Flygon Movesets & Competitive Sets

Flygon can reliably remove entry hazards set by Pokemon like Metagross, Stakataka, and Roserade with Defog. Toxic cripples Pokemon Flygon otherwise can't touch like Togekiss, Noivern, and opposing Flygon. U-turn can be used instead to generate momentum against its switch-ins, which more offensive teams especially appreciate. Leftovers negates the damage from Stealth Rock and helps Flygon stay healthy throughout the match. Flygon can also forgo holding an item to nullify Poltergeist, which lets it soft check Pokemon like Golurk. 224 Speed EVs alongside a Jolly nature are used to outspeed Mimikyu, and the Attack EVs ensure the OHKO on Chandelure with Earthquake. The EV spread is quite customizable but should have a minimum of 80 Attack and 120 Speed EVs to outspeed and always OHKO Xurkitree with Earthquake. Grass-types such as Roserade, Vileplume, and Celebi can switch in on bulky Water-types and also help Flygon deal with Electric-types like Xurkitree and Raikou, which carry Dazzling Gleam and Toxic, respectively. Pokemon such as Raikou, Metagross, and Incineroar commonly run Toxic, which hinders Flygon's ability to check them; cleric support from Togekiss, Diancie, or Umbreon can remedy this. Steel-types such as Metagross, Registeel, and Bronzong can take on Fairy-types such as Togekiss and Gardevoir. Flygon is unable to check Volcanion, unlike other Dragon-types like Noivern—Assault Vest Reuniclus, Gastrodon, and Starmie can patch up this weakness. Pokemon such as Noivern, Calm Mind Reuniclus, and Golisopod enjoy Flygon putting the likes of Togekiss, Gastrodon, and Milotic on a timer with Toxic. Toxic-less Flygon invites Pokemon such as Togekiss and Noivern in for free, which Pokemon like Xurkitree, Rhyperior, and Metagross can take advantage of off of Flygon's U-turn. Entry hazards often significantly limit Assault Vest Reuniclus, Suicune, and Heracross, so they appreciate Flygon as a Defogger.

Choice Band Flygon turns the tables on conventional switch-ins like Gastrodon and Milotic by 2HKOing them with Outrage. Stone Edge 2HKOes maximum HP Togekiss and has a good chance to OHKO Togekiss variants that don't have HP investment. U-turn takes advantage of its switch-ins like Bronzong by providing free switches to teammates, and it's a risk-free option against teams with multiple Pokemon immune to its STAB moves. First Impression, on the other hand, is a decently strong priority move and allows Choice Band Flygon to act as a revenge killer. It can also be used over Outrage or Stone Edge, but dropping either is generally not worth it. Pokemon that tend to struggle with bulky Water-types like Gastrodon and Milotic, such as Metagross, Entei, and Sharpedo, appreciate Choice Band Flygon's ability to surprise and 2HKO them on the switch. However, while Flygon can 2HKO most bulky Water-types, it can't beat them one-on-one, so it appreciates Grass-types such as Roserade, Vileplume, and Celebi as teammates. In return, they appreciate Flygon pivoting them safely in against bulky Water-types with U-turn. Pivots such as Crobat, Xurkitree, and Tornadus are crucial, as they can position Flygon into favorable matchups to punch as many holes in the opposing team as possible. Steel-types such as Metagross, Stakataka, and Bronzong can take on Fairy-types like Togekiss and Gardevoir. Future Sight support from Assault Vest Reuniclus can ease the need to predict correctly, as Flygon can more safely lock itself into any move knowing that the incoming Pokemon will have to also take a Future Sight.

U-turn keeps up momentum and can provide free switches to teammates. Stone Edge hits Togekiss for decent damage. Outrage is Flygon's strongest STAB move to clean late-game and KOes Pokemon like Noivern and opposing Flygon. Toxic can be used instead to cripple switch-ins like Togekiss, Gastrodon, and Milotic. Defog is an option on offense teams in real need of emergency entry hazard removal, but Choice Scarf Flygon is generally a poor Defogger, as it's too weak to truly threaten standard entry hazard setters and it lacks longevity. 20 Special Defense EVs ensure that Flygon survives a Dazzling Gleam from Xurkitree. Choice Scarf Flygon is a great glue for any team looking for an Electric- and Ground-immune Choice Scarf user. Bulky Water-types such as Gastrodon and Milotic can take any hit with ease and KO back with Ice Beam, so Pokemon such as Xurkitree, Starmie, and Calm Mind Reuniclus make great partners, taking advantage of them after Flygon's U-turn provides them with free entry. Grass-types such as Roserade, Vileplume, and Celebi can switch in on bulky Water-types and similarly appreciate Flygon providing free switches with U-turn. Wallbreakers like Xurkitree, Toxicroak, and Chandelure appreciate Flygon pivoting them in on Pokemon such as Togekiss, Bronzong, and Gastrodon. Steel-types such as Metagross, Registeel, and Bronzong can take on Fairy-types such as Togekiss, Gardevoir, and Sylveon. Gardevoir can be especially troublesome, as its access to Trace and Fairy typing mean it gets a free switch if Flygon locks into Earthquake or Outrage.

After a Dragon Dance, Flygon outspeeds the majority of the metagame and every single Choice Scarf user besides opposing Flygon. Stone Edge is necessary to stand a chance of breaking through the most common Fairy-type Togekiss and also OHKOes Flying-types like Noivern and Crobat, saving Flygon from having to lock itself into Outrage. Life Orb is the preferred item to guarantee the OHKO on maximum HP Togekiss with +1 Stone Edge, but a Lum Berry can be used instead to set up on Pokemon like Raikou without being crippled by Toxic or a Scald burn. An Adamant nature can be used alongside Lum Berry to OHKO offensive Togekiss with boosted Stone Edge, but it sacrifices the Speed tie after a boost with opposing Choice Scarf Flygon. Bulky Water-types such as Gastrodon and Milotic are major roadblocks for Flygon's sweeps, as they can take one hit and KO back with Ice Beam. Pokemon such as Raikou, Metagross, and Incineroar can put them on a timer with Toxic, making them easier to wear down into range of Flygon's boosted attacks. Grass-types like Roserade and Celebi can switch into Water-types while also making up for Flygon struggling to check Electric-types such as Raikou and Xurkitree. Roserade also provides Spikes support to whittle down Flygon's checks and counters. Celebi, on the other hand, appreciates Flygon removing Togekiss and can provide free switches with U-turn. Strong priority users like Golisopod and Lucario need to be dealt with before Flygon can attempt a sweep. Togekiss can check Golisopod while softening up the opposing team for Flygon with its Nasty Plot set or provide valuable support with Heal Bell and Wish. Crobat and Talonflame can help against Lucario, while also providing free switches with U-turn on Steel- and Rock-types that Flygon can force out and set up on. Chandelure, Golisopod, and Incineroar take care of Bronzong, which completely walls Flygon.

Moves U-turn is Flygon's best move on this set, as it not only separates Flygon from its competition but allows it to gain and maintain offensive momentum throughout the match by escaping bad matchups such as against Slowbro, Mega Blastoise, and Milotic. Earthquake is a strong STAB move with very few drawbacks. Outrage is Flygon's strongest Dragon-type STAB option and is generally a safe move to use late-game once Fairy-types are taken care of. Aerial Ace is used to revenge kill Virizion and other weakened Grass-types like Shaymin and Mega Sceptile. Dragon Claw is Flygon's safest Dragon-type STAB move to use, since it can revenge kill weakened foes such as Mega Sceptile, Virizion, and Noivern and makes Flygon less exploitable by Fairy-types. Defog can clear entry hazards for Flygon's team but should only be used in emergency situations. Fire Punch is also a good choice to revenge kill Bronzong, Escavalier, and weakened Shuca Berry Metagross as well as Grass-types like Virizion, Roserade, and Tsareena. However, its damage output is lackluster, and Flygon misses out on revenge killing Mega Sceptile reliably. Set Details A Jolly nature with Speed investment and a Choice Scarf ensures that Flygon will outspeed other Choice Scarf users such as Roserade, Houndoom, and Drapion as well as Speed tie with Choice Scarf Shaymin. An Adamant nature can be used instead to give Flygon more power while still being able to outspeed Choice Scarf Passimian. Levitate gives Flygon an immunity to Ground-type moves outside of Thousand Arrows, making it a decent switch-in to Pokemon like Rhyperior, Nidoqueen, and Metagross. Usage Tips Flygon is a good pivot thanks to its access to U-turn and speed, allowing it to escape bad matchups and bring in an offensive answer to the foe, meaning Flygon gains and keeps offensive momentum for its team. Choice Scarf can also turn Flygon into a decent revenge killer if the foe is weak enough or even a late-game cleaner if its checks and counters are gone thanks to its great STAB combination and moves. However, Flygon's main goal is to pivot because this set has only average attacking power, so use U-turn as often as possible to bring other teammates in. Flygon should use its resistances to switch into Pokemon like Ninetales, Raikou, and Rhyperior. This play can be risky, though, since Pokemon like Raikou and Rhyperior can carry Ice-type coverage moves, which can result in losing Flygon. Defog should only be used if clearing Stealth Rock and Spikes is absolutely necessary. Flygon can safely use this move, since it does force switches with its STAB moves, but using this move when the opponent doesn't fall for it can result in Flygon being KOed. Team Options Flygon fits on teams that need speed control, a soft check to Electric-, Fire-, and Ground-types, and a pivot to safely bring in offensive teammates. Pokemon such as Salazzle, Barbaracle, Toxicroak, and Virizion are good examples of teammates that appreciate being brought safely into battle with U-turn. Salazzle can also put pressure on Fairy-types and Bronzong for Flygon, while Virizion provides a safety net against Knock Off and Trick users. Other Pokemon such as Choice item Raikou, Forretress, and Mega Ampharos can form a pivoting core with Flygon; Raikou can also help beat the bulky Water-types that Flygon has trouble breaking. Steel-types such as Metagross, Escavalier, and Registeel can help Flygon by switching into Ice- and Fairy-type attacks for it. In return, Flygon can threaten Fire-types like Arcanine and Ninetales for these partners. Grass-types such as Roserade, Shaymin, and Mega Sceptile also make decent teammates, since they beat defensive Water-type Pokemon like Mega Blastoise, Slowbro, and Milotic for Flygon, while Flygon can check Pokemon like Salazzle for them in return. Entry hazard setters such as Metagross, Roserade, and Golisopod can provide further offensive pressure when Flygon needs to revenge kill a foe. Golisopod, in particular, appreciates Flygon's U-turn support safely bringing it in and can help mitigate Flygon's lackluster offensive output. Since Flygon does not have a reliable form of recovery, a cleric like Florges and Diancie can be considered to help keep it healthy so it can continue pivoting. These Pokemon also appreciate Flygon's ability to pressure Steel-types like Metagross for them. If Flygon is locked into Defog, it can be easily pressured out, so running another entry hazard remover such as Mega Blastoise, Donphan, and Sigilyph would be recommended.

Moves By donning a Choice Band, Flygon is able to fix its issue of being unable to break through more defensive Pokemon due to its decent, but not amazing, Attack stat. Earthquake is the best move on this set, as it's a 100 Base Power STAB move that hits anything that lacks a resistance hard. Outrage is an important secondary STAB move due to its ability to crush the Flying-types, Grass-types, and Levitate users that attempt to switch into Earthquake. U-turn gets valuable chip damage on checks and counters to Flygon while also building momentum for its team. Since Flygon has most of its bases covered in just three moves, Dragon Claw is chosen as the last move in order to give Flygon a reliable Dragon-type STAB move to use early in a game where there are numerous Pokemon with a Ground-type resistance but few Dragon-type resistances outside of a possible Fairy-type. There are a few other notable options if Dragon Claw is unnecessary, but keep in mind that Flygon will very rarely need to use its last move, so don't edit the moveslot just on account of not using Dragon Claw much. Iron Tail is an option to hit Togetic and Granbull much harder than any other move Flygon has, but simply pivoting out to a teammate usually suffices. Stone Edge covers Togetic and allows Flygon to at worst 2HKO all variants of Sigilyph and Braviary without locking into Outrage. Defog can be used to rid the field of all entry hazards, but it is often an undesirable move to lock into unless Flygon outspeeds the opposition and is likely to faint to the next attack it takes. Finally, Tailwind can be used to provide Flygon's team a temporary boost in Speed, but it has similar issues to Defog. Set Details Flygon simply needs an EV spread that maximizes its Attack and Speed stats in order to hit as hard and as fast as possible. A Jolly nature is used so that Flygon can outspeed key threats like Drapion, Sigilyph, Houndoom, and Meloetta. A Choice Band is required so that Flygon is capable of breaking down bulky foes with its powerful STAB moves and U-turn. Usage Tips Choice Band Flygon absolutely loves to chip away at the opponent's Dragon- and Ground-type switch-ins with U-turn early on in the game. Flygon is able to easily switch into predicted Ground- and Electric-type moves as well as weaker Fire-type moves and either build momentum with U-turn or threaten the opponent with its powerful STAB moves. Once the opponent has lost of their Ground- or Dragon-type checks, Flygon can quickly rip into the opposing team with its strong STAB moves. Outrage is Flygon's strongest move, but also the most dangerous due to it locking Flygon in for two or three turns, possibly leading to a premature KO. For this reason, it should only be used when the power of Dragon Claw isn't enough or when the opponent has lost all of their Dragon-resistant Pokemon and you're simply exploiting that. Flygon's fourth move should not be revealed until it is necessary to eliminate a target or to support its team, as it can lead to Flygon possibly lulling a key threat, such as Granbull or Sigilyph, into a false sense of security. Flygon should be kept away from possible Scald or Knock Off users unless it can eliminate them before being hit. The loss of its Choice Band or a possible burn will rob Flygon of the power it needs to break through bulkier foes. Be careful around Hidden Power users, especially Manectric and Jolteon. Due to its 4x weakness to Ice, Flygon can easily be lured in if it isn't careful, so make sure that you scout for Hidden Power Ice even if you don't see Life Orb recoil due to them possibly using Expert Belt to feign a Choice item. Team Options This particular Flygon pairs very well with Magneton, as the two form an extremely threatening VoltTurn core that synergizes well offensively and defensively. Due to many of Flygon's checks and counters being grounded, it benefits greatly from Spikes support to not only wear them down faster but also amplify the effects of U-turn. Mega Glalie is a fantastic option thanks to its ability to push past bulky Water- and Grass-types and pressure the best forms of entry hazard removal in the tier, Blastoise and opposing Flygon. Venusaur is a solid teammate for its ability to handle most opposing bulky Water-, Fairy-, and Grass-types, and it can also catch Flying-types and Bronzong with Sleep Powder, making them much less threatening if they switch into Earthquake. Jolteon and Manectric are solid options for a VoltTurn core with Flygon. While they don't have as much synergy with Flygon as Magneton does, they are able to handle most variants of Sigilyph and Braviary more reliably due to their higher Speed stats. Escavalier is able to handle Fairy-types, check Sneasel, and Pursuit trap Bronzong, all of which Flygon appreciates having weakened or removed. Most Choice item users appreciate defensive pivots to fall back on whenever they encounter a bad matchup, and Flygon is no different. Slowking and Registeel are more traditional defensive pivots that Flygon can fall back on when it's locked into an unfavorable move. If using Flygon on a more offensive VoltTurn team, Uxie is a worthy addition due to its ability to check Virizion and Choice Scarf Medicham while also setting up Stealth Rock and building momentum with its combination of Yawn and U-turn.

