**art is by me**
[OVERVIEW]
Flygon is a solid pivot in RU thanks to its good Speed tier, good offensive typing, and access to U-turn. It can primarily act as a revenge killer with Choice Scarf, pressuring threats such as Raikou, Salazzle, and Mega Sceptile with its good STAB combination and decent offenses. Flygon is a versatile Pokemon, as its moveset is highly customizable to accommodate for certain threats and uses. For example, it could run Defog to clear entry hazards for its team, Aerial Ace to revenge kill Virizion, or Iron Tail to deal super effective damage to Fairy-types. However, Flygon is often overshadowed by Zygarde-10%, which has a better Speed tier and access to Extreme Speed and Thousand Arrows to combat revenge killers and beat Flying-types and Pokemon with Levitate. Flygon does have better bulk, Levitate, and U-turn to make it a better Choice Scarf user, however. It also has competition as a Dragon-type Choice Scarf user from Goodra, which can threaten Pokemon that Flygon cannot and is forced out by fewer Pokemon. Flygon's defenses are far from stellar, limiting its defensive potential. Its Attack is also decent, but many times it is forced to use U-turn against bulkier teams. Flygon's Dragon / Ground typing allows it to safely come in against most Fire-types like Salazzle and Electric-types like Raikou, but it means that Flygon needs to be cautious of common Ice-type coverage moves from Mega Blastoise, Donphan, and Raikou as well as Ice-types like Mega Glalie and Mega Abomasnow.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Aerial Ace / Dragon Claw / Defog
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn is Flygon's best move on this set, as it not only separates Flygon from its competition but allows it to gain and maintain offensive momentum throughout the match by escaping bad matchups such as against Slowbro, Mega Blastoise, and Milotic. Earthquake is a strong STAB move with very few drawbacks. Outrage is Flygon's strongest Dragon-type STAB option and is generally a safe move to use late-game once Fairy-types are taken care of. Aerial Ace is used to revenge kill Virizion and other weakened Grass-types like Shaymin and Mega Sceptile. Dragon Claw is Flygon's safest Dragon-type STAB move to use, since it can revenge kill weakened foes such as Mega Sceptile, Virizion, and Noivern and makes Flygon less exploitable by Fairy-types. Defog can clear entry hazards for Flygon's team but should only be used in emergency situations. Fire Punch is also a good choice to revenge kill Bronzong, Escavalier, and weakened Shuca Berry Metagross as well as Grass-types like Virizion, Roserade, and Tangela. However, it's damage output is lackluster, and Flygon misses out on revenge killing Mega Sceptile reliably.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature with Speed investment and a Choice Scarf ensures that Flygon will outspeed other Choice Scarf users such as Roserade, Houndoom, and Drapion as well as Speed tie with Choice Scarf Shaymin. An Adamant nature can be used instead to give Flygon more power while still being able to outspeed Choice Scarf Toxicroak. Levitate gives Flygon an immunity to Ground-type moves outside of Thousand Arrows, making it a decent switch-in to Pokemon like Rhyperior, Nidoqueen, and Metagross.
Usage Tips
========
Flygon is a good pivot thanks to its access to U-turn and speed, allowing it to escape bad matchups and bring in an offensive answer to the foe, meaning Flygon gains and keeps offensive momentum for its team. Choice Scarf can also turn Flygon into a decent revenge killer if the foe is weak enough or even a late-game cleaner if its checks and counters are gone thanks to its great STAB combination and moves. However, Flygon's main goal is to pivot because this set has only average attacking power, so use U-turn as often as possible to bring other teammates in. Flygon should use its resistances to switch into Pokemon like Ninetales, Raikou, and Rhyperior. This play can be risky, though, since Pokemon like Raikou and Rhyperior can carry Ice-type coverage moves, which can result in losing Flygon. Defog should only be used if clearing Stealth Rock and Spikes is absolutely necessary. Flygon can safely use this move, since it does force switches with its STAB moves, but using this move when the opponent doesn't fall for it can result in Flygon being KOed.
Team Options
========
Flygon fits on teams that need speed control, a soft check to Electric-, Fire-, and Ground-types, and a pivot to safely bring in offensive teammates. Pokemon such as Salazzle, Barbaracle, Toxicroak, and Virizion are good examples of teammates that appreciate being brought safely into battle with U-turn. Salazzle can also put pressure on Fairy-types and Bronzong for Flygon, while Virizion provides a safety net against Knock Off and Trick users. Other Pokemon such as Choice item Raikou, Forretress, and Mega Ampharos can form a pivoting core with Flygon; Raikou can also help beat the bulky Water-types that Flygon has trouble breaking. Steel-types such as Metagross, Escavalier, and Registeel can help Flygon by switching into Ice- and Fairy-type attacks for it. In return, Flygon can threaten Fire-types like Arcanine and Ninetales for these partners. Grass-types such as Roserade, Shaymin, and Mega Sceptile also make decent teammates, since they beat defensive Water-type Pokemon like Mega Blastoise, Slowbro, and Milotic for Flygon, while Flygon can check Pokemon like Salazzle for them in return. Entry hazard setters such as Metagross, Roserade, and Golisopod can provide further offensive pressure when Flygon needs to revenge kill a foe. Golisopod, in particular, appreciates Flygon's U-turn support safely bringing it in and can help mitigate Flygon's lackluster offensive output. Since Flygon does not have a reliable form of recovery, a cleric like Florges and Diancie can be considered to help keep it healthy so it can continue pivoting. These Pokemon also appreciate Flygon's ability to pressure Steel-types like Metagross for them. If Flygon is locked into Defog, it can be easily pressured out, so running another entry hazard remover such as Mega Blastoise, Donphan, and Sigilyph would be recommended.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set using Substitute and Dragon Dance can turn Flygon into a threatening setup sweeper that fits on bulkier offensive teams thanks to Flygon's decent bulk and Levitate. However, this set is outclassed by Zygarde-10%. Iron Tail can also be considered so Flygon can hit Fairy-types for super effective damage. However, Iron Tail's low accuracy makes the move unreliable when it needs to take out these Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bronzong**: Outside of the rare Fire Punch, Bronzong has very little to fear from Flygon, as it resists its Dragon-type STAB moves and avoids Earthquake thanks to Levitate.
**Fairy-types**: Pokemon like Gardevoir, Florges, and Diancie can force Flygon out of the battle if they are healthy enough and take advantage of Flygon if it locks itself into Outrage.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Flygon's average offensive presence means that it struggles with breaking Pokemon such as Cresselia and Porygon2, as they can take any attack from Flygon and retaliate with either Toxic, Moonblast, or Ice Beam. Others like Mega Blastoise, Slowbro, and Milotic can take any attack that Flygon uses and threaten it out with Ice Beam, Toxic, or even a burn from Scald.
**Ice-type Coverage and Ice-types**: Ice-types like Mega Glalie and Mega Abomasnow can threaten Flygon out of battle thanks to their powerful Ice-type moves. Flygon also needs to be careful of potential Ice-type coverage moves from Pokemon like Raikou, Salazzle, Rhyperior, Nidoqueen, and Donphan.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[JustoonSmitts, 239732]]
- Quality checked by: [[zizalith, 410251], [phantom, 180300], [MrAldo, 227521]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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