charmander's skeleton
[Overview]
<p>Chikorita is an interesting Pokemon to use in Little Cup. It is poor offensively, due to having poor attacking stats and a small offensive movepool. However, Chikorita is able to perform well in a supportive position. It has decent bulk, and by virtue of its Grass-typeing and its stats it can be a good Dual Screener. With Magic Coat to reflect hazards, it makes a good lead in the Little Cup metagame, where entry hazards can be decisive.</p>
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Leaf Storm / Giga Drain
move 4: Magic Coat / Synthesis
item: Light Clay
ability: Overgrow
nature: Bold / Calm
evs: 236 HP / 156 Def / 76 SpD
[ SET COMMENTS]
<p>The goal of this set is to set up both Reflect and Light Screen. Leaf Storm is a good STAB attack, which can hit Pokemon such as Chinchou hard. The drop in Special Attack doesn't matter much since Chikorita won't need to attack very often. Magic Coat allows this set to function effectively as a lead. Chikorita can reflect status and entry hazards, which allows it to play a key role in the team. If not in the lead position, it is useful for reflecting the occasional Taunt that would prevent the setup of screens. Both Synthesis and Giga Drain can be run on the set so Chikorita gain regain HP, allowing it to set-up screens multiple times throughout the course of the battle.</p>
[ ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The specified EVs and nature gives Chikorita maximum bulk. Its relatively high defenses allow it to fulfill its role as a Dual Screener. A Bold nature can be used to boost Defense, whereas a Calm nature can be used to boost Special Defense. Dual Screens, Magic Coat, and decent bulk allow Chikorita to deal with threats such as Cottonee that are not carrying Hidden Power Fire or Ice. Magic Coat tends to be less useful outside of leading or checking Cottonee, so if not used as a lead, Synthesis is the preferred option.</p>
<p>Anything that appreciates Dual Screens appreciates Chikorita support, though Chikorita is best used when you want to keep Stealth Rock off the field or when its teammates have better synergy with it than other Pokemon carrying screens, such as Bronzor. Water-type sweepers such as Mantyke, Chinchou, and Shellder appreciate Chikorita's ability to take Grass-, Electric-, and Ground-type hits. Aside from Water-type sweepers, Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Scraggy are good partners, since under screens, they will find themselves able to set up multiple times, making them extremely dangerous. Steel- and Dragon-type set-up sweepers such as Dratini also benefit from having Chikorita on their team, as Dragon-types can switch in on Fire-type attacks directed at Chikorita, while Steel-types can switch into Ice-type attacks. Pokemon that can offer Wish support, such as Lickitung, allow Chikorita without Synthesis to set up screens multiple times, thanks to the added survivability.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Chikorita can choose to run Aromatherapy to heal its team of status. Hidden Power Fire enables Chikorita to take care of Ferroseed. Worry Seed can be crippling to Pokemon that rely heavily on their ability, such as Cottonee and Scraggy. Chikorita also has a usable physical STAB in the form of Seed Bomb, but Giga Drain with its healing ability and Leaf Storm with its additional power are generally preferred options.</p>
[Checks & Counters]
<p>Lead Anorith is faster than Chikorita, has a powerful super effective attack in the form of X-Scissor, and can Brick Break screens, and as such, making it a major threat to Chikorita. U-turn leads such as Meowth and Aipom can be problematic. Both Fake Out and U-turn can deal a lot of damage to Chikorita, and this really wears it down. Lead Houndour is a good counter to Chikorita since it is faster and easily OHKOes with Overheat. Cottonee's Taunt can be an issue since it requires prediction with Magic Coat to stop it, but Chikorita without Hidden Power Fire is walled anyway.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Chikorita receives Leaf Guard from the Dream World, but due to all Chikorita receiving it being male, it cannot be bred onto Chikorita for Little Cup.</p>
[Overview]
<p>Chikorita is an interesting Pokemon to use in Little Cup. It is poor offensively, due to having poor attacking stats and a small offensive movepool. However, Chikorita is able to perform well in a supportive position. It has decent bulk, and by virtue of its Grass-typeing and its stats it can be a good Dual Screener. With Magic Coat to reflect hazards, it makes a good lead in the Little Cup metagame, where entry hazards can be decisive.</p>
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Leaf Storm / Giga Drain
move 4: Magic Coat / Synthesis
item: Light Clay
ability: Overgrow
nature: Bold / Calm
evs: 236 HP / 156 Def / 76 SpD
[ SET COMMENTS]
<p>The goal of this set is to set up both Reflect and Light Screen. Leaf Storm is a good STAB attack, which can hit Pokemon such as Chinchou hard. The drop in Special Attack doesn't matter much since Chikorita won't need to attack very often. Magic Coat allows this set to function effectively as a lead. Chikorita can reflect status and entry hazards, which allows it to play a key role in the team. If not in the lead position, it is useful for reflecting the occasional Taunt that would prevent the setup of screens. Both Synthesis and Giga Drain can be run on the set so Chikorita gain regain HP, allowing it to set-up screens multiple times throughout the course of the battle.</p>
[ ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The specified EVs and nature gives Chikorita maximum bulk. Its relatively high defenses allow it to fulfill its role as a Dual Screener. A Bold nature can be used to boost Defense, whereas a Calm nature can be used to boost Special Defense. Dual Screens, Magic Coat, and decent bulk allow Chikorita to deal with threats such as Cottonee that are not carrying Hidden Power Fire or Ice. Magic Coat tends to be less useful outside of leading or checking Cottonee, so if not used as a lead, Synthesis is the preferred option.</p>
<p>Anything that appreciates Dual Screens appreciates Chikorita support, though Chikorita is best used when you want to keep Stealth Rock off the field or when its teammates have better synergy with it than other Pokemon carrying screens, such as Bronzor. Water-type sweepers such as Mantyke, Chinchou, and Shellder appreciate Chikorita's ability to take Grass-, Electric-, and Ground-type hits. Aside from Water-type sweepers, Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Scraggy are good partners, since under screens, they will find themselves able to set up multiple times, making them extremely dangerous. Steel- and Dragon-type set-up sweepers such as Dratini also benefit from having Chikorita on their team, as Dragon-types can switch in on Fire-type attacks directed at Chikorita, while Steel-types can switch into Ice-type attacks. Pokemon that can offer Wish support, such as Lickitung, allow Chikorita without Synthesis to set up screens multiple times, thanks to the added survivability.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Chikorita can choose to run Aromatherapy to heal its team of status. Hidden Power Fire enables Chikorita to take care of Ferroseed. Worry Seed can be crippling to Pokemon that rely heavily on their ability, such as Cottonee and Scraggy. Chikorita also has a usable physical STAB in the form of Seed Bomb, but Giga Drain with its healing ability and Leaf Storm with its additional power are generally preferred options.</p>
[Checks & Counters]
<p>Lead Anorith is faster than Chikorita, has a powerful super effective attack in the form of X-Scissor, and can Brick Break screens, and as such, making it a major threat to Chikorita. U-turn leads such as Meowth and Aipom can be problematic. Both Fake Out and U-turn can deal a lot of damage to Chikorita, and this really wears it down. Lead Houndour is a good counter to Chikorita since it is faster and easily OHKOes with Overheat. Cottonee's Taunt can be an issue since it requires prediction with Magic Coat to stop it, but Chikorita without Hidden Power Fire is walled anyway.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Chikorita receives Leaf Guard from the Dream World, but due to all Chikorita receiving it being male, it cannot be bred onto Chikorita for Little Cup.</p>
Last edited by a moderator:
