Status: Complete (Edits required if needed)
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/staraptor
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: U-turn / Pursuit / Quick Attack
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
<p>Good Speed and Attack make Staraptor both an obvious and excellent Choice Bander. Intimidate makes him a good choice as a lead and helps when sending him out later, just don't get too over zealous when switching into physical attacks; his defenses are still poor. Brave Bird and Return / Double-Edge are his main weapons and both hit incredibly hard, while Close Combat hits for at least neutral damage on every Rock and Steel-type. The STAB Normal attacks are mostly for Electric-types, especially Zapdos, who also resists Fighting. Double-Edge guarantees a OHKO on Zapdos, but Return is usually preferable as two recoil moves is rather excessive.</p>
<p>The fourth slot is the sort of "utility" move. U-turn allows you to scout your counter and get in a hit, while Pursuit is always a great move on Choice Banders and Staraptor makes good use of it. It's especially good against the likes of Celebi and Blissey, who will run, fearing a Brave Bird. Quick Attack is for protection against Reversal/Flail users and to take down other weakened but faster foes. It does upwards of 45% to the likes of Azelf, Raikou and Weavile.</p>
<p>Like most Choice Banders, Staraptor will benefit from Wish support, but it's even more essential with Staraptor due to the recoil of Brave Bird and Double-Edge. To varying degrees, Jirachi, Vaporeon, Jolteon and Umbreon can work. Rapid Spin support—Donphan and Hitmontop are excellent choices for this—to remove Stealth Rock will also aid his survivability.</p>
<p>Not many physical walls can switch in because if Staraptor wields a Choice Band, its Attack skyrockets to 558 or 508, depending on the nature you select. In addition to this, Staraptor has fantastic coverage which means that not many physical walls can switch in to its dangerous STAB moves. The Rotom appliances are your safest switch in to this set; resisting both of Staraptor's precious STAB moves while shrugging off Pursuit or U-turn. Acknowledge the sets and begin to counter the Rotom appliances. If they are the special attacking versions, Snorlax and Blissey is your best bet to stop these guys because they have fantastic bulk to weather the attacks from the Rotom appliances. Choiced Rotoms will usually have Trick under their sleeves to screw up Blissey and Snorlax; therefore, Heatran can be great to absorb Trick and Will-O-Wisp, while Jolteon can partner well to take Thunderbolt and cushion Shadow Ball due its decent Special Defense.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: U-turn / Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant
evs: 60 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spe
<p>Unlike the previous set, Choice Scarf trades the extra power of a Choice Band for extra Speed to make Staraptor faster than many would-be revenge-killers. Sporting an impressive 427 Speed and 372 Attack, you have to think twice when you want to switch in on this Staraptor due to its solid attack and great type coverage. On top of all this, Intimidate really puts the icing on the cake because it allows Staraptor to switch in on physical attacks much easier. Don't get too cocky switching in on physical attackers, especially those of the highest calibre, because Staraptor still has a poor Defense stat even with Intimidate factored in.</p>
<p>Staraptor is a great threat on the offensive side because of its high powered dual STAB attacks. Brave Bird, Return, and Double-Edge all receive base powers above 100 and can harm anything in Staraptor's way. The choices for your Normal-type STAB move is totally your choice. Return provides good damage without attaining any recoil damage, while Double-Edge gives the additional damage in exchange for some HP. Rock and Steel-types can be quite upsetting because they resist Staraptor's precious STAB attacks, but thankfully, Staraptor has Close Combat under its belt which covers both types, and gives Staraptor some good overall type coverage. Your selection for your final move depends on what you decide to do with Staraptor. U-turn allows Staraptor to scout out for incoming counters while you exit and bring in an appropriate Pokemon to plow through your opponent’s counter to Staraptor. Pursuit, on the other hand, plays a different role than U-turn. Pursuit traps those pesky Ghost-types and catches fleeing special walls like Blissey and Chansey.</p>
<p>Staraptor has plenty of good opportunities to switch in, but Stealth Rock hinders this bird from repeatedly switching in and out. Staraptor will greatly appreciate Rapid Spin users to remove the offending Rocks, thus providing extra survivability for Staraptor. Speaking of living longer, like many Choice users, Staraptor needs Wish support to help it stay alive. Double-Edge and Brave Bird’s recoil, as well as Stealth Rock damage, can chip off Staraptor's HP more quickly than is comfortable, and therefore Wish users like Hypno, Chansey, and Blissey can help Staraptor. Staraptor doesn't mind Stealth Rock on the field to help it sweep late game.</p>
