Spearow (Analysis)

Done! Ready for upload.

Approved: 2/2: (Elevator Music) (Dracoyoshi8)
GP Checks: 2/2:(bugmaniacbob) (Flora)

Hi C&C. Here is Spearow’s analysis!




http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/spearow

[OVERVIEW]

<p>Spearow is an underrated threat that many people overlook due to its low defenses and weakness to Stealth Rock. Although Spearow is pretty much outclassed by Doduo, which has higher stats and access to Brave Bird, Spearow has access to U-turn, which allows it to scout for its counters, and Heat Wave, which lets Spearow 2HKO Bronzor with Life Orb's boost factored in. Overall, Spearow is a Pokemon that should not be underestimated, because with the given support, Spearow can really punch holes in the opponent's team.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Return
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Drill Peck / Pluck
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Naive / Naughty
evs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 28 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set focuses primarily on scouting and revenge killing the opponent with Spearow's attacks. Return is Spearow’s main attack, backed up by Drill Peck for a secondary STAB attack, which hits Grass-, Fighting-, and Bug-types harder than Return. Pluck can be used over Drill Peck in order to pick off Oran Berries, and to give Spearow a means of recovery. Heat Wave allows Spearow to hit Steel-types that resist Return and Drill Peck for decent damage, despite its low Special Attack. U-turn is the last attack, allowing Spearow to scout for its counters and bring momentum to your team.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Spearow pairs well with Pokemon that can cover Spearow's weaknesses. Bronzor makes a good defensive teammate because it has decent defensive synergy with Spearow, and can set up Stealth Rock to make revenge killing easier. Since Spearow will be locked onto one move, having a Pokemon with Rapid Spin can be greatly beneficial, since it allows Spearow to switch in without losing a quarter of its health. The EV spread maximizes its Attack and Speed stat, while its HP, Defense, and Special Attack stats are boosted by one.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Return
move 2: Quick Attack
move 3: Pluck
move 4: Heat Wave
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 28 SpA / 196 Spe
ivs: 0 HP

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Spearow can utilize a Life Orb effectively to damage the opponent as much as possible. Pluck is the preferred option over Drill Peck, as it allows Spearow to restore its health by picking off Oran Berries, a common hold item in Little Cup. Quick Attack is Spearow's only form of priority, which helps it finish off weakened Pokemon. Return gives Spearow a powerful STAB move to use, and Heat Wave allows Spearow to hit Steel-types that would otherwise wall this set.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Like the Choice set, Spearow appreciates entry hazard support, since it often finds that it just does not have enough power to knock out walls. Phanpy, although weak to Ice-type attacks, resists Rock-type attacks and is immune to Electric-type attacks, meaning that Phanpy can easily switch in to set up Stealth Rock. Like the previous set, the EV spread allows Spearow to reach its maximum potential by maxing Attack and Speed. The remaining EVs are dumped into Defense and Special Attack, increasing each stat by one point. No HP EVs are used, along with a 0 HP IV, so that Spearow reaches 19 HP in order for Life Orb's recoil to deal only one damage to Spearow</p>

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Agility
move 3: Pluck
move 4: Return / Roost
item: Oran Berry
nature: Jolly
evs: 196 HP / 196 Def / 108 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Despite its low defensive stats, Spearow has the ability to Baton Pass Speed boosts well. With the investment in bulk, Spearow can take some hits, set up an Agility or two, and then pass the boosts to a teammate. After an Agility, Spearow reaches 28 Speed, outspeeding every Pokemon bar Choice Scarfed base 85s and above, which are fairly rare. Pluck can often restore Spearow's HP thanks to the abundance of Oran Berry. In the last slot, Return gives Spearow a decent STAB move to use; however, Roost gives Spearow instant recovery, which may help Spearow acquire more Agilities.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Spearow benefits from Pokemon that can Rapid Spin away Stealth Rock. Stealth Rock hampers Spearow's ability to Baton Pass, and therefore having Pokemon such as Sandshrew will be greatly beneficial. Spearow also likes dual screen support, which allows it to set up much more easily. Machop greatly benefits from Agility boosts, as it can now run a full offensive set boosted by Life Orb to rip open teams. Its natural bulk allows it to survive many priority attacks, and cleanly sweep late-game. Unlike the previous sets, this set invests in bulk so that Spearow can set up more comfortably. The EV spread gives it as much physical bulk as possible by investing in HP and Defense, while the remaining EVs increase Spearow's Special Defense by two points.</p>

