QC checks: Corporal Levi, OP, Fiend
GP checks: CryoGyro, The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
At first glance, Pikipek may seem an underwhelming choice; it boasts overall mediocre stats, has almost nonexistent defenses, and does not have many coverage options. Secondly, there are stronger Flying-types like Doduo, Archen, and Rufflet that can work better than Pikipek, which has to rely on Brave Bird and Life Orb to deal significant damage, meaning that it will constantly lose its HP in the process; this combined with a weakness to Stealth Rock makes it difficult for Pikipek to be efficient. However, Pikipek carves itself a small niche that makes it truly shine and, more importantly, it doesn't share with any other Flying-type Pokemon in LC: access to Bullet Seed and Skill Link, meaning that it can remove Rock-types with ease, even Sturdy + Berry Juice ones. It also sports respectable Attack and Speed stats, letting it deal a solid amount of damage with its STAB or coverage moves and outspeed Pokemon such as Pawniard and Rufflet with ease. While far from being the premier LC Flying-type, Pikipek can prove to be a good pick on teams searching a way to beat opposing leads and check a good number of Rock- and Water-types.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Brick Break / Drill Peck
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is the main move Pikipek should be using, as it is a powerful STAB move that severely dents anything neutral to Flying and has a good chance to OHKO Timburr and Foongus. Skill Link Bullet Seed is what sets Pikipek apart from other Flying-types, allowing it to do a huge amount of damage to typical Flying-type checks such as Chinchou, Onix, and Shell Smash users such as Tirtouga and Omanyte. For the third moveslot, Brick Break is the prime choice because it can heavily damage Pawniard and Steel-types in general, which resist both Brave Bird and Bullet Seed; however, Drill Peck can be used as a more conservative STAB option when Pikipek's health is low. Finally, U-turn is used to gain momentum and works very well with Pikipek's boosted Speed.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment is required in order to boost Pikipek's offensive presence, as without it, Pikipek may be in a difficult position when attempting to clean or damage the opposing team. Maximum Speed is also necessary, as it gives Pikipek the ability to outspeed Pokemon such as Jolly Choice Scarf Pawniard, +1 Jolly Scraggy, and Modest Choice Scarf Chinchou. Finally, 36 HP EVs are used to enable Pikipek to switch into Stealth Rock four times, not considering Brave Bird's recoil, and allow it to spam Brave Bird a bit more. Choice Scarf boosts Pikipek's Speed to a very high level, outspeeding base 60 Speed Pokemon with a positive nature and a Choice Scarf like Pawniard. A Jolly nature should typically be chosen, because it allows Pikipek to outspeed 16 Speed Choice Scarf users such as Jolly Pawniard and Jolly Rufflet and Speed tie with 17 Speed Choice Scarf users like Jolly Mienfoo and Timid Chinchou, which is a notable benchmark. An Adamant nature is viable as well, since it significantly improves the chances of OHKOing Timburr and Foongus; however, Pikipek will only Speed tie with Pawniard and Rufflet and get outsped by Timid Chinchou and Jolly Mienfoo, making it the inferior choice.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Pikipek should be brought in early in the match, as it can be useful to gain momentum against the opposing lead, or to eliminate the opposing lead itself with Bullet Seed (in Onix's case) or severely dent it with a Brave Bird (in Mienfoo's case). U-turn or coverage moves should be used when a switch is predicted. Remember that Choice Scarf Pikipek is not going to punch huge holes in the opposing team; it should be played with "hit-and-run" tactics, with frequent switches out or U-turn uses, unless the opponent lacks a way to stop Pikipek; in that case, just spam Brave Bird or Bullet Seed on frail and slower enemies. Pikipek applies a large amount of pressure on its checks when it's paired with other powerful Flying-types such as Archen and Vullaby; the aforementioned partners can severely weaken the Flying-type checks, leaving Pikipek free to pick them all off.
