Talonflame [QC 2/3]

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[OVERVIEW]
* Thanks to its very high speed stat and access to Gale Wings, Talonflame is an excellent revenge killer, and can pick off many fast threats including Mega Pidgeot, Starmie, Weavile, and even Mega Sceptile and Mega Beedrill if Gale Wings is intact.
* Swords Dance allows Talonflame to boost its lacklustre attack to threatening levels, allowing it to punch holes through bulkier teams.
* It hits most of the metagame hard with its STAB moves alone, allowing Talonflame to easily use support moves in move slots instead of coverage.
* Its typing, while giving it a criplling weakness to Stealth Rock, allows it to switch into Pokémon such as Scizor and Sylveon.
* While its typing does offer some nice resistances, it also has crippling weaknesses to Rock, Electric, and Water, and its poor bulk means that even resisted hits will still sting.
* Once Gale Wings is gone, it can no longer out speed threats such as Mega Beedrill, Mega Sceptile, and Crobat, meaning that they can easily revenge kill Talonflame once it no longer has Gale Wings.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Flare Blitz
move 4: Taunt / Roost
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Gale Wings
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 atk / 4 def / 252 Spe


[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Swords Dance allows Talonflame to boost up its mediocre Attack to threatening levels, making it a much more potent offensive threat.
* Brave Bird is Talonflame's main source of damage, as it has great neutral coverage, and its high base power somewhat makes up for Talonflame's low Attack. It can also be powered up thanks to Flyinium Z, and has priority provided Talonflame is at full health.
* Flare Blitz allows Talonflame to hit most Fyling resists like Steel and Electric types hard. Examples include Metagross and Xurkitree, both of which can live a +2 Brave Bird, but fall to +2 Flare Blitz.
* Taunt allows Talonflame to cripple more passive Pokémon such as Gliscor and Hippowdon, allowing it to turn them into set up fodder.
* Roost can be used to keep Talonflame healthy and potentially keep Gale Wings, especially since Talonflame can easily force switches.

Set Details
========

* Max Attack and Speed EVs allow Talonflame to hit as hard and fast as possible.
* Flyinium Z allows Talonflame to have a one time nuke, allowing it to deal massive damage to its target.
* Jolly nature ensures that Talonflame will move before most threats in the tier including Weavile and Mega Pidgeot.
* An Adamant nature can be run to deal even more damage, but it comes at the large cost of losing out on moving before threats like Weavile and Mega Pidgeot.

Usage Tips
========

* Talonflame works best as an early game breaker or revenge killer, as its poor bulk and reliance on moves that inflict recoil damage ensure that Talonflame will have very few, if any switch in opportunities.
* Despite its poor bulk, Talonflame can still switch in on some more passive Pokémon like Sylveon and Amoongus after it uses Spore, and can even switch in on the omnipresent Scizor, meaning that it can still find some opportunities to switch in.
* Once it's in, Talonflame should either revenge kill the opposing threat, or if it is against something that can't take it down, set up. Once it's set up, Talonflame can start using its boosted attacks to punch holes in the opposing team.
* When up against a more passive wall, it is a good idea to first taunt them, preventing them from spreading status, or use taunt after they switch in on an attack, preventing them from recovering.
* Talonflame is ultimately a pretty straightforward Pokémon, and it usually only has to enter the field once or twice, so it is paramount that it is used in the early game when it has the most utility.

