Oathkeeper
"Wait!" he says, do I look like a waiter?
Braviary @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Defog / Facade / Toxic
Strengths: Scarf Braviary can pivot out into something that beats its checks (namely rocks and steels). Should it need to hit said typings, it does have a nice alternative to Superpower in Close Combat, which it just got this generation. It does speed tie other scarfers like Passimian and maybe Gallade? However, it wins both of those 1v1s with Brave Bird since a Close Combat from either will not OHKO Braviary. Defog is a decent option in the 4th slot for getting rid of hazards that it doesn't like. Toxic can be put in it's place to poison physical walls that could come in on it like Vaporeon, Rhydon, or Gastrodon. Facade also could work as a strong STAB once Braviary becomes statused. Brave Bird, overall, just hits the meta hard aside from the stuff that laughs at it like Steelix. Overall, scarf Braviary looks to be the common set for it.
Weaknesses: As with any Pokemon, flaws are just as present as perks. Rock and Steel types as well as bulky physicals present an immediate problem to this birb. While Close Combat is at its disposal, Steelix, Rhydon, and even stuff like Vaporeon and Gastrodon can eat them up predicting it. Stealth Rock is also a problem knowing Braviary is carrying a fashionable scarf instead of some trend-setting boots. Even if Braviary is carrying Defog itself, it still hurts itself just to come in and get rid of them. Finally, as with any scarfer, clicking a certain move could bring in a setup sweeper to run over its team, but this varies.
Takeaways: Bring a separate hazard control partner so Braviary doesn't waste a turn doing it itself. Bring a Fighting type, a Ground type, or both to deal with Rock and Steel types so that Braviary doesn't have to. Since Rocks and Steels are easy lure for Braviary, bring a setup sweeper/cleaner that deals with them like Virizion or Passimian to take pressure off of the bird. Having defensive switch-ins to Rock, Electric, and Ice like Gastrodon or Snorlax definitely help it out as well.
Below is my video of my research. Enjoy the few moments of irritation as well lol