Are you having trouble picking the best flyer for your Generation 6 playthrough?
Gen 6 marked the last mainline Pokemon generation where HM moves like Fly were still needed, and Game Freak made sure that you had all the choices you wanted.
With so many versatile Pokémon, from hard-hitting dual-types to reliable utility HM slaves, deciding on your flyer can leave even experienced trainers stuck in indecision.
To make things easier for you, I’ve rounded up the best Flyers in Pokemon X and Y for every playstyle.
Whether you’re looking for raw power, type synergy, or early availability, there’s a perfect companion to speed up your travels in Kalos.
More X and Y guides:
- How to Increase Happiness in Pokemon X and Y
- How to Get Ash-Greninja in Pokemon X and Y
- How to Get Diancie in Pokemon X and Y
- How to Get Mega Stones in Pokemon X and Y
8 Best Flyers in Pokemon X and Y
These standout flyers are in no particular order. Your decision should be based mainly on your dream team composition and needs.
1. Talonflame
You get Talonflame’s pre-evolution, Fletchling, fairly early on in Routes 2 and 3, and it quickly evolves into Fletchinder and then Talonflame by level 35.
Its Fire/Flying typing, solid Speed stat, and access to hard-hitting Brave Bird + Flame Blitz make it an offensive beast in battle and an excellent in-game partner.
Why It’s Great
- Learns Fly naturally (Level 74)
- Excellent Speed (Base 126)
- Flame Body ability helps hatch eggs faster
- Strong offensive coverage against Bug, Grass, and Steel types
2. Hawlucha
If you’re tired of classic Flying-types and want something more unique, Hawlucha is your guy. Found early on Route 10, this Flying/Fighting hybrid brings an aggressive edge to your team with STAB moves like Flying Press, High Jump Kick, and Sky Attack, giving you the best of both worlds.
Get one with Unburden, because the speed boost is one of the best abilities for item-based strategies if you choose to optimize.
Why It’s Great
- Unique Flying/Fighting dual typing
- Learns Fly and STAB physical moves
- Excellent Speed and solid Attack
- Great against Rock, Ice, and Dark types
3. Crobat
A Zubat can easily be caught in Connecting Cave, and you don’t even need to evolve it to teach it Fly. But once you get through that Friendship evolution hurdle, you get access to one of the fastest non-Mega Pokemon with high attack.
Why It’s Great
- Base 130 Speed is top-tier
- Learns Toxic, U-turn, Poison Fang, Leech Life, and more
- Fly support + status spreading makes it a strong pivot option
- Counters Grass, Bug, and Fairy types
4. Gliscor
Introduced in Gen 4, Gliscor remains one of the most frustrating and effective stall Pokemon even in later games.
Gligar can be caught on Route 19, and you can evolve it by giving it a Razor Fang and leveling up during the nighttime. Give it a Toxic Orb and teach it Protect, Toxic, and Fly, and suddenly your team has an airborne wall. Just be careful of Ice types.
Why it’s great:
- Immune to Electric and resistant to Ground attacks
- High Defense and HP
- Can stall with Poison Heal + Toxic Orb
- Versatile against Fighting, Bug, and Rock-types
5. Charizard
Most players just decide to go with Charizard as their flyer, and I totally understand why. It’s lazy when you think about it, but it’s also efficient and insanely strong at the same time.
With two Mega Evolution options and solid stats, it’s a cool and reliable partner. But make sure you don’t put it together with Talonflame on your team, or rock and water types will be your biggest weakness.
Why it’s great:
- Easy to access/no need to catch it
- Learns Fly early
- Mega Charizard X and Y both offer strong offensive paths
6. Aerodactyl
If sheer power and blistering speed are your language, Aerodactyl is your flyer. After beating Glittering Cave, use Rock Smash on boulders until you get the Old Amber, then revive it in Ambrette Town’s Fossil Lab.
Once you get the Aerodactylite, Mega Aerodactyl becomes an absolute monster, capable of outspeeding nearly everything and devastating opponents with STAB Rock and Flying-type hits.
Why it’s great:
- Super early fossil option if lucky
- Mega Aerodactyl has insanely high Attack and Speed
- Fly, Stone Edge, and Earthquake give amazing coverage and offense
7. Staraptor
Reliable, easy to evolve, and accessible before the Fighting Gym, Staraptor checks all the boxes.
You can catch wild Starly or Staravia on Route 11, making it an accessible and worthwhile addition before the mid-game Fighting Gym.
With high Attack and access to some of the best Flying-type moves and Close Combat, Staraptor fits great on many Kalos teams.
Why it’s great:
- Early access on Route 11
- Intimidate lowers the enemy’s Attack on switch-in
- Learns Fly, Brave Bird, Close Combat, U-turn
8. Salamence
If you’re looking for a top-tier late-game flyer that can double as a team ace, Salamence is the dragon for you.
While you need to train it for quite a while, Bagon can be caught really easily on Route 8, giving you plenty of time to prep it as a powerhouse later in the game.
Not only do you get a fully evolved pseudo-legendary with monstrous stats, but you also have access to its mega evolution, which is just bonkers.
Why it’s great:
- Base 135 Attack and Base 100 Speed
- Learns Fly, Dragon Claw, Earthquake, Fire Fang for awesome coverage
- Can use Dragon Dance and sweep entire teams
- Great offensive synergy with Fairy or Steel-type teammates
Conclusion
It’s easy to just slap Fly using any winged Pokemon. But you can only bring six Pokemon with you at a time, so give that precious slot to a companion who deserves it. That’s what separates Pokemon Masters from mediocre trainers.
Each of the flyers in this list can increase your team’s strengths, cover your weaknesses, and actually pull their weight in battle.
You can’t go wrong with any of them, but choose the one that synergizes with your roster the best.
