Braviary, The Valiant Pokémon. With its brave disposition, it fears nothing—not even death. Ancient Alolan people respected it, referring to it as “the hero of the sky.” It’s thought that people disturbed their habitats in the past, so Braviary banded together to fight back.
Overview
Braviary is a neat Pokémon overall, being an obligatory Pokémon (a region based on the United States and it not have an eagle Pokémon?), but what could have been gimmicky Pokémon turned out to be a decent flying type. Braviary has a lot of the tools needed to be a powerhouse threat, which it is in tier and can fight up a tier. However all Pokémon have their drawbacks, mostly, and Braviary is no exception. Its overall low speed is a big hindrance and its overall a bit predictable.
Positives
+2 fantastic abilities, allowing some flexibility as well as never revealing to much to your opponent
+Really tanky for a Flying type, 100/75/75 is really solid
+Its move pool is good enough for coverage and making use of Sheer Force
Negatives
-80 speed is really mediocre, really letting Braviary down overall
-57 Special Attack is really bad, holding Braviary back especially with access to Heat Wave
-Overall a weaker version of Staraptor, but lives a little longer
Abilities
Keen Eye- Pokémon's accuracy can't be dropped, ignores evasion buffs- Overall terrible never use this
Sheer Force- Moves with secondary effects lose the effect but gain 30% increased power- One of two great abilities, Sheer Force buffs enough moves to be worthwhile, namely Crush Claw while negating Life Orbs recoil
Hidden Ability
Defiant- Raise the Attack by 2 stages when the Pokémon has a stat lowered- The other great ability this negates annoying moves like Intimidate and with the Defog buff you can switch in and get a free Swords Dance.
Movesets
Braviary Default
-Brave Bird
-Superpower
-U-turn
-Return
Item Attached: Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant
EVs and Nature:
252Atk/4Def/252Spd
Jolly Nature
The more standard Braviary set, this makes use of the Choice Scarf to compensate for Braviary's low speed. Defiant is best here allowing Braviary the chance to sweep if something hits it with Defog or Intimidate. Jolly as such is the preferred nature to make the most of its speed as possible. Brave Bird is your primary stab move, dealing a lot of damage to everything that doesn't resist it. Return is your other stab move, though it hits most of the same targets it brings 19 less base damage without a recoil making it a better choice in most situations. U-turn allows for quick poking as well as a free switch in for something else on your team, maintaining momentum. Lastly Superpower is more for coverage than anything, hitting most common switch ins with reasonable power.
Red, White, and Braviary
-Brave Bird
-Cruch Claw
-Rock Slide/Shadow Claw/Zen Headbutt/Steel Wing/U-turn
-Rock Slide/Shadow Claw/Zen Headbutt/Steel Wing/U-turn
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs and Nature:
252Atk/4Def/252Spd
Jolly Nature
Abusing Sheer Force, this set bluffs, a bit, the prior set and surprises switch ins with a high power move. Brave Bird again is your Flying stab as well as one of the only moves that doesn't make use of Sheer Force, therefore having Life Orb recoil. Crush Claw is the Normal move of choice gaining the bonus of Sheer Force. An argument can be made for Return here but with the Life Orb recoil and minimal power difference. Last slots there are a variety of options, Rock Slide nails Flying and Fires for super effective damage having a base power of more Shadow Claw to punish Ghosts as well as hit Steels for neutral damage, Zen Headbutt which is weaker overall but hits Fightings and Poisons hard without using Brave Bird, Steel Wing for Rocks, or U-turn for momentum and scouting. Roost is an option as well but you give up some coverage for longevity.
