Talonflame VS. Staraptor

[Minokun]

Ok, so I really wanna know. Which is better competitively, Talonflame or Staraptor? Both have been suggested to me, but both are so hard to chose from! I've seen the Pros and Cons of the two of them, and I just can't decide. So I ask you guys! Talonflame or Staraptor?!

 

[eeveeandmew]

Def talonflame with galewings.

 

[Nah]

They both have their merits. Talonflame is faster and has powerful priority in Gale Wings Brave Bird (and priority Tailiwnd and Roost), as well as a better secondary STAB. Staraptor, on the other hand, is less (Stealth) Rock weak and has greater immediate power; it has base 120 Attack and Reckless, while Talonflame's base Attack is 81. Staraptor also has Close Combat to let it deal with Steel and Rock types, which Talonflame struggles against.

So which one you use depends on what your team needs. They're both good.

 

[Griffinbane]

The answer's the same if you play VGC/doubles. It really depends on what your team needs, whether it is quick kills via Brave Bird Gale Wings or Intimidate support.

 

[Tyrael]

The answer's the same if you play VGC/doubles. It really depends on what your team needs, whether it is quick kills via Brave Bird Gale Wings or Intimidate support.

To add a little more to this, Staraptor is also extremely good with Final Gambit, since it's fairly quick and has a decent HP stat. Most Talonflame's flourish from priority BB and that's pretty easily shutdown by Quick Guard. But yeah, it depends a TON on what your team really needs. :P

 

[champagnepapi]

Talonflame is better by a long shot since it's got priority brave bird and roost, choice band, swords dance and bulk up sets can all be pretty damaging in ou since most of its counters are easy to beat down [the ones you see on opposing offenseive teams at least] and it isn't as succeptible to being beaten by a scarfer as other pokemon. staraptor is alright but talonflame will be able to do a lot more damage in the long run, just remember to bring a means of controlling hazards [sr]...

 

[Flushed]

I've been reading through Smogon forums, and some people say they actually like to use both on the same team, the double bird combo. They do cover each other's weaknesses relatively well. Individually, I happen to favor Staraptor. It hits ridiculously hard, and has decent coverage, even if it's with something like neutral Double-Edge. I've been able to get rid of tons of Rotom-W, something Talonflame has trouble with.

 

[Hiatus]

I personally wasn't too fond of Talonflame when it had first been introduced, but grew to love it due to all reasons stated in the above posts. :] Staraptor could cause some major destruction, but once you've managed to get your Talonflame set up Swords Dance, nobody would ever be able to stop it. Might be four-times effective against rock, but rock-type attacks are rarely carried by people.

 

[Onicon]

We are with Flushed in that regard, except for the 'covering each others weaknesses' part (semantics, we know). Do not forget, that is not supposed to the bulky offense. The idea behind Double Bird is that banded Staraptor can break down any of the Talonflame counters just by choosing the appropiate move.

Final Gambit is, in all honesty, not very good. Staraptor is such a powerhouse that we can't think of about any Pokemon that you can't just smask very hard instead.

 

[Hikamaru]

As others have said, both the birds have their uses but most of time you'll often see Talonflame getting the nod due to its Gale Wings ability giving its already powerful Brave Bird increased priority which makes it a great revenge killer, even against scarfed opponents. Staraptor on the other hand has Close Combat which handles most of its weaknesses, and it's got decently good Attack, HP and Speed along with that.