Change/Addition
Removal
[Comment]
[Overview]
<p>Don't be fooled by Cinccino's cute and harmless appearance, for it is one of the most dangerous Pokemon in the RU tier. Its ability, Skill Link, allows it to make good use out of its signature move, Tail Slap, to hit harder than almost any Pokemon around. Thanks to Cinccino's use of multi-hit moves, not even Substitute and Focus Sash users are safe against it, which also allows Cinccino to be a great weapon against hail teams. It is also one of the fastest Pokemon in the tier, sitting at a high base 115 Speed, even outpacing the speedy Scolipede. On top of that, Cinccino has a decent Attack stat and a good movepool to work with. With all of these qualities, Cinccino is certainly a force to be reckoned with.</p>
<p>However, don't think that Cinccino is without its flaws. It has no way to deal with most Ghost- and Steel-types [It does have reliable ways to hit them super-effectively. Hidden Power, for instance. That's not what's relevant.], and for this reason, it often needs some support to work effectively. Additionally, Cinccino also has horrible defenses; 75 / 60 / 60 is nothing to write home about. However, don't let these flaws deter you from using Cinccino, as it is a powerhouse that is not to be underestimated.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Aqua Tail
item: Life Orb
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Cinccino's standard cleaning set. With its speed and power, it is sure to pull off a late-game sweep with ease. Its coverage also complements its cleaning ability as well. That said, Tail Slap is the STAB move of choice here, taking advantage of Skill Link and hitting for a massive 125 Base Power. Bullet Seed is the preferred coverage move, hitting Kabutops, Rhydon, and Quagsire for heavy damage. Rock Blast is a great move to use with Skill Link as well, hitting Moltres in addition to dealing decent damage to Escavalier. Finally, Aqua Tail is chosen to dent weakened Steelix and Aggron.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Maximum investment has gone into Attack and Speed to be as fast and powerful as possible. A Jolly nature is chosen in order to maximize Speed to work to fullest effect [The previous sentence says absolutely nothing. Please elaborate: what does a jolly nature allow you to outspeed?]. A Life Orb is the chosen item here to increase Cinccino's likelihood of successfully executing a sweep. A King's Rock is usable for its flinching chance, as with Cinccino's use of multi-hit moves and high Speed, it can cause many flinches; however, the loss in power without Life Orb is very noticeable. Finally, U-turn can be used to switch out of common counters such as Steelix and Spiritomb, but the Life Orb damage along with entry hazards will quickly rack up.</p>
<p>As Cinccino very often struggles with Steel-types, a Pokemon such as Magneton or Magmortar can be immensely helpful. The former can trap the Steel-types and eliminate them while the latter simply roasts them while providing overall good offensive synergy with Cinccino as well as absorbing Will-O-Wisp. Pursuit support from the likes of Spiritomb, Drapion, or Absol is great in order to eliminate Ghost-types such as Rotom and Misdreavus. Finally, entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Scolipede, Roselia, and Qwilfish aids Cinccino in nabbing certain KOs on some bulky Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set takes on a slightly different approach from the previous one. While a Life Orb provides Cinccino with late game sweeping prowess, a Choice Band allows Cinccino to break through most defensive cores. A Choice Band also does not wear down Cinccino as a Life Orb does. It can thus utilize U-turn more effectively, hence allowing it to serve as an effective hit-and-run attacker, thus putting pressure onto the team. This set also scores KOs on bulkier Pokemon such as Nidoqueen and Slowking.<p>
<p>Tail Slap is Cinccino's STAB move of choice, hitting with immense power against many Pokemon. Bullet Seed deals with Kabutops and Rhydon, while Rock Blast deals with Moltres and Braviary. Finally, U-turn serves as a scouting move to allow Cinccino to escape from its common switch-ins such as Steelix and Escavalier.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Jolly nature is chosen here to attain the most speed possible. [Again, anyone who plays competitive Pokemon knows what a Jolly nature does. Why use it over Adamant? What does it outspeed?] Choice Band allows Cincinno to deal with threats it would be unable to break through otherwise, while saving it from the recoil damage that comes with Life Orb. [If you want to specify which threats specifically it helps with, that would be grand. The sentence as it stood previously was woefully uninformative]. Skill Link is the chosen ability to get the most out of Cinccino's moves., given that Technician is significantly less useful as with it, Cinccino must rely to a much higher degree on luck. Technician, [Remove comma] can, [Add comma] however, be useful in some situations for the extra power provided in each hit. Aqua Tail is a usable option in the final moveslot to hit Steelix. However, because it can only achieve a 4HKO, it isn't particularly useful. An Adamant nature is a viable alternative if the extra power is needed, especially given that Cinccino still outspeeds base 100 Speed opponents such as Typhlosion and Charizard regardless. However, with an Adamant nature, Cinccino loses the ability to outspeed Archeops and Scolipede.</p>