Stuffed Eagle
-Substitute/Roost/Bulk Up
-Crush Claw/Return
-Bulk Up/Roost/Substitute
-Brave Bird
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Sheer Force/Defiant
EVs and Nature:
252HP/252Atk/4Spd
Adamant Nature
Braviary's health is perfect for Substitute, 100 health divides 4 times perfectly as well as creates a Substitute with 101 health so Seismic Toss doesn't one hit it. As such Leftovers are the ideal item to slowly heal back the health lost from using Substitute. Ability is a preference based on your normal stab, though I personally would suggest Defiant. Brave Bird is your main Flying stab move despite the recoil, it just hits to hard. Last spot is open for Roost to increase your longevity, as well as make Sheer Force more viable as life Orb can be used, while Bulk Up can be used as a way to try and sweep. As such a true Bulk Up set can run Special Defense EVs to be even more tanky but I wouldn't suggest that as it's a bit gimmicky.
Other Options & Partners
-Z Crystals - Z Crystals are OK on Braviary, allowing it to plow through some threats such as Golem, Rhydon, or nuke something but you lose Life Orb
-Rock Tomb - Rock Tomb is useable with Defiant which can help with its slow speed but overall Rock Slide does more, but it has use
-Heat Wave - This should be amazing but with 57 Special Attack it's a letdown overall due to it's just mediocre power but it can be used if needed
Teambuilding & Matchup
Braviary struggles with most Rock types in tier even with Steel Wing, especially Rhydon with the Eviolite. Because of this Grass, Water, or Ground Pokémon really pair well. Some big ones are Eelektross due to its sheer coverage and Levitate allows free switch ins on Earthquake. Chesnaught is another strong partner with its resistance to both Rock and Ground as well as its tanky nature to allow the ability to pivot into some annoying threats such as Alolan Golem. A Rapid Spinner is also an amazing partner, namely Donphan and Fortress. Donphan is more aggressive, countering Rock threats and brings Ice Shard for priority to pressure other Braviarys while Fortress brings Spikes and Volt Switch, allowing Braviary to sweep easier.
Building with Braviary you need to keep hazard control in mind as Braviary has a hard time fitting Roost into its builds. Braviary tends to function as a revenge killer and wall breaker so a synergistic sweeper is needed. Dragonair and Fraxtures both excel here as the like Rock and Steel threats crippled making it easier for them to sweep. Eelektross also works well with Braviary in a core way with Volt Switch and U-turn to bring in sweepers that are a bit soft such as the prior mentioned ones, as well as Fortress for the same reason but set up entry hazards.
Braviary struggles into Stall teams lacking the coverage to break through threats. Most Stall Pokémon also are hard for if not counter Braviary such as Rhydon, Aggron, and Vaporeon. Hyper Offensive is rough but both scarfed and Substitute sets do pretty well either slowing down or KOing threats. Braviary fairs well into Balanced teams as most walls in this style are easier to break for Braviary as well as most offensive targets are a bit slower. Bulky Offensive runs into a similar vein but can take a hit from Braviary easily, but dislike hazards you can bring with team support.
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
The overwhelming presence and value of Intimidate in VGC and other doubles formats gives Pokemon with Defiant or Competitive a role to shine. Pokemon like Braviary pressure the opponent into either not using their Intimidate user, or potentially giving a strong Pokemon a boost that could decimate their team. Braviary is one of the few Pokemon in VGC 2017 able to scare off an opponent from bringing their Arcanine, Gyarados, Krookodile, or Salamence. Though its speed could be better, Braviary's great attack stat can already put a dent in teams, especially with some of the new items introduced in Sun and Moon.
Fly, Eagle Fly, on the Road to Victory!
-Brave Bird
-Superpower
-Tailwind
-Protect
Item Attached: Flyinium Z
Ability: Defiant
EVs and Nature:
116 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 12 SpD / 124 Spe
Adamant Nature
Braviary does not have the most impressive speed, so this set attempts to remedy that with Tailwind, while still hitting very hard. An Adamant nature with maximum attack lets its hit hard with or without a Defiant boost. The speed investment outspeeds an Adamant Choice Scarf Garchomp once you have Tailwind up, but more EVs can be added depending on the team needs. The defensive investment with the remaining EVs lets Braviary survive two 2 spread Rock Slides from a Jolly Garchomp, Psychic from a Modest Tapu Lele (in Psychic Terrain), and Wild Charge from a standard Adamant Arcanine. Opposing Porygon2 will also get an attack boost from this spread. Defiant is Braviary's best ability in doubles, helping both itself and potentially the team. Flyinium Z gives Braviary a very strong attack in Supersonic Skystrike.