Team Options
========
A powerful Ground-type is a nice partner for Pikipek, as Pikipek suffers from the presence of Electric- and Steel-types; it also suffers from Rock-types, but Bullet Seed is almost always a good answer to them. Both Diglett and Drilbur can be helpful because they check Electric- and Steel-types like Pawniard, Magnemite, and in Mold Breaker Drilbur's case, Bronzor. Diglett can trap Magnemite and Pawniard, proceed to KO them with Earthquake, and set up Stealth Rock; on the other hand, Drilbur can set up Stealth Rock, remove the entry hazard from Pikipek's side of the field, and OHKO Magnemite with Sturdy thanks to Mold Breaker. Chinchou makes for a fine partner, because it has interesting type synergy with Pikipek; Chinchou can absorb Electric-type moves and resists Ice-type attacks, while Pikipek comes in on Ground-type moves and easily removes Grass-types. Pikipek has no real chance against Gastly if locked in Bullet Seed or Brick Break, and can't do anything at all to Honedge; this makes Choice Scarf Pawniard an excellent teammate for Pikipek, since it can trap both of these Ghost-types with Pursuit. In exchange, Pikipek is immune to the Ground-type moves that scare Pawniard away. Alolan Grimer plays a similar role, but it can run an Eviolite set to wall and trap Gastly by resisting both its STAB, and trap Honedge without fearing a Sacred Sword too much. Finally, when paired with Nasty Plot Vullaby, Pikipek forms a powerful Flying-type core that uses both physical and special attacks, which weakens their shared checks.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Brave Bird / Drill Peck
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Brick Break / Flame Charge
move 4: Flame Charge / Substitute / U-turn
item: Life Orb
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
ivs: 10 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is a STAB option that packs a lot of power; however, in conjunction with Life Orb, it cuts Pikipek's HP very quickly. Drill Peck, on the other hand, is a less aggressive STAB option that preserves Pikipek's HP but is significantly weaker. Bullet Seed is a must, since it is a spectacular Grass-type coverage move against many Water- and Rock-types, notably OHKOing Onix and Tirtouga (even through Solid Rock), and deals an enormous amount of damage to Chinchou. As further coverage, Brick Break hits Pawniard very hard, OHKOing it even through Eviolite; on the other hand, Flame Charge boosts Pikipek's Speed, turning it into a potent sweeper once its checks and priority users are removed from the battle. Substitute is an interesting option that can be used as a reliable way to bypass Sucker Punch from Pawniard; it also protects Pikipek from status moves like Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave. Finally, U-turn can be used as well because Pikipek hits 17 Speed, outpacing many Pokémon and gaining momentum; it also does chip damage.
Set Details
========
The given EVs spread is used to maximize Pikipek's Speed and Attack. Fully invested Speed with a Jolly nature allows Pikipek to hit 17 Speed, which let it outpace many Pokemon sitting at 16 Speed, such as Jolly Pawniard and Jolly Rufflet; note that Pikipek will still Speed tie with Jolly Onix, and Jolly Mienfoo. The leftover 36 EVs are put into Defense to turn a guaranteed OHKO from Life Orb Jolly Pawniard Sucker Punch into a 56% chance to OHKO; they also reduce the amount of damage taken by Pikipek from other priority users, such as Timburr and Corphish. 10 HP IVs make Pikipek hit 19 HP, turning Life Orb recoil from 2 HP per move to 1 HP per move. Life Orb boosts Pikipek's damage output significantly, OHKOing Timburr and Foongus much more often.
Usage Tips
========
This set can be used in the first turns of the match to gain momentum against opposing leads; however, keep in mind that Jolly Pikipek Speed ties with Jolly non-Choice Scarf Mienfoo and, more dangerously, with Jolly Onix. Pikipek can work more efficiently when priority users (specifically Pawniard) and faster Electric- and Rock-types (including Choice Scarf Chinchou and Archen) are removed from the field. When using Pikipek, prediction is essential; even though Brave Bird or Drill Peck should be the move to spam the most, Bullet Seed should be used when a Chinchou or Rock-type switch-in is predicted, since it has a very high chance to KO speedy variants of Chinchou, while Brick Break or Flame Charge should be used only when it's obvious that a Steel-type is entering the battlefield or when the opponent struggles to deal with a +1 Speed Pikipek.
