[OVERVIEW]
Chinchou is one of the best pivots in Little Cup with a superb typing that makes it only weak to Grass and Ground; even then, with STAB Volt Switch it doesn't mind attacking the former, and with Scald doesn't mind the latter very much either. Its ability Volt Absorb also makes it a reliable check to Electric-types such as Magnemite and opposing Chinchou. It is also one of the few Pokemon able to reliably check the many offensive Flying-types of Little Cup, primarily the likes of Vullaby and Doduo. However, its defensive sets can be too passive and its offensive sets can be too frail. It also has no reliable recovery besides Rest and Berry Juice.
[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Scald
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Ice Beam / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Heal Bell / Hidden Power Ground
item: Berry Juice
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 76 HP / 212 Def / 152 SpA / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Chinchou's main STAB move, as its 100% accuracy and its burn chance come in handy often. Volt Switch helps Chinchou pivot effectively and is good with Electric-type STAB. It also provides a lot of momentum. Ice Beam is used to hit the Grass-types that threaten Chinchou, namely Foongus and Cottonee. Heal Bell gives Chinchou more utility and helps its partners get around sleep and burns. Hidden Power Ground OHKOes Magnemite, 3HKOes Croagunk, and almost always 2HKOes opposing Chinchou, the latter two of which sometimes can be caught on a switch in, but it isn't very powerful otherwise.
Set Details
========
Chinchou has maximum Defense as well as a Bold nature to help circumvent its mediocre base Defense stat and help it endure many physical attacks, particularly from Flying-types. It has enough Speed to outspeed Croagunk and Dragon Dance Corphish. Extra investment is put into Special Attack to help Chinchou score more KOs than it would have otherwise against the likes of Rufflet and Snivy. The remaining EVs are put into HP to help it survive more attacks. Volt Absorb should always be used on Chinchou because it lets it check many more threats, and it doesn't need Water Absorb, as it already resists Water-type attacks. Berry Juice gives Chinchou the recovery it desperately needs and is very useful in general.
Usage Tips
========
This Chinchou set should be used as a fairly liberal pivot. It can be safely switched in on most Flying- and Electric-types such as Doduo and Magnemite. If your opponent lacks an Electric-immune Pokemon, feel free to use Volt Switch on almost every turn Chinchou is out, as it can severely weaken the opposing team for a sweeper to clean up. Be careful when switching into opposing U-turn users such as Vullaby and Rufflet if your opponent has a Diglett, as they can switch out and immediately trap and KO Chinchou. However, if your opponent has their own Chinchou or a Ground-type, luring it in and knocking it out with a Hidden Power Ground or a Scald can quickly turn the tides of battle. If you have a free turn in which you predict the opponent to switch in one of Chinchou's checks or counters, it may be a good idea to cleanse your team of status with Heal Bell. If you predict an Electric-type move, switching in Chinchou can restore some of its health and make it even more of a nuisance to your opponent.
Team Options
========
As Berry Juice is Chinchou's only recovery, Wish support from Spritzee can be very appreciated. Mienfoo, another great pivot, can form a great core with Chinchou that is quite hard for foes to deal with. Any U-turn or Volt Switch user, such as Vullaby, Magnemite, or Rufflet, can also do this, but Mienfoo does so particularly well thanks to Regenerator. Similarly, Regenerator users such as Mareanie and Foongus obviously appreciate Chinchou constantly bringing them in and out. Other Water-types, particularly offensive ones, can handle Ground-types while Chinchou can cure their status ailments and check Electric-types. Overcoat Vullaby can help against Foongus and is a generally good Pokemon. Snivy and Pumpkaboo handle Pokemon such as Diglett and Drilbur that revenge kill Chinchou, while Chinchou in return can check Fire- and Flying-types.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf Pivot
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Ice Beam / Hidden Power Ground / Scald
move 4: Scald / Hidden Power Ground / Thunderbolt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 52 Def / 232 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is a very powerful Water-type STAB move that can 2HKO Pawniard and Mienfoo. Volt Switch is a fairly effective Electric-type STAB move that helps Chinchou gain more momentum and makes it quite a good pivot. Ice Beam is good against the Grass- and Ground-types that give Chinchou trouble, mostly Foongus. Scald is a second option for Chinchou to have a 100% accurate Water-type STAB move and is usually useful when trying to eliminate a threat without switching out. Hidden Power Ground can surprise opposing Chinchou and Croagunk that expect to switch into a Volt Switch or Scald, respectively. Thunderbolt is a more reliable Electric-type STAB move, because it lets Chinchou stay in, that is best used on teams that already have good switch-ins to opposing Chinchou and Croagunk.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf gives Chinchou a great Speed tier and makes it an effective revenge killer. Near-maximum Special Attack investment helps Chinchou revenge kill more easily. Similarly, it has maximum Speed and a Timid nature to outspeed certain boosted threats such as +1 Carvanha and Corphish. The rest of the EVs are put into Defense to help Chinchou survive longer against the threats it likes to switch into, like Doduo and Rufflet. Volt Absorb should always be used, as Chinchou already resists Water-type attacks and therefore doesn't need to utilize Water Absorb.
Usage Tips
========
The main function of this set is to revenge kill faster threats. Switching into Electric-type attacks is Chinchou's only form of recovery, and it should therefore be utilized against threats such as opposing Chinchou, Magnemite, and Ponyta; the former two sometimes use Hidden Power Ground, though, so be careful. Although this set is a good Flying-type check, if Chinchou is low on HP, avoid switching it into powerful Flying-types, as it can be better utilized as a revenge killer. If your opponent lacks an Electric-immune Pokemon, spamming Volt Switch can quick wear down even bulky Pokemon to a point where a sweeper can take over.
Team Options
========
Chinchou partners well with sweepers such as Vullaby and Timburr that can take advantage of it wearing down threats. Water-type sweepers, such as Corphish and Tirtouga, help each other wear down Grass-type threats and finish off a game with a sweep. Stealth Rock support from the likes of Onix and Ferroseed helps Chinchou break through Sturdy users such as Magnemite and Dwebble more easily. Other Volt Switch or U-turn users, such as Vullaby and Mienfoo, can be utilized well with Chinchou and force switches easily. Fire- and Flying-types can easily KO the Grass-types that Chinchou brings in and can be brought in through Volt Switch with ease.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Rest + Sleep Talk set can be extremely hard to deal with, but Ground-types make it difficult for it to reach its full potential. Soak combined with Chinchou's Electric-type attacks looks good on paper, but in practice it can easily be shut down. Dazzling Gleam can be useful on the Choice Scarf set on teams weak to Scraggy, but it isn't very helpful otherwise. Z-Rain Dance can boost Chinchou's Speed for a sweep, but it is usually inferior to other setup sweepers because it can only be used once per game. Agillity with Life Orb can also be used to sweep, but it is, again, inferior to other Water-type sweepers, mostly because of its lack of power. A set with 14 Special Defense can be a weak but still relatively good Nasty Plot Vullaby check. Thunder Wave can be used as a good support option, but it isn't as useful as most of the other moves Chinchou utilizes. Sucker Punch can be used as priority, but Chinchou's poor Attack make this a hard move to pull off.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types like Foongus, Ferroseed, and Pumpkaboo-XL can switch into Chinchou and resist all of its moves bar Ice Beam, although they are hit relatively hard by it.
**Electric-immune Pokemon**: All Electric-immune Pokemon are threats, but Ground-types and specific Water-types are then worst of them. Although Scald and Ice Beam hit very hard, faster Ground-types can switch into a Volt Switch from either set and either force Chinchou out or KO it. Diglett in particular can trap Chinchou and KO it, while Drilbur can set up Stealth Rock while Chinchou needs to switch out. Chinchou can also be its own worst enemy. Opposing Chinchou can switch into every move bar Hidden Power Ground and sometimes even stall your Chinchou out. Similarly, the very rarely seen Goldeen can absorb a Volt Switch and take a Scald with ease.
**Bulky Pokemon that can take a burn**: Timburr can easily switch into a Scald and will get a 1.5x Attack boost if burned, opening up for a sweep. Munchlax can heal a burn with Rest if needed.
**Croagunk**: Croagunk can easily switch into a Scald and force Chinchou out. It also sometimes carries Nasty Plot, and Chinchou is the perfect setup bait.