Brave Bird is Braviary's strongest flying-type attack, and can pair with the z crystal for an incredibly strong attack. Superpower gives great coverage next to Brave Bird. Even despite the attack and defense drops, it is generally a better option than a normal-type attack. Tailwind helps Braviary's middle-tier speed and will speed up the rest of the team too. Protect is the best move in doubles, keeping Braviary safe from super-effective moves while a teammate deals with the threat.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Choice Scarf and Adrenaline Orb are two items used to increase Braviary's speed without taking a turn to set-up. While the Adrenaline Orb only activates if Intimidated (and may go to waste if you switch out Braviary after it is activated), it does allow you to run Protect. It is important to note that even an Adamant nature with maximum speed and the +1 boost cannot outspeed Timid Tapu Koko. A Jolly nature with at least 172 EVs in speed is necessary to achieve this.
-Life Orb increases Braviary's general damage output, but Fightinium Z has seen more usage. This z crystal allows for an extremely strong fighting-type attack, capable of OHKOing Snorlax and heavily damaging Porygon2, and will not have the nasty side effects of Superpower.
-Focus Sash has seen some usage to allow Braviary to survive any one attack, especially an electric move from Tapu Koko, so it can get Tailwind up, and then hopefully at least one more attack after.
-Return or Frustration are Braviary's most consistent normal-type attacks, but Facade and Giga Impact have their niche uses.
-Rock Slide and U-turn typically only fit on a Choice Scarf set. Rock Slide provides nice spread damage with the chance for flinches, while U-turn can help provide momentum in switching out after doing damage.
-Sky Drop is typically better used by Aerodactyl or Tapu Koko, but is a very cool tech move to waste an opposing Pokemon's turn. Sky Drop is commonly used to setup a teammate or switch the partner into something that threatens the Pokemon being Sky Dropped.
-Whirlwind can help prevent Trick Room or ruin set-up strategies like Eevee's Extreme Evoboost.
-Lightning Rod users such as Togedemaru and Alolan Marowak help keep Braviary safe from single-target electric attacks. Togedemaru also gets Fake Out to help Braviary get an attack off or setup Tailwind.
-Garchomp and other ground types love being able to spam Earthquake next to Braviary. Scarf Garchomp is actually a common team member on Braviary teams. Braviary appreciates Garchomp's ability to threaten Tapu Koko, while Braviary's Defiant wards off Intimidate for Garchomp.
-Pokemon like Kartana and Celesteela love the Arcanine deterrent.
Countering Braviary
Despite having both Superpower and Steel Wing, Braviary struggles with Rock types. Eviolite Rhydon and Golem are just a little to much for it to break through. Steels as well fall in the same area, especially Registeel who's just to tanky for Braviary to break. Alolan Golem is also really strong with its quad resistance to Flying moves while resisting its Normal stab moves. Lyconroc can answer pretty well but can be crippled or OHKOed if it comes in on Superpower but outpaces and KOes easily, though the Midnight version can tank a little easier. Lastly Donphan can tank most hits and pressure back with Ice Shard and set up rocks when it forces Braviary out.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Route 11 (White)
Trade from White/White 2 (Black)
Black 2/White 2:
Route 4 (White 2)
Trade from White/White 2 (Black 2)
X/Y:
Evolve Rufflet
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Soaring in the Sky
Sun/Moon:
Poni Wilds
Trade from Sun (Moon)
Animé Appearences
