Pokemon: Close Combat/GZapdos

Archetype:	Rushdown
Health:	28
Guard Health:	10
Walk Speed:	2.7~7.2/-1.9~-5.1
Prejump Frames:	6f
Fastest Attack:	5A (5f)

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 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.
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5AA File:PKMNCC GZapdos 5AAHitbox.png	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.
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4A File:PKMNCC GZapdos 4AHitbox.png	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.
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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.

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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 his leg. Zapdos' fastest cancellable normal.
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3A File:PKMNCC GZapdos 3AHitbox.png

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, this move allows Zapdos to punish the opponent relatively safely for stand-blocking. Zapdos has no ways to naturally combo into this move aside from a deep jump-in, making him rely on counterhits.

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j5A File:PKMNCC GZapdos j5AHitbox.png	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 functions as a strong air-to-air due to its range, as well as confirming well off that scenario with j5B/j6B.
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j2A File:PKMNCC GZapdos j2AHitbox.png	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.
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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 you 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 the opponent at close range, leading to crossups.

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.

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.

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 performs a horizontal kick.
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Sky Vault 2B File:PKMNCC GZapdos 2BHitbox.png	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.
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2B5A File:PKMNCC GZapdos 2B5AHitbox.png	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.
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2B2A File:PKMNCC GZapdos 2B2AHitbox.png	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.
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jB File:PKMNCC GZapdos j5BHitbox.png	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.
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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.

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.

Lane Storm 24B / 26B /

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 the rest 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

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  (C)