in his team during the events of Volume 3, using it as a never-ending power source for his Electric types, allowing them to continually shock Red at full force, a strategy that turns against him when Red uses Saur's Razor Leaf to cut the supply cords and his insulating underwear with them. After having been merged with Articuno and Moltres into an undiscovered Pokémon, the three Pallet Town Trainers are able to defeat the combined monster, so it leaves his team, and Team Rocket afterwards to go back to the wild.
Green later captures Zapdos before the Gold, Silver, & Crystal arc and uses it against Will and Karen, having caught it and its Legendary bird companions on her personal training journey to overcome her fear of birds. During this battle, it is lent to Blue when things get rough. Once returned, it is put back in its Poké Ball and isn't seen again, meaning it has either been deposited into her box or released.
In the TCG
- Main article: Zapdos (TCG)
Other appearances
When released from a Poké Ball, Zapdos uses a powerful Thunder Shock 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.
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Generation I
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Red
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A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.
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Blue
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Yellow
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This legendary bird Pokémon is said to appear when the sky turns dark and lightning showers down.
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Stadium
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A legendary bird Pokémon that appears with a gigantic thunder storm. It flies with the buzz and crack of electricity.
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Generation II
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Gold
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This legendary bird Pokémon causes savage thunderstorms by flapping its glittering wings.
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Silver
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This legendary bird Pokémon is said to appear only when a thundercloud parts into two halves.
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Crystal
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Legendary bird Pokémon. They say lightning caused by the flapping of its wings causes summer storms.
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Stadium 2
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This legendary bird Pokémon cause savage thunderstorms by flapping its glittering wings.
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Generation III
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Ruby
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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
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{{{sapphiredex}}}
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Emerald
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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
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One of the legendary bird Pokémon. While it is flying, it makes crackling and snapping sounds.
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LeafGreen
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A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.
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Generation IV
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Diamond
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A legendary Pokémon that is said to live inside thunder clouds. It can freely control thunder.
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Pearl
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{{{pearldex}}}
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Platinum
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A legendary Pokémon that is said to live in thunderclouds. It freely controls lightning bolts.
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HeartGold
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This legendary bird Pokémon cause savage thunderstorms by flapping its glittering wings.
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SoulSilver
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This legendary bird Pokémon is said to appear only when a thundercloud parts into two halves.
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Generation V
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Black
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A legendary Pokémon that is said to live in thunderclouds. It freely controls lightning bolts.
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White
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{{{whitedex}}}
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Black 2
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A legendary Pokémon that is said to live in thunderclouds. It freely controls lightning bolts.
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White 2
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{{{white2dex}}}
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Generation VI
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X
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A legendary bird Pokémon that is said to appear from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts.
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Y
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A legendary Pokémon that is said to live in thunderclouds. It freely controls lightning bolts.
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Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
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In side games
In events
Held Items
Stats
Base stats
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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90
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150 - 197
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290 - 384
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90
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85 - 156
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166 - 306
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85
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81 - 150
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157 - 295
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125
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117 - 194
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229 - 383
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90
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85 - 156
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166 - 306
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100
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94 - 167
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184 - 328
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Total: 580
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- 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.
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Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Zapdos
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Zapdos
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Zapdos
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Zapdos
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Zapdos in Generation VI
- Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
- Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Zapdos in that game.
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Zapdos
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Zapdos
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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- A black or white abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Zapdos can be tutored the move in that game
- A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Zapdos cannot be tutored the move in that game
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Zapdos
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Zapdos
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations
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Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Trivia
- Of all Legendary Pokémon with fixed in-game locations, Zapdos can be obtained with the fewest number of Badges: 3. In the Generation I games and their remakes, the player can catch Zapdos with only the Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge, and Soul Badge.
- Zapdos shares the same species name with Elekid and Electabuzz. They are all known as the Electric Pokémon.
- Zapdos and Jolteon's Japanese names are almost exactly the same as each other's, with a final s being the only difference.
- Zapdos possesses a type advantage over all other members of its trio, as well as its trio master, Lugia.
- In the anime episode The Bridge Bike Gang, Chopper's bike was decorated to look like a Zapdos.
- In Generation V, Zapdos has Lightningrod instead of Static as its Hidden Ability. However, it cannot be obtained with its Hidden Ability in these games.
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. It may also have been based on the Lightning Bird, a bird created from wherever lightning hits the earth. It may also have been based on the Impundulu, a bird of witchcraft said to summon thunder and lightning with its wings and talons.
Name origin
Zapdos is a combination of zap and dos (Spanish for two, indicating that it is the second in the series of Kanto Legendary birds).
The Japanese name, 'Thunder,' is literally thunder.
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Meaning
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Japanese
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サンダー Thunder
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From thunder
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French
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Électhor
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A combination of électrique and Thor, the Norse god of thunder
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Spanish
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Zapdos
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Same as English name
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German
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Zapdos
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Same as English name
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Italian
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Zapdos
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Same as English name
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Korean
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썬더 Sseondeo
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Transliteration of Japanese name
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Mandarin Chinese
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閃電鳥 / 闪电鸟 Shǎndiànniǎo
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Literally "Lightning bird"
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Cantonese Chinese
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雷鳥 Lèuihníuh
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Literally "Thunder bird"
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External links
Related articles
Notes
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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