[Overview]
<p>Trapinch, though often overlooked in Little Cup, actually boasts one of the highest Attack stats in the metagame, with an astounding base 100. That amazing Attack stat is sadly backed by an abysmal Base 10 Speed, which prevents it from being a great physical sweeper. However, its stats are perfect for Trick Room, an environment where Trapinch absolutely thrives. Its typing also gives it STAB on Earthquake, one of the best, most reliable attacks in the game. Unfortunately, that's where the list of good things ends. Trapinch has a terrible movepool that limits it to only a few viable moves, and unlike Cubone, another Ground-type Trick Room sweeper, Trapinch does not have an item that can double its Attack, so it cannot hit as hard as Cubone in most cases. However, if you want one of the fastest Pokemon in Trick Room, look no further than this little antlion.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Life Orb
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Brave
evs: 200 Atk / 240 SpA
ivs: 3 HP / 2 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set gives Trapinch the best chance at a sweep. In Trick Room, the only Pokemon in Little Cup that can "outspeed" it is minimum Speed Munchlax. Earthquake is an incredible STAB attack coming off of 20 Attack, and Rock Slide allows Trapinch to attain "EdgeQuake" coverage, resisted only by the uncommon Bronzor. Crunch is perfect for Ghost-types and Slowpoke, easily OHKOing Misdreavus without Eviolite and Gastly while netting a 2HKO on Slowpoke. Finally, Hidden Power Fire gives Trapinch a super effective hit on Ferroseed, a Pokemon that would otherwise wall this set cold.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Life Orb boosts the power of Trapinch's attacks, and is absolutely necessary in order for Trapinch to hit as hard as it possibly can. The EVs also help with this, maximizing Trapinch's Attack and Special Attack while providing an extra point to Special Defense. Arena Trap allows Trapinch to trap and KO Stunky as well as Electric-types such as Chinchou. Trick Room supporters are absolutely necessary for this set to function properly, and Bronzor and Slowpoke are two of the finest. Other Trick Room sweepers are good too, and special sweepers are best used with Trapinch to systematically destroy all forms of opposing defense. Litwick is a premier example of a special Trick Room sweeper than can quickly inflict a lot of damage.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Given Trapinch's awful movepool, it doesn't really have a lot of other options to run. It has Bug Bite to potentially steal an Oran Berry, but this only gets super effective coverage on the not-so-common Grass-, Dark-, and Psychic-types. It can use Hidden Power Fire to hit Ferroseed for super effective damage, but the move has no other utility outside of that. In addition, Hidden Power Fire fails to OHKO Ferroseed, who can KO back with Bullet Seed or Seed Bomb. It has Quick Attack for priority, but frankly, its listed moves are much better. Finally, Trapinch can run a Choice Band set, but it will be easily outsped by almost every Pokemon in the metagame.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>In Trick Room, the only real way to beat Trapinch without losing a lot of health is by using priority attacks. If it can avoid an Earthquake on the switch, mixed priority abuse Croagunk can easily dispatch Trapinch with the combination of Fake Out and Vacuum Wave (or Sucker Punch). However, the number of Pokemon that can stop Trapinch if Trick Room is not up greatly increases since it will be almost impossible to not outspeed it. Almost any Pokemon carrying a super effective attack can beat Trapinch outside of Trick Room, considering that Trapinch's defenses aren't exactly great. Snover with Blizzard is great since it resists Earthquake.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Through the Dream World, Trapinch gets Sheer Force, a great ability that gives it additional power at the cost of not being able to trap others. However, Sheer Force does not power up Earthquake, and using it removes one of the only reasons to use Trapinch over Cubone.</p>
<p>Trapinch, though often overlooked in Little Cup, actually boasts one of the highest Attack stats in the metagame, with an astounding base 100. That amazing Attack stat is sadly backed by an abysmal Base 10 Speed, which prevents it from being a great physical sweeper. However, its stats are perfect for Trick Room, an environment where Trapinch absolutely thrives. Its typing also gives it STAB on Earthquake, one of the best, most reliable attacks in the game. Unfortunately, that's where the list of good things ends. Trapinch has a terrible movepool that limits it to only a few viable moves, and unlike Cubone, another Ground-type Trick Room sweeper, Trapinch does not have an item that can double its Attack, so it cannot hit as hard as Cubone in most cases. However, if you want one of the fastest Pokemon in Trick Room, look no further than this little antlion.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Sweeper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Life Orb
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Brave
evs: 200 Atk / 240 SpA
ivs: 3 HP / 2 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set gives Trapinch the best chance at a sweep. In Trick Room, the only Pokemon in Little Cup that can "outspeed" it is minimum Speed Munchlax. Earthquake is an incredible STAB attack coming off of 20 Attack, and Rock Slide allows Trapinch to attain "EdgeQuake" coverage, resisted only by the uncommon Bronzor. Crunch is perfect for Ghost-types and Slowpoke, easily OHKOing Misdreavus without Eviolite and Gastly while netting a 2HKO on Slowpoke. Finally, Hidden Power Fire gives Trapinch a super effective hit on Ferroseed, a Pokemon that would otherwise wall this set cold.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Life Orb boosts the power of Trapinch's attacks, and is absolutely necessary in order for Trapinch to hit as hard as it possibly can. The EVs also help with this, maximizing Trapinch's Attack and Special Attack while providing an extra point to Special Defense. Arena Trap allows Trapinch to trap and KO Stunky as well as Electric-types such as Chinchou. Trick Room supporters are absolutely necessary for this set to function properly, and Bronzor and Slowpoke are two of the finest. Other Trick Room sweepers are good too, and special sweepers are best used with Trapinch to systematically destroy all forms of opposing defense. Litwick is a premier example of a special Trick Room sweeper than can quickly inflict a lot of damage.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Given Trapinch's awful movepool, it doesn't really have a lot of other options to run. It has Bug Bite to potentially steal an Oran Berry, but this only gets super effective coverage on the not-so-common Grass-, Dark-, and Psychic-types. It can use Hidden Power Fire to hit Ferroseed for super effective damage, but the move has no other utility outside of that. In addition, Hidden Power Fire fails to OHKO Ferroseed, who can KO back with Bullet Seed or Seed Bomb. It has Quick Attack for priority, but frankly, its listed moves are much better. Finally, Trapinch can run a Choice Band set, but it will be easily outsped by almost every Pokemon in the metagame.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>In Trick Room, the only real way to beat Trapinch without losing a lot of health is by using priority attacks. If it can avoid an Earthquake on the switch, mixed priority abuse Croagunk can easily dispatch Trapinch with the combination of Fake Out and Vacuum Wave (or Sucker Punch). However, the number of Pokemon that can stop Trapinch if Trick Room is not up greatly increases since it will be almost impossible to not outspeed it. Almost any Pokemon carrying a super effective attack can beat Trapinch outside of Trick Room, considering that Trapinch's defenses aren't exactly great. Snover with Blizzard is great since it resists Earthquake.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Through the Dream World, Trapinch gets Sheer Force, a great ability that gives it additional power at the cost of not being able to trap others. However, Sheer Force does not power up Earthquake, and using it removes one of the only reasons to use Trapinch over Cubone.</p>
