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#663 - Talonflame
Base stats
Talonflame: 78 HP / 81 Atk / 71 Def / 74 SpAtk / 69 SpDef / 126 Spe [BST: 499]
Abilities
Flame Body - 30% chance to burn the opponent if the Flame Body user is hit by a contact move.
Gale Wings (H) - The priority of the user's Flying-type moves are increased by 1
Viable moves
(bold indicates STAB)
Overview
Talonflame, also known as "Smogonbird" is one of the threats that every team must prepare for. As its hidden ability Gale Wings was revealed, Talonflame has risen to A+ in the OU Viability Rankings. Given its ability, it had access to STAB priority Brave Bird, the most powerful and reliable priority move in existence. Its base 126 speed isn't something to laugh at either, having access to the fastest user of a priority attack not named ExtremeSpeed. Its Fire/Flying typing is pretty much a great typing offensively. Additionally, it has access to Swords Dance capable of turning Talonflame into a terrifying sweeper backed up with priority to put opposing teams under pressure. It also has access to a reliable form of recovery in priority Roost. However, do not overestimate Talonflame, as it has its setbacks in OU as well. Talonflame's most notorious flaw is its 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which makes it highly reliant on hazard removal in order to effectively do its job. Additionally, its base 81 Attack stat is fairly weak compared to other offensive Pokemon without a boost. Talonflame is also frail, its 78 HP / 71 Def / 69 SpD is somewhat mediocre for a defensive set. Lastly, it is easily worn down by recoil damage from Brave Bird and Flare Blitz.
Relevant Movesets
Offensive Swords Dance
Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
Swords Dance is what makes Talonflame a fearsome sweeper and can plow through teams given opposing walls and counters are removed. Brave Bird is your spammable STAB move of choice, boosted by Sharp Beak and +1 priority. Also, Brave Bird hits a large portion of the meta for neutral or super-effective damage. Flare Blitz is your secondary STAB frying Steel-types bar Heatran. Always run Roost on every Talonflame set, as recoil damage from your attacks as well as Stealth Rock will wear you down rather quickly. 176 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allows Talonflame outspeed Scarf Tyranitar, Scarf Magnezone, as well as max base 115s. 252 Attack is used to make Talonflame hit hard as possible, while the remainder is dumped to HP in order to set up better. However, an EV spread of 252 Atk / 252 Spe can be used if you want to outspeed Weavile and speed tie with the opposing Talonflame. Adamant with an EV spread of 252 Atk / 252 Spe can also be used for extra power while still outspeeding base 110s, but take note that you won't be able to outspeed Thundurus and base 115 speed Pokemon anymore, so Jolly is still preferred, as Adamant isn't needed when you're running SD anyways.
As Talonflame often forces switches, it isn't really hard to find an opportunity to set up an SD. Also, do take note that Talonflame can beat some of its checks after an SD. For example, Talonflame can out-prioritize and kill Thundurus with a +2 Brave Bird after Stealth Rock, and an 81% chance to OHKO Scarf Landorus-T with a +1 Brave Bird (assuming it has Intimidated you) after Stealth Rock. Talonflame can actually set up on Heatran provided the latter lacks Toxic or Rock-type coverage. Talonflame can also be used as a regular attacker, revenge killing with Brave Bird early- to mid-game. Do not forget to ensure that hazards are out of your team's side, as well as keeping Talonflame healthy with Roost.
Stallbreaker / Defensive
Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Swords Dance / Will-o-Wisp / Bulk Up
- Brave Bird
- Taunt / Will-o-Wisp
- Roost
The Stallbreaker set tackles a more defensive approach on Talonflame. A Specially Defensive spread is used in order to tank hits from dangerous special attackers such as the likes of Mega Sableye, Mega Gardevoir, Landorus-I, Mega Charizard-Y, to name a few. Brave Bird is your STAB priority attacking move, though Acrobatics can be used if recoil is undesirable and if the passive recovery from Leftovers isn't needed. Obviously, Roost is mandatory in order to recover health, as you're running a defensive set. Swords Dance lets Talonflame break through Mega Sableye, who otherwise walls the Will-o-Wisp + Taunt combination. Bulk Up allows Talonflame to increase its Attack while at the same time being able to tank hits better from physical attacks. Additionally, Bulk Up is capable of taking on Foul Play Mega Sableye as unlike SD, Bulk Up boosts Talonflame's Attack and Defense stat at the same rate. Taunt shuts down walls by disabling their status moves and recovery. Will-o-Wisp punishes physical attackers as well as some of its usual switch-ins such as Tyranitar, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon.
