Lucario
A side must always be chosen
[OVERVIEW]
In a tier with a number of powerful entry hazard setters, Talonflame soars to the top as a premier pivot with U-turn, spreading burns everywhere it goes with Will-O-Wisp while also being able to remove hazards with Defog. However, Talonflame is not only reserved as a utility option; it can act as a physical wall in a pinch thanks to its ability Flame Body and can invest in its bulk without losing out on Speed or power thanks to its high-Base Power STAB attacks like Brave Bird and Flare Blitz. Talonflame can force out Stealth Rock and Spikes setters like Krookodile, Registeel, Brambleghast, and Klefki by threatening them with Will-O-Wisp and using Defog to remove their hazards. Thanks to its high Speed, it can revenge kill fast threats like non-Choice Scarf variants of Mienshao, Krookodile, and Infernape. However, its flight can be cut short due to tier king Slowbro's positive matchup against it. Not only that, but its low offenses really stand out when trying to revenge kill bulkier wallbreakers and Pokemon that resist its STAB moves like Mew, Chandelure, and Oricorio-E, all of which can shrug off its attacks and don't care about being burned. Talonflame's reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots is made apparent when it commonly switches into Knock Off users like Krookodile, Mienshao, Copperajah, and Infernape, forcing it to take hazard damage every time it wants to switch in again. Talonflame's poor typing allows most other hazard setters to set up against it for free, like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Lycanroc-D.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Brave Bird / Flare Blitz
move 2: Defog / U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 Spe
tera type: Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Brave Bird and Flare Blitz have the same Base Power, accuracy, and recoil and can both hit Grass-types like Tsareena, Venusaur, and Brambleghast for super effective damage, so the option for which one you choose is mostly personal preference. Brave Bird additionally hits Fighting-types and Fire-resistant Pokemon like Mienshao, Chandelure, and Noivern. Flare Blitz is better against entry hazard setters; enables Talonflame to hit Steel-types and Flying-resistant Pokemon like Copperajah, Klefki, and Thundurus for more damage; and has a small chance to burn. Will-O-Wisp is a more reliable way of burning foes than Flame Body, letting Talonflame burn common switch-ins like Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Raikou and threaten hazard setters that often come in like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Dragalge. 232 Speed EVs allow Talonflame to outspeed Noivern, and the remaining EVs are used to maximize its bulk. Tera Steel gives Talonflame a much-needed resistance to Lycanroc-D's Accelerock and Lucario's Extreme Speed, letting it check them more safely, while also granting a resistance to Stealth Rock should it lose its item; Talonflame can also become a pseudo-check to some special wallbreakers like Mew, Noivern, and Dragalge with Tera Steel.
Talonflame's main role is to pivot, and thanks to it drawing in Electric- and Rock-type Pokemon, it pairs well with Ground- and Grass-types like Krookodile, Flygon, Vileplume, and Brute Bonnet, which can all exploit its switch-ins. Pokemon that appreciate entry hazard removal like Alolan Muk, Mew, and Gallade also pair well with it. Talonflame also enjoys tanking Fighting-type moves from Mienshao, Infernape, and Lucario, so teammates like Lycanroc-D, Krookodile, and Registeel appreciate its presence in battle. Due to its passivity, Talonflame draws in Water-types like Slowbro Vaporeon, which leverages room for Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Magnezone, Rotom-C, and Tsareena to switch in. Bulky offense teams appreciate Talonflame's ability to lure in Electric- and Rock-types due to their passivity in certain matchups, so pivoting into Torterra, Flygon, and Swampert can help create momentum. On balanced structures, Talonflame enjoys having switch-ins for Pokemon like Noivern and Dragalge, so Steel- and Fairy-types like Registeel, Copperajah, Klefki, and Sylveon synergize well with it. Diancie, Rhyperior, and Gastrodon can set up hazards in front of Talonflame without trouble, so Water- and Grass-types like Feraligatr, Basculegion, Brute Bonnet, and Vileplume can help by safely switching into and threatening to KO these foes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Talonflame can opt for Taunt over Will-O-Wisp, stopping any setup attempts from the likes of bulky Mew, Registeel, and Reuniclus, but it makes Talonflame a little more passive, especially since it isn't dealing much damage to those Pokemon regardless. Overheat or Flamethrower can be used instead of the other two STAB attacks to hit Vileplume without worrying about Rocky Helmet and Effect Spore, but Overheat's poor accuracy paired with Talonflame's really low Special Attack stat makes it undesirable against most of the tier. Talonflame can boost its Attack with Swords Dance and Bulk Up, which allows it to use Gale Wings's priority boost; however, even after a boost, it is still weak and relies on less-than-ideal moves to sweep with.
