QC: Magnemite, Tone114, Anty
GP: Winry, The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Pidgeot is totally outclassed by Dodrio, which has a better Attack stat and access to Knock Off, giving Pidgeot no real niche in the metagame. Although it has access to Defog, it's simply outperformed by Swanna as an offensive Defogger, and even Fearow, which is also unviable, boasts better Attack and coverage.
[SET]
name: Offensive Defog
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Defog
move 4: Roost / U-turn
item: Leftovers
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird and Return function as Pidgeot's dual STAB moves and give it good neutral coverage outside of Rock- and Steel-types. Defog is used to keep entry hazards off the field for more offensively based teams that don't want to lose momentum with a more passive Defogger. Roost keeps Pidgeot healthy, as it's forced to switch into Stealth Rock in order to remove it, and U-turn can keep up the offensive momentum at the cost of leaving Pidgeot prone to being worn down quickly.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Pidgeot to outspeed a good portion of the unboosted metagame for a quick Defog, and maximum Attack investment gives it some offensive presence. Leftovers gives Pidgeot some passive recovery to mitigate Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
Pidgeot's main priority should be to use Defog for team support rather than to go for its weak STAB attacks. Defog and Roost ought to be used when forcing switches versus slower Pokemon that are weak to Brave Bird such as Roselia, as Pidgeot lacks the bulk to take many stronger attacks as it goes for a status move. If running U-turn, this can also be used when forcing switches or versus slower foes to keep up offensive momentum.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can handle Electric-, Rock-, Ice-, and Steel-type switch-ins to Pidgeot such as Stunfisk and Monferno can use the free switch with Pidgeot's U-turn to get a favorable matchup versus foes, as well as handling Pidgeot's common checks and counters. Pokemon that prefer entry hazards gone to be effective such as Barbaracle and Lapras appreciate Pidgeot's Defog support. Pokemon with Volt Switch such as Raichu can work with Pidgeot to form a VoltTurn core to wear down opposing teams, and setup sweepers such as Carracosta can use Pidgeot's pivoting and wallbreaking capabilities to more easily sweep weakened teams. Piloswine can set up Stealth Rock to help Pidgeot wallbreak more easily and it checks both Rock- and Electric-types, while Pidgeot can pressure Grass-types for it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pursuit can be run as an attempt to get more chip damage on Pokemon switching out, but it is fairly weak unless super effective, and Pidgeot prefers pivoting with U-turn on predicted switches. Tailwind can be run for either sweeping or team support, but this is generally done better by Pelipper, which has a superior secondary STAB type and better bulk. Similarly, Agility offensive sets can be run but are outclassed by Dodrio, which has a better Attack stat and access to Knock Off. Specially offensive sets can be run to not be totally outclassed by Fearow, but they are extremely weak and generally outperformed by Swanna and Chatot. Sharp Beak can be held instead of Leftovers to help make up for Pidgeot's mediocre Attack stat at the cost of losing passive recovery.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock- and Steel-types**: Rock- and Steel-types such as Barbaracle and Probopass resist both of Pidgeot's STAB moves, and they can easily switch into any attack and KO Pidgeot. Some, such as Klang and Carracosta, can also set up and sweep while taking little damage from Pidgeot's attacks.
**Electric-types**: Although most Electric-types cannot switch into a Return well, most of PU's offensive Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Raichu can outspeed and OHKO Pidgeot, as well as switch into a Brave Bird if need be. Stunfisk can also wall Pidgeot easily while setting up Stealth Rock and threatening it with Static paralysis.
**Ice-types**: Despite not resisting Pidgeot's STAB moves, all relevant Ice-types in the metagame are capable of OHKOing Pidgeot after Stealth Rock. Although Choice Scarf Rotom-F is the only unboosted Ice-type faster than Pidgeot, most are capable of surviving a single Brave Bird or Return, even after Stealth Rock.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Pidgeot's poor defenses and only passable Speed, many Pokemon in the metagame are capable of outspeeding Pidgeot and OHKOing it after Stealth Rock, such as Quick Feet Ursaring and Rapidash. The few that are incapable of OHKOing Pidgeot after Stealth Rock, such as Focus Sash Kadabra and Furfrou, are still capable of 2HKOing Pidgeot and pressuring it throughout matches.
