Crux
Banned deucer.
[Overview]
<p>Aipom is one of the best leads in the Little Cup metagame thanks to Fake Out and its high base Attack. While it is often overshadowed by Meowth, who functions similarly as a lead, Aipom’s higher Attack stat allows it to beat common leads such as Snover and Machop much more efficiently. Aipom is also bulkier than Meowth, and this additional survivability can prove to be crucial. Aipom's role as one of only three Pokémon in Little Cup who can Baton Pass Nasty Plot boosts is worth a mention too, placing it in a unique niche in the metagame.</p>
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return
move 3: Brick Break / Seed Bomb
move 4: Shadow Claw / U-turn
item: Oran Berry / Life Orb
nature: Jolly
ability: Pickup
evs: 72 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set allows Aipom to beat many common leads. However, one of Aipom’s main advantages is that it can function effectively outside of the lead slot, as its high Attack and Speed allow it to function effectively late game as a revenge killer. The combination of STAB Fake Out and Return is enough to KO many Pokemon. U-turn allows Aipom to scout for threats and counters, though Aipom generally prefers a second coverage move.</p>
<p>Fake Out is a superb priority move that Aipom can use to gain an advantage early in the match and revenge kill later. Brick Break OHKOes Houndour and Pawniard, and has a slim chance to OHKO Snover, while also 2HKOing Kabuto and Omanyte, which often forces them to pick between whether to attack you or to set up Stealth Rock. Seed Bomb can beat the two Rock / Water-types outright, however. Shadow Claw OHKOes Gastly and Shuppet, who are both slower than Aipom. Shadow Claw can also KO Drifloon, and 2HKOes Duskull through Oran Berry, though it doesn't do much damage to Frillish.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Brick Break is generally a better move than Seed Bomb due to better coverage. However, Seed Bomb does allow Aipom to OHKO some Pokemon that would only be 2HKOed if Brick Break were used instead. Using U-turn does result in a drop in type coverage, but it is a viable option. In terms of items, Oran Berry provides better survivability and improves Aipom’s effectiveness late game, whilst Life Orb gives a boost in power, allowing Aipom to hit harder. Aipom needs to run Jolly to reach the all-important 19 Speed, tying with Meowth and Misdreavus.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Nasty Plot / Work Up
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Return
move 4: Shadow Ball / Shadow Claw
item: Oran Berry / Focus Sash
nature: Timid
ability: Pickup
evs: 200 SpA / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Aipom has a fairly unique niche, in that it is one of only three Pokemon that can Baton Pass Nasty Plot boosts. Of those three, it is the only one with enough Speed and bulk to actually utilize Baton Pass effectively. Aipom’s naturally high Speed allows it to attempt a sweep in the event that it is unable to pass the Nasty Plot boost to another Pokemon. The combination of Hidden Power Fighting and Shadow Ball allows for great neutral coverage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit Gligar, whilst Swift is Aipom's only special STAB move. Work Up is a viable option, because it allows Aipom to pass to a mixed or physical sweeper; however, by running Work Up, Aipom loses its niche. If running Work Up, Shadow Claw and Return both become viable options. Oran Berry and Focus Sash both give Aipom greater survivability and allow it to pull off a boost or a sweep. This set has trouble with Taunt users and phazers such as Hippopotas, so make sure you can dispatch them beforehand.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p> U-turn is generally not a good choice due to its coverage, and coverage is something that Aipom needs in order to be effective. Rain Dance could be used on the lead set due to Aipom’s good Speed and access to Fake Out, thus setting up a sweep for a teammate. Aipom could also utilize a Choice set, but it generally doesn’t have enough power to pull it off. STAB Swift could be effective on the Nasty Plot set, but it doesn't give very good coverage. Ice Punch could be used to hit Gligar, who otherwise walls Aipom.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>Most bulky Choice Scarf users can effectively beat Aipom as they don’t take much damage from Fake Out. Timburr and Mienshao KO with super effective STAB attacks. The same goes for Mankey and Machop, who outspeed and OHKO it when using a Scarf. Ferroseed and Bronzor are bulky enough to set up on Aipom, while Gligar walls it fairly effectively unless Aipom runs Ice Punch. Duskull and Misdreavus are immune to Aipom’s STAB and can generally survive a Shadow Claw, threatening it with Will-O-Wisp.</p>
[DREAM WORLD]
<p>Aipom gains access to Skill Link through the Dream World. This allows Aipom to abuse STAB Fury Swipes, but is otherwise useless, and Pickup is a superior ability anyway, especially with the ubiquity of Oran Berry.</p>
<p>Aipom is one of the best leads in the Little Cup metagame thanks to Fake Out and its high base Attack. While it is often overshadowed by Meowth, who functions similarly as a lead, Aipom’s higher Attack stat allows it to beat common leads such as Snover and Machop much more efficiently. Aipom is also bulkier than Meowth, and this additional survivability can prove to be crucial. Aipom's role as one of only three Pokémon in Little Cup who can Baton Pass Nasty Plot boosts is worth a mention too, placing it in a unique niche in the metagame.</p>
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return
move 3: Brick Break / Seed Bomb
move 4: Shadow Claw / U-turn
item: Oran Berry / Life Orb
nature: Jolly
ability: Pickup
evs: 72 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set allows Aipom to beat many common leads. However, one of Aipom’s main advantages is that it can function effectively outside of the lead slot, as its high Attack and Speed allow it to function effectively late game as a revenge killer. The combination of STAB Fake Out and Return is enough to KO many Pokemon. U-turn allows Aipom to scout for threats and counters, though Aipom generally prefers a second coverage move.</p>
<p>Fake Out is a superb priority move that Aipom can use to gain an advantage early in the match and revenge kill later. Brick Break OHKOes Houndour and Pawniard, and has a slim chance to OHKO Snover, while also 2HKOing Kabuto and Omanyte, which often forces them to pick between whether to attack you or to set up Stealth Rock. Seed Bomb can beat the two Rock / Water-types outright, however. Shadow Claw OHKOes Gastly and Shuppet, who are both slower than Aipom. Shadow Claw can also KO Drifloon, and 2HKOes Duskull through Oran Berry, though it doesn't do much damage to Frillish.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Brick Break is generally a better move than Seed Bomb due to better coverage. However, Seed Bomb does allow Aipom to OHKO some Pokemon that would only be 2HKOed if Brick Break were used instead. Using U-turn does result in a drop in type coverage, but it is a viable option. In terms of items, Oran Berry provides better survivability and improves Aipom’s effectiveness late game, whilst Life Orb gives a boost in power, allowing Aipom to hit harder. Aipom needs to run Jolly to reach the all-important 19 Speed, tying with Meowth and Misdreavus.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Nasty Plot / Work Up
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Return
move 4: Shadow Ball / Shadow Claw
item: Oran Berry / Focus Sash
nature: Timid
ability: Pickup
evs: 200 SpA / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Aipom has a fairly unique niche, in that it is one of only three Pokemon that can Baton Pass Nasty Plot boosts. Of those three, it is the only one with enough Speed and bulk to actually utilize Baton Pass effectively. Aipom’s naturally high Speed allows it to attempt a sweep in the event that it is unable to pass the Nasty Plot boost to another Pokemon. The combination of Hidden Power Fighting and Shadow Ball allows for great neutral coverage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit Gligar, whilst Swift is Aipom's only special STAB move. Work Up is a viable option, because it allows Aipom to pass to a mixed or physical sweeper; however, by running Work Up, Aipom loses its niche. If running Work Up, Shadow Claw and Return both become viable options. Oran Berry and Focus Sash both give Aipom greater survivability and allow it to pull off a boost or a sweep. This set has trouble with Taunt users and phazers such as Hippopotas, so make sure you can dispatch them beforehand.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p> U-turn is generally not a good choice due to its coverage, and coverage is something that Aipom needs in order to be effective. Rain Dance could be used on the lead set due to Aipom’s good Speed and access to Fake Out, thus setting up a sweep for a teammate. Aipom could also utilize a Choice set, but it generally doesn’t have enough power to pull it off. STAB Swift could be effective on the Nasty Plot set, but it doesn't give very good coverage. Ice Punch could be used to hit Gligar, who otherwise walls Aipom.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>Most bulky Choice Scarf users can effectively beat Aipom as they don’t take much damage from Fake Out. Timburr and Mienshao KO with super effective STAB attacks. The same goes for Mankey and Machop, who outspeed and OHKO it when using a Scarf. Ferroseed and Bronzor are bulky enough to set up on Aipom, while Gligar walls it fairly effectively unless Aipom runs Ice Punch. Duskull and Misdreavus are immune to Aipom’s STAB and can generally survive a Shadow Claw, threatening it with Will-O-Wisp.</p>
[DREAM WORLD]
<p>Aipom gains access to Skill Link through the Dream World. This allows Aipom to abuse STAB Fury Swipes, but is otherwise useless, and Pickup is a superior ability anyway, especially with the ubiquity of Oran Berry.</p>