Pidgeot (NU Revamp)

Oglemi

Borf
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http://www.smogon.com/rs/pokemon/pidgeot

[Overview]

Super high Speed, considerable power, and great dual STABs, what more could you ask for in an offensive Pokemon? Indeed, Pidgeot stands out at the head of the pack in the NU tier. While it faces direct competition from Murkrow as an offensive Flying-type, Pidgeot is far bulkier, has STAB Normal-type moves, and possesses Quick Attack. On the downside, Pidgeot hits slightly weaker than Murkrow with its coverage attacks. However, that's very minor, and in the end there's very little risk to using Pidgeot thanks to its immunity to Spikes, high Speed and power, and ability to check many dangerous attackers in the tier, most prominently Hitmonchan and Bellossom.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Double-Edge
move 2: Aerial Ace / Hidden Power Flying
move 3: Hidden Power Ground / Steel Wing
move 4: Quick Attack
item: Choice Band
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

With a Choice Band, Pidgeot's STAB Double-Edge hits like a bus, and due to Pidgeot's amazing Speed, it's one of the best revenge killers and late-game sweepers available in the tier. If your style is more conservative, Return is a decent STAB alternative to Double-Edge; however, the power drop is noticeable against defensive threats like physically defensive Lickitung, where Return will fail to 2HKO whereas Double-Edge has a 30% chance of doing so even without Spikes support (it is guaranteed with one layer of Spikes). Aerial Ace completely wrecks Hitmonchan and works well with Hidden Power Ground, which takes out the Rock- and Steel-types likely to switch into Pidgeot. Please note that Aerial Ace should only be used in situations where the recoil from using Double-Edge would be undesirable, as Aerial Ace hits at about half the strength of Double-Edge on neutral targets.

Alternatively, Hidden Power Flying can be used over Aerial Ace, as it hits slightly harder and has a chance to OHKO defensive Bellossom after Spikes. However, if Hidden Power Flying is chosen, Steel Wing must be used in the third slot in order to provide coverage against Rock-types. This combination of moves should only be chosen if switching into Steel- and Rock-types is not an issue for Pidgeot's team. The last moveslot goes to Quick Attack, which is surprisingly strong when backed by STAB and Choice Band. It's useful for picking off weakened Plusle and can be used as a last resort against weather sweepers like Bellossom and Huntail.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Jolly is the nature of choice to ensure Pidgeot can Speed tie against other Pidgeot and Murkrow. Dropping the Speed down by going with Adamant gives Pidgeot quite a bit more power, but being slower than other Pidgeot and Murkrow, not to mention getting outsped by base 90 Speed Pokemon, is just terrible.

Hidden Power Grass can be used on this set to easily eliminate Graveler, Whiscash, and Relicanth; however, Hidden Power Ground is usually better for retaining the super effective hit on Magcargo and Mawile, among other threats. Spikes support is incredible when used with this set, as it pushes a ton of Pokemon into easy 2HKO range, particularly defensive threats like Lickitung and Swalot. What's more, nearly every defensive Pokemon likely to switch into Pidgeot is grounded, with Pelipper being about the only exception. Because of this, Roselia and Glalie are nearly necessary teammates to pair with Pidgeot.

Pidgeot is a great check to the Grass-types of the tier, meaning Rock- and Water-types are good teammates to use with it. Loading on the Choice Band users is a good strategy when using Pidgeot, as very few teams can withstand that kind of onslaught, particularly if Pidgeot is used with its partner in crime, Murkrow, as well as other Normal-types like Vigoroth and Raticate. Finally, Plusle and Haunter have an easy time revenge killing Pidgeot, so something that can absorb Electric-type attacks is needed. Here again, Roselia is a good teammate, as are Ground-types like Whiscash, Graveler, and Piloswine.

