First of all, I would like to say that I am not explaining why the other "starter birds" are better; simply why Talonflame is not as good as it seems. Secondly, I am probably not going to reply to the comments here for several reasons. Most of what I state here is factual, and not opinion-based.

 

-Talonflame's design is not as creative as that of the other "starter birds"; this is an image of a shikra: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Shikra_(Female)_at_Hodal_I_IMG_9156.jpg. Talonflame looks almost exactly like it in several ways.

-Talonflame's name is literally two words fused together, which is unusual for a Pokémon name nowadays. Much better names could have been "Fletchyro" (Fletchling + Pyro) or "Fletchipiter" (Fletchling + Accipiter; the name of the sparrowhawk genus).

-Talonflame is apparently well-liked for its Hidden Ability known as Gale Wings, which provides priority to Flying-Type moves. While this is useful, it does not help Talonflame when it comes to defences, and because this is a Hidden Ability, acquiring a Talonflame with the ability is not easy. As for its natural Ability (Flame Body), many of the moves that are likely to defeat it (those of the Water, Rock and Electric-Types) will not involve contact, so the likelihood of an opponent of an advantageous type becoming burned without the cause of an attack is significantly decreased.

-Gale Wings can be negated by Gastro Acid.

-Talonflame has a quadrupled weakness to Rock-Type moves. Even though it loses its weakness to Ice-Type moves because of the fact that it is part Fire-Type, this extreme weakness to Rock-Type moves is the price for it.

-Talonflame has one immunity (Ground-Type moves), while the other "starter birds" have two (Ground and Ghost-Type moves). Also, if Gravity or Smack Down was used on a Talonflame first (provided Smack Down would not have already defeated it), Talonflame would gain a weakness to Ground-Type moves.

-Talonflame is able to learn the move Solar Beam, which is a potential threat to Water-Types. However, because this is a two-turn move, this leaves Talonflame vulnerable to an attack that could finish it off for one turn, and Talonflame does not gain a same-type-attack-bonus from the attack.

-Talonflame is able to learn the move Steel Wing, which is a potential threat to Rock-Types. However, this attack does not have perfect accuracy, and Talonflame does not gain a same-type-attack-bonus from the attack.

Fool. It's been tearing me up in OU. Get a bad pairing with it, and they get the free swords dance on the switch and it can just proceed to kill my entire team. The Gale wings is just crazy. OHKO's my landorus with the brave bird after intimidation. Priority on roost also sucks. I either have to hope my jolteon can take it down in one hit, or guess they are going to use roost and use the earthquake. I don't staelth rock because it slows me down, so it's always a major threat.

I dun get it...if someone doesn't like a certain thing that so many others like, why's it gotta be overrated?

 

These facts would more than likely help for strategy against a Talonflame, or help a Talonflame user rather than help point out whether it's overrated or not.

Sometimes I wonder if OP actually knows what he's talking about.

-Talonflame's design is not as creative as that of the other "starter birds"; this is an image of a shikra: http://upload.wikime..._I_IMG_9156.jpg. Talonflame looks almost exactly like it in several ways.

 

 

This is an opinion. Talonflame has a good design. Pidgey looks exactly like a baby pigeon and Pidove looks ike a grown up pigeon. Yet I like them both. It doesn't have to be overly creative. 

 

-Talonflame's name is literally two words fused together, which is unusual for a Pokémon name nowadays. Much better names could have been "Fletchyro" (Fletchling + Pyro) or "Fletchipiter" (Fletchling + Accipiter; the name of the sparrowhawk genus).

 

 

I agree this is a terrible name. It's an opinion though.

 

-Talonflame is apparently well-liked for its Hidden Ability known as Gale Wings, which provides priority to Flying-Type moves. While this is useful, it does not help Talonflame when it comes to defences, and because this is a Hidden Ability, acquiring a Talonflame with the ability is not easy. As for its natural Ability (Flame Body), many of the moves that are likely to defeat it (those of the Water, Rock and Electric-Types) will not involve contact, so the likelihood of an opponent of an advantageous type becoming burned without the cause of an attack is significantly decreased.

 

 

Gale Wings is great regardless, it is a kick ass ability which destroys teams. It will always guarantee you hit first so its a welcomed ability. Like MasterXemnas said, it obliterates teams because of this. 

 

-Gale Wings can be negated by Gastro Acid.

