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How to beat Zapdos
Zapdos has 3 versions 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
- Fighting, Lightning
- Resistance
- Fighting
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 462
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Zapdos is weak to Fighting and Lightning, so those attacks do double damage. 152 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. Zapdos resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Thundering Lightning for 210 (4 Energy). 151 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 Fighting/Lightning attacks do at least 120 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Zapdos | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 340 | 310 | 2 |
| Medicham Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Seventh Kick F | 150 | 300 | 120 | 1 |
| Annihilape Surging Sparks | Fighting | Tantrum F | 130 | 260 | 140 | 1 |
| Flygon ex Surging Sparks | Fighting | Reversing Storm F | 130 | 260 | 310 | 2 |
| Mega Lucario ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Aura Jab F | 130 | 260 | 340 | 3 |
| Cynthia's Garchomp ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Corkscrew Dive F | 100 | 200 | 330 | 2 |
| Sawk White Flare | Fighting | Rising Chop F | 90 | 180 | 110 | 1 |
| Conkeldurr Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Tantrum F | 80 | 160 | 180 | 1 |
| Solrock Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Cosmic Beam F | 70 | 140 | 110 | 1 |
| Toxicroak Mega Evolution | Fighting | Reckless Charge F | 70 | 140 | 130 | 1 |
| Seismitoad 30th Celebration | Fighting | Quaking Fist F | 60 | 120 | 160 | 1 |
| Mamoswine ex Journey Together | Fighting | Rumbling March FF | 180+ | 360 | 340 | 2 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 120+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to 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 |
| 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 |
| Palafin Temporal Forces | Water | Vanguard Punch W | 130 | 130 | 150 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 210 from Thundering Lightning and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mamoswine ex Journey Together | Fighting | Stage 2 | 340 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 2 |
| Slaking ex Surging Sparks | Colorless | Stage 2 | 340 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 2 |
| Steven's Metagross ex Ascended Heroes | Metal | Stage 2 | 340 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 2 |
| Torterra ex Temporal Forces | Grass | Stage 2 | 340 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 2 |
| Tyranitar ex Prismatic Evolutions | Darkness | Stage 2 | 340 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 2 |
| Cynthia's Garchomp ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Stage 2 | 330 | Grass ×2 | 0 | 2 |
| Hydrapple ex Prismatic Evolutions | Grass | Stage 2 | 330 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 2 |
| Hydreigon ex White Flare | Darkness | Stage 2 | 330 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 2 |
Every Standard Zapdos card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zapdos 55/128 Ability: Flash-Pop Flapping | 30th Celebration J | 120 | Basic | Thundering Lightning LLLC 210 | 1 | Fighting ×2 |
| Zapdos 65/167 | Twilight Masquerade H | 120 | Basic | Thunder Wave L — Thunderbolt LLC 190 | 2 | Lightning ×2 |
| Zapdos 157/102 | Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos H | 110 | Basic | Follow-Up Bolt LC 20+ Drill Peck LCC 80 | 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 · Fighting vs Lightning · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Zapdos weak to?
Zapdos is weak to Fighting and Lightning, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Zapdos have?
Up to 120 HP in Standard (120 on the 30th Celebration version, 120 on the Twilight Masquerade version, 110 on the Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos version).
How many Prize cards does Zapdos give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Zapdos?
462 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 120 damage); Greninja ex's Shinobi Blade (1 Energy, 340 damage); Medicham's Seventh Kick (1 Energy, 300 damage).
What is Zapdos's strongest attack?
Thundering Lightning, which prints 210 damage for 4 Energy.
What does 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.
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