Most of the Credit should go to SBC for his work originally on Chinchou over at the LCF. I've taken some of his work and combined it with some of my prose. Hope that is ok with you SBC. If not, I'll change it ASAP
Chinchou Analysis: http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/chinchou
Status: INCOMPLETE (needs proofreading)
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[Overview]
<p>Chinchou is one of the premier Water-types in Little Cup thanks to its solid Water / Electric typing and a useful ability to switch in often and deal significant damage to a majority of the Little Cup metagame. It also has a great special movepool to cap it all off. The only thing that holds Chinchou back are its weakness to Ground moves such as Earthquake (which many Pokemon carry) and a bad Defense stat. It also requires a lot of prediction to be effective, especially with Diglett on the loose.</p>
[SET]
name: Agility Sweeper
move 1: Agility
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Ice Beam / Hidden Power Grass
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Modest
EVs: 228 SpA / 220 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set has the most sweeping potential of Chinchou's sets, and uses Agility to raises its Speed. When combined with the BoltBeam combo and Hydro Pump, most of Chinchou's threats are covered. Chinchou can often come in freely on Electric-, Water-, and Ice- attacks and quickly set up as opponents switch in their appropriate counter. Chinchou also has great resistances to the many common priority moves including Aqua Jet, Ice Shard, and Bullet Punch, meaning that most priority won’t wear Chinchou down. After an Agility, Chinchou reaches a blazing 32 Speed outrunning all other Little Cuppers, even a Choice Scarf Jolly Diglett. Combined with its high Special Attack stat, which hits equally as hard as a Timid Staryu, Chinchou can often sweep through weakened teams. If possible, bring Chinchou out near the end of matches once things have take some damage, especially Munchlax, to ensure it has an easier chance of sweeping.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The choices between Hydro Pump and Surf, Ice Beam and Hidden Power Grass, and Life Orb and Oran Berry all come down to personal preference. Hydro Pump gives you the ability to 2HKO Standard Munchlax with Stealth Rock 100% of the time, but the accuracy may frustrate many players. Ice Beam is a good move if you're running Thunderbolt because it gets rid of pesky Ground-types like Gligar and Diglett without the fear of missing, while Hidden Power Grass gets rid of other Chinchou, Whooper, and Barboach, who are immune to Thunderbolt. Life Orb gives a great boost, but endangers Chinchou of quickly getting worn down through recoil damage and priority moves. Oran Berry is a good alternative as it ensures that priority won’t kill it off and keeps Chinchou healthy, even if it doesn’t OHKO some threats.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move2: Thunderbolt
move3: Ice Beam
move4: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ground
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Modest
EVs: 60 Def / 228 SpA / 220 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Chinchou also makes a decent Scarfer that has the ability to switch in many times and quickly retreat. With a Choice Scarf, Chinchou reaches 24 Speed easily outrunning the 20 Speed tier and most other Scarfers. Its high Special Attack allows to it punch holes in bulkier Pokemon like Munchlax, allowing other special oriented teammates to sweep easier. The only downside to running Scarf Chinchou is that prediction becomes more crucial. Mantyke and Croagunk can neutralize Water-type attacks, while Gligar can easily switch in on Thunderbolts and set up while you are forced to switch. Ice Beam allows for Munchlax and other Waters to freely come in. It is often advisable to scout with Ice Beam to see what your opponent brings in so that you are doing some damage off the bat or already know opponents team before you bring Chinchou in.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Resistances to common priority attacks such as Bullet Punch, Aqua Jet, and Ice Shard combined with great coverage and decent Speed means that Chinchou can also run an effective Choice Scarf set, in which case a Modest nature is advisable unless you are desperate to tie with Choice Scarfed Mankey and Gastly.</p>
