Shadow Zapdos Raid Guide

Artwork of Shadow Zapdos from Pokémon GO Shadow Zapdos

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 Flying 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!

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Best Shadow Zapdos Counters – Mega Pokémon

Artwork of Shadow Zapdos from Pokémon GO Shadow Zapdos

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. Artwork of Mega Tyranitar from Pokémon GO Mega Tyranitar Smack Down
Rock
Stone Edge
Rock
2. Artwork of Mega Aerodactyl from Pokémon GO Mega Aerodactyl Rock Throw
Rock
Rock Slide
Rock
3. Artwork of Mega Glalie from Pokémon GO Mega Glalie Frost Breath
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
4. Artwork of Mega Abomasnow from Pokémon GO Mega Abomasnow Powder Snow
Ice
Weather Ball
Ice
5. Artwork of Mega Gengar from Pokémon GO Mega Gengar Lick
Ghost
Shadow Ball
Ghost
6. Artwork of Mega Alakazam from Pokémon GO Mega Alakazam Psycho Cut
Psychic
Psychic
Psychic
7. Artwork of Mega Blaziken from Pokémon GO Mega Blaziken Fire Spin
Fire
Blast Burn
Fire
8. Artwork of Mega Latios from Pokémon GO Mega Latios Dragon Breath
Dragon
Psychic
Psychic
9. Artwork of Mega Y Charizard from Pokémon GO Mega Y Charizard Fire Spin
Fire
Blast Burn
Fire
10. Artwork of Mega Swampert from Pokémon GO Mega Swampert 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. Artwork of Shadow Rhyperior from Pokémon GO Shadow Rhyperior Smack Down
Rock
Rock Wrecker
Rock
2. Artwork of Shadow Mamoswine from Pokémon GO Shadow Mamoswine Powder Snow
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
3. Artwork of Shadow Tyranitar from Pokémon GO Shadow Tyranitar Smack Down
Rock
Stone Edge
Rock
4. Artwork of Shadow Weavile from Pokémon GO Shadow Weavile Ice Shard
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
5. Artwork of Shadow Mewtwo from Pokémon GO Shadow Mewtwo Psycho Cut
Psychic
Ice Beam
Ice
6. Artwork of Shadow Aggron from Pokémon GO Shadow Aggron Smack Down
Rock
Meteor Beam
Rock
7. Artwork of Shadow Golem from Pokémon GO Shadow Golem Rock Throw
Rock
Stone Edge
Rock
8. Artwork of Shadow Aerodactyl from Pokémon GO Shadow Aerodactyl Rock Throw
Rock
Rock Slide
Rock
9. Artwork of Shadow Porygon-Z from Pokémon GO Shadow Porygon-Z Lock-On
Normal
Blizzard
Ice
10. Artwork of Shadow Omastar from Pokémon GO Shadow Omastar Rock Throw
Rock
Rock Slide
Rock
11. Artwork of Shadow Piloswine from Pokémon GO Shadow Piloswine Ice Shard
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
12. Artwork of Shadow Sudowoodo from Pokémon GO Shadow Sudowoodo Rock Throw
Rock
Meteor Beam
Rock
13. Artwork of Shadow Garchomp from Pokémon GO Shadow Garchomp Dragon Tail
Dragon
Outrage
Dragon
14. Artwork of Shadow Articuno from Pokémon GO Shadow Articuno Frost Breath
Ice
Blizzard
Ice
15. Artwork of Shadow Mr. Rime from Pokémon GO Shadow Mr. Rime Ice Shard
Ice
Ice Punch
Ice
16. Artwork of Shadow Salamence from Pokémon GO Shadow Salamence 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. Artwork of Rampardos from Pokémon GO Rampardos Smack Down
Rock
Rock Slide
Rock
2. Artwork of Rhyperior from Pokémon GO Rhyperior Smack Down
Rock
Rock Wrecker
Rock
3. Artwork of Tyrantrum from Pokémon GO Tyrantrum Rock Throw
Rock
Meteor Beam
Rock
4. Artwork of Galarian Standard Darmanitan from Pokémon GO Galarian Standard Darmanitan Ice Fang
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
5. Artwork of Mamoswine from Pokémon GO Mamoswine Powder Snow
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
6. Artwork of Terrakion from Pokémon GO Terrakion Smack Down
Rock
Rock Slide
Rock
7. Artwork of Kyurem from Pokémon GO Kyurem Dragon Breath
Dragon
Glaciate
Ice
8. Artwork of Gigalith from Pokémon GO Gigalith Smack Down
Rock
Meteor Beam
Rock
9. Artwork of Primal Kyogre from Pokémon GO Primal Kyogre Waterfall
Water
Blizzard
Ice
10. Artwork of Tyranitar from Pokémon GO Tyranitar Smack Down
Rock
Stone Edge
Rock
11. Artwork of Glaceon from Pokémon GO Glaceon Frost Breath
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
12. Artwork of Aurorus from Pokémon GO Aurorus Rock Throw
Rock
Meteor Beam
Rock
13. Artwork of Aggron from Pokémon GO Aggron Smack Down
Rock
Meteor Beam
Rock
14. Artwork of Weavile from Pokémon GO Weavile Ice Shard
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
15. Artwork of Mewtwo from Pokémon GO Mewtwo Psycho Cut
Psychic
Ice Beam
Ice
16. Artwork of Dusk Lycanroc from Pokémon GO Dusk Lycanroc Rock Throw
Rock
Stone Edge
Rock
17. Artwork of Landorus from Pokémon GO Landorus Rock Throw
Rock
Rock Slide
Rock
18. Artwork of Jynx from Pokémon GO Jynx Frost Breath
Ice
Avalanche
Ice
19. Artwork of Incarnate Landorus from Pokémon GO Incarnate Landorus Rock Throw
Rock
Rock Slide
Rock
20. Artwork of Nihilego from Pokémon GO Nihilego Poison Jab
Poison
Rock Slide
Rock
21. Artwork of Golem from Pokémon GO Golem Rock Throw
Rock
Stone Edge
Rock

Zapdos Move Sets

Zapdos can have the following moves as a raid boss:

Fast moves Charged moves
  • Charge Beam Electric
  • Thunder Shock* Electric
  • Thunder Electric
  • Zap Cannon Electric
  • Thunderbolt Electric
  • Drill Peck Flying
  • Ancient Power Rock

*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.

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