QC - Rowan / Fiend / Tahu
GP - Mr. Uncompetitive / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Surskit owns the title of being the fastest Sticky Web setter in Little Cup due to its ability to reach the 17 Speed benchmark, allowing it to outspeed a lot of the unboosted meta. Not only does Surskit have access to Sticky Web, but it also has an assortment of supportive and offensive options such as Ice Beam, Giga Drain, Haze, and Baton Pass at its disposal. However, Surskit is quite weak due to its low base stats bar its Speed, with a lackluster Special Attack stat that only reaches the 14 benchmark and poor natural bulk. Bug and Water is also a relatively weak defensive typing, making Surskit vulnerable to the tier's multitude of Electric- and Flying-types. Surskit also loses to many common entry hazard setters and removers such as Vullaby and Onix, making it harder for it to set up Sticky Web while also forcing the player to use Surskit conservatively until all entry hazard removers are eliminated. While Sticky Web is an invaluable asset for teams dedicated to using it to its full potential, it can be difficult to utilize if the opposing team has naturally slow Pokemon such as Munchlax, airborne Pokemon such as Gastly and Vullaby, or Pokemon that can take advantage of the Speed drop such as Snivy and Pawniard.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web Setter
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Hydro Pump / Scald
move 3: Giga Drain / Ice Beam
move 4: Haze / Thief
item: Focus Sash
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Timid
evs: 36 HP / 20 Def / 196 SpA / 20 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Surskit's main role in Little Cup is a Sticky Web setter, thus Sticky Web is crucial for this set. Hydro Pump is a strong Water-type STAB move that Surskit can utilize. It also has a high chance to knock Eviolite variants of Drilbur out, but its 80% accuracy makes the move somewhat unreliable. Scald is an alternative to Hydro Pump for a Water-type STAB move that also has a 30% chance to burn at the expense of less power. Giga Drain provides Surskit a way to deal with Water-types such as Omanyte, Staryu, and Shellder while also doubling as a form of recovery. Ice Beam is a coverage option over Giga Drain that enables Surskit to deal with Grass-types such as Cottonee, Snivy, and Foongus as well as Defog users such as Vullaby. Lastly, Haze allows Surskit to prevent Pokemon such as Spritzee and Pawniard from using it as setup fodder. Since Surskit is almost always going to consume its Focus Sash, Thief can be used to steal away the foe's item before fainting, which ultimately cripples it. Protect also can be utilized, since it protects Surskit from Fake Out users such as Meowth, Mienfoo, and Aipom, which allows Surskit's Focus Sash to stay intact.
Set Details
========
This EV spread maximizes Surskit's Special Attack and Speed stat, which allows Surskit to get out Sticky Web as fast as possible while dealing as much damage as it can. A Timid nature allows Surskit to reach the 17 Speed benchmark, outspeeding threats such as Chinchou and Vullaby. The remainder of the EVs are thrown into HP, Defense, and Special Defense for a bit more added bulk. Lastly, Focus Sash is the item of choice, since it guarantees that Sticky Web will be on the field in most scenarios.
Usage Tips
========
Surskit is almost always going to function as a suicide lead where it sets up Sticky Web, damages the foe with Scald, Giga Drain, or Ice Beam, or steals away the foe's item with Thief and then faints. Sticky Web is important to have on the field if the opponent has popular Choice Scarf users such as Drilbur and Magnemite or fast revenge killers such as Abra, as it can give your team more breathing room. However, do note that Surskit may not be worth leading with if the opposing team has entry hazard removers such as Staryu, Archen, and Vullaby, since they can easily remove Sticky Web once Surskit faints. If the opposing team has airborne Pokemon such as Doduo and Rufflet, naturally slower Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Croagunk, or Pokemon that can take advantage of Sticky Web such as Pawniard and Snivy, then it is best not to set up Sticky Web because it either loses its value or benefits the opposing team more. If you do end up conserving Surskit, it can function as a decent revenge killer due to its high Speed stat.
