So, people think Talonflame is good? I can prove Staraptor is definitely better over Talonflame. Talonflame with a Choice Band, Sharp Beak/Sky Plate or Life Orb? Don't make me laugh, you can shave off priority for a much more quality sweeper. Staraptor can get what Talonflame cannot - 2.2x Power when using Brave Bird, Take Down or Double-Edge.
How? Through this set of course -
Ridley (Staraptor) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn
My little Staraptor here has 4 qualities that contribute to the heaviest hits possible on a Flying Type in OU.
*Flying/Normal Type Move - STAB (1.5x Power)
*Reckless (1.2x Power on recoil moves)
*Choice Band (1.5x attack power)
*High Base Attack
That all adds up to a powerful sweeper.
Now, professionals will know this setup. But don't run away yet! I have to tell you the advantages! So, this set has many advantages.
328 speed tells us it is middle-rate in speed, but in fact, in the current meta, it has some very nice speed. It can outspeed the normal Pokemon with ease, but when there's scarfed pokemon, Staraptor will have a problem if it doesn't take it down quickly. Pokemon like a Scarfed Landorus-Therian and Garchomp are some of those problems.
The power in Staraptor is real. Very real. If Staraptor hits with Brave Bird or Double-Edge, it doesn't matter what it is, it is going to die. No questions asked. If it lives, it will be on very low health. Maybe middle if it is super defensive. But it is guaranteed to die in 2 turns. It 1 shots Blissey, it 1 shots Chansey, it 1 shots...a lot of things. But against Heatran and Regirock, you will have problems killing them. Heatran is often a bulky physical wall. Same with Regirock. If you have already pressed Brave Bird you will have to switch. But if you haven't use Close Combat and hope for the best (Despite you only having 1.5x power on it).
Defensively, this Staraptor is ok. Not too bad. It can take a Thunderbolt from Galvantula if it isn't fully invested in Special Attack. It can take a Volt Switch too. Ice Beams from Cresselia are a slight bother, but not enough to kill it. But in the face of Rock Slide and Stone Edge from a physical attacker, Staraptor would scream with fright. Switch or U-Turn, immediately! A Thunder would also be annoying, since Staraptor, no matter how bulky it is, will always die from a Thunder.
Now, every Pokemon has disadvantages, and despite me showing attack, defense and speed, Staraptor still has one problem - it's suicide in a Pokemon form. Literally. Since you will probably just be pressing Brave Bird throughout the match it will lose HP quickly. 25%-40% depending on the bulk. In fact, if you 1 shot Blissey, you lose 51% - that's 1% more than Stealth Rock damage on a Talonflame! In fact, whenever I use Staraptor, I end up dying 2-4 turns later due to just the recoil damage. If I 1 shot 4 Pokemon with Staraptor, it dies. But it will have most likely died to a faster Pokemon anyway.
Here are some Pokemon where U-Turn or a switch will have to be used. AKA the counters.
- Landorus-Therian (If it has Stone Edge or something)
- Garchomp (Stone Edge)
- Galvantula (Yes, it can kill it with ease, but it almost always has a sash and either Thunder or Thunderbolt!)
- Regirock (Defensive poke, Stone Edge, walls Staraptor)
- Heatran (If it's physically defensive, Staraptor will have a bad time)
There are many others, but these are the threats I can think of.
Overall, I love this set. It's brilliant in the early game as a lead, and even better as the Pokemon to clean up the mess in the late game. It is very capable of wiping the floor with 3 or even 4 Pokemon your opponent uses given that they aren't good against it.
How? Through this set of course -
Ridley (Staraptor) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn
My little Staraptor here has 4 qualities that contribute to the heaviest hits possible on a Flying Type in OU.
*Flying/Normal Type Move - STAB (1.5x Power)
*Reckless (1.2x Power on recoil moves)
*Choice Band (1.5x attack power)
*High Base Attack
That all adds up to a powerful sweeper.
Now, professionals will know this setup. But don't run away yet! I have to tell you the advantages! So, this set has many advantages.
328 speed tells us it is middle-rate in speed, but in fact, in the current meta, it has some very nice speed. It can outspeed the normal Pokemon with ease, but when there's scarfed pokemon, Staraptor will have a problem if it doesn't take it down quickly. Pokemon like a Scarfed Landorus-Therian and Garchomp are some of those problems.
The power in Staraptor is real. Very real. If Staraptor hits with Brave Bird or Double-Edge, it doesn't matter what it is, it is going to die. No questions asked. If it lives, it will be on very low health. Maybe middle if it is super defensive. But it is guaranteed to die in 2 turns. It 1 shots Blissey, it 1 shots Chansey, it 1 shots...a lot of things. But against Heatran and Regirock, you will have problems killing them. Heatran is often a bulky physical wall. Same with Regirock. If you have already pressed Brave Bird you will have to switch. But if you haven't use Close Combat and hope for the best (Despite you only having 1.5x power on it).
Defensively, this Staraptor is ok. Not too bad. It can take a Thunderbolt from Galvantula if it isn't fully invested in Special Attack. It can take a Volt Switch too. Ice Beams from Cresselia are a slight bother, but not enough to kill it. But in the face of Rock Slide and Stone Edge from a physical attacker, Staraptor would scream with fright. Switch or U-Turn, immediately! A Thunder would also be annoying, since Staraptor, no matter how bulky it is, will always die from a Thunder.
Now, every Pokemon has disadvantages, and despite me showing attack, defense and speed, Staraptor still has one problem - it's suicide in a Pokemon form. Literally. Since you will probably just be pressing Brave Bird throughout the match it will lose HP quickly. 25%-40% depending on the bulk. In fact, if you 1 shot Blissey, you lose 51% - that's 1% more than Stealth Rock damage on a Talonflame! In fact, whenever I use Staraptor, I end up dying 2-4 turns later due to just the recoil damage. If I 1 shot 4 Pokemon with Staraptor, it dies. But it will have most likely died to a faster Pokemon anyway.
Here are some Pokemon where U-Turn or a switch will have to be used. AKA the counters.
- Landorus-Therian (If it has Stone Edge or something)
- Garchomp (Stone Edge)
- Galvantula (Yes, it can kill it with ease, but it almost always has a sash and either Thunder or Thunderbolt!)
- Regirock (Defensive poke, Stone Edge, walls Staraptor)
- Heatran (If it's physically defensive, Staraptor will have a bad time)
There are many others, but these are the threats I can think of.
Overall, I love this set. It's brilliant in the early game as a lead, and even better as the Pokemon to clean up the mess in the late game. It is very capable of wiping the floor with 3 or even 4 Pokemon your opponent uses given that they aren't good against it.
