Pokémon Unite Zapdos Guide: Best Builds, Held Items, Moveset and Gameplay Tips

Story Highlights

Zapdos is the newest Attacker-type Pokémon in Pokémon Unite.
It was originally a Wild Boss Pokémon but will now be a playable character in Pokémon Unite as from February 27th.
Zapdos is one of the 3 Legendary Bird Pokémon that will be releasing in Pokémon Unite.

Zapdos is the latest addition to the Pokémon Unite lineup as a powerful Attacker-type Pokémon. It’s known for dealing damage from a distance and controlling large areas with its strong Unite Move. This guide covers everything you need to know about playing Zapdos in Pokémon Unite, including its abilities, ideal items, and effective team strategies.

We’ve previously covered strategies for playing with a wide variety of Pokémon, including Pikachu, Mamoswine, Eldegoss, Zeraora, Blissey, Charizard, Snorlax, Tsareena, Decidueye, Dragonite, Talonflame, Cinderace, Greninja, Gardevoir, Venusaur, Wigglytuff, Trevenant, Gengar, Lucario, Aegislash, Crustle, Hoopa, Garchomp, Absol, Alolan Ninetales, Duraludon, Cramorant, Blastoise, Slowbro, Machamp, Mr. Mime, Greedent, Azumarill, Sylveon, Gyarados, Miraidon, Falinks, Ceruledge, Ho-Oh, Darkrai, Armarouge, Psyduck, Galarian Rapidash, Suicune, Alolan Raichu, Alcremie, Latios, Latias, Pawmot, Empoleon, Mega Lucario, Mega Charizard X, Dhelmise, Vaporeon, and Meowth. Please refer to those guides for help with those Pokémon. Now, let’s move on to strategies for using Zapdos.

Zapdos: In-game Cost

You can get a Unite license for free during our special Commemorative event!

Pokémon Unite Zapdos Movesets

Basic Attack

This move lets you throw an electric ball at enemy Pokémon, causing damage. After a certain time, your next regular attack becomes much stronger, launching a larger electric ball that deals significant damage. Hitting an opponent with this boosted attack also speeds up how quickly you can use it again.

Passive – Static

When Zapdos is attacked, it has a chance to paralyze the attacking Pokémon, but this effect can’t happen constantly. If Zapdos lands a powerful attack, like Thunder Shock or Thunderbolt, it creates an electric field. This field stays active for a short period, damaging and slowing down any opponent caught inside it.

Ability 1 – Thunder Shock

This attack releases a burst of electricity. If it successfully hits one Pokémon, a smaller jolt also strikes a nearby enemy Pokémon, damaging it as well.

Ability Choice at Level 5

At Level 5, Zapdos will be able to use the following ability:

Thunderbolt

This move releases a powerful electric shock at the target, causing damage and potentially paralyzing them. It also creates an electric field in the area where it hits.

Upgrade: Reduces this move’s cooldown based on the number of Pokémon it hits.

Ability 2 – Discharge

This Pokémon can release an electric shock from its feathers, which damages and paralyzes nearby opponents.

This move gains power and lasts longer if there’s an electric field nearby, absorbing the field’s energy.

Ability Choice at Level 7

At Level 7, Zapdos will be able to use the following ability:

Zap Cannon

This attack launches a powerful electric blast that explodes when it hits, damaging any nearby Pokémon. If the blast passes through an electric field, it grows stronger, travels further, and deals even more damage. Pokémon caught in the explosion will also be stunned, preventing them from moving.

When an electric-type Pokémon uses its ability, it grows larger and makes it harder for opposing Pokémon to move for a longer time.

Unite Move – High-Voltage Siege

Repeatedly strike the target area with lightning to create a powerful electric field. Each bolt damages and paralyzes opposing Pokémon. If a Pokémon is hit three times in a row, it will become completely immobilized.

If lightning strikes an opponent’s goal zone five times, it becomes unguarded, allowing one of your Pokémon to score instantly. This can dramatically shift the game, particularly near the end.

Best Items for Zapdos in Pokémon Unite

This guide will cover the best items to equip on Zapdos in Pokémon Unite, and also recommend the best battle item to use with it.

