What Starter Pokémon Can Truly Fly? Rowlet and Decidueye Soar Above the Rest
As a long-time competitive Pokémon gamer and content creator, I analyze new releases, battle strategies, and shifting meta trends. With over 20 years nurturing obsession with these games, I‘ve caught ‘em all – from Kanto to Galar. So when answering what starter Pokémon can fly, I‘m bringing my A-game.
Rowlet – The Lone Flying Starter Takes Wing
Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle. The iconic Kanto starter trio lays claim to our childhood nostalgia, but none of them could fly in battle. It took 7 generations before a starter Pokémon took to the skies. Hailing from the lush Alola islands, the Grass/Flying-type Rowlet represents a pioneer amongst starter Pokémon. Along with its evolved forms Dartrix and Decidueye, it remains the only starter line capable of flying today.
With well-rounded stats, Rowlet strikes an offensive balance from the get-go. By level 18, it learns the Flying-type move Pluck. And Rowlet‘s final evolution Decidueye expands the movepool with STAB Flying attacks like Air Slash, Acrobatics and Hurricane. No other starter matches this aerial prowess.
But what gives Rowlet a key edge over other Flying Pokémon? Its dual Grass typing bestows useful resistances to Water, Electric, Ground, and even Fighting moves. And Decidueye turns Ghost-type upon final evolution, making it immune to damaging Normal and Fighting attacks. This unique type combo lets our owl starter counter common threats.
When assessed among the most popular Flying Pokémon, Rowlet stands tall:
| Pokémon | Type | Signature Move | Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rowlet | Grass/Flying | Leafage | Overgrow |
| Charizard | Fire/Flying | Blast Burn | Blaze |
| Togekiss | Fairy/Flying | Air Slash | Serene Grace |
| Corviknight | Flying/Steel | Brave Bird | Pressure |
| Talonflame | Fire/Flying | Brave Bird | Gale Wings |
Togekiss and Talonflame match Rowlet’s Flying STAB potential. But they lack Grass moves that handle bulky Waters. And unlike Charizard, Rowlet’s Flying moves aren‘t let down by modest 65 base Speed! Even Corviknight, the avian Galar Guardian beats our plucky owl in bulk. It fails to out-fly the fully evolved Decidueye sporting 10 higher Speed and access to Ghost coverage.
By effectively leveraging its Flying+Grass assets, I consider Rowlet the most competitively viable Flying starter. It carves a unique starter niche as Alola‘s avian ace!
Soaring High – Analyzing Flying‘s Competitive Value
Bird keepers far and wide swear by Flying‘s viability for in-game and competitive play. So what makes Flying types so valuable between stats, moves and abilities?
8.9% of all Pokémon sport the Flying type – from early route fodder like Pidgey to box legendaries like Ho-Oh. It makes Flying the 4th most common type behind Water, Normal and Grass. This sheer abundance and diversity gives Flying broad offensive coverage. STAB Brave Birds and Air Slashes bombard unprepared opponents.
Defensively, Flying resists Fighting, Bug and Grass – common offensive types with strong neutral coverage. Flying is outright immune to Ground too – nullifying one of the most omnipresent attacks in Earthquake. With extra utility from healing moves like Roost, Flying supports a wide range of strategies and roles.
While no Pokémon sports pure Flying typing, the combination with Normal and Fighting is most prolific, seen in regional birds like Pidgey, Starly and Pikipek. Pairing with Fire, Steel and even Dragon types has created fan favorites like Charizard, Skarmory and Salamence. And Rowlet‘s Grass/Flying niche remains uniquely viable amongst starters.
When it comes to signature moves and abilities, Flying has iconic tools that enable fast, hard-hitting playstyles:
| Pokémon | Signature Move | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Talonflame | Brave Bird | High power STAB, but causes recoil |
| Togekiss | Air Slash | May cause flinching |
| Corviknight | Brave Bird | Powerful STAB + high Defense to offset recoil |
| Decidueye | Spirit Shackle | Prevents foes from fleeing |
Meanwhile, abilities like Togekiss‘ Serene Grace give Air Slash and other Flying moves high flinch chance. And Talonflame‘s Gale Wings prioritizes Flying moves with +1 priority. This enables speedy Brave Birds before opponents can even attack!
So while no legendary trio matches Kanto‘s iconic birds, the Flying type continues to soar years later. Rowlet cements its niche as the sole flying starter ready to ruffle feathers and battle with the birds!
Conclusion – Rowlet Ruffles Feathers as the Lone Flying Starter!
When it comes to starter Pokémon soaring round the battlefield, Rowlet stands solitary. Its dual Grass/Flying type strikes a balance other flying aces like Talonflame and Togekiss lack, while gaining an edge over part-time flyers Charizard and Gyarados. With Flying resistances and a ghostly final evolution in Decidueye, Rowlet establishes itself as the most viable flying starter in competitive play.
So while we eagerly await a new airborne starter, Rowlet currently owns the skies as a category pioneer. It joins the ranks of highly ranked flying Pokémon, leveraging Grass, Ghost and Flying moves alike under the guiding wings of starter potential. While others may fall back on roost, this bird’s just taking off!
Did I miss your favorite flying ace or airborne analysis? Let me know in the comments! And for more Pokémon insights, battle strats and meta trends, subscribe to my channel!
