Braviary [GP 3/2]

Django

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Braviary




[Overview]

<p>Despite sharing a common typing with a number of Pokemon, Braviary has several distinguishing features which make it stand out from the crowd. With an absolutely massive 123 base Attack stat, almost nothing enjoys switching into its powerful Brave Bird. Anything that can switch in must also be wary of the tool that makes Braviary such a presence—Superpower. This sets Braviary apart from other Flying-types, which have to rely on team support to get past Rock- and Steel-types. It also boasts considerable bulk, though at the cost of some Speed when compared to other Flying-types such as Swellow. These qualities make Braviary an excellent user of both Choice Band and Choice Scarf, allowing it to obliterate most threats in its path or outspeed a large majority of RU and act as an effective revenge killer, respectively. Both of these roles can come in handy on a potential Brave Bird spam team, as can the access to Superpower. As with all Flying-types, however, a weakness to the ever-present Stealth Rock limits switch in opportunities, but Braviary makes up for this with its superior bulk.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Superpower
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>When equipped with a Choice Band, Braviary becomes one of the most powerful attackers in the RU tier. It can break through sturdy walls such as Alomomola while still being a threat to slower offensive Pokemon. While base 80 Speed is not stellar in RU, Braviary is certainly not slow and gets the job done. STAB Brave Bird coming off 123 base Attack puts huge holes in the majority of the tier and even Pokemon that resist it still take a hefty chunk of damage. Return is used as the reliable secondary STAB move, which is particularly useful when Braviary does not want to take excessive recoil damage. This allows Braviary to take an odd neutral hit or two early-game with its above-average bulk, while late-game, when Braviary is free to spam Brave Bird, the extra HP can be critical in getting an extra attack off. Return also hits Electric-types such as Manectric and Eelektross, which resist Brave Bird. Superpower is arguably the most useful arrow in Braviary's quiver, denting the Rock- and Steel-types which resist its STAB moves. This really sets it apart from other Flying-types in the tier, who usually have to rely on U-turn and team support to remove their common counters, as with some prediction, Braviary can swing the match massively in your favor. U-turn, as always, is a useful move to have on a Choice Band set, as it allows Braviary to scout, build up damage, and keep momentum early-game.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>A simple EV spread is all that Braviary requires to be effective; 252 Attack EVs allow it to hit as hard as possible, while 252 in Speed ensures a speed tie with other base 80 Speed Pokemon. The 4 Defense EVs are filler, but by not placing them in HP, Braviary can switch into Stealth Rock four times and survive with 1 HP. A Jolly nature is generally preferred to ensure that Braviary will at worst Speed tie with Swords Dance Gallade, as well as any other base 80 Speed Pokemon. Adamant does grant a lot of extra power, however, and can 2HKO Alomomola with Brave Bird, which just goes to show how powerful Braviary is.</p>

<p>Braviary really appreciates Spikes support, as most of its counters are grounded. Once Spikes are up, it can easily rack up entry hazard damage on those counters with U-turn, then later on spam Brave Bird once any Steel- and Rock-types have been removed. Qwilfish works well as a teammate because of this, as it can lure Ground-type moves for Braviary to switch in on. Due to its Stealth Rock weakness, running a Rapid Spin user with Braviary is always a good idea. Both Hitmonchan and Sandslash can spin away Stealth Rock, and take the common Rock-type attacks aimed at Braviary. Alternatively, Cryogonal can easily switch in on the special Electric- and Ice-type moves aimed at Braviary.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Superpower
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set plays very differently to the Choice Band set. Instead of simply plowing through the opposing walls with raw power, it boosts Braviary's average Speed to become an effective revenge killer. It will not break through walls with the same effectiveness as the Choice Band set, but it makes up for this with much better Speed; Braviary can now outspeed and revenge kill dangerous threats such as Scolipede and Gallade. Brave Bird is the main STAB move, and it still has a huge amount of power, even without the Choice Band boost. Return is used as a secondary STAB which doesn't have recoil, and Braviary can occasionally sweep late-game with it if Brave Bird's recoil proves to be too costly, provided the appropriate checks and counters have been removed or significantly weakened. Superpower is essential on this set as it is the only shot Braviary has at revenge killing Omastar, and is needed to damage Steel-types such as Magneton. U-turn occupies the fourth moveslot, with the main purpose of maintaining momentum on a predicted switch by the opponent.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is very simple: maximum power and Speed, with the leftover 4 EVs placed in Defense for taking slightly less damage from physical priority moves and switching into Stealth Rock four times without fainting. The Jolly nature is necessary to outspeed certain threats such as +2 Modest Omastar. While the lack of power may seem like an issue at first, remember that the Choice Scarf set is not meant to break through walls; its main function is to revenge kill fast, frail opponents. Rock Slide is a viable alternative on this set, with Sheer Force as the ability, as it allows Braviary to OHKO Moltres without any Stealth Rock damage. It can also hit Aerodactyl and Archeops harder than any other move Braviary has. However, missing out on any other move to accommodate it can be crucial. Brave Bird and Return are both essential for Braviary to do its job, while going without Superpower means Braviary is unable to touch Magneton, Rhydon, and Steelix, among others. Braviary will also have no chance of revenge killing Omastar, one of the main alluring aspects of this set.</p>

<p>Rapid Spin support is even more important for this set, as Braviary needs to switch in and out much more often. Sandslash makes an excellent partner, taking Rock- and Electric-type attacks as well as setting up and spinning away Stealth Rock. As always, entry hazards wear down most of Braviary's counters very quickly, so Qwilfish is recommended as a teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Rock Slide can be used on the Choice Band set in order to make use of Braviary's other ability, Sheer Force. It is generally inferior to Return, but it does hit Rotom harder than any other move. Retaliate is Braviary's most powerful move if used after a teammate has fainted, but it is unreliable and situational in use; Return is likely to win more games overall. Braviary also has access to Bulk Up, which could be a nasty surprise to some of its checks. However, Braviary does not get Roost, which makes a Bulk Up set very difficult to pull off successfully.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Braviary can be very difficult to switch into because of its incredible power. Rotom is about the only Pokemon in RU that can safely switch into any of Braviary's moves, barring the rare Rock Slide; it can then either cripple it with Will-O-Wisp, or go for the KO with Thunderbolt. Braviary is almost always running a Choice set, so once you know that it is locked into Brave Bird, you can safely switch in your Steel- or Rock-type. Steelix, Rhydon, and Magneton all make great options for this role, as they can often tank a Superpower if needed as well. Since Braviary constantly switches in and out, Stealth Rock really wears it down, allowing priority moves to finish it off; Absol, Entei, Hitmonlee, and Kabutops all carry strong priority moves which can finish a weakened Braviary.</p>

[Unreleased]

<p>Defiant is not the most useful of abilities, as there are not many Intimidate users in RU. It is at least more useful than Sheer Force or Keen Eye, as Qwilfish can no longer switch in and Intimidate Braviary.</p>
 

kokoloko

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CB and Scarf play completely differently, I'd separate them. Also you mentioned you need Jolly to beat +2 Omastar, but even with Jolly you only beat Modest +2 Omastar, not Timid (which is what I'd use considering how many Scarfers are in a similar Speed bracket as Broviary).
 
Rock Slide should be slashed with Superpower, not Return. Return is the most reliable move Braviary has and it lets Braviary clean late game.

EDIT: Yes, that's why it's not the main slash...
 

kokoloko

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... and then you're walled by Steel-types.

Just don't slash it at all imo. AC/OO is enough.
 

Django

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Rock Slide should be slashed with Superpower, not Return. Return is the most reliable move Braviary has and it lets Braviary clean late game.
Superpower is the best thing Braviary has going for it, considering Rock Slide over it is just so counterproductive...

Anyway Rock Slide is only slashed on the Scarf set so that Braviary can always beat Moltres at full health. Thats the only use it has, outside of hitting Rotom.
 
Return is usually what lets Braviary clean so it's crucial on the set. It's either a choice of Aggron or Moltres and while I'd personally use Superpower, I can see Rock Slide being better if the player is using Braviary with a very good Aggron counter. Do this and I'll approve
 

Django

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I'm really not keen on slashing Rock Slide with Superpower, it leaves Braviary walled by way too much stuff (Think Rock types, Steelix etc). Also without Superpower it has no chance of touching Omastar. I'll move it to AC and mention it hitting Moltres, Rotom, Archeops and Aerodactyl. Makes more sense to me.
 

kokoloko

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What? No, it is not just a choice between Moltres and Aggron.

Rock Slide hits Moltes without SR, Rotom, Archeops and Aerodactyl.
Supowerpower hits Aggron, Steelix, Magneton, Omastar, Kabutops, and Rhydon.

Just have no slashes. Put Rock Slide in AC saying "this shit abuses Sheer Force and hits Rotom, Moltres, Aerodactyl, and Archeops harder than anything else"

edit: fuck you dingo
 
+2 Omastar outspeeds and OHKOes, +2 Klingklang does the same, and Steelix and Rhydon couldn't care less about Superpower so it doesn't matter
 

Django

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lol OK I'll slash Superpower with Rock Slide. I still don't agree but w/e

(By the way only Timid Omastar outspeeds, which I mention in the analysis)
 

Honko

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Get rid of Rock Slide slash. Superpower is the reason to use Braviary. It's the thing that sets it apart from the other RU birds. I would never ever ever go without it.

The only reason to use Rock Slide is for Moltres (there are a couple of other things that it hits slightly harder than Brave Bird, but the difference is so small that it's better to be locked into STAB Brave Bird and do slightly less damage than to be locked into a weaker non-STAB move). Superpower lets you hit Aggron, Omastar, Kabutops, Klinklang, and Magneton, OHKOing offensive versions of most of them. Without Superpower, all of those guys wall you completely. Without Rock Slide, Moltres turns from an OHKO to a 2HKO; it still can't switch in. Rock Slide is absolutely not slash-worthy.
 

Django

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^ Agreeing with the above. I'm going to go ahead and de slash it, moving mentions of Rock Slide to AC. This whole discussion is just going round in circles. Doing this a fair compromise, no?
 

Honko

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Mention Braviary's place on a Brave Bird spam team, because that's really his most notable role.


QC APPROVED 3/3
 

Redew

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[Overview]

[remove line break]
<p> Despite sharing a common typing with a number of Pokemon, Braviary has several distinguishing features which make it stand out from the crowd. With an absolutely massive 123 base Attack, almost nothing enjoys switching into Brave Bird. Anything that can switch in must also be wary of the tool that makes Braviary such a presence[remove space][remove space]Superpower. This sets Braviary apart from other Flying-types [add hyphen] who have to rely on team support to get past Rock- [add hyphen] or Steel-types [add hyphen]. It also boasts considerable bulk, but at the cost of some Speed when compared to other Flying types such as Swellow. These qualities make it an excellent user of both Choice Band and Choice Scarf, either to obliterate most everything in its path or to outspeed a large majority of RU and act as an effective revenge killer. Both these roles can come in handy on a potential Brave Bird spam team, as can the access to Superpower. As with all Flying-types [add hyphen], a weakness to the ever-present Stealth Rock can limit switch in opportunities. However, Braviary can make up for this with its superior bulk.</p>


[SET]
[remove line break]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Superpower
move 4: U-Turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[remove line break]

[SET COMMENTS]
[remove line break]

