[OVERVIEW]
In a tier with a bunch of powerful hazard setters Talonflame soars to the top as a premier pivot with U-turn, spreading Burn everywhere it goes, while also being able to remove hazards with Defog. 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 being able to invest in its bulk without losing out on Speed and without the need for 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, Talonflame can revenge kill fast threats like non-Choice Scarf variants of Mienshao, Krookodile, and Infernape. However, Talonflame's flight can be cut short due to the tier king Slowbro's positive matchup against it. Not only that, but Talonflame's low offenses really standout while trying to revenge bulkier breakers and resists like Mew, Chandelure, and Oricorio-E which can all shrug off its attacks and don't care about burn. 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 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, recoil, and 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-type resists like Mienshao, Chandelure, and Noivern; Flare Blitz is better into hazard setters and enables Talonflame to hit Steel-types and Flying-type resists 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 your opponents than Flame Body, letting Talonflame burn common switch-ins like Rhyperior, Vaporeon, and Raikou as well as threatening hazard setters that commonly switch-in like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Dragalge. 232 Speed EVs allow Talonflame to outspeed Noivern while maximizing its bulk as much as possible. 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 gaining a resistance to Stealth Rock if it ever lost its item; Talonflame can also become a pseudo-check for some special breakers 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 hazard removal like Alolan Muk, Mew, and Gallade also pair well with Talonflame. Talonflame also enjoys tanking Fighting-type moves from Mienshao, Infernape, and Lucario, so teammates like Lycanroc-D, Krookodile, and Registeel all appreciate Talonflame's presence in battle. 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 all synergize well with it. Diancie, Rhyperior, and Gastrodon can all set up hazards in front of Talonflame without trouble, so Water- and Grass-types like Feraligatr, Basculegion, Brute Bonnet, and Vileplume can all safely switch-in and threaten a KO.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Talonflame can instead opt for Taunt over Will-O-Wisp, crippling 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 and Flamethrower can be used instead of the two STAB attacks to hit Vileplume without worrying about Rocky Helmet and Effect Spore, but its 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 frees room for Gale Wings priority, 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 all have a positive matchup against Talonflame, they can all take a hit from its STAB attacks whenever and threaten an OHKO or set up. Rotom-H is especially tricky for Talonflame, resisting both of its STAB attacks, being immune to burn, and can Trick a Choice Scarf onto it, acting as a hard wall against Talonflame.
**Item Removal**: Common Knock Off users like Krookodile, Alolan Muk, and Reuniclus and Trick users like Porygon-Z, Rotom-H, and Florges can all 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 hazard setters that beat Talonflame thanks to their Rock-type STAB attacks achieving a KO, 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 all tank hits from Talonflame, heal the HP back 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 is too passive versus Slowbro, letting it set up 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/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
In a tier with a bunch of powerful hazard setters Talonflame soars to the top as a premier pivot with U-turn, spreading Burn everywhere it goes, while also being able to remove hazards with Defog. 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 being able to invest in its bulk without losing out on Speed and without the need for 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, Talonflame can revenge kill fast threats like non-Choice Scarf variants of Mienshao, Krookodile, and Infernape. However, Talonflame's flight can be cut short due to the tier king Slowbro's positive matchup against it. Not only that, but Talonflame's low offenses really standout while trying to revenge bulkier breakers and resists like Mew, Chandelure, and Oricorio-E which can all shrug off its attacks and don't care about burn. 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 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, recoil, and 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-type resists like Mienshao, Chandelure, and Noivern; Flare Blitz is better into hazard setters and enables Talonflame to hit Steel-types and Flying-type resists 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 your opponents than Flame Body, letting Talonflame burn common switch-ins like Rhyperior, Vaporeon, and Raikou as well as threatening hazard setters that commonly switch-in like Rhyperior, Diancie, and Dragalge. 232 Speed EVs allow Talonflame to outspeed Noivern while maximizing its bulk as much as possible. 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 gaining a resistance to Stealth Rock if it ever lost its item; Talonflame can also become a pseudo-check for some special breakers 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 hazard removal like Alolan Muk, Mew, and Gallade also pair well with Talonflame. Talonflame also enjoys tanking Fighting-type moves from Mienshao, Infernape, and Lucario, so teammates like Lycanroc-D, Krookodile, and Registeel all appreciate Talonflame's presence in battle. 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 all synergize well with it. Diancie, Rhyperior, and Gastrodon can all set up hazards in front of Talonflame without trouble, so Water- and Grass-types like Feraligatr, Basculegion, Brute Bonnet, and Vileplume can all safely switch-in and threaten a KO.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Talonflame can instead opt for Taunt over Will-O-Wisp, crippling 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 and Flamethrower can be used instead of the two STAB attacks to hit Vileplume without worrying about Rocky Helmet and Effect Spore, but its 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 frees room for Gale Wings priority, 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 all have a positive matchup against Talonflame, they can all take a hit from its STAB attacks whenever and threaten an OHKO or set up. Rotom-H is especially tricky for Talonflame, resisting both of its STAB attacks, being immune to burn, and can Trick a Choice Scarf onto it, acting as a hard wall against Talonflame.
**Item Removal**: Common Knock Off users like Krookodile, Alolan Muk, and Reuniclus and Trick users like Porygon-Z, Rotom-H, and Florges can all 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 hazard setters that beat Talonflame thanks to their Rock-type STAB attacks achieving a KO, 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 all tank hits from Talonflame, heal the HP back 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 is too passive versus Slowbro, letting it set up 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/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited:
