Crux
Banned deucer.
This is one of the teams that I have been using recently. It features some fairly unusual sets and shows how certain sets have become viable with the addition of new items. I feel that this team is a superb example of the Little Cup metagame, as it was at the time of posting. This team shows how Evolution Stone has completely changed the metagame, shifting from a Hyper Offensive one, to one in which stall and balanced teams (like this one) can flourish alongside Hyper Offense.
Pururiru (F) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Surf
- Shadow Ball
- Recover
I lead with this Pokémon in Team Preview, and I often end up leading with it. There is not much that can take on Pururiru without fear of being burned / stalled to death. With access to Recover, it can heal off what minimal damage it receives and hit back with STAB Shadow Ball and Surf. With Evolution Stone, Pururiru hits 25 / 21 / 24 defences, which is absolutely insane. In terms of how I play Pururiru, I actually play it quite offensively, and am willing to sac it in order to get damage up on something I don’t like, Misdreavus for example.
I don’t Particularly see the need to run Boiling Water, as I have Will-O-Wisp, so the drop in power is quite pointless. Pururiru also provides the opportunity for many free switch ins, with its multitude of resistances.
Zuruggu (M) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SDef / 212 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Crunch
I run Zuruggu to give this team some offensive presence. Otherwise, I would be running gay-ass stall. Zuruggu also provides the team with a win condition, should all else fail. Once it sets up, Zuruggu is nigh impossible to stop, especially when it gets to +2, which does actually happen quite frequently. Some of Zuruggu’s counters, in particular, Kojofuu are quite troublesome to the rest of the team, so I do switch Zuruggu out to Diglett and Pururiru quite regularly. This is my favourite Zuruggu set. Instead of aiming to set up and sweep straight away, its bulk allows it to get multiple boosts amd sweep until its heart’s content.
Tentacool (M) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 196 HP / 76 Def / 36 SAtk / 196 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Surf
- Giga Drain
Tentacool is here to do 3 things. Set up Toxic Spikes, remove opposing Hazards, and act as death fodder; usually in that order. This team doesn’t really like passive damage, but it does like inflicting it. As one of the fastest users of Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes in the Little Cup metagame, Tentacool is perfect as a utility Pokemon. Toxic Spikes allows Lickitung to build up damage on the opposing team instead of just sitting there looking fat. The EVs give Tentacool both bulk and some power, which are needed for it to pull of its job.
I run Giga Drain over Sludge Bomb or Slime Wave to hit unsuspecting water types (like Slowpoke) on the switch and heal off any damage that I receive.
Lickitung (M) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Cloud Nine
EVs: 196 HP / 156 Def / 156 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Dragon Tail
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
My pride and joy. This team needed something to deal with weather, and I don’t like Swablu. Enter, Lickitung. This is the bulkiest Pokemon in Little Cup, it makes Bronzor and Tesshiido look like little girls. Kojofuu Hi Jump Kick only 2HKOs preboost. The idea is to come in against something that can’t do anything to you (ie anything that isn’t fighting type) and Curse, Curse, Curse. This makes Lickitung impenetrable on the physical side of the spectrum. The EVs, take care of the special side of the spectrum and make Lickitung as bulky as possible. Rest provides much needed recovery, whilst Sleep Talk allows it to actually do something. The crux of the set is Dragon Tail. Pokemon like Zuruggu try to set up on Lickitung, only to be forced to switch out, whilst poisoned due to TSpikes and damaged due to being attacked. Unlike Licki’s STAB, no Pokemon is immune to it and one can simply spam it to rack up damage.
With all that being said, there are some issues with this set: Meditite and Leech Seed. Meditite’s enormous Attack stat means that a Hi Jump Kick will OHKO Lickitung, which isn’t really an issue because of Murkrow. Leech Seed however, is the only form of passive damage that Lickitung can’t Rest off, and the constant damage is very annoying. Tesshiido is really the case in point, which is why I run Zuruggu (who sets up on it.)
It is also worth noting, that this set hard counters stall, which can do nothing to it.