Moves While Flygon doesn't have the greatest of Attack stats, its great Speed tier, strong STAB options, and great entry hazard resilience make a Choice Scarf set possible. Earthquake is the main STAB move on this set, as it doesn't force Flygon to stay in and has solid coverage overall. U-turn is a great tool for Flygon to maintain offensive pressure and to chip away at its checks and counters. Outrage is Flygon's stronger STAB option, but it should generally only be used when Flygon is capable of cleaning with it due to the lock-in effect it comes with. As Flygon has most of what it needs in three moves, the last moveslot is designed to give some extra support to the team. Aerial Ace is the primary option because it allows Flygon to revenge kill Virizion without fail. Tailwind is a fine option if Virizion is not a big concern for your team, as it can give the rest of the team doubled Speed for three turns, thus allowing slower hard hitters such as Hitmonlee, Medicham, and Meloetta to clean up the opposing team. Finally, Defog can be used as a means to remove entry hazards in tight situations. Keep in mind that Tailwind and Defog can very easily be exploited by setup sweepers and should only be used when Flygon is about to be KOed. Set Details Flygon simply needs its Attack and Speed maximized in order to hit as hard and as fast as possible. Jolly is the preferred nature so that Flygon can outspeed opposing Choice Scarf Drapion and Hitmonlee as well as to Speed tie with opposing Choice Scarf Flygon. Adamant nature is an option to power up Flygon's moves some, but it generally isn't worth losing out on the Speed necessary to outspeed Drapion and Hitmonlee. Choice Scarf gives Flygon the Speed it needs to revenge kill threats and possibly clean late-game. Usage Tips Choice Scarf enables Flygon to fulfill multiple roles based on what the team needs it to do. Thanks to the boost in Speed and access to U-turn, Flygon can be used as a scout lead to put some early pressure on the opposing team or as a safety net if you can't really determine what the opponent might lead with just by looking at Team Preview. Flygon's STAB moves each have their major drawbacks early-game, so it's generally best to use U-turn to begin chipping away at the opponent's responses to Flygon. Earthquake is easily the safer STAB move for Flygon to use in order to revenge kill opposing Pokemon, as Flygon can freely switch out after using the move. Due to its slightly higher Base Power, Outrage is a good cleaning move for Flygon, but the lock-in effect makes the move very risky to use when the opponent has Pokemon that resist it or priority users remaining on their team. As Flygon's last moveslot is used for general utility, it should be treated as such and only used when the selected move is needed. Aerial Ace is almost exclusively for revenge killing Virizion and should be used if all other answers to Virizion on the team have either been KOed or weakened to a point where they can no longer take hits from it. The move is very weak otherwise, and just about any Pokemon outside of Virizion can take it and retaliate. Tailwind and Defog are great in late-game situations where Flygon can't clean up the opposing team but a teammate can if supported by one of said moves. However, these moves have a very obvious drawback of doing no damage, making it easily exploitable for the opponent should Flygon not be KOed immediately after using the moves; therefore, make sure that Flygon is almost guaranteed to be KOed by whatever move hits it next. Finally, remember that, of all entry hazards, Flygon only takes Stealth Rock damage, thus allowing it to be played more aggressively than other Choice Scarf users in the tier, such as Medicham, Drapion, and Hitmonlee. Team Options Flygon doesn't need a lot of support to function at maximum capabilities, but it obviously appreciates Pokemon that can remove Fairy- and Flying-types so that it can spam its STAB moves more easily. Magneton is a top option, as it fares well against most of them, heavily pressures bulky Water-type Pokemon, and forms a powerful VoltTurn core with Flygon. Escavalier and Venusaur are other solid options to break down the opposing team and pressure Fairy-types in particular. Venusaur can also pressure opposing bulky Grass- and Water-types. Rhyperior and Diancie are also good teammates, as they can set up Stealth Rock and handle most Flying-types in the tier. Mega Glalie can put pressure on bulky Water- and Grass-types and set up Spikes to amplify the pressure U-turn can cause. However, make sure that Flygon is using Tailwind or Aerial Ace in the last moveslot should you go this route, as Defog would be counterproductive. While they can't safely switch into Flygon, Ice Shard users give it a very difficult time due to a 4x weakness to Ice and the fact that Ice Shard ignores Flygon's boosted Speed. Diancie is able to check Sneasel while Escavalier is able to handle Abomasnow as well as Mega Glalie should it be using a more defensive set than Choice Band. Registeel is able to check all three of these Ice-types, but it has to be wary of Low Kick and Focus Blast from Sneasel and Abomasnow, respectively. As Flygon can work on most types of teams, defensive pivots such as Alomomola, Slowking, defensive Venusaur, and Registeel can be used to switch into attacks for Flygon on more balanced teams. Wallbreakers, such as Medicham, Meloetta, and Hitmonlee can break down walls for Flygon and take advantage of a late-game Tailwind should Flygon be carrying the move. On the flip side, Aerodactyl and Fletchinder are notable sweepers that can take advantage of a late-game Defog that can keep them from worrying about Stealth Rock. Life Orb Druddigon doesn't share much defensive synergy with Flygon, but it can form a double Dragon core to heavily pressure Steel- and Fairy-types.

