[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Steel Wing
item: Choice Band
ability: Gale Wings
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Brave Bird's high Base Power, combined with the priority provided by Gale Wings and the Choice Band-boosted Attack, allows Talonflame to deliver powerful blows against Fighting- and Grass-type Pokemon like Mega Lopunny, Keldeo, and Serperior. Flare Blitz is the secondary STAB move, offering coverage against Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Skarmory. U-turn provides momentum, letting Talonflame scout switches and bring in teammates safely. It's especially valuable against predicted switches to common counters like Rotom-W and Tyranitar, which receive chip damage and therefore get pressured into Brave Bird's KO range. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers that attempt to switch in like Garchomp and Landorus-T. Alternatively, Steel Wing is a niche coverage option for Fairy-types, especially Mega Diancie, but can be of great value, since it might surprise Mega Diancie and remove it from the game, which is very useful for the hyper offensive teams this Talonflame is likely to be on.
Set Details
========
The EV spread combined with the Adamant nature and the Choice Band maximizes Talonflame's offensive potential. The maximum investment in Speed EVs allows it to outspeed base 110 Speed Pokemon, like Mega Metagross, Latios, and Mega Latios, all of which can be hit super effectively by Talonflame. Gale Wings allows Talonflame to beat foes that would else pose a threat like Hidden Power Rock Serperior and Mega Alakazam.
Usage Tips
========
Talonflame is best used as a revenge killer or wallbreaker. Due to its crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, you should be mindful to not let the opponent's team set it up. Utilize U-turn to create momentum and chip down bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Slowbro, but be careful of foes that punish contact moves like Garchomp, Rocky Helmet Landorus-T, and Ferrothorn. Steel Wing and Will-O-Wisp should be used with caution, since both moves are situational and have a rather high chance to miss. Since this Talonflame does not use recovery moves, it is important to not let it take too much unnecessary damage and be mindful with its HP, especially since its STAB moves both have recoil, making their use limited.
Team Options
========
This Talonflame is best used on offensive teams. Entry hazard removal from Excadrill and Latias is very beneficial due to Talonflame's crippling weakness to Stealth Rock. Pokemon that deny Stealth Rock being set up in the first place are also greatly appreciated; Taunt users like Serperior, Aerodactyl, and Mew and Magic Bounce Diancie, as well as Imprison Landorus-T, make good partners for Talonflame. Wallbreakers like Mega Lopunny, Weavile, and Bisharp can pressure Talonflame's checks, especially bulky Water- or Electric-types like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Zapdos. Talonflame's ability to create holes in the opponent's team, by beating or weakening key defensive checks like Ferrothorn, Serperior, and Mega Scizor, creates opportunities for sweepers like Mega Gyarados and Manaphy.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/paprikaflow.591583/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mixnite.663475/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/alpha1013.565035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Steel Wing
item: Choice Band
ability: Gale Wings
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Brave Bird's high Base Power, combined with the priority provided by Gale Wings and the Choice Band-boosted Attack, allows Talonflame to deliver powerful blows against Fighting- and Grass-type Pokemon like Mega Lopunny, Keldeo, and Serperior. Flare Blitz is the secondary STAB move, offering coverage against Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Skarmory. U-turn provides momentum, letting Talonflame scout switches and bring in teammates safely. It's especially valuable against predicted switches to common counters like Rotom-W and Tyranitar, which receive chip damage and therefore get pressured into Brave Bird's KO range. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers that attempt to switch in like Garchomp and Landorus-T. Alternatively, Steel Wing is a niche coverage option for Fairy-types, especially Mega Diancie, but can be of great value, since it might surprise Mega Diancie and remove it from the game, which is very useful for the hyper offensive teams this Talonflame is likely to be on.
Set Details
========
The EV spread combined with the Adamant nature and the Choice Band maximizes Talonflame's offensive potential. The maximum investment in Speed EVs allows it to outspeed base 110 Speed Pokemon, like Mega Metagross, Latios, and Mega Latios, all of which can be hit super effectively by Talonflame. Gale Wings allows Talonflame to beat foes that would else pose a threat like Hidden Power Rock Serperior and Mega Alakazam.
Usage Tips
========
Talonflame is best used as a revenge killer or wallbreaker. Due to its crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, you should be mindful to not let the opponent's team set it up. Utilize U-turn to create momentum and chip down bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Slowbro, but be careful of foes that punish contact moves like Garchomp, Rocky Helmet Landorus-T, and Ferrothorn. Steel Wing and Will-O-Wisp should be used with caution, since both moves are situational and have a rather high chance to miss. Since this Talonflame does not use recovery moves, it is important to not let it take too much unnecessary damage and be mindful with its HP, especially since its STAB moves both have recoil, making their use limited.
Team Options
========
This Talonflame is best used on offensive teams. Entry hazard removal from Excadrill and Latias is very beneficial due to Talonflame's crippling weakness to Stealth Rock. Pokemon that deny Stealth Rock being set up in the first place are also greatly appreciated; Taunt users like Serperior, Aerodactyl, and Mew and Magic Bounce Diancie, as well as Imprison Landorus-T, make good partners for Talonflame. Wallbreakers like Mega Lopunny, Weavile, and Bisharp can pressure Talonflame's checks, especially bulky Water- or Electric-types like Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Zapdos. Talonflame's ability to create holes in the opponent's team, by beating or weakening key defensive checks like Ferrothorn, Serperior, and Mega Scizor, creates opportunities for sweepers like Mega Gyarados and Manaphy.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/paprikaflow.591583/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mixnite.663475/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/alpha1013.565035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