Chinchou is one of the best pivots in Little Cup with a superb typing that makes it only weak to Grass and Ground; even then, with STAB Volt Switch it doesn't mind attacking the former, and with Scald doesn't mind the latter very much either. Its ability Volt Absorb also makes it a reliable check to Electric-types such as Magnemite and opposing Chinchou. It is also one of the few Pokemon able to reliably check the many offensive Flying-types of Little Cup, primarily the likes of Vullaby and Doduo. However, its defensive sets can be too passive and its offensive sets can be too frail. It also has no reliable recovery besides Rest and Berry Juice.
[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Scald
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Ice Beam / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Heal Bell / Hidden Power Ground
item: Berry Juice
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 76 HP / 212 Def / 152 SpA / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Chinchou's main STAB move, as its 100% accuracy and its burn chance come in handy often. Volt Switch helps Chinchou pivot effectively and is good with Electric-type STAB. It also provides a lot of momentum. Ice Beam is used to hit the Grass-types that threaten Chinchou, namely Foongus and Cottonee. Heal Bell gives Chinchou more utility and helps its partners get around sleep and burns. Hidden Power Ground OHKOes Magnemite, 3HKOes Croagunk, and almost always 2HKOes opposing Chinchou, the latter two of which sometimes can be caught on a switch in, but it isn't very powerful otherwise.
Set Details
========
Chinchou has maximum Defense as well as a Bold nature to help circumvent its mediocre base Defense stat and help it endure many physical attacks, particularly from Flying-types. It has enough Speed to outspeed Croagunk and Dragon Dance Corphish. Extra investment is put into Special Attack to help Chinchou score more KOs than it would have otherwise against the likes of Rufflet and Snivy. The remaining EVs are put into HP to help it survive more attacks. Volt Absorb should always be used on Chinchou because it lets it check many more threats, and it doesn't need Water Absorb, as it already resists Water-type attacks. Berry Juice gives Chinchou the recovery it desperately needs and is very useful in general.
Usage Tips
========
This Chinchou set should be used as a fairly liberal pivot. It can be safely switched in on most Flying- and Electric-types such as Doduo and Magnemite. If your opponent lacks an Electric-immune Pokemon, feel free to use Volt Switch on almost every turn Chinchou is out, as it can severely weaken the opposing team for a sweeper to clean up. Be careful when switching into opposing U-turn users such as Vullaby and Rufflet if your opponent has a Diglett, as they can switch out and immediately trap and KO Chinchou. However, if your opponent has their own Chinchou or a Ground-type, luring it in and knocking it out with a Hidden Power Ground or a Scald can quickly turn the tides of battle. If you have a free turn in which you predict the opponent to switch in one of Chinchou's checks or counters, it may be a good idea to cleanse your team of status with Heal Bell. If you predict an Electric-type move, switching in Chinchou can restore some of its health and make it even more of a nuisance to your opponent.
Team Options
========
As Berry Juice is Chinchou's only recovery, Wish support from Spritzee can be very appreciated. Mienfoo, another great pivot, can form a great core with Chinchou that is quite hard for foes to deal with. Any U-turn or Volt Switch user, such as Vullaby, Magnemite, or Rufflet, can also do this, but Mienfoo does so particularly well thanks to Regenerator. Similarly, Regenerator users such as Mareanie and Foongus obviously appreciate Chinchou constantly bringing them in and out. Other Water-types, particularly offensive ones, can handle Ground-types while Chinchou can cure their status ailments and check Electric-types. Overcoat Vullaby can help against Foongus and is a generally good Pokemon. Snivy and Pumpkaboo handle Pokemon such as Diglett and Drilbur that revenge kill Chinchou, while Chinchou in return can check Fire- and Flying-types.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf Pivot
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Ice Beam / Hidden Power Ground / Scald
move 4: Scald / Hidden Power Ground / Thunderbolt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 52 Def / 232 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is a very powerful Water-type STAB move that can 2HKO Pawniard and Mienfoo. Volt Switch is a fairly effective Electric-type STAB move that helps Chinchou gain more momentum and makes it quite a good pivot. Ice Beam is good against the Grass- and Ground-types that give Chinchou trouble, mostly Foongus. Scald is a second option for Chinchou to have a 100% accurate Water-type STAB move and is usually useful when trying to eliminate a threat without switching out. Hidden Power Ground can surprise opposing Chinchou and Croagunk that expect to switch into a Volt Switch or Scald, respectively. Thunderbolt is a more reliable Electric-type STAB move, because it lets Chinchou stay in, that is best used on teams that already have good switch-ins to opposing Chinchou and Croagunk.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf gives Chinchou a great Speed tier and makes it an effective revenge killer. Near-maximum Special Attack investment helps Chinchou revenge kill more easily. Similarly, it has maximum Speed and a Timid nature to outspeed certain boosted threats such as +1 Carvanha and Corphish. The rest of the EVs are put into Defense to help Chinchou survive longer against the threats it likes to switch into, like Doduo and Rufflet. Volt Absorb should always be used, as Chinchou already resists Water-type attacks and therefore doesn't need to utilize Water Absorb.