Moves This set capitalizes on Flygon's great entry hazard resilience and access to Defog to create a fantastic support set. Defog removes all entry hazards from play, and Flygon can easily do this multiple times throughout a match to keep its team from being worn down or crippled. Roost is necessary reliable recovery so that Flygon can continue to pivot into attacks and remove entry hazards over the course of a match. Earthquake allows Flygon to reliably handle the likes of Delphox, Houndoom, and Mega Camerupt. U-turn gives Flygon the ability to build momentum for its team once it has removed entry hazards, thus keeping it from bogging down more offensive teams as much as most other entry hazard removers do. If U-turn isn't necessary, Dragon Claw is a fine alternative in order to allow Flygon to hit Fletchinder, Sigilyph, and opposing Flygon for decent damage. Toxic is another alternative that allows Flygon to prevent Braviary from setting up on it as easily while also putting more pressure on defensive Pokemon, such as Slowking and Alomomola, by effectively limiting their walling abilities. Set Details The EV spread maximizes Speed while also allowing Flygon to 2HKO Meloetta and offensive variants of Venusaur with Earthquake. The rest is put into HP so that Flygon can pivot into hits better. Due to Flygon's Speed tier, there are multiple benchmarks that you can aim for depending on team needs. 232 Speed EVs allow Flygon to outspeed Sigilyph, while 216 EVs ensure that Flygon outspeeds Houndoom and Drapion. 176 Speed EVs keep Flygon ahead of Meloetta, thus allowing it to 2HKO with Earthquake or dent Meloetta with U-turn. If significantly more bulk is required to handle the likes of Mega Camerupt and Delphox, Flygon can opt for a Careful nature and use 108 Speed EVs to outspeed positive-natured base 70s, such as Hoopa and Magneton. However, it is usually advised to have at least 176 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature so that Flygon can handle the likes of Meloetta, Rotom-C, and Hitmonlee without any issues. Leftovers is the preferred item so that Flygon doesn't have to rely as much on Roost to stay healthy. Earth Plate and a more offensive spread can be used to power up Earthquake, but this should only be considered if the team doesn't have Pokemon, such as Scyther and Fletchinder, that are completely reliant on entry hazard removal in order to function. Usage Tips Even with Leftovers, Roost, and some HP investment, Flygon's bulk is decidedly average, so find opportunities to switch in against Pokemon using Rock-, Fire-, Ground-, or Electric-type moves. Due to Defog letting opposing Pokemon in for free, it's usually best to attempt to whittle down opposing entry hazard users before using Defog in earnest unless the team has a Pokemon, such as Scyther or Fletchinder, that absolutely needs Stealth Rock removed in order to function well. Earthquake is extremely low risk to use at most points in the game due to Flygon's lack of a Choice item and the solid power it has against offensive neutral targets and anything weak to it; it's easily the move of choice on most occasions when Flygon is just being used to check a threat on the opposing team and it's still healthy. Roost is a reliable recovery move, but you shouldn't wait to use it until Flygon is in dire need of it as it will become very predictable at that point. It's generally best to use the move when Flygon is around half HP and very likely to withstand the next attack from the Pokemon it just switched into. This allows Flygon to stay healthy to check dangerous foes and keeps it from becoming too predictable with Roost. U-turn is a fantastic momentum-building move that turns Flygon into a defensive pivot thanks to its solid typing and great Speed tier. Dragon Claw should only be used when the opponent sends in the likes of Sigilyph or Fletchinder and Flygon is healthy enough to take a hit from these Pokemon. Make sure to scout for Ice-type coverage moves from the likes of Mega Camerupt, Jolteon, and Rhyperior, as these are common Pokemon that Flygon can handle in most other situations due to its resistance or immunity to their STAB moves. Team Options Due to being arguably the best entry hazard remover in the tier, Flygon works well with any Pokemon that dislikes Stealth Rock and other entry hazards on the field. Fletchinder and Scyther are obvious options due to their 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, but Sneasel, Aerodactyl, and Braviary are other key offensive Pokemon that love not having to deal with Stealth Rock every time they switch in. Thanks to Levitate, Flygon can easily remove Spikes and Toxic Spikes due to not being pressured by them at all and having a solid matchup against most users of the moves. For this reason, defensive Pokemon like Alomomola, Registeel, and Diancie appreciate Flygon's support so that they can preserve as much HP as possible to handle dangerous threats on the opposing team. Flygon works well with bulky Stealth Rock users due to the possibility of it using Defog multiple times throughout a battle, so Rhyperior, Registeel, and Diancie can be useful due to their solid bulk and ability to set up Stealth Rock multiple times. Diancie and Rhyperior can check the likes of Fletchinder, Sigilyph, and Braviary for when Flygon lacks Dragon Claw, while Registeel is generally a good response to most Ice-types that threaten Flygon. Having teammates that can pivot into opposing Flygon is very useful so that Flygon doesn't have to risk a Speed tie if it's running Dragon Claw. Alomomola, Togetic, and Slowking are all reliable options for this. Alomomola and Slowking have Regenerator to stay healthy and appreciate not having to deal with the prospect of Spikes and Toxic Spikes, while Togetic appreciates not having to switch into Stealth Rock and can provide cleric support if Flygon is caught by stray status moves. Pokemon that can threaten Ice-types with their powerful STAB moves, such as Emboar, Escavalier, and Medicham, are very useful teammates, as Flygon is quite vulnerable to them due to most having Ice Shard.

With a Choice Band equipped, Flygon becomes an excellent wallbreaker, as its great STAB coverage makes it notoriously hard for Pokemon to switch into it. Outrage is Flygon's most powerful move, denting walls and plowing through frailer Pokemon. Earthquake is almost as powerful as Outrage, and it comes with the benefit of hitting almost everything that resists Outrage for super effective damage. Earthquake can break holes in opposing teams almost as well as Outrage, and without locking Flygon in for 2-3 turns and the subsequent confusion—a notable benefit of which is switching out of would be revenge killers, such as Weavile. U-turn helps maintain momentum, allowing Flygon to scout potential switch-ins and switch out of unfavorable match-ups, provided the opposing Pokemon is slower. Fire Punch hits Bronzong, the only UU Pokemon to resist both of Flygon's STABs, for super effective damage. All but the most physically defensive of Bronzong are 2HKOed by a Choice Band-boosted Fire Punch. After Bronzong is removed, Flygon can safely use its powerful STABs without getting easily walled. The EVs on this set are very straightforward. Attack and Speed are maximized, ensuring Flygon hits as hard as it can, and outspeeds as much as it can. The Special Defense prevents Download Pokemon from getting their preferred Special Attack boost. As with many sets, this set faces the eternal question of power or speed when dealing with natures. Flygon's base 100 Speed is above that of many Pokemon in the tier, and requires a Jolly nature to be fully effective. However, the power offered by an Adamant nature should always be considered. Adamant secures a 2HKO against offensive Porygon2 without Stealth Rock damage, a 2HKO against defensive Slowbro—although Regenerator makes this less significant—and Suicune with Stealth Rock damage, and gives Flygon a good chance to OHKO Choice Band Snorlax. Although VoltTurn in UU isn't as common as in OU, Volt Switch users still pair up well with Flygon. Zapdos and Raikou make fantastic teammates, as both of them can make quick work of Slowbro with their STAB Electric-type moves; however, Raikou is usually the better choice, as Zapdos shares an Ice weakness with Flygon. Flygon's success is often largely dependent on being supported with entry hazards; Spikes and Stealth Rock put targets into Flygon's KO range, and increases the chance of a late-game sweep. Roserade makes a great partner, as it can set up Spikes, destroy bulky Water-types that try to check Flygon, and remove crippling status with Aromatherapy. Magneton is also an exceptional teammate for Flygon, removing Steel-types for Flygon to spam Outrage, rather than having the need to predict and remove them with Earthquake. Magneton can also remove Bronzong, Flygon's best check, if it is using Magnet Rise. If Magneton is used, Fire Punch loses all purpose. Hence, Stone Edge becomes a decent alternative as it hits Flying-types without locking Flygon into Outrage. Kingdra is a potent partner for a double Dragon strategy. Due to the lack of Dragon counters in UU, the damage dealt by both Dragon-types can often take down the only Steel-type on the opposing team, allowing one of them to sweep.

This is one of the most common Flygon sets you'll encounter, and with good reason. With great Speed and decent attacking power, Flygon can utilize a Choice Scarf to outspeed a large portion of the tier while still dealing decent damage. This allows Flygon to not only revenge kill frail sweepers, but to sweep weakened teams itself. Earthquake and Outrage make use of Flygon's great STABs, hitting most of the tier for at least neutral damage. However, it is generally inadvisable to lock Flygon into Outrage early on, as not only are Pokemon that can survive the move and retaliate likely to be around, but Ice Shard users, such as Weavile, can revenge kill it. Access to U-turn is what allows Flygon to be one of the best Choice Scarf users in the tier; being able to switch while doing damage is an asset that should never be underestimated. Fire Punch is Flygon's best option for dealing damage to Bronzong, but it cannot even 2HKO the bulky bell. Stone Edge is a decent option as it allows Flygon to hit Flying-types without resorting to Outrage. The EVs on this set maximize Attack and Speed while preventing Download from giving a Special Attack boost. The use of a Jolly or Adamant nature depends on your team. Adamant allows Flygon to get a power boost, but misses out on getting the jump on numerous Pokemon. Flygon is in a sensitive Speed tier, and any positive-natured Pokemon in base 87 Speed and above at +1 will fail to be outsped. Some notable examples of Pokemon that Adamant Choice Scarf Flygon does not outspeed are Choice Scarf Darmanitan, Choice Scarf Krookodile, +1 Quiver Dance Venomoth, and Choice Scarf Porygon-Z. Furthermore, Adamant does not gain any notable OHKOes or 2HKOes that Jolly misses. Entry hazards are even more important to this set, as they make Flygon's job of cleaning up teams much easier. Roserade makes a great partner as it has Spikes and Aromatherapy. Moreover, Roserade's ability to counter bulky Water-types is even more valuable, as they can take Choice Scarf Flygon's attacks significantly easier than the Choice Band version. Kingdra, particularly one with Choice Specs, makes a good partner for this set. Kingdra can lure typical switch-ins for Flygon, such as Slowbro, and eliminate them with an extremely powerful Draco Meteor, opening Flygon's path so it can sweep.