Checks and Counters
====
**Electric-types**: Thundurus, Oricorio-E, and Toxtricity have a positive matchup against Talonflame, as they can take a hit from its STAB attacks at any time and threaten to OHKO it or set up. Rotom-H is especially tricky for Talonflame, as it resists both of its STAB attacks, is immune to burn, and can give it a Choice Scarf with Trick, acting as a hard wall to it.
**Item Removal**: Common Knock Off users, like Krookodile, Alolan Muk, and Reuniclus, and Trick users, like Porygon-Z, Rotom-H, and Florges can remove Talonflame's Heavy-Duty Boots, forcing it to take Stealth Rock damage every time it switches in.
**Rock-types**: Rhyperior and Diancie are both entry hazard setters that beat Talonflame thanks to their Rock-type STAB attacks OHKOing it, freely letting them switch in and set up hazards any time Talonflame is on the field. Lycanroc-D is also noteworthy thanks to its strong priority move Accelerock, although it has to worry about being burned.
**Water-types**: Vaporeon and Milotic can tank hits from Talonflame, heal the damage off with ease, and retaliate with Scald. Offensive Water-types like Feraligatr and Basculegion can also threaten Talonflame, but neither like to be burned. Slowbro is a much bigger check to Talonflame, as Talonflame is too passive versus it, letting it set up with Calm Mind for free.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
In a tier with a number of powerful entry hazard setters, Talonflame soars to the top as a premier pivot with U-turn, spreading burns everywhere it goes with Will-O-Wisp while also being able to remove hazards with Defog. However, Talonflame is not only reserved as a utility option; it can act as a physical wall in a pinch thanks to its ability Flame Body and can invest in its bulk without losing out on Speed or power thanks to its high-Base Power STAB attacks like Brave Bird and Flare Blitz. Talonflame can force out Stealth Rock and Spikes setters like Krookodile, Registeel, Brambleghast, and Klefki by threatening them with Will-O-Wisp and using Defog to remove their hazards. Thanks to its high Speed, it can revenge kill fast threats like non-Choice Scarf variants of Mienshao, Krookodile, and Infernape. However, its flight can be cut short due to tier king Slowbro's positive matchup against it. Not only that, but its low offenses really stand out when trying to revenge kill bulkier wallbreakers and Pokemon that resist its STAB moves like Mew, Chandelure, and Oricorio-E, all of which can shrug off its attacks and don't care about being burned. Talonflame's reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots is made apparent when it commonly switches into Knock Off users like Krookodile, Mienshao, Copperajah, and Infernape, forcing it to take hazard damage every time it wants to switch in again. Talonflame's poor typing allows most other hazard setters to set up against it for free, like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Lycanroc-D.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Brave Bird / Flare Blitz
move 2: Defog / U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 Spe
tera type: Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Brave Bird and Flare Blitz have the same Base Power, accuracy, and recoil and can both hit Grass-types like Tsareena, Venusaur, and Brambleghast for super effective damage, so the option for which one you choose is mostly personal preference. Brave Bird additionally hits Fighting-types and Fire-resistant Pokemon like Mienshao, Chandelure, and Noivern. Flare Blitz is better against entry hazard setters; enables Talonflame to hit Steel-types and Flying-resistant Pokemon like Copperajah, Klefki, and Thundurus for more damage; and has a small chance to burn. Will-O-Wisp is a more reliable way of burning foes than Flame Body, letting Talonflame burn common switch-ins like Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Raikou and threaten hazard setters that often come in like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Dragalge. 232 Speed EVs allow Talonflame to outspeed Noivern, and the remaining EVs are used to maximize its bulk. Tera Steel gives Talonflame a much-needed resistance to Lycanroc-D's Accelerock and Lucario's Extreme Speed, letting it check them more safely, while also granting a resistance to Stealth Rock should it lose its item; Talonflame can also become a pseudo-check to some special wallbreakers like Mew, Noivern, and Dragalge with Tera Steel.
