PlayHow to beat
How to beat Team Rocket's Zapdos
Team Rocket's Zapdos has 1 version in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 120 HP as a Lightning Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 120
- Weakness
- Lightning
- Resistance
- Fighting
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 413
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Team Rocket's Zapdos is weak to Lightning, so those attacks do double damage. 73 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 1 Energy.
- Don't over-invest. It only gives up 1 Prize card, so avoid spending a big two-Prize attacker on it if a cheaper Pokémon can do the job.
- Avoid Fighting attacks. Team Rocket's Zapdos resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Wicked Thunder for 60+ (3 Energy). 1,391 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 1 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Lightning attacks do at least 120 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Team Rocket's Zapdos | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikavolt Ascended Heroes | Lightning | Volt Switch L | 90 | 180 | 160 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Electromagnetic Catapult L | 70× | 140 | 180 | 1 |
| Heliolisk Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Wild Charge L | 70 | 140 | 100 | 1 |
| Eelektross Black Bolt | Lightning | Thunder Fang L | 60 | 120 | 160 | 1 |
| Mega Zeraora ex Pitch Black | Lightning | Thunderous Fist L | 60× | 120 | 270 | 3 |
| Vikavolt Pitch Black | Lightning | Giga Railgun LL | 260 | 520 | 160 | 1 |
| Luxray ex Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Volt Strike LL | 250 | 500 | 310 | 2 |
| Electivire Stellar Crown | Lightning | Unleash Lightning LL | 220 | 440 | 150 | 1 |
| Magnezone Mega Evolution | Lightning | Flashing Bolt LL | 160 | 320 | 160 | 1 |
| Ampharos Chaos Rising | Lightning | Flashing Bolt LC | 140 | 280 | 160 | 1 |
| Pawmot Phantasmal Flames | Lightning | Voltaic Fist LL | 130 | 260 | 140 | 1 |
| Rotom ex Phantasmal Flames | Lightning | Thunderbolt LC | 130 | 260 | 190 | 2 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 120+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Team Rocket's Zapdos | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Dugtrio Surging Sparks | Metal | Trio-Cheehoo Free | 120 | 120 | 110 | 1 |
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 240 | 160 | 1 |
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 170 | 150 | 1 |
| Diggersby Perfect Order | Colorless | Earthquake C | 140 | 140 | 150 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 140 | 310 | 2 |
| Centiskorch Surging Sparks | Fire | Billowing Heat Wave R | 130 | 130 | 130 | 1 |
| Lurantis Destined Rivals | Grass | Petal Blade Dance G | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
| Malamar Pitch Black | Darkness | Brain Crush D | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 60+ from Wicked Thunder and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord Journey Together | Water | Stage 1 | 240 | Lightning ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Shrouded Fable | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Rhyperior Stellar Crown | Fighting | Stage 2 | 200 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Steelix Mega Evolution | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Stage 2 | 190 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
Every Standard Team Rocket's Zapdos card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Rocket's Zapdos 70/182 | Destined Rivals I | 120 | Basic | Jamming Wing CC 30 Wicked Thunder LCC 60+ | 1 | Lightning ×2 |
Damage is the number printed on the card. Attacks marked + or × can do more, and Abilities, Tools and Stadiums can change the maths — always read the card. Energy letters: G Grass, R Fire, W Water, L Lightning, P Psychic, F Fighting, D Darkness, M Metal, N Dragon, C Colorless (any Energy).
Related: all Zapdos cards in Standard · how to knock out a 120 HP Pokémon · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Team Rocket's Zapdos weak to?
Team Rocket's Zapdos is weak to Lightning, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Team Rocket's Zapdos have?
Up to 120 HP in Standard.
How many Prize cards does Team Rocket's Zapdos give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Team Rocket's Zapdos?
413 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 120 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage); Tinkaton's Windup Swing (1 Energy, 240 damage).
What is Team Rocket's Zapdos's strongest attack?
Wicked Thunder, which prints 60+ damage for 3 Energy.
What does Team Rocket's Zapdos resist?
Fighting — those attacks do less damage to it.
Pully Play is an independent fan guide. It isn't run by The Pokémon Company. Format facts are checked against official announcements; always confirm card legality with the official rules before a tournament.
Data checked · How we build our guides