Speed. Galarian Zapdos is speed. With a command run, command jump, and a divekick, Zapdos has mobility to spare. All that mobility contributes to an oppressive rushdown playstyle and ridiculous combo game. Zapdos has very strong strike-throw pressure as well and uses meter well for long combos. The first hit of 3A can be used as a low combo starter as well, giving Zapdos strong high low mix when combined with an 2B2A as a quick high.
As a rushdown character, getting in is the name of the game. Zapdos struggles vs large buttons and projectiles with their stubby buttons. Zapdos has no reversals and is fragile, which can lead to getting heavily punished by characters with strong advantage states. Because of these factors, good use of parry is a must.
Galarian Zapdos is a good pick if you are looking for high execution rushdown with expressive combo game and oppressive advantage state.
Playstyle
G. Zapdos is an agile, aerial-based and very combo-efficient speedster with an incredible advantage state.
Pick if you like
Avoid if you dislike
High Mobility: With an accelerating walk, high jump, a mobile stance in 5B, and an airdash in j.6a, Zapdos is one of the most agile characters in the game.
Great Combo Game: Zapdos' aforementioned great mobility works to his favor in executing devastating combos.
Brittle Bird: Zapdos is tied with Primeape for the second lowest health value in the game, giving it little room for error in its approach.
No Range: Zapdos is a very close-ranged fighter, and struggles greatly with long-ranged fighters such as Mienshao and Toxicroak.
Normals
5A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1
0
Mid
5A2, 5B
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
5
2
11
+3 [+5]
-
Total: 17
Zapdos delivers a quick peck at their opponent.
Zapdos' fastest button, ideal for challenging and gaining frame advantage
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
5AA
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1+1
1+1
Mid
5B
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
4
6
13
-3 [-1]
-
Total: 22
Zapdos pecks the opponent two more times.
The only move that will naturally combo from 5A
The only special that will combo from this move is 26B (Lane Storm), Zapdos' two-bar super
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
4A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2+1
0+1
Mid
Special, C-Cancel
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
14
9
17
+5 [+3]
-
Total: 39
Zapdos swipes at the air with their talons.
Zapdos' best normal anti-air, leading to combos on hit.
Also Zapdos' best confirm tool, giving you two hits to confirm into a special on hit.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
6A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
3
2
Mid
Special, C-Cancel, Throw (startup)
-
Knockdown (Air Hit)
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
17
8
21
+1 [+3]
-
Total: 45
Zapdos steps forward and strikes horizontally with their talons.
Covers a large amount of horizontal space and confirms into followups on counterhit
Frame advantage when cancelled into 5B allows you to run a true string into a mixup
Can be used to kara throw by inputting throw during the startup
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
2A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2
1
Mid
Special
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
9
5
17
+1 [+3]
-
Total: 30
Zapdos quickly swipes at the opponent with his leg.
Zapdos' fastest cancellable normal
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
3A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1+1
1+1
Low
Special (First Hit)
-
Knockdown (Second Hit)
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
10
11
31
52 [-18]
-
Total: 51
Zapdos' kicks at the opponent's legs, knocking them off their feet.
Cancellable sweep, allowing Zapdos to punish opponent relatively safely for stand-blocking.
Zapdos has no ways to naturally combo into this move aside from a deep jump-in, making them rely on counterhits.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
j5A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2
0/0
High
Special
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
9
19
6
+20 [+11]
-
Total: 33
Zapdos reaches out horizontally with their leg in mid-air.
Standard jump-in normal
Also strong air-to-air due to its range, confirming well off that scenario with j5B/j6B
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
j2A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2+2
1+1
High
Super
-
Knockdown (Second Hit)
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
7
5
6
52 [11]
-
Total: 17
Zapdos kicks twice downwards while in the air.
Very strong pressure normal, allowing Zapdos to maintain offensive momentum when hitting the ground
Fast enough to hit as an instant overhead, which can combo into j6B
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Specials
Fast Lane 5B
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
-
-
-
5A, 6A, 4A, 2
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
15
-
20
-
-
Total: 34
Zapdos sprints forward at full speed.
Zapdos' main mechanic, effectively operates as a stance
Can be cancelled into a multitude of unique followups
2 can be input at any time to cancel the stance, allowing Zapdos to mix up the opponent
5B5A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2
1
Mid
-
-
Knockdown (Air Hit)
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
6
7
15
+8 [-4]
-
Total: 28
Zapdos darts forward.
Goes through opponent at close range, leading to crossups
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
5B6A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1+2
1+1
Mid
2B, C-Cancel
-
Launch, Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
12
13
36
77 [-17]
-
Total: 60
Zapdos sweeps a leg upwards.
Combos into 2B5A
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
5B4A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
4
2
Mid
-
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
7
21
21
+51 [-10]
-
Total: 48
Zapdos kicks out upwards.
Huge upwards hitbox
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Piston Kick 6B
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2+2
0+4
Mid
-
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
17, 6
8, 9
38
+46, [-8]
-
Total: 77
Zapdos jumps forwards while performing two horizontal kicks.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Sky Vault 2B
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
-
-
-
j.B
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
20
-
24
[]
-
Total: 43
Zapdos launches into the sky.
Gains Zapdos access to two new aerial attacks
2B5A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2+1+1+1
0
Mid
-
-
Knockdown (Air Hit)
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
7, 8, 9, 5
2, 1, 1, 5
16
76 [+8]
-
Total: 53
Zapdos launches a flurry of horizontal kicks in the air.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
2B2A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
x(2+2)
1+1
High
-
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
6, 6
5, 5
16
76, 3 [+1]
-
Total: 37
Zapdos unloads a downward flurry of kicks.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
jB
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
5
5
High
-
-
Knockdown (Air Hit)
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
22
-
24
1 [-1]
-
Total: 45
Zapdos rapidly descends from the sky with a bolt of lightning.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
EX Moves
Drill Peck j6B
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1+1
1+1
Mid
-
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
9
10
20
-6 [-8]
1
Total: 38
Zapdos darts forward in midair.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Kilo Vault 28B
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1
0
Mid
j.B
-
Launch, Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
8
10
69
50 [-51]
1
Total: 86
Zapdos launches upwards.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Lane Storm 24B / 26B OR
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2, 1x5
1, 1x5
Mid
-
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
53 [-40]
15
30
22 [+1]
2
Total: 66
Zapdos lets out a cry before furiously dashing across the screen many times in the inputted direction.
26B causes a horizontal launch, 24B causes a smaller knockback
If the first hit before Zapdos goes offscreen is blocked, Zapdos will pass through the opponent, but remainder of the attack is halted
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Throws
Forward Throw 6C
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
3
-
-
-
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
8
2
41
-
-
Total: 50
Zapdos climbs onto the opponent and pecks them repeatedly before springing off of them, launching them forwards.
Back Throw 4C
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
3
-
-
-
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
8
2
41
-
-
Total: 50
Zapdos climbs onto the opponent and pecks them repeatedly before springing off of them, launching them backwards.