While Flygon is normally seen as a Choice item user, Life Orb Flygon aims to make use of its access to Roost and the lessened need to predict relative to the Choice sets. With Spikes down on the opposing field, this set can be very hard for the opponent to handle without Gligar or Slowbro. Dragon Claw is the preferred Dragon move, as Outrage locks Flygon in, defeating the purpose of not using a Choice item; however, Outrage is 50% more powerful than Dragon Claw, and can still be used if the added power is really needed. Roost heals off the Life Orb recoil Flygon is sure to take over the course of the match, and thanks to Flygon being practically impervious to entry hazards, it need not use it every time it switches in. Superpower can be used over Fire Punch to allow Flygon to get past Porygon2 and Snorlax more easily, though the Attack and Defense drops will impede Flygon's ability to stay in battle. However, this is not a huge problem as Flygon's resistance to entry hazards makes switching in and out of battle relatively painless. If you are not using Outrage, Earthquake is Flygon's strongest STAB move—and even if you are, its most reliable—and almost perfectly complements Dragon Claw's coverage by hitting all Steel-types, except Bronzong, for at least neutral, and often super effective, damage. The EVs on this set maximize Attack and Speed while preventing a Special Attack boost from Download. Jolly is the preferred nature due to Flygon missing out on outspeeding or tying with a significant number of Pokemon otherwise. Adamant provides a little extra power, but it doesn't ensure any notable OHKOes or 2HKOes. Bulky Arcanine is a great partner, as it can switch into Ice-types such as Weavile that force Flygon out of battle. Darmanitan also helps Flygon by checking fast Ice-types, but trades the ability to switch into them as easily for posing a considerably greater offensive threat. Shaymin and Flygon work very well together, as Shaymin can take out Gligar and bulky Water-types, such as Slowbro, which give Flygon trouble. Their Life Orb sets complement each other well, both having reliable recovery and moderate bulk.

Moves While Flygon is often forgotten in favor of Dragonite, the Choice Band set can pose a huge threat to a lot of teams. Thanks to its excellent Dragon / Ground typing and its ability, Levitate, Flygon has many opportunities to switch in with its unique resistances to Rock and Fire, and immunities to Electric- and Ground-type attacks. Many opponents underestimate the power of Flygon's STAB attacks because of its 100 base Attack; however, Flygon can 2HKO Pokemon like Swampert, Zapdos, and even Bold Suicune if it takes prior Stealth Rock damage. U-turn is a fantastic option on Choice Band Flygon, as it can give you the benefit of scouting your opponent's Flygon counter. Fire Punch allows Flygon to hit Skarmory and 2HKO specially defensive variants after Stealth Rock, and it reliably 2HKOes Bronzong and OHKOes Scizor. If one has Magnezone support to eliminate these Steel-types, though, Stone Edge or Dragon Claw become the superior options, letting Flygon hit Flying-types and Levitators without locking itself into Outrage. Set Details An Adamant nature maximizes Flygon's power, which is crucial for foes slower than Flygon like Suicune, physically defensive Zapdos, Milotic, Hippowdon, and Swampert. Jolly nature, however, can be important for getting the jump on Roserade, faster Jirachi variants, Jolly Lucario, and Gliscor. 88 EVs can be taken out of Attack and invested into Defense to always survive a +2 Adamant Lucario's Extreme Speed after Stealth Rock damage, but the sacrifice in power is usually not worth it. Usage Tips All Choice Band users require prediction to use effectively, but this applies to Flygon more than most other Pokemon due to its risky STAB moves. A Choice-locked Earthquake is a great opportunity for the likes of Dragonite and Gyarados to switch in; allowing these dangerous free switches can be problematic. Outrage, while hitting almost everyone for good damage, forces Flygon to remain in play for two to three turns, leaving it very vulnerable to revenge kills from Mamoswine or other fast Ice attackers. Try to use U-turn whenever you can, as Choice Band U-turn actually deals a ton of damage to foes like Tyranitar, Latias, and Uxie. Team Options Choice Scarf Heatran pairs well with Choice Band Flygon due to the fact that many of Heatran's checks and counters are beaten by Flygon, and vice versa. Heatran easily resists Bullet Punch and Extreme Speed, which hit Flygon for neutral damage and impend Flygon from being effective. Scizor still pairs well with Flygon due to U-turn spamming. Scizor works better with Choice Band Flygon, however, because the Pokemon who usually outspeed Flygon can be picked off by Scizor. As Scizor is a problem for Flygon, Magnezone support is always welcome. Choice Scarf Magnezone obtains the bonus of defeating Lucario much easier and, with Knock Off or Trick support, takes down Skarmory as well. Pairing Flygon with wallbreakers is always welcome due to the abundant Pokemon who are strong on the defensive side and Flygon's access to U-turn. Gliscor, Hippowdon, and the aforementioned Skarmory give issues to this Flygon. Infernape wrecks all three of these Pokemon easily with a combination of Hidden Power Ice, Grass Knot, and Fire Blast. Seeking versatile Pokemon such as Infernape or Gengar is always welcome. Spikes and Toxic Spikes support is also always welcome. Forretress can look into either entry hazard while Skarmory has Spikes, a recovery move, and a phazing move to help with Flygon's team.

Moves Flygon's resistances and immunities give it plenty of opportunities to switch in and revenge kill a large portion of the metagame. Earthquake and Outrage are Flygon's primary STAB options, resisted only by Levitate Bronzong and Skarmory in OU. Thunder Punch is Flygon's most consistent tool for revenge killing Gyarados, but Dragon Claw is a solid move that enable Flygon to take advantage of its Dragon-type STAB and not commit to Outrage, which can catch many opponents off guard. Roost is an interesting option on more defensive teams, as Choice Scarf Flygon is an effective Knock Off absorber and can pressure Clefable without its Choice Scarf. Although not listed, Stone Edge can be used to potentially revenge kill Gyarados and it can also pick off a weakened Zapdos. U-turn is to scout for common counters and works well with entry hazards in play as Flygon can force a lot of switches and gain momentum. Set Details A Jolly nature should be used to outspeed Tyranitar at +2 Speed or, at minimum, Speed tie with Choice Scarf Jirachi. If you feel that Jirachi and Tyranitar are controlled without the assistance of Flygon, use Adamant for more power. 88 EVs can be taken out of Attack and invested into Defense to always survive a +2 Adamant Lucario's Extreme Speed after Stealth Rock damage, but the sacrifice in power is usually not worth it. Usage Tips The idea of using Choice Scarf Flygon is simple. While its goal is being a revenge killer, Flygon makes an excellent secondary scout. With U-turn, Flygon can help ease the prediction when switching and, to add, could reveal another Pokemon on the opponent's side. It is best to use U-turn often when Flygon is sent out. Outrage is used as your trump card, so make sure that Flygon is not spamming this move often. If it's locked into Outrage, beware of Steel-type revenge killers like Jirachi, Metagross, Bronzong, and even Heatran that could possibly switch in after Flygon KOes a Pokemon. Team Options Since this set's goal is to revenge kill Pokemon, Flygon wants support in the form of chip damage. Besides that, Flygon appreciates bulkier Pokemon first being eliminated from the field, as this set lacks the power to muscle through them. Tyranitar pairs well with Flygon, as it boasts the ability of taking down Clefable, Skarmory, Rotom, Cresselia, and other bulky Pokemon with its large range of attacks. If you're seeking a Pokemon who can keep Dragon-type attacks as well as Ice-type attacks at bay, the best solution is to use a Steel-type of your own. Magnezone support is also welcome as Steel-types counter Flygon locked into Outrage. Heatran helps Flygon take on Pokemon such as Skarmory, Scizor, and Bronzong. Heatran's nifty resistances to Bullet Punch and Extreme Speed also help Flygon revenge kill more easily as well. Furthermore, STAB Fire Blast will dent Dragonite and Gyarados switch-ins, especially if Stealth Rock is on the field. Scizor can pair well with Flygon due to U-turn being common on both their movesets, greatly easing prediction and gaining momentum. Scizor also makes a great Pokemon to revenge kill Dragonite, especially one locked into Outrage. If you elect to use Scizor and Flygon, wallbreakers such as Infernape, Breloom, or Lucario are recommended. U-turns from Flygon or Scizor makes it easier to switch the wallbreakers in. Despite its use as a revenge killer, Flygon appreciates support such as Stealth Rock. Any form of indirect damage (Spikes, sandstorm, or Toxic Spikes) also makes Flygon's job easier. Skarmory doesn't mind being paired with Flygon as its weaknesses can be easily absorbed by Flygon.