[Team Options]

<p>Spearow greatly benefits from Rapid Spin users, since they allow it to come back in and deal damage without having to lose a quarter of its health each time. Sandshrew can do the job well, as well as set up Stealth Rock to take advantage of the switches Spearow forces. It can also beat Rock-types that fare well against Spearow. Lastly, Bronzor is a good teammate, being able to check Aron and beat it with Earthquake.</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Sadly, Spearow does not have much other options that it can make good use of. Steel Wing is an option to hurt Rock-types but has poor utility otherwise. Pursuit can be used to guarantee a kill on a weakened Pokemon. Assurance pairs well with entry hazards, dealing double the damage to Pokemon that switch in. Rain Dance or Sunny Day can be used on Spearow thanks to its above-average 70 base Speed, as well as having U-turn to immediately switch to a sweeper. However, Spearow is better off just hitting as hard as it can. Lastly, Mirror Move is an option, as Spearow can switch into Aron or Rhyhorn on a predicted Earthquake, then use Mirror Move to knock them out, but is not recommended because of its unreliability.</p>

[Counters]

<p>Pokemon with decent priority moves can beat Spearow. Fake Out from the likes of Aipom, Meowth, and Croagunk, hurts Spearow quite a lot. Choice Band Eevee can almost always knock out Spearow with Quick Attack if it has switched into Stealth Rock once. However, Spearow may have Quick Attack to counter the opposing Pokemon if they are weakened. Ghost-types such as Gastly can switch in on a predicted Choice-locked Normal-type move, and set up a Substitute before proceeding to hit Spearow's team with powerful attacks. Aron walls Spearow completely, and Rock-types such as Onix, Geodude, and Rhyhorn take very little damage from Spearow's attacks, but all of these counters must beware of U-turn, because Spearow can use it to switch to an appropriate counter.</p>

pluck should be slashed before drill peck as oran berry is more common in the metagame. Spearow isn't great, but I can see it having a decent analysis or (if it doesn't work out) a joke BS analysis.

life orb should be used over choice band.

Spearow may die fast as it is with u-turn and SR damage but it won't live that long as it is, and definitley needs to be able to switch between moves outside of the scarf set.

imo just split it into lo and scarf with lo using pluck and quick attack and scarf using drill peck and possibly heat wave (if it gets it).

You may want to mention it's outclassed as hell by Taillow, and probably Doduo.

Instead of "Bronzor" in the counters section, it should be "Steel-types like Bronzor", since they all cockblock this guy. Rock-types should get a similar mention.

Also, mention Heat Wave in OC, since Spearow has a pretty terrible movepool and it hits Steels.

Updated with LO set. I need more for AC. Any suggestions please?

Should throw in some damage calcs for the ac

I'm not any good at damage calcs. Do you have some specific Pokemon for me to do?

Thanks!

Consider an Agility + Baton Pass set since its definitely a niche that other Normal/Flying birds cannot compete in. I don't know if its set material or OC but Spearow can take a weaker hit (or two with Oran) and probably get the pass off.

All right Elevator Music! I'll add a set, but recommend Dual Screens, perhaps?

EDIT: Added a BP set.

Only other thing I can think of is Aron should be in the Counters section as well as a mention of Rock/Ground-types (Geodude, Rhyhorn, Onix, etc).

All right. I'll add that. Thank you Elevator Music!

This analysis needs one more approval. Bump!

