Zapdos is a key defensive piece on teams due to its typing and bulk, letting it handle Pokemon like Great Tusk, Urshifu-R, and Zamazenta, crippling them with Static for its teammates. Heat Wave allows Zapdos to deal meaningful damage to Pokemon that would usually come in against it, like Gholdengo and Ferrothorn, as well as letting it become a stopgap for Kingambit. Defog allows it to remove entry hazards for its teammates as well as itself if loses its Heavy-Duty Boots, as it has a good matchup against common hazard setters like Ferrothorn and Landorus-T. Hidden Power Ice allows it to get a surprise 2HKO on Gliscor, as well as giving Zapdos a more reliable option against Garchomp and Landorus-T. 72 Speed EVs allow Zapdos to outspeed Modest Heatran.

Zapdos can easily be slot in on a defensive backbone on bulky offense and balance teams looking for a solid defensive pivot, since it is able to easily take a hit and bring in its teammates. Pokemon like Mega Medicham and Kingambit can also take advantage of the paralysis that Zapdos spreads to outspeed Pokemon like Zamazenta and Iron Valiant that would otherwise threaten them. Kingambit in particular can threaten Pokemon like Gholdengo, Mega Latios, and Weavile that would normally force Zapdos out while also trapping Pokemon like Gholdengo and Galarian Slowking, while Zapdos can chip down Fighting-types like Great Tusk and Zamazenta, which would normally stop a Kingambit sweep. Pokemon like Ogerpon-W and Weavile also appreciate Zapdos bringing them in on Pokemon like Heatran and Raging Bolt, respectively, while also eliminating Ground-types like Garchomp, Gliscor, and Ting-Lu so that Zapdos can keep on pivoting without worrying about Volt Switch being blocked. Knock Off users like the aforementioned Weavile as well as Gliscor, Mega Tyranitar, and Kingambit can also prove annoying for Zapdos, as they can remove its Heavy-Duty Boots, forcing it to take Stealth Rock damage and get chipped down over the course of the game, so Pokemon that can deal with these foes, like Zamazenta and Urshifu-R, or Pokemon that can absorb Knock Off from these Pokemon for Zapdos, like Mega Tyranitar and your own Gliscor, can go a long way in keeping Zapdos healthy. Great Tusk in particular can remove hazards for Zapdos should its Heavy-Duty Boots get removed by Knock Off, so it can still switch into Great Tusk's checks for it like Urshifu-R and Alomomola without getting chipped down.

Zapdos serves as a great wallbreaker, boasting natural bulk that allows it to take hits from physical attackers like Rillaboom and Urshifu-R and threaten them with paralysis through Static. If rain is active, Weather Ball lets Zapdos nuke defensive Ground-types such as Iron Treads, Gliscor, and Landorus-T, while Supersonic Skystrike can be used to finish off weakened defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Galarian Slowking or on important turns when the risk of missing a Hurricane would prove way too costly.

Zapdos can be a great addition to offense teams where its ability to inflict foes with paralysis is greatly appreciated. Zapdos has the ability to loosely check Fighting-types like Zamazenta, Great Tusk, and Mega Medicham, which can go a long way for teammates like Kingambit and Ferrothorn. The aforementioned Fighting-types can also be great teammates to Zapdos, as they help in dealing with Pokemon like Ting-Lu and Mega Tyranitar. Additionally, Great Tusk can remove Stealth Rock. When used on rain, staples like Barraskewda and Mega Swampert appreciate Zapdos's help in dealing with bulky Water-types such as Alomomola and Slowbro as well as Grass-types like Ogerpon-W and Ferrothorn. Galarian Slowking and Raging Bolt are both frustrating for Zapdos to break, so teammates such as Pursuit Kingambit or bulky Ground-types like Iron Treads and Ting-Lu are good to deal with them.