QC: Kl4ng, -Grim, Lcass4919
GP: -Tsunami-
[OVERVIEW]
Braviary is a Pokemon to watch out for in the Almost Any Ability metagame. It is arguably the metagame's best Gale Wings user: it's faster than Honchkrow, and more powerful than Staraptor; it is also bulkier than both of them. Unlike Skarmory, it can hit hard without boosts and isn't walled by Steel- and Electric-types. It also has access to Superpower, which, when combined with its STAB moves, allows Braviary to hit everything in the metagame apart from Doublade for neutral damage. If you don't need a Gale Wings revenge killer, Braviary can also run a Bulk Up set with Poison Heal to break through stall teams. Despite facing competition from Snorlax, Braviary has more than enough tools to stand out from it: it's faster, and more powerful, and also has reliable recovery in Roost, and packs a STAB move that nothing is immune to in Brave Bird.
Things aren't perfect for the all-American eagle, though, as its weakness to Stealth Rock in tandem with the recoil it takes from Brave Bird wear it down quickly. Braviary is also walled by Doublade and Skarmory, two very common threats. Refrigerate Extreme Speed users such as Lucario and Genesect can also check Braviary.
[SET]
name: Gale Wings Attacker
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Superpower
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Return / Tailwind
item: Choice Band
ability: Gale Wings
nature: Adamant
evs: 72 HP / 252 Atk / 184 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is the main attack on this set, getting STAB and gaining +1 priority thanks to Gale Wings. Superpower hits Rock- and Steel-types such as Tyranitar and Heatran that resist Braviary's STAB moves for super effective damage. U-turn lets Braviary scout switch-ins and grab momentum, which can be useful to get in a teammate that possesses the ability Magnet Pull. Return is the other STAB move on this set, hitting Electric-types such as Rotom-W and Zapdos that resist Brave Bird hard. Tailwind can be used as a last-ditch move to help Braviary's teammates outrun a would-be check.
Set details
========
A Choice Band gives Braviary great power, allowing it to 2HKO almost everything that doesn't resist its STAB moves. The Speed EVs let Braviary outrun max Speed Adamant Honchkrow, and Attack is maximized for optimum power; the rest of the EVs are placed into HP for some extra bulk. The EV spread is flexible: maximum Speed with a Jolly nature is viable too, if you're worried about being outrun by opposing Braviary. Braviary can also run an EV spread of 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def if you prefer bulk to Speed. Gale Wings is chosen in order to circumvent Braviary's average Speed with a priority Brave Bird.
Usage tips
========
This set is best used as a revenge killer and late-game cleaner. Even though Braviary's not frail, this set has no recovery whatsoever, so don't switch it in recklessly. When possible, bring it in via a slow Volt Switch or U-turn or after one of its teammates faints. If you're pairing Braviary with a Magnet Pull user such as Heatran or Raikou, using U-turn early in the game is advised to draw out the likes of Skarmory. Be sure to keep an eye out for Extreme Speed users, as they will outprioritize Brave Bird. Refrigerate-boosted Extreme Speed will really hurt; Lucario and Genesect are notable users of this move. Brave Bird will be Braviary's go-to move most of the time, unless your opponent still has Pokemon that resist it. A well-timed Return or Superpower could open up a vital hole in your opponent's team.
Team options
========
Powerful Ground-types such as Garchomp, Mega Swampert, and Landorus-T can remove the Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-types that resist Braviary's Flying STAB and help clear the way for a sweep. They can also come in on the Volt Switch users that Braviary draws in and help conserve momentum.
Keeping Stealth Rock off the field is a top priority when using this set. Latias can provide Defog support and heal Braviary with Healing Wish; Excadrill can spin away the entry hazards and check Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-types. Entry hazards help Braviary get KOs it otherwise couldn't: Stealth Rock allows Braviary to 2HKO 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Cresselia most of the time with Brave Bird. Ferrothorn has good defensive synergy with Braviary, as it resists Electric- and Rock-type moves; Braviary can also check the Fighting-types that Ferrothorn fears. Magnet Pull users such as Heatran and Rotom-W can also trap and remove bulky Steel-types, most notably Skarmory. While Braviary fears Doublade and Skarmory, they both, ironically, make for good teammates, as they can switch in on the Refrigerate-boosted Extreme Speed users that Braviary draws to it.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Roost
move 4: Facade / Substitute / Superpower
item: Toxic Orb / Leftovers
ability: Poison Heal / Gale Wings
nature: Careful
evs: 236 HP / 220 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bulk Up boosts Braviary's Attack and Defense, giving it the power and bulk it needs to sweep. Brave Bird is Braviary's primary STAB attack, as nothing is immune to it. Roost provides reliable recovery, helping Braviary grab more opportunities to grab boosts. Facade can be used to hit Electric-types, and to act as a STAB move with no recoil. Its high PP also lets Braviary stall out Unaware Cresselia and Suicune. Substitute could be used instead to avoid Leech Seed, Worry Seed, and Dragon Tail. Superpower can also be used to hit the Rock- and Steel-types that resist Brave Bird super effectively. Protect is also an option if running Poison Heal to guarantee that Toxic Orb will activate; it also lets Braviary scout the foe's moves and grab another turn of recovery.