Team Options
========
Ghost-types such as Pumpkaboo-S and Gastly are fantastic partners for Surskit due to their ability to block Rapid Spin, which ultimately keeps Sticky Web on the field. Slower attackers such as Corphish, Cranidos, Life Orb Bunnelby, and Croagunk all appreciate being able to outspeed faster threats such as Diglett, Carvanha, and Aipom by virtue of Sticky Web. Gastly and Snivy also appreciate Sticky Web, since they do not have to worry about being revenge killed by Choice Scarf Mienfoo or Abra. Abra also appreciates Sticky Web because makes it capable of outspeeding many popular Choice Scarf users such as Magnemite and Drilbur, which prevents them from revenge killing Abra after its Focus Sash breaks. Abra also has the capability to revenge kill Snivy. Pawniard appreciates the Speed drop on faster threats such as Ponyta and Diglett while also being able to deal with Defog users such as Vullaby that may attempt to remove Sticky Web from the field. Fighting-types such as Timburr, Mienfoo, and Scraggy can knock out or threaten Pawniard with Fighting-type STAB moves, which allows Surskit to set up Sticky Web without having to be afraid of giving it an Attack boost. Cottonee can also cripple setup move users such as Munchlax and Calm Mind Spritzee with Encore that can take advantage of Surskit, which also provides more opportunities to set up Sticky Web.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Signal Beam is a Bug-type STAB move that is a decent option over Ice Beam and also deals with Grass-types. While Ice Beam does not receive STAB, it hits a wider range threats for super effective damage such as Foongus and Vullaby. Psybeam and Hidden Power Fire are other coverage options that help remedy Surskit's weakness to Croagunk and Ferroseed specifically. These two options are very situational because they only hit those two Pokemon, so only use them if your team lacks a check to these Pokemon. Surskit can afford to run a Swift Swim set, since it can set up Rain Dance easily due to its high Speed. However, Surskit is outclassed by Omanyte and Kabuto as a Swift Swim user due to its low offensive stats. Baton Pass + Agility is another option, allowing Surskit to Baton Pass a Speed boost to slower Pokemon such as Pawniard, Mudbray, and Corphish. Baton Pass also functions as a pivoting tool for Surskit to escape unfavorable matchups against Chinchou or Croagunk. However, Surskit must sacrifice its coverage options for Baton Pass or Agility, which is generally not worth it; Sticky Web also performs a similar function to Speed passing. Icy Wind is an option that can be used over Ice Beam for the added utility of slowing down airborne targets. The power loss is very significant, though, and Sticky Web also performs a similar function but to a lesser audience. Aqua Jet can be utilized since it allows Surskit to damage faster Pokemon such as Ponyta and Choice Scarf Mudbray before falling. It also can be used to help beat Sturdy or Focus Sash on Pokemon such as Abra and Tirtouga.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Entry Hazard Removers**: Defog users such as Vullaby and Archen can remove Sticky Web while being able to ignore the Speed drop. Archen and Vullaby have the potential to knock out Surskit if its Focus Sash was broken prior. Alolan Sandshrew, Drilbur, and Staryu are Rapid Spin users that can also easily remove Sticky Web once Surskit is knocked out.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Mareanie, Munchlax, and Ferroseed can easily switch in on Surskit due to its naturally low offensive stats, which allows them to take multiple hits from it. Munchlax can also take advantage of Surskit by using it as setup fodder.
**Multi-hit Move Users**: Pikipek, Shellder, Onix, and Aipom all function as fantastic anti-leads to Surskit due to their access to multi-hit moves in Bullet Seed, Rock Blast, and Fury Swipes that bypass Surskit's Focus Sash. Aipom outspeeds Surskit and is able to knock it out with Fury Swipes. Surskit Speed ties with Onix and non-Choice Scarf Pikipek, and Life Orb Pikipek variants are able to knock Surskit out with Bullet Seed. Meanwhile, Onix and Shellder must land at least three Rock Blast hits to guarantee a knock out on Surskit. However Onix, Shellder, and Pikipek must be wary of a Scald burn or Giga Drain if Surskit does survive.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Cottonee, Mienfoo, Aipom, and Onix can prevent Surskit from setting up Sticky Web from the beginning. However, Cottonee must be wary of Ice Beam, while Onix and Mienfoo must be wary of Scald and Hydro Pump. Onix also risks a Speed tie with Surskit.
**Pawniard**: Pawniard can take advantage of the Speed drop from Sticky Web by receiving a +2 boost to its Attack via Defiant. Pawniard also does not mind the Speed drop due to its access to Sucker Punch.
**Snivy**: Snivy benefits from Sticky Web by virtue of its ability Contrary, giving it a free +1 Speed boost, which increases its potential to sweep teams. However, Snivy does have to worry about a potential Ice Beam or Signal Beam from Surskit.
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