[OVERVIEW]
Rufflet was a mediocre Pokemon in XY, but SM gave it access to Brave Bird, cementing its place as a fearsome threat. Rufflet is able to hit incredibly hard because of its ability Hustle, which raises its Attack stat by 1.5. However, the downside to this ability is that all of Rufflet's physical moves except for Aerial Ace have only an 80% hit rate. Rufflet's good bulk and ways to get around traditional Flying-type counters with Superpower allow it to run good Choice Scarf and Bulk Up sets, although its mediocre Speed tier makes it unable to outspeed faster threats like Mienfoo, Chinchou, and Onix.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Superpower
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Return / Aerial Ace
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Hustle
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is Rufflet's most powerful attack, but it has the downside of causing Rufflet to take recoil damage. Superpower is Rufflet's main coverage move, as it allows it to hit Rock- and Steel- type Pokemon. U-turn is used to gain momentum and to add chip damage on opposing Pokemon. Return is Rufflet's other STAB attack, which allows it to hit Electric-types hard. However, it is not as important as Rufflet's other moves and can be replaced if necessary. Aerial Ace can be used if you want to use Rufflet's power without having to worry about missing, but it is a much weaker option and generally not as useful as Rufflet's other moves.
Set Details
========
Rufflet's EVs and nature allow it to outspeed 15 Speed Pokemon with a +1 boost. Notable examples of these are Scraggy after a Dragon Dance and Choice Scarf Magnemite. The majority of the other EVs are invested in Attack to allow Rufflet's moves to hit as hard as possible. The remaining EVs are put into Defense so that Rufflet takes less damage from priority moves like Sucker Punch and Mach Punch. Rufflet's ability Hustle boosts its Attack stat by 1.5 and allows it to hit very hard.
Usage Tips
========
Rufflet is best used as an early-game pivot and a late-game sweeper. Use Brave Bird and Return to secure KOs in the early-game and sweep up the remnants of your opponent's team in the late-game. Whenever you suspect that your opponent is going to switch in a Rock- or Steel-type, use Superpower. If you think that your opponent is going to send in a Pokemon that Rufflet cannot KO with any of its moves, you should almost always U-turn out.
Team Options
========
Honedge completely walls this set, so Pokemon that can check it like Mienfoo and Timburr are good partners. Shell Smash users also have an easy time setting up and sweeping your team if they come in on a resisted move like Brave Bird or Return. Therefore, Pokemon that can deal with set-up Shell Smash users like Timburr, Pawniard, and Focus Sash Abra are good partners. Other VoltTurn Pokemon like Mienfoo, Chinchou, and Magnemite are good partners for Rufflet, as they can form a VoltTurn core for your team. Pokemon that resist or are immune to the types that Rufflet is weak to and can also hit them hard are good teammates. Some examples of these Pokemon are Mienfoo, Timburr, Chinchou, Diglett, and Drilbur. Entry hazard removers like Staryu, Drilbur, and Sandshrew can help alleviate Rufflet's weakness to Stealth Rock by removing it from the field. Conversely, Rufflet benefits greatly from hazards wearing down its checks and U-turning out as they switch in, so setters like Omanyte and Dwebble are good partners as well. Other Flying-types like Doduo and Vullaby are also good teammates, as they can wear down each other's checks.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Brave Bird / Aerial Ace
move 2: Superpower / Facade
move 3: Bulk Up
move 4: Roost
item: Eviolite
ability: Hustle
nature: Impish
evs: 116 HP / 12 Atk / 116 Def / 196 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is Rufflet's strongest STAB move. You can run Aerial Ace if you do not want to risk missing, but the power loss is generally not worth it. Superpower hits most traditional Flying-type checks (Rock- and Steel-types). You can use Facade instead if you want to be able to safely set up on Pokemon like Ponyta and weaker Scald users like Mareanie, since being burned will not affect Rufflet as negatively as it would otherwise. Bulk Up allows Rufflet to gain massive Attack and Defense boosts and eventually sweep the opposing team. Roost is used to recover damage taken while setting up and attacking.
Set Details
========
Rufflet's EVs and an Impish nature give it 25 / 21 / 21 bulk with Eviolite. 21 Defense allows you to set up Bulk Up on Mudbray and Drilbur. It also lets Rufflet survive both High Jump Kick and Stone Edge after Stealth Rock from maximum Attack Mienfoo. 21 Special Defense is the highest amount Rufflet can have without a positive nature, and it lets Rufflet set up on weaker special attackers like Spritzee and Mareanie. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack and Speed so that Rufflet can still hit hard and outspeed Pokemon like Croagunk and Stufful. Hustle allows Rufflet to hit hard by boosting its Attack by 1.5.
Usage Tips
========
Rufflet is best used to wall physical attackers like Mudbray and then set up and sweep the opposing team. It can set up on Pokemon like Mudbray and Drilbur, although it is unable to switch in on Drilbur and set up. It is also able to set up on weaker special attackers like Spritzee. Once strong special attackers like Abra and Gastly are gone, Rufflet has a much easier time sweeping opposing teams. Rufflet also has utility outside of being a sweeper; it is a good soft check for Pokemon like Snivy and Scraggy, but after dealing with them it is likely that it will be weakened too much to fulfill its normal role as a sweeper.
Team Options
========
Rufflet greatly appreciates Electric-types being removed, so Diglett is a good partner, as it can trap and KO all non-Choice Scarf Electric-types. Rufflet also dislikes strong special attackers like Abra and Gastly, so Alolan Grimer and Stunky are good partners, as they can trap these Pokemon. Pokemon that resist or are immune to the types that Rufflet is weak to and can also hit them hard are good teammates. Some examples of these Pokemon are Mienfoo, Timburr, Chinchou, Diglett, and Drilbur. Other Flying-type Pokemon are good team options, as they can weaken Rufflet's checks and make it easier for Rufflet to sweep late-game. Rufflet is also a decent Pokemon on Sticky Web teams, as it benefits from all opposing grounded Pokemon having lowered Speed. It is also a good check to Snivy, which generally threatens Sticky Web teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb is an option, but it is not as good because of Rufflet's mediocre Speed. It should only be used on Sticky Web teams, as otherwise Doduo runs a better Life Orb set. Hone Claws sweeping sets are another option, but they generally have a much harder time completing a sweep, and using Bulk Up is generally better. If your team struggles with Honedge, you can use Shadow Claw to hit it. This is not recommended, though, because Shadow Claw doesn't really hit anything else that other moves already do. You can use Steel Wing or Rock Slide if you want to be able to OHKO Archen or other Flying-types (in the case of Rock Slide). Rufflet is a decent user of Tailwind because of its high damage output and access to U-turn. If you do not like missing, you can use Keen Eye Rufflet instead of Hustle, but then running Doduo or Vullaby instead is probably a better choice. Don't use completely defensive sets with Defog or Whirlwind because Vullaby does these sets better. You can add Sleep Talk on the Choice Scarf set if your team has no other way to deal with the sleep status.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Honedge**: Honedge completely walls Rufflet unless it chooses to use Shadow Claw. Sacred Sword goes through Bulk Up boosts and hits Rufflet super effectively while it is using Roost.
**Fast Electric-, Rock-, and Steel-types**: Pokemon like Chinchou, Elekid, Magnemite, Amaura, and Onix can switch in on a resisted move and proceed to KO Rufflet with a strong STAB move. SturdyJuice Magnemite is a fairly safe switch-in, since Rufflet does not have access to Knock Off. Pokemon like Magnemite, Amaura, Pawniard, and Onix fear Superpower, but they can force Rufflet out if it is locked into a resisted move.
