Zapdos
is a
fictional character in the
Pokémon franchise. Zapdos is one of the three Legendary Birds, which also include
Articuno and
Moltres.
"Zapdos" originates from the words "zap", because it is an electric-type, and "dos", Spanish for "two", because it is numerically the second Legendary Bird. Its Japanese name is 'Thunder' spelt
phonetically, and its French name Electhor is from the words "Electricity" and "
Thor", the Norse mythological god of Thunder.
Zapdos is based on the
Native American Thunderbird.
Zapdos, one of a triad of magically powerful birds of which the other two are
Articuno and
Moltres, is the avian embodiment of spontaneous electricity. Its anatomy seems fully capable of holding dangerously high amounts of voltage, which can be seen as reflected in its yellow, angular body and wings. Also behind its main yellow wings is a second pair of thinner, jet-black wings.
Zapdos, a creature that can freely manipulate electricity, is thought to live in thunderclouds, where it apparently only
gains power when struck by lightning. It is seen emerging from clouds while dropping enormous lightning bolts, and even if it doesn't launch electricity its wings make peculiar crackling and snapping sounds as it flies.
It is apparent that Zapdos, though rare, is a species of Pokémon of which more than one exists. Zapdos have been seen in an abandoned power plant and at Lightning islands at the
Orange Islands. Otherwise, it just immigrates land to another.
Zapdos is one of the three
legendary bird Pokémon. This is the electric one of these birds. In the original
Pokémon Red and
Blue games for Nintendo's
Game Boy system, as well as in the newer
FireRed and LeafGreen, Zapdos can be captured at the Power Plant. If you wish to catch Zapdos, it is suggested that the player saves before commencing battle, therefore the player may restart if they have missed the opportunity to capture it. Also, like many methods of capturing a Pokémon the player should get it to low health, and the possibility of putting it to sleep, paralyze it, or freeze it. Additionally, in
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, one could be snagged from
Cipher Grand Master Greevil, along with Moltres and Articuno.
When traded from the above versions to the Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions, Zapdos will be holding a Brightpowder item, which lowers the foes accuracy when held by a Pokémon.
As a Legendary Pokémon, Zapdos' statistics are high all around, with no stat below 85, and its highest stat is Special Attack at 125, therefore making it a top tier Pokémon. It's unique electric/flying typing grants it immunity to the normally devastating earthquake attack. In terms of movepool, however, Zapdos can be seen as rather lacking; it is highly proficient in Electric-type and Flying-type moves, including Drill Peck and Thunderbolt, but it has no other strong moves of other types normally. Zapdos can be taught Steel Wing by Technical Machine, however, and when purified in Pokémon XD Zapdos gains the strong Psychic-type move Extrasensory. Both go a long way in expanding Zapdos' battle appeal. On Netbattle, it is taught Hidden Power Ice or Grass to expand its special movepool.
In
Super Smash Bros. Melee, Zapdos can be released from a
pokéball as an item and zaps everyone in the match except the person who released it.
It should be noted that Zapdos cannot be caught in the second generation games, as the Power Plant is no longer abandoned.
Zapdos appeared in the original Pokémon series as a giant robot in a theme park which was destroyed.
Zapdos is featured in
Pokémon The Movie 2000 together with the other two legendary birds,
Articuno and
Moltres.
Zapdos also appeared in the episode "As Clear as Crystal". Team Rocket wanted to steal a Crystal that heals Electric typed Pokémon. A Zapdos came by and Team Rocket attempted to steal both, but they were unsuccessful in doing so.
In the
Pokémon Trading Card Game, Zapdos has appeared in the following sets (as Lightning type):
Base SetFossilGym Challenge (as Rocket's Zapdos)
AquapolisEX Firered & Leafgreen (as Zapdos EX)
EX Team Rocket Returns (as Rocket's Zapdos EX, as Dark/Lightning dual type)In addition, there was one promotional Zapdos cards in the game's history, handed out alongside Articuno and Moltres promo cards at showings of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
*The following games and their instruction manuals:
Pokémon Red,
Green, and
Blue;
Pokémon Yellow;
Pokémon Stadium and
Pokémon Stadium 2;
Pokémon Gold,
Silver, and
Crystal;
Pokémon Ruby,
Sapphire, and
Emerald;
Pokémon FireRed and
LeafGreen;
Pokémon Colosseum and
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness*Barbo, Maria.
The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0439154049.
*Loe, Casey, ed.
Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 130206151.
*Nintendo Power.
Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player's Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 193020650X
*Mylonas, Eric.
Pokémon Pokédex Collector's Edition: Prima's Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0761547614
*Nintendo Power.
Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player's Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1930206585
*
Official Pokémon website*
Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)'s article about Zapdos as a species
*
Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
*
PsyPoke - Zapdos Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
*
Smogon.com - Zapdos Tactical Data
