[OVERVIEW]
Talonflame is a fantastic support Pokemon that can utilize its high Speed and access to recovery to serve as a reliable pivot and Defogger. Flame Body and Will-O-Wisp, combined with a resistance to common attacks like U-turn and Close Combat, allow Talonflame to deter and punish attacks from pivots like Slither Wing and Galarian Zapdos as well as cripple physical setup sweepers like Maushold and Bisharp. Talonflame is also able to switch into and make progress on relatively passive defensive Pokemon like non-Stone Edge Hippowdon, Chesnaught, and Fezandipiti, especially if it carries Taunt to prevent recovery. Unfortunately, Talonflame's lack of firepower and special bulk can give special attackers like Hisuian Goodra, Armarouge, and Slowbro a free turn to fire off an attack or set up after switching in safely, though the latter can be mitigated by Taunt. Furthermore, Talonflame's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock can pose a problem, as many attackers that it would like to switch in on, like Krookodile and Galarian Zapdos, carry Knock Off, which can remove Heavy-Duty Boots and cripple Talonflame's ability to pivot if Stealth Rock is set up.
[SET]
Utility (Talonflame) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Ground / Water / Fairy
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
- U-turn / Defog
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Will-O-Wisp gives Talonflame a more reliable way of crippling physical attackers like Slither Wing, Krookodile, and Bisharp. Taunt prevents defensive Pokemon like Hippowdon and Fezandipiti and setup sweepers like Armarouge and Reuniclus from taking advantage of Talonflame's passivity by safely setting up entry hazards, healing up, or boosting their stats. U-turn allows Talonflame to pivot out to offensive threats like Armarouge, Gardevoir, and Conkeldurr that can exploit its switch-ins like Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Hisuian Goodra. Defog pairs well with Talonflame's ability to force out physical attackers and access to recovery. Roost is important recovery, though Talonflame should be wary of Earthquake from Hippowdon and Krookodile when using it. Heavy-Duty Boots is necessary to allow Talonflame to switch in while Stealth Rock is up. Flame Body is useful for punishing Pokemon like Slither Wing, Maushold, and Cyclizar. Tera Ground gives Talonflame an immunity to Electric-type attacks from Magnezone and Oricorio-E. Tera Water provides a valuable resistance to Water-type attacks from Barraskewda, Basculegion-F, and Volcanion. Tera Fairy retains Talonflame's important resistances to Bug- and Fighting-type attacks from pivots like Slither Wing and Mienshao while allowing it to absorb a Draco Meteor from Cyclizar, Hisuian Goodra, or Noivern and shrug off Knock Off from Krookodile. All of these options additionally assist Talonflame by removing its glaring Stealth Rock weakness for if Heavy-Duty Boots is removed.
Talonflame fits best on offense and balance structures as a pivot and deterrent against physical attacks thanks to Flame Body. Its typing pairs well with specially defensive Pokemon like Umbreon, Wo-Chien, and Hisuian Goodra that fear attacks from Fighting-type wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos and Slither Wing. Talonflame's high Speed and access to recovery can provide great value particularly to bulky structures like stall teams, as it can neutralize strong attackers and setup sweepers like Maushold, Bisharp, and niche picks such as Gallade that may be difficult to deal with otherwise. On more offensive structures, U-turn can allow wallbreakers like Armarouge, Hisuian Goodra, and Crawdaunt to safely switch into and threaten Talonflame's defensive checks like Hippowdon and Slowbro. Talonflame's reliability as a fast Defogger is also appreciated by partners such as Galarian Zapdos, Choice Band Entei, and non-Heavy-Duty Boots Gyarados that are vulnerable to entry hazard chip damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Flare Blitz is an alternative over Brave Bird that hits Steel-types like Jirachi and Magnezone, though it weakens Talonflame's matchup against common Pokemon like Cyclizar, Slowbro, and Noivern. Swords Dance is an option to turn Talonflame into a wincon that can utilize its Speed to clean up a chipped opposition late-game.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel-types**: Specially offensive Steel-types like Empoleon, Magnezone, and Hisuian Goodra take little damage from Brave Bird and threaten Talonflame back with strong attacks. Talonflame is similarly unable to do anything to Jirachi, which can choose to risk a burn in order to make progress via Body Slam, Stealth Rock, or Wish.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Slowbro, Basculegion-F, and Volcanion are able to easily OHKO Talonflame.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Many special wallbreakers that don't fall into the aforementioned types, such as Armarouge, Reuniclus, and Oricorio-E, also take little damage from Talonflame's Brave Bird and can use it as an opportunity to fire off attacks or set up.
**Rock-type Attacks**: Rock-type Pokemon like Rhyperior, Lycanroc-D, and Terrakion threaten Talonflame with an OHKO. Similarly, Hippowdon and Krookodile can run Rock-type coverage in Stone Edge to eliminate Talonflame. While all of these Pokemon can be crippled by Will-O-Wisp, they can still OHKO or deal significant damage to Talonflame.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/clyde.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/machjacob.555741/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Talonflame is a fantastic support Pokemon that can utilize its high Speed and access to recovery to serve as a reliable pivot and Defogger. Flame Body and Will-O-Wisp, combined with a resistance to common attacks like U-turn and Close Combat, allow Talonflame to deter and punish attacks from pivots like Slither Wing and Galarian Zapdos as well as cripple physical setup sweepers like Maushold and Bisharp. Talonflame is also able to switch into and make progress on relatively passive defensive Pokemon like non-Stone Edge Hippowdon, Chesnaught, and Fezandipiti, especially if it carries Taunt to prevent recovery. Unfortunately, Talonflame's lack of firepower and special bulk can give special attackers like Hisuian Goodra, Armarouge, and Slowbro a free turn to fire off an attack or set up after switching in safely, though the latter can be mitigated by Taunt. Furthermore, Talonflame's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock can pose a problem, as many attackers that it would like to switch in on, like Krookodile and Galarian Zapdos, carry Knock Off, which can remove Heavy-Duty Boots and cripple Talonflame's ability to pivot if Stealth Rock is set up.
[SET]
Utility (Talonflame) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Ground / Water / Fairy
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
- U-turn / Defog
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Will-O-Wisp gives Talonflame a more reliable way of crippling physical attackers like Slither Wing, Krookodile, and Bisharp. Taunt prevents defensive Pokemon like Hippowdon and Fezandipiti and setup sweepers like Armarouge and Reuniclus from taking advantage of Talonflame's passivity by safely setting up entry hazards, healing up, or boosting their stats. U-turn allows Talonflame to pivot out to offensive threats like Armarouge, Gardevoir, and Conkeldurr that can exploit its switch-ins like Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Hisuian Goodra. Defog pairs well with Talonflame's ability to force out physical attackers and access to recovery. Roost is important recovery, though Talonflame should be wary of Earthquake from Hippowdon and Krookodile when using it. Heavy-Duty Boots is necessary to allow Talonflame to switch in while Stealth Rock is up. Flame Body is useful for punishing Pokemon like Slither Wing, Maushold, and Cyclizar. Tera Ground gives Talonflame an immunity to Electric-type attacks from Magnezone and Oricorio-E. Tera Water provides a valuable resistance to Water-type attacks from Barraskewda, Basculegion-F, and Volcanion. Tera Fairy retains Talonflame's important resistances to Bug- and Fighting-type attacks from pivots like Slither Wing and Mienshao while allowing it to absorb a Draco Meteor from Cyclizar, Hisuian Goodra, or Noivern and shrug off Knock Off from Krookodile. All of these options additionally assist Talonflame by removing its glaring Stealth Rock weakness for if Heavy-Duty Boots is removed.
Talonflame fits best on offense and balance structures as a pivot and deterrent against physical attacks thanks to Flame Body. Its typing pairs well with specially defensive Pokemon like Umbreon, Wo-Chien, and Hisuian Goodra that fear attacks from Fighting-type wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos and Slither Wing. Talonflame's high Speed and access to recovery can provide great value particularly to bulky structures like stall teams, as it can neutralize strong attackers and setup sweepers like Maushold, Bisharp, and niche picks such as Gallade that may be difficult to deal with otherwise. On more offensive structures, U-turn can allow wallbreakers like Armarouge, Hisuian Goodra, and Crawdaunt to safely switch into and threaten Talonflame's defensive checks like Hippowdon and Slowbro. Talonflame's reliability as a fast Defogger is also appreciated by partners such as Galarian Zapdos, Choice Band Entei, and non-Heavy-Duty Boots Gyarados that are vulnerable to entry hazard chip damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Flare Blitz is an alternative over Brave Bird that hits Steel-types like Jirachi and Magnezone, though it weakens Talonflame's matchup against common Pokemon like Cyclizar, Slowbro, and Noivern. Swords Dance is an option to turn Talonflame into a wincon that can utilize its Speed to clean up a chipped opposition late-game.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel-types**: Specially offensive Steel-types like Empoleon, Magnezone, and Hisuian Goodra take little damage from Brave Bird and threaten Talonflame back with strong attacks. Talonflame is similarly unable to do anything to Jirachi, which can choose to risk a burn in order to make progress via Body Slam, Stealth Rock, or Wish.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Slowbro, Basculegion-F, and Volcanion are able to easily OHKO Talonflame.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Many special wallbreakers that don't fall into the aforementioned types, such as Armarouge, Reuniclus, and Oricorio-E, also take little damage from Talonflame's Brave Bird and can use it as an opportunity to fire off attacks or set up.
**Rock-type Attacks**: Rock-type Pokemon like Rhyperior, Lycanroc-D, and Terrakion threaten Talonflame with an OHKO. Similarly, Hippowdon and Krookodile can run Rock-type coverage in Stone Edge to eliminate Talonflame. While all of these Pokemon can be crippled by Will-O-Wisp, they can still OHKO or deal significant damage to Talonflame.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/clyde.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/machjacob.555741/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