In my opinion this is the ultimate weather counter, and one of the best sets in the Little Cup metagame.
Whilst I would like to be running Wish and Protect over Rest and Sleep Talk, Wish is illegal with Cloud Nine, however, this may be a good set with Own Tempo as well.
Diglett (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs: 240 Atk / 240 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
- Rock Slide
- HP Ice
Diglett allows me to trap whatever is pissing me off, and kill it with its enormous speed. The moves allow for maximum coverage and power, hitting a large amount of Pokemon for super effective damage. I don't use Sucker Punch, because I don't like having to predict. Diglett is one of the most important members of the team, as it allows me to outspeed, trap and KO many Pokemon that give this team trouble. Earthquake is for STAB, Shadow Claw for the omnipresent ghosts, Rock Slide for flying and ice types and HP Ice for Gligar. I use Diglett predominantly as my revenge killer. I also use it as a lead if I think the opponent's team can't handle it.
Diglett acts as my check to both Misdreavus and Murkrow, both of whom might cause trouble to this team with out him.
Murkrow (M) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Mischievous Heart
EVs: 196 HP / 100 Def / 180 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Roost
- Calm Mind
- FeatherDance
- Hidden Power [Dark]
Before I get any further. Vader is the best!
BrokenKrow. Seriously, this set has 2 counters, Komatana and Hyper Cutter Gligar. FeatherDance on anything that runs physical attacks, Calm Mind on anything that doesn’t and Roost when your health drops too low. Sure, Toxic is annoying, but it can be dealt with. Hidden Power Dark is here because Dark Pulse is illegal with Mischievous Heart. With this set, the only things you need to watch out for are the aforementioned and the removal of your flying typing due to Roost (which I have forgotten several times.) This set is singlehandedly the reason Murkrow deserves a test IMO. It is literally unstoppable if you know what you’re doing.
In summary, with the advent of Generation V, the Little Cup metagame has shifted enormously and many new playstyles and sets have become far more effective. I hope that this RMT encourages creativity with sets, because that is what we need for the Little Cup metagame to develop further. I know this is probably a little bit long, but thanks for reading! :) Also, I would like to thank GoldenKnight for subjecting himself to constant defeat during my testing.
Pururiru (F) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Surf
- Shadow Ball
- Recover
I lead with this Pokémon in Team Preview, and I often end up leading with it. There is not much that can take on Pururiru without fear of being burned / stalled to death. With access to Recover, it can heal off what minimal damage it receives and hit back with STAB Shadow Ball and Surf. With Evolution Stone, Pururiru hits 25 / 21 / 24 defences, which is absolutely insane. In terms of how I play Pururiru, I actually play it quite offensively, and am willing to sac it in order to get damage up on something I don’t like, Misdreavus for example.
I don’t Particularly see the need to run Boiling Water, as I have Will-O-Wisp, so the drop in power is quite pointless. Pururiru also provides the opportunity for many free switch ins, with its multitude of resistances.
Zuruggu (M) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Shed Skin
EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SDef / 212 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Crunch
I run Zuruggu to give this team some offensive presence. Otherwise, I would be running gay-ass stall. Zuruggu also provides the team with a win condition, should all else fail. Once it sets up, Zuruggu is nigh impossible to stop, especially when it gets to +2, which does actually happen quite frequently. Some of Zuruggu’s counters, in particular, Kojofuu are quite troublesome to the rest of the team, so I do switch Zuruggu out to Diglett and Pururiru quite regularly. This is my favourite Zuruggu set. Instead of aiming to set up and sweep straight away, its bulk allows it to get multiple boosts amd sweep until its heart’s content.
Tentacool (M) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 196 HP / 76 Def / 36 SAtk / 196 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
- Surf
- Giga Drain
Tentacool is here to do 3 things. Set up Toxic Spikes, remove opposing Hazards, and act as death fodder; usually in that order. This team doesn’t really like passive damage, but it does like inflicting it. As one of the fastest users of Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes in the Little Cup metagame, Tentacool is perfect as a utility Pokemon. Toxic Spikes allows Lickitung to build up damage on the opposing team instead of just sitting there looking fat. The EVs give Tentacool both bulk and some power, which are needed for it to pull of its job.
