Stuff I Saw Way Too Much of on the LC Suspect Ladder

Laddering for suspect tests can be very draining. You have to win a large number of battles in a short amount of time to make the requirements while keeping a good win-loss ratio, and even the tiniest instance of hax or a wayward prediction can prolong the ordeal by several battles. The whole process begins to chip away at your sanity after you lose a Pokemon to freezing for the fifth consecutive battle, and when you consider starting fresh on a new laddering alt and running six Rawst Berry Pokemon after telling the LC room you're quitting forever for the third time that week, you know you're really losing it.

It's always a struggle to ladder for requirements, unless you're some sort of hax-evading demigod. Every good player in the tier is laddering at the same time, but if you're like me and tend to take a week to find your footing, you'll end up in the part of the ladder where people are using inefficient things. Although the ladder is much more switched-on during a suspect test, you still see some dubious things all of the time. So I figured I would educate newer players about ways to improve on some of the poorer choices that are common on the LC ladder. Laddering for suspect tests is an ordinarily sucky thing, so it's nice to get something out of it.

(All usage statistics are from August LC Suspect Test-0)

Last Resort Aipom (12.898% usage)

Why is it bad?

It's pretty easy to see why novice players are drawn to Aipom. Because it sits in the 19 Speed tier, it can seemingly get off free damage against pretty much the entire tier with Fake Out while falling back on its other options such as Knock Off and Brick Break to provide it coverage against Ghost-, Steel-, and Rock-type foes. If you're running Last Resort, however, you must forgo this coverage in order to maintain raw power. It's just never worth it. Last Resort's 130 Base Power is simply not enough to justify sacrificing two moveslots, especially when Skill Link-boosted Fury Swipes usually does comparable damage thanks to the mechanics of LC's damage rolls. You also lose valuable coverage and even blow Aipom's surprise factor. An opponent that sees Last Resort immediately knows to either switch to a Ghost-type or continually recover until Last Resort's pitiful 8 PP have been expended.

What should I run instead?

Two coverage moves and a better STAB move. Aipom is quite spoilt for choice regarding the range of physical attacking coverage it gets. Knock Off is far and away the most useful move in LC and provides coverage against Ghosts, while the best options for extra coverage are U-turn, Brick Break, and Fire Punch. If you feel particularly saucy, you could even run Seed Bomb or Gunk Shot to surprise foes such as Tirtouga and Spritzee. As for STAB coverage, simply run Fury Swipes, as it is ordinarliy just as powerful as Last Resort. If you really hate missing Fury Swipes, then you could run Return, which incidentally only has 28 less Base Power than Last Resort.

Gyro Ball Ferroseed (10.698% usage)

Why is it bad?

Ferroseed has one of the lowest Speed stats of all Pokemon, sitting at a mere base 10. With this in mind, some people like to use Gyro Ball for STAB coverage on Ferroseed, a move that is stronger if it hits faster foes. The damage formula gives the move a massive 150 Base Power if it hits a foe at least six times faster than the user. The problem with this, however, is that Ferroseed isn't quite slow enough for Gyro Ball to consistently outdamage Iron Head, which sits at a constant 80. With a Speed IV of 0 and a Speed-reducing nature, Ferroseed will have a Speed stat of 5, meaning Gyro Ball will only hit harder than Iron Head against foes with a Speed stat of 17 or higher. Consequently, slower foes that Ferroseed likes to hit with Iron Head (Spritzee, Snubbull, Foongus) will take much less damage from Gyro Ball. Using Gyro Ball also means that Ferroseed can't use Thunder Wave, as a paralyzed foe will usually take the minimum damage possible. It's also worth adding that Gyro Ball has only 8 PP, meaning Ferroseed can't continually use it, which is quite a liability for a defensive Pokemon.

What should I run instead?

As far as Steel-type coverage goes on Ferroseed, you really can't beat Iron Head. It heavily damages every Fairy-type in the tier, 2HKOing both Spritzee and Cottonee after Stealth Rock damage, while Gyro Ball fails to 2HKO them. Although Gyro Ball OHKOes Archen after Stealth Rock, Iron Head does also. There are pretty much no circumstances under which Gyro Ball secures a OHKO or 2HKO that Iron Head doesn't. Unless you're running some weird Curse set, but please don't.

