General + Hustle gives it the highest Attack in LC, tied with Darumaka and Bunnelby at 28 when maxed + Access to Superpower allows Rufflet to crush many of the Rock and Steel types that wall other Flying types in the tier like Fletchling and Taillow + Bulkier than many other offensive Flying types in LC - Weak to Stealth Rock - Average Speed - Hustle gives most physical attacks Stone Edge level accuracy Tailwind Rufflet @ Eviolite / Life Orb Trait: Hustle EVs: 36 HP / 252 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SDef / 116 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk -SAtk) Tailwind Return Aerial Ace Superpower Designed to sweep late game. Tailwind patches up Rufflet's average Speed, allowing it to outrun Choice Scarfed 18 Speed Pokémon Return serves as the powerful STAB, scoring a guaranteed OHKO on Berry Juice Chinchou after Stealth Rock Aerial Ace serves as the reliable STAB since it ignores Hustle's accuracy penalties, and should be used on Pokémon weak to it as well as frail and heavily damaged Pokémon as you don't want to risk a miss Superpower rounds out Rufflet's coverage, hitting the Rock and Steel types that resist its STABs super effectively. The combination is only resisted by Honedge in LC The EVs maximise Rufflet's Attack while giving it enough Speed to outrun Scarfed 18 Speed Pokémon during Tailwind. 36 EVs buff HP, Defence and Special Defence by 1 point As for items, go with Eviolite if you prefer bulk, Life Orb if you prefer power Choice Scarf Rufflet @ Choice Scarf Trait: Hustle EVs: 252 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spd Jolly Nature (+Spd -SAtk) Return Aerial Ace Superpower U-turn While most Pokémon who hold a Choice Scarf do so with the aim of revenge killing, Rufflet is one of the few who can actually sweep thanks to the massive power granted to it by Hustle Return again serves as the strong STAB move, 2HKOing most things that don't resist it Aerial Ace is the reliable STAB, and should be used late game when the opponent's Pokémon have been worn down Superpower hits the Rock and Steel types that resist Rufflet's STABs super effectively U-turn lets Rufflet scout switch ins and grab momentum Other Options Rufflet has access to Bulk Up and Hone Claws as boosting moves, and can use these to attempt a sweep. Such a set will need Sticky Web support however, as Rufflet's Speed is average at best Shadow Claw can be used to hit Honedge who can otherwise counter Rufflet, but Rufflet just doesn't have space for it Rock Slide hits opposing Flying types as well as Fire types, most notably Archen, but other than that Return and Aerial Ace already wreck most of them Berry Juice could be used on the Tailwind set to give Rufflet recovery, although Eviolite or Life Orb are usually more beneficial Checks and Counters Honedge walls Rufflet easily, resisting its STABs and being immune to Superpower Defensive Archen can beat sets that lack Life Orb if no hazards are down Defensive Tirtouga can survive a Superpower thanks to Solid Rock and (after the defence drops) OHKO with Rock Slide Faster Electric-types and Rock-types like offensive Chinchou and Anorith can OHKO with their respective super effective STABs Defensive Frillish can cripple with Will-O-Wisp while avoiding a 2HKO from Aerial Ace most of the time if only Stealth Rock is down Most Sturdy + Berry Juice Pokémon can check Ruffelt well. Magnemite, Dwebble, Tirtouga and Onix are notable among them as they all have super effective STABs to smack Rufflet with. However, if Sturdy gets broken a Life Orb boosted Superpower OHKOs them all and Rufflet is naturally faster than most of them
Not much for me to comment on: Rufflet REALLY hates sturdy juicers since almost all of them carry SE moves. Specifically magnemite, tirtouga and onix. Mag also doesn't care about hazards cuz endure in OO make a note that rock slide hits archen. That's its primary target and all you'd really use it for. I'm pretty sure pluck doesn't pick up berry juice. So not really any reason to mention it unless the 5 BP makes a difference :B Otherwise you can consider this approved~