Hello, this is my first RMT. I began this team when i saw the Bird Core (Talonflame, Staraptor, and Mega Pinsir) and decided to do a team around it. I’ve reached 1500 with it which is not much but it’s been one of my most successful teams. The idea is to sweep with the sword dancers, wallbreak with Staraptor, while the rest of the team covers most checks that affect the core. The team is completely offensive in nature, speed and priority dominating. It incorporates Volt Turn, done by Rotom W, Talonflame, and possibly Staraptor, which blends well with having a spinner/stealth rocker, weakening the team for later cleaning by the birds.
Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Swords Dance
- U-turn
Talonflame is always reliable, and can be useful in the entire battle. Its an amazing scout and always gives offensive pressures against the ever present Ferrothorn, who is often a lead, Skarmory and Scizor. When it's time to sweep, just go toward Swords Dance. Very often I find myself U turning and throwing attacks instead sword dancing cause of the prevalence of several of its counters especially Tyranitar or unaware users. U-Turn is also the only thing without recoil and can finish some psychic and dark types while allowing a switch in, though unfortunately that can go wrong as the opponent can bring a counter, but if there are no counters, well it can be useful. Adamant nature is enough to out run most stuff up to base 111, since there isnt much important things that dont require Brave Bird over 111 (such as Thundurus, not that Talon should be facing it most of the time), and gives you a bit more power, overall similar to Timid Starmie. Sharp Beak doesnt harm you as much as Life Orb, and most things that you use Flare Blitz for tend to be KOd by that move, and Skarmory has sturdy anyway. Been thinking of Will O Wisp Tailwind or/and Roost, but then i'll really need some power.
Staraptor @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- Double-Edge
- Final Gambit
Staraptor is somewhat situational, but can be really good against things that can counter Stat boosters and sweepers, like Clefable or Chansey, thanks to its inmense power. The slow speed is a real issue, and so the other "birds" tend to be more reliable. Jolly nature is a must, even speed tying with base 100 is good, not to mention the many Pokemon it can only outrun with jolly, such as Excadrill. Scarf is an option, but its not THAT much stronger than my Sword Dancers, and I find Rotom to be a good scarfer already, but maybe Rotom could be the bulkier variant instead. Really cant decide whether Final Gambit or U-Turn,, since Skarmory is well covered by two other pokemon, Rotom W and Talonflame, and sometimes its just better to hit than scout cause this guy is so darn powerful. Might try Quick Attack.
Pinsir @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Quick Attack
- Return
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
This guy destroys everything not named Skarmory after a Sword Dance, cleaning many teams without fearing recoil. Even if it cant SD, its still quite powerful, and priority handles fast stuff like Greninja, though sadly not Manectric. Close Combat over Earthquake since Aegislash was banned, and Close Combat simply covers more stuff, as well as giving some presence against Skarmory, thought CC has that nasty side effect, which means Pinsir is so much easier to revenge kill. Hyper Cutter isnt that great, but it can be useful ocasionally but rarely, and Moxie is even more sitoutional, though i really havent tried it. Mold Braker is useless without Earthquake and even then I have better checks to stuff like Rotom. Jolly allows you to outrun the base 100s, as well Garchomp, Landorus I. Really, I cant imagine using Adamant.
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
Excadrill is extremely important for Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock, but its also a great switch to Toxic or Thunderwave users, fairies and weakening the Latis, and is one of two checks to Rotom (unless its scarf like mine). Earthquake is all around powerful, but Iron Head's flinch chance can be useful when struggling. I often bring it relatively early, though rarely as a lead, for SR, often taking advantage of switches then save him for later if a Hazard Setter is lurking. SR is extremely important to ensure KOs, especially to defeat the ever common Charizards with priority. Air Baloon is another chance to switch in and doesnt fear Edge Quakes as much (oh how I miss that dark resistance).
Breloom @ Focus Sash
Ability: Technician
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bullet Seed
- Spore
- Mach Punch
- Rock Tomb
Breloom is my problem solver, it checks stuff like scarf or weakened Tyranitar, Bisharp, water types (especially Greninja as a dark type), and even Talonflame and Charizard when Focus Sash is intact. Fears Knock Off the least alongside Mega Pinsir. Focus Sash is another major reason for Rapid Spin support. Spore shuts down a lot of threats for a bit (especially useful for Mawile) and can help its teammates switch in and set up. Jolly because this guy needs all the speed he can, outrunning many faster walls and Adamant/Modest base 80s, even though sometimes youd like the extra power of Adamant since you have no boosting item.
Rotom-Wash @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Trick
- Will-O-Wisp
Rotom can handle threats like Talonflame, Pinsir, Greninja, Gliscor, Heatran, Gyarados, non scarf Landorus and Mamoswine. Scarf allows it to defeat fast and frail opponents and relief the birds, with pokemon such as opposing Pinsir fearing it more than other variants. Even though its not the fastest scarfer, its helped by the fact that other teammates can take care of fast scarfers, especially with priority. Volt Switch is really useful, especially if there are no longer any grounds, and is itself quite powerful. Trick annoys stall teams a lot when done right (especially those with Chansey), And Will o Wisp helps with Mawile, Garchomp, or Tyranitar.
Threats
-Mawile: If Will o Wisp or Spore fail, and Talonflame is gone, it can easily sweep my team after Swords Dance, and the Intimidate drop can be annoying since the team is mostly physical.
Garchomp: Was running HP ice on Rotom, but Scarf or Yache Berry can ruin it and Will o Wisp is just more useful. Still, scarf sets can be really annoying and Rocky Helmet is terrible for the birds, not to mention it outruns Staraptor.
Thundurus: The team hates paralysis, and nothing really fully checks it, though Breloom and Rotom can work with it.