Set Details
========
236 HP EVs give Braviary a HP stat divisible by 8, thus maximising Poison Heal recovery. 52 Speed EVs let Braviary outrun uninvested Rotom-W. The rest of the EVs are put in Special Defense for extra bulk. Since Bulk Up boosts Attack and Defense, those stats don't need investment. If running Substitute or Gale Wings, run an EV spread of 252 HP / 204 SpD / 52 Spe, as that lets Braviary make 101 HP Substitutes, meaning that Seismic Toss won't break them in one hit. Toxic Orb is used to activate Poison Heal, giving Braviary passive recovery and an immunity to status ailments. Gale Wings could also be used to offer a balance of stallbreaking and sweeping. If running Gale Wings, Leftovers should be used for passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
This set is best used mid- and late-game once Braviary's checks and counters have been weakened. It's important to note that while this set is very effective against stall teams, it struggles against heavily offensive teams. Weak walls with no phazing moves such as Alomomola, Porygon2, (AC) and non-Skill Swap Chansey are ideal to set up on. Keep Braviary away from users of sound-based moves such as Noivern, as they those moves bypass Substitutes. Also, be wary of Knock Off users if Braviary hasn't been poisoned yet. Phazers such as Skarmory and Hippowdon can stop this set before it gets too far, so make sure they're out of the picture before setting up.
Team Options
========
Strong Ground-types make for good allies to soften up the Rock- and Steel-types that resist Brave Bird and Facade, namely Tyranitar and Heatran. They can also come in on the Electric-type moves that Braviary is weak to. Physical wallbreakers such as Tough Claws Genesect and Swords Dance Lucario can soften up or outright remove Braviary's checks. Despite Braviary's access to Roost and Poison Heal, entry hazard removal is still strongly recommended to make it less reliant on recovery. Excadrill, Skarmory, and Latias can provide this support; the former two can also set up entry hazards themselves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
A Sky Plate or Sharp Beak could be used on the Gale Wings set, but Braviary would lose out on a lot of power. Shadow Claw can 3HKO Doublade, but it has little utility elsewhere; Braviary also just doesn't have the space for it. Sleep Talk is an option if running Choice Band, but Return and Tailwind power and utility respectively are more useful for that set. There are a few more abilities that can be used on the Bulk Up set. Delta Stream negates all of Braviary's weaknesses, making it very difficult to take down after a few boosts. Tinted Lens gives Brave Bird almost perfect neutral coverage, as Magnezone is the only Pokémon that Pokemon with a 4x resistance to it. Braviary can use Defog, but Mandibuzz, Zapdos, and Togekiss are better users of that move due to their superior defensive typings and better overall bulk.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Steel-types** Doublade and Skarmory wall Braviary completely. Doublade can set up on it, while defensive Skarmory can phaze it out with Whirlwind. Mega Metagross can handle anything Braviary does and hit it back hard with a Tough Claws-boosted Meteor Mash.
**Electric-types** Bulky Electric-types such as Zapdos and Rotom-W can survive a Choice Band-boosted Return and OHKO Braviary with Thunderbolt. Faster Electric types such as Raikou and Thundurus can endure a Brave Bird, outrun Braviary, and OHKO it with Thunderbolt. However, many of the faster Electric-types will have to watch out for a Choice Band-boosted Return.
**Rock-types** Tyranitar resists Return and Brave Bird and can OHKO Braviary with Stone Edge. It is OHKOed by Superpower, though. Mega Diancie can outrun Braviary and can OHKO it with Diamond Storm; it also takes little damage from Brave Bird.
**Extreme Speed and Faster Priority Users** Refrigerate Genesect and Lucario can outprioritize Braviary with their respective Extreme Speeds and OHKO it, although they are both are OHKOed by a Choice Band-boosted Brave Bird, so they can't switch into it. Staraptor is faster than Braviary and can OHKO it with its own Gale Wings-boosted Brave Bird, but likewise, it is OHKOed by a Choice Band-boosted Brave Bird or Return.
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