<p>When equipped with a Choice Band, Braviary becomes one of the most powerful choice item users attackers in the RU tier. It can break through some of the most sturdy walls in the tier such as Alomomola, and still be a threat to slower offensive Pokemon. While 80 Speed is not stellar in RU, it’s certainly not slow and gets the job done. STAB Brave Bird coming off 123 Attack puts huge holes in the majority of the tier and even Pokemon that resist it still take a hefty chunk of damage. Return is used as the reliable secondary STAB, which is particularly useful when Braviary does not want to take excessive recoil damage. This allows you to preserve some of Braviary[add apostrophe]s above average bulk, which can be very useful early on in the game . [remove period] Later, [add semi -colon] late game, when Braviary is free to spam Brave Bird, the extra HP can be critical in getting an extra attack off. Return also hits Electric types which resist Brave Bird, such as Manectric and Eelektross. Superpower is arguably the most useful arrow in Braviarys quiver, as it allows Braviary to dent the Rock and Steel types which resist its STAB moves. This really sets it apart from other Flying types in the tier, who often have to rely on U-Turn and team support to remove their common counters. Braviary can simply make a good prediction or two and swing the match massively in its favour. U-Turn is always a useful move to have on a Choice Band set, particularly as it allows you to scout, build up damage, [add comma] and keep momentum early game.</p>

[remove line break]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[remove line break]

<p>A simple EV spread is all that is required of Braviary. [remove period] [add semi-colon] ; 252 Attack in order to hit as hard as possible, while 252 Speed allows Braviary to speed tier with other 80 base Speed Pokemon. The 4 Defense EVs are filler, but by not placing them in HP you can switch into Stealth Rock four times and survive with 1 HP. These 4 EVs may also come in handy when taking a Sucker Punch or Aqua Jet. A Jolly nature is generally preferred to ensure that Braviary will at worst speed tie with SD Gallade, as well as any other base 80 Speed Pokemon. Adamant does grant a lot of extra power, and can even 2HKO Alomomola with Brave Bird, which just goes to show how powerful Braviary is. </p>


<p>Braviary really appreciates Spikes support, as most of its counters are grounded. Once Spikes are up, it can easily rack up hazard damage on those counters with U-Turn, then later on spam Brave Bird once any Steel or Rock types are sufficiently weakened. Qwilfish works well as a teammate because of this, as well as luring Ground type moves for Braviary to switch in on. Due to its Stealth Rock weakness, running a spinner with Braviary is always a good idea. Both Hitmonchan and Sandslash can spin away Stealth Rock, as well as taking the common Rock attacks aimed at Braviary.</p>

[remove line break]
[SET]
[remove line break]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Superpower
move 4: U-Turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
[remove line break]

<p>This set plays very differently to the Choice Band set. Instead of simply ploughing through the opposing walls with raw power, it takes Braviary' [add apostrophe]s average Speed and boosts it to become an effective revenge killer. It will not break through walls with the same effectiveness as with a Choice Band, but it makes up for this with much better Speed. It can now outspeed and revenge kill many dangerous threats such as Scolipede and Gallade. Brave Bird is the main STAB move again, and it still has a huge amount of power, even without the Choice Band boost. Return is used as secondary STAB which doesn’t have recoil. Using Return, the Scarf set can occasionally sweep late game, provided the appropriate checks and counters have been removed or significantly weakened. Superpower is still essential on this set, even though it is not designed to break through walls. It is the only shot Braviary has at revenge killing Braviary (did you mean some other pokemon?), and is still needed to damage Steel types such as Magneton. U-Turn is used slightly differently on the Scarf set. Its main purpose is to maintain momentum on a predicted switch by the opponent, as its utility for scouting is decreased without the sheer power of a Choice Band. </p>
[remove line break]

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[remove line break]

<p>The EV spread is the same as the Choice Band set, very simple. Maximum power and maximum speed, with the leftover 4 EVs placed in Defense for Physical priority moves, as well as letting you switch into Stealth Rock four times by keeping your HP at an odd number. The Jolly nature is necessary to outspeed certain threats such as +2 Modest Omastar, which can sometimes leave you Omastar lacking a bit of power. While this may seem a problem at first, just remember that the Choice Scarf set is not required to break through walls, and use it to revenge fast and frail opponents. Rock Slide is a viable alternative on this set, as it allows you to OHKO Moltres without any Stealth Rock damage. It can also hit Aerodactyl and Archeops harder than any other move Braviary has. However, missing out on any other move can be crucial. Brave Bird and Return are both essential for Braviary to do its job, while going without Superpower means Braviary is unable to touch Magneton, Rhydon and Steelix, among others. Braviary will also have no chance of revenging killing Omastar. If Rock Slide is used, Sheer Force should be used as the ability. </P>
[remove line break]