Zapdos: Walls a lot of these guys. Staraptor can threaten it though. Haven’t faced many though.
Talonflame and Pinsir can be really annoying if set up, as Rotom is the only threat against them.
Mandibuzz is hard to eliminate, even by Staraptor.
Will O Wisps and Scalds are threatening in general
Talonflame @ Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Swords Dance
- U-turn
Talonflame is always reliable, and can be useful in the entire battle. Its an amazing scout and always gives offensive pressures against the ever present Ferrothorn, who is often a lead, Skarmory and Scizor. When it's time to sweep, just go toward Swords Dance. Very often I find myself U turning and throwing attacks instead sword dancing cause of the prevalence of several of its counters especially Tyranitar or unaware users. U-Turn is also the only thing without recoil and can finish some psychic and dark types while allowing a switch in, though unfortunately that can go wrong as the opponent can bring a counter, but if there are no counters, well it can be useful. Adamant nature is enough to out run most stuff up to base 111, since there isnt much important things that dont require Brave Bird over 111 (such as Thundurus, not that Talon should be facing it most of the time), and gives you a bit more power, overall similar to Timid Starmie. Sharp Beak doesnt harm you as much as Life Orb, and most things that you use Flare Blitz for tend to be KOd by that move, and Skarmory has sturdy anyway. Been thinking of Will O Wisp Tailwind or/and Roost, but then i'll really need some power.
Staraptor @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- Double-Edge
- Final Gambit
Staraptor is somewhat situational, but can be really good against things that can counter Stat boosters and sweepers, like Clefable or Chansey, thanks to its inmense power. The slow speed is a real issue, and so the other "birds" tend to be more reliable. Jolly nature is a must, even speed tying with base 100 is good, not to mention the many Pokemon it can only outrun with jolly, such as Excadrill. Scarf is an option, but its not THAT much stronger than my Sword Dancers, and I find Rotom to be a good scarfer already, but maybe Rotom could be the bulkier variant instead. Really cant decide whether Final Gambit or U-Turn,, since Skarmory is well covered by two other pokemon, Rotom W and Talonflame, and sometimes its just better to hit than scout cause this guy is so darn powerful. Might try Quick Attack.
Pinsir @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Quick Attack
- Return
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
This guy destroys everything not named Skarmory after a Sword Dance, cleaning many teams without fearing recoil. Even if it cant SD, its still quite powerful, and priority handles fast stuff like Greninja, though sadly not Manectric. Close Combat over Earthquake since Aegislash was banned, and Close Combat simply covers more stuff, as well as giving some presence against Skarmory, thought CC has that nasty side effect, which means Pinsir is so much easier to revenge kill. Hyper Cutter isnt that great, but it can be useful ocasionally but rarely, and Moxie is even more sitoutional, though i really havent tried it. Mold Braker is useless without Earthquake and even then I have better checks to stuff like Rotom. Jolly allows you to outrun the base 100s, as well Garchomp, Landorus I. Really, I cant imagine using Adamant.
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
Excadrill is extremely important for Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock, but its also a great switch to Toxic or Thunderwave users, fairies and weakening the Latis, and is one of two checks to Rotom (unless its scarf like mine). Earthquake is all around powerful, but Iron Head's flinch chance can be useful when struggling. I often bring it relatively early, though rarely as a lead, for SR, often taking advantage of switches then save him for later if a Hazard Setter is lurking. SR is extremely important to ensure KOs, especially to defeat the ever common Charizards with priority. Air Baloon is another chance to switch in and doesnt fear Edge Quakes as much (oh how I miss that dark resistance).
Breloom @ Focus Sash
Ability: Technician
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bullet Seed
- Spore
- Mach Punch
- Rock Tomb
Breloom is my problem solver, it checks stuff like scarf or weakened Tyranitar, Bisharp, water types (especially Greninja as a dark type), and even Talonflame and Charizard when Focus Sash is intact. Fears Knock Off the least alongside Mega Pinsir. Focus Sash is another major reason for Rapid Spin support. Spore shuts down a lot of threats for a bit (especially useful for Mawile) and can help its teammates switch in and set up. Jolly because this guy needs all the speed he can, outrunning many faster walls and Adamant/Modest base 80s, even though sometimes youd like the extra power of Adamant since you have no boosting item.
Rotom-Wash @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Trick
- Will-O-Wisp
Rotom can handle threats like Talonflame, Pinsir, Greninja, Gliscor, Heatran, Gyarados, non scarf Landorus and Mamoswine. Scarf allows it to defeat fast and frail opponents and relief the birds, with pokemon such as opposing Pinsir fearing it more than other variants. Even though its not the fastest scarfer, its helped by the fact that other teammates can take care of fast scarfers, especially with priority. Volt Switch is really useful, especially if there are no longer any grounds, and is itself quite powerful. Trick annoys stall teams a lot when done right (especially those with Chansey), And Will o Wisp helps with Mawile, Garchomp, or Tyranitar.
Threats
-Mawile: If Will o Wisp or Spore fail, and Talonflame is gone, it can easily sweep my team after Swords Dance, and the Intimidate drop can be annoying since the team is mostly physical.
Garchomp: Was running HP ice on Rotom, but Scarf or Yache Berry can ruin it and Will o Wisp is just more useful. Still, scarf sets can be really annoying and Rocky Helmet is terrible for the birds, not to mention it outruns Staraptor.
Thundurus: The team hates paralysis, and nothing really fully checks it, though Breloom and Rotom can work with it.
Zapdos: Walls a lot of these guys. Staraptor can threaten it though. Haven’t faced many though.
Talonflame and Pinsir can be really annoying if set up, as Rotom is the only threat against them.
Mandibuzz is hard to eliminate, even by Staraptor.
Will O Wisps and Scalds are threatening in general
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