Usage Tips
========
The main function of this set is to revenge kill faster threats. Switching into Electric-type attacks is Chinchou's only form of recovery, and it should therefore be utilized against threats such as opposing Chinchou, Magnemite, and Ponyta; the former two sometimes use Hidden Power Ground, though, so be careful. Although this set is a good Flying-type check, if Chinchou is low on HP, avoid switching it into powerful Flying-types, as it can be better utilized as a revenge killer. If your opponent lacks an Electric-immune Pokemon, spamming Volt Switch can quick wear down even bulky Pokemon to a point where a sweeper can take over.
Team Options
========
Chinchou partners well with sweepers such as Vullaby and Timburr that can take advantage of it wearing down threats. Water-type sweepers, such as Corphish and Tirtouga, help each other wear down Grass-type threats and finish off a game with a sweep. Stealth Rock support from the likes of Onix and Ferroseed helps Chinchou break through Sturdy users such as Magnemite and Dwebble more easily. Other Volt Switch or U-turn users, such as Vullaby and Mienfoo, can be utilized well with Chinchou and force switches easily. Fire- and Flying-types can easily KO the Grass-types that Chinchou brings in and can be brought in through Volt Switch with ease.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Rest + Sleep Talk set can be extremely hard to deal with, but Ground-types make it difficult for it to reach its full potential. Soak combined with Chinchou's Electric-type attacks looks good on paper, but in practice it can easily be shut down. Dazzling Gleam can be useful on the Choice Scarf set on teams weak to Scraggy, but it isn't very helpful otherwise. Z-Rain Dance can boost Chinchou's Speed for a sweep, but it is usually inferior to other setup sweepers because it can only be used once per game. Agillity with Life Orb can also be used to sweep, but it is, again, inferior to other Water-type sweepers, mostly because of its lack of power. A set with 14 Special Defense can be a weak but still relatively good Nasty Plot Vullaby check. Thunder Wave can be used as a good support option, but it isn't as useful as most of the other moves Chinchou utilizes. Sucker Punch can be used as priority, but Chinchou's poor Attack make this a hard move to pull off.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types like Foongus, Ferroseed, and Pumpkaboo-XL can switch into Chinchou and resist all of its moves bar Ice Beam, although they are hit relatively hard by it.
**Electric-immune Pokemon**: All Electric-immune Pokemon are threats, but Ground-types and specific Water-types are then worst of them. Although Scald and Ice Beam hit very hard, faster Ground-types can switch into a Volt Switch from either set and either force Chinchou out or KO it. Diglett in particular can trap Chinchou and KO it, while Drilbur can set up Stealth Rock while Chinchou needs to switch out. Chinchou can also be its own worst enemy. Opposing Chinchou can switch into every move bar Hidden Power Ground and sometimes even stall your Chinchou out. Similarly, the very rarely seen Goldeen can absorb a Volt Switch and take a Scald with ease.
**Bulky Pokemon that can take a burn**: Timburr can easily switch into a Scald and will get a 1.5x Attack boost if burned, opening up for a sweep. Munchlax can heal a burn with Rest if needed.
**Croagunk**: Croagunk can easily switch into a Scald and force Chinchou out. It also sometimes carries Nasty Plot, and Chinchou is the perfect setup bait.
Last edited:
