Spoink (Analysis)

Diana said:

[Overview]

<p>Spoink is an interesting Pokemon to look at for a Little Cup team, looking very outclassed by Abra on the surface. Luckily, a much higher Special Defense stat with better HP causes Spoink to have better survivability, meaning it competes decently with. While at first glance it may seem quite outclassed by Abra, with lower Special Attack and Speed, Spoink has much higher Special Defense and HP, allowing it to take a few hits, unlike its more powerful rival. Spoink has a good Special Attack and decent Speed, along with a wide movepool to attack with, allowing it to sweep. It can also support its team by setting up dual screens. Despite its slight inferiority complex, Spoink is a solid choice to use onfor a Little Cup team.</p>

[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Light Clay / Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Timid
evs: 196 HP / 76 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Thanks to its decent Speed and good special bulk, Spoink is a good dual screener that can often set up more than once, something Abra has trouble doing. Psychic is used alongside Reflect and Light Screen for a way forto allow Spoink to defend itself when needed, and the move does have a decent amount of powerdoes reasonable damage to most neutral targets. Thunder Wave is the best option for the fourth slot, as paralysis support can allow a slower teammate to set up and sweep. Light Clay is preferred for the extra turns it provides on the screens Spoink sets up, but Eviolite is an option to give Spoink some extra bulk. Some Pokemon don't need the extra turns to set up safely and sweep, meaning that Eviolite is aoften the better option with some teammates.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Pawniard is the biggest obstacle in Spoink's way, as it can both use Pursuit to KO Spoink and use Brick Break to get rid of any screens that were set up. Gligar is a good teammate for Spoink, since it can both boost stats and force Pawniard to switch out. Houndour and Scraggy can both set up while resisting Dark- and Ghost-type attacks aimed at Spoink, allowing them to be great teammates as well. Lastly, Pawniard itself, along with Magnemite, gethave excellent synergy with Spoink, and each have ways of boosting their stats, allowing them to take advantage of dual screens.</p>

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Timid
evs: 36 HP / 200 SpA / 40 SpD / 200 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Spoink is faster than Solosis and bulkier than Abra, meaning Spoink is best when played between the two extremes as a bulky but somewhat fast attacker. Calm Mind is Spoink's way to boost stats, causmaking Psychic to hit incredibly hardpowerful. Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types and Misdreavus very hard, providing good coverage alongside Spoink's STAB move. In the last slot, Hidden Power Fighting is preferred for the ability to hit Dark- and Steel-types such as Scraggy and Ferroseed.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Spoink could use a Life Orb for more power, but Abra outclasses it as an all-out attacker. Likewise, a bulkier EV spread could be used for extra survivability, but slowother Pokemon are better at that. Vullaby easily switches into Spoink and can use Whirlwind to ruin any stat boosts Spoink accumulates. Magnemite can givcause major problems tofor Vullaby, meaning that it isaking it a great teammate for Spoink. Carvanha can easily revenge kill Spoink with Crunch, so running a Timburr is a good way to check Carvanha. It also resists the Bug- and Dark-type moves frequently used against Spoink. Pawniard can revenge kill Spoink thanks to Sucker Punch, so Gligar is a good teammate to use as a check.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Modest
evs: 36 HP / 200 SpA / 40 SpD / 200 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Spoink reaches 22 Speed when holding a Choice Scarf, making it an effective revenge killer. Psychic is Spoink's main way of dealing damage as an STAB move, though it is dangerous to use if the opponent has a Pursuit user waiting. Shadow Ball is used to hit Psychic-types and Misdreavus, and Hidden Power Fighting is there for Dark- and Steel-types. Trick is used in the last slot to possibly cripple a defensive switch-in such as Vullaby for the rest of the match, and can catch a set-up sweeper off guard in a pinch.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>This set is especially vulnerable to Pursuit from the likes of Munchlax, Stunky, and Pawniard, so teammates that can check these threats are appreciated. Scraggy can set up on Pursuit with its handy 4x resistance with the possibility of sweeping the opposing team. Bulk Up Timburr can easily take advantage of Pawniard, using it as easy setup fodder if the opponent lacks Gligar. Wynaut is another major problem tofor Spoink, as it can come in on any move other than Trick and Mirror Coat for a clean KO.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Spoink has an incredible array of moves that haven't been mentioned, making it incredibly unpredictable. Psyshock is an alternative STAB move to hit specially defensive threats such as Munchlax harder, but it's a bit weaker than Psychic and therefore slightly inferior. Signal Beam is a good option to hit Dark- and Psychic-types at the same time. Charge Beam could be used but Spoink has Calm Mind to boost its Special Attack anyway. Shock Wave would be better for a plain Electric-type move, but really only hits Slowpoke and Vullaby, meaning it usually isn't worth it. Power Gem is yet another special attack it gets, but its only advantage would be to hit Houndour and Vullaby at the same time. Icy Wind is an option just because hitting Gligar is always helpful. Don't even bother with Grass Knot, as most Pokemon in Little Cup are much too light for it to do enough damage.</p>

<p>Spoink has an incredible support movepool as well. Magic Coat is good on everything that learns it, and Spoink is no exception to the rule. Toxic is a decent option to hit bulky Pokemon and is probably Spoink's best option against Vullaby. Taunt couldan be good on the dual screening set to deal with slower Pokemon also running Taunt. Confuse Ray is unreliable but it can really ruin an opponent with some luck. Spoink could set up Trick Room, but the move is better left to slower Pokemon such as Bronzor and Solosis. Mirror Coat could work with Spoink's high Special Defense, as it could take a special attack and land a surprise KO. Whirlwind could be used as a phazing move, but Spoink is too physically frail to use it well. Recycle and Oran Berry could work together as a gimmicky way to heal, but isn't the best option. Spoink learns Heal Bell but there are much better users of the move to consider. Lastly, Amnesia could be used to make Spoink almost inpenetrable from the special side, but it doesn't patch up its vulnerable Defense stat.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Pawniard can Pursuit Spoink for a KO and only fears a possible Hidden Power Fighting, making it a very solid check. Munchlax is very specially bulky and also runs Pursuit, meaning that it can work similarly to Pawniard. Vullaby can easily switch in and Whirlwind any boosting set and just wall any other set, but it needs to watch out for Trick. Wynaut couldan Encore any setup moves and revenge kill a Spoink usingthat use a Choice Scarf. Carvanha is a good way to revenge kill offensive Spoink sets, easily KOing with Crunch.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Spoink gets the ability Gluttony from the Dream World. If Salac Berry is released, it could work with the ability on a Calm Mind set, but without it Thick Fat is superior.</p>

Click to expand...

Changes in bold
Removals in red
Comments in bold red

[Overview]

<p>Spoink is an interesting Pokemon. While at first glance it may seem outclassed by Abra, with lower Special Attack and Speed, Spoink has much higher Special Defense and HP, allowing it to take a few hits, unlike its more powerful rival. Spoink still has a good Special Attack and decent Speed, along with a wide movepool. It can also support its team by setting up dual screens. Despite its slight inferiority complex, Spoink is a solid choice for a Little Cup team.</p>

[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Light Clay / Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Timid
evs: 196 HP / 76 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Thanks to its decent Speed and good special bulk, Spoink is a good dual screener that can often set up more than once, something Abra has trouble doing. Psychic is used alongside Reflect and Light Screen to allow Spoink to defend itself when needed, and does reasonable damage to most neutral targets. Thunder Wave is the best option for the fourth slot, as paralysis support can allow a slower teammate to set up and sweep. Light Clay is preferred for the extra turns it provides on the screens Spoink sets up, but Eviolite is an option to give Spoink some extra bulk. Some Pokemon don't need the extra turns to set up safely and sweep, meaning that Eviolite is often the better option.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Pawniard is the biggest obstacle in Spoink's way, as it can both use Pursuit to KO Spoink and use Brick Break to get rid of any screens that were set up. Gligar is a good teammate for Spoink, since it can both boost stats and force Pawniard to switch out and use the free turn to boost its stats. Houndour and Scraggy can both set up while resisting Dark- and Ghost-type attacks aimed at Spoink, allowing them to be great teammates as well. Lastly, Pawniard itself, along with Magnemite, have excellent synergy with Spoink, and each have ways of boosting their stats, allowing them to take advantage of dual screens.</p>