**Shell Smash Users**: Tirtouga and Omanyte can switch into Brave Bird and Return, set up, and then KO Rufflet.
Rufflet was a mediocre Pokemon in XY, but SM gave it access to Brave Bird, cementing its place as a fearsome threat. Rufflet is able to hit incredibly hard because of its ability Hustle, which raises its Attack stat by 1.5. However, the downside to this ability is that all of Rufflet's physical moves except for Aerial Ace have only an 80% hit rate. Rufflet's good bulk and ways to get around traditional Flying-type counters with Superpower allow it to run good Choice Scarf and Bulk Up sets, although its mediocre Speed tier makes it unable to outspeed faster threats like Mienfoo, Chinchou, and Onix.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Superpower
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Return / Aerial Ace
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Hustle
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is Rufflet's most powerful attack, but it has the downside of causing Rufflet to take recoil damage. Superpower is Rufflet's main coverage move, as it allows it to hit Rock- and Steel- type Pokemon. U-turn is used to gain momentum and to add chip damage on opposing Pokemon. Return is Rufflet's other STAB attack, which allows it to hit Electric-types hard. However, it is not as important as Rufflet's other moves and can be replaced if necessary. Aerial Ace can be used if you want to use Rufflet's power without having to worry about missing, but it is a much weaker option and generally not as useful as Rufflet's other moves.
Set Details
========
Rufflet's EVs and nature allow it to outspeed 15 Speed Pokemon with a +1 boost. Notable examples of these are Scraggy after a Dragon Dance and Choice Scarf Magnemite. The majority of the other EVs are invested in Attack to allow Rufflet's moves to hit as hard as possible. The remaining EVs are put into Defense so that Rufflet takes less damage from priority moves like Sucker Punch and Mach Punch. Rufflet's ability Hustle boosts its Attack stat by 1.5 and allows it to hit very hard.
Usage Tips
========
Rufflet is best used as an early-game pivot and a late-game sweeper. Use Brave Bird and Return to secure KOs in the early-game and sweep up the remnants of your opponent's team in the late-game. Whenever you suspect that your opponent is going to switch in a Rock- or Steel-type, use Superpower. If you think that your opponent is going to send in a Pokemon that Rufflet cannot KO with any of its moves, you should almost always U-turn out.
Team Options
========
Honedge completely walls this set, so Pokemon that can check it like Mienfoo and Timburr are good partners. Shell Smash users also have an easy time setting up and sweeping your team if they come in on a resisted move like Brave Bird or Return. Therefore, Pokemon that can deal with set-up Shell Smash users like Timburr, Pawniard, and Focus Sash Abra are good partners. Other VoltTurn Pokemon like Mienfoo, Chinchou, and Magnemite are good partners for Rufflet, as they can form a VoltTurn core for your team. Pokemon that resist or are immune to the types that Rufflet is weak to and can also hit them hard are good teammates. Some examples of these Pokemon are Mienfoo, Timburr, Chinchou, Diglett, and Drilbur. Entry hazard removers like Staryu, Drilbur, and Sandshrew can help alleviate Rufflet's weakness to Stealth Rock by removing it from the field. Conversely, Rufflet benefits greatly from hazards wearing down its checks and U-turning out as they switch in, so setters like Omanyte and Dwebble are good partners as well. Other Flying-types like Doduo and Vullaby are also good teammates, as they can wear down each other's checks.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Brave Bird / Aerial Ace
move 2: Superpower / Facade
move 3: Bulk Up
move 4: Roost
item: Eviolite
ability: Hustle
nature: Impish
evs: 116 HP / 12 Atk / 116 Def / 196 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is Rufflet's strongest STAB move. You can run Aerial Ace if you do not want to risk missing, but the power loss is generally not worth it. Superpower hits most traditional Flying-type checks (Rock- and Steel-types). You can use Facade instead if you want to be able to safely set up on Pokemon like Ponyta and weaker Scald users like Mareanie, since being burned will not affect Rufflet as negatively as it would otherwise. Bulk Up allows Rufflet to gain massive Attack and Defense boosts and eventually sweep the opposing team. Roost is used to recover damage taken while setting up and attacking.
Set Details
========
Rufflet's EVs and an Impish nature give it 25 / 21 / 21 bulk with Eviolite. 21 Defense allows you to set up Bulk Up on Mudbray and Drilbur. It also lets Rufflet survive both High Jump Kick and Stone Edge after Stealth Rock from maximum Attack Mienfoo. 21 Special Defense is the highest amount Rufflet can have without a positive nature, and it lets Rufflet set up on weaker special attackers like Spritzee and Mareanie. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack and Speed so that Rufflet can still hit hard and outspeed Pokemon like Croagunk and Stufful. Hustle allows Rufflet to hit hard by boosting its Attack by 1.5.
Usage Tips
========
Rufflet is best used to wall physical attackers like Mudbray and then set up and sweep the opposing team. It can set up on Pokemon like Mudbray and Drilbur, although it is unable to switch in on Drilbur and set up. It is also able to set up on weaker special attackers like Spritzee. Once strong special attackers like Abra and Gastly are gone, Rufflet has a much easier time sweeping opposing teams. Rufflet also has utility outside of being a sweeper; it is a good soft check for Pokemon like Snivy and Scraggy, but after dealing with them it is likely that it will be weakened too much to fulfill its normal role as a sweeper.
Team Options
========
Rufflet greatly appreciates Electric-types being removed, so Diglett is a good partner, as it can trap and KO all non-Choice Scarf Electric-types. Rufflet also dislikes strong special attackers like Abra and Gastly, so Alolan Grimer and Stunky are good partners, as they can trap these Pokemon. Pokemon that resist or are immune to the types that Rufflet is weak to and can also hit them hard are good teammates. Some examples of these Pokemon are Mienfoo, Timburr, Chinchou, Diglett, and Drilbur. Other Flying-type Pokemon are good team options, as they can weaken Rufflet's checks and make it easier for Rufflet to sweep late-game. Rufflet is also a decent Pokemon on Sticky Web teams, as it benefits from all opposing grounded Pokemon having lowered Speed. It is also a good check to Snivy, which generally threatens Sticky Web teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb is an option, but it is not as good because of Rufflet's mediocre Speed. It should only be used on Sticky Web teams, as otherwise Doduo runs a better Life Orb set. Hone Claws sweeping sets are another option, but they generally have a much harder time completing a sweep, and using Bulk Up is generally better. If your team struggles with Honedge, you can use Shadow Claw to hit it. This is not recommended, though, because Shadow Claw doesn't really hit anything else that other moves already do. You can use Steel Wing or Rock Slide if you want to be able to OHKO Archen or other Flying-types (in the case of Rock Slide). Rufflet is a decent user of Tailwind because of its high damage output and access to U-turn. If you do not like missing, you can use Keen Eye Rufflet instead of Hustle, but then running Doduo or Vullaby instead is probably a better choice. Don't use completely defensive sets with Defog or Whirlwind because Vullaby does these sets better. You can add Sleep Talk on the Choice Scarf set if your team has no other way to deal with the sleep status.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Honedge**: Honedge completely walls Rufflet unless it chooses to use Shadow Claw. Sacred Sword goes through Bulk Up boosts and hits Rufflet super effectively while it is using Roost.
**Fast Electric-, Rock-, and Steel-types**: Pokemon like Chinchou, Elekid, Magnemite, Amaura, and Onix can switch in on a resisted move and proceed to KO Rufflet with a strong STAB move. SturdyJuice Magnemite is a fairly safe switch-in, since Rufflet does not have access to Knock Off. Pokemon like Magnemite, Amaura, Pawniard, and Onix fear Superpower, but they can force Rufflet out if it is locked into a resisted move.
**Shell Smash Users**: Tirtouga and Omanyte can switch into Brave Bird and Return, set up, and then KO Rufflet.
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