GP: Winry, The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Pidgeot is totally outclassed by Dodrio, which has a better Attack stat and access to Knock Off, giving Pidgeot no real niche in the metagame. Although it has access to Defog, it's simply outperformed by Swanna as an offensive Defogger, and even Fearow, which is also unviable, boasts better Attack and coverage.
[SET]
name: Offensive Defog
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Defog
move 4: Roost / U-turn
item: Leftovers
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird and Return function as Pidgeot's dual STAB moves and give it good neutral coverage outside of Rock- and Steel-types. Defog is used to keep entry hazards off the field for more offensively based teams that don't want to lose momentum with a more passive Defogger. Roost keeps Pidgeot healthy, as it's forced to switch into Stealth Rock in order to remove it, and U-turn can keep up the offensive momentum at the cost of leaving Pidgeot prone to being worn down quickly.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Pidgeot to outspeed a good portion of the unboosted metagame for a quick Defog, and maximum Attack investment gives it some offensive presence. Leftovers gives Pidgeot some passive recovery to mitigate Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
Pidgeot's main priority should be to use Defog for team support rather than to go for its weak STAB attacks. Defog and Roost ought to be used when forcing switches versus slower Pokemon that are weak to Brave Bird such as Roselia, as Pidgeot lacks the bulk to take many stronger attacks as it goes for a status move. If running U-turn, this can also be used when forcing switches or versus slower foes to keep up offensive momentum.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can handle Electric-, Rock-, Ice-, and Steel-type switch-ins to Pidgeot such as Stunfisk and Monferno can use the free switch with Pidgeot's U-turn to get a favorable matchup versus foes, as well as handling Pidgeot's common checks and counters. Pokemon that prefer entry hazards gone to be effective such as Barbaracle and Lapras appreciate Pidgeot's Defog support. Pokemon with Volt Switch such as Raichu can work with Pidgeot to form a VoltTurn core to wear down opposing teams, and setup sweepers such as Carracosta can use Pidgeot's pivoting and wallbreaking capabilities to more easily sweep weakened teams. Piloswine can set up Stealth Rock to help Pidgeot wallbreak more easily and it checks both Rock- and Electric-types, while Pidgeot can pressure Grass-types for it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pursuit can be run as an attempt to get more chip damage on Pokemon switching out, but it is fairly weak unless super effective, and Pidgeot prefers pivoting with U-turn on predicted switches. Tailwind can be run for either sweeping or team support, but this is generally done better by Pelipper, which has a superior secondary STAB type and better bulk. Similarly, Agility offensive sets can be run but are outclassed by Dodrio, which has a better Attack stat and access to Knock Off. Specially offensive sets can be run to not be totally outclassed by Fearow, but they are extremely weak and generally outperformed by Swanna and Chatot. Sharp Beak can be held instead of Leftovers to help make up for Pidgeot's mediocre Attack stat at the cost of losing passive recovery.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock- and Steel-types**: Rock- and Steel-types such as Barbaracle and Probopass resist both of Pidgeot's STAB moves, and they can easily switch into any attack and KO Pidgeot. Some, such as Klang and Carracosta, can also set up and sweep while taking little damage from Pidgeot's attacks.
**Electric-types**: Although most Electric-types cannot switch into a Return well, most of PU's offensive Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Raichu can outspeed and OHKO Pidgeot, as well as switch into a Brave Bird if need be. Stunfisk can also wall Pidgeot easily while setting up Stealth Rock and threatening it with Static paralysis.
**Ice-types**: Despite not resisting Pidgeot's STAB moves, all relevant Ice-types in the metagame are capable of OHKOing Pidgeot after Stealth Rock. Although Choice Scarf Rotom-F is the only unboosted Ice-type faster than Pidgeot, most are capable of surviving a single Brave Bird or Return, even after Stealth Rock.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Pidgeot's poor defenses and only passable Speed, many Pokemon in the metagame are capable of outspeeding Pidgeot and OHKOing it after Stealth Rock, such as Quick Feet Ursaring and Rapidash. The few that are incapable of OHKOing Pidgeot after Stealth Rock, such as Focus Sash Kadabra and Furfrou, are still capable of 2HKOing Pidgeot and pressuring it throughout matches.
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