[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Timid
evs: 36 HP / 200 SpA / 40 SpD / 200 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Spoink is faster than Solosis and bulkier than Abra, meaning Spoink is best when played between the two extremes as a bulky but somewhat fast attacker. Calm Mind is Spoink's way to boost stats, making Psychic incredibly powerful. Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types and Misdreavus very hard, providing good coverage alongside Spoink's STAB move. In the last slot, Hidden Power Fighting is preferred for the ability to hit Dark- and Steel-types such as Scraggy and Ferroseed.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Spoink could use a Life Orb for more power, but Abra outclasses it as an all-out attacker. Likewise, a bulkier EV spread could be used for extra survivability but other Pokemon are better at that. Vullaby easily switches into Spoink and can use Whirlwind to ruin any stat boosts Spoink accumulates. Magnemite can cause major problems for Vullaby, making it a great teammate for Spoink. Carvanha can easily revenge kill Spoink with Crunch, so running a Timburr is a good way to check Carvanha. It also resists the Bug- and Dark-type moves frequently used against Spoink. Pawniard can revenge kill Spoink thanks to Sucker Punch, so Gligar is a good teammate to use as a check.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Modest
evs: 36 HP / 200 SpA / 40 SpD / 200 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Spoink reaches 22 Speed when holding a Choice Scarf, making it an effective revenge killer. Psychic is Spoink's main way of dealing damage as an STAB move, though it is dangerous to use if the opponent has a Pursuit user waiting. Shadow Ball is used to hit Psychic-types and Misdreavus, and Hidden Power Fighting is there for Dark- and Steel-types. Trick is used in the last slot to possibly cripple a defensive switch-in such as Vullaby for the rest of the match, and can catch a setup sweeper off guard in a pinch.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>This set is especially vulnerable to Pursuit from the likes of Munchlax, Stunky, and Pawniard, so teammates that can check these threats are appreciated. Scraggy can set up on Pursuit with its handy 4x resistance. Bulk Up Timburr can easily take advantage of Pawniard, using it as easy setup fodder if the opponent lacks Gligar. Wynaut is another major problem for Spoink, as it can come in on any move other than Trick and Mirror Coat for a clean KO.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Spoink has an incredible array of moves that haven't been mentioned, making it quite unpredictable. Psyshock is an alternative STAB move to hit specially defensive threats such as Munchlax harder, but it's a bit weaker than Psychic and therefore inferior otherwise. Signal Beam is a good option to hit Dark- and Psychic-types at the same time. Charge Beam could be used but Spoink has Calm Mind to boost its Special Attack anyway. Shock Wave would be better for a plain Electric-type move, but really only hits Slowpoke and Vullaby, meaning it usually isn't worth it. Power Gem is yet another special attack it gets but its only advantage would be to hit Houndour and Vullaby at the same time. Icy Wind is an option just because hitting Gligar is always helpful. Don't even bother with Grass Knot, as most Pokemon in Little Cup are much too light for it to do enough damage.</p>

<p>Spoink has an incredible support movepool as well. Magic Coat is good on everything that learns it, and Spoink is no exception to the rule. Toxic is a decent option to hit bulky Pokemon and is probably Spoink's best option against Vullaby. Taunt can be good on the dual screening set to deal with slower Pokemon also running Taunt. Confuse Ray is unreliable but can really ruin an opponent with some luck. Spoink could set up Trick Room, but the move is better left to slower Pokemon such as Bronzor and Solosis. Mirror Coat could work with Spoink's high Special Defense, as it could take a special attack and land a surprise KO. Whirlwind could be used as a phazing move, but Spoink is too physically frail to use it well. Recycle and Oran Berry could work together as a gimmicky way to heal, but isn't the best option. Spoink learns Heal Bell but there are much better users of the move to consider. Lastly, Amnesia could be used to make Spoink almost inpenetrable from the special side but doesn't patch up its vulnerable Defense stat.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Pawniard can Pursuit Spoink for a KO and only fears a possible Hidden Power Fighting, making it a very solid check. Munchlax is very specially bulky and also often runs Pursuit, meaning that it can work similarly to Pawniard. Vullaby can easily switch in and Whirlwind any boosting set and just wall any other set, but it needs to watch out for Trick. Wynaut could Encore any setup moves and revenge kill Spoink that use a Choice Scarf. Carvanha is a good way to revenge kill offensive Spoink sets, easily KOing with Crunch.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Spoink gets the ability Gluttony from the Dream World. If Salac Berry is released, it could work with the ability on a Calm Mind set, but without it Thick Fat is superior.</p>