Psyshock Abra (10.302% usage)

Why is it bad?

This is one of the more forgivable picks that newer players are attracted to. After all, Psyshock from Life Orb Abra can actually 2HKO Munchlax, so it's really more of a bad lure than a rookie error. Plus, in upper tiers, Psyshock is a fairly common choice, as special walls are more prevalent there, so I won't be too harsh here. The main problem with Psyshock is the 2HKOs and OHKOs it misses out on compared to Psychic. Porygon, Hippopotas, Spritzee, Ponyta, and Cottonee are all able to evade the 2HKO from Psyshock, whereas Psychic consistently 2HKOes these foes. Abra also requires more residual damage to revenge kill Timburr, especially after it sets up a Bulk Up or two. Although luring in and 2HKOing Munchlax might seem an enticing prospect, the physical nature of LC means Psyshock will often be less effective than Psychic overall.

What should I use instead?

Just Psychic. Psyshock really should be left to stuff in upper tiers like Latios and Alakazam that have to hit Chansey and Assault Vest users. Using Psyshock really isn't warranted in LC, because it doesn't carry any parallels to those. You're almost 100% of the time better off using Psychic, unless you have no Fighting-types and Munchlax is giving you trouble.

Eevee (2.0291% usage)

Why is it bad?

Poor Eevee. This little cutie can never catch a break. Not many people truly love it for what it is; most want it to evolve into something stronger or more useful. But it's understandable to want Eevee to reach its full potential, because it's absolutely overshadowed in LC. Eevee can perform a few roles in Little Cup thanks to its broad movepool and its excellent ability in Adaptability, but there is pretty much always something that can do it better than Eevee can. It has access to Return and Quick Attack, which hit quite hard off 16 Attack and with Adaptability, but Bunnelby's access to Huge Power and physical attacking options including Earthquake and Wild Charge mean it will almost always be the better option. Eevee also has access to Wish and Heal Bell, allowing it to provide cleric support, but its middling bulk means that Spritzee and Lickitung will always do the job better. Eevee is the truest embodiment of the phrase 'jack of all trades; master of none'. It's not even the cutest Normal-type in the tier, playing second fiddle to the adorable Teddiursa.

What should I use instead?

Little Cup is chock full of great Normal-types. Bunnelby's attacks are hilariously brutal, Porygon is an amazing wall with a wide array of special attacking options, Aipom is super quick and can rack up damage in a hurry, Lickitung, although somewhat of a momentum drain, can pass enormous Wishes, and Zigzagoon is a terrifying sweeper. I understand that none of those are as cute as Eevee, however, and that's probably the chief reason it's used so much.

Duskull (2.0134% usage)

Why is it bad?

Duskull doesn't look bad on the surface. Three immunities, good overall bulk, and a movepool that has a bunch of useful tools including Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, Pain Split, Memento, and Destiny Bond would ordinarily make any Pokemon a real contender for a slot on teams. Unfortunately, the same typing that gives Duskull three immunities also hinders it in other ways. Being weak to Knock Off is an enormous defensive liability in the metagame where it is most common. Duskull's Ghost typing somewhat hinders it offensively also, as its STAB options are relatively weak, especially when they come off Duskull's poor 40 / 30 offenses. This means that Duskull must rely on the dicey Pain Split in order to do any substantial damage. Speaking of Pain Split, it's also Duskull's only method of recovery, another strike against its record as a defensive Pokemon. Duskull's abysmal Speed also works against it, as it ordinarily must take two hits if it switches in. This also leaves it very susceptible to Taunt, preventing it from doing pretty much anything.

What should I use instead

Duskull has some appealing qualities about it that many other Pokemon in the tier also possess. Ponyta is bulky and fast with access to recovery and can dish out burns, and Pumpkaboo has a useful array of resistances and immunities alongside access to recovery and more appealing attacking options. It's also very bulky and can spread burns easily. Drifloon is deceptively bulky and can perform a similar role to Pumpkaboo. It also has a very strong STAB Acrobatics at its disposal.

Cyndaquil (1.4422% usage)

Why is it bad?