Team Options
========
Diglett traps and removes Steel-, Electric-, and Rock-types, opening some holes for Pikipek; its Stealth Rock also helps turn 2HKOs into OHKOs. In a similar way, Drilbur can break through Electric- and Rock-types as well as Pawniard; it can also set up Stealth Rock for Pikipek and remove it from its side with Rapid Spin. Chinchou pairs very well with Pikipek, providing an Electric immunity, a resistance to Ice-type moves, good type synergy, and a slow Volt Switch to let Pikipek come in unscathed; in exchange, Pikipek removes Grass-types and helps with the Ground-types that trouble Chinchou. Remember that Diglett can outspeed Pikipek and OHKO it with Rock Slide. Pawniard and Alolan Grimer are good partners, as Pikipek lures in Honedge and allows them to Pursuit trap it. Strong priority users such as Carvanha, Corphish, Timburr, and Croagunk are good partners for Pikipek, because they help mitigate the issue with Diglett (especially Carvanha and Corphish), and also help against weather sweepers (in particular against Slush Rush users, such as Cubchoo and Alolan Sandshrew, that are problematic for Pikipek). Slow components of a VoltTurn core, like defensive Mienfoo and Chinchou, help Pikipek come in on things it can take advantage of, such as slow Ground-types like Hippopotas or Fighting-types such as Timburr. Pikipek itself is a nice U-turn user, gaining momentum against slower Electric-types if you opt for Chinchou as a partner. Since this set is more inclined to deal huge blows instead of pick off foes, Sticky Web support from Surskit can turn Life Orb Pikipek into a sweeping machine, easily outspeeding many foes at -1 Spe (just be wary of Defiant users such as Mankey and Pawniard). Finally, this Pikipek set is particularly good against slower Rock-types, making it a great member of "bird spam" cores that struggle against Rock-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pikipek has access to STAB Skill Link Fury Attack, which seems very appealing at first; however, Pikipek has issues finding a slot for it, its 85% accuracy move means it will fail at bad times, and even though Skill Link makes it hit 5 times, it doesn't provide important KOs like Bullet Seed or Brave Bird do, so it's a unadvised option. Swords Dance is an interesting option to boost Pikipek's offensive stats to an insane level, but it can't pull it off very well because its defenses are pathetic, so it can't afford to withstand a hit and boost; moreover, keep in mind that Pikipek lacks priority moves, making it difficult to sweep against faster threats even at +2. Swords Dance in conjunction with Focus Sash can turn Pikipek into a sweeping machine once priority users have been eliminated; on such a set, Drill Peck is advised because it avoids the recoil of Brave Bird. However, consider that the absence of Life Orb is somewhat unappealing, because even at +2, Pikipek struggles to wear down opposing Pokémon with Drill Peck alone. Even if you can pull off a Swords Dance, any priority move can obliterate a 1 HP Pikipek. Mirror Move can be used with Flyinium Z to threaten a powerful attack and boost in the same turn, but this is usually better done by Vullaby thanks to its bulk and Weak Armor. Pikipek has access to Boomburst, but such a set is better suited for Taillow, which sports better Speed, Heat Wave, and Scrappy. Steel Wing may be attractive at first as it hits support Archen and other Rock-types super effectively; however, the nature of damage rolls in LC makes Bullet Seed a better choice, whereas Steel Wing fails to OHKO any Rock-type (even Archen). As supportive options, Pikipek has access to both Roost and Tailwind; Roost can find a place in the Life Orb set, but it's not recommended because Pikipek is too frail to use Roost efficiently, while Tailwind can be used to give support to the team, but Pikipek is again too frail to make full use of it and also has issues finding a moveslot for it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Pikipek has a horrible time against most Steel-types, because even though it has coverage for them, they simply withstand the hit and KO it back. Life Orb Pawniard can easily OHKO Pikipek with Sucker Punch, but Brick Break is a clean OHKO. If Pikipek's set lacks Brick Break, then Pawniard somewhat walls it, since Flame Charge isn't a 2HKO on Pawniard's Eviolite set, while Sucker Punch is a sure 2HKO in the worst-case scenario. If Pikipek is running Brick Break, then Honedge completely walls Pikipek by virtue of its typing and can OHKO it after Stealth Rock damage. It should be noted, however, that Honedge fails to OHKO Pikipek without Stealth Rock damage.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types are usually slower than Pikipek, and it can easily take them out with a Life Orb-boosted Skill Link Bullet Seed; however, there are exceptions. Archen is a prime example, because Jolly Archen Speed ties with Jolly Pikipek, takes a Bullet Seed, and can OHKO Pikipek back more than 90% of the time with Rock Slide, even with Defeatist. Jolly Onix can also Speed tie with Jolly Pikipek and OHKO it with Rock Blast; however, if Onix loses the Speed tie, it's OHKOed by Pikipek's Bullet Seed. +2 Tirtouga can OHKO Pikipek with an Aqua Jet or a STAB move, but it must be wary because Pikipek can KO it with Bullet Seed.
