Hi all! So I've recently become interested in playing in Little Cup after some months battling in OU (not too seriously, just for fun against some other friends that also liked Pokemon Online. I won most of the time though~). While I have read basically everything there is to read about Little Cup, EV spreads, breeding, legality, etc., I'm still not so sure how to go about designing a team. After using a Marriland teambuilder to at least make a team without too many common weaknesses, I've gravitated to the following Pokemon (some of which I like because they're cute): Sandshrew, Larvesta, Staryu, Ekans, Taillow, Magnemite. What I'm thinking is that Sandshrew can Stealth Rock/Rapid Spin, Larvesta and Staryu are sweepers, Taillow is a revenge killer/scout, Magnemite is a bulky attacker, and Ekans is a set-up physical/bulky attacker with Coil.
When it comes to movesets, I am somewhat familiar with good sets to use on Pokemon, but since I'm still new, that doesn't necessarily mean I know a perfect moveset for a Pokemon on my team. The EV mechanics at level 5 are also new to me since I'm used to thinks like 252/252/6, which obviously isn't something that should be used in LC. Any help will be very much appreciated, especially with Ekans. What I'm aiming for is to be able to put together a fairly unique team that still works and I really want Ekans to be a part of it. If anyone can help me maybe either center a team around giving Ekans success or help me give the snake better EVs or something, that'll be helpful. If not, I'm looking into replacing Ekans completley with a Pokemon that either resists or is immune to Ground moves.
As of now, here's the sets I'm considering for my LC Pokemon. Editing as I change them:
Sandshrew @ Eviolite
Careful nature: 196 HP, 76 Def, 196 SpD, 36 Spd [?]
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin
-Earthquake
-Toxic
Can set up entry hazards and spin them away--Larvesta and Taillow practically require a Spinner so that's useful. I've been battling some with this team this morning and often I find that Sandshrew has a habit of dying before I can Rapid Spin. Perhaps it's just me not being good at predicting, but oftentimes I find myself using Stealth Rock and then dying. In any case, I've decided on Toxic, it's far more useful for problematic Pokemon.
Staryu @ Eviolite or Life Orb (more bulk or more power?)
Timid nature: 200 SpA, 240 Spd
-Hydro Pump or Surf (I'm leaning towards Surf since I have horrible luck)
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power [Fire]
-Recover
I keep on seeing Hidden Power Fire pop up as a really important move on offensive Staryu sets. Is it that important, or is Ice Beam not as important for Staryu's coverage? For the most part I've noticed I don't see an awful lot of dragons on LC teams so I'll probably opt for Hidden Power Fire, but then Ice Beam grants me coverage for Grass Pokemon already so I'm still debating with myself.
EDIT: I have now decided that Hidden Power Fire will be used over Ice Beam due to Ferroseed being a thorn in the side. Because Hidden Power [Fire] means having a perfect HP IV, I've taken out the HP EVs and dumped them somewhere since they're essentially useless now. Now I have 19 HP, which rounds down to 1 HP per turn for Life Orb damage. Tested out Hydro Pump, missed at the worst moment. Back to using Surf.
Larvesta @ Eviolite
Adamant nature: 76 HP, 236 Atk, 156 Def, 36 Spd
Ability: Flame Body
-Flare Blitz
-Wild Charge
-U-turn
-Morning Sun
If I should replace one of the attack moves with Morning Sun or Will-o-wisp, please give me your opinion as I will appreciate it lots. I want Larvesta to be primarily an attacker, though. I like this bug.
EDIT: Morning Sun far more useful for me because the Flare Blitz/Wild Charge recoil really adds up.
Ekans @ Eviolite
Careful nature: 236 HP, 4 Def, 244 Spd
Ability: Shed Skin
-Coil
-Gunk Shot
-Sucker Punch
-Rest
Ekans is probably one of my favorite LC Pokemon ever and so I have become quite attached to him. In fact, one Coil or two is enough to make sure that Sucker Punch does quite a bit to Misdrevious and Gunk Shot doesn't miss. Considering that I never use Earthquake, I think I might want to try a mono-attacking Ekans with Rest and Sleep Talk. My Ekans seems to take a lot of damage even with the defensive EVs in play and Eviolite so some form of recovery will probably help this snake in the long run.
EDIT: Testing out Shed Skin + Rest to see if that'll give me any benefits. So far it seems that Ekans is always dying, but I think with some practice I'll be able to bring him out right, although now I really am considering a Ground-type resist to replace him because I once nearly got swept by a Swords Dance Teddiursa that was on an Earthquake rampage--barely won the match by poisoning it and letting the poison damage kill him by sending out my remaining two Ground-weak Pokemon as death fodder, saving my Taillow for last to Quick Attack.
Taillow @ Choice Scarf
Adamant nature: 236 Atk, 236 Spd, 36 HP
-Brave Bird
-U-Turn
-Return
-Toxic
I have read Smogon's StrategyDex and it strongly recommends that Taillow run Toxic as a fourth move. I can definitely see its usefulness so I guess that's what I'll have as filler for bulky things Taillow can't kill. After testing out this team on Pokemon Online, I find that Taillow is hands-down the best revenge-killer ever and in fact managed to sweep half a team once (two of those Pokemon WERE Ghastly and Abra though...) with Brave Bird. Taillow's main objective is to come in, spam Brave Bird, and then die, so it seems. I find myself using the last three moves very rarely.
Magnemite @ Eviolite
Ability: Magnet Pull
Modest nature: 156 HP, 36 Def, 240 SpA, 76 SpD
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Fire
-Thunderbolt [?]
-Magnet Rise [?] Flash Cannon [?]
I know for sure that I want Magnemite to have Volt Switch and Hidden Power Fire since it'll be useful if Magnemite happens to trap a Ferroseed or something. I'd like to have Thunderbolt in case I don't feel like switching out after using a STAB move, but I can definitely see Magnet Rise and Flash Cannon as being good options too so that I'm not either killed by Earthquake or walled by a Dragon. Any recommendations?
EDIT: For the most part, I'm not very good at using Magnemite yet, but he's good for a defensive bulky attacker that has lots of resistances. I find myself using Thunderbolt a lot and not much of the other three moves, although I can definitely see where Hidden Power Fire will come in handy so I'm keeping it.
Thanks everyone! Oh, and an apology to the administrators and moderators if I broke a rule...I'm still kinda new to this site and the forums. So I apologize in advance.
~aquashiram14
When it comes to movesets, I am somewhat familiar with good sets to use on Pokemon, but since I'm still new, that doesn't necessarily mean I know a perfect moveset for a Pokemon on my team. The EV mechanics at level 5 are also new to me since I'm used to thinks like 252/252/6, which obviously isn't something that should be used in LC. Any help will be very much appreciated, especially with Ekans. What I'm aiming for is to be able to put together a fairly unique team that still works and I really want Ekans to be a part of it. If anyone can help me maybe either center a team around giving Ekans success or help me give the snake better EVs or something, that'll be helpful. If not, I'm looking into replacing Ekans completley with a Pokemon that either resists or is immune to Ground moves.
As of now, here's the sets I'm considering for my LC Pokemon. Editing as I change them:
Sandshrew @ Eviolite
Careful nature: 196 HP, 76 Def, 196 SpD, 36 Spