Zapdos

The Electric Pokémon
#145 - Zapdos
Debut	Pokémon: Red Version Pokémon: Green Version
Species Info
Type	+ +
Height	1.6 m (5'03")
Weight	52.6 kg (116.0 lbs.)
Color	Yellow
Gender Ratio	Genderless
Ability	Pressure
Hidden Ability	Lightningrod
Egg Group	Unbreedable
Icon		Sprite
		File:145sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	90	Speed	100
Attack	90	Sp. Attack	125
Defense	85	Sp. Defense	90
Training Info
Catch Rate	003	Hatch Steps	20,480
Base Exp.	216	Effort Points	SpA
Happiness	35		SpA
To Lv.100	Slow		SpA

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 145 >	< 236 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #
	< 241 >

Zapdos is the second of the original three legendary bird Pokémon introduced in the first generation games.

Information

Zapdos is a legendary bird Pokémon with control over electricity that usually lives in thunderstorms. Thus it is often associated with thunderstorms, even being said to be able to cause them with a flap of its wings. It is said to appear when the sky turns dark and drop lightning bolts, although it can only be seen when a thundercloud parts into two halves. Zapdos makes crackling and snapping noises when it flies, and it gains power from being hit by lightning bolts. Like most legendary Pokémon it is genderless and cannot reproduce, although Zapdos is seen emerging from an egg in Pokémon Snap.

Appearances

Mainstream Games

In Pokémon: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, FireRed and LeafGreen Versions, one Zapdos is found in the Power Plant. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, Zapdos appears directly outside the Power Plant its power is restored.

In Pokémon: Platinum Version, Zapdos (along with the other two legendary birds) appear throughout Sinnoh as roaming Pokémon after the National Pokédex is unlocked.

Other Games

In Pokémon Pinball, Zapdos is found in Lavender Town on the Red table. In Pokémon Snap, Zapdos appears within a tunnel where it is initially within an egg. The egg only hatches if Todd plays the Pokéflute when Pikachu is near the egg, as Pikachu will then shock the egg into hatching. Zapdos also appears in Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2. In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a Shadow Zapdos (along with Shadow versions of three other legendary birds) can be snagged from Greevil's team in the game's final battle. After being purified, the Zapdos could be traded into any of the third generation Pokémon games.

In Pokémon Trozei!, Zapdos can be found in Random Agent Cards or Mr. Who's Den. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams, Zapdos is the first legendary Pokémon appearing as a boss, as it kidnaps Shiftry and must then be battled at the summit of Mt. Thunder. After completing the game, Zapdos could be re-challenged and recruited by the team. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness, Zapdos is found on the seventh floor of the Amp Plains when the player has either the Mystery Part or the Secret Slab. In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Zapdos was found at Layuda Island. Zapdos also appeared in Pokémon Rumble at Eternal Tower.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In the Super Smash Bros. series, Zapdos initially appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee as one of the Pokémon that could be summoned at random from the Poké Ball item. It then uses Thundershock to attack any nearby enemies before disappearing. Zapdos could also make cameo appearances in the background of the Prism Tower stage seen in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It has also been represented by a trophy in Melee and the 3DS game, and as part of a Legend-rank Primary Spirit shared with Articuno and Moltres in Ultimate. When fought against in a Spirit battle, the three legendary birds would possess three duplicates of Lucas with enhanced PSI power (due to Lucas having PSI powers that correspond to their respective types). The battle would also begin with Moltres being unleashed from a Poké Ball (as Moltres was the only one of the three to still be present as a Poké Ball Pokémon).

Other Media

• Zapdos has made occasional appearances in the Pokémon anime (but not as many as the other two legendary birds), first making a full appearance in the second Pokémon movie where it was captured along with Articuno and Moltres by a legendary Pokémon collector, and then wreaked havoc after escaping until calmed with the help of Lugia. It was also featured in a Johto episode where Ash and company helped it to retrieve a crystal (which Team Rocket stole) that gave a lake the ability to heal electric-type Pokémon. Zapdos also makes a cameo appearance flying through Sinnoh in one episode, most likely in reference to its appearance in Platinum.
• Zapdos has also made appearances in the Pokémon Adventures manga, where Lieutenant Surge captured it from the Power Plant and then used it in battle until Team Rocket achieved its plan of fusing all three of the legendary birds together, although this fusion was soon undone by a team attack from all three of the Pallet Town trainers, with the legendary birds flying free afterwards. All three birds reappear near the end of the Gold/Silver/Crystal arc, where Green had captured them to overcome her fear of birds and uses the them to fight off Lugia and Ho-Oh, which were under the control of Will and Karen, setting the birds free again afterwards.

Trivia

• Zapdos's name is a combination of "zap" (as in to zap with electricity) with "dos" (which is Spanish for two, signifying Zapdos's place as the second legendary bird)