I get that the Torn-T and Pidgeot comparisons are made because they're both Flying types that sit at 121 base speed, but really, the similarities almost all end there.Hey, um, first post on the VRs so please go easy on me. I'm just going to throw a nomination out there-
to B
Whilst Mega Pidgeot does not check any mons in particular, it is an excellent special wallbreaker that can confuse you with a 100% accurate STAB Hurricane, boast burn chances with Heat Wave, provide offensive Defog support, keep itself healthy with Roost, give you a very quick U-Turn, easily destroy an opponent's vital team member with Hyper Beam. Pidgeot can setup all over opposing walls with Work Up, and even though it has several weaknesses and hates the yellow magic, it is an excellent blanket check.
Quoting from the spotlight on Mega Pidgeot (even though it is UU)
"What makes Mega Pidgeot so dangerous is its ability to launch perfectly accurate Hurricanes with an impressive 135 base Special Attack stat. This means that any switch-in to Mega Pidgeot, besides taking substantial damage, also has a significant 30% chance of being confused. Additionally, if the switch-in is slower than Mega Pidgeot, then it will have to tank two Hurricanes before being able to retaliate, which means that the switch-in has 51% chance of being confused before it can even land a hit. As a consequence, defensive teams will find themselves put under tremendous pressure when facing Mega Pidgeot. Even dedicated special walls and Pokémon that resist Flying, which could otherwise sponge Hurricane relatively comfortably, can be broken past with a couple of self-inflicted hits of confusion damage."
Whilst Mega-Pidgeot might find itself outclassed by Tornadus-Therian, especially defensively, it is able to differentiate itself from the flying genie by having one more immunity, a special attack stat that is 25 higher, access to setup, and a 100% accurate Hurricane. Even though Mega Pidgeot is covered by a lot of things, it can leave a stain on opposing teams and deserves higher than B-.
How well does it fare against S and A+? Let's find out!
252+ SpA Mega Pidgeot Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard X: 238-282 (80.1 - 94.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Not too good. While Pidgeot outspeeds before DD, Zard OHKOs back even without boost.
252+ Atk Tough Claws Mega Charizard X Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mega Pidgeot: 327-385 (103.1 - 121.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
However, Zard takes recoil from Flare Blitz and can't switch in on a Hurricane.
252+ SpA Mega Pidgeot Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 84+ SpD Clefable: 189-223 (47.9 - 56.5%) -- 35.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
While Clefable can't really switch in, it can start setting up on Pidge and also take away almost all its utility with TWave. It can then proceed to 3HKO in return. However, Pidgeot wins if it has already Worked Up (once or twice, Clef might still win when once).
+2 252+ SpA Mega Pidgeot Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 84+ SpD Clefable: 378-445 (95.9 - 112.9%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Mega Pidgeot Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Rupee: 186-219 (61.1 - 72%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Pidgeot 2HKOs Sableye whilst it does basically nothing. Knock Off and Foul Play are ineffective, and Refresh versions of Pidgeot will stop WoWisp.
252 SpA Mega Pidgeot Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Alakazam: 198-234 (78.8 - 93.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Alakazam Psychic vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Pidgeot: 174-205 (54.8 - 64.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Both 2HKO eachother, however Timid Pidgeot outspeeds Zam and also OHKO with Hyper Beam, if it so chooses. It can also deal significant damage and switch out with U-Turn.
0- Atk Mega Pidgeot U-turn vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Alakazam: 140-166 (55.7 - 66.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Rest are coming soon, please wait 12 hours or so!
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To your first point, you've essentially listed the entirety of Mega-Pidgeot's viable movepool. Torn-T's movepool makes it a much more versatile Pokemon, with it having access to Superpower, Icy Wind, Grass Knot, and Sludge Wave (though not all these moves see much usage). Torn-T's stat distribution also lets it go mixed, and unlike M-Pidgeot, Torn-T is played more as a pivot, rather than a cleaner. Yes, Mega-Pidgeot has more accurate Hurricanes and a way to boost, but Torn-T is better in the sense that it has access to Regenerator (which is so nice, and actually lets Torn-T use U-Turn well, while Pidgeot doesn't use it nearly as well), better overall stat distribution, and a much more versatile movepool, all without taking up a Mega slot, freeing you to use something else.
The 25 point advantage in base Special Attack isn't that significant, considering we're comparing a Mega and a non-Mega.
252 SpA Mega Pidgeot Hurricane vs. 232 HP / 4 SpD Mega Venusaur: 318-374 (88.5 - 104.1%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
160 SpA Tornadus-T Hurricane vs. 232 HP / 4 SpD Mega Venusaur: 254-300 (70.7 - 83.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
180 SpA Life Orb Tornadus-T Hurricane vs. 232 HP / 4 SpD Mega Venusaur: 335-398 (93.3 - 110.8%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
Those are the standard spreads. Naturally, Mega Pidgeot's going to outmuscle something without max investment, but with Life Orb, standard Torn-T actually hits harder than Mega-Pidgeot. It's really hard to justify using it over Torn-T, since the differences aren't exactly enough to warrant it much, unless you're specifically needing a Special-attacking cleaning Mega on your team. Torn-T doesn't need much team support, as it's usually the one giving the team support, while Mega-Pidgeot tends to require a bit more to be effective. Not much has really changed in its favor in the meta for it to move up a rank either, in my opinion. With the meta's shift to offense, there's a lot of powerful priority around, as well as powerful Scarfers (Keldeo does 70% minimum with Scarf Hydro, which doesn't miss thanks to No Guard, so the roll is actually slightly in the Keldeo's favor after Rocks, assuming full health). Also, Electrics are really good in this meta, and M-Pidgeot isn't helping much against those (while Torn can switch out and regain health). I'd keep Mega-Pidgeot at B-, honestly.
EDIT: Also, yeah: you have to capitalize on M-Pidgeot's Speed tier: Modest isn't an option in this metagame (being outsped by Raikou, Specs Keld, Latis, Mega Diancie, Mega Metagross, Starmie, etc. is just asking for trouble: at least you can just U-Turn out and get some damage, or bop them with an attack).
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