Choice Band
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Steel Wing / Tailwind
What differentiates the Revenge Killer set from the Swords Dance set is that the former provides immediate power. As always, Brave Bird is your mandatory spammable STAB priority. Flare Blitz is your secondary STAB allowing it to roast Steel-types. U-turn grabs momentum, allowing it to pivot into one of its teammates. Steel Wing scores a surprise kill on Mega Diancie. Tailwind can be used as a last ditch effort in order to increase the team's speed and have the teammate revenge kill after Talonflame has fainted, if not mini-sweep outright. Roost isn't used on this set, as getting locked into it sacrifices a lot of momentum.
The Choice Band provided offsets its Attack stat. As Talonflame will be easily worn down, it should be used mainly to revenge kill, as you lack recovery from Roost. Also when running Steel Wing, you need to ensure that Mega Diancie doesn't scout it through Protect, as otherwise, the crucial surprise factor is gone. Again, do not ever forget to remove hazards, as Talonflame will otherwise be useless if Stealth Rock is on your team's side.
Swords Dance + Natural Gift
Talonflame @ Liechi Berry / Salac Berry / Apicot Berry
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Brave Bird
- Natural Gift
- Flare Blitz / Roost
The Natural Gift set lures some of its usual checks with the appropriate berry. Swords Dance is used in order to increase its damage output, raising its Attack stat to the point where Natural Gift can dent them, if not KO them outright. Liechi Berry converts Natural Gift to a 100 BP Grass-type move, capable of OHKOing Mega Diancie and Mega Swampert at +2 while denting Rotom-W, Quagsire, and Tyranitar. Salac Berry converts Natural Gift to a 100 BP Fighting-type move, OHKOing Physically Defensive Tyranitar and 0 HP / 0 Def variants of Heatran after SR. Apicot Berry turns Natural Gift to a 100 BP Ground-type move, killing Mega Diancie and non-Air Balloon variants of Heatran at +2 and hitting Tyranitar as well. As always, Brave Bird is your obligatory STAB move of choice. Flare Blitz prevents Talonflame from being walled by Steel-types and certain Flying-type resists. However, Roost provides Talonflame reliable form of recovery, as he will otherwise go down very quickly from SR and recoil damage. Do not run Adamant, as you will be revenge killed by Scarf Tyranitar otherwise.
Other Options
Acrobatics can be used over Brave Bird on its offensive sets (not Choice Band Talonflame, though) if recoil is something that bothers you, but only if you're fine with the less damage output than what Sharp Beak + Brave Bird provides.
A Mega Diancie lure set with Brave Bird / Flare Blitz / Roost (or) U-turn / Steel Wing, with Sharp Beak or Expert Belt as your item can be opted, while at the same time bluffing the Choice Band set if running U-turn, but it comes at the cost of forgoing immediate power from Choice Band or the boost from Swords Dance.
Do not use
Life Orb grants extra power than Sharp Beak while also boosting Flare Blitz, but the recoil from LO stacks with Brave Bird recoil, and most of Flare Blitz' targets are hit hard enough anyways. Again, the recoil damage wears down Talonflame quite fast; at all costs, stay away from it.
Conclusion
Despite numerous flaws, if given all the proper team support, Talonflame can easily rip unprepared teams apart. It stands as an A+ rank threat, one of the most defining Pokemon in the OU metagame. With access to Gale Wings turning its STAB Brave Bird as one of the most convenient revenge killing tools, backed up by its offensive Fire/Flying typing. As evident to all said above, Talonflame is one of the threats that every team must prepare when teambuilding. And with its positive traits, Talonflame can fit into many offensive teams.
With all that said, feel free to discuss. How has the transition from XY to ORAS affected Talonflame? What efficient cores can be built with Talonflame? And which Pokemon can reliably counter Talonflame with little effort?