Best Held Items

Item(s)	Benefits
Wise Glasses	This held item greatly boosts Zapdos’ Sp. Atk on the battlefield.
Choice Specs	It gives Zapdos more Sp. Attack while enhancing its damage output as well.
Shell Bell	It provides extra sustain and Sp. Attack for Zapdos.

Besides the above-suggested builds, you can also use the following item builds:

Wise Glasses, Slick spoon, and Energy Amplifier
Scope Lens, Drive Lens, and Muscle Band.

Best Battle Items

Eject Button: It helps Zapdos to reposition in dire moments, great for offensive or defensive uses.
X Speed: This Battle item grants massive boost to Zapdos’ movement speed, making it easier to chase or flee from enemy Pokémon.

Pokémon Unite Zapdos Gameplay Tips

This guide will teach you how to master Zapdos in Pokémon Unite and create a winning strategy. We’ll break down the game into early and late stages, so be sure to read through everything to get the most out of it.

Early Game

When playing Zapdos, the best lanes to focus on are the Jungle or Top Lane. Early in the game, prioritize safe farming and use your long-range attacks to consistently harass opponents. Use Thunder Shock to hit multiple enemies grouped together, creating pressure. Remember to constantly attack and poke enemy Pokémon – landing boosted basic attacks will shorten the cooldown, letting you use them more often.

Static’s ability to paralyze enemies who damage you is great for quick team fights. Focus on fighting when enemies are close together so you can use your electric fields to slow them down and trap them. However, don’t get too aggressive early on. While you have strong ranged attacks, you’re still vulnerable, so play it safe and focus on getting to level 5, where you’ll become much more powerful.

Mid and Late Game

Okay, so as a huge fan, let me tell you how this character really shines! Once you hit Level 5, Thunder Shock evolves into Thunderbolt, which is awesome. Then, at Level 7, Discharge becomes Zap Cannon, and that’s where the real fun begins! The key to winning is to start every fight by throwing out Thunderbolt – it creates this electric field that basically freezes enemies in their tracks. Then, you unleash Zap Cannon through that field, and it makes the whole thing bigger, stronger, and way more effective at locking down opponents. It’s seriously satisfying to watch them just get completely shut down!

Zapdos’ ultimate move, “High-Voltage Siege,” is most effective in late-game team fights around objectives when opponents are clustered together. It also uniquely disables an enemy goal, giving a teammate a clear opportunity to score.

Zapdos’ powerful Unite move constantly stuns and weakens opponents, making it very hard for them to hold their position, particularly when fighting over important objectives like Goal Zones, Groudon, and Regieleki.

Positioning of Zapdos

For Zapdos, the Top or Jungle lane are the most effective choices. These lanes let you quickly gain resources and move around the map to support your teammates.

Zapdos with other Pokémon

Our Pokémon Unite Zapdos guide will also talk about the relationship between it and other Pokémon.

Best synergies with Zapdos

Zapdos works best on teams with Pokémon that focus on defense or providing support, as these partners can offer the extra protection and helpful abilities needed in tough battles.

Pokémon	Benefits
Slowbro	Snorlax’s highly disruptive abilities alongside Zapdos’ offensive attacks and abilities would be quite powerful working together.
Snorlax	It can provide extra crowd control and disables, for Zapdos making it easier to dominate core team fights.
Blissey	The healing and sustain abilities from Blissey will constantly help Zapdos to last longer during fights.

Pokémon that are strong and weak against Zapdos

Pokémon that Zapdos counters	Pokémon that counter Zapdos
Decidueye	Zoroark
Cinderace	Snorlax
Eldengoss	Talonflame
Cramorant	Zeraora
Gardevoir	Slowbro

Final Thoughts

When playing Zapdos in Pokémon Unite, remember that it’s a strong attacker with many abilities designed to defeat opponents.

Read more of our Pokémon Unite content!

Stay up-to-date with the latest mobile gaming news by joining our community! You can find us on WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord. For even faster updates, follow us on Google News, Instagram, and Twitter.

2026-02-28 00:14