<p>Rapid Spin support is even more important on the Choice Scarf set, as Braviary needs to switch in and out much more often. Sandslash again makes an excellent partner, taking Rock and Electric attacks as well as setting up and spinning away Stealth Rock. As always, entry hazards wear down most of Braviarys counters very quickly, so Qwilfish is again recommended as a teammate. </p>

[remove line break]
[OTHER OPTIONS]

[remove line break]
<p>Rock Slide can be used on the Choice Band set in order to make use of Braviarys other ability, Sheer Force. It is generally inferior to Return, but it does hit Rotom harder than any other move. Retaliate is Braviarys most powerful move if used after a teammate has fainted, but it can be inconsistent. Return is likely to win more games overall. It does also get access to Bulk Up, which could be a nasty surprise to some of its checks. However, Braviary does not get Roost which makes a Bulk Up set very difficult to pull off successfully.</p>

[remove line break]
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]

[remove line break]
<p>Braviary can be very difficult to switch into, [remove comma] because of its incredible power. Rotom, [remove comma] is about the only Pokemon in RU that can safely switch into any of Braviary' [add apostrophe]s moves, [remove comma] outside of the rare Rock Slide. It can either use Will-O-Wisp to cripple it, [remove comma] or go for the KO with Thunderbolt. Braviary is almost always choiced, so once you know it is locked into Brave Bird[add comma] , (I'd say that's optional) you can safely switch in your Steel- [add hyphen] or Rock-type [add hyphen]. Steelix, Rhydon[add comma] , or Magneton all make great options for this role, and can often tank a Superpower if needed. As it is Since Braviary constantly switching switches in and out, Stealth Rock really wears it down Braviary. Keeping them up is essential, so running a reliable spin blocker like Cofagrigus will really limit Braviary' [add apostrophe]s effectiveness. The residual damage from Stealth Rock and Brave Bird can wear down Braviary very quickly. Once it is low on health, priority moves can be an effective way to finish it off. , [add comma] allowing it priority moves to finish it off effectively. Absol, Entei, Hitmonlee and Kabutops all carry strong priority moves which can finish a weakened Braviary.</p>

[remove line break]
[UNRELEASED]

[remove line break]
<p>Defiant is not the most useful of abilities, as there are not many Intimidate users in RU. It is at least more useful than Sheer Force or Keen Eye, as Qwilfish can no longer switch in and Intimidate Braviary.<p/>

[OVERVIEW]
-Huge attack stat, nothing enjoys switching in.
-Superpower to hit anything Brave Bird cannot.
-Bulky for an offensive Flying type, but slower than is usual.
-Excellent choice item user.
-Stealth Rock weakness limits switch ins.
-Brave Bird spam.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Superpower
move 4: U-Turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
-One of the most powerful choice users in the tier.
-STAB Brave Bird does huge damage to the majority of the tier.
-Return is a reliable secondary STAB without the recoil of Brave Bird. Hits electric types that resist Brave Bird, such as Manectric.
-Superpower is what makes Braviary so useful, hitting Steel/Rock types that resist the STAB moves.
-U-Turn allows you to scout, build up damage and keep momentum early game.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
-Simple EVs; 252 Atk to hit as hard as possible and 252 Spe to tie with other 80 base speed Pokemon.
-Jolly nature is preferred to ensure at worst a speed tie with SD Gallade. An Adamant nature can be used for extra power, and it can even 2HKO Alomomola with Adamant Brave Bird. A testament to its power.
-Choice Band gives Braviary an incredible amount of power, and with its already decent speed it will destroy a lot of the tier.
-Really appreciates Spikes support, since most of its counters are grounded. It can rack up hazard damage on those counters with U-Turn, and then spam Brave Bird once the Steel/Rock types are gone. Qwilfish works well, as it can lure Ground type moves for Braviary to switch in on.
-A spinner is always good to have with Braviary. Hitmonchan and Sandslash both take the common Rock attacks aimed at Braviary.