Original thread found here
#663 - Talonflame
Base stats
Talonflame: 78 HP / 81 Atk / 71 Def / 74 SpAtk / 69 SpDef / 126 Spe [BST: 499]
Abilities
Flame Body - 30% chance to burn the opponent if the Flame Body user is hit by a contact move.
Gale Wings (H) - The priority of the user's Flying-type moves are increased by 1
Viable moves
(bold indicates STAB)
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
- U-turn
- Steel Wing
- Will-o-Wisp
- Swords Dance
- Taunt
- Acrobatics
- Natural Gift
- Tailwind
- Bulk Up
Talonflame, also known as "Smogonbird" is one of the threats that every team must prepare for. As its hidden ability Gale Wings was revealed, Talonflame has risen to A+ in the OU Viability Rankings. Given its ability, it had access to STAB priority Brave Bird, the most powerful and reliable priority move in existence. Its base 126 speed isn't something to laugh at either, having access to the fastest user of a priority attack not named ExtremeSpeed. Its Fire/Flying typing is pretty much a great typing offensively. Additionally, it has access to Swords Dance capable of turning Talonflame into a terrifying sweeper backed up with priority to put opposing teams under pressure. It also has access to a reliable form of recovery in priority Roost. However, do not overestimate Talonflame, as it has its setbacks in OU as well. Talonflame's most notorious flaw is its 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which makes it highly reliant on hazard removal in order to effectively do its job. Additionally, its base 81 Attack stat is fairly weak compared to other offensive Pokemon without a boost. Talonflame is also frail, its 78 HP / 71 Def / 69 SpD is somewhat mediocre for a defensive set. Lastly, it is easily worn down by recoil damage from Brave Bird and Flare Blitz.
Relevant Movesets
Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
Swords Dance is what makes Talonflame a fearsome sweeper and can plow through teams given opposing walls and counters are removed. Brave Bird is your spammable STAB move of choice, boosted by Sharp Beak and +1 priority. Also, Brave Bird hits a large portion of the meta for neutral or super-effective damage. Flare Blitz is your secondary STAB frying Steel-types bar Heatran. Always run Roost on every Talonflame set, as recoil damage from your attacks as well as Stealth Rock will wear you down rather quickly. 176 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allows Talonflame outspeed Scarf Tyranitar, Scarf Magnezone, as well as max base 115s. 252 Attack is used to make Talonflame hit hard as possible, while the remainder is dumped to HP in order to set up better. However, an EV spread of 252 Atk / 252 Spe can be used if you want to outspeed Weavile and speed tie with the opposing Talonflame. Adamant with an EV spread of 252 Atk / 252 Spe can also be used for extra power while still outspeeding base 110s, but take note that you won't be able to outspeed Thundurus and base 115 speed Pokemon anymore, so Jolly is still preferred, as Adamant isn't needed when you're running SD anyways.
As Talonflame often forces switches, it isn't really hard to find an opportunity to set up an SD. Also, do take note that Talonflame can beat some of its checks after an SD. For example, Talonflame can out-prioritize and kill Thundurus with a +2 Brave Bird after Stealth Rock, and an 81% chance to OHKO Scarf Landorus-T with a +1 Brave Bird (assuming it has Intimidated you) after Stealth Rock. Talonflame can actually set up on Heatran provided the latter lacks Toxic or Rock-type coverage. Talonflame can also be used as a regular attacker, revenge killing with Brave Bird early- to mid-game. Do not forget to ensure that hazards are out of your team's side, as well as keeping Talonflame healthy with Roost.
Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Swords Dance / Will-o-Wisp / Bulk Up
- Brave Bird
- Taunt / Will-o-Wisp
- Roost
The Stallbreaker set tackles a more defensive approach on Talonflame. A Specially Defensive spread is used in order to tank hits from dangerous special attackers such as the likes of Mega Sableye, Mega Gardevoir, Landorus-I, Mega Charizard-Y, to name a few. Brave Bird is your STAB priority attacking move, though Acrobatics can be used if recoil is undesirable and if the passive recovery from Leftovers isn't needed. Obviously, Roost is mandatory in order to recover health, as you're running a defensive set. Swords Dance lets Talonflame break through Mega Sableye, who otherwise walls the Will-o-Wisp + Taunt combination. Bulk Up allows Talonflame to increase its Attack while at the same time being able to tank hits better from physical attacks. Additionally, Bulk Up is capable of taking on Foul Play Mega Sableye as unlike SD, Bulk Up boosts Talonflame's Attack and Defense stat at the same rate. Taunt shuts down walls by disabling their status moves and recovery. Will-o-Wisp punishes physical attackers as well as some of its usual switch-ins such as Tyranitar, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon.