Cyndaquil isn't necessarily bad; it's just another case of a Pokemon being vastly overshadowed by another. Although its Choice Scarf Eruption is extremely strong coming off its decent base 60 Special Attack, it isn't quite as strong as a Fire Blast or Overheat from Vulpix. Cyndaquil has nothing to differentiate itself from Vulpix, so in every instance, Vulpix is more effective than Cyndaquil, particularly as Vulpix is the only Pokemon in the tier with Drought, enabling it to support its Chlorophyll-using teammates. Although Cyndaquil's Eruption is more powerful than Vulpix's Fire-type STAB moves in the sun, it would require intensive entry hazard removal and weather support in order to work, as Eruption's power is reduced if Cyndaquil takes entry hazard damage.

What should I use instead?

Even if you manage to bring Cyndaquil in safely while the sun is up, its Eruption doesn't deliver that much more power than Life Orb Vulpix's Fire Blast. But Vulpix isn't the only option to consider when looking for a powerful Fire-type. Houndour has access to Pursuit and Sucker Punch, which are quite powerful after the STAB bonus, Ponyta is a tried-and-true LC star with many sets at its disposal, Numel has a solid niche as a Stealth Rock-setting Ponyta counter, and even Magby has the tools to quickly punch holes in opposing defenses.

Assault Vest

Why is it bad?

Do I even need to explain? Assault Vest is absolutely, positively, 100 percent inferior to Eviolite. I still see this used from time to time when I Knock Off items, and it receives a bizarre amount of usage on some Pokemon (Inkay: 3.22%, Chimchar: 2.28%, Cubone: 6.84%)

What should I use instead?

Eviolite. It honestly puzzles me that someone can see Assault Vest as a viable option in a metagame where every Pokemon can use Eviolite. The only sensible theory I can come up with is that newer players assume that LC has an item clause. It does not. To the newer players of LC who might be reading this; you can use six Eviolites if you please. Just don't use Assault Vest on a Pokemon that would rather the defensive boost of Eviolite, and definitely don't put one on Cubone, a Pokemon whose only niche lies in the Attack boost Thick Club gives it.

Rocky Helmet

Why is it bad?

Rocky Helmet doesn't appear bad on the surface. On a Pokemon like Ferroseed, which has Iron Barbs, the damage from being hit by physical moves can really add up. Unfortunately, running Rocky Helmet means that Ferroseed, among other defensive Pokemon in LC, must give up its Eviolite, which means that it becomes far more susceptible to coverage moves from foes, being OHKOed by Snubbull's Fire Punch and Fletchling's Overheat as well as being 2HKOed by Gastly's Shadow Ball and Focus Sash Abra's Hidden Power Fighting. Other Pokemon use Rocky Helmet as well as a damaging ability too. Such users are typically the most common and include Carvanha (2.902%), Ferroseed (5.415%), and Gible (22.920%)

What should I use instead

Accumulating damage with Rocky Helmet isn't terribly effective in Little Cup, especially when Pokemon such as Mienfoo have access to Regenerator, allowing them to shrug off recoil damage. If you're really desperate to cause more damage over time, the best way to do so is offensively, with a powerful Pokemon holding a Life Orb. I can guarantee you that Carvanha will perform a lot better, last much longer, and do more damage with Speed Boost and a Life Orb than with Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet.

Leftovers/Black Sludge

Why is it bad?

These two items have been perennial jokes since the inception of Little Cup. Although the item claims to heal 1/16th of a Pokemon's health at the end of the turn, this number is rounded down, meaning it will almost always be giving back only one measly hit point at the end of the turn due to the fact that most Little Cup Pokemon will have a HP number somewhere in the twenties. Most of the time, it's almost worse than having no item at all, particularly as Berry Juice, the premier healing item in LC, is so much more potent. Although Leftovers could technically heal more HP than Berry Juice, when was the last time you kept a Little Cup Pokemon in for 21 turns?

What should I use instead?

Hint: It was such an amazing item that it was banned throughout the BW era of Little Cup. That's right, it's Berry Juice, one of the most influential items in the game, albeit somewhat balanced by the widespread presence of Knock Off. The ability to heal 90-100% HP instantly is absolutely amazing, and when combined with Sturdy, it can basically allow a Pokemon to withstand two fatal hits, making it a great item for setup sweepers and entry hazard leads to have. Berry Juice is just too good for Leftovers to even be considered.

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