[SET]
name: Substitute + 3 Attacks
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Aerial Ace
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Quick Attack
item: Silk Scarf / Leftovers
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Pidgeot's greater bulk over Murkrow is put to work with this set. Even without any HP investment, Pidgeot's Substitute is never broken by defensive Tangela's Hidden Power Grass, which is something Murkrow can't accomplish even with maximum HP investment. Substitute is used to ease prediction, protect Pidgeot from status, and prevent revenge killers like Plusle and Haunter from accomplishing their mission. The ability to switch moves is the major reason why you would choose this set over Choice Band, as there are a number of Pokemon that can switch into any one of Pidgeot's moves, but few that are safe from them all.

Return is used over Double-Edge to avoid recoil and make the most of Leftovers and Pidgeot's higher bulk and ability to stick around in a battle longer than Murkrow. Hidden Power Ground is a good move to ensure that Steel- and Rock-types can't just switch in and dominate Pidgeot, but Quick Attack is also a great move to ward off Plusle and other faster attackers like Raticate from just switching in willy-nilly. Finally, Aerial Ace is used as secondary STAB attack, but it's very weak when not super effective. Therefore, Toxic is a good replacement; it's probably Pidgeot's best move for very bulky walls like Relicanth, and it's a good way to stall out dangerous threats like Huntail and Vigoroth.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

A Jolly nature is needed to Speed tie with other Pidgeot and Murkrow and outrun Venomoth. However, Adamant is an option on this set thanks to Substitute protecting Pidgeot from being revenge killed, and it beefs up the power behind its STAB Return. Spikes support is incredible with this set, as it pushes many Pokemon into easy 2HKO range, particularly less defensive Steel-types like Mawile. Thanks to the lack of Choice Band, Spikes punishes common switch-ins even more, as Pidgeot can use Return as a drawback-free move and then follow up with a more appropriate attack.

Pidgeot is a great check to Grass-types, meaning Rock- and Water-types are good teammates to use with Pidgeot, particularly more immediately offensive Pokemon like Graveler and Seadra. Murkrow is another good offensive teammate to pair with this particular Pidgeot set, as Pidgeot can very effectively lure in targets like Mawile and Plusle and eliminate them with Hidden Power Ground from behind a Substitute, opening up an easy sweep for Murkrow later in the game.

[Other Options]

Agility is a great move to get the jump on Pidgeot's common revenge killers, namely Plusle and Haunter, and make late-game sweeping much easier considering +2 Pidgeot also outspeeds Bellossom and Tangela in the sun. An Endure + Liechi Berry set is also effective, and a +1 Quick Attack can really sting Raticate, Plusle, and Hitmonchan. A more defensive set can make use of Whirlwind and Toxic; however, Tropius, Togetic, and Noctowl are much more effective defensive Flying-types than Pidgeot.

[Checks and Counters]

The best initial switch-ins to Pidgeot are Steel- and Rock-types, particularly those lacking a 4x weakness to Ground. Namely, Mawile, Metang, Relicanth, and Sudowoodo all very effectively tank anything Pidgeot can throw at them and threaten it out with their STAB moves. Lairon gets a special mention for 4x resisting both Double-Edge and Aerial Ace, but it really needs to be careful of Hidden Power Ground. Physically defensive Sableye easily walls Pidgeot and can stall it out with Toxic and Recover. From there, generally physically bulky Pokemon like Piloswine and Pelipper can tank any attack from Pidgeot and KO it back, particularly if it damages itself with Double-Edge in the process. Finally, Pidgeot is relatively easy to revenge kill with both Plusle and Haunter, as well as Choice Band Raticate.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Disaster Area

formerly Piexplode
Silk Scarf with Max/Max Atk and Spe is pretty nice, like the CB set but with less power and the ability to switch moves. I paired it with Mawile+Diglett, since they can lure in and trap lots of Rocks etc that may try and wall it, and can pass SD boosts and Subs to Pidgeot, which has the handy ground immunity making it a lovely partner. Return/Quick Attack/HP Ground/Aerial Ace is the set, but ofc a separate normal STAB over Return is viable.
 
