BST: 85/120/70/50/50/100
[Overview] Staraptor is a wonderful addition to any sweeping-oriented team, with high base attack and speed stats and the huge base power attacks to back it up, this bird tears through many of the common sleep move abusers. Intimidate is a helpful buffer to keep physical attackers in check each time you switch in, and Staraptor is almost always able either to switch out quickly or to contribute priority support with a STAB Quick Attack. Staraptor got Reckless as a Dream World ability, which boosts the most powerful attacks it will carry, Double-Edge and Brave Bird.
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[SET]
name: Intimidate Sweeper
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Double-Edge/Return
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: U-Turn/Quick Attack
item: Choice Band/Life Orb/Choice Scarf
nature: Jolly/Adamant
ability: Intimidate/Reckless
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> This is a very dangerous set, and depending on the hold item can be extremely unpredictable. Brave Bird is a great STAB attack that will take care of the majority of Fighting, Grass, and Bug types, and Double-Edge slams the likes of Zapdos, Thundurus, Rotom, Raikou and Jolteon. Return can be used on the Intimidate set to bypass recoil's drawback. Close Combat is a key move for Staraptor, and allows it to take care of those who resist its other moves, namely Tyranitar, Excadrill, and other Steel- or Rock-types. Excercise caution though, as Staraptor is already super frail, and Close Combat will wither down its very lackluster defences. U-Turn is a huge bonus for scouting especially, and will score super-effective hits against many of the common Dark-, Grass- and Psychic-types. Quick Attack can be your savior lategame, but go with U-Turn on the Scarf set.
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[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p> U-Turn is a great move for Staraptor to abuse because it allows for your team to take full advantage of Intimidate. Staraptor can cripple opponents with its capability to sweep, but has a pretty limited support movepool.
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[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p> Whether using a Staraptor with Focus Sash or Band, or perhaps on a Life Orb set, you can use Endeavor to bring an opponent into an HP range finishable with Quick Attack. Protect is a great move for any pokemon in double battles, but unfortunately Staraptor does not get Endure. Fly got a power boost, but is too predictable and not as reliable as Brave Bird. Roost could be squeezed onto a set, but it's unlikely you'll get a chance to use it with Staraptor's low defences. Staraptor gets Double Team for haxing, and Rain Dance as well as Sunny Day to help weather teams. Lastly, a novelty option is FeatherDance or Growl, to double intimidate as you attack as well as right after you switch in. That's it for non-attacking moves that Staraptor gets. It would definitely benefit from Tailwind support.
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[Checks and Counters]
<p> A lot of bulky pokemon can tank Staraptor's attacks, although with the Choice Band, Staraptor has a good chance of taking a massive chunk out of opposing tanks' HP. Skarmory poses a huge stopping point, and can hopefully be U-Turned away from. With Reckless, this bird can absolutely rip many stall teams apart. Original Rotom and Drifblim are oddly enough some of the best-suited counters. Faster Choice Scarf users, starting with Landorus, can generally revenge kill, and if Staraptor is revenge killed, you earn the bonus of avoiding its Intimidate.
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