 

 

Which no one uses. 

 

-Talonflame has a quadrupled weakness to Rock-Type moves. Even though it loses its weakness to Ice-Type moves because of the fact that it is part Fire-Type, this extreme weakness to Rock-Type moves is the price for it.

 

 

All Pokémon are weak to something, besides Talonflame isn't known for its defenses, more on its Attack and Speed. So defenses and weakness aren't that much cared upon. 

 

-Talonflame has one immunity (Ground-Type moves), while the other "starter birds" have two (Ground and Ghost-Type moves). Also, if Gravity or Smack Down was used on a Talonflame first (provided Smack Down would not have already defeated it), Talonflame would gain a weakness to Ground-Type moves.

 

 

Which people don't use often and like we said, defenses and its weakness are not why we love it so much. 

 

 

-Talonflame is able to learn the move Solar Beam, which is a potential threat to Water-Types. However, because this is a two-turn move, this leaves Talonflame vulnerable to an attack that could finish it off for one turn, and Talonflame does not gain a same-type-attack-bonus from the attack.

 

 

Solar Beam is shit on his since its a Special move and it doesn't work well with his mediocre Special Attack Stat. Not every Pokémon needs to get a STAB, it doesn't matter if your Pokémon is strong enough to take down a good chunk of your team. 

 

-Talonflame is able to learn the move Steel Wing, which is a potential threat to Rock-Types. However, this attack does not have perfect accuracy, and Talonflame does not gain a same-type-attack-bonus from the attack.

 

 

This attack has 90% accuracy which is good enough. Nothing has to be 100% anyways. Like I said before, not everything has to be about STAB. 

Fool. It's been tearing me up in OU. Get a bad pairing with it, and they get the free swords dance on the switch and it can just proceed to kill my entire team. The Gale wings is just crazy. OHKO's my landorus with the brave bird after intimidation. Priority on roost also sucks. I either have to hope my jolteon can take it down in one hit, or guess they are going to use roost and use the earthquake. I don't staelth rock because it slows me down, so it's always a major threat.

Talonflame is a monster there's no denying, but any sashed poke with RockEdge can take it, provided it hits, cause with brave bird no one can run a sash them self

Talonflame is a monster there's no denying, but any sashed poke with RockEdge can take it, provided it hits, cause with brave bird no one can run a sash them self

 

I'm trying to use it properly but fail like 90% of the time.

I'm trying to use it properly but fail like 90% of the time.

Yeah the more people who use it, the easier it is to counter still a powerhouse

At least it's better than Pidgeot,Fearow,Noctowl and Unfezant

Talonflame is a monster there's no denying, but any sashed poke with RockEdge can take it, provided it hits, cause with brave bird no one can run a sash them self

Fool. My stone edge always misses, I don't know why. I'm unlucky like that. My poke'mon always sleep for 4 moves too. I'mma start using rotom wash though

Talonflame is a monster there's no denying, but any sashed poke with RockEdge can take it, provided it hits, cause with brave bird no one can run a sash them self

 

That's kind of what the rest of the team is for...to support it/get rid of potential threats and each other. You don't use Talonflame as a lead or in the early game, you use it to clean up.

 

This is an opinion. Talonflame has a good design. Pidgey looks exactly like a baby pigeon and Pidove looks ike a grown up pigeon. Yet I like them both. It doesn't have to be overly creative. 

 

I agree this is a terrible name. It's an opinion though.

 

Gale Wings is great regardless, it is a kick ass ability which destroys teams. It will always guarantee you hit first so its a welcomed ability. Like MasterXemnas said, it obliterates teams because of this. 

 

Which no one uses. 

 

All Pokémon are weak to something, besides Talonflame isn't known for its defenses, more on its Attack and Speed. So defenses and weakness aren't that much cared upon. 

 

Which people don't use often and like we said, defenses and its weakness are not why we love it so much. 

 

 

Solar Beam is shit on his since its a Special move and it doesn't work well with his mediocre Special Attack Stat. Not every Pokémon needs to get a STAB, it doesn't matter if your Pokémon is strong enough to take down a good chunk of your team. 

 

This attack has 90% accuracy which is good enough. Nothing has to be 100% anyways. Like I said before, not everything has to be about STAB. 

 

Shana's right.  90% accuracy is nothing to complain about when there are moves like sing, supersonic and zap cannon that only work half the time.