Moves This Flygon set defeats foes with brute force and also works as a lure. It is easy to fool many opponents into thinking that this Flygon is the popular Choice Scarf set, which means that the opponent will be inclined to switch in Pokemon such as Gliscor, Skarmory, and Dragonite on an expected Earthquake, and they will all be heavily damaged by Draco Meteor or Fire Blast. Fire Blast is used for Skarmory, Scizor, and Bronzong, while Earthquake deals with other Steel-types and can effectively pressure Clefable. The fourth moveslot depends on your needs. Roost is invaluable to stave off residual damage and effectively answer Heatran. However, sometimes Flygon can be walled by very bulky Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Clefable, and Milotic. Outrage provides the extra push need to break through, as little can withstand both physical and special Dragon-type moves as well as Fire Blast and Earthquake. Flygon is often easily revenge killed after Outrage, however. Flygon has many other options over Roost in the last slot; however, Flygon sorely misses recovery, especially against stall teams. These options should generally be run with an Expert Belt rather than Life Orb. U-turn is useful to scout switch-ins and deal more damage on offensive teams, but has little utility against stall. Toxic is a great option that can cripple Flygon's counters, like Hippowdon, Gliscor, Zapdos, and Suicune. Hidden Power Ice can eliminate opposing Flygon and especially specially defensive Gliscor, a common check for Flygon. Set Details Flygon wants as much Speed as possible to Speed tie with maximum Speed Jirachi, Zapdos, and other Flygon at minimum. It also needs as much Special Attack investment as possible, as its base 80 Special Attack is not very high. It can also spare a few attack EVs to improve damage on Clefable, especially with Outrage. Generally, Flygon should be using Defense hindering nature rather than a Special Defense lowering one; Flygon avoids a 2HKO from maximum Special Attack Heatran's Fire Blast with its Special Defense in tact and can heal off the damage. Therefore, a Hasty nature is recommended. A Mild nature is an alternative that allows Flygon to pressure Milotic, Zapdos, and Gliscor more effectively. Exceptions to using a Defense hindering nature are teams that handle Heatran well elsewhere or need Flygon to act as a makeshift check to Dragon Dance Tyranitar, such as fully Spikes immune teams. Alternatively, Flygon can hold an Expert Belt to increase its potential to bluff holding a Choice Scarf and also not take residual damage, but Life Orb's power bonus is extremely useful. Usage Tips Perhaps the best way to play this Flygon is to behave as if it has a Choice Scarf at first. For example, come in on a Pokemon such as Starmie (who outspeeds Flygon) and threaten it with U-turn or Thunder Punch. The Starmie user will likely switch out, at which point Flygon can use Draco Meteor against the opponent's switch-in. Against stall, you do not have to risk your Flygon as such, as it can 2HKO or OHKO every common foe on a stall team bar Hippowdon, Clefable, and Suicune, along with using Roost to heal off the residual damage. Team Options Flygon is a staple of the Spikes offense style due to its potency against defensive teams and more midpaced offenses that struggle to switch into it. Skarmory is perhaps mixed Flygon's best partner, as many bulky walls besides Clefable are grounded and struggle to switch-in with Spikes up. Flygon can itself switch into Skarmory's resistances to wreak havoc. Ways to prevent Rapid Spin are especially helpful too. Rotom-A and Gengar are excellent choices to block Rapid Spin. Gengar is especially potent against defensive teams, as it heavily threatens Clefable alongside Flygon, commonly outspeeds defensive Latias that try to outspeed Flygon, and can burn walls such as Hippowdon. Tyranitar is also great due to Pursuit trapping Starmie and Flygon already heavily threatens Forretress. Tyranitar can additionally sweep with Dragon Dance, as it appreciates mixed Flygon's wallbreaking ability. Lucario can take advantage of Gliscor, Gyarados, and Zapdos being lured in and defeated. Flygon appreciates revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Rotom-A and Choice Scarf Lucario, as they can check all of Dragon Dance Gyarados and Dragon Dance Dragonite that can set up on Flygon after it uses Draco Meteor. Swampert is an excellent partner to set up Stealth Rock and help Flygon against Clefable. Flygon also enjoys ways to remove Clefable's Leftovers, as it can 2HKO it with Earthquake + Draco Meteor without Leftovers. Specially defensive Empoleon and one's own Clefable can be quite effective and provide back up into strong special attackers that threaten Flygon. Latias also can help against Water-types and Breloom and appreciates a weakened Clefable. Modest Choice Specs sets threaten to break through Clefable, while defensive sets provide a remarkable amount of defensive utility. Other strong Clefable punishers such as Heatran and Breloom can fit alongside mixed Flygon, while Bronzong can help shore up Flygon defensively without being weak to Spikes. Offensive Calm Mind Jirachi appreciates Flygon breaking through slower defensive Latias with Roar, while more defensive Jirachi appreciates Spikes and wallbreaking.