<p>Cinccino will very often struggle with Steel and Ghost-types such as the aforementioned Escavalier, Steelix, and Spiritomb. This makes a Fire-type such as Entei or Moltres important, as they can severely damage the former, while absorbing Will-O-Wisp from the latter. Users of Pursuit, such as Spiritomb, Absol, and Drapion, are also very helpful to keep Ghost-types that scare Cinccino at bay. Magneton is also a good teammate, trapping Steel-types, while Volt Switch can allow it to form a VoltTurn core to keep up offensive momentum. For this reason along with attaining KOs, entry hazard support from the likes of Qwilfish, Smeargle, or Crustle is greatly appreciated. Qwilfish also serves to check the Fighting-types that may give Cinccino trouble.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Skill Link
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>As opposed to the previous set, this one functions more as an anti-lead and revenge killer. With Choice Scarf along with the multi-hit moves Cinccino packs, it can defeat common leads such as Aerodactyl and Accelgor. A Choice Scarf also grants Cinccino the ability to outspeed every Pokemon in the tier, as no Pokemon who runs the item is as fast as Cinccino.</p>
<p>Tail Slap is the preferred STAB move for its extra power over Return. Bullet Seed, as previously mentioned, is a great coverage move to maim incoming Kabutops and Rhydon for serious damage. Rock Blast serves to hit Aerodactyl and to a lesser extent Snover. Finally, U-turn is the chosen move in the final moveslot in order to scout common switch-ins, particularly Spiritomb and Steelix.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>An Adamant nature is chosen here because, with a Choice Scarf and Cinccino's high speed, a Jolly nature is unnecessary.. The Choice Scarf is the crux of this set, letting Cinccino fulfill its anti-lead role. As Cinccino sometimes may not hit hard enough, entry hazard support from the likes of Qwilfish or Smeargle is greatly appreciated, and the former can check Fighting-types quite well. A Fire-type such as Entei or Moltres is also useful to severely damage Steel-types while being able to safely take on Ghost-types. Alternatively, Magneton can trap the Steel-types and hit them while taking little damage from most Ghost-types, and its access to Volt Switch also allows it to keep offensive momentum. Finally, as previously mentioned, users of Pursuit, such as Absol, Drapion, and Spiritomb, are helpful to keep Ghost-types at bay.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Cinccino's list of other viable options is quite sparse. Sing may seem like a cool move due to its sleep inducing effect, but its horrible accuracy is a big letdown. Furthermore, Cinccino is too frail to make use of such moves and is better off attacking outright. Wake-Up Slap is an interesting move to hit Steel-types such as Aggron and Ferroseed, but the move is weak without the less reliable Technician. Return is more reliable than Tail Slap, but is significantly less powerful and gives up one of Cinccino's selling points, the safe removal of Smeargle and Snover. Knock Off can remove Eviolite from the likes of Munchlax and Ferroseed, but the move is weak and has little utility, and moreover, Ferroseed and Munchlax are not significant threats to begin with. Finally, Calm Mind is a usable move to boost Special Attack, along with a usable special movepool in Hyper Voice, Grass Knot, Thunderbolt, and Focus Blast, but Cinccino's low 65 Special Attack isn't doing it any favors.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Steel-types such as Steelix and Escavalier stand as Cinccino's greatest counters. The former takes little damage from any of Cinccino's attacks and can wear it down while the latter can come in and severely damage it with Megahorn. Ghost-types such as Spiritomb and Misdreavus also take little to nothing from any of Cinccino's attacks and can cripple it with Will-O-Wisp. Druddigon and Ferroseed can utilize their ability to come in on Tail Slap and wear down Cinccino quickly with Rough Skin and Iron Barbs, respectively, dealing damage for each hit of Tail Slap. Some faster opponents, such as Sceptile and priority users, can make quick work of Cinccino. Finally, Tangrowth can also take repeated onslaughts from Cinccino and either incapacitate it with Sleep Powder or repeatedly hit it with Giga Drain.</p>
Removal
[Comment]
[Overview]
<p>Don't be fooled by Cinccino's cute and harmless appearance, for it is one of the most dangerous Pokemon in the RU tier. Its ability, Skill Link, allows it to make good use out of its signature move, Tail Slap, to hit harder than almost any Pokemon around. Thanks to Cinccino's use of multi-hit moves, not even Substitute and Focus Sash users are safe against it, which also allows Cinccino to be a great weapon against hail teams. It is also one of the fastest Pokemon in the tier, sitting at a high base 115 Speed, even outpacing the speedy Scolipede. On top of that, Cinccino has a decent Attack stat and a good movepool to work with. With all of these qualities, Cinccino is certainly a force to be reckoned with.</p>
<p>However, don't think that Cinccino is without its flaws. It has no way to deal with most Ghost- and Steel-types [It does have reliable ways to hit them super-effectively. Hidden Power, for instance. That's not what's relevant.], and for this reason, it often needs some support to work effectively. Additionally, Cinccino also has horrible defenses; 75 / 60 / 60 is nothing to write home about. However, don't let these flaws deter you from using Cinccino, as it is a powerhouse that is not to be underestimated.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Aqua Tail
item: Life Orb
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Cinccino's standard cleaning set. With its speed and power, it is sure to pull off a late-game sweep with ease. Its coverage also complements its cleaning ability as well. That said, Tail Slap is the STAB move of choice here, taking advantage of Skill Link and hitting for a massive 125 Base Power. Bullet Seed is the preferred coverage move, hitting Kabutops, Rhydon, and Quagsire for heavy damage. Rock Blast is a great move to use with Skill Link as well, hitting Moltres in addition to dealing decent damage to Escavalier. Finally, Aqua Tail is chosen to dent weakened Steelix and Aggron.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Maximum investment has gone into Attack and Speed to be as fast and powerful as possible. A Jolly nature is chosen in order to maximize Speed to work to fullest effect [The previous sentence says absolutely nothing. Please elaborate: what does a jolly nature allow you to outspeed?]. A Life Orb is the chosen item here to increase Cinccino's likelihood of successfully executing a sweep. A King's Rock is usable for its flinching chance, as with Cinccino's use of multi-hit moves and high Speed, it can cause many flinches; however, the loss in power without Life Orb is very noticeable. Finally, U-turn can be used to switch out of common counters such as Steelix and Spiritomb, but the Life Orb damage along with entry hazards will quickly rack up.</p>
<p>As Cinccino very often struggles with Steel-types, a Pokemon such as Magneton or Magmortar can be immensely helpful. The former can trap the Steel-types and eliminate them while the latter simply roasts them while providing overall good offensive synergy with Cinccino as well as absorbing Will-O-Wisp. Pursuit support from the likes of Spiritomb, Drapion, or Absol is great in order to eliminate Ghost-types such as Rotom and Misdreavus. Finally, entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Scolipede, Roselia, and Qwilfish aids Cinccino in nabbing certain KOs on some bulky Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set takes on a slightly different approach from the previous one. While a Life Orb provides Cinccino with late game sweeping prowess, a Choice Band allows Cinccino to break through most defensive cores. A Choice Band also does not wear down Cinccino as a Life Orb does. It can thus utilize U-turn more effectively, hence allowing it to serve as an effective hit-and-run attacker, thus putting pressure onto the team. This set also scores KOs on bulkier Pokemon such as Nidoqueen and Slowking.<p>
<p>Tail Slap is Cinccino's STAB move of choice, hitting with immense power against many Pokemon. Bullet Seed deals with Kabutops and Rhydon, while Rock Blast deals with Moltres and Braviary. Finally, U-turn serves as a scouting move to allow Cinccino to escape from its common switch-ins such as Steelix and Escavalier.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Jolly nature is chosen here to attain the most speed possible. [Again, anyone who plays competitive Pokemon knows what a Jolly nature does. Why use it over Adamant? What does it outspeed?] Choice Band allows Cincinno to deal with threats it would be unable to break through otherwise, while saving it from the recoil damage that comes with Life Orb. [If you want to specify which threats specifically it helps with, that would be grand. The sentence as it stood previously was woefully uninformative]. Skill Link is the chosen ability to get the most out of Cinccino's moves., given that Technician is significantly less useful as with it, Cinccino must rely to a much higher degree on luck. Technician, [Remove comma] can, [Add comma] however, be useful in some situations for the extra power provided in each hit. Aqua Tail is a usable option in the final moveslot to hit Steelix. However, because it can only achieve a 4HKO, it isn't particularly useful. An Adamant nature is a viable alternative if the extra power is needed, especially given that Cinccino still outspeeds base 100 Speed opponents such as Typhlosion and Charizard regardless. However, with an Adamant nature, Cinccino loses the ability to outspeed Archeops and Scolipede.</p>
<p>Cinccino will very often struggle with Steel and Ghost-types such as the aforementioned Escavalier, Steelix, and Spiritomb. This makes a Fire-type such as Entei or Moltres important, as they can severely damage the former, while absorbing Will-O-Wisp from the latter. Users of Pursuit, such as Spiritomb, Absol, and Drapion, are also very helpful to keep Ghost-types that scare Cinccino at bay. Magneton is also a good teammate, trapping Steel-types, while Volt Switch can allow it to form a VoltTurn core to keep up offensive momentum. For this reason along with attaining KOs, entry hazard support from the likes of Qwilfish, Smeargle, or Crustle is greatly appreciated. Qwilfish also serves to check the Fighting-types that may give Cinccino trouble.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Tail Slap
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Skill Link
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>As opposed to the previous set, this one functions more as an anti-lead and revenge killer. With Choice Scarf along with the multi-hit moves Cinccino packs, it can defeat common leads such as Aerodactyl and Accelgor. A Choice Scarf also grants Cinccino the ability to outspeed every Pokemon in the tier, as no Pokemon who runs the item is as fast as Cinccino.</p>
<p>Tail Slap is the preferred STAB move for its extra power over Return. Bullet Seed, as previously mentioned, is a great coverage move to maim incoming Kabutops and Rhydon for serious damage. Rock Blast serves to hit Aerodactyl and to a lesser extent Snover. Finally, U-turn is the chosen move in the final moveslot in order to scout common switch-ins, particularly Spiritomb and Steelix.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>An Adamant nature is chosen here because, with a Choice Scarf and Cinccino's high speed, a Jolly nature is unnecessary.. The Choice Scarf is the crux of this set, letting Cinccino fulfill its anti-lead role. As Cinccino sometimes may not hit hard enough, entry hazard support from the likes of Qwilfish or Smeargle is greatly appreciated, and the former can check Fighting-types quite well. A Fire-type such as Entei or Moltres is also useful to severely damage Steel-types while being able to safely take on Ghost-types. Alternatively, Magneton can trap the Steel-types and hit them while taking little damage from most Ghost-types, and its access to Volt Switch also allows it to keep offensive momentum. Finally, as previously mentioned, users of Pursuit, such as Absol, Drapion, and Spiritomb, are helpful to keep Ghost-types at bay.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Cinccino's list of other viable options is quite sparse. Sing may seem like a cool move due to its sleep inducing effect, but its horrible accuracy is a big letdown. Furthermore, Cinccino is too frail to make use of such moves and is better off attacking outright. Wake-Up Slap is an interesting move to hit Steel-types such as Aggron and Ferroseed, but the move is weak without the less reliable Technician. Return is more reliable than Tail Slap, but is significantly less powerful and gives up one of Cinccino's selling points, the safe removal of Smeargle and Snover. Knock Off can remove Eviolite from the likes of Munchlax and Ferroseed, but the move is weak and has little utility, and moreover, Ferroseed and Munchlax are not significant threats to begin with. Finally, Calm Mind is a usable move to boost Special Attack, along with a usable special movepool in Hyper Voice, Grass Knot, Thunderbolt, and Focus Blast, but Cinccino's low 65 Special Attack isn't doing it any favors.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Steel-types such as Steelix and Escavalier stand as Cinccino's greatest counters. The former takes little damage from any of Cinccino's attacks and can wear it down while the latter can come in and severely damage it with Megahorn. Ghost-types such as Spiritomb and Misdreavus also take little to nothing from any of Cinccino's attacks and can cripple it with Will-O-Wisp. Druddigon and Ferroseed can utilize their ability to come in on Tail Slap and wear down Cinccino quickly with Rough Skin and Iron Barbs, respectively, dealing damage for each hit of Tail Slap. Some faster opponents, such as Sceptile and priority users, can make quick work of Cinccino. Finally, Tangrowth can also take repeated onslaughts from Cinccino and either incapacitate it with Sleep Powder or repeatedly hit it with Giga Drain.</p>
I was a little disappointed with the lack of detail. In many cases, your explanations of the reasons for using certain items or abilities were limited to mere descriptions of their effects (Jolly nature serves to increase speed; Life Orb serves to increase power). In the future, keep in mind the opportunity cost of using one item or ability over another. We all know that Jolly increases speed. What matters is why I would use it over Adamant. This is just something to keep in mind for future analyses.
With these changes,
GP Approved 2/2
