Dartrix is often portrayed as a pokemon more interested in looking sharp (or, for that matter, looking smug) than in actually winning battles. As the story goes, Dartrix have the potential to be strong pokemon, and can brag with the best of them, but is too worried about getting its wings dirty or bloodied to actually put up a fight. When challenged, it is said, Dartrix fly away; when backed into a corner, they focus too much on dodging and defense to knock out the other pokemon.
In truth, Dartrix are not preening, but fletching. Dartrix quills are not like Skarmory's bladed wings or Scyther's scythes, which grow naturally from birth; each quill requires extensive cleaning and manipulation of wing feathers in order to fly with pinpoint accuracy. It is for this reason which Dartrix cultivate an impression of smugness, and that their equally smug trainers refuse battles with those they consider beneath them; dispatching a low-level Pikipek and Rattata is simply not worth the hours of preparation.
Rumors of surviving wild Dartrix suggest a further reason for them to be reluctant to fight – one which accounts from the pre-monarchic period in Alolan history largely corroborate: Dartrix, they claim, are deadly distance hunters whose quills can fly accurately for over a mile. Perhaps it is indeed true that Dartrix refuse open confrontations because they are cowards, but this is not a cowardice based on inferiority; instead, they believe that if their targets can see them, they are already far too close for comfort.
After all, most of Dartrix's foes – whether human political leaders, fearsome warrior pokemon, or unfortunate and delicious travelers – died long before they saw their attacker.