I'm going to stick with float stone. Even though it recommends Buddy Barrier for EVERYONE, Absol has such low hp anyways so it's really not going to make much of a difference. Would rather have that more early game boost in attack and speed to get my team ahead.
Sure the game comes down to Zapdos every time anyways, but having my team not as ahead and getting a pathetic shield I don't think is game changing enough.
I've found Absol cannot fight at all at Zapdos anyways. There's 5 other pokemon there at the fight and no matter what someone is going to try and lock you down and you'll be bursted regardless. The best way is to try and sneak behind somehow and assassinate someone from the back row, or use your ult to push everyone away.
The second you jump into them as Absol, you are dead in half a second, it won't matter if you have a tiny extra shield, you're still dead 100%. The other speedsters really don't have this issue as bad as Absol has it (concerning Zapdos fights). Zeraora gets big shields and recovery... Talonflame can be untargetable, Gengar do the hexy and can't be hit either.
You'd be better off getting something to improve damage more though.
3.7% increase at level 30 is pretty horrible though.
---
PSN, and GT: Waluigi1 Switch FC: SW-6848-3841-9099