Y'know HP:Grass is a serious option to snipe Graveller/Pupitar/Relicanth on the switch on the CB/Sub 3 attacks set. Just saying man :P,also seconding Diglett+Pidgeot being a very nice core :)
 

Disaster Area

formerly Piexplode
Y'know HP:Grass is a serious option to snipe Graveller/Pupitar/Relicanth on the switch on the CB/Sub 3 attacks set. Just saying man :P,also seconding Diglett+Pidgeot being a very nice core :)
Hard to fit HP Grass but worth noting if you run Pidgeot+Murkrow often you can drop HP ground on one for HP Grass (Murkrow usually does it better) as a lure for Relicanth etc.
 

Lumari

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GP 1/2
[Overview]

Super fast high speed, powerful good power, (optional, wording consistency) and great offensive (redundancy error, STABs are by their nature offensive) dual STABs, what more could you ask for in an offensive Pokemon? Indeed, Pidgeot stands out at the head of the pack in the NU tier. While it faces direct competition from Murkrow as an offensive Flying-type, Pidgeot is far bulkier, has STAB Normal-type moves, and possesses Quick Attack over Murkrow. On the downside, Pidgeot is slightly weaker than Murkrow overall. However, that's very minor, and in the end there's very little risk to using Pidgeot thanks to its immunity to Spikes, high Speed and power, and ability to check a ton of dangerous attackers in the tier, most prominently Hitmonchan and Tangela.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Double-Edge / Return
move 2: Aerial Ace / Hidden Power Flying
move 3: Hidden Power Ground / Steel Wing
move 4: Quick Attack
item: Choice Band
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

With a Choice Band, Pidgeot's STAB Double-Edge hits like a bus, and due to Pidgeot's amazing Speed, it's one of the best revenge killers and late-game sweepers available in the tier. If your style is more conservative, Return is a decent STAB alternative to Double-Edge; however, the power drop is noticeable against defensive threats like physically defensive Lickitung, where Return will fail to 2HKO whereas Double-Edge has a 30% chance of doing so even without Spikes support (it is guaranteed with one layer of Spikes). Aerial Ace completely wrecks Hitmonchan and works well with Hidden Power Ground, which takes out the Rock- and Steel-types likely to switch into Pidgeot. Please note that Aerial Ace should only be used in situations where the recoil from using Double-Edge would be undesirable, as Aerial Ace hits at about half the strength of Double-Edge on neutral targets.

Alternatively, Hidden Power Flying can be used over Aerial Ace, as it hits slightly harder and has a chance to OHKO defensive Bellossom after Spikes. However, if Hidden Power Flying is chosen, Steel Wing must be used in the third slot in order to provide coverage against Rock-types. This combination of moves should only be chosen if switching into Steel- and Rock-types is not an issue for Pidgeot's team. The last moveslot goes to Quick Attack, which is surprisingly strong when backed by STAB and Choice Band. It's useful for picking off weakened Plusle and can be used as a last resort against weather sweepers like Bellossom and Huntail.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Jolly is chosen as the nature of choice to ensure Pidgeot can Speed tie against other Pidgeot and Murkrow. Dropping the Speed down by going with Adamant gives Pidgeot quite a bit more power, but auto-losing the Speed tie to other Pidgeot and Murkrow is just sucks terrible.

Hidden Power Grass can be used on this set to easily eliminate Graveler, Whiscash, and Relicanth; however, Hidden Power Ground is usually better for retaining the super effective hit on Magcargo and Mawile, among other threats. Spikes support is incredible when used with this set, (AC) as it pushes a ton of Pokemon into easy 2HKO range, particularly defensive threats like Lickitung and Swalot. What's more, nearly every defensive Pokemon likely to switch into Pidgeot is grounded, with Pelipper being about the only exception. Because of this, Roselia and Glalie are nearly necessary teammates to pair with Pidgeot.