Set Description Defensive Flygon is a good Spikes-immune check to common threats like physical Tyranitar, Aerodactyl, and Electric-types lacking Hidden Power Ice or Toxic. It also bolsters the team's resilience against Metagross and Dragon Dance Salamence. Protect allows Flygon to receive a free turn of Leftovers recovery, scout Choice Band users, and rack up potential poison and sand damage. Rock Slide gives nearly perfect coverage in tandem with Earthquake and hits Zapdos, Moltres, Salamence, and Aerodactyl hard while also not giving Gengar entirely free entry, wearing it down over time. Fire Blast can be used if getting good damage on Skarmory and Forretress and relying less on Magneton to handle them is preferred, but it's usually better to just pair this set with Magneton because Rock Slide's coverage is too valuable to pass up on a lot of the time. Toxic cripples Pokemon like non-Refresh Swampert, Zapdos, Porygon2, Suicune, non-Refresh Claydol, and opposing Flygon. It also forces Celebi to switch at some point to remove poison, which can give you a free turn as it switches. The EVs let Flygon outspeed maximum Speed positive-natured Tyranitar, allow it to survive two hits from Metagross, help it take Tyranitar's uninvested Ice Beam, and help it handle physical attackers as well as possible. Team Options Pursuit Tyranitar is this set's best partner, as its sand is important to negate Leftovers from many foes, namely defensive Zapdos, Gengar, Celebi, and Suicune. Pursuit trapping Gengar and Celebi so Flygon can more effectively spread poison with Toxic is absolutely crucial as well, and Tyranitar can even lure in and destroy Swampert, Skarmory, Forretress, and Claydol with the appropriate coverage. Physical sets are able to check and take out Blissey, Ice Punch Jirachi, and Hidden Power Ice Zapdos. In return, Flygon can pivot into Earthquakes from Pokemon like Claydol and Tyranitar while also being able to pivot around Electric-types and Aerodactyl in tandem with Tyranitar, as they can wall Zapdos and Jolteon when played properly. Gengar makes for a good partner, as it can spread residual damage through Will-O-Wisp burns and threaten bulkier teams that Flygon struggles with via Taunt + Will-O-Wisp sets while also taking out Skarmory and taking advantage of Flygon checking Pursuit Tyranitar lacking Ice Beam. They can also both pivot around many Pokemon with their defensive synergy, namely Choice Band users and weakened Hidden Power Grass Zapdos and are both Spikes immune, making them fit on similar structures. Skarmory can set Spikes to help Flygon get lasting damage on the opposing team as a lot of Flygon's defensive answers, like Milotic, Swampert, and Blissey, are very vulnerable to Spikes and will likely be taking damage from sand and Toxic poison from Flygon too. Skarmory also provides a switch-in to Pokemon like Snorlax lacking Fire Blast and defensive Swampert. In return, Flygon can take on Electric-types like Zapdos and Jolteon as well as scout Fire-type coverage from Pokemon that run it, namely Metagross, Salamence, and Tyranitar. Flygon even poisons Spikes-immune Pokemon like Claydol, Zapdos, and Moltres with Toxic. Flygon fits very well on teams that have many Spikes-immune Pokemon to minimize the control Spikes have on the game, reducing the need for Magneton support in the process. With these things in mind, Zapdos is a great partner because it's able to take on Water-types, Skarmory, and Heracross and spread its own status in tandem with Flygon while contributing to the anti-Spikes idea this Flygon often fits on so well. Moltres improves the Metagross matchup quite a bit, which these teams can often struggle switching into due to Flygon's lack of a Meteor Mash resistance, while Flygon can spread poison with Toxic on bulky Water-types and pivot into Rock- and Electric-types well. Specially defensive Jirachi can take Ice-type moves from Pokemon like Gengar, opposing Jirachi, and Suicune, which these teams can sometimes struggle to take, and passes Flygon and its other teammates Wish to keep sustain throughout the game. This is especially important given many Pokemon on these teams can't recover with Leftovers due to being vulnerable to sand. It can even potentially spread paralysis or Toxic poison of its own to suffocate the opposing team in tandem with Flygon. In return, Flygon switches into Earthquakes and strong physical attackers that may overwhelm Jirachi on its own. Plus, most synergistic specially defensive cores in ADV cover Electric-types and Water-types, so the combination of Flygon + Zapdos + Jirachi makes a good specially defensive core without having a dedicated special wall. They can also wall Zapdos completely in tandem with each other because Jirachi handles Hidden Power Ice variants and Flygon stonewalls Thunder Wave variants, as they run Hidden Power Grass. Aerodactyl takes advantage of the residual damage Flygon spreads to make late-game sweeps more easily accomplished while providing these teams with a good form of speed control and even being Spikes and sand immune, making it fit on these structures even better. Specially defensive Celebi is able to handle Gengar and Water-types while piling on the residual damage in tandem with Flygon with Leech Seed, while Flygon can handle weakened Metagross and pivot into Aerodactyl. Blissey can pivot into many special attackers, including Zapdos, Jolteon, Jirachi, Moltres, certain Gengar variants, and Water-types, in a similar way to Celebi. It can even potentially pass Wishes to keep Flygon healthy. Meanwhile, Flygon can pressure and potentially force out physical attackers that scare Blissey, like Metagross, Salamence, Aerodactyl, and Tyranitar. Zapdos is able to take on Water-types, Skarmory, Heracross, and spread its own status in tandem with Flygon.

Set Description Offensive Flygon sports a unique combination of speed, power, and defensive utility. Its unique typing, Spikes immunity, and decent bulk allow it to pivot into threatening attacks like Tyranitar's Rock Slide and Zapdos's Thunderbolt at any point in the game, making Flygon one of the few Pokemon that can turn the momentum around against offensive teams. It can be difficult to pivot into, because it punishes physical walls with its powerful Earthquake especially with Spikes on the field and has the appropriate coverage moves for hovering checks. As Flygon outspeeds most of the metagame and can hold its ground against several faster Pokemon like Hidden Power Grass Jolteon and Aerodactyl, it can frequently sweep weakened teams too. Earthquake can take out most Tyranitar and Metagross variants with a little bit of chip damage. Rock Slide hits Zapdos, Moltres, Salamence, Aerodactyl, and Gyarados hard while also doing relatively solid damage to Gengar as it switches in. Hidden Power Bug does a lot of damage to Celebi and hits Claydol quite hard, preventing these common switch-ins from being totally safe, and also preventing Calm Mind + Baton Pass Celebi from freely passing boosts. Substitute is preferred in the fourth moveslot, as it punishes switches and certain Choiced-locked Pokemon, lets Flygon evade status from status spreaders like Zapdos and Milotic, and allows it to fire off at least one free attack. Fire Blast can be run over Substitute if Skarmory and Forretress are a bigger concern and denies them from setting up Spikes, which helps against Spikes-centric builds and makes Flygon less reliant on a potential Magneton partner while also doing decent damage to Gengar and Celebi on the switch. A Jolly nature is preferred to outspeed Timid Moltres and offensive Celebi and at worst Speed tie with Zapdos and Jirachi rather than risk being outsped. An Adamant nature lets Flygon threaten the bulky teams it's supposed to more effectively but makes it unable to outspeed a large fraction of offensive Celebi and tie with offensive Jirachi, making it an overall inferior choice on most teams. When using Fire Blast, Naive and Naughty should be used over Jolly and Adamant to preserve the much needed power on Fire Blast. Team Options Pursuit Tyranitar is a fantastic partner because it brings sand to wear down Pokemon like Zapdos, Snorlax, Suicune, Celebi, and Gengar so Flygon's damage sticks while also trapping the aforementioned Gengar, which is a massive nuisance to this set, and it can even slam Swampert with Hidden Power Grass so Flygon can more easily take it out. Magneton is another good partner, as it traps Skarmory, Forretress, and Choice Band Metagross not locked into Earthquake, which is a move that Flygon can dissuade thanks to Levitate, so Flygon can more easily threaten teams that rely on Skarmory for handling Ground-types and drop Fire Blast for Substitute more reliably. In return, Flygon can force Skarmory and Forretress to come in so Magneton can come in on a double switch to trap them, as well as handle Tyranitar and come in on many Choice Band Pokemon that rely on Earthquake to take out Magneton, like Metagross, Aerodactyl, and Tyranitar. Spikes setters like Skarmory and Forretress are great to have, as they make Flygon's attacks sting even more, especially since some of Flygon's best answers, namely Milotic, Swampert, and Blissey, are very vulnerable to Spikes and Spikes synergize well in tandem with the sand likely to be up. These two also bring some much-needed defensive stops to Pokemon like non-Hidden Power Fire Metagross and physical Salamence. This Flygon is also able to threaten spinners like Claydol and opposing Forretress if it has Fire Blast, keeping the Spikes up and letting the Spikes setter on Flygon's team come in less often, helping it stay healthy to check what it needs to. Flygon is also able to wall Pokemon like Aerodactyl and physical Tyranitar in tandem with these Pokemon because they bait Rock Slide from these and let Flygon get safely in, compensating for its lack of bulk. Flygon can even force in a potential Porygon2 so the Spiker can set Spikes on it. Gengar makes for a good partner, since it can spread residual damage through Will-O-Wisp burns and check Salamence, Heracross, and Snorlax while taking advantage of Flygon checking Pursuit Tyranitar lacking Ice Beam. It can even take advantage of the holes Flygon breaks in the opposing team to sweep late-game, and it even fits on many of the same Spikes-based teams that this Flygon is meant to be on. They can also both pivot around many Pokemon with their defensive synergy, namely Choice Band users and weakened Hidden Power Grass Zapdos. Bulky Water-types like Suicune, Milotic, and Swampert are able to switch into physical attackers like Metagross, MixMence, and Swampert and potentially even spread status for residual damage, while Flygon can break down their checks with its powerful attacks, namely Celebi, Zapdos, Snorlax, and Jolteon. Defensive Swampert, in particular, is a good partner because it can take the pressure off Flygon to handle physical Tyranitar and Aerodactyl, which can often overwhelm this Flygon set due to its lack of bulk investment and Protect. It also helps that all three of these Water-types fit on the same Spikes-based builds Flygon does. Zapdos is able to take on Water-types, Skarmory, Heracross, and spread status so Flygon can have an easier time making damage stick while even having the potential to run Baton Pass to get Flygon in safely. Flygon can also switch into Rock Slides for Zapdos to gain offensive momentum and potentially do a lot of damage to Pokemon like Snorlax and Celebi so Zapdos has an easier time spamming Thunderbolt late-game while also acting as backup Ground-type check so Zapdos isn't as pressured to come into them. Metagross is a great partner for this Flygon because it can elect to run a mixed or bulky physical attacker Leftovers set if Flygon is running Fire Blast, which can help to lure in and remove Skarmory, and more bulk on Metagross means Flygon is relied on less to take on Rock-types. Meanwhile, Choice Band sets can use Explosion on Skarmory or Swampert and wallbreak so Flygon can clean through weakened walls. Specially defensive Celebi is able to handle Gengar and Water-types while piling on the residual damage to get Pokemon in range of Flygon's attacks with Leech Seed (which can also give Flygon extra longevity that it wouldn't have), while Flygon can offensively handle Metagross and pivot into Rock Slide, Earthquake, or Hidden Power Bug from Aerodactyl or Tyranitar well. Blissey can pivot into many special attackers, including Zapdos, Jolteon, Jirachi, Moltres, certain Gengar variants, and Water-types, while even potentially passing Wishes to keep Flygon healthy so it can threaten the bulky teams it's supposed to. Meanwhile, Flygon can offensively handle Pokemon that wall and use Blissey for free turns, like Tyranitar, as well as come in on some resisted hits that are often targeted at Blissey, namely Rock Slide and Earthquake, to get a chance to fire off a free hit. Moltres can roast Skarmory, Celebi, and Forretress and spread burns with Will-O-Wisp for residual damage so Flygon's damage sticks better, while Flygon can switch into physical Tyranitar, Aerodactyl, and Salamence and start wallbreaking on top of wearing down Water-types with its powerful Earthquake so they're more hesitant to come into Moltres. Moltres also improves the Metagross matchup quite a bit, which teams featuring Flygon over Swampert can often struggle switching into due to Flygon's lack of a Meteor Mash resistance.