Talonflame's main role is to pivot, and thanks to it drawing in Electric- and Rock-type Pokemon, it pairs well with Ground- and Grass-types like Krookodile, Flygon, Vileplume, and Brute Bonnet, which can all exploit its switch-ins. Pokemon that appreciate entry hazard removal like Alolan Muk, Mew, and Gallade also pair well with it. Talonflame also enjoys tanking Fighting-type moves from Mienshao, Infernape, and Lucario, so teammates like Lycanroc-D, Krookodile, and Registeel appreciate its presence in battle. Due to its passivity, Talonflame draws in Water-types like Slowbro Vaporeon, which leverages room for Electric- and Grass-type Pokemon like Magnezone, Rotom-C, and Tsareena to switch in. Bulky offense teams appreciate Talonflame's ability to lure in Electric- and Rock-types due to their passivity in certain matchups, so pivoting into Torterra, Flygon, and Swampert can help create momentum. On balanced structures, Talonflame enjoys having switch-ins for Pokemon like Noivern and Dragalge, so Steel- and Fairy-types like Registeel, Copperajah, Klefki, and Sylveon synergize well with it. Diancie, Rhyperior, and Gastrodon can set up hazards in front of Talonflame without trouble, so Water- and Grass-types like Feraligatr, Basculegion, Brute Bonnet, and Vileplume can help by safely switching into and threatening to KO these foes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Talonflame can opt for Taunt over Will-O-Wisp, stopping any setup attempts from the likes of bulky Mew, Registeel, and Reuniclus, but it makes Talonflame a little more passive, especially since it isn't dealing much damage to those Pokemon regardless. Overheat or Flamethrower can be used instead of the other two STAB attacks to hit Vileplume without worrying about Rocky Helmet and Effect Spore, but Overheat's poor accuracy paired with Talonflame's really low Special Attack stat makes it undesirable against most of the tier. Talonflame can boost its Attack with Swords Dance and Bulk Up, which allows it to use Gale Wings's priority boost; however, even after a boost, it is still weak and relies on less-than-ideal moves to sweep with.
Checks and Counters
====
**Electric-types**: Thundurus, Oricorio-E, and Toxtricity have a positive matchup against Talonflame, as they can take a hit from its STAB attacks at any time and threaten to OHKO it or set up. Rotom-H is especially tricky for Talonflame, as it resists both of its STAB attacks, is immune to burn, and can give it a Choice Scarf with Trick, acting as a hard wall to it.
**Item Removal**: Common Knock Off users, like Krookodile, Alolan Muk, and Reuniclus, and Trick users, like Porygon-Z, Rotom-H, and Florges can remove Talonflame's Heavy-Duty Boots, forcing it to take Stealth Rock damage every time it switches in.
**Rock-types**: Rhyperior and Diancie are both entry hazard setters that beat Talonflame thanks to their Rock-type STAB attacks OHKOing it, freely letting them switch in and set up hazards any time Talonflame is on the field. Lycanroc-D is also noteworthy thanks to its strong priority move Accelerock, although it has to worry about being burned.
**Water-types**: Vaporeon and Milotic can tank hits from Talonflame, heal the damage off with ease, and retaliate with Scald. Offensive Water-types like Feraligatr and Basculegion can also threaten Talonflame, but neither like to be burned. Slowbro is a much bigger check to Talonflame, as Talonflame is too passive versus it, letting it set up with Calm Mind for free.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Last edited: