
| Max CP | 4,035 |
| Generation | Kanto (Gen 1) |
| Buddy Distance | 20km |
| Released | ✅ Yes |
| Shiny | ✨ Yes |
| Shadow | 😈 Yes |
Zapdos is a Electric/Flying-type Pokémon from Kanto (Generation 1) in Pokémon GO. It has a maximum Combat Power (CP) of 4,035 when powered up to Level 50 with perfect 15/15/15 IVs. Zapdos has base stats of 253 Attack, 185 Defense, and 207 Stamina, giving it a total stat product of 645.
With an exceptional Attack stat of 253, Zapdos is one of the top attackers of its type in raids and gym battles. Its shiny form is available in Pokémon GO. Shadow Zapdos is also available from Team GO Rocket encounters, dealing 20% more damage.
In Rainy weather, Zapdos receives a weather boost increasing its catch CP and spawn rate. The buddy walking distance for Zapdos is 20km per candy.
| Move | Type | Power | Energy | DPS | EPS | PvP DPT | PvP EPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge Beam | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thunder Shock ELITE | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
DPS = Damage/Sec (PvE) · EPS = Energy/Sec · DPT/EPT = Damage/Energy Per Turn (PvP) · STAB = +20% type bonus
| Move | Type | Power | Energy | DPS | PvP Pwr | PvP Nrg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zap Cannon | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Thunderbolt STAB | Electric | 80 | -55 | - | 90 | -55 |
| Thunder STAB | Electric | 100 | -60 | - | 100 | -60 |
| Ancient Power | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Drill Peck | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Zapdos takes increased damage from these types:
Zapdos takes reduced damage from these types:
Top Pokémon to use when battling Zapdos in raids and gyms, sorted by Attack.
| # | Pokémon | Type | ATK | DEF | STA | Max CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| Rock | 295 | 109 | 219 | 3,773 |
| 2 |
| Rock Flying | 292 | 139 | 181 | 3,811 |
| 3 |
| Rock Fighting | 260 | 192 | 209 | 4,231 |
| 4 |
| Dragon Ice | 254 | 168 | 229 | 4,061 |
| 5 |
| Bug Rock | 253 | 174 | 172 | 3,600 |
| 6 |
| Rock Dark | 251 | 207 | 225 | 4,387 |
| 7 |
| Rock Poison | 249 | 210 | 240 | 4,518 |
| 8 |
| Ice Ground | 247 | 146 | 242 | 3,808 |
| 9 |
| Dragon Ice | 246 | 170 | 245 | 4,090 |
| 10 |
| Rock Poison | 246 | 177 | 195 | 3,744 |
Best IVs for GO Battle League. Higher stat product = better PvP.
| # | ATK | DEF | STA | Lv | CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 1,500 |
| 2 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 1,499 |
| 3 | 0 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 1,500 |
| 4 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 1,496 |
| 5 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 1,499 |
| 6 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 1,498 |
| 7 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 1,495 |
| 8 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 1,498 |
| 9 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 1,500 |
| 10 | 0 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 1,497 |
| # | ATK | DEF | STA | Lv | CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 26 | 2,493 |
| 2 | 3 | 14 | 15 | 26 | 2,496 |
| 3 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 26 | 2,500 |
| 4 | 3 | 15 | 14 | 26 | 2,497 |
| 5 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 2,500 |
| 6 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 26 | 2,483 |
| 7 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 2,499 |
| 8 | 2 | 14 | 15 | 26 | 2,486 |
| 9 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 26 | 2,495 |
| 10 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 2,500 |
Ranked by Stat Product. #1 = best PvP. Master League: use 15/15/15.
Expected CP at different IV levels per encounter type.
| IVs | Wild L30 | Research L15 | Raid L20 | WB L25 | Max L40 | L50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% (15/15/15) | 3,023 | 1,511 | 2,015 | 2,519 | 3,527 | 3,999 |
| 98% (15/15/14) | 3,016 | 1,508 | 2,010 | 2,513 | 3,519 | 3,990 |
| 96% (15/14/15) | 3,015 | 1,507 | 2,010 | 2,513 | 3,518 | 3,989 |
| 93% (14/14/14) | 2,997 | 1,498 | 1,998 | 2,498 | 3,497 | 3,965 |
| 91% (15/13/13) | 2,994 | 1,497 | 1,996 | 2,495 | 3,493 | 3,961 |
| 87% (13/13/13) | 2,972 | 1,486 | 1,981 | 2,476 | 3,467 | 3,931 |
| 82% (12/12/12) | 2,946 | 1,473 | 1,964 | 2,455 | 3,437 | 3,897 |
| 80% (10/15/15) | 2,966 | 1,483 | 1,977 | 2,472 | 3,461 | 3,924 |
| 67% (10/10/10) | 2,896 | 1,448 | 1,930 | 2,413 | 3,378 | 3,831 |
| 0% (0/0/0) | 2,650 | 1,325 | 1,766 | 2,208 | 3,092 | 3,506 |
Important CP values for Zapdos with perfect 15/15/15 IVs:
| 🏆 Max CP (Lv 50) | 3,999 CP |
| 🎯 Max CP (Lv 40) | 3,527 CP |
| ⚔️ Raid Catch (Lv 20) | 1,930 - 2,015 CP |
| 🌤️ Weather Boost (Lv 25) | 2,413 - 2,519 CP |
| 🥚 Egg Hatch (Lv 20) | 1,930 - 2,015 CP |
| 🔬 Research (Lv 15) | 1,448 - 1,511 CP |
Maximum CP for Zapdos with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at each level.