<p>With the swap for Speed in exchange for power, Staraptor is going to lack the raw power to muscle through some bulky pokemon. Skarmory, Jirachi, Metagross and Bronzong are great counters for Staraptor because these individuals resist both of its beloved STAB moves and they are neutral to Close Combat. In UU, Steelix and Regirock shine as good counters for Staraptor. With naturally high Defense, these individuals can withstand Close Combat and strike back with Gyro Ball or Stone Edge. With all these Steel-types being listed, packing Magnezone can really be a good service alongside Staraptor. Magnezone can trap Skarmory without Shed Shell and strike back with Thunderbolt or use Magnet Rise to dodge Ground-type moves. Hariyama can handle Steelix and Regirock since Hariyama has naturally high Defense and HP to take attacks from them and can strike back with a STAB Fighting-type move.</p>
<p>The Rotom appliances are arguably the greatest counters to Staraptor. They can take all of Staraptor’s attacks and strike back with Will-O-Wisp or Thunderbolt. Heatran is probably the best partner for Staraptor to handle these annoying ghouls. Heatran can take Will-O-Wisp, survive a Thunderbolt, and dispose them with a STAB Fire-type attack, but Scarf variants should watch out for a rare but possible Thunder Wave.</p>
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Brave Bird
move 4: Close Combat
item: Sharp Beak
nature: Jolly
evs 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
<p>This set is on a different field as the other sets because it aims to stick around longer than the other sets. You are limited to two attacking moves in exchange for two support moves. The core idea of this set is to remain in the match as long as possible, with Roost to heal off Stealth Rock damage and Brave Bird recoil. Staraptor can utilize Substitute to dodge those irritating status which render Staraptor’s effectiveness useless. With Staraptor's Intimidate ability, opponents are usually forced to switch out, and for this reason Substitute is a great move to scout for switch ins. Behind a Substitute, you can heal off damage or hurt the opponent with Brave Bird or Close Combat. This set may have lost some gleam on the offensive side but Flying + Fighting is good coverage that is only resisted by Rotom appliances and Zapdos, which is surprisingly only a small group of Pokemon that wall this set.</p>
<p>The choice for Staraptor's item is a tough selection, but Sharp Beak is usually the best option. Sharp Beak boosts Brave Bird’s power and can trick opponents into thinking you hold a choice item. Leftovers is another option but you will lose some power which this set really needs to perform effectively.</p>
<p>As mentioned before, the Rotom appliances and Zapdos can easily come on this set and strike back with Thunderbolt. The Rotom appliances are some of the toughest to counter. These ghosts can provide a shock because they have Trick in their arsenal which can ruin your counter for Rotom. Heatran can take Thunderbolt and Trick and can carve a chunk of HP with a STAB Fire-type move. Jolteon has Volt Absorb to take Thunderbolt from Rotom and a Choice Specs Shadow Ball should 2HKO them. Blissey stops Zapdos cold and can spam Seismic Toss or cripple the bird with Toxic.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Staraptor will find itself switching out of bulky Electric-types most of the time. Rotom appliances are the toughest to address in any of Staraptor sets because Staraptor’s only source of decent damage is a Choice Banded Pursuit. Staraptor is an absolute monster with its good move coverage, but Rotom appliances are still paper counters most of the time. Heatran is your best bet if you want someone to take Trick and Will-O-Wisp, while Jolteon can take Electric-type attacks and 2HKO with Shadow Ball. Defensively, Blissey is Staraptor's most reliable partner and can cripple Rotom with Toxic.</p>
<p>Staraptor provides great offense due to its great type coverage and can be excellent on offensive teams. Most faster sweepers are frail and have a hard time switching in, but Staraptor is an exception to this rule. Staraptor can come in a number of times thanks to its Ghost and Ground immunities. Intimidate is an impressive ability for someone frail like Staraptor because it can cushion hits directed from the physical side, which allows Staraptor to switch in easier.</p>
<p>A common tactic is to switch in on a Shadow Ball from Gengar or Mismagius and strike back with Brave Bird and score a OHKO if Stealth Rock is in play. Speaking of Stealth Rock, Staraptor will appreciate Stealth Rock on the field to help it sweep late game. Another common tactic with the Choice Scarf set is to spam U-turn to scout out for counters. Once you analyze the counter, you can plan to remove it, which can aid Staraptor greatly late game. The best tactic to help Staraptor stay in the game longer is to use Brave Bird or Double-Edge with caution because your precious HP can easily run down if you use it arbitrarily. For example, although a CB Brave Bird against the standard Blissey can cause up to 95% of damage (651 HP), this will strip off a massive 217 HP from Staraptor. That's a rather extreme example though. Should you KO a Pokémon with 304 HP, you'll lose over 100 HP yourself. Wherever possible try to KO your opponents with Return or Close Combat; only use Brave Bird when absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>Wish support is recommended because recoil damage from Brave Bird and Double-Edge can wear Staraptor down. On top of this, residual damage from Sandstorm and Stealth Rock can trouble Staraptor a lot. To take it this all in account, Staraptor has roughly three switch-ins before it actually faints. Wish users such as Blissey, Vaporeon, Chansey and Hypno can be really useful partners for Staraptor since their support lets it survive for much longer than in would otherwise. If you don’t want a Wish user, the SubRoost set is available for Staraptor to heal off the HP loss.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Life Orb can be used in conjunction with Agility but it has no room on the other sets. If Life Orb is used with the SubRoost set, Staraptor’s HP would run down far too quickly. Featherdance is an interesting option but Staraptor shouldn’t go near that move because it is far better at sweeping than running a defensive set.</p>
<p>In theory, Foresight can help Staraptor use its Normal-type STAB moves against Ghost-type Pokemon. An Adamant Staraptor with Life Orb under its belt can deal 60.20% - 71.05% on a max HP / max Defense Rotom with Double-Edge. The Rotom appliances are a trouble to deal with, and this is one way to actually penetrate through them with a STAB move.</p>
[Evs]
<p>Choice Bander should have max Attack and Speed, and either a Jolly or Adamant nature. Though not recommended, you don't have to maximize your Speed, but a minimum of 296 Speed is required to outspeed Jolly Heracross, or 319 Speed for Jolly Electivire. Any remaining EVs should go into HP.</p>
<p>Choice Scarf sets should always have an Adamant nature and max Attack. 270 Speed outruns Choice Scarf Heracross, while 285 Speed outruns Choice Scarf Medicham.</p>
<p>The SubRoost set should always run Jolly because it allows Staraptor to use Roost before getting hit. A simple 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe is required on the set soley.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Staraptor is often called “Predator Pokemon” because it preys on other Pokemon with its great Attack and Speed and two 120 base power STAB attacks. Staraptor is a very dangerous physical threat. Its most prominent feature would probably be the mean look on its face and this reflects its ability, Intimidate. Intimidate helps it switch in on physical hits much easier and force the opponent to switch out. Staraptor really shines out of all the Normal / Flying-type hybrids because of Intimidate and Close Combat to battle with opposing Steel and Rock-types. Dodrio and Swellow lack a strong Fighting-type move to budge these Steel and Rock-types and this is probably the main reason why Staraptor is on a different level. Staraptor can bring good package to any team that requires a Ground and Ghost immunity and an Intimidate user as well. Overall, Staraptor is a physical threat to be reckoned with.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Skarmory, Jirachi, Metagross and Bronzong resist both STAB moves, have high Defense, and are neutral to Close Combat, making all four of them excellent choices against Staraptor. Rhyperior's massive HP and Defense, coupled with his Solid Rock ability, which reduces his Fighting weakness, also makes him a good counter.</p>
<p>Although they get hit hard by Brave Bird, Ghosts are good switch-ins thanks to their immunity to both Close Combat and Return/Double-Edge. They can cripple Staraptor with Will-O-Wisp or simply attack him with super effective attacks like Thunderbolt (Gengar, Mismagius), ThunderPunch, or Ice Punch (Dusknoir). Rotom-A makes an excellent counter, resisting Brave Bird and taking nothing from Return and Close Combat, whilst also being able to shrug off Staraptor's U-turn. Rotom can then hit back with Thunderbolt. Zapdos resists both Brave Bird and Close Combat, and easily kills Staraptor with Thunderbolt, but it must watch out from a Choice Band Double-Edge which can OHKO Zapdos with Stealth Rock in play.</p>
<p>Otherwise, just try to outpredict him as he'll usually be restricted by Choice Band/Scarf.</p>
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/staraptor
- Revamped Choice Scarf, Other Options, Team Options, Opinion
- Added SubRoost set
- Kept CB it was written nicely where Scarf had 2 sentence
- Kept Counters (its pretty updated)
Update: Red
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: U-turn / Pursuit / Quick Attack
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
<p>Good Speed and Attack make Staraptor both an obvious and excellent Choice Bander. Intimidate makes him a good choice as a lead and helps when sending him out later, just don't get too over zealous when switching into physical attacks; his defenses are still poor. Brave Bird and Return / Double-Edge are his main weapons and both hit incredibly hard, while Close Combat hits for at least neutral damage on every Rock and Steel-type. The STAB Normal attacks are mostly for Electric-types, especially Zapdos, who also resists Fighting. Double-Edge guarantees a OHKO on Zapdos, but Return is usually preferable as two recoil moves is rather excessive.</p>
<p>The fourth slot is the sort of "utility" move. U-turn allows you to scout your counter and get in a hit, while Pursuit is always a great move on Choice Banders and Staraptor makes good use of it. It's especially good against the likes of Celebi and Blissey, who will run, fearing a Brave Bird. Quick Attack is for protection against Reversal/Flail users and to take down other weakened but faster foes. It does upwards of 45% to the likes of Azelf, Raikou and Weavile.</p>
<p>Like most Choice Banders, Staraptor will benefit from Wish support, but it's even more essential with Staraptor due to the recoil of Brave Bird and Double-Edge. To varying degrees, Jirachi, Vaporeon, Jolteon and Umbreon can work. Rapid Spin support—Donphan and Hitmontop are excellent choices for this—to remove Stealth Rock will also aid his survivability.</p>
<p>Not many physical walls can switch in because if Staraptor wields a Choice Band, its Attack skyrockets to 558 or 508, depending on the nature you select. In addition to this, Staraptor has fantastic coverage which means that not many physical walls can switch in to its dangerous STAB moves. The Rotom appliances are your safest switch in to this set; resisting both of Staraptor's precious STAB moves while shrugging off Pursuit or U-turn. Acknowledge the sets and begin to counter the Rotom appliances. If they are the special attacking versions, Snorlax and Blissey is your best bet to stop these guys because they have fantastic bulk to weather the attacks from the Rotom appliances. Choiced Rotoms will usually have Trick under their sleeves to screw up Blissey and Snorlax; therefore, Heatran can be great to absorb Trick and Will-O-Wisp, while Jolteon can partner well to take Thunderbolt and cushion Shadow Ball due its decent Special Defense.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: U-turn / Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant
evs: 60 HP / 252 Atk / 196 Spe
<p>Unlike the previous set, Choice Scarf trades the extra power of a Choice Band for extra Speed to make Staraptor faster than many would-be revenge-killers. Sporting an impressive 427 Speed and 372 Attack, you have to think twice when you want to switch in on this Staraptor due to its solid attack and great type coverage. On top of all this, Intimidate really puts the icing on the cake because it allows Staraptor to switch in on physical attacks much easier. Don't get too cocky switching in on physical attackers, especially those of the highest calibre, because Staraptor still has a poor Defense stat even with Intimidate factored in.</p>
<p>Staraptor is a great threat on the offensive side because of its high powered dual STAB attacks. Brave Bird, Return, and Double-Edge all receive base powers above 100 and can harm anything in Staraptor's way. The choices for your Normal-type STAB move is totally your choice. Return provides good damage without attaining any recoil damage, while Double-Edge gives the additional damage in exchange for some HP. Rock and Steel-types can be quite upsetting because they resist Staraptor's precious STAB attacks, but thankfully, Staraptor has Close Combat under its belt which covers both types, and gives Staraptor some good overall type coverage. Your selection for your final move depends on what you decide to do with Staraptor. U-turn allows Staraptor to scout out for incoming counters while you exit and bring in an appropriate Pokemon to plow through your opponent’s counter to Staraptor. Pursuit, on the other hand, plays a different role than U-turn. Pursuit traps those pesky Ghost-types and catches fleeing special walls like Blissey and Chansey.</p>
<p>Staraptor has plenty of good opportunities to switch in, but Stealth Rock hinders this bird from repeatedly switching in and out. Staraptor will greatly appreciate Rapid Spin users to remove the offending Rocks, thus providing extra survivability for Staraptor. Speaking of living longer, like many Choice users, Staraptor needs Wish support to help it stay alive. Double-Edge and Brave Bird’s recoil, as well as Stealth Rock damage, can chip off Staraptor's HP more quickly than is comfortable, and therefore Wish users like Hypno, Chansey, and Blissey can help Staraptor. Staraptor doesn't mind Stealth Rock on the field to help it sweep late game.</p>
<p>With the swap for Speed in exchange for power, Staraptor is going to lack the raw power to muscle through some bulky pokemon. Skarmory, Jirachi, Metagross and Bronzong are great counters for Staraptor because these individuals resist both of its beloved STAB moves and they are neutral to Close Combat. In UU, Steelix and Regirock shine as good counters for Staraptor. With naturally high Defense, these individuals can withstand Close Combat and strike back with Gyro Ball or Stone Edge. With all these Steel-types being listed, packing Magnezone can really be a good service alongside Staraptor. Magnezone can trap Skarmory without Shed Shell and strike back with Thunderbolt or use Magnet Rise to dodge Ground-type moves. Hariyama can handle Steelix and Regirock since Hariyama has naturally high Defense and HP to take attacks from them and can strike back with a STAB Fighting-type move.</p>
<p>The Rotom appliances are arguably the greatest counters to Staraptor. They can take all of Staraptor’s attacks and strike back with Will-O-Wisp or Thunderbolt. Heatran is probably the best partner for Staraptor to handle these annoying ghouls. Heatran can take Will-O-Wisp, survive a Thunderbolt, and dispose them with a STAB Fire-type attack, but Scarf variants should watch out for a rare but possible Thunder Wave.</p>
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Brave Bird
move 4: Close Combat
item: Sharp Beak
nature: Jolly
evs 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
<p>This set is on a different field as the other sets because it aims to stick around longer than the other sets. You are limited to two attacking moves in exchange for two support moves. The core idea of this set is to remain in the match as long as possible, with Roost to heal off Stealth Rock damage and Brave Bird recoil. Staraptor can utilize Substitute to dodge those irritating status which render Staraptor’s effectiveness useless. With Staraptor's Intimidate ability, opponents are usually forced to switch out, and for this reason Substitute is a great move to scout for switch ins. Behind a Substitute, you can heal off damage or hurt the opponent with Brave Bird or Close Combat. This set may have lost some gleam on the offensive side but Flying + Fighting is good coverage that is only resisted by Rotom appliances and Zapdos, which is surprisingly only a small group of Pokemon that wall this set.</p>
<p>The choice for Staraptor's item is a tough selection, but Sharp Beak is usually the best option. Sharp Beak boosts Brave Bird’s power and can trick opponents into thinking you hold a choice item. Leftovers is another option but you will lose some power which this set really needs to perform effectively.</p>
<p>As mentioned before, the Rotom appliances and Zapdos can easily come on this set and strike back with Thunderbolt. The Rotom appliances are some of the toughest to counter. These ghosts can provide a shock because they have Trick in their arsenal which can ruin your counter for Rotom. Heatran can take Thunderbolt and Trick and can carve a chunk of HP with a STAB Fire-type move. Jolteon has Volt Absorb to take Thunderbolt from Rotom and a Choice Specs Shadow Ball should 2HKO them. Blissey stops Zapdos cold and can spam Seismic Toss or cripple the bird with Toxic.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Staraptor will find itself switching out of bulky Electric-types most of the time. Rotom appliances are the toughest to address in any of Staraptor sets because Staraptor’s only source of decent damage is a Choice Banded Pursuit. Staraptor is an absolute monster with its good move coverage, but Rotom appliances are still paper counters most of the time. Heatran is your best bet if you want someone to take Trick and Will-O-Wisp, while Jolteon can take Electric-type attacks and 2HKO with Shadow Ball. Defensively, Blissey is Staraptor's most reliable partner and can cripple Rotom with Toxic.</p>
<p>Staraptor provides great offense due to its great type coverage and can be excellent on offensive teams. Most faster sweepers are frail and have a hard time switching in, but Staraptor is an exception to this rule. Staraptor can come in a number of times thanks to its Ghost and Ground immunities. Intimidate is an impressive ability for someone frail like Staraptor because it can cushion hits directed from the physical side, which allows Staraptor to switch in easier.</p>
