A Look into the Kiddie Pool: Water-types in LC

By Cheek Pouch and The Avalanches. Art by LifeisDANK.

Introduction

It's a well-known fact that Earth's surface is comprised of twice as much water as land. The abundance of water allows for an enormous and diverse range of life forms, from gigantic whales to tiny plankton, and pretty much everything in between you can think of. With this in mind, it's no wonder Game Freak has made so many Water-type Pokémon. Around one-sixth of all Pokémon that currently exist are Water-types, making it the most common typing by a significant margin. Water is also the only type aside from Flying (the second most abundant type) to be paired with every other type at least once as of Generation VI. With so many to choose from, only the absolute best Water-types can stand out competitively.

In Little Cup, Water-types are particularly valuable. Many of them are blessed with a combination of impressive stats, helpful type combinations, and abilities that allow them to pull their weight on teams. In addition to this, they receive STAB on many strong moves including Scald, Hydro Pump, and Crabhammer, allowing even the bulkiest walls to dish out decent amounts of damage when needed. A large chunk of LC's Water-types have access to the setup move Shell Smash, which can turn a meek wall into a super-weapon in just one turn. Most Shell Smash users boast excellent coverage, allowing them to raze teams to the ground in a hurry. However, Shell Smash isn't necessary for a Water-type to be an offensive force in the tier, as many of them are already fast, strong, and packing firepower.

Although being weak to Grass- and Electric-type moves is often a big problem, especially when Pokémon such as Foongus and Magnemite are so valuable, LC's best Water-types are blessed with good sets of resistances and fair defensive stats, allowing many of them to withstand punishment from most of the tier. This, when coupled with reliable recovery and usable defensive abilities, can make some of the bulkier Water-types in the tier downright annoying to face.

Chinchou: Water / Electric; Volt Absorb / Illuminate / Water Absorb; 75 HP / 38 Atk / 38 Def / 56 SpA / 56 SpD / 65 Spe

Chinchou is one of the most potent surface-to-air threats in Little Cup. If Flying-types are a problem for your team, slapping one of this thing's three viable sets on your team is usually an adequate solution, as it is one of the best Volt Switch users in the entire tier. Chinchou's good defensive stats allow it to switch in and take punishment from most Flying-types in the tier, forcing them out and gaining switch advantage in the process via Volt Switch. Volt Absorb changes the common Water-type weakness of Electric into a 25% health recovery when hit by an Electric-type move, furthering its pivoting abilities. This, when Chinchou is paired with other prominent users of Volt Switch and U-turn such as Magnemite and Mienfoo, can cause headaches for opponents as they continually surrender momentum.

Omanyte: Rock / Water; Swift Swim / Shell Armor / Weak Armor; 35 HP / 40 Atk / 100 Def / 90 SpA / 55 SpD / 35 Spe

Omanyte is a downright frightening sweeper once it sets up with Shell Smash. With acceptable bulk backed by Eviolite, a powerful STAB Hydro Pump, and excellent coverage moves in Ice Beam and Earth Power, Omanyte has no trouble closing out games once boosted. It also can run an effective entry hazard set using its bulk and typing. With access to Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Knock Off, Omanyte can rapidly set up hazards while still packing a punch with Hydro Pump. Omanyte typically floats around A to A+ in the Viability Rankings, and it would be unheard of to see it drop anytime soon due to its presence in the current metagame.

Skrelp: Poison / Water; Poison Point / Poison Touch / Adaptability; 50 HP / 60 Atk / 60 Def / 60 SpA / 60 SpD / 30 Spe

Skrelp quickly grew in popularity once its hidden ability, Adaptability, was released. With an amazing defensive typing, solid bulk, and powerful STAB attacks, Skrelp began to see play as a Fighting-type check with amazing offensive presence, as the powerful attacks it launches only leave a select number of checks and counters to it. Thanks to these traits, Skrelp can run a plethora of viable sets, such as RestTalk, All-out Attacker, and Toxic Spikes. Pairing Skrelp with another Water-type makes a powerful Water spam core, as its Adaptability-boosted attacks can weaken mutual checks so that the other Pokémon can sweep. With Fairy-types such as Spritzee and Snubbull threatening the omnipresent Fighting-types, as well as a powerful Scald to potentially cripple physical attackers, Skrelp has all the right moves to work effectively in Little Cup.

Carvanha: Water / Dark; Rough Skin / Speed Boost; 45 HP / 90 Atk / 20 Def / 65 SpA / 20 SpD / 65 Spe

Carvanha is the epitome of a glass cannon: with terrifyingly strong STAB attacks in Crunch and Waterfall coupled with an amazing ability in Speed Boost, it can 2HKO a large portion of the tier, but it can also be KOed by many of the threats it can take out. Priority in Aqua Jet and coverage in Zen Headbutt for Croagunk allows very few Pokémon to switch into Carvanha. While the frail fish can be seen as a liability due to its non-existent bulk, Carvanha can very easily sweep an unprepared or weakened team. It can also run a deceptively strong special set, with Hydro Pump, Dark Pulse, and Ice beam all being powerful moves on their own that can work well with Carvanha's passable 65 Special Attack. Whatever the set, Carvanha is certain to break down a team that doesn't carry checks and can clean a team when checks are eliminated.

Corphish: Water; Shell Armor / Hyper Cutter / Adaptability; 43 HP / 80 Atk / 65 Def / 50 SpA / 35 SpD / 35 Spe

Much like Skrelp, Corphish uses powerful Adaptability-boosted attacks to wallbreak the opposing team; however, its access to Swords Dance and Dragon Dance allow Corphish to switch between being a powerful wallbreaker and a deadly sweeper. Access to Knock Off in order to weaken common Grass-type switch-ins as well as priority in Aqua Jet gives Corphish constant utility throughout the match. A Choice Band set is also viable, as Corphish can Switcheroo its item to a wall in order to cripple it before blasting it with a Crabhammer. With decent bulk to boot, it only takes one opportunity to set up and turn a close game into a blowout with Corphish.

Staryu: Water; Natural Cure / Illuminate / Analytic; 30 HP / 45 Atk / 55 Def / 70 SpA / 55 SpD / 85 Spe

Staryu is one of the two most prominent Rapid Spin users in LC. With great Speed, solid bulk, access to Recover, and insane coverage, Staryu threatens many of the common Stealth Rock setters with Scald, as the decent power and burn chance greatly limit a majority of them. Gastly and Pumpkaboo, two common Ghost-types that might attempt to spinblock, both take major damage from Psychic and Ice Beam, respectively. Staryu can forgo its bulky set for a much more offensive approach with a Life Orb backed by STAB Hydro Pump and coverage in Ice Beam, Psychic, and Thunderbolt or a Hidden Power of choice, all while maintaining its ability to remove entry hazards. Staryu's unpredictability and raw power give it a niche that will remain potent for the foreseeable future.

Shellder: Water; Shell Armor / Skill Link / Overcoat; 30 HP / 65 Atk / 100 Def / 45 SpA / 25 SpD / 40 Spe

Shellder's selling point is its access to Shell Smash and Skill Link, ensuring that Focus Sashes won't stop the bivalve from sweeping once it has set up. With excellent physical bulk and the ability to force switches with Icicle Spear and Rock Blast, Shellder has no issue cleaning teams that don't have a bulky enough Pokémon to take it on. Access to Rapid Spin allows it to run a bulkier set that has firepower with moves boosted by Skill Link, while a Choice Scarf allows it to serve as an effective revenge killer. Shellder has cemented itself as one of the best Shell Smash sweepers in the current metagame, and it won't be a surprise for it to maintain that title.

Tirtouga: Water / Rock; Solid Rock / Sturdy / Swift Swim; 54 HP / 78 Atk / 103 Def / 53 SpA / 45 SpD / 22 Spe

The Shell Smash trio rounds out with Tirtouga, which sets itself apart with Sturdy and Solid Rock. Sturdy allows Tirtouga to run an offensive Shell Smash set, as combined with Berry Juice, it can let it take a hit while setting up and return to full health to reactivate Sturdy. Solid Rock in conjunction with Eviolite gives the Shell Smash set a bulkier approach, allowing Tirtouga to tank super effective moves more efficiently. The same ability also allows Tirtouga to run an effective defensive set, as access to utility moves like Scald, Knock Off, and Stealth Rock makes it a solid choice for a bulkier member of the team. Combine this with excellent coverage in Zen Headbutt and Earthquake along with priority in Aqua Jet, and Tirtouga can easily accomplish its job in sweeping and checking much of the tier.

Honorable Mentions

Surskit is the best Sticky Web setter in the tier, and it has access to Bug STAB and a decent Speed tier to make it worth using. Sticky Web is a powerful playstyle in Little Cup, but Surskit as a standalone Pokémon is below average. Slowpoke's excellent bulk, defensive typing, coverage, and ability Regenerator allow it to act as a decent pivot into many of Little Cup's attackers; however, the overwhelming presence of Knock Off severely limits its capabilities. Clamperl's access to Deep Sea Tooth and Shell Smash makes it one of the most powerful Pokémon in Little Cup after it has set up, but with no bulk and limited coverage, as well as susceptibility to Knock Off, it requires a great amount of team support. With immediate recovery and Sticky Hold, Shellos turns out to be a great Knock Off absorber, although it is rather passive and quite slow. Kabuto is the only Pokémon in Little Cup with access to all of Rapid Spin, Stealth Rock, and priority, and it makes for a great Flying-type check. Tentacool is faster than Skrelp, has access to Knock Off, and is just plain cool. It also has interesting options for coverage as well as Rapid Spin.

Make a Splash

Water-types have maintained their consistency in Little Cup with their offensive prowess and defensive capabilities. Whether it be supporting a team with the excellent utility moves they tend to carry or bringing a swift destruction with powerful STAB attacks, Water-types can certainly bring a powerful riptide to any battle. All it takes to discover the raw potential they hold is to dive into the tier headfirst!

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