Pokemon: Close Combat/GZapdos

Archetype:	Rushdown
Health:	37
Endurance:	10
Endurance Refresh:	3
Walk Speed:	2.7~7.2/-1.9~-5.1
Prejump Frames:	6f
Fastest Attack:	5A (7f)

Zapdos wants food.

Introduction

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 their favor in executing devastating combos. High Damage: Zapdos' combos do ton of damage, expect to be hit hard when fighting this character.	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 Falinks and Toxicroak. Lack of defensive options: Zapdos has zero defensive options aside from system mechanics. Having good defense is a must.

Normals

5A	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 1 0 Mid 5A2, 5B - - Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 7 2 11 +3 [+5] - Total: 19 Zapdos delivers a quick peck at their opponent. Zapdos' fastest button, ideal for challenging and gaining frame advantage. Combos into 3A > 5B6A if opponent is counter hit, making it good for catching opponents mashing
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5AA	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 1+1 0 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 naturally combos from 5A, good for continuing your pressure
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4A	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 3+2 0+1 Mid Special, C-Cancel - - Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 15 9 17 +5 [+3] - Total: 40 Zapdos swipes at the air with their talons. One of Zapdos' best confirm tool, giving two hits to confirm into a special on hit Sets up frame-traps with 6A > CC > 4A, which beats both parry and mashing out of block
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6A

Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 3 1 Mid Special, C-Cancel, Throw (startup) - Knockdown (Air Hit) Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 18 8 21 +8 [-4] - Total: 46 Zapdos steps forward and strikes horizontally with their talons. The other best confirm tool in neutral, good poke and does a good amount of guard damage Covers a large amount of horizontal space and confirms into followups Be sure to hit confirm your followups; you can eat a hefty punish if you don't confirm off of 5B6A Great button to use as a meaty Can be kara canceled into 5A, 3A and 2A

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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 their leg. Great poke in neutral, use it when you are out of 6A range but also in a range where you can hit 2A Confirms into 5B6A when counterhit
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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 2nd hit is unsafe on block if not confirmed off of the first hit First hit will attempt to pull air opponents into the second Second hit knocks down air opponents

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j5A	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 3 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
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j2A	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 2+2 0 High Super - Knockdown (Second Hit) Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 8 5 6 52 [11] - Total: 18 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
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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 3 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 Can be confirmed off of the first hit of 3A when spaced and 0 if its blocked
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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. The infamous launcher, the centerpiece of all of his combos Wallsplats cornered air opponents Very unsafe on block
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5B4A	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 6/4 4/2 Mid - - Knockdown Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 8 21 29 +40 [-14] - Total: 60 Zapdos kicks out upwards. Best anti-air and one of the best neutral tools with huge upwards hitbox for challenging aerials Can also be combo filler or looped with 5AA due to the late hitbox not putting opponent into hard knockdown
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Piston Kick 6B	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 3+3 0+4 Mid - - Knockdown Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 17, 6 8, 9 37 +47, [-7] - Total: 76 Zapdos jumps forwards while performing two horizontal kicks. Mostly used as a combo ender
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Sky Vault 2B	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property - - - jB - - Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 20 - 24 [] - Total: 43 Zapdos vaults 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 12 80 [+12] - Total: 55 Zapdos launches a flurry of horizontal kicks in the air. Can combo into j6B
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2B2A	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property x(2+2) 1+1 High - - - Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 6, 6 5, 5 12 80, 7 [5] - Total: 39 Zapdos unloads a downward flurry of kicks. Combo Filler
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Thunderous Kick jB	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 7 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. Can be canceled into j6A on block, setting up guard breaks
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Hyper 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. Can be canceled into an aerial, also combo filler
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Kilo Vault 28B insane insane	Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 2 0 Mid jB - Launch, Knockdown Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 8 10 69 50 [-51] 1 Total: 86 Zapdos vaults upwards. Used for high damaging "Kilo Loops" Can be canceled into any aerial
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Lane Storm 24B / 26B OR

Damage Endurance Damage Guard Cancel Invul Property 6, 1/2x5 1, 1x5 Mid - - Knockdown Startup Active Recovery Advantage Cost 53 [-40] 15 30 22 [+1] 2 Total: 57 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 26B inflicts one damage per hit, while 24B inflicts two damage per 24B an excellent projectile punish and combo starter, while 26B an on-the-ground super and combo ender If the first hit before Zapdos goes offscreen is blocked, Zapdos will pass through the opponent, but remainder of the attack is halted

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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.

Colors

A

B

C

D