Team Options
========

* Talonflame is extremely weak to Stealth Rock, so using hazard control is recommended. Mega Blastoise is an excellent partner for Talonflame, as it can easily dispose of any bulky Ground and Rock types for Talonflame, and it appreciates Talonflame's ability to take advantage of bulky Grass types. Starmie has good synergy thanks to being able to easily handle bulky Ground and Rock types that Talonflame can struggle with. Latias has Healing Wish, allowing Talonflame to potentially have a second chance, and also has decent defensive synergy with Talonflame, being able to switch into Water and Elecric type moves with ease, while Talonflame can switch into Bug type moves.
* Teammates that appreciate having blanket checks like Hippowdon and Gliscor overloaded love Talonflame's ability to bait them in and wear them down. In particular, sweepers like Scizor, Cobalion, and Terrakion, which can otherwise have trouble with these, appreciate Talonflame's ability to wear down their checks.
* Talonflame works best on more offensive, particularly hyper offence, so a suicude lead that can set up hazards and prevent the opponent from setting up their own. Azelf, Aerodactyl, and Frosslass are all possible options for this role.
* Since Talonflame's speed falls short of reaching that of Mega Beedrill, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Sceptile, and Crobat, a Scarf or priority user that can take care of these Pokémon is recommended. Terrakion, Krookodile, and Scizor can all take out these threats after a bit of prior damage.
* Special Wallbreakers can break through the physical walls that Talonflame might struggle with, and allow Talonflame's team to keep up the pressure. Hydreigon, Nidoking, Xurkitree, and Primarina are all good choices.
* Pokémon that can clean up after Talonflame has punched holes are needed to take advantage of its breaking abilities. Cleaners and sweepers like Mega Sharpedo, Mega Aerodactyl, and Scizor can all finish the match after Talonflame has done its job.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* A more bulky set that runs Flame Body over Gale Wings can use Talonflame's decent defensive typing to provide a consistent check to things like Scizor. However, this set faces competition from Moltres, which has much better bulk.
* Acrobatics can be run to keep Gale Wings and not suffer recoil damage. However, the power drop is very noticeable
* Natural Gift and a berry can be used to lure in threats, but other than bulky rock types, none of Talonflame's switch ins like to take a boosted Flying or Fire type attack
* Choice Band gives Talonflame some immediate power, but is much easier to play around. It is only able to use one priority attack and is weaker than Supersonic Skystrike, so there is little reason to use this set over Flyinium Z unless your team already has a Z Move user.
* Tailwind can be used to support the team by providing a boost of speed for a few turns.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Stealth Rock**: Talonflame loses half of its health switching in if Stealth Rock is on the field. This means that as long as Stealth Rock is up, Talonflame is going to have even more trouble switching in.

**Mega Aerodactyl **: Mega Aerodactyl is a very common threat, and it resists both of Talonflame's STAB moves and outspeeds and knocks out Talonflame. However, it does have trouble switching into boosted attacks

**Faster Threats**: Once Gale Wings is burned, Pokémon that have a Choice Scarf, such as Terrakion and Krookodile, or naturally outspeed Talonflame, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Crobat, can often revenge kill Talonflame after a little bit of prior damage.

**Bulky Rock Types**: While very niche, bulky rock types such as Gigalith and Rhyperior can take an attack and easily knock out Talonflame.

**Bulky Water Types**: Even though most of them do not like to take a boosted Brave Bird or Supersonic Skystrike, most bulky waters like Suicune, Jellicent, and Alomomola can shrug off a hit and hit Talonflame hard in return.
 
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On overview ''Its overall attack stat is low, so without a boost Talonflame is going to struggle to do a lot of damage.'' is pretty redundant with your second point so id just remove it. Raikou isnt really a mon talonflame can reliably revenge kill so change that. Give examples of flare blitz targets and mention mega blastoise in addition to or over starmie, as its by far talonflame's best partner. C&C needs to be fleshed out a lot, stuff like bulky waters, stealth rock, actual examples of revenge killers etc. QC:1/3
 
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On overview ''Its overall attack stat is low, so without a boost Talonflame is going to struggle to do a lot of damage.'' is pretty redundant with your second point so id just remove it. Raikou isnt really a mon talonflame can reliably revenge kill so change that. Give examples of flare blitz targets and mention mega blastoise in addition to or over starmie, as its by far talonflame's best partner. C&C needs to be fleshed out a lot, stuff like bulky waters, stealth rock, actual examples of revenge killers etc. Implement those and ill qc.
Done, let me know if there's anything else that needs to be done.
 

Deleted User 400951

Banned deucer.
I'm not QC, but I'd mention that CB sets only get off one priority move off whereas the set listed gets off at least 2. I'd also mention that SSSS is stronger:
252 Atk Choice Band Gale Wings Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 214-253 (62.7 - 74.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Gale Wings Talonflame Supersonic Skystrike (190 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 226-267 (66.2 - 78.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
In addition to it being played around, I think it should be stated that CB is pretty much always inferior unless your Z-slot is already taken.
 
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