Staraptor
Stats: 85 HP / 120 Atk / 70 Def / 50 SpA / 50 SpD / 100 Spe
OK, obviously not fairly average stat distribution, but may I draw your attention to that beastly Attack stat and average Speed stat. HP is over average, but mediocre defences. Well, it's not as if you want Star taking hits in the first place, used as a scouter, as a hit and run method, you'll be very successful with Staraptor.
Key
Bold = Useful moves. Recommended.
Italic = New aquired moves, not at all sure what the definitions of these moves are because I can't find them D;
Feel free to post what they do. Thanks!
Movepool:
Level up: Start: Tackle, Growl, Quick Attack, Wing Attack. Level 5: Quick Attack. Level 9: Wing Attack. Level 13: Double Team. Level 18: Endeavour. Level 23: Whirlwind. Level 28: Aerial Ace. Level 33: Take Down. Level 34: Close Combat. Level 41: Agility. Level 40: Brave Bird. Level 57: Extreme Risk?
TMs/HMs- TM06 - Toxic, TM10 - Hidden Power, TM11 - Sunny Day, TM15 - Hyper Beam, TM17 - Protect, TM18 - Rain Dance, TM21 - Frustration, TM27 - Return, TM32 - Double Team, TM40 - Aerial Ace, TM42 - Facade, TM44 - Rest, TM45 - Attract, TM46 - Thief, TM48 - Canon, TM49 - Echo Voice,TM67 - Retaliation, TM68 - Giga Impact, TM83 - Cheer Up, TM87 - Swagger, TM88 - Pluck, TM89 - U-turn, TM90 - Substitute, HM02 - Fly!
Egg Moves- Astonish. Double-Edge. FeatherDance. Foresight. Fury Attack. Pursuit. Sand-Attack.
At an assumption you would think Staraptor would have the same old generic movepool as his common Typing bros and hoes, but check again. Staraptor has been blessed with such an offensive moveset to boot his offensive nature and a few new moves to benefit from his high Attack stat.
Typing: Normal / Flying
Resistances: Bug, Grass
Weaknesses: Rock, Electric, Ice
Immune to: Ground, Ghost
I personally think Staraptor has an amazing Typing. Sure, there are many, many, many on the same boat as Staraptor but I fairly like it. Firstly, due to its dual typing it has been granted with 2 common immunities, giving it far more potential to switch in and reek havoc. Sure its Flying type lets it down a bit, seeing as how he is a potent threat of Stealth Rocks and a weakness to BoltBeam. But as an Offensive oriented Pokémon I feel its typing serves it well. + Staraptor has access to Roost, ridding it off his Flying type and making Rock, Electric and Ice attacks Neutral.
Abilities: Intimidate and Reckless (DW)
Intimidate - Intimidate lowers the opponent's Attack stat by one stage upon entering the battle. It is triggered both when a battle begins and when a Pokémon with Intimidate switches into battle. In a double battle, both opponents are affected.
Reckless - Reckless increases the base power of moves which cause recoil or crash damage by 20%.
Intimidate has become quite useful for Staraptor during Gen IV, seeing as how OU was pretty much infested with Physical sweepers, and it couldn't hurt to slightly cripple their chances to sweep. But, Staraptor isn't going to be taking any Physical Attacks any time soon, with or without Intimidate. So, in with the out and in with the new!
Reckless on Staraptor...this is a big deal, are you not aware of the potential? Staraptor moves that benefit from Reckless; Brave Bird and Double-Edge. Oh what's this? Double STAB? What does it mean...
Let's take Brave Bird, Staraptors most fearsome Attack. 120 BP. Brave Bird @ 120 BP + Reckless (20% = 24) + Life Orb (30% = 36) + Stab (50% = 60) = 280 BP Oh yes! But yeah, this is quite impressive and would easily make Staraptor into a force to be reckoned with.
Possible Sets
Name: Even more emo
Nature: Jolly / Adamant
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
Move 1: Brave Bird
Move 2: Double-Edge / Return
Move 3: Close Combat
Move 4: Pursuit / U-turn / Quick Attack
Choice Band + Adamant = 558 Attack
Choice Band + Jolly = 508 Attack
Choice Scarf + Adamant = 372 Attack
Choice Scarf + Adamant = 429 Speed
Choice Scarf + Jolly = 471 Speed
Force to be reckoned with...Oh yes. This set is primarily a hit and run set. Don't expect a mountain of consistent sweeping potential with this set. You set Staraptor loose either at the mid to end of the game and take out as many Pokémon as you can. Those who doubt Staraptor's potential when it comes to Offense will be missing a Poké very early into the game. Staraptors' good Speed and Attack stats make it very deadly with a Choice Band under his belt, while a Scarf can be used to catch slower Pokémon off guard.
The thing that really sets Staraptor appart from his Normal / Flying type compadres is his superb coverage. Brave Bird and Double-Edge are Stars main weapons and both hit incredibly hard, and even harder with Reckless, while Close Combat hits for at least neutral damage on every Rock- and Steel-type. Close Combat is what Pidgeot, Dodrio and Noctowl need, but Close Combat is what Staraptor got <3
4th Moveslot is a matter of preference. If your team is weak to Ghosts, and you don't particularly like Staraptor being walled by them, then opt for Pursuit to catch those buggers out. While U-turn can be used for Scouting, but with SR being present it makes it less of a viable choice seeing as how it really doesn't want to keep coming in and out alot if SR are in play, it ruins its hit and run stature. Be aware that in Gen 5 Pursuit and Double-edge will be illegal to have together so feel free to replace Double-Edge with Return if you must have Pursuit.
