Staraptor


NormalIC Big.png
FlyingIC Big.png

85/120/70/50/60/100
Intimidate/Reckless​
The world's strongest bird is back at it again.
Notable Moves:
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- U-Turn
- Double-Edge

Staraptor no longer learns Defog or Roost in Scarlet and Violet, meaning the next-most "notable" moves after the main four are Final Gambit and Quick Attack.

Pros:
- Hits very, very hard with its Reckless-boosted STAB moves, while also having Close Combat to maul most of the things that would want to switch in to its STAB moves.
- Tying into the above, Staraptor is one of the best users of Terastalization-as-Adaptability in the tier, letting it achieve feats like 2hkoing Tinkaton with a resisted hit and making it much less prediction-reliant than it would initially seem.
- While base 100 speed is just good on its own, Staraptor is one of the best scarfers in the tier thanks to its extreme power and access to U-Turn. The above mentioned 2hko on Tinkaton with a Tera STAB move is achievable with a scarf set.
- While Scarf is its best set, it can also run a Heavy-Duty Boots or Life Orb set to shred bulkier teams due to its ability to switch moves and ease prediction in a different way.
- It's a simple mon it clicks STAB and watches things drop

Cons:
- While it has two very good immunities, its bulk is abysmal and it needs all the health it can get due to how much recoil damage it takes. This can be mitigated a lot with slower pivots such as Forretress, Slowking, and Iron Thorns, who can get it in for free. Adding to this, hazard removal is also pretty much required, although you should probably have that anyways.
- It kills itself relatively quickly. While OHKOing something and taking 30% back is very much worth it if you are OHKOing that, Brave Birding into something like helmet hippowdon stings a lot. This can be mitigated by clicking u-turn a lot, playing well, or even silly things like revival blessing Pawmot or Healing Wish Hatterene if you are so inclined. Usually I end up not clicking the big buttons until late game, at which point Staraptor can clean up the last two Pokemon for in.
- It's slower than Scarf Gengar and gets forced out by E-Killer Lucario, two of the other biggest threats in the tier (but it's not like either of them can switch in on you). Other Priority can be a problem too, although you can live First Impression from Slither Wing in a pinch it's not really recommended.

Terastilizing Potential:
You are always, always going for Tera on one of your STAB moves. It doesn't really need the extra power a lot of the time but it sure does appreciate it. Tera Normal is slightly better as it allows you to 3HKO offensive Iron Thorns if you don't want to go for Close Combat, while most other Steels or Rocks in the tier die to either of the STAB moves. I guess you could also go Tera Ghost to bait Lucario but generally Normal/Flying are better.

Sample Set:
Staraptor @ Choice Scarf / Heavy-Duty Boots / Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn

As mentioned above, these are the only four moves you are ever going to want to run. It really just depends on the item. Scarf is the best because at +1 it's really only outsped by Scarf Gengar or something like a +2 Espathra/Cloyster. Having a very fast pivot that is also one of the best wallbreakers in the tier is really fun. The last three all kind of ease prediction in their own way, either by giving you the freedom to switch moves or just making you hit hard enough to not ever need to, although the speed does come up on occasion. Boots also gives you a little more longevity than LO or Band which is neat.
 
It might be worth noting there is not currently a method to learn Double-Edge on cartridge. Serebii lists Double-Edge as breedable from itself and Squawkabilly- which gets the egg move from itself and Staraptor.

Once we get home support and can transfer a Staraptor from a previous gen, then we should be able to breed down Double-Edge on this mon. Until then, it'll be PS only.
 
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Actually it is. I caught one in a Raid with it (and mistakenly deleted the move thinking it was a level up move), but also the new breeding mechanic allows for egg moves to be transferred without inheritance (just attach a Mirror Herb to a Pokemon with three moves while you have a Pokemon with the move you're looking to breed in your party).
 
Actually it is. I caught one in a Raid with it (and mistakenly deleted the move thinking it was a level up move), but also the new breeding mechanic allows for egg moves to be transferred without inheritance (just attach a Mirror Herb to a Pokemon with three moves while you have a Pokemon with the move you're looking to breed in your party).
My apologies- thanks for clearing this up. I knew about the mirror herb, but didn't know that mons could know egg moves when caught in raids. Thanks!
 
Staraptor is one of the best killers currently available. With a Scarf, it is able dispatch the majority of boosted threats. It also has perfect coverage and is able to pivot on predicted switches. It does have its downfalls though. It generally doesnt last very long due to its Stealth Rock weakness and recoil. Priority like Extreme Speed and.Ice Shard cut down its longevity even further. Definitely one of the better pokemon in UU.
 

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