[SET]
name: BulkyChou
move1: Thunderbolt / Discharge
move2: Surf
move3: Thunder Wave / Ice Beam
move4: Ice Beam / Confuse Ray
item: Oran Berry
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Calm
EVs: 236 HP / 228 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Chinchou makes good use of its numerous resistances to common special attacks (Surf, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Flamethrower in particular) along with its good HP and Special Defense to become a reasonable switch in to most Special attacks. This set is mostly to tank and force switches with Thunder Wave. Thunderbolt and Surf are for standard STAB, attacks while Ice Beam completes the BoltBeam combo.</p>
<p>Some players may choose a Para-fusion set that combines Confuse Ray and Thunder Wave. Thunder Wave followed up with Confuse Ray will make the opponent do nothing 5 times out of 8. This often gives you times to make safe switches while neutralizing fast, dangerous Pokemon. Discharge has the bonus of paralyzing and keeping offensive pressure on your opponent, along with allowing you to run Ice Beam still. Either set works, but oftentimes the added damage of Thunderbolt and the 100% paralyzing effect of Thunder Wave are more appealing to players.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Flying or Levitating Pokemon go hand in hand with Chinchou because the only things that are OHKOing Chinchou are strong Ground moves. Bronzor is a great companion for Chinchou as it can set up Stealth Rock and has an immunity to Ground moves; Fire attacks aimed at Bronzor can be absorbed by Chinchou. Gligar is another Pokemon that enjoys Chinchou support as it can lay down Stealth Rock, has immunity to Earthquake, and can U-Turn out to Chinchou. Chinchou can absorb Water- and Ice- type attacks aimed at Gligar as well and wear down threats so that Gligar may be able to sweep later. Other interesting partners include Snover, who can lure out pesky Munchlaxes and KO with Wood Hammer, clearing the way for Chinchou to sweep teams once Munchlax is gone. Along with this, Chinchou can come in on Fire attacks aimed at Snover while Snover resists Earthquake and scare of many of Chinchou's counters like Gligar and other Ground-Type Pokemon.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Chinchou makes a reliable Rain Dance set up Pokemon, taking advantage of the rain and having the bulk to take some hits. With Rain Dance, you have the opportunity to run Thunder which is incredibly powerful along with getting STAB, and has the chance to paralyze allowing for easier switches to your other Rain Dance sweepers while also boosting Surf.</p>
<p>Chinchou has the possibility of running Choice Specs if you just replace Choice Scarf and leave all the same EVs; the only thing you should change is the nature to Timid. Unfortunately, this leaves Chinchou open to its nemesis, Diglett, and the prediction element again becomes key.</p>
<p>Chinchou actually has a decent physical movepool with Waterfall, Return, Sucker Punch, and Bounce providing ample coverage, although don't bother with that 38 Base Attack and a superior Special Attack and movepool. Signal Beam is usable to hit Grass-types, but Ice Beam is more powerful, and is hence superior unless you fear Snover greatly. If you wanted to stat-up, you could probably find use for Amnesia and Charge, but these are for specialized cases. Finally, Shed Shell is an option for escaping annoying Diglett.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Chinchou has a mediocre Defense stat and a weakness to Earthquake. Any set lacking Hidden Power Grass promptly loses to Wooper or Barboach, who are immune to both STABs as well as Thunder Wave to stop Para-fusion. Any faster Ground-type Pokemon, like Gligar, can come in on Thunderbolt and OHKO. Primarily, Diglett can trap, laugh, and OHKO with Earthquake but is OHKOed by Surf on the switch and may be surprised by an Agility set.
<p>Many Grass-types work as counters to the standard set with their super effective STAB moves like Seed Bomb, however they must be wary of Ice Beam unless named Snover. </p>
<p>Offensive Chinchou are walled by Munchlax, although switching it in on boosted Hydro Pumps and Thunderbolts can slowly wear it down. Munchlax will win one-on-one with a strong Earthquake. Ironically, other Chinchou can wall it, when without Hidden Power Grass or Hidden Power Ground.</p>