Additions in Blue
Deletions in Red
Thoughts in Neon Green

[OVERVIEW]
<p>Spearow in an underrated threat that who people may overlook due to its low defenses and a weakness to Stealth Rock. However, Spearow manages to make up for these weaknesses by possessing above-average Attack and Speed stats. does have two stats, namely Attack and Speed which make it viable in the metagame.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Return
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Drill Peck / Pluck
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Spearow primary focus focuses is to scout and damage on scouting and damaging the opponent with its powerful STAB moves. Return is Spearow’s main STAB attackmove, which hits anything that doesn't resist or is immune to it very hard. Heat Wave allows Spearow to hit Steel-types for decent damage, despite having a low Special Attack. Drill Peck is secondary STAB, and hits Grass-types and Bug-types for a lot of damage very hard. Pluck can also be used in that slot, since Oran Berry is a very common held hold item in Little Cup, and Spearow will enjoy restoring its health can restore its health once in a while. U-turn is as the last attack, allowing Spearow to scout for counters, to bringing momentum to the team.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Spearow appreciates Pokemon that who can easily come in after it has done its job, and sweep right off the bat. Since Spearow is a decent wall breaker, it can deal a lot of damage to pave the way for a late game sweeper, such as Elekid Spearow is a good wall breaker, dealing lots of damage to a lot of Pokemon to the point where a late game sweeper such as Elekid can finish up the job. Bronzor also makes a good teammate because it has good synergy with Spearow and can set up Stealth Rock, something which Spearow appreciates.</p>

[SET]
name: Attacker
move 1: Pluck
move 2: Quick Attack
move 3: Return
move 4: Heat Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Naive
evs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Spearow can also utilize a Life Orb set, focused on nothing but all out attacking to damage the opponent as much as possible. Pluck is the preferred option so you can potentially restore your health, since often thanks to Oran Berry is being a common hold item. Quick Attack is important for Spearow, allowing it to pick off weakened Pokemon and priority is very useful in the metagame. Return gives Spearow another powerful STAB move to use, which that hurts a lot of Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Finally, Heat Wave allows Spearow to hit Steel-types, Pokemon that which would otherwise completely wall this set.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Like the Choice set, Do not mention other sets. Like ever. Spearow appreciates all forms of entry hazards, so it can turn some 2HKOs into OHKOs Stealth Rock support and even Spikes. Since Spearow often finds that it does not have enough power, entry hazards greatly help Spearow in knocking out walls.</p>

You're probably going to have to expand on this. Maybe list some entry hazard supporters (Bronzor, Hippopotas, Tentacool, Omanyte, etc.) and some pokemon that have synergy with it?

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Pluck
move 4: Return / Roost
item: Oran Berry
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 196 HP / 196 Def / 108 Sp. Def

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Spearow has one thing that many other Pokemon of the same typing do not: have, the ability to Baton Pass Speed a speed boost. With the bulk invested, Spearow can take some hits, and set up an Agility or two, then before passing it to a teammate. Pluck allows Spearow to hit Fighting types and can often restore 10 HP when attacking a holder of Oran Berry. Return is in the last slot, giving Spearow a decent and powerful STAB move to use. Roost can also be in that slot, to allow Spearow to heal back lost loss damage, in additionallowing it to setting up another Agility, or come back later in the game to Baton Pass again.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Like all other sets, Spearow benefits from a Pokemon who can Rapid Spin away the Stealth Rock. Stealth Rock hampers Spearow's ability to Baton Pass, and therefore having a Pokemon such as Sandshrew will greatly benefit Spearow. Spearow also likes Dual Screen support, which allows allowing it to set up much easier as Spearow is actually quite bulky under them. Machop greatly benefits from Agility boosts, as it can now run a full offensive set with a boosted by Life Orb to rip open many teams apart. Machop's natural bulk allows it to survive many priority attacks, and can sweep nicely late game. Speed EVs is not invested because Spearow does not invest in Speed because it already reaches 14 Speed with no investment, and after an Agility, it will outspeed every single Pokemon in the metagame, barring but Pokemon Choice Scarfers with an unboosted Speed on 19 or 20 19 Speed and a Choice Scarf and above.</p>

[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>Rapid Spinners benefit Spearow greatly, as they allow allowing it to come back in to deal damage without having to lose a fourth of its health each time Spearow it switches in. Sandshrew can do this the job well, as well as being able to setting up Stealth Rock, as Spearow will be forcing a lot of switches. Sandshrew can also beat Rock-types who fare fair well against Spearow. Magnemite is another good teammate, trapping Steel types thanks to Magnet Pull, and proceding to doing tons lots of damage courtesy of its with STAB Thunderbolt.</p>

[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Steel Wing is an option over Return, allowing it to hurt Rock types. Pursuit can be used to guarantee a kill on a weakened Pokemon, but is not recommended because Spearow would then be is then locked into on a non-STAB 40 base power attack.</p>

