GamePress

Zapdos Duo Raid Guide

Submit Feedback or Error
Tier 5 Raid Boss Guides
title
Difficulty:

Easy at trainer level 30 with optimized counters or weather boost

HP15,000 ATK211.72 DEF160.37
CP Range
Lvl 20 1930 - 2015 Lvl 25 2413 - 2519

Notable Weather

Boosts Boss's Moves Boosts Counters' Moves
Rain, Windy, Partly Cloudy Snow, Partly Cloudy

Fast Move Difficulty

Charge Move Difficulty

Move Difficulty
Thunder Easy
Thunderbolt Challenging
Zap Cannon Intermediate
Drill Peck Intermediate
Ancient Power Intermediate

Overview

The second of the Legendary Birds of Kanto, and the third member to be released in Pokemon Go. The Team Instinct mascot packs a punch and is only weak to Rock and Ice, and while its moveset has been expanded since its initial release, this hasn't helped out with its raid counters very much, as several of its counters can wall the majority of its movesets and deal outstanding damage. 

Approach

Team composition

  • Shadow Mamoswine is the VIP of this fight

  • Front load your glass cannons like Rampardos and Shadow Weavile for maximum damage

  • A strong mix of Ice and Rock Types can help with countering various movesets.

  • The old classics like Golem are still viable, though they've been outclassed  in general.

  • Try to pick your Mega Evolution based on what your raid group is using in order to better sync up type-based Mega Boosts.

Dodging strategy

  • Dodging is recommended with glassy counters, tankier counters like Rhyperior generally don't need to bother.

Note: "Good" movesets are not necessarily viable at the level indicated.

Best Raid Boss Counters

Mega Evolution Counters
Mega Aerodactyl Mega Aerodactyl
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Mega Aerodactyl has the highest DPS among the Mega Evolution counters, coming in very strong and providing boosts to Rock Types while on the field. It's a universally great option, but it's also pretty frail due to its weakness to Zapdos' powerful Electric Type moves.

Mega Glalie Mega Glalie
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

On average, Mega Glalie is basically just a worse Mega Aerodactyl for this raid, sporting a lower average DPS and TDO. However, it also provides a boost to Mamoswine and Shadow Mamoswine while on the field, meaning it's actually comparable or potentially even better in practice depending on what other players are bringing to the raid.

Mega Abomasnow Mega Abomasnow
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

In general, Mega Abomasnow tends to be the top Ice Type Mega counter for this raid as its Grass sub-typing gives it a resistance to Electric Type moves that tends to outweigh Mega Glalie's small DPS advantage. However, its performance also drops substantially against Drill Peck in particular, so it's not always the best Ice Type Mega for the job.

Supreme Counters
ShadowSwine Shadow Mamoswine
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

With a double-resistance to Electric Type moves and a huge DPS total, Shadow Mamoswine is definitely the overall best counter for this raid. If you're using low-DPS options on the whole, even a single Shadow Mamoswine on your teamcan really help to make the difference in this raid.

ShadowWeavile Shadow Weavile
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Shadow Weavile hits very hard and racks up damage very quickly, but it's also pretty frail and can't keep pace with Shadow Mamoswine on any metric. It's a great Pokemon, but definitely not the best.

Rampardos Rampardos
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

If you're aiming for Rock Type counters, then Rampardos is a must-have for your team. This thing hits very hard, leaving all of the other Rock Types in the dust with the exception of Mega Aerodactyl. That said, it doesn't last a super long time on the field due to its relatively low bulk and lack of resistances beyond Drill Peck

ShadowTyranitar Shadow Tyranitar
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

While it's not as fast as Rampardos, Shadow Tyranitar is still fairly comparable to its speedy compatriot, but substantially bulkier. This monster could arguably be the best Rock Type counter on this list.

Mamoswine Mamoswine
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Not as strong as its Shadow Forme, but still very much a top counter for this raid for the same reasons.

Rhyperior Rhyperior
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

If you want TDO, bring Rhyperior along for the ride. Its average DPS rides the duo-worthy line, and its high bulk and comprehensive resistances against everything that Zapdos can throw at it makes it the premier bulky counter for this raid. 

Good Counters
tyrantrum Tyrantrum
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Easily overlooked when compared to the Rock Types above, Tyrantrum actually has a lot of power behind it thanks to Meteor Beam, and a resistance to Electric Type attacks thanks to its Dragon sub-typing. It's hard to go wrong with adding Tyrantrum to the team.

Shadow Mewtwo Shadow Mewtwo
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

The universal counter strikes again! Utilizing Ice Beam, Shadow Mewtwo has a very solid showing in this raid that allows it to act as a solid yet somewhat frail counter.

aggron Shadow Aggron
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

The old tanky meme, Meteor Beam puts Shadow Aggron into the good section of counters. while its typing doesn't do it any real favors in this raid outside of Drill Peck, its high base bulk allows it to stick around for a good long time. That said, it's still a worse Rhyperior.

Terrakion Terrakion
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Terrakion is more well known nowadays for its Fighting Type moveset, but it's easy to forget that it's been a genuinely good Rock Type since its release. It takes neutral damage from everything that Zapdos can throw at it, so it's good regardless of situation.

Tyranitar Tyranitar
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

One of the old-school Rock Types, Tyranitar can still drop a lot of damage and put up an overall great fight in this raid.

Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Yup, even vanilla Mewtwo works here.

Shadow-Golem Shadow Golem
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

The shadow version of Zapdos' original supreme counter, Shadow Golem holds up the legacy that its basic forme set in 2017.

Gigalith Gigalith
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

One of the true-vanilla Rock Types, Gigalith is yet another mediocre Pokemon pushed into new viability thanks to Meteor Beam.

Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Glaciate is strong enough to allow Kyurem to rank pretty well in this raid despite not having an Ice Type Fast Move.... please, Niantic, give Kyurem an Ice Type Fast Move.

Landorus (Incarnate Forme) Landorus (Incarnate Forme)
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

While not a Rock Type, Landorus - Incarnate still has solid performance with its Rock Type moveset.

Glass Counters
Galarian Darmanitan Galarian Darmanitan
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

While pretty glassy, this afro-abominable-snowman sports great DPS that can help get ahead of the clock.

Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Glassy, but good.

aero Shadow Aerodactyl
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Hard hitting, but quickly fried by Zapdos' Electric Type moves.

ShadowOmastar Shadow Omastar
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

An interesting option with solid DPS, but its weakness to Electric Type attacks makes it pretty vulnerable in this raid.

Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

The one true budget option for this raid. Doesn't last long, but works well given its low relative cost.

Shadow Porygon-Z Shadow Porygon-Z
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

While situationally a solid choice, Shadow Porygon Z is... a bit underwhelming in general.

Fast MoveCharge MoveRating
Tank Counters
Shadow Garchomp Shadow Garchomp
Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

Not very hard-hitting, but great for staying in the raid.

Fast MoveCharge MoveRating

The old-timer itself, Golem is still around.

Raid Graph