| Lv | Max CP | Lv | Max CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49 | 26 | 3,527 |
| 2 | 3,527 | 27 | 3,527 |
| 3 | 3,527 | 28 | 3,527 |
| 4 | 3,527 | 29 | 3,527 |
| 5 | 475 | 30 | 3,023 |
| 6 | 3,527 | 31 | 3,527 |
| 7 | 3,527 | 32 | 3,527 |
| 8 | 3,527 | 33 | 3,527 |
| 9 | 3,527 | 34 | 3,527 |
| 10 | 1,008 | 35 | 3,275 |
| 11 | 3,527 | 36 | 3,527 |
| 12 | 3,527 | 37 | 3,527 |
| 13 | 3,527 | 38 | 3,527 |
| 14 | 3,527 | 39 | 3,527 |
| 15 | 1,511 | 40 | 3,527 |
| 16 | 3,527 | 41 | 3,527 |
| 17 | 3,527 | 42 | 3,527 |
| 18 | 3,527 | 43 | 3,527 |
| 19 | 3,527 | 44 | 3,527 |
| 20 | 2,015 | 45 | 3,772 |
| 21 | 3,527 | 46 | 3,527 |
| 22 | 3,527 | 47 | 3,527 |
| 23 | 3,527 | 48 | 3,527 |
| 24 | 3,527 | 49 | 3,527 |
| 25 | 2,519 | 50 | 3,999 |
Zapdos (#145) is a Electric/Flying-type Pokémon from the Kanto region (Generation 1) in Pokémon GO. With a maximum CP of 4,035 at Level 50 with perfect 15/15/15 IVs, Zapdos is one of the most powerful Pokémon in the game. This complete guide covers the best moveset, PvP analysis, raid counters, evolution, and shiny availability for Zapdos in 2026.
As a Legendary Pokémon, Zapdos is one of the most sought-after Pokémon in the game. It can be obtained through Tier 5 Raids, Special Research, and GO Battle League rewards at Rank 20+. The buddy distance is 20km per candy.
Zapdos's Attack stat is 253 (Elite). This is among the highest in the game, making Zapdos an elite attacker for raids and gym battles.
With 185 Defense (Excellent) and 207 Stamina (Excellent), the total stat product is 645. This gives Zapdos reasonable durability in battle. Compared to other Electric-type Pokémon, Zapdos's stat distribution leans toward offense.
The best moveset for Zapdos depends on whether you use it for raids, gyms, or PvP. For raids, use Charge Beam (Fast) with Zap Cannon (Charged) for maximum DPS. This takes advantage of STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) which provides a 20% damage boost for matching-type moves.
For PvP (GO Battle League), energy generation and coverage matter more than raw DPS. Zapdos has 2 Fast Attacks and 5 Charged Attacks to choose from. Note that Zapdos has Elite TM moves that may outperform standard options in certain formats.
With 3,999 CP at Level 50, Zapdos is a strong Master League contender. Power it up to Level 50 with best buddy bonus for maximum impact.
Zapdos appears as a 5-Star Legendary Raid Boss. Focus on Ice, Rock-type counters for maximum damage. A group of 4-6 trainers with optimal counters is recommended. After the raid, catch Zapdos at Level 20 (1,930 - 2,015 CP) or Level 25 with weather boost (2,413 - 2,519 CP). A 100% IV (hundo) will have exactly 2,015 CP.
Zapdos is a Legendary Pokémon obtainable through Tier 5 Raids, Special Research, GO Battle League rewards (Rank 20+), and special event distributions. Check the current events for raid availability.
Shadow Zapdos is available from Team GO Rocket. Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage but take 20% more damage, making them excellent glass cannons. Shadow Zapdos's effective Attack becomes ~304. For raids, keeping it Shadow is usually better than purifying.
Shiny Zapdos is available! Use the Normal/Shiny toggle on this page to preview. The shiny rate is approximately 1 in 20 (boosted rate in raids). Shiny variants are cosmetic only — same stats and performance. Check our Shiny Checklist for all available shinies.
Zapdos gets a weather boost in Rainy weather, increasing wild spawn CP (up to Level 35) and raid catch CP to Level 25 (2,413 - 2,519 CP). The buddy distance is 20km per candy. Rare Candy is the most efficient option for powering up.
Q: What is Zapdos's max CP?
A: 3,999 CP at Level 50, or 3,527 CP at Level 40.
Q: Is Zapdos good?
A: Excellent — top-tier for raids and Master League.
Q: Can Zapdos be shiny?
A: Yes! Shiny Zapdos is available.
Q: What is Zapdos weak to?
A: Ice, Rock-type moves.
Q: Best moveset?
A: Charge Beam + Zap Cannon for optimal DPS.
Updated September 2026. Data from Pokémon GO Live and Pokémon GO Wiki.