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Steel Wing / Tailwind
What differentiates the Revenge Killer set from the Swords Dance set is that the former provides immediate power. As always, Brave Bird is your mandatory spammable STAB priority. Flare Blitz is your secondary STAB allowing it to roast Steel-types. U-turn grabs momentum, allowing it to pivot into one of its teammates. Steel Wing scores a surprise kill on Mega Diancie. Tailwind can be used as a last ditch effort in order to increase the team's speed and have the teammate revenge kill after Talonflame has fainted, if not mini-sweep outright. Roost isn't used on this set, as getting locked into it sacrifices a lot of momentum.
The Choice Band provided offsets its Attack stat. As Talonflame will be easily worn down, it should be used mainly to revenge kill, as you lack recovery from Roost. Also when running Steel Wing, you need to ensure that Mega Diancie doesn't scout it through Protect, as otherwise, the crucial surprise factor is gone. Again, do not ever forget to remove hazards, as Talonflame will otherwise be useless if Stealth Rock is on your team's side.
Talonflame @ Liechi Berry / Salac Berry / Apicot Berry
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Brave Bird
- Natural Gift
- Flare Blitz / Roost
The Natural Gift set lures some of its usual checks with the appropriate berry. Swords Dance is used in order to increase its damage output, raising its Attack stat to the point where Natural Gift can dent them, if not KO them outright. Liechi Berry converts Natural Gift to a 100 BP Grass-type move, capable of OHKOing Mega Diancie and Mega Swampert at +2 while denting Rotom-W, Quagsire, and Tyranitar. Salac Berry converts Natural Gift to a 100 BP Fighting-type move, OHKOing Physically Defensive Tyranitar and 0 HP / 0 Def variants of Heatran after SR. Apicot Berry turns Natural Gift to a 100 BP Ground-type move, killing Mega Diancie and non-Air Balloon variants of Heatran at +2 and hitting Tyranitar as well. As always, Brave Bird is your obligatory STAB move of choice. Flare Blitz prevents Talonflame from being walled by Steel-types and certain Flying-type resists. However, Roost provides Talonflame reliable form of recovery, as he will otherwise go down very quickly from SR and recoil damage. Do not run Adamant, as you will be revenge killed by Scarf Tyranitar otherwise.
Other Options
Acrobatics can be used over Brave Bird on its offensive sets (not Choice Band Talonflame, though) if recoil is something that bothers you, but only if you're fine with the less damage output than what Sharp Beak + Brave Bird provides.
A Mega Diancie lure set with Brave Bird / Flare Blitz / Roost (or) U-turn / Steel Wing, with Sharp Beak or Expert Belt as your item can be opted, while at the same time bluffing the Choice Band set if running U-turn, but it comes at the cost of forgoing immediate power from Choice Band or the boost from Swords Dance.
Do not use
Life Orb grants extra power than Sharp Beak while also boosting Flare Blitz, but the recoil from LO stacks with Brave Bird recoil, and most of Flare Blitz' targets are hit hard enough anyways. Again, the recoil damage wears down Talonflame quite fast; at all costs, stay away from it.
Conclusion
Despite numerous flaws, if given all the proper team support, Talonflame can easily rip unprepared teams apart. It stands as an A+ rank threat, one of the most defining Pokemon in the OU metagame. With access to Gale Wings turning its STAB Brave Bird as one of the most convenient revenge killing tools, backed up by its offensive Fire/Flying typing. As evident to all said above, Talonflame is one of the threats that every team must prepare when teambuilding. And with its positive traits, Talonflame can fit into many offensive teams.
With all that said, feel free to discuss. How has the transition from XY to ORAS affected Talonflame? What efficient cores can be built with Talonflame? And which Pokemon can reliably counter Talonflame with little effort?
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