BTzz
spams overhand rights
[Overview]
<p>Most competitive Pokemon players would simply look at Trapinch and dismiss it as just another NFE Pokemon. However, upon further inspection, Trapinch has two qualities that make it worth considering. Firstly, Trapinch has the ability Arena Trap, enabling it to trap all grounded Pokemon, and secondly, Trapinch sports a high base 100 Attack stat, which gives Trapinch an actual chance at KOing trapped opponents, unlike Diglett. Sadly, Trapinch isn't without its faults; with an abysmal Speed stat of 10, Trapinch can only be used in Trick Room. Additionally, Trapinch has pathetic 45 / 45 / 45 defenses, which means it must kill or be killed. While it is difficult to successfully pull off, Trapinch's niche of trapping can be incredibly useful to any team.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Quick Attack
item: Life Orb / Choice Band
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Brave
evs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Def / 44 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set aims to trap and eliminate troublesome foes. However, Trapinch's terrible Speed means one of the only ways it can accomplish this is when Trick Room is active. As Trapinch is the second slowest Pokemon in the tier, only Shuckle outspeeds it in Trick Room. The moveset is pretty simple; Earthquake is a powerful, reliable STAB move, while Rock Slide completes the EdgeQuake combination, granting superb coverage. Rock Slide is also useful for hitting Flying-types such as Swellow, which aren't affected by Arena Trap. Crunch gives Trapinch the ability to hit Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon much harder; notable examples are Mesprit and Haunter, which also aren't affected by Arena Trap. Quick Attack is mainly filler, as Trapinch doesn't have many other options at its disposal. However, because Quick Attack does not have STAB and has low Base Power, it does pitiful damage even with a Choice Band boost, so it should only be used in desperate situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Obviously, Trapinch requires Trick Room support. Psychic-types such as Duosion and Beheeyem make good partners to set up Trick Room due to their low Speed. Normal- and Flying-types such as Swellow, Braviary, and Persian make excellent partners to Trapinch as they despise Steel-types, which Trapinch can eliminate. Swellow, Braviary, and Persian can also set up a trap with U-turn. Trapinch hates priority as it bypasses Trick Room, so Gurdurr partners well with Trapinch as it takes on Sucker Punch users such as Absol and Cacturne, who trouble Trapinch and Trick Room setters such as Duosion and Beheeyem. Gurdurr can also take advantage of Trick Room, which is a nice bonus. Perhaps the only way to make Trapinch usable outside of Trick Room is to use Ninjask to pass it Substitutes, Swords Dance boosts, and Speed boosts, preparing it for trapping Steel-types that Ninjask lures in.</p>
<p>Trapinch greatly appreciates hazard support, which helps it net extra KOs. With Stealth Rock down, instead of having to use Choice Band, Trapinch can use Life Orb to obtain a clean OHKO on Garbodor. Regirock is a good candidate to set up Stealth Rock as it can switch into priority attacks directed at Trapinch, such as Linoone's ExtremeSpeed. Finally, Gravity support can enable Trapinch to trap Flying-type Pokemon or Pokemon with Levitate, but it is very difficult to provide Trapinch with both Gravity and Trick Room support.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Trapinch doesn't have many viable options other than the ones listed. Bug Bite hits Exeggutor much harder than any of Trapinch's other moves, but Crunch already has a chance at OHKOing it and also hits other Psychic-types harder. Return or Double Edge can be used in place of Quick Attack if you aren't worried about Trapinch being useless outside of Trick Room. The items Eviolite and Focus Sash can be used, but Trapinch loses out on a lot of power, and the increase in bulk from Eviolite is fairly useless.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Priority is the best way to check Trapinch, as it bypasses Trick Room. Good priority users include Linoone, who has STAB ExtremeSpeed, as well as Absol and Cacturne, who pack STAB Sucker Punches. Quagsire, Alomomola, and Tangela don't care about being trapped as they can take whatever attacks Trapinch can dish out and KO it with Scald or Giga Drain, respectively. Weezing and Mesprit aren't affected by Arena Trap, and can take any of Trapinch's attacks thanks to their impressive bulk. Trapinch will also fall to any attacks from Mesprit and Weezing due to its frailty. Torterra resists both Earthquake and Rock Slide, and threatens Trapinch with its STAB Grass attacks as well.</p>
[Unreleased]
<p>Sheer Force, Trapinch's Dream World ability, is a great ability in its own right. However, Trapinch has few moves that are boosted by this ability, and with it, Trapinch loses its ability to trap foes. As Arena Trap is its main niche, Sheer Force defeats the purpose of even using Trapinch in the first place.</p>
<p>Most competitive Pokemon players would simply look at Trapinch and dismiss it as just another NFE Pokemon. However, upon further inspection, Trapinch has two qualities that make it worth considering. Firstly, Trapinch has the ability Arena Trap, enabling it to trap all grounded Pokemon, and secondly, Trapinch sports a high base 100 Attack stat, which gives Trapinch an actual chance at KOing trapped opponents, unlike Diglett. Sadly, Trapinch isn't without its faults; with an abysmal Speed stat of 10, Trapinch can only be used in Trick Room. Additionally, Trapinch has pathetic 45 / 45 / 45 defenses, which means it must kill or be killed. While it is difficult to successfully pull off, Trapinch's niche of trapping can be incredibly useful to any team.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Quick Attack
item: Life Orb / Choice Band
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Brave
evs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Def / 44 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set aims to trap and eliminate troublesome foes. However, Trapinch's terrible Speed means one of the only ways it can accomplish this is when Trick Room is active. As Trapinch is the second slowest Pokemon in the tier, only Shuckle outspeeds it in Trick Room. The moveset is pretty simple; Earthquake is a powerful, reliable STAB move, while Rock Slide completes the EdgeQuake combination, granting superb coverage. Rock Slide is also useful for hitting Flying-types such as Swellow, which aren't affected by Arena Trap. Crunch gives Trapinch the ability to hit Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon much harder; notable examples are Mesprit and Haunter, which also aren't affected by Arena Trap. Quick Attack is mainly filler, as Trapinch doesn't have many other options at its disposal. However, because Quick Attack does not have STAB and has low Base Power, it does pitiful damage even with a Choice Band boost, so it should only be used in desperate situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Obviously, Trapinch requires Trick Room support. Psychic-types such as Duosion and Beheeyem make good partners to set up Trick Room due to their low Speed. Normal- and Flying-types such as Swellow, Braviary, and Persian make excellent partners to Trapinch as they despise Steel-types, which Trapinch can eliminate. Swellow, Braviary, and Persian can also set up a trap with U-turn. Trapinch hates priority as it bypasses Trick Room, so Gurdurr partners well with Trapinch as it takes on Sucker Punch users such as Absol and Cacturne, who trouble Trapinch and Trick Room setters such as Duosion and Beheeyem. Gurdurr can also take advantage of Trick Room, which is a nice bonus. Perhaps the only way to make Trapinch usable outside of Trick Room is to use Ninjask to pass it Substitutes, Swords Dance boosts, and Speed boosts, preparing it for trapping Steel-types that Ninjask lures in.</p>
<p>Trapinch greatly appreciates hazard support, which helps it net extra KOs. With Stealth Rock down, instead of having to use Choice Band, Trapinch can use Life Orb to obtain a clean OHKO on Garbodor. Regirock is a good candidate to set up Stealth Rock as it can switch into priority attacks directed at Trapinch, such as Linoone's ExtremeSpeed. Finally, Gravity support can enable Trapinch to trap Flying-type Pokemon or Pokemon with Levitate, but it is very difficult to provide Trapinch with both Gravity and Trick Room support.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Trapinch doesn't have many viable options other than the ones listed. Bug Bite hits Exeggutor much harder than any of Trapinch's other moves, but Crunch already has a chance at OHKOing it and also hits other Psychic-types harder. Return or Double Edge can be used in place of Quick Attack if you aren't worried about Trapinch being useless outside of Trick Room. The items Eviolite and Focus Sash can be used, but Trapinch loses out on a lot of power, and the increase in bulk from Eviolite is fairly useless.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Priority is the best way to check Trapinch, as it bypasses Trick Room. Good priority users include Linoone, who has STAB ExtremeSpeed, as well as Absol and Cacturne, who pack STAB Sucker Punches. Quagsire, Alomomola, and Tangela don't care about being trapped as they can take whatever attacks Trapinch can dish out and KO it with Scald or Giga Drain, respectively. Weezing and Mesprit aren't affected by Arena Trap, and can take any of Trapinch's attacks thanks to their impressive bulk. Trapinch will also fall to any attacks from Mesprit and Weezing due to its frailty. Torterra resists both Earthquake and Rock Slide, and threatens Trapinch with its STAB Grass attacks as well.</p>
[Unreleased]
<p>Sheer Force, Trapinch's Dream World ability, is a great ability in its own right. However, Trapinch has few moves that are boosted by this ability, and with it, Trapinch loses its ability to trap foes. As Arena Trap is its main niche, Sheer Force defeats the purpose of even using Trapinch in the first place.</p>