Pidgeot is a great check to the Grass-types of the tier, meaning Rock- and Water-types are good teammates to use with Pidgeot it. Loading on the Choice Band users is a good strategy when using Pidgeot, as very few teams can withstand that kind of onslaught, particularly if Pidgeot is used with its partner in crime, Murkrow, as well as other Normal-types like Vigoroth and Raticate. Finally, Plusle and Haunter have an easy time revenge killing Pidgeot, so something that can absorb Electric-type attacks is needed. Here again Roselia is a good teammate, as well as Ground-types like Whiscash, Graveler, and Piloswine.

[SET]
name: Substitute + 3 Attacks
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Aerial Ace
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Quick Attack
item: Silk Scarf / Leftovers
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Pidgeot's greater bulk over Murkrow is put to work with this set. Even without any HP investment, Pidgeot's Substitute is never broken by defensive Tangela's Hidden Power Grass, which is something Murkrow can't accomplish even with maximum HP investment. Substitute is used to ease prediction, protect Pidgeot from status, and prevents prevent revenge killers like Plusle and Haunter from accomplishing their mission. The ability to switch moves is the major reason why you would choose this set over Choice Band, as there are a number of Pokemon that can switch into any one of Pidgeot's moves, but few that are safe from all.

Return is used over Double-Edge to reduce recoil and make the most of Leftovers and Pidgeot's higher bulk and ability to stick around in a battle longer than Murkrow. Hidden Power Ground is a good move to ensure that Steel- and Rock-types can't just switch in and dominate Pidgeot, but Quick Attack is also a great move to ward off Plusle and other faster attackers like Raticate from just switching in willy-nilly. Finally, Aerial Ace is used as secondary STAB attack, but it's very weak when not super effective. Therefore, Toxic is a good replacement, which is probably Pidgeot's best move for very bulky walls like Relicanth, and it's a good way to stall out dangerous threats like Huntail and Vigoroth.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Jolly is needed to Speed tie other Pidgeot and Murkrow and outrun Venomoth. However, Adamant is an option on this set thanks to Substitute protecting Pidgeot from being revenge killed, and it beefs up the power behind its STAB Return. Spikes support is incredible with this set, (AC) as it pushes a lot of Pokemon into easy 2HKO range, particularly less defensive Steel-types like Mawile. Thanks to the lack of Choice Band, Spikes also punish common switch-ins even more, (AC) as Pidgeot can use Return as a safety move and then follow up with a more appropriate attack.

Pidgeot is a great check to Grass-types, meaning Rock- and Water-types are good teammates to use with Pidgeot, particularly more immediately offensive Pokemon like Graveler and Seadra. Murkrow is another good offensive teammate to pair with Pidgeot, particularly on this set, (AC) as Pidgeot can very effectively lure in targets like Mawile and Plusle and eliminate them with Hidden Power Ground from behind a Substitute, opening up an easy sweep for Murkrow later in the game.

[Other Options]

Agility is a great move to get the jump on Pidgeot's common revenge killers, namely Plusle and Haunter, and makes make late-game sweeping much easier considering +2 Pidgeot also outspeeds Bellossom and Tangela in the sun at +2. (optional) An Endure + Liechi Berry set is also effective, and a +1 Quick Attack can really sting Raticate, Plusle, and Hitmonchan. A more defensive set can make use of Whirlwind and Toxic; however, Pelipper, Togetic, and Noctowl are much more effective defensive Flying-types than Pidgeot.

[Checks and Counters]

The best initial switch-ins to Pidgeot are Steel- and Rock-types, particularly those lacking a 4x weakness to Ground. Namely, Mawile, Graveler, Relicanth, and Sudowoodo all very effectively tank anything Pidgeot can throw at them and threaten it out with their STAB moves. Lairon gets a special mention for 4x resisting both Double-Edge and Aerial Ace, but it really needs to be careful of Hidden Power Ground. From there, generally physically bulky Pokemon like Piloswine and Pelipper can tank any attack from Pidgeot and KO it back, particularly if it damages itself from Double-Edge in the process. Finally, Pidgeot is relatively easy to revenge kill with both Plusle and Haunter, as well as Choice Band Raticate.
 
Last edited:

GP 2/2
remove add

[Overview]

Super high Speed, powerful considerable power, and great dual STABs, what more could you ask for in an offensive Pokemon? Indeed, Pidgeot stands out at the head of the pack in the NU tier. While it faces direct competition from Murkrow as an offensive Flying-type, Pidgeot is far bulkier, has STAB Normal-type moves, and possesses Quick Attack over Murkrow. On the downside, Pidgeot hits slightly weaker than Murkrow with its coverage attacks than Murkrow. However, that's very minor, and in the end there's very little risk to using Pidgeot thanks to its immunity to Spikes, high Speed and power, and ability to check many dangerous attackers in the tier, most prominently Hitmonchan and Bellossom.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Double-Edge
move 2: Aerial Ace / Hidden Power Flying
move 3: Hidden Power Ground / Steel Wing
move 4: Quick Attack
item: Choice Band
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

With a Choice Band, Pidgeot's STAB Double-Edge hits like a bus, and due to Pidgeot's amazing Speed, it's one of the best revenge killers and late-game sweepers available in the tier. If your style is more conservative, Return is a decent STAB alternative to Double-Edge; however, the power drop is noticeable against defensive threats like physically defensive Lickitung, where Return will fail to 2HKO whereas Double-Edge has a 30% chance of doing so even without Spikes support (it is guaranteed with one layer of Spikes). Aerial Ace completely wrecks Hitmonchan and works well with Hidden Power Ground, which takes out the Rock- and Steel-types likely to switch into Pidgeot. Please note that Aerial Ace should only be used in situations where the recoil from using Double-Edge would be undesirable, as Aerial Ace hits at about half the strength of Double-Edge on neutral targets.

Alternatively, Hidden Power Flying can be used over Aerial Ace, as it hits slightly harder and has a chance to OHKO defensive Bellossom after Spikes. However, if Hidden Power Flying is chosen, Steel Wing must be used in the third slot in order to provide coverage against Rock-types. This combination of moves should only be chosen if switching into Steel- and Rock-types is not an issue for Pidgeot's team. The last moveslot goes to Quick Attack, which is surprisingly strong when backed by STAB and Choice Band. It's useful for picking off weakened Plusle and can be used as a last resort against weather sweepers like Bellossom and Huntail.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Jolly is the nature of choice to ensure Pidgeot can Speed tie against other Pidgeot and Murkrow. Dropping the Speed down by going with Adamant gives Pidgeot quite a bit more power, but auto-losing the Speed tie to being slower than other Pidgeot and Murkrow, not to mention getting outsped by base Speed 90s 90 Speed Pokemon, is just terrible.

Hidden Power Grass can be used on this set to easily eliminate Graveler, Whiscash, and Relicanth; however, Hidden Power Ground is usually better for retaining the super effective hit on Magcargo and Mawile, among other threats. Spikes support is incredible when used with this set, as it pushes a ton of Pokemon into easy 2HKO range, particularly defensive threats like Lickitung and Swalot. What's more, nearly every defensive Pokemon likely to switch into Pidgeot is grounded, with Pelipper being about the only exception. Because of this, Roselia and Glalie are nearly necessary teammates to pair with Pidgeot.

Pidgeot is a great check to the Grass-types of the tier, meaning Rock- and Water-types are good teammates to use with it. Loading on the Choice Band users is a good strategy when using Pidgeot, as very few teams can withstand that kind of onslaught, particularly if Pidgeot is used with its partner in crime, Murkrow, as well as other Normal-types like Vigoroth and Raticate. Finally, Plusle and Haunter have an easy time revenge killing Pidgeot, so something that can absorb Electric-type attacks is needed. Here again, (comma) Roselia is a good teammate, as well as are Ground-types like Whiscash, Graveler, and Piloswine.

