Chinchou
Type:
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[Overview]
Chinchou used to be one of the best Water-Types in Generation 4. However, Generation 5 brought some new features that hamper its effectiveness. First of all, the new item Eviolite made opposing Pokémon much bulkier, significantly difficulting the possibility of a Chinchou sweep. Not only that, Generation 5 brought a very powerful enemy for Chinchou: Ferroseed. However, Chinchou still has excellent defensive and offensive typing, good stats and amazing coverage, meaning that it's still a solid choice to add to your team, being able to effectively run a Choice Scarf set, sweeping late game, opening holes or even acting as a defensive pivot to many threats.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Ice Beam / Hidden Power [Fire]
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 76 HP / 52 Def / 232 SpA / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This is probably the best set for Chinchou; by equipping a Choice Scarf, Chinchou can be an effective revenge killer, due to his excellent coverage, good speed, good special attack and powerful moves. Hydro Pump is used here for Water-type STAB, but you can use Surf if Hydro Pump's accuracy bothers you, but it's significantly weaker and you lose some important OHKOs, such as the one on Hippopotas. Volt Switch is one of Chinchou's new toys and it's great for scouting the foe's actions, as well as doing reasonable damage. Thunderbolt is the main Electric-type STAB, used to destroy Bulky Waters, as well as Flying Pokémon, who Chinchou can easily revenge. Ice Beam hits everything that Water + Electric can't hit, namely Grass- and Dragon-type pokémon. However, it does very poor damage to Ferroseed, a very common Chinchou switch-in, so you can use Hidden Power [Fire] to 2HKO it, but you'll be walled by the Dragons.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
The EV spread maximizes Chinchou's Special Attack for max damage output, while 144 EVs are invested in Speed to reach 15 Speed, which will turn into 22 due to the Choice Scarf, so that Chinchou can outspeed Dragon Dance Scraggy, Scarf Magnemite, Scarf Snover and others. The rest are invested into its HP and Defense. You can use more speed if you want, though. Chinchou can reach 24 Speed with a Modest nature and 25 with a Timid nature, but they don't outspeed relevant targets.
[SET]
name: Agillity
move 1: Agillity
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Ice Beam / Hidden Power [Fire]
item: Life Orb
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 76 HP / 52 Def / 232 SpA / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Chinchou can also work as a late game sweeper. By using Agillity, Chinchou reaches 30 Speed with the given EVs, outpacing even scarfed base 85 pokémon, such as Gligar and Misdreavus. It can, then, hammer the foe with a powerful STAB Hydro Pump backed by Life Orb. Water pokémon, who take little damage from Hydro Pump will be severely destroyed by STAB Thunderbolt. The last move is a toss up. Ice Beam is recommended because it is stronger and can hit Dragon-type pokémon such as Dratini, who would other wise walk over Chinchou, but Hidden Power [Fire] is useful to hit Ferroseed, who resists Chinchou's STABs and has big Special Defense to take poor damage from Ice Beam too. However, Hidden Power [Fire] still can't OHKO Ferroseed, so it's not recommended.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[OTHER OPTIONS]
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
[DREAM WORLD]