Name: FMLife Orb
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Move 1: Brave Bird
Move 2: Double-Edge / U-turn
Move 3: Close Combat
Move 4: Roost
Now, remember me mentioning that Staraptor won't be on the field for long? Well, this set almost halves its survivability for the exchange of freedom of switch between attacks. Brave Bird and Double-edge have 144 Base Power before STAB when used with Reckless and with a LO, Staraptor can abuse its already high Attack stat and brilliant coverage. Roost is used to heal off all those recoils inflicted by LO, Brave Bird and Double-Edge. I wouldn't opt for Double-Edge > Return for the pure power. Since Staraptor is easily countered by constant switching - by slowly lowering his health while wasting attacks on neutral threats, so, to solve this problem Wish support is overly appreciated. Roost in conjunction with Wish gives it added survivability despite recoil and Stealth Rocks. U-turn can be used on this set for added Scouting abilities because Staraptor does make an excellent Scouter, with or without a Choice item. Over Double-Edge is preferred over Roost, as Brave Bird + Close Combat provide already fantastic coverage; which Double-Edge doesn't add to but you also need the ability to heal off any damage caused by LO recoil, Brave Bird recoil and SR damage caused by switching in and out.
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey: 73.5% - 86.6%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 220 Def Bold Celebi: 105.9% - 125.2%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Neutral Suicune: 74.9% - 88.6%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 240 HP / 216 Def Relaxed Swampert: 57.6% - 68.1%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 188 HP / 252 Def Bold Vaporeon: 63.2% - 74.6%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Neutral Gliscor: 67.2% - 79.7%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 168 Def Bold Rotom-H - 34.5% - 41.1%
Jolly Life Orb Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey: 81.5% - 96.1%
Jolly Life Orb Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Neutral Heatran: 94.7% - 111.5%
Jolly Life Orb Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Neutral Jirachi: 46.8% - 55.3%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 220 Def Bold Celebi: 105.9% - 125.2%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Neutral Suicune: 74.9% - 88.6%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 240 HP / 216 Def Relaxed Swampert: 57.6% - 68.1%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 188 HP / 252 Def Bold Vaporeon: 63.2% - 74.6%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Neutral Gliscor: 67.2% - 79.7%
Jolly Life Orb Reckless Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 168 Def Bold Rotom-H - 34.5% - 41.1%
Jolly Life Orb Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Bold Blissey: 81.5% - 96.1%
Jolly Life Orb Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Neutral Heatran: 94.7% - 111.5%
Jolly Life Orb Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Neutral Jirachi: 46.8% - 55.3%
Name: Anti-Appliance
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Move 1: Foresight
Move 2: Close Combat
Move 3: Double-Edge
Move 4: Roost
Ignoring the hidden text for the thought process behind this set. Since I heard Rotom-As have lost their Ghost typing, and had it replaced by their Appliance typing. Now Rotom-A just became much less of a hassle. But that doesn't give this set less of a purpose, there are still a countless amount of threats that are sporting their Ghost / Dark typing, and Ghost / *Insert resisted Typing here*, who need to be taking down a notch.
OK. What is Staraptors most hated counter? If you said Rotom-A you deserve a prize. Seriously, Rotom-As completely cock-block any attempt Staraptor makes to sweep successfully, seeing as how most of these sets lack pursuit, but even then, Staraptor doesn't like a burn or Thunderbolt his way. So, how do we solve this problem? Well, with Foresight is how! The idea is simple. Come into an immune attack - it might even be a Shadow Ball from a Scarf'd Rotom-A, no doubt they'll be back for an easy revenge kill. Once behind a Sub, proceed to use Foresight and hit whatever runs in with a STAB Reckless boosted 120 BP Double-Edge. Honestly, only if you're a Steel type will you like that. Staraptor is a great Rotom-A lure, and now it can deal with it effectively. The last slot has to go to Close Combat! Since Ghost types are now able to be struck by Close Combat and Double-Edge, there is no hidding from Staraptor. Close Combat provides coverage for Steel types which resist Double-Edge. You could always replace Substitute with Roost, but you will lose an eased prediction in return for a source of recovery.
Adamant Life Orb Reckless Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 168 Def Bold Rotom-A - 64.1% - 75.3%
Adamant Life Orb Reckless Double-Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Neutral Rotom-A - 103.3% - 122%
Adamant Life Orb Reckless Double-Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Neutral Rotom-A - 103.3% - 122%
Well there you have it. I am aware I am exaggerating the potential for Staraptor in the future metagame a bit, and I know there are many flaws and possible counters, but, that doesn't stop Staraptor from being useful as a sweeper. See Staraptors potential, open your eyes. Open your eyes and see your eyes are open.
Let's face it, Staraptor has a few new toys to play with that just scream potential. And props to Game Freak for giving Staraptor Reckless. I love the hidden message. Well I'm done. Staraptor, use Fly!
Weeeeeee ;D!