**Electric-types**: Choice Scarf Chinchou can outright OHKO Pikipek with an Electric-type move before it can even try to use Bullet Seed; however, slower and bulkier variants of Chinchou should be wary of Bullet Seed (although it can't OHKO Berry Juice variants and some Eviolite defensive sets). Magnemite is a excellent answer to Pikipek, because it 4x resists Flying, resists Grass, and isn't OHKOed by Brick Break; in exchange, it OHKOes Pikipek with its Electric STAB move. Elekid is fast enough to outspeed the Life Orb variant and OHKO it with its Electric-type STAB moves.
**Revenge Killers and Strong Priority Users**: Pikipek's defenses are almost nonexistent, and it also lacks a strong priority move like Fletchling's Acrobatics; this lets faster revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Doduo or priority users like Carvanha and Corphish decimate Pikipek.
**Status Ailments and Residual Damage**: Burns completely stop Pikipek, making Scald users such as Chinchou and Will-O-Wisp users like Ponyta good answers to Pikipek. Toxic poison from Pokemon like Mareanie and special walls such as Spritzee and Munchlax is also a huge pain; finally, paralysis's Speed drop can completely shut it down. Pikipek takes constant damage from Life Orb and Brave Bird; it is also weak to Stealth Rock, takes damage from Hail (which is often seen on teams), is hit neutrally by all priority moves, and is weak to Ice Shard.
GP checks: CryoGyro, The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
At first glance, Pikipek may seem an underwhelming choice; it boasts overall mediocre stats, has almost nonexistent defenses, and does not have many coverage options. Secondly, there are stronger Flying-types like Doduo, Archen, and Rufflet that can work better than Pikipek, which has to rely on Brave Bird and Life Orb to deal significant damage, meaning that it will constantly lose its HP in the process; this combined with a weakness to Stealth Rock makes it difficult for Pikipek to be efficient. However, Pikipek carves itself a small niche that makes it truly shine and, more importantly, it doesn't share with any other Flying-type Pokemon in LC: access to Bullet Seed and Skill Link, meaning that it can remove Rock-types with ease, even Sturdy + Berry Juice ones. It also sports respectable Attack and Speed stats, letting it deal a solid amount of damage with its STAB or coverage moves and outspeed Pokemon such as Pawniard and Rufflet with ease. While far from being the premier LC Flying-type, Pikipek can prove to be a good pick on teams searching a way to beat opposing leads and check a good number of Rock- and Water-types.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Brick Break / Drill Peck
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is the main move Pikipek should be using, as it is a powerful STAB move that severely dents anything neutral to Flying and has a good chance to OHKO Timburr and Foongus. Skill Link Bullet Seed is what sets Pikipek apart from other Flying-types, allowing it to do a huge amount of damage to typical Flying-type checks such as Chinchou, Onix, and Shell Smash users such as Tirtouga and Omanyte. For the third moveslot, Brick Break is the prime choice because it can heavily damage Pawniard and Steel-types in general, which resist both Brave Bird and Bullet Seed; however, Drill Peck can be used as a more conservative STAB option when Pikipek's health is low. Finally, U-turn is used to gain momentum and works very well with Pikipek's boosted Speed.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment is required in order to boost Pikipek's offensive presence, as without it, Pikipek may be in a difficult position when attempting to clean or damage the opposing team. Maximum Speed is also necessary, as it gives Pikipek the ability to outspeed Pokemon such as Jolly Choice Scarf Pawniard, +1 Jolly Scraggy, and Modest Choice Scarf Chinchou. Finally, 36 HP EVs are used to enable Pikipek to switch into Stealth Rock four times, not considering Brave Bird's recoil, and allow it to spam Brave Bird a bit more. Choice Scarf boosts Pikipek's Speed to a very high level, outspeeding base 60 Speed Pokemon with a positive nature and a Choice Scarf like Pawniard. A Jolly nature should typically be chosen, because it allows Pikipek to outspeed 16 Speed Choice Scarf users such as Jolly Pawniard and Jolly Rufflet and Speed tie with 17 Speed Choice Scarf users like Jolly Mienfoo and Timid Chinchou, which is a notable benchmark. An Adamant nature is viable as well, since it significantly improves the chances of OHKOing Timburr and Foongus; however, Pikipek will only Speed tie with Pawniard and Rufflet and get outsped by Timid Chinchou and Jolly Mienfoo, making it the inferior choice.