<p>A common tactic is to switch in on a Shadow Ball from Gengar or Mismagius and strike back with Brave Bird and score a OHKO if Stealth Rock is in play. Speaking of Stealth Rock, Staraptor will appreciate Stealth Rock on the field to help it sweep late game. Another common tactic with the Choice Scarf set is to spam U-turn to scout out for counters. Once you analyze the counter, you can plan to remove it, which can aid Staraptor greatly late game. The best tactic to help Staraptor stay in the game longer is to use Brave Bird or Double-Edge with caution because your precious HP can easily run down if you use it arbitrarily. For example, although a CB Brave Bird against the standard Blissey can cause up to 95% of damage (651 HP), this will strip off a massive 217 HP from Staraptor. That's a rather extreme example though. Should you KO a Pokémon with 304 HP, you'll lose over 100 HP yourself. Wherever possible try to KO your opponents with Return or Close Combat; only use Brave Bird when absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>Wish support is recommended because recoil damage from Brave Bird and Double-Edge can wear Staraptor down. On top of this, residual damage from Sandstorm and Stealth Rock can trouble Staraptor a lot. To take it this all in account, Staraptor has roughly three switch-ins before it actually faints. Wish users such as Blissey, Vaporeon, Chansey and Hypno can be really useful partners for Staraptor since their support lets it survive for much longer than in would otherwise. If you don’t want a Wish user, the SubRoost set is available for Staraptor to heal off the HP loss.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Life Orb can be used in conjunction with Agility but it has no room on the other sets. If Life Orb is used with the SubRoost set, Staraptor’s HP would run down far too quickly. Featherdance is an interesting option but Staraptor shouldn’t go near that move because it is far better at sweeping than running a defensive set.</p>
<p>In theory, Foresight can help Staraptor use its Normal-type STAB moves against Ghost-type Pokemon. An Adamant Staraptor with Life Orb under its belt can deal 60.20% - 71.05% on a max HP / max Defense Rotom with Double-Edge. The Rotom appliances are a trouble to deal with, and this is one way to actually penetrate through them with a STAB move.</p>
[Evs]
<p>Choice Bander should have max Attack and Speed, and either a Jolly or Adamant nature. Though not recommended, you don't have to maximize your Speed, but a minimum of 296 Speed is required to outspeed Jolly Heracross, or 319 Speed for Jolly Electivire. Any remaining EVs should go into HP.</p>
<p>Choice Scarf sets should always have an Adamant nature and max Attack. 270 Speed outruns Choice Scarf Heracross, while 285 Speed outruns Choice Scarf Medicham.</p>
<p>The SubRoost set should always run Jolly because it allows Staraptor to use Roost before getting hit. A simple 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe is required on the set soley.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Staraptor is often called “Predator Pokemon” because it preys on other Pokemon with its great Attack and Speed and two 120 base power STAB attacks. Staraptor is a very dangerous physical threat. Its most prominent feature would probably be the mean look on its face and this reflects its ability, Intimidate. Intimidate helps it switch in on physical hits much easier and force the opponent to switch out. Staraptor really shines out of all the Normal / Flying-type hybrids because of Intimidate and Close Combat to battle with opposing Steel and Rock-types. Dodrio and Swellow lack a strong Fighting-type move to budge these Steel and Rock-types and this is probably the main reason why Staraptor is on a different level. Staraptor can bring good package to any team that requires a Ground and Ghost immunity and an Intimidate user as well. Overall, Staraptor is a physical threat to be reckoned with.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Skarmory, Jirachi, Metagross and Bronzong resist both STAB moves, have high Defense, and are neutral to Close Combat, making all four of them excellent choices against Staraptor. Rhyperior's massive HP and Defense, coupled with his Solid Rock ability, which reduces his Fighting weakness, also makes him a good counter.</p>
<p>Although they get hit hard by Brave Bird, Ghosts are good switch-ins thanks to their immunity to both Close Combat and Return/Double-Edge. They can cripple Staraptor with Will-O-Wisp or simply attack him with super effective attacks like Thunderbolt (Gengar, Mismagius), ThunderPunch, or Ice Punch (Dusknoir). Rotom-A makes an excellent counter, resisting Brave Bird and taking nothing from Return and Close Combat, whilst also being able to shrug off Staraptor's U-turn. Rotom can then hit back with Thunderbolt. Zapdos resists both Brave Bird and Close Combat, and easily kills Staraptor with Thunderbolt, but it must watch out from a Choice Band Double-Edge which can OHKO Zapdos with Stealth Rock in play.</p>
<p>Otherwise, just try to outpredict him as he'll usually be restricted by Choice Band/Scarf.</p>
