Zapdos

Species          Quote “This Legendary Pokémon is said to live in thunderclouds. It freely controls lightning bolts.” — Zapdos' Pokédex entry[src]     B Zapdos   [Edit]   [Talk]

Zapdos (サンダー, Thunder) is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a dual-type Electric/Flying legendary Pokémon that made its first appearance in the first generation games Red and Blue. In Galar, it is Fighting and Flying.

It is one of the Legendary birds, along with Articuno and Moltres.

Physiology and Behaviour

Zapdos is a large, avian Pokémon with predominantly yellow plumage. It has small, triangular eyes with black around them and a long, thin, light orange beak. Its wings and tail are a mass of spiky feathers and there are black feathers covering the back of its wings and inner tail feathers. A large crest of spiked feathers surrounds its head. Its thighs are tan, and it has thin, light orange legs. It has feet with three forward-facing toes and one backward-facing toe; each toe has a short talon.

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 it sheds when airborne. Zapdos reportedly appears only during thunderstorms and gains power when struck by lightning. It is said to live among thunderclouds, but it is rarely seen.

Galarian Zapdos

In Galar, Zapdos has a different appearance. The main body is red-orange with black plumage. Its head features yellow eyes with more pronounced, mask-like black coloration around them, a shorter black beak, and a longer, more visible neck. Its legs are black, longer, and more muscular, its thigh feathers are also black, and its talons are yellow with red rings at their bases. Its red-orange wings are smaller, with small black markings that appear to be remnants of its Kantonian counterpart's black plumage. Finally, it has a row of spiky feathers along its chest, and a similar row of black feathers on its back.

Belligerent by nature and ever thirsting for battle, Galarian Zapdos seeks out opponents stronger than itself so it could test its might. Its powerful legs allow it to perform devastating kicks capable of destroying a dump truck, and it can run across mountains at up to 180 mph. Its wings have atrophied to the point that it can barely fly, but its movements are so swift that they have been compared to a lightning strike. This Pokémon earned the name of its Kantonian counterpart due to the electric-like crackling sounds that come from its feathers rubbing together. It is constantly migrating around the world but can be found in the Crown Tundra once every few decades congregating with the other birds at the Dyna Tree to eat its fruits.

Appearances

Main Pokémon games

Other Pokémon games

Zapdos is the first Legendary Pokémon encountered in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team. 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.

Super Smash Bros. series

Zapdos is summoned from a Poké Ball where it uses its powerful thundershock to hit players who come in contact. It was removed after Melee.

A Zapdos appears in the background of the Prism Tower stage in the 3DS iteration.

Trophy descriptions

Super Smash Bros. Melee

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.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Gazing up at dark storm clouds gathering in the sky, many children must have once wondered if the Pokémon they saw in the second Pokémon movie was in the clouds. An innocent and childish dream, perhaps... but even today as adults, the sound of thunder might just bring back memories of this Legendary bird Pokémon.

In the anime

Zapdos made its first actual appearance in the second movie, The Power of One, alongside the other Legendary birds and their master, Lugia.

Origin and inspiration

Zapdos seems to be based on the Native American legend of the thunderbird, a spirit of thunder, lightning, and rain that took 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. Aesthetically, it may be based on hummingbirds, due to the long beak, the rather simple wings, and described violent behavior.

Galarian Zapdos appears to be based on ratites, with kiwis in particular matching its brown feathers and long beak. Due to its speed, it may also be based on a roadrunner. Its powerful kicks might also draw influence from the secretarybird, a mostly terrestrial bird that hunts by stomping and kicking its prey. Its legs could also be derived from the English Pouter, a pigeon breed known for such. Its Shiny coloration is similar to Kantonian Zapdos's regular coloration.

In-game information

Pokédex entries

Game locations

Base Stats

Base Stats
HP	90
Attack	90
Defense	85
Sp. Attack	125
Sp. Defense	90
Speed	100
Total	580

Galarian

Base Stats
HP	90
Attack	125
Defense	90
Sp. Attack	85
Sp. Defense	90
Speed	100
Total	580

Moveset

Main article: Zapdos/moveset

Gallery

Sprites

Sprites
Red Green	Red Blue	Yellow
Gold File:PKMNG145-S.png	Silver File:PKMNS145.png File:PKMNS145-S.png	Crystal File:PKMNC145.gif File:PKMNC145-S.gif
Ruby Sapphire File:PKMNRS145.png File:PKMNRS145-S.png	Emerald File:PKMNE145.gif File:PKMNE145-S.gif	Fire Leaf File:PKMNFRLG145.png File:PKMNFRLG145-S.png
Diamond Pearl File:PKMNDP145-S.png	Platinum File:PKMNP145.png File:PKMNP145-S.png	Heart Soul File:PKMNHGSS145-S.png
Black White File:PKMNBW145-S.png	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2145.png File:PKMNBW2145-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY145-S.png
Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE145-S.png	Sword Shield File:PKMNSS145-S.png	Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl File:PKMNBDSP145.png File:PKMNBDSP145-S.png
Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV145-S.png

Renders
Sword Shield File:PKMNSS145-G-S.png Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV145-G-S.png

Trivia

• Kantonian Zapdos possesses a type advantage over all of the other members of its trio, as well as Lugia, the leader of the trio.
  • This is reversed for the trio's regional forms, with Galarian Zapdos possessing a type disadvantage against the other members and Lugia.
• Zapdos's cry in Pokémon Journeys: The Series is the same as Lunala's, as seen in A Crackling Raid Battle!.