|
Artwork from FR/LG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Height
5'03" Imperial
|
1.6 m Metric
|
5'03"/1.6 m Red-Striped
|
0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped
|
0'0"/0.0 m
|
|
|
Weight
116.0 lbs. Imperial
|
52.6 kg Metric
|
116.0 lbs./52.6 kg Red-Striped
|
0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped
|
0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EV yield
HP 0
|
Atk 0
|
Def 0
|
Sp.Atk 3
|
Sp.Def 0
|
Speed 0
|
Base Exp.: 216
|
Battle Exp.: 2161*
|
|
|
|
Zapdos (Japanese: サンダー Thunder) is a dual-type Electric/Flying legendary Pokémon.
It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
It is, along with Articuno and Moltres, one of the three legendary birds of Kanto.
Biology
Physiology
Zapdos has the form of a large bird with black and yellow plumage. Its spiky feathers make it look like it is made of lightning. Its tail feathers stick out in several directions, furthering this illusion. A large crest of feathers decorates its head, and distinctive black rings encircle its eyes. Its beak is very long and thin. While Zapdos is the smallest and lightest of the legendary birds, it is still a fairly large Pokémon.
Gender differences
Zapdos is a genderless species.
Special abilities
When Zapdos flaps its glittering wings, it releases electricity, potentially causing thunderstorms.
Behavior
Zapdos is one of the legendary birds of Kanto. It is a poorly understood species, believed by many to be pure myth. It is always seen in conjunction with thunderstorms, leading many to believe that it gathers energy from the electricity in the atmosphere. It is also reported to cause massive crackling and snapping sounds when it flies; these are contributed to the lightning bolts it is said to shed when airborne.
Habitat
Zapdos is usually always seen during electrical storms, and appears to live in thunderclouds. One is said to live in an abandoned power plant in Kanto. It can be construed that it is attracted by the electricity of the plant. They are extremely rare.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
In the animeIn the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Having captured this legendary bird in the Abandoned Power Plant as in the games, Lt. Surge appears with Zapdos in his team during the events of Volume 3, using it as a neverending power source for his Electric-types, allowing them to continually shock Red at full force, a strategy that turns against him when Red uses Saur's Razor Leaf to cut the supply cords and his insulating underwear with them. After having been merged with Articuno and Moltres into an undiscovered Pokémon, the three Pallet Town trainers are able to defeat the combined monster, so it leaves his team, and Team Rocket afterwards to go back to the wild.
Green later captures Zapdos before the Gold, Silver, & Crystal and uses it against Will and Karen, having caught it and its legendary bird companions on her personal training journey to overcome her fear of birds. During this battle, it is lent to Blue when things get rough. Once returned, it is put back in its Pokéball and isn't seen again, meaning it has either been deposited into her box or released.
In the TCGOther appearances
When released from a Poké Ball, Zapdos uses a powerful ThunderShock that hits opponents several times to produce a substantial amount of damage.
Trophy information
Zapdos flaps its wings, and summer storms appear, throwing lightning every which way. It's said that you can hear this legendary Pokémon coming, as its wings make a very distinctive popping sound as it flies. In addition to electrical moves like the dreaded Thunder, it also wields a vicious move called Drill Peck.
Game dataTrivia
- Of all legendary Pokémon with fixed in-game locations, Zapdos can be obtained with the fewest number of badges; 3. In Generation I games and their remakes, one can catch Zapdos with only the Boulderbadge, Cascadebadge and Soulbadge.
- In Generation I, Zapdos was the only dual-type Electric Pokémon, as Magnemite and Magneton did not gain a secondary type until Steel was introduced in Generation II.
- Zapdos shares the same species name with Elekid and Electabuzz. They are all known as Electric Pokémon.
- Zapdos and Jolteon have almost the same Japanese name, a final s being the only difference.
- Zapdos and the Chinchou evolution family (without Volt Absorb) are the only Template:Type2 Pokémon that receive neutral damage from Electric-type moves.
- Zapdos is the only one of the legendary birds to not have a double weakness to Rock.
- It is so far the only dual-type Electric/Flying Pokémon.
- Zapdos shares its cry with 'M.
- Zapdos is the only one of the legendary birds to never be seen on its feet in a sprite: it is always in the air.
- In Generation II, Zapdos was given an additional toe pointing forward on each foot giving it three. However, Pokémon Stadium 2 shares the same 3-D model for Zapdos as its Generation I 3-D games, Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Snap, so in that game, it still only has two.
Origin
Zapdos is based on the Native American legend of the thunderbird. The thunderbird was known for being the spirit of thunder, lightning, and rain in the form of a giant bird. The beating of the wings was said to create thunder.
Name origin
Zapdos's name is a combination of the word zap and the Spanish word for two, dos, indicating that it is the second in the series of Kanto legendary birds. Its Japanese name is simply Thunder.
In other languages
- German: Zapdos
- French: Electhor - A combination of electric and Thor, the Norse god of thunder.
- Korean: 썬더 Thunder
Related articlesNotes