Shadow Zapdos is available from Tier 5 legendary Shadow Raids. Shadow Raids can only be done using in-person raid passes. Shadow Zapdos can be shiny from Shadow raids!
Shadow Zapdos can be caught with the following CP values, with an IV floor of 6/6/6:
- 1864 – 2015 CP (no weather boost, 100% Zapdos at Level 20)
- 2330 – 2519 CP (Rainy and Windy weather, 100% IV Zapdos at Level 25)
Shadow Zapdos is an Electric and type and is weak to Ice and Rock type attacks. Shadow Zapdos is an immensely difficult tier 5 raid due to the Shadow Raid mechanism. You will need to be well prepared with top counters, correct move-sets, powered-up Pokémon, and most importantly, Purified Gems.
Communication will be key for this raid! You will want to plan not only your Mega Pokémon team positions, and counters, but also your use of Purified Gems, so be sure you communicate with your fellow trainers.
We would suggest groups of 4+ for trainers with top counters that are maxed out, and armed with Purified Gems, or 8-10+ for lower-level trainers and those without ideal counters. Purified Gems are a must!
Related reading
- Pokémon GO Shadow Raids: Comprehensive Guide is an overall guide to all things Shadow Raids
Best Shadow Zapdos Counters – Mega Pokémon
We would highly recommend the use of Mega Pokémon in Shadow Zapdos raids. They provide not only greater damage output, but also boost Pokémon of the same typing in the raid. We would suggest discussing your counter choices with your fellow trainers, and plan Mega Pokémon, and their position in your team accordingly.
If you have a group of 6, for example, one person should have their mega in slot 1, the next slot 2, the next slot 3, etc., you can try to keep the mega boost going throughout the raid.
# | Pokemon | Fast Move | Charge Move |
---|---|---|---|
1. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Stone Edge Rock |
2. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Rock Slide Rock |
3. |
|
Frost Breath Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
4. |
|
Powder Snow Ice |
Weather Ball Ice |
5. |
|
Lick Ghost |
Shadow Ball Ghost |
6. |
|
Psycho Cut Psychic |
Psychic Psychic |
7. |
|
Fire Spin Fire |
Blast Burn Fire |
8. |
|
Dragon Breath Dragon |
Psychic Psychic |
9. |
|
Fire Spin Fire |
Blast Burn Fire |
10. |
|
Water Gun Water |
Hydro Cannon Water |
Best Shadow Zapdos Counters – Shadow Pokémon
While Shadow Pokémon are extremely expensive to power up, these are the top Shadow Pokémon you can use against Shadow Zapdos. Ensure you no longer have Frustration on these Pokémon before considering adding them to your team. If you have any of these as an option, while they may take more damage than non-shadow Pokémon, they will also deal more.
# | Pokemon | Fast Move | Charge Move |
---|---|---|---|
1. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Rock Wrecker Rock |
2. |
|
Powder Snow Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
3. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Stone Edge Rock |
4. |
|
Ice Shard Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
5. |
|
Psycho Cut Psychic |
Ice Beam Ice |
6. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Meteor Beam Rock |
7. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Stone Edge Rock |
8. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Rock Slide Rock |
9. |
|
Lock-On Normal |
Blizzard Ice |
10. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Rock Slide Rock |
11. |
|
Ice Shard Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
12. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Meteor Beam Rock |
13. |
|
Dragon Tail Dragon |
Outrage Dragon |
14. |
|
Frost Breath Ice |
Blizzard Ice |
15. |
|
Ice Shard Ice |
Ice Punch Ice |
16. |
|
Dragon Tail Dragon |
Draco Meteor Dragon |
Best Shadow Zapdos Counters – Non-Mega Pokémon
Here are the best Pokémon to use against a Zapdos raid boss that are not Mega Pokémon. Being weak to three different types, Zapdos’ counters table is diverse and shows the strongest Pokémon to use against the raid boss. Try to pick from the top end of this list, and ensure they have the necessary move-sets, and are powered up.
# | Pokemon | Fast Move | Charge Move |
---|---|---|---|
1. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Rock Slide Rock |
2. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Rock Wrecker Rock |
3. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Meteor Beam Rock |
4. |
|
Ice Fang Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
5. |
|
Powder Snow Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
6. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Rock Slide Rock |
7. |
|
Dragon Breath Dragon |
Glaciate Ice |
8. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Meteor Beam Rock |
9. |
|
Waterfall Water |
Blizzard Ice |
10. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Stone Edge Rock |
11. |
|
Frost Breath Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
12. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Meteor Beam Rock |
13. |
|
Smack Down Rock |
Meteor Beam Rock |
14. |
|
Ice Shard Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
15. |
|
Psycho Cut Psychic |
Ice Beam Ice |
16. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Stone Edge Rock |
17. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Rock Slide Rock |
18. |
|
Frost Breath Ice |
Avalanche Ice |
19. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Rock Slide Rock |
20. |
|
Poison Jab Poison |
Rock Slide Rock |
21. |
|
Rock Throw Rock |
Stone Edge Rock |
Zapdos Move Sets
Zapdos can have the following moves as a raid boss:
Fast moves | Charged moves |
---|---|
|
|
*Denotes a Legacy Move only available via Elite TM.
Shadow Raid Information & Advice
As a shadow raid, Zapdos will hit harder than ever before, so make sure your counters are powered up, have the right move-set, and aren’t weak to the raid boss’ moves. These raids are a tricky group task for even the most prepared trainers, and you will need Purified Gems to defeat them. Shadow Raid Bosses will grow enraged as you battle them, boosting their attack and defence.
You will need to subdue Shadow Zapdos using Purified Gems, a new item that can be assembled from Shadow Shards.
Shadow Shards are mysterious gem pieces that may be dropped by Team GO Rocket grunts, leaders, and Shadow Raids. You will need to gather enough shards to use Professor Willow’s newly invented Shard Refiner, and in return, you’ll be rewarded with a Purified Gem. Be sure to have collected as many as you can before you attempt a Shadow Zapdos raid, as without them you won’t be able to return it to its normal, non-enraged state. You can hold up to 10 Purified Gems in your inventory at a time.
There are multiple ways Purified Gems can assist your battle against enraged Shadow Raid Bosses:
- When you use a Purified Gem during a Shadow Raid, the enraged Shadow Raid Boss’s attack and defence will be lowered temporarily. This can give you the opening you need to take them down.
- You and your fellow Trainers can use more than one Purified Gem during a Shadow Raid. If used at the same time, their effects will stack.
- If enough Purified Gems are used, the enraged Shadow Raid Boss will be subdued—returned to its non-enraged state—which might give you the edge you need to defeat it!
Purified Gems will show in the bottom left corner of the raid battle when you are able to use them, so be sure to communicate with your raid group to stack their effects!
Notes 💡
The raid lasts 300 seconds. You get 3 guaranteed XL candy. It counts towards Battle Legend medal. It does not count towards the Ultra Hero medal. Shiny shadow Zapdos has been enabled. IV floor appears to be 6. It appears it is 8 gems needed to subdue Zapdos, like the T3 shadow raids.