I run Giga Drain over Sludge Bomb or Slime Wave to hit unsuspecting water types (like Slowpoke) on the switch and heal off any damage that I receive.
Lickitung (M) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Cloud Nine
EVs: 196 HP / 156 Def / 156 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Dragon Tail
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
My pride and joy. This team needed something to deal with weather, and I don’t like Swablu. Enter, Lickitung. This is the bulkiest Pokemon in Little Cup, it makes Bronzor and Tesshiido look like little girls. Kojofuu Hi Jump Kick only 2HKOs preboost. The idea is to come in against something that can’t do anything to you (ie anything that isn’t fighting type) and Curse, Curse, Curse. This makes Lickitung impenetrable on the physical side of the spectrum. The EVs, take care of the special side of the spectrum and make Lickitung as bulky as possible. Rest provides much needed recovery, whilst Sleep Talk allows it to actually do something. The crux of the set is Dragon Tail. Pokemon like Zuruggu try to set up on Lickitung, only to be forced to switch out, whilst poisoned due to TSpikes and damaged due to being attacked. Unlike Licki’s STAB, no Pokemon is immune to it and one can simply spam it to rack up damage.
With all that being said, there are some issues with this set: Meditite and Leech Seed. Meditite’s enormous Attack stat means that a Hi Jump Kick will OHKO Lickitung, which isn’t really an issue because of Murkrow. Leech Seed however, is the only form of passive damage that Lickitung can’t Rest off, and the constant damage is very annoying. Tesshiido is really the case in point, which is why I run Zuruggu (who sets up on it.)
It is also worth noting, that this set hard counters stall, which can do nothing to it.
In my opinion this is the ultimate weather counter, and one of the best sets in the Little Cup metagame.
Whilst I would like to be running Wish and Protect over Rest and Sleep Talk, Wish is illegal with Cloud Nine, however, this may be a good set with Own Tempo as well.
Diglett (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs: 240 Atk / 240 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Earthquake
- Shadow Claw
- Rock Slide
- HP Ice
Diglett allows me to trap whatever is pissing me off, and kill it with its enormous speed. The moves allow for maximum coverage and power, hitting a large amount of Pokemon for super effective damage. I don't use Sucker Punch, because I don't like having to predict. Diglett is one of the most important members of the team, as it allows me to outspeed, trap and KO many Pokemon that give this team trouble. Earthquake is for STAB, Shadow Claw for the omnipresent ghosts, Rock Slide for flying and ice types and HP Ice for Gligar. I use Diglett predominantly as my revenge killer. I also use it as a lead if I think the opponent's team can't handle it.
Diglett acts as my check to both Misdreavus and Murkrow, both of whom might cause trouble to this team with out him.
Murkrow (M) @ Evolution Stone
Trait: Mischievous Heart
EVs: 196 HP / 100 Def / 180 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Roost
- Calm Mind
- FeatherDance
- Hidden Power [Dark]
Before I get any further. Vader is the best!
BrokenKrow. Seriously, this set has 2 counters, Komatana and Hyper Cutter Gligar. FeatherDance on anything that runs physical attacks, Calm Mind on anything that doesn’t and Roost when your health drops too low. Sure, Toxic is annoying, but it can be dealt with. Hidden Power Dark is here because Dark Pulse is illegal with Mischievous Heart. With this set, the only things you need to watch out for are the aforementioned and the removal of your flying typing due to Roost (which I have forgotten several times.) This set is singlehandedly the reason Murkrow deserves a test IMO. It is literally unstoppable if you know what you’re doing.
In summary, with the advent of Generation V, the Little Cup metagame has shifted enormously and many new playstyles and sets have become far more effective. I hope that this RMT encourages creativity with sets, because that is what we need for the Little Cup metagame to develop further. I know this is probably a little bit long, but thanks for reading! :) Also, I would like to thank GoldenKnight for subjecting himself to constant defeat during my testing.