[COUNTERS]
<p>Even with slight bits of defensive investment, most Pokemon with a decent priority move can beat Spearow. For example, Fake Out hurts Spearow quite a lot. Choice Band Eevee can almost always knocks out Spearow with Quick Attack if it has switched into Stealth Rock once. Bronzor is a great counter to Spearow, resisting every attack but U-turn which it is only neutral to, and proceed to set up Stealth Rock. Should mention Heat Wave here. Ghost-types such as Gastly can easily switch in on a predicted Normal-type attack move, and set up a Substitute before proceeding to hit your team with powerful attacks. Aron walls Spearow completely, and Rock types such as Onix, Geodude and Rhyhorn take very little damage from Spearow's attacks. However, it should be noted that Spearow can U-turn out to a Pokemon that can beat one of its counters. , but all counters must beware of U-turn, because Spearow can switch to a counter.</p>

I'm actually going to wait till I get my other approval before editing in the changes. Thank you!

Mention U-Turn in the overview, since that is Spearow's only real advantage over Doduo. Otherwise, everything else looks good. Approved.

Thanks Dracoyoshi8, I have mentioned U-turn in the overview, saying how it is what sets it apart from Doduo. Thank you!

I can't content check this, but I feel like there are missing bits of information here and there in the analysis. Since I've never had any experience with Spearow, I can't tell what they are. It's killing me. D= Anyways, methinks its not the first time someone has told you to put a hyphen between (type) and type. Like Fire-type, not Fire type. Please at least try to do it yourself..

EDIT: oops, yeah, it's Naughty. right.

Done! Thank you Aeron Ee1!

I think you meant Naive / Naughty for the Choice Scarf, Naughty is + Atk, - SpD, Rash is + SpA, - SpD.

Thank you!

Spearow only needs 28 EVs to bump its Special Attack one point, not 36. You should probably change that. Also, on the Attacker set, meTHINKS a spread of 196 Atk / 116 SpA / 196 Spe, with a HP IV of 0 for that awesome Life Orb number, would be a better offensive spread than your current one, to harden 2HKOs on Bronzor (56%-72%)and Aron (50% - 59.1%). I have yet to feel the loss in the defenses, but I don't play LC much, so I'm just putting that out there.

Got it Aeron Ee1. I have gone with your suggestions. Thank you!

GP Check [1/2]

Sorry this was so late, will do your other one asap
EDIT: Oh wait Snorlaxe is finishing Grimer, nvm then

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Thank you bugmaniacbob! Sorry about some mistakes...I'm still not good at writing.

I think this analysis wants more information before any further GP checks.

For example, Life Orb has one sentence for AC. I'm sure there's some more to talk about there!

Two sentences for the Overview... could use some more story there. Remember the link to that analysis I gave you as an example from before (I hope?); that's a good base to look at.

Substitute on the Baton Pass set with a pinch Berry? Don't add if it's totally bogus though because I'm just throwing that out there.

And for OC, one sentence again. You can say that other than the already mentioned moves, there aren't much other moves to choose/are outclassed by other Pokemon. So you can go on and like mention Sunny Day/Rain Dance are usable due to base 70 Speed but there are other better users (you can figure that out because I don't really play LC). Or maybe Spearow doesn't actually perform that role well (I would think it would...). Mirror Move to fire off Earthquakes back at Aron (if it uses it anyways... but I guess Rhyhorn would be the better example). Assurance with Stealth Rock support too?

Consider this a GP placeholder on request though. If this analysis gets beefed up by tomorrow night, I can probably get working on it.

edit: actually, this hasn't been in the queue yet too (but I see your post there). I'll wait on Rising_Dusk for that.

Added more to Life Orb AC.

Added a conclusion sentence to the back of the Overview.

Added much more to OC, with your suggestions.

I'm assuming this needs two more GP checks now, right?

Thank you Flora!

Also, the section is [Optional Changes], not [OTHER OPTIONS]. After this stuff you've added, it looks like it's "ok" and ready for the queue. Please change the section title. Also, you should really explain the EV spreads in the AC for each set. As an outsider looking in, the spreads are far from obvious to me and likely will be to your other readers as well.