Talonflame Doubles Movesets & Analysis

Talonflame	Fire / Flying Type
Base Stats: 	78 HP / 81 Atk / 71 Def / 74 Sp. Atk / 69 Sp. Def / 126 Spd
Abilties: 	Gale Wings (gives priority to Flying-type moves)
	 	Flame Body (30% chance of burning a Pokemon making contact with this Pokemon)

Life Orb (Talonflame) @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn / Tailwind / Quick Guard / Taunt
- Protect

Life Orb Talonflame is the most common Talonflame in doubles, being able to deal out severe damage and still being able to use protect and other utility moves. The EV spread and an adamant nature allow Talonflame to OHKO opposing Talonflame with Brave Bird. Brave Bird is Talonflame's primary STAB attack and the one you will be using 99% of the time thanks to the priority given to flying type moves from Talonflame's ability Gale Wings. Flare Blitz is standard in the second moveslot. The 3rd moveslot is where things get complicated, generally U-Turn is preffered, being able to get Talonflame out of situations where it will have to take a hit, something which it cannot do very well. If you want your Talonflame to be more of a team player you can choose between Tailwind, Quick Guard and Taunt so choose the move that helps your team the most: Tailwind if you have a slower team, Quick Guard if you lead Talonflame against Fake Out users, and Taunt if you fear Trick Room. Protect is an absolute must on Talonflame, allowing Talonflame to avoid hits that it just cannot take. Good Teammates for Talonflame are pokemon that can use Wide Guard to protect talonflame from the common Rockslide. Hitmontop stands out as one of the best teammates, also threatening Rock types that Talonflame cannot tough. Latias makes a good partner, being able to feed Talonflame Heal Pulses, healing the recoil damage from Talonflame`s primary STAB moves. Ragepowder and Follow Me users like Togekiss, Jirachi, Mega Blastoise, and Amoonguss can draw a potentially fatal hit away from Talonflame.

Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Tailwind / Will-O-Wisp

A Choice Band set is also viable on Talonflame, boosting his attack stat to 430. Again, priority Brave Bird is the move you will use most often, but Flare Blitz is Talonflame's main fire STAB. U-turn is a must on a Choice Band set, doing serious super effective damage to Cresselia and Slowking, and OHKOing Malamar. It is also lets Talonflame get out of a battle while doing some damage to the opponent, which is crucial on a set that doesn't run protect on such a frail pokemon. Tailwind and Will-O-Wisp are both options for the 4th moveslot because you realistically will not be using the move anyway, but in the lategame where a burn or speed control can make the difference between winning and losing, you will have the option. Because this set doesn't run Protect, Follow me and Rage Powder users like Togekiss, Jirachi, Mega Blastoise, and Amoonguss are vital, being able to draw attacks away from Talonflame, who is so frail and will likely have prior damage from recoil before it takes an attack. Again, pokemon that can deal with Rock types or block rockslide with Wide Guard are great partners, making Hitmontop a great partner.

Checks & Counters

Rotom-Wash stands out as the most common and effective counters to Talonflame, taking little damage from any of its attacks and being to OHKO with Hydro Pump or Thunderbolt. Bulky water types in general like Suicune, Politoed, and Gastrodon can survive a priority Brave Bird and OHKO with a water STAB. Rock Slide is how Talonflame is knocked out a majority of the time, making all users a threat to Talonflame. Rock types like Tyranitar and Rhyperior can easily take a Choice Band Brave Bird and hit back with Rock Slide. Talonflame is so frail that anything that can hit hard a massive threat, Mega Kangaskhan can survive any one hit from Talonflame and OHKO with Return or Sucker Punch (although Brave Bird will outspeed Sucker Punch). Pokemon that use Quick Guard like Meowstic will stop Life Orb Talonflame from using Brave Bird and will force out Choiced Talonflame entirely. The main thing to keep in mind with Talonflame is that it will not be around for long unless you play carefully and pick your spots to attack.