[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Superpower
move 4: U-Turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
-This set takes a different approach, using Braviarys already huge Attack stat and its decent Speed to become an effective revenge killer. It struggles to break through walls without a Choice Band, but works much better against faster, frailer threats.
-Brave Bird is the main STAB move, allowing it to KO threats such as Scolipede and Gallade.
-Return is the reliable secondary STAB, which comes without recoil. It also hits Electivire, among other Electric types.
-Superpower is Braviarys unique weapon, hitting the Rock and Steel types that plague Flying types.
-U-Turn is mainly used to maintain momentum on the Choice Scarf set, being used on a predicted switch by the opponent.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
-EV spread is again simple, maximum power and speed.
-Jolly nature is needed to outspeed threats such as +2 Modest Omastar, so it can sometimes lacks power.
-Rock Slide is an alternative on this set, as it allows you to get a guaranteed OHKO on Moltres without Stealth Rock. Missing out on Superpower is pretty big for Braviary though, as this will render you incabable of touching Steelix, Rhydon and Magneton, as well as having no chance of revenge killing Omastar.
-Sheer Force should be used if Rock Slide is chosen.
-Rapid Spin support is more important on this set, since it needs to switch in and out much more often. Sandslash again makes an excellent partner, taking Rock and Electric attacks as well as setting up and spinning away Stealth Rock.
-Entry hazard support will really help Braviary do its job effectively. Spikes from Qwilfish are again a very viable option.

[OTHER OPTIONS]
-Rock Slide is an option on the Choice Band set which makes use of Braviarys other ability, Sheer Force. In general it is inferior to Return, but it does hit Rotom harder.
-Retaliate is Braviarys most powerful move when used after a teammate has fainted, but it is inconsistent and Return will likely win more games.
-It gets access to Bulk Up, which could be a nasty suprise for some of its checks. However, without Roost it is difficult to make an effective set with it.

[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
-Rotom is one of the best checks to Braviary, being resistant or immune to every one of its moves outside of the rare Rock Slide. It can use Will-O-Wisp to cripple it, or KO with Thunderbolt.
-Stealth Rock limits survivability, so running that and a reliable spin blocker like Cofagrigus will limit Braviarys effectiveness.
-Residual damage with Stealth Rock Brave Bird recoil, along with priority, is another effective way to deal with Braviary. Absol, Entei, Hitmonlee and Kabutops all carry strong priority moves which will finish a weakened Braviary.
-Braviary is almost always choiced, so if you feel you can predict then a Steel type like Steelix or a Rock type like Rhydon will be effective. Remember to bring something else to take Superpower.

[UNRELEASED]
-Defiant isn't the best of abilities, but it will at least be more useful than Sheer Force or Keen Eye.
-Qwilfish can no longer switch in and Intimidate Braviary
Sorry this took so ling to post, I had family stuff and whatnot.
 
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Additions / Corrections
Comments


I am working on top of Redew's amateur check, by the way.

[Overview]
[remove line break]
<p> Despite sharing a common typing with a number of Pokemon, Braviary has several distinguishing features which make it stand out from the crowd. With an absolutely massive 123 base Attack, almost nothing enjoys switching into Brave Bird. Anything that can switch in must also be wary of the tool that makes Braviary such a presence(em dash, no spaces before or after it)Superpower. This sets Braviary apart from other Flying-types, who have to rely on team support to get past Rock- or and Steel-types. It also boasts considerable bulk, but though at the cost of some Speed when compared to other Flying-types such as Swellow. These qualities make it an excellent user of both Choice Band and Choice Scarf, allowing it to either to obliterate most everything threats in its path or to outspeed a large majority of RU and act as an effective revenge killer, respectively. Both these roles can come in handy on a potential Brave Bird spam team, as can the access to Superpower. As with all Flying-types [add hyphen], however, a weakness to the ever-present Stealth Rock can limits switch-in opportunities, but However, Braviary can makes up for this with its superior bulk.</p>
[remove line break]
[SET]
[remove line break]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Superpower
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[remove line break]
[SET COMMENTS]
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<p>When equipped with a Choice Band, Braviary becomes one of the most powerful choice item users attackers in the RU tier. It can break through some of the most sturdy walls in the tier such as Alomomola, and while still being a threat to slower offensive Pokemon. While base 80 Speed is not stellar in RU, it’s Braviary is certainly not slow and gets the job done. STAB Brave Bird coming off 123 Attack puts huge holes in the majority of the tier, and even Pokemon that resist it still take a hefty chunk of damage. Return is used as the reliable secondary STAB, which is particularly useful when Braviary does not want to take excessive recoil damage. This allows you to preserve some of Braviarys above average bulk, which can be very useful This allows Braviary to take the odd neutral hit or two early on in the game early-game with its above-average bulk, while Later, late-game, when Braviary is free to spam Brave Bird, the extra HP can be critical in getting an extra attack off. Return also hits Electric-types which resist Brave Bird, such as Manectric and Eelektross. Superpower is arguably the most useful arrow in Braviary's quiver, as it allows Braviary to denting the Rock- and Steel-types which resist its STAB moves. This really sets it apart from other Flying-types in the tier, who often usuallyhave to rely on U-turn and team support to remove their common counters, as with some prediction, Braviary can simply make a good prediction or two and (it would be fun if Pokemon could predict on their own; on a more serious note, it is the player which makes the prediction, so I reworded this) swing the match massively in its your favour. U-turn is, as always, a useful move to have on a Choice Band set, particularly as it allows you Braviary to scout, build up damage, [add comma] and keep momentum early-game.</p>
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[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
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<p>A simple EV spread is all that is required of Braviary requires to be effective; 252 EVs in Attack in order to allow it tohit as hard as possible, while 252 in Speed allows Braviary to speed tier ensure a Speed tie with with other 80 base 80 Speed Pokemon. The 4 Defense EVs are filler, but by not placing them in HP, you Braviary can switch into Stealth Rock four times and survive with 1 HP; these 4 EVs may also come in handy when taking a Sucker Punch or Aqua Jet. A Jolly nature is generally preferred to ensure that Braviary will at worst Speed tie with Swords Dance Gallade, as well as any other base 80 Speed Pokemon. Adamant does grant a lot of extra power, however, ensuring a and can even 2HKO Alomomola with Brave Bird, which just goes to show how powerful Braviary is.</p>
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<p>Braviary really appreciates Spikes support, as most of its counters are grounded. Once Spikes are up, it can easily rack up hazard damage on those counters with U-turn, then later on spam Brave Bird once any Steel- or Rock-types have been removed are sufficiently weakened (imo this is kinda vague; Rock- and Steel-types hardly take any damage from BB, and Braviary needs them to be at something like 5 - 10% to KO). Qwilfish works well as a teammate because of this, as well as as it can also lure luring Ground-type moves for Braviary to switch in on. Due to its Stealth Rock weakness, running a spinner with Braviary is always a good idea. Both Hitmonchan and Sandslash can spin away Stealth Rock, as well as taking and take the common Rock-type attacks aimed at Braviary.</p>
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[SET]
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Superpower
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
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<p>This set plays very differently to the Choice Band set. Instead of simply ploughing through the opposing walls with raw power, it takes boosts Braviary's average Speed and boosts it to become an effective revenge killer. It will not break through walls with the same effectiveness as with a theChoice Band set, but it makes up for this with much better Speed; It Braviary can now outspeed and revenge kill many dangerous threats such as Scolipede and Gallade. Brave Bird is the main STAB move again, and it still has a huge amount of power, even without the Choice Band boost. Return is used as secondary STAB which doesn't have recoil, and Braviary Using Return, the Scarf set can occasionally sweep late-game with it if Brave Bird's recoil proves to be too costly, provided the appropriate checks and counters have been removed or significantly weakened. Superpower is still essential on this set, even though it is not designed to break through walls. It is the only shot Braviary has at revenge killing Braviary Omastar(I am sorry if this is the wrong Pokemon, but since you mention Omastar in AC, I thought it would fit in here), and is still needed to damage Steel-types such as Magneton. Once again, U-turn occupies the fourth moveslot, though with a slight difference; is used slightly differently on the Scarf set. its main purpose is to maintain momentum on a predicted switch by the opponent, as its utility for scouting is decreased without the sheer power of a the Choice Band set.</p>
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[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
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<p>The EV spread is the same as the one used for the Choice Band set, being very simple: maximum power and maximum Speed, with the leftover 4 EVs placed in Defense for taking slightly less damage from physical priority moves, as well as letting you switching into Stealth Rock four times without fainting by keeping your HP at an odd number. The Jolly nature is necessary to outspeed certain threats such as +2 Modest Omastar, which can sometimes leave you lacking a bit of power. While this may seem a problem at first, just remember that the Choice Scarf set is not required to break through walls, and use it to revenge fast and frail opponents. While the lack of power may seem like an issue at first, remember that the Choice Scarf is not meant to break through walls; its main function is to revenge kill fast, frail opponents. Rock Slide is a viable alternative on this set with Sheer Force as the ability, as it allows you Braviary to OHKO Moltres without any Stealth Rock damage. It can also hit Aerodactyl and Archeops harder than any other move Braviary has. However, missing out on any other move to accommodate it can be crucial. Brave Bird and Return are both essential for Braviary to do its job, while going without Superpower means Braviary is unable to touch Magneton, Rhydon, and Steelix, among others. Braviary will also have no chance of revenge killing Omastar. If Rock Slide is used, Sheer Force should be used as the ability.</p>
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<p>Rapid Spin support is even more important on the Choice Scarf for this set, as Braviary needs to switch in and out much more often. Sandslash again makes an excellent partner, taking Rock and Electric attacks as well as setting up and spinning away Stealth Rock. As always, entry hazards wear down most of Braviary's counters very quickly, so Qwilfish is again recommended as a teammate.</p>
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[OTHER OPTIONS]
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<p>Rock Slide can be used on the Choice Band set in order to make use of Braviary's other ability, Sheer Force. It is generally inferior to Return, but it does hit Rotom harder than any other move. Retaliate is Braviary's most powerful move if used after a teammate has fainted, but it can be inconsistent is unreliable and situational in use; Return is likely to win more games overall. It does also get access to Bulk Up, which could be a nasty surprise to some of its checks. However, Braviary does not get Roost, which makes a Bulk Up set very difficult to pull off successfully.</p>
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[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
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<p>Braviary can be very difficult to switch into, because of its incredible power. Rotom, is about the only Pokemon in RU that can safely switch into any of Braviary's moves, outside of barring the rare Rock Slide; it can then either use Will-O-Wisp to cripple it with Will-O-Wisp, or go for the KO with Thunderbolt. Braviary is almost always Choiced running a Choice set, so once you know it is locked into Brave Bird, you can safely switch in your Steel- or Rock-type. Steelix, Rhydon, and or Magneton all make great options for this role, and as they can often tank a Superpower if needed as well. As it is Since Braviary constantly switching switches in and out, Stealth Rock really wears it down Braviary. Keeping them up is essential, so running a reliable spin blocker like Cofagrigus will really limit Braviary's effectiveness. (if a Pokemon is crippled by entry hazards, we generally don't mention a spinblocker in Counters unless it directly checks the Pokemon, so mention Cofagrigus only if you think it also checks Braviary directly) The residual damage from Stealth Rock and Brave Bird can wear down Braviary very quickly, Once it is low on health, priority moves can be an effective way to finish it off. allowing priority moves to finish it off; Absol, Entei, Hitmonlee, and Kabutops all carry strong priority moves which can finish a weakened Braviary.</p>
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[UNRELEASED]
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<p>Defiant is not the most useful of abilities, as there are not many Intimidate users in RU. It is at least more useful than Sheer Force or Keen Eye, as Qwilfish can no longer switch in and Intimidate Braviary.<p/>




GP 1 / 2
 

Django

Started from the bottom...
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Thanks Calm Pokemaster and Redew, implemented that GP check, awaiting second one now.
 

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