Both Fletchling and Pidgey can be found on Routes 2 and 3.
Talonflame
Pros
- 126 base Speed, 25 more than Pidgeot
- Decent typing, reists Fairy, Fighting, Steel, and Fire, 4x resistance to Grass and Bug, immune to Ground
- 1 base Attack higher than Pidgeot
- Good STAB combo
- Learns great moves like Roost, Flare Blitz, Flame Charge, Brave Bird, U-Turn, Fly, Swords Dance, and Will-O-Wisp
Cons
- 4x weak to Rock
- Almost useless against Grant, Clemont, Diantha's Tryrantrum/Aurorus, and Siebold, with the exception of being able to hit Clemont's Magneton super-effectively
- Likely doesn't have access to Gale Wings in a regular playthrough, meaning you're stuck with Flame Body
Pidgeot
Pros
- Has access to good moves like Roost, U-Turn, Air Slash/Hurricane, and Aerial Ace
- Okay typing, immune to Ground and Ghost, and resists Grass and Bug
Cons
- Doesn't have a Mega Evolution in X/Y
- Pretty useless abilities in Keen Eye and Tangled Feet
- Weak to Grant, Clemont, Wulfric, and Diantha's Aurorus and Tyrantrum
- It's movepool consists mostly of status moves, and is very shallow
Talonflame is likely the better option
Talonflame @ Charcoal / Sharp Beak
Ability: Flame Body
Recommended Nature: Adamant
- Flare Blitz / Flame Charge (Move reminder/learned at lv. 39)
- Brave Bird / Acrobatics (Lv. 64 or the move reminder/lv. 44)
- Roost (lv. 25)
- Swords Dance (TM bought in Lumiose City Pokemon Center)
Talonflame can do well against foes like Viola, Korrina, Ramos, Wulfric, Wikstrom, Diantha's Hawlucha and Gourgeist, Tierno's Roserade, and Lysandre's Mienfoo/Mienshao.