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Pikipek should be brought in early in the match, as it can be useful to gain momentum against the opposing lead, or to eliminate the opposing lead itself with Bullet Seed (in Onix's case) or severely dent it with a Brave Bird (in Mienfoo's case). U-turn or coverage moves should be used when a switch is predicted. Remember that Choice Scarf Pikipek is not going to punch huge holes in the opposing team; it should be played with "hit-and-run" tactics, with frequent switches out or U-turn uses, unless the opponent lacks a way to stop Pikipek; in that case, just spam Brave Bird or Bullet Seed on frail and slower enemies. Pikipek applies a large amount of pressure on its checks when it's paired with other powerful Flying-types such as Archen and Vullaby; the aforementioned partners can severely weaken the Flying-type checks, leaving Pikipek free to pick them all off.
Team Options
========
A powerful Ground-type is a nice partner for Pikipek, as Pikipek suffers from the presence of Electric- and Steel-types; it also suffers from Rock-types, but Bullet Seed is almost always a good answer to them. Both Diglett and Drilbur can be helpful because they check Electric- and Steel-types like Pawniard, Magnemite, and in Mold Breaker Drilbur's case, Bronzor. Diglett can trap Magnemite and Pawniard, proceed to KO them with Earthquake, and set up Stealth Rock; on the other hand, Drilbur can set up Stealth Rock, remove the entry hazard from Pikipek's side of the field, and OHKO Magnemite with Sturdy thanks to Mold Breaker. Chinchou makes for a fine partner, because it has interesting type synergy with Pikipek; Chinchou can absorb Electric-type moves and resists Ice-type attacks, while Pikipek comes in on Ground-type moves and easily removes Grass-types. Pikipek has no real chance against Gastly if locked in Bullet Seed or Brick Break, and can't do anything at all to Honedge; this makes Choice Scarf Pawniard an excellent teammate for Pikipek, since it can trap both of these Ghost-types with Pursuit. In exchange, Pikipek is immune to the Ground-type moves that scare Pawniard away. Alolan Grimer plays a similar role, but it can run an Eviolite set to wall and trap Gastly by resisting both its STAB, and trap Honedge without fearing a Sacred Sword too much. Finally, when paired with Nasty Plot Vullaby, Pikipek forms a powerful Flying-type core that uses both physical and special attacks, which weakens their shared checks.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Brave Bird / Drill Peck
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Brick Break / Flame Charge
move 4: Flame Charge / Substitute / U-turn
item: Life Orb
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
ivs: 10 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is a STAB option that packs a lot of power; however, in conjunction with Life Orb, it cuts Pikipek's HP very quickly. Drill Peck, on the other hand, is a less aggressive STAB option that preserves Pikipek's HP but is significantly weaker. Bullet Seed is a must, since it is a spectacular Grass-type coverage move against many Water- and Rock-types, notably OHKOing Onix and Tirtouga (even through Solid Rock), and deals an enormous amount of damage to Chinchou. As further coverage, Brick Break hits Pawniard very hard, OHKOing it even through Eviolite; on the other hand, Flame Charge boosts Pikipek's Speed, turning it into a potent sweeper once its checks and priority users are removed from the battle. Substitute is an interesting option that can be used as a reliable way to bypass Sucker Punch from Pawniard; it also protects Pikipek from status moves like Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave. Finally, U-turn can be used as well because Pikipek hits 17 Speed, outpacing many Pokémon and gaining momentum; it also does chip damage.
