taken over from sparktrain
qc: Tricking / Tahu / Fiend
gp: P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Meowth's niche in Little Cup stems from its high Speed and its ability Technician, which it can take advantage of with its wide movepool. Meowth's movepool and access to the strongest Fake Out in Little Cup give it a good matchup against common leads such as Mienfoo, Dwebble, and Onix. However, Meowth's low attacking stats mean it has to run a Life Orb and hit foes super effectively to secure KOs. Meowth's terrible bulk only compounds this, as it will likely be KOed if it cannot KO what's in front of it. Its low bulk makes it susceptible to revenge killers as well. Finally, Meowth often faces competition from Aipom, which is both bulkier and a stronger wallbreaker, for a teamslot.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Feint / Return
move 3: Water Pulse
move 4: Aerial Ace / Knock Off / U-turn
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Hasty
evs: 236 Atk / 36 SpA / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
ivs: 19 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Meowth's Fake Out is the strongest in the metagame, letting it get significant chip damage and helping scout the foe's set based on damage output. Feint provides Meowth with STAB and Technician-boosted +2 priority, allowing it to pick off weakened Choice Scarf users and priority attackers such as Fletchling. Alternatively, Return may be used for heavier damage against neutral targets. Water Pulse hits Rock-types such as Dwebble, Onix, and Archen super effectively, KOing them after Fake Out or Stealth Rock damage. Aerial Ace deals massive damage to Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr. Knock Off cripples Meowth's switch-ins by removing their item and is Meowth's most reliable method of defeating Gastly. U-turn allows Meowth to get chip damage and switch out of foes it cannot KO outright, as well as pivot on its switch-ins. Hidden Power Fire is also an option to 2HKO Ferroseed, which doesn't take much from any of Meowth's other moves.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread with a Hasty nature maximizes Meowth's Attack and Speed, letting it hit as hard and as fast as possible. 36 Special Attack EVs ensure that Meowth's Water Pulse KOes offensive Archen after Fake Out or Stealth Rock damage. Technician boosts the power of Meowth's weaker moves such as Fake Out, Feint, Water Pulse, and Aerial Ace. Life Orb significantly boosts the power of all of Meowth's attacks. 19 HP IVs are run to reduce Meowth's HP to 19 so that it only takes 1 HP of damage from Life Orb recoil.
Usage Tips
========
Meowth is very frail and takes a lot from the weakest of neutral attacks, so avoid switching it into battle directly. Instead, use it as a lead or bring it in on a revenge kill or a slow pivoting move such as Mienfoo's U-turn. When Meowth is in play, it is a very straightforward Pokemon. Use Fake Out and Feint to revenge kill frailer Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Mienfoo and Zigzagoon, or use Meowth's wide coverage to KO whatever Pokemon it is facing, to hit switch-ins, or to serve as an anti-lead.
Team Options
========
Slow pivots with access to U-turn or Volt Switch, such as Mienfoo and Chinchou, help ensure that Meowth can enter battle safely. Checks to Fighting-types, such as Spritzee and Snubbull, are useful, as Meowth can be forced out by these Pokemon. Rock-types such as Archen and Nosepass check Fletchling while providing Stealth Rock support to help Meowth secure KOs. Knock Off users such as Pawniard help weaken the opponent's team, allowing Meowth to secure more KOs. Gothita can guarantee the removal of troublesome Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Timburr. Pursuit trappers, such as Stunky, are helpful for removing Ghost-types if Meowth is not running Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Round
move 3: Water Pulse
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 76 Def / 200 SpA / 200 Spe
ivs: 19 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot doubles Meowth's Special Attack, allowing it to deal heavy damage to most of the metagame after a single boost. Round is Meowth's preferred STAB move, hitting anything that isn't resistant or immune to it hard after a Nasty Plot boost while being capable of bypassing Substitutes. Water Pulse provides great neutral coverage overall alongside Round and super effective coverage against Archen and Hippopotas, OHKOing them after a Nasty Plot boost. Hidden Power Fire OHKOes Ferroseed after Stealth Rock damage and provides stronger coverage against other Grass- and Steel-types such as Foongus, Snivy, and Honedge. Alternatively, Thunderbolt allows Meowth to OHKO Drifloon, Omanyte, and Skrelp after a Nasty Plot boost, as well as Vullaby after Stealth Rock damage; however, this leaves the set walled by Ferroseed.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Meowth's Special Attack and Speed, allowing it to hit as hard and as fast as possible while accounting for Hidden Power Fire's IV drops. If Meowth is not running Hidden Power Fire, a spread of 76 Def / 196 SpA / 36 SpD / 196 Spe gives it an extra point in Special Defense. A Modest nature gives Meowth the most wallbreaking potential, guaranteeing that Pokemon such as fast Mienfoo and Foongus are OHKOed at +2. Alternatively, a Timid nature may be used instead to hit 19 Speed, outspeeding Gastly and tying with Ponyta and Abra, but this comes with a noticeable drop in power. Life Orb boosts the power of all of Meowth's attacks. 19 HP IVs are used to lower Meowth's HP to 19 so that it only takes 1 HP of damage from Life Orb recoil. Technician is Meowth's best ability, giving Round, Water Pulse, and Hidden Power Fire a significant power boost.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Meowth's frailty, avoid switching it in directly. Instead, use free turns provided by moves such as Memento or forced switches to set up. Once Meowth has set up, use whatever move will do the most damage to the foe; at +2, Meowth is strong enough to OHKO much of the metagame.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support is vital for this set to secure KOs; thus, common Stealth Rock setters such as Archen and Pawniard make excellent teammates. Spikes users such as Dwebble and Omanyte can allow Meowth to more viably run a Timid nature. Checks to Fighting-types such as Spritzee and Snubbull are useful if Meowth is forced out by one. Cottonee can provide setup opportunities for Meowth with Encore and Memento and is a decent check to Fighting-types. Pokemon capable of removing Ferroseed, such as Gothita and Magnet Pull Magnemite, are important if Meowth not running Hidden Power Fire, as Ferroseed completely walls Meowth otherwise.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hidden Power Fighting OHKOes Eviolite Pawniard while retaining decent coverage against other Steel-types, but is usually inferior to Hidden Power Fire, which has much better all-around coverage and still 2HKOes Eviolite Pawniard. Taunt may be used to stop opposing entry hazard setters and setup sweepers from setting up on Meowth, but Meowth can usually handle most of these Pokemon by simply attacking them. Hypnosis can be used to put a foe to sleep, but its low accuracy makes it unreliable. Seed Bomb or Hidden Power Grass can be used to provide stronger coverage against Chinchou, Omanyte, and Tirtouga, but Meowth has trouble fitting it in its set without giving up more important coverage. Gunk Shot 2HKOes Spritzee after Stealth Rock damage and has a decent chance to OHKO Berry Juice Snubbull after Stealth Rock damage, but Meowth again has trouble finding a moveslot for it. Icy Wind can hit opposing Ground- and Flying-types super effectively in one slot and can also slow down faster switch-ins such as Choice Scarf Magnemite so that Meowth can follow up with another attack. Finally, the combination of Normal Gem and Covet gives Meowth a stronger Fake Out while allowing Meowth to steal the foe's item, but this set is outclassed by Meowth's other sets as well as Aipom. Meowth is too frail to make use of a stolen Eviolite, Foregoing Life Orb for Normal Gem leavesall of Meowth's other moves noticeably weaker, and Covet is outclassed by Knock Off.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Pokemon**: Bulky Pokemon such as Porygon and Spritzee can stomach Meowth's strongest attacks and retaliate by attacking or crippling Meowth. They must be careful of the Nasty Plot set, however.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr can tank any of Meowth's attacks and KO back with their super effective STAB attacks. However, Aerial Ace does a lot of damage to these Pokemon.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Ferroseed, Pawniard, and Magnemite take little from most of Meowth's attacks, but they must be careful of Hidden Power Fire.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon faster than Meowth, such as Diglett and any Choice Scarf user, can threaten to KO it due to its frailty. Many of these Pokemon take heavy damage from Feint, however.
**Priority Users**: Strong priority attacks such as Fletchling's Acrobatics and Pawniard's Sucker Punch bypass Meowth's Speed and often KO it due to its frailty.
qc: Tricking / Tahu / Fiend
gp: P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Meowth's niche in Little Cup stems from its high Speed and its ability Technician, which it can take advantage of with its wide movepool. Meowth's movepool and access to the strongest Fake Out in Little Cup give it a good matchup against common leads such as Mienfoo, Dwebble, and Onix. However, Meowth's low attacking stats mean it has to run a Life Orb and hit foes super effectively to secure KOs. Meowth's terrible bulk only compounds this, as it will likely be KOed if it cannot KO what's in front of it. Its low bulk makes it susceptible to revenge killers as well. Finally, Meowth often faces competition from Aipom, which is both bulkier and a stronger wallbreaker, for a teamslot.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Feint / Return
move 3: Water Pulse
move 4: Aerial Ace / Knock Off / U-turn
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Hasty
evs: 236 Atk / 36 SpA / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
ivs: 19 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Meowth's Fake Out is the strongest in the metagame, letting it get significant chip damage and helping scout the foe's set based on damage output. Feint provides Meowth with STAB and Technician-boosted +2 priority, allowing it to pick off weakened Choice Scarf users and priority attackers such as Fletchling. Alternatively, Return may be used for heavier damage against neutral targets. Water Pulse hits Rock-types such as Dwebble, Onix, and Archen super effectively, KOing them after Fake Out or Stealth Rock damage. Aerial Ace deals massive damage to Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr. Knock Off cripples Meowth's switch-ins by removing their item and is Meowth's most reliable method of defeating Gastly. U-turn allows Meowth to get chip damage and switch out of foes it cannot KO outright, as well as pivot on its switch-ins. Hidden Power Fire is also an option to 2HKO Ferroseed, which doesn't take much from any of Meowth's other moves.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread with a Hasty nature maximizes Meowth's Attack and Speed, letting it hit as hard and as fast as possible. 36 Special Attack EVs ensure that Meowth's Water Pulse KOes offensive Archen after Fake Out or Stealth Rock damage. Technician boosts the power of Meowth's weaker moves such as Fake Out, Feint, Water Pulse, and Aerial Ace. Life Orb significantly boosts the power of all of Meowth's attacks. 19 HP IVs are run to reduce Meowth's HP to 19 so that it only takes 1 HP of damage from Life Orb recoil.
Usage Tips
========
Meowth is very frail and takes a lot from the weakest of neutral attacks, so avoid switching it into battle directly. Instead, use it as a lead or bring it in on a revenge kill or a slow pivoting move such as Mienfoo's U-turn. When Meowth is in play, it is a very straightforward Pokemon. Use Fake Out and Feint to revenge kill frailer Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Mienfoo and Zigzagoon, or use Meowth's wide coverage to KO whatever Pokemon it is facing, to hit switch-ins, or to serve as an anti-lead.
Team Options
========
Slow pivots with access to U-turn or Volt Switch, such as Mienfoo and Chinchou, help ensure that Meowth can enter battle safely. Checks to Fighting-types, such as Spritzee and Snubbull, are useful, as Meowth can be forced out by these Pokemon. Rock-types such as Archen and Nosepass check Fletchling while providing Stealth Rock support to help Meowth secure KOs. Knock Off users such as Pawniard help weaken the opponent's team, allowing Meowth to secure more KOs. Gothita can guarantee the removal of troublesome Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Timburr. Pursuit trappers, such as Stunky, are helpful for removing Ghost-types if Meowth is not running Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Round
move 3: Water Pulse
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 76 Def / 200 SpA / 200 Spe
ivs: 19 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot doubles Meowth's Special Attack, allowing it to deal heavy damage to most of the metagame after a single boost. Round is Meowth's preferred STAB move, hitting anything that isn't resistant or immune to it hard after a Nasty Plot boost while being capable of bypassing Substitutes. Water Pulse provides great neutral coverage overall alongside Round and super effective coverage against Archen and Hippopotas, OHKOing them after a Nasty Plot boost. Hidden Power Fire OHKOes Ferroseed after Stealth Rock damage and provides stronger coverage against other Grass- and Steel-types such as Foongus, Snivy, and Honedge. Alternatively, Thunderbolt allows Meowth to OHKO Drifloon, Omanyte, and Skrelp after a Nasty Plot boost, as well as Vullaby after Stealth Rock damage; however, this leaves the set walled by Ferroseed.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Meowth's Special Attack and Speed, allowing it to hit as hard and as fast as possible while accounting for Hidden Power Fire's IV drops. If Meowth is not running Hidden Power Fire, a spread of 76 Def / 196 SpA / 36 SpD / 196 Spe gives it an extra point in Special Defense. A Modest nature gives Meowth the most wallbreaking potential, guaranteeing that Pokemon such as fast Mienfoo and Foongus are OHKOed at +2. Alternatively, a Timid nature may be used instead to hit 19 Speed, outspeeding Gastly and tying with Ponyta and Abra, but this comes with a noticeable drop in power. Life Orb boosts the power of all of Meowth's attacks. 19 HP IVs are used to lower Meowth's HP to 19 so that it only takes 1 HP of damage from Life Orb recoil. Technician is Meowth's best ability, giving Round, Water Pulse, and Hidden Power Fire a significant power boost.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Meowth's frailty, avoid switching it in directly. Instead, use free turns provided by moves such as Memento or forced switches to set up. Once Meowth has set up, use whatever move will do the most damage to the foe; at +2, Meowth is strong enough to OHKO much of the metagame.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support is vital for this set to secure KOs; thus, common Stealth Rock setters such as Archen and Pawniard make excellent teammates. Spikes users such as Dwebble and Omanyte can allow Meowth to more viably run a Timid nature. Checks to Fighting-types such as Spritzee and Snubbull are useful if Meowth is forced out by one. Cottonee can provide setup opportunities for Meowth with Encore and Memento and is a decent check to Fighting-types. Pokemon capable of removing Ferroseed, such as Gothita and Magnet Pull Magnemite, are important if Meowth not running Hidden Power Fire, as Ferroseed completely walls Meowth otherwise.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hidden Power Fighting OHKOes Eviolite Pawniard while retaining decent coverage against other Steel-types, but is usually inferior to Hidden Power Fire, which has much better all-around coverage and still 2HKOes Eviolite Pawniard. Taunt may be used to stop opposing entry hazard setters and setup sweepers from setting up on Meowth, but Meowth can usually handle most of these Pokemon by simply attacking them. Hypnosis can be used to put a foe to sleep, but its low accuracy makes it unreliable. Seed Bomb or Hidden Power Grass can be used to provide stronger coverage against Chinchou, Omanyte, and Tirtouga, but Meowth has trouble fitting it in its set without giving up more important coverage. Gunk Shot 2HKOes Spritzee after Stealth Rock damage and has a decent chance to OHKO Berry Juice Snubbull after Stealth Rock damage, but Meowth again has trouble finding a moveslot for it. Icy Wind can hit opposing Ground- and Flying-types super effectively in one slot and can also slow down faster switch-ins such as Choice Scarf Magnemite so that Meowth can follow up with another attack. Finally, the combination of Normal Gem and Covet gives Meowth a stronger Fake Out while allowing Meowth to steal the foe's item, but this set is outclassed by Meowth's other sets as well as Aipom. Meowth is too frail to make use of a stolen Eviolite, Foregoing Life Orb for Normal Gem leavesall of Meowth's other moves noticeably weaker, and Covet is outclassed by Knock Off.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Pokemon**: Bulky Pokemon such as Porygon and Spritzee can stomach Meowth's strongest attacks and retaliate by attacking or crippling Meowth. They must be careful of the Nasty Plot set, however.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr can tank any of Meowth's attacks and KO back with their super effective STAB attacks. However, Aerial Ace does a lot of damage to these Pokemon.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Ferroseed, Pawniard, and Magnemite take little from most of Meowth's attacks, but they must be careful of Hidden Power Fire.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon faster than Meowth, such as Diglett and any Choice Scarf user, can threaten to KO it due to its frailty. Many of these Pokemon take heavy damage from Feint, however.
**Priority Users**: Strong priority attacks such as Fletchling's Acrobatics and Pawniard's Sucker Punch bypass Meowth's Speed and often KO it due to its frailty.
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