Cinccino
QC: 3/3 (Arikado, Spirit, galbia)
GP: 2/2 (P Squared, SM979)
Overview
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RU is not a kind metagame for Cinccino. Its mediocre base 95 Attack and inability to remotely dent Steel-types leave it outclassed by nearly all other offensive Pokemon in the tier. Cinccino is also extremely frail with an awful defensive typing, meaning it can only enter the battlefield on a free switch. Being Normal-type and having low Defense also makes Cinccino complete bait to Mach Punch users, particularly Hitmonlee and Gurdurr. Fortunately, because Cinccino has a vast array of multi-hit attacks, it is adept at breaking through foes that rely on Focus Sash and Sturdy. This makes Cinccino a decent anti-lead, preventing the likes of Omastar and Crustle from setting up entry hazards. A blistering base 115 Speed also means Cinccino will nearly always strike first, allowing it to function as a late-game sweeper if it needs to.
Physical Attacker
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name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Knock Off / U-turn
ability: Skill Link
item: Choice Band / Life Orb
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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Tail Slap is a strong STAB attack that can reliably break Focus Sashes and Substitutes. Bullet Seed hits Rock-types such as Rhyperior and Omastar for solid damage. Rock Blast takes down Crustle as well as Flying- and Fire-types such as Golbat and Delphox. Knock Off hits Ghost-types such as Cofagrigus and is a good move in general for removing foes' items. Alternatively, U-turn can be used to bail Cinccino out of a bad matchup and maintain momentum for your team.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack and Speed investment is necessary so that Cinccino can hit as hard and as quickly as possible. A Jolly nature allows Cinccino to outspeed fast Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Cobalion, Durant, and Virizion. Choice Band maximizes Cinccino's damage output, while Life Orb can be used if the ability to switch attacks is preferred. However, the recoil from Life Orb will wear Cinccino down very quickly. Moreover, Choice Band gives Cinccino a high chance to OHKO standard Crustle with Rock Blast, while it will rarely OHKO Crustle when holding Life Orb. Skill Link allows Tail Slap, Bullet Seed, and Rock Blast to always hit five times, thus maximizing their damage output.
Usage Tips
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If the opponent packs an obvious entry hazard lead such as Omastar or Crustle, lead with Cinccino and break the foe's Focus Sash with the appropriate move. Upon defeating the opponent's lead, feel free to preserve Cinccino for the late-game. Once in the late-game, however, do not switch Cinccino into anything; only bring it into the battlefield on a free switch. Moreover, be sure to significantly weaken opposing Steel-types and physical walls before attempting a sweep, as Cinccino struggles to get past them. If you predict the foe will switch out, use U-turn or Knock Off on the switch to maintain momentum or directly punish the switch-in, respectively.
Team Options
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Fire- and Fighting-types such as Delphox and Hitmonlee will annihilate the Steel-types that give Cinccino significant trouble. Pokemon that resist Fighting such as Aromatisse and Doublade can easily absorb Mach Punch from the likes of Hitmonlee and Gurdurr. Entry hazard setters such as Cobalion and Qwilfish will give Cinccino an easier time landing KOs. A slow U-turn or Volt Switch user such as Eelektross can be used to safely bring Cinccino into the battlefield. Dugtrio can trap and heavily damage Steel-types, such as Mega Steelix, Cobalion, and Magneton. A Dark-type such as Drapion or Houndoom checks the Ghost-types that are immune to Cinccino's Tail Slap. Pursuit support from the likes of Skuntank and Spiritomb can trap Doublade as well. Pokemon susceptible to entry hazards, such as Fletchinder, appreciate Cinccino's ability to thwart opposing entry hazard leads.
Other Options
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An Adamant nature gives Cinccino a bit more attack power, but its ability to outspeed Virizion and Heliolisk is too critical to pass up. King's Rock gives Cinccino's multi-hit moves a 41% chance to cause a foe to flinch, but the loss in power is noticeable. Moreover, the item is extremely unreliable and frowned upon in a competitive setting. Choice Scarf makes Cinccino an extremely fast revenge killer, but such a set lacks power and priority, so other dedicated revenge killers such as Fletchinder are better suited for the role. Wake-Up Slap gives Cinccino a chance against Steel-types, but even then, the move usually does not hit hard enough. Aqua Tail hits Mega Steelix super effectively, but the move is still a 4HKO at best. Thunder Wave can cripple fast Steel-types such as Cobalion and Durant, but Cinccino must hit them on the switch or hope for full paralysis in order to stay alive. Sing gives Cinccino a way to cripple Doublade, but the move's paltry 55% accuracy means it is unreliable outside of hitting Doublade.
Checks & Counters
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**Steel-types**: Cobalion, Mega Steelix, Escavalier, and Durant all resist Cinccino's Tail Slap and are physically bulky enough to take a neutral hit from any of Cinccino's coverage moves. In return, they can all set up on Cinccino or OHKO it outright.
**Priority Attackers**: Due to Cinccino's frailty, it is very prone to being picked off by strong priority moves. In particular, Hitmonlee and Gurdurr both OHKO Cinccino with a STAB Mach Punch. Other priority attackers that can severely dent Cinccino include Mega Abomasnow, Fletchinder, and Shiftry.
**Physical Tanks**: Physically bulky Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Granbull can avoid the 2HKO from Cinccino's Tail Slap and deal serious damage back to it.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Doublade, Spiritomb, Mega Banette, and Cofagrigus are all immune to Cinccino's Tail Slap. However, Doublade and Cofagrigus dislike being hit with Knock Off.
**Passive Damage**: Defensive Druddigon deters Cinccino from using Tail Slap with the combination of Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet. Entry hazard damage and Life Orb recoil wear Cinccino down quickly as well.
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