Set Details
========
The given EVs spread is used to maximize Pikipek's Speed and Attack. Fully invested Speed with a Jolly nature allows Pikipek to hit 17 Speed, which let it outpace many Pokemon sitting at 16 Speed, such as Jolly Pawniard and Jolly Rufflet; note that Pikipek will still Speed tie with Jolly Onix, and Jolly Mienfoo. The leftover 36 EVs are put into Defense to turn a guaranteed OHKO from Life Orb Jolly Pawniard Sucker Punch into a 56% chance to OHKO; they also reduce the amount of damage taken by Pikipek from other priority users, such as Timburr and Corphish. 10 HP IVs make Pikipek hit 19 HP, turning Life Orb recoil from 2 HP per move to 1 HP per move. Life Orb boosts Pikipek's damage output significantly, OHKOing Timburr and Foongus much more often.
Usage Tips
========
This set can be used in the first turns of the match to gain momentum against opposing leads; however, keep in mind that Jolly Pikipek Speed ties with Jolly non-Choice Scarf Mienfoo and, more dangerously, with Jolly Onix. Pikipek can work more efficiently when priority users (specifically Pawniard) and faster Electric- and Rock-types (including Choice Scarf Chinchou and Archen) are removed from the field. When using Pikipek, prediction is essential; even though Brave Bird or Drill Peck should be the move to spam the most, Bullet Seed should be used when a Chinchou or Rock-type switch-in is predicted, since it has a very high chance to KO speedy variants of Chinchou, while Brick Break or Flame Charge should be used only when it's obvious that a Steel-type is entering the battlefield or when the opponent struggles to deal with a +1 Speed Pikipek.
Team Options
========
Diglett traps and removes Steel-, Electric-, and Rock-types, opening some holes for Pikipek; its Stealth Rock also helps turn 2HKOs into OHKOs. In a similar way, Drilbur can break through Electric- and Rock-types as well as Pawniard; it can also set up Stealth Rock for Pikipek and remove it from its side with Rapid Spin. Chinchou pairs very well with Pikipek, providing an Electric immunity, a resistance to Ice-type moves, good type synergy, and a slow Volt Switch to let Pikipek come in unscathed; in exchange, Pikipek removes Grass-types and helps with the Ground-types that trouble Chinchou. Remember that Diglett can outspeed Pikipek and OHKO it with Rock Slide. Pawniard and Alolan Grimer are good partners, as Pikipek lures in Honedge and allows them to Pursuit trap it. Strong priority users such as Carvanha, Corphish, Timburr, and Croagunk are good partners for Pikipek, because they help mitigate the issue with Diglett (especially Carvanha and Corphish), and also help against weather sweepers (in particular against Slush Rush users, such as Cubchoo and Alolan Sandshrew, that are problematic for Pikipek). Slow components of a VoltTurn core, like defensive Mienfoo and Chinchou, help Pikipek come in on things it can take advantage of, such as slow Ground-types like Hippopotas or Fighting-types such as Timburr. Pikipek itself is a nice U-turn user, gaining momentum against slower Electric-types if you opt for Chinchou as a partner. Since this set is more inclined to deal huge blows instead of pick off foes, Sticky Web support from Surskit can turn Life Orb Pikipek into a sweeping machine, easily outspeeding many foes at -1 Spe (just be wary of Defiant users such as Mankey and Pawniard). Finally, this Pikipek set is particularly good against slower Rock-types, making it a great member of "bird spam" cores that struggle against Rock-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pikipek has access to STAB Skill Link Fury Attack, which seems very appealing at first; however, Pikipek has issues finding a slot for it, its 85% accuracy move means it will fail at bad times, and even though Skill Link makes it hit 5 times, it doesn't provide important KOs like Bullet Seed or Brave Bird do, so it's a unadvised option. Swords Dance is an interesting option to boost Pikipek's offensive stats to an insane level, but it can't pull it off very well because its defenses are pathetic, so it can't afford to withstand a hit and boost; moreover, keep in mind that Pikipek lacks priority moves, making it difficult to sweep against faster threats even at +2. Swords Dance in conjunction with Focus Sash can turn Pikipek into a sweeping machine once priority users have been eliminated; on such a set, Drill Peck is advised because it avoids the recoil of Brave Bird. However, consider that the absence of Life Orb is somewhat unappealing, because even at +2, Pikipek struggles to wear down opposing Pokémon with Drill Peck alone. Even if you can pull off a Swords Dance, any priority move can obliterate a 1 HP Pikipek. Mirror Move can be used with Flyinium Z to threaten a powerful attack and boost in the same turn, but this is usually better done by Vullaby thanks to its bulk and Weak Armor. Pikipek has access to Boomburst, but such a set is better suited for Taillow, which sports better Speed, Heat Wave, and Scrappy. Steel Wing may be attractive at first as it hits support Archen and other Rock-types super effectively; however, the nature of damage rolls in LC makes Bullet Seed a better choice, whereas Steel Wing fails to OHKO any Rock-type (even Archen). As supportive options, Pikipek has access to both Roost and Tailwind; Roost can find a place in the Life Orb set, but it's not recommended because Pikipek is too frail to use Roost efficiently, while Tailwind can be used to give support to the team, but Pikipek is again too frail to make full use of it and also has issues finding a moveslot for it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Pikipek has a horrible time against most Steel-types, because even though it has coverage for them, they simply withstand the hit and KO it back. Life Orb Pawniard can easily OHKO Pikipek with Sucker Punch, but Brick Break is a clean OHKO. If Pikipek's set lacks Brick Break, then Pawniard somewhat walls it, since Flame Charge isn't a 2HKO on Pawniard's Eviolite set, while Sucker Punch is a sure 2HKO in the worst-case scenario. If Pikipek is running Brick Break, then Honedge completely walls Pikipek by virtue of its typing and can OHKO it after Stealth Rock damage. It should be noted, however, that Honedge fails to OHKO Pikipek without Stealth Rock damage.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types are usually slower than Pikipek, and it can easily take them out with a Life Orb-boosted Skill Link Bullet Seed; however, there are exceptions. Archen is a prime example, because Jolly Archen Speed ties with Jolly Pikipek, takes a Bullet Seed, and can OHKO Pikipek back more than 90% of the time with Rock Slide, even with Defeatist. Jolly Onix can also Speed tie with Jolly Pikipek and OHKO it with Rock Blast; however, if Onix loses the Speed tie, it's OHKOed by Pikipek's Bullet Seed. +2 Tirtouga can OHKO Pikipek with an Aqua Jet or a STAB move, but it must be wary because Pikipek can KO it with Bullet Seed.
**Electric-types**: Choice Scarf Chinchou can outright OHKO Pikipek with an Electric-type move before it can even try to use Bullet Seed; however, slower and bulkier variants of Chinchou should be wary of Bullet Seed (although it can't OHKO Berry Juice variants and some Eviolite defensive sets). Magnemite is a excellent answer to Pikipek, because it 4x resists Flying, resists Grass, and isn't OHKOed by Brick Break; in exchange, it OHKOes Pikipek with its Electric STAB move. Elekid is fast enough to outspeed the Life Orb variant and OHKO it with its Electric-type STAB moves.
**Revenge Killers and Strong Priority Users**: Pikipek's defenses are almost nonexistent, and it also lacks a strong priority move like Fletchling's Acrobatics; this lets faster revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Doduo or priority users like Carvanha and Corphish decimate Pikipek.
**Status Ailments and Residual Damage**: Burns completely stop Pikipek, making Scald users such as Chinchou and Will-O-Wisp users like Ponyta good answers to Pikipek. Toxic poison from Pokemon like Mareanie and special walls such as Spritzee and Munchlax is also a huge pain; finally, paralysis's Speed drop can completely shut it down. Pikipek takes constant damage from Life Orb and Brave Bird; it is also weak to Stealth Rock, takes damage from Hail (which is often seen on teams), is hit neutrally by all priority moves, and is weak to Ice Shard.
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