Set Description Choice Band Flygon is a wallbreaker that can easily get onto the field due to its unique typing and its immunity to Spikes and Sand. It boasts the strongest Earthquake in the metagame, severely threatening even the most resilient physical walls. Earthquake OHKOes some Tyranitar and Metagross variants from full thanks to Choice Band, takes out pretty much all of them after a layer of Spikes, and gets good damage on Suicune and Milotic, especially if sand is up. Rock Slide hits Zapdos, Moltres, Salamence, Aerodactyl, Gengar, and Gyarados really hard. Hidden Power Bug smashes Celebi and hits Claydol really hard, preventing these common switch-ins from being safe with proper prediction. Gust takes out Heracross and Breloom, which teams with this Flygon set often have a very rough matchup against. Alternatively, Toxic cripples Porygon2, offensive Swampert, Zapdos, and Moltres and makes them incapable of coming in as safely or staying in for long periods of time. Fire Blast can also be run to hit Skarmory and Forretress and denies them from setting up Spikes; it also does decent damage to Gengar and forces Celebi to use Recover. A Jolly nature is preferred because it lets Flygon outspeed Timid Moltres and offensive Celebi and at worst Speed tie with Zapdos and Jirachi rather than risk being outsped. However, Adamant is better for some teams, as it allows Flygon to threaten the bulky teams it's supposed to more effectively. Team Options Pursuit Tyranitar is an essential partner, as it brings sand to wear down Pokemon like Zapdos, Snorlax, Suicune, Celebi, and Gengar so Flygon's damage sticks while also trapping Gengar and Celebi and even threatening Zapdos with a potential Ice Beam so Flygon can begin to more freely throw around Earthquakes. It can even slam Swampert with Hidden Power Grass so Flygon can more easily take it out later in the game with Earthquake. Magneton is another almost mandatory partner, as it traps Skarmory and Forretress, two Pokemon that can take Flygon's attacks with ease and use it for free turns. Flygon can force Skarmory and Forretress to come in so Magneton can come in on a double switch to trap them. Conversely, Flygon can come in on many Choice Band Pokemon that rely on Earthquake to take out Magneton like Metagross, Aerodactyl, Salamence, and Tyranitar. If Magneton is not used as a partner, other measures of dealing with Skarmory's Spikes will be necessary. Forretress is great partner in this regard not only because of its ability to spin and lay its own Spikes, but also because it synergizes with Pursuit Tyranitar. Skarmory acts as a more reliable answer to Rock-types, Salamence, and Celebi while also setting Spikes so Flygon can wallbreak even more effectively. It's often worth running Drill Peck on the types of teams this Flygon fits on, as they're often weak to Heracross, which Flygon can sometimes have a tendency to let come in. Flygon is able to take on Electric-types relatively well in return while even doing a ton of damage to the spinners of the tier, so Spikes are likelier to stay up. Specially defensive Celebi is able to handle Gengar and Water-types while netting residual damage to get Pokemon in range of Flygon's attacks with Leech Seed, which can also give Flygon extra longevity that it wouldn't have, while Flygon can offensively handle Metagross and pivot into Rock Slide, Earthquake, or Hidden Power Bug from Aerodactyl or Tyranitar well. It also fits on many of the Spikes-based builds this set does. Metagross is able to run a bulkier Protect set to handle Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Salamence, and Aerodactyl, as Flygon is unable to handle these Pokemon reliably due to lacking Leftovers. Milotic works well on the same builds this Flygon can, stops non-Choice Band Salamence, Claydol, Tyranitar, and Skarmory, and forces Suicune to use Rest, while Flygon threatens Snorlax, Celebi, and Zapdos for it. It can even come in on Rock Slide from Tyranitar, which Milotic often encourages it to do for free damage. Suicune can do largely the same thing as Milotic except it gives up reliability in countering threats in the long run for more initial bulk and more of an offensive presence. Defensive Swampert is a particularly good partner, as it can take the pressure off Flygon to handle Rock-types, which can overwhelm this Flygon set due to its lack of bulk investment and Leftovers; it can even wall Electric-types in tandem with Flygon, as they can take the Hidden Power the other can't. Because of this more reliable backbone and decreased offensive pressure, Flygon is able to come in more sparingly throughout games and keep healthy so it can be a threat in the long run.