[Overview]
<p>Cleffa is one of the weakest Pokémon in Little Cup, due to its generally mediocre stats. The most notable of Cleffa's flaws is its ability to die to almost just about every attack in Little Cup. This set uses just this downside to its advantage. Due to Cleffa's horrific stats, it usually dies in just 1 turn, but this set uses this ability along with Cleffa's Magic Guard to its advantage by getting at least 1 kill. Hail and Sandstorm help this set run effectively as they buffet the opponent and don't affect Cleffa, which allows it to get off a kill. (We aren't talking about a set here. This is a Overview. I'll rewrite for you so delete this entire paragraph and use the other one below.)</p>
<p>Cleffa is one of the weakest Pokémon in Little Cup, due to its generally mediocre stats. The most notable of Cleffa's flaws is its ability to die to just about every attack in Little Cup. Moreover, Cleffa cannot utilize a majority of its otherwise amazing movepool due to its low stats. However, access to the exclusive Magic Guard, which makes Cleffa immune to all indirect attacks, gives Cleffa a certain niche: as an annoying Endeavor user. Stay clear from this Pokemon unless you want to try something daring but new.</p>
[SET]
name: Endeavor
move 1: Endeavor
move 2: Protect
move 3:(space this)Toxic(space this)/(space this)Thunder Wave
move 4: Encore
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Hasty
evs: 8 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set takes advantage of Cleffa’s weak base stats in order to take down at least one Pokemon with it. and uses them in a manner such that Cleffa takes at least 1 Pokémon down with it. Cleffa's Magic Guard makes sure that it doesn't get affected by entry hazards such as Stealth Rock indirect damage from the likes of Stealth Rock, aside from letting its which allows Cleffa to keep its Focus Sash in tact. remained enabled through entry hazards, its ability also prevents it from getting affected by weather effects such as hail. In this case this is very important. Endeavor is to should be used on the first turn since with Cleffa's incredibly low Speed and defenses, it will likely be smashed down right off the bat. By then, Cleffa's Focus Sash will activate, and the opponent will be left with 1 HP, which is enough for it to be KOed by residual damage from hail or sandstorm. Protect allows Cleffa to scout for potential counters, such as Trick users, and also to look out for what move the opponent is using when Cleffa has no use left after using Endeavor. Both Toxic and Thunder Wave are useful for crippling Pokemon that are immune to Endeavor, hail, and/or sandstorm, such as Gastly, Swinub, and Diglett. Lastly, Encore can prevent opponents, such as Substitute and stat boosting users, from setting up on Cleffa. By doing this, Cleffa has another chance to KO the switch-in with Endeavor. since Cleffa has low speed EVs and a very low base Speed, it will get outsped and due to its 0 defense EVs, its Focus Sash will be activated. The 8 Speed EVs help be faster than minimum Speed Bronzor. This way endeavor will make sure that Cleffa's opponent is also left with 1 HP. This set can effective only if it is used in conjunction with Snover due to Snover's permanent hail, allowing the opponent to get buffeted by the hail and thus loose the last HP that it had remaining while Cleffa survives due to Magic guard. To counter setting up Pokémon, Endeavor can be highly effective, since if another Pokémon is switched in and it starts setting up, the same strategy can be used to Endeavor, allowing them to be at level HP of 1 and then letting hail KO the opponent, this would only happen on a rare occasion when the opponent decides to set up. The following examples can be applied with Hippopotas' Sandstorm too. The Attack EVs are present to allow for users to add an attacking move into the set as a replacement for Encore. (Wrong area, irrelevant/repetitive information, or in need of rewording.) </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>If in the rare case a user decides to set up on Cleffa, Encore helps lock the opponent on to the same move allowing Cleffa to have another free KO if a switch is not made. Toxic and Hail are just filler moves. During set up, aside from Encore, Toxic or Hail (if Snover is not used) can be used. (Most are in the wrong area.) Hail can be used over the third slot if hail isn't present, but finding time to use it is hard. It's better to just put Snover in your team and preserve its health throughout the match. This set not only works with Snover's hail, but also with Hippopotas's Sand Stream ability that causes a sandstorm. Sadly, there are more Pokemon immune to sandstorm than hail, making it a lesser option. The 8 Speed EVs allow Cleffa to outspeed and Endeavor Bronzor in case it switches in after Cleffa has taken down a Pokemon. Cleffa could act as support for either one of the sets, it won't change much. This set is one of the only viable sets that Cleffa can run effectively, due to its bad stats and its extraordinary ability to die to every threat in Little Cup.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>As the name of the set suggests, this set is weather support, so a Pokémon that sets up weather or has an ability that runs weather is a requirement for this set to work, with Snover’s permanent hail allowing Cleffa’s Magic Guard to work. Snover is mandatory to make this set work, due to its ability to setup permanent hail. Hail helps pick off every Pokemon excluding Ice-types after they have been Endeavored. Snover is not the only viable team option, as other Pokémon that have abilities of never-ending weather abilities such as Hippopotas's sandstorm is also a plausible teammate tool. Any Pokémon with Pluck, (comma) such as Taillow, (comma) would can be useful for countering Oran Berry users so that Cleffa's strategy doesn't get ruined., (remove comma) such as Taillow. To counter Oran Berry users, this way the Cleffa strategy can be used without being absolutely countered by Oran Berry. Oran berry is a highly used berry and this causes several problems for this set unless you have a Pokémon with Pluck. Due to this set being only requiring specific weather support, aside from weather setting up Pokémon, (remove comma) this set has no real necessary teammates.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Encore could be replaced by an attacking move, but in that case, Cleffa would become obvious set up bait. (It's one of the main options...) Cleffa has a great amount of other options, but sadly it can't make good use of them generally due to its pathetic Speed. Trick can be used to steal the opponent's item after Focus Sash has been used, but Cleffa will usually die before pulling it off. Wish has the same problem, but it can be awarding if there's time. With base 45 Special Attack, Cleffa could use special attacks such as Shadow Ball, Flamethrower, and Icy Wind, but it's better off destroying foes with Endeavor. Thunder Wave in conjunction with Swagger or Sweet Kiss can be annoying, and could even allow Cleffa to use Endeavor again. Lastly, if you're lucky enough, Sing can put a foe to sleep.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Cleffa being weak is easily countered by anything that is not affected by snow, such as another Snover. This would make Cleffa’s set absolutely ineffective and useless. Oran Berry is also a major counter for this set as Oran Berry is activated before hail and therefore the user will restore its health and the hail damage will be minimal and will allow Cleffa to get KO'd the next turn and again making the set useless. Ghost-types such as Gastly and Drifloon are extremely good the best counters to this set as they will are not be affected by Endeavor. (period) They can also use Substitute to block Cleffa's status moves and then attack, but they must beware of Encore. Oran Berry users are also major counters to Cleffa as the item activates before hail's damage takes effect, which allows the users to KO Cleffa afterward. Other "counters" are generally less effective as they will have their HP lowered to 1, but otherwise it's a step forward to defeating Cleffa. Pokemon immune to hail, such as Snover and Swinub, are decent counters to Cleffa. Likewise, Pokemon immune to sandstorm can counter Cleffa, but to a lesser degree as most Cleffa users do not pack Hippopotas. If you lack any of the mentioned counters, then the best option is to sacrifice your current Pokemon to take down Cleffa's Focus Sash and KO it with another Pokemon. and thus will let Cleffa die to any of their moves.</p>