Pokémon Unite Zapdos Guide: Best Builds, Held Items, Moveset and Gameplay Tips

Zapdos is the newest Attacker-type Pokémon that has now joined the Pokémon Unite roster. Zapdos is a powerful Pokémon that excels at poking enemies with its ranged attacks, while being able to control enemies in a wide area with its powerful Unite Move. This guide will let you know about Zapdos in Pokémon Unite, its abilities, best items, and team compositions.

Previously, we have discussed how to master playing with other Pokémon like Pikachu, Mamoswine, Eldegoss, Zeraora, Blissey, Charizard, Snorlax, Tsareena, Decidueye, Dragonite, Talonflame, Cinderace, Greninja, Gardevoir, Venusaur, Wigglytuff, Trevenant, Gengar, Lucario, Aegislash, Crustle, Hoopa, Garchomp Absol, Alolan Ninetales, Duraludon, Cramorant, Blastoise, Slowbro, Machamp, Mr. Mime, Greedent, Azumarill, Sylveon, Gyarados, Miraidon, Falinks, Ceruledge, Ho-Oh, Darkrai, Armarouge, Psyduck, Galarian Rapidash, Suicune and Alolan Raichu, Alcremie, Latios, Latias and Pawmot, Empoleon, Mega Lucario, Mega Charizard X, Dhelmise, Vaporeon, and Meowth. Therefore, you must make sure to check those guides as well. For now, let’s focus on Zapdos.

Zapdos: In-game Cost

His exclusive Unite license is available for grabs in its Exclusive Commemorative event, all for free.

Pokémon Unite Zapdos Movesets

Basic Attack

You can hurl an electric orb, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon. Whenever a set amount of time passes, your next basic attack becomes a boosted attack, launching a powerful electric orb and dealing damage to opposing Pokémon. If this move hits Pokémon from the opposing team, your boosted attack cooldowns are reduced.

Passive – Static

Whenever Zapdos receives damage from the enemy Pokémon, it paralyzes them. This Ability goes on cooldown after it’s triggered. When the Pokémon with this Ability hits with a boosted attack, Thunder Shock, or Thunderbolt, it creates an electric field. The electric field will remain for a short time, dealing damage and applying a slowing effect to opposing Pokémon in it.

Ability 1 – Thunder Shock

You can attack with a jolt of electricity. If this move hits an opposing Pokémon, it also zaps a nearby opposing Pokémon, dealing damage to it.

Ability Choice at Level 5

At Level 5, Zapdos will be able to use the following ability:

Thunderbolt

You can unleash a strong electric blast to the designated area, dealing damage and paralyzing opposing Pokémon. An electric field is left in the move’s area of effect.

Upgrade: Reduces this move’s cooldown based on the number of Pokémon it hits.

Ability 2 – Discharge

You can let loose a flare of electricity from its feathers, dealing damage to nearby opposing Pokémon and leaving them paralyzed.

If there is an electric field within this move’s area of effect, the electric field is absorbed, increasing this move’s area of effect and duration.

Ability Choice at Level 7

At Level 7, Zapdos will be able to use the following ability:

Zap Cannon

You can fire an electric cannon-like blast that explodes on contact, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon caught in the explosion’s area of effect. When the electric orb passes through an electric field, it absorbs the electric field, increasing its size, travel distance, and damage dealt to opposing Pokémon. Opposing Pokémon caught in the explosion are also left unable to act.

Upgrade: When the electric orb passes through an electric field, the orb’s size increases, along with the duration opposing Pokémon are left unable to act.

Unite Move – High-Voltage Siege

You can continuously drop lightning bolts in the designated area, creating an electric field where the lightning strikes. The lightning bolts paralyze and deal damage to opposing Pokémon they hit. If lightning bolts hit the same opposing Pokémon 3 consecutive times, that Pokémon will be left unable to act.

If lightning bolts hit one of the opposing team’s goal zones 5 times, that goal zone will become defenseless, and 1 ally Pokémon will be able to score immediately. This is uncertainly a game-changing move especially during the late game phase.

Best Items for Zapdos in Pokémon Unite

Further in this guide, we will discuss the best-held items for Zapdos in Pokémon Unite, as well as its best battle item.

Best Held Items

Besides the above-suggested builds, you can also use the following item builds:

• Wise Glasses, Slick spoon, and Energy Amplifier
• Scope Lens, Drive Lens, and Muscle Band.

Best Battle Items

• Eject Button: It helps Zapdos to reposition in dire moments, great for offensive or defensive uses.
• X Speed: This Battle item grants massive boost to Zapdos’ movement speed, making it easier to chase or flee from enemy Pokémon.

Pokémon Unite Zapdos Gameplay Tips

Our Pokémon Unite Zapdos Guide will now discuss how to play and achieve a perfect game plan for the Pokémon across the game. The following division has two sections of the early and late game, which players must make sure to read till the end.

Early Game

In terms of laning, you should go to the Jungle/Top Lane while using Zapdos. In the early phase, focus on safe farming and utilizing your Ranged attacks to constantly poke enemies. Use Thunder Shock to hit 2 targets at once, thereby pressuring clustered lane opponents. Ensure to constantly attack and poke enemy Pokémon on the battlefield, as triggering boosted basic attacks will reduce its cooldown when they hit.

Thanks to Static, enemies that damage you get paralyzed, which helps in short teamfights. So do ensure to prioritize fighting when enemies are clustered together, so you can use your electric fields to slow them, making it harder for them to escape. Regardless, do not overextend. You are strong thanks to your ranged attacks but you’re still fragile early. Farm safely and prepare for your Level 5 power spike.

Mid and Late Game

On reaching Level 5, Thunder Shock upgrades into Thunderbolt, and at Level 7, Discharge upgrades into Zap Cannon, forming its core combo. Start fights by casting Thunderbolt to create an electric field and paralyze enemies. Then fire Zap Cannon through the field to increase its size, damage, and crowd control, leaving enemies unable to act.

Zapdos’ Unite move “High-Voltage Siege” is best used during major objective fights in the late game where enemies are grouped together. Another important feature of Zapdos Unite move is that it is capable of making a goal defenseless, creating a guaranteed scoring window for a teammate.

The constant lightning attacks and debuffs from Zapdos’ Unite move makes it undoubtedly difficult for enemies to stand their ground, especially when contesting core objectives like Goal Zones, Groudon and Regieleki.

Positioning of Zapdos

The best path for Zapdos would be the Top or the Jungle Lane. Allowing you to easily farm and rotate across lanes to help allies.

Zapdos with other Pokémon

Our Pokémon Unite Zapdos guide will also talk about the relationship between it and other Pokémon.

Best synergies with Zapdos

Zapdos is best paired with Defenders or Support-type Pokémon, as they can help provide extra defense and utility needed during crucial fights.

Pokémon that are strong and weak against Zapdos

Final Thoughts

You must keep all the valuable points in mind while playing with Zapdos. It is indeed a powerful Attacker equipped with a lot of offensive abilities to take down enemies in Pokémon Unite.

Read more of our Pokémon Unite content!

• Pokémon Unite welcomes 3 Wild Legendary Pokémon this February
• How to draft pick Pokémon in Ranked matches
• Pokémon UNITE Championship Series 2026 Latin America (LA) League begins the search for its champion

What are your thoughts on the newest Pokémon Unite Attacker, Zapdos? Let us know in the comment section below!

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