[SET]
name: Substitute + 3 Attacks
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Aerial Ace
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Quick Attack
item: Silk Scarf / Leftovers
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Pidgeot's greater bulk over Murkrow is put to work with this set. Even without any HP investment, Pidgeot's Substitute is never broken by defensive Tangela's Hidden Power Grass, which is something Murkrow can't accomplish even with maximum HP investment. Substitute is used to ease prediction, protect Pidgeot from status, and prevent revenge killers like Plusle and Haunter from accomplishing their mission. The ability to switch moves is the major reason why you would choose this set over Choice Band, as there are a number of Pokemon that can switch into any one of Pidgeot's moves, but few that are safe from them all.

Return is used over Double-Edge to reduce avoid recoil and make the most of Leftovers and Pidgeot's higher bulk and ability to stick around in a battle longer than Murkrow. Hidden Power Ground is a good move to ensure that Steel- and Rock-types can't just switch in and dominate Pidgeot, but Quick Attack is also a great move to ward off Plusle and other faster attackers like Raticate from just switching in willy-nilly. Finally, Aerial Ace is used as secondary STAB attack, but it's very weak when not super effective. Therefore, Toxic is a good replacement,; (semi) it's which is probably Pidgeot's best move for very bulky walls like Relicanth, and it's a good way to stall out dangerous threats like Huntail and Vigoroth.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

A Jolly nature is needed to Speed tie with other Pidgeot and Murkrow and outrun Venomoth. However, Adamant is an option on this set thanks to Substitute protecting Pidgeot from being revenge killed, and it beefs up the power behind its STAB Return. Spikes support is incredible with this set, as it pushes many Pokemon into easy 2HKO range, particularly less defensive Steel-types like Mawile. Thanks to the lack of Choice Band, Spikes also punishes common switch-ins even more, as Pidgeot can use Return as a safety drawback-free move and then follow up with a more appropriate attack.

Pidgeot is a great check to Grass-types, meaning Rock- and Water-types are good teammates to use with Pidgeot, particularly more immediately offensive Pokemon like Graveler and Seadra. Murkrow is another good offensive teammate to pair with this particular Pidgeot set, particularly on this set, as Pidgeot can very effectively lure in targets like Mawile and Plusle and eliminate them with Hidden Power Ground from behind a Substitute, opening up an easy sweep for Murkrow later in the game.

[Other Options]

Agility is a great move to get the jump on Pidgeot's common revenge killers, namely Plusle and Haunter, and make late-game sweeping much easier considering +2 Pidgeot also outspeeds Bellossom and Tangela in the sun. An Endure + Liechi Berry set is also effective, and a +1 Quick Attack can really sting Raticate, Plusle, and Hitmonchan. A more defensive set can make use of Whirlwind and Toxic; however, Tropius, Togetic, and Noctowl are much more effective defensive Flying-types than Pidgeot.

[Checks and Counters]

The best initial switch-ins to Pidgeot are Steel- and Rock-types, particularly those lacking a 4x weakness to Ground. Namely, Mawile, Metang, Relicanth, and Sudowoodo all very effectively tank anything Pidgeot can throw at them and threaten it out with their STAB moves. Lairon gets a special mention for 4x resisting both Double-Edge and Aerial Ace, but it really needs to be careful of Hidden Power Ground. Physically defensive Sableye easily walls Pidgeot and can stall it out with Toxic and Recover. From there, generally physically bulky Pokemon like Piloswine and Pelipper can tank any attack from Pidgeot and KO it back, particularly if it damages itself from with Double-Edge in the process. Finally, Pidgeot is relatively easy to revenge kill with both Plusle and Haunter, as well as Choice Band Raticate.
 
Last edited:

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