Basic Attacker (Rufflet) @ Eviolite / Berry Juice
Ability: Hustle
EV's: 252 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Tailwind / Substitute
- Close Combat
- Protect
Set Details: Rufflet has a single set, but it's a brutally effective one. Brave Bird is it's sole STAB and it Rufflet's main attacking move, hitting many top metagame threats such as Mienfoo, Cottontee, and Foongus. Additionally it can support itself and it's team with Tailwind, or if you already have enough other Tailwind users on your team, Substitute can help it to support itself soaking up status moves such as Stun Spore from Cottonee and Spore from Foongus, and let it weather a potentially lethal hit such as Onix Head Smash or Gastly Thunderbolt. Close Combat lets Rufflet hammer through Rock and Steel types that may want to switch into Brave Bird like Onix and Pawniard. Protect allows Rufflet to position itself better to fire off an attack or set Tailwind. Hustle is the reason Rufflet hits so hard, at the risk of missing it's attack. The EVs chosen maximize Rufflet's offensive potential, and the Jolly Nature alongside the speed given lets it outpace pokemon like Koffing, Magnemite without a Choice Scarf and Omanyte without a Shell Smash boost aswell as to tir with Pawniard and Vullaby; on top of it this speed tier make the most of Tailwind. Eviolite lets Rufflet take more hits before it falters, notably Chinchou's Volt Switch and Mudbray's Rock Slide. On the other hand, Berry Juice is the preferred item for Substitute sets, as it allows Rufflet to get a substitute off more frequently, and maybe even be at full health behind it.