Zapdos Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

The Zapdos Deck is a non-ex focused Deck featuring Zapdos from the Genetic Apex Set in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCG Pocket). Read on for the complete list of cards in this deck, basic information on the deck, how to play the deck, and optimal matchups for it!

Zapdos Deck Guide

Deck Evaluation

Ace Pokemon						Tier Ranking
Zapdos Genetic Apex (A1)
						Energy Type(s)
						F2P Friendly?
						✔️
						Deck Difficulty
						★★★
Deck Strengths
Has access to all the best Trainer cards. Only gives up one point when KOd. Can deal a solid 100 damage but will deal 30 damage to your Benched Pokemon.
Deck Weaknesses
Weak to Lightning-type decks. Can't attack until turn 3. Outclassed by its ex counterpart.

Best Meta Decks Tier List

List of Cards

Zapdos Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Zapdos ×2
Trainer Cards
Old Amber ×2				Giovanni ×2				Sabrina ×2				Potion ×2
X Speed ×2				Hand Scope ×2				Poke Ball ×2				Red Card ×
Professor's Research ×2

Deck Building Guide

Packs Required for Zapdos Deck

Pack	Featured Card

How to Play Zapdos Deck

How to Play Zapdos Deck
Core Combos and Interactions Starting Hand Deck Strategies Game Phases

Zapdos Deck Core Combos and Interactions

Primary Attacker	Disruption	Description
Zapdos	Red Card	・Zapdos serves as the primary attacker of the deck, being its sole option for Pokemon. ・Red Card when used in conjunction with Hand Scope can be great at disrupting evolution-centric strategies.

Best Starting Hand

Best Starting Hand

Make use of Hand Scope to check if your opponent has useful cards in their hand. Use this information to decide if it would be effective to use Red Card to disrupt them. Use Poke Ball to quickly get your second Zapdos out of the deck if necessary, then finish your turn with Professor's Research.

Attach an Energy and attack if you are going second.

Other Good Starting Cards

Recommended Starting Hand

Use Sabrina to pull out vulnerable low-HP Pokemon from your opponent's Bench. Use Potion to keep Zapdos out of KO range.

Best Cards Tier List

Zapdos Deck Strategies

Zapdos Deck Strategies
Hand Scope and Red Card Zapdos Offense

Strategy 1: Hand Scope and Red Card

Hand Scope and Red Card

Hand Scope and Red Card are a great one-two combo for disrupting your opponents' hands. This is especially effective against evolution-heavy decks.

Strategy 2: Zapdos Offense

Zapdos needs three Energy to start attacking. Make sure it survives three turns so that it can apply offense!

Don't Bench a second Zapdos to keep it fresh from damage, and Bench it only when your Zapdos appears to be in danger of getting KOd.

Game Phases

Early Game

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Use Hand Scope and Red Card to disrupt your opponent.

Mid-Game

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Use Professor's Research to dig for more resources.
2	Send a Fossil out into the Active Spot if Zapdos isn't ready. This works as a Basic Pokemon that can be discarded instead of retreating, making it a useful tool for buying us a valuable turn. Do note that knocking out a Fossil scores a point.

Late Game

Key Card(s) Required
1	Use Sabrina to gust up vulnerable Pokemon or Giovanni for an extra 10 damage boost to Zapdos ex's damage.

Zapdos Deck Best and Worst Matchups

Best Matchups

Deck	Commentary
Water Decks	Type: ・Positive type matchup against Water decks. ・Usually trades damage favorably.

Worst Matchups

Deck	Commentary
Pikachu ex Decks	Type: ・ Zapdos in the deck are all weak to Lightning. ・ Difficult counterplay to disadvantageous damage trades.

Overall Consistency

The variant with Zapdos ex instead of just Zapdos is vastly superior to this list, as Zapdos ex is a superior Pokemon to its non-ex counterpart. It has the advantage of being able to attack with one Energy, and does not have to damage its Benched teammates.

It is also capable of much more damage than Zapdos and is much quicker to get started. Overall, this deck is mediocre at best and should only be considered if you're up for a challenge.
Zapdos ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Zapdos Deck F2P & Substitutes

Zapdos Deck Card Substitutes

Card	Explanation
Electrode	・An Electrode line would give the deck a more Energy-efficient attacker. ・Voltorb is also a decent start, as it can KO a Staryu with the help of Giovanni using only one Energy.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta Guide

Zapdos Deck Other Viable Options

Card	Possible Cuts
Zebstrika	・ Consider running a Zebstrika line for the option to snipe an opponent's Bench. ・Blitzle can also OHKO Staryu with Giovanni.

F2P Zapdos Deck List

F2P Zapdos Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Zapdos x1	Voltorb x2	Electrode x2	Blitzle x2
Zebstrika x2
Trainer Cards
Potion x2	X Speed x2	Poke Ball x2	Professor's Research x2
Giovanni x2	Sabrina x1

A list consisting of lots of single-point attackers would be superior to just Zapdos and 18 Trainers. It offers more flexibility, options, and would be less susceptible to getting donked. There would also be more single-Energy attackers for the early game, and would not be reliant on Zapdos's three-Energy attack.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Beginner's Guide

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Deck Building Guide

All Deck Tier Lists

All Tier Lists
Best Cards Tier List	Best Meta Deck Tier List
Best Rental Deck Tier List	Best F2P Beginner Decks

Deck Articles

Deck Articles
How Rental Decks Work	Staple Cards for Decks
Aggro Decks Explained	Deck Matchup Statistics
Best 18 Trainers Decks	Best Misty Decks
Best Erika Decks	10 Match Tests vs Pikachu ex Deck - Statistics

Meta Decks

Best Meta Decks
Starmie ex Deck	Mewtwo ex Deck	Dragonite Deck
Articuno ex Deck	Arbok Lock Deck	Venusaur ex Deck
Blaine Deck	Pikachu ex Deck	Marowak ex Deck
Charizard ex Deck	Machamp ex Deck	Blastoise ex Deck
Frosmoth Deck	Exeggutor ex Deck	Centiskorch and Moltres ex Deck
Arcanine ex Deck	Gengar ex Deck	Gyarados Deck
Wigglytuff ex Deck	Melmetal Deck	Lt. Surge Deck
Alakazam and Jynx Deck	Zapdos ex Deck	Greninja Deck
Primeape Deck	Grapploct Deck	Cinccino and Weezing
Raichu and Pikachu ex Deck	Mewtwo ex and Weezing	Greninja and Weezing Deck
Venusaur ex and Weezing	Lapras ex Deck	Brock Deck
Dragonite and Weezing	Kabutops	Aerodactyl and Dragonite
Omastar and Articuno ex	Eeveelutions and Ditto	Kingler and Articuno ex
Lickitung	Articuno	Zapdos
Moltres	Venusaur	Charizard
Blastoise	Lapras ex and Butterfree	Poliwrath
Tentacruel and Greninja

Rental Decks

All Rental Decks
Venusaur ex Rental Deck	Charizard ex Rental Deck	Blastoise ex Rental Deck
Pikachu ex Rental Deck	Mewtwo ex Rental Deck	Machamp ex Rental Deck
Nidoking and Nidoqueen Rental Deck	Kanto Fossils Rental Deck	Koga Rental Deck
Brock Rental Deck	Blaine Rental Deck	Lt. Surge Rental Deck

Starter Decks

All Starter Decks
Pinsir Starter Deck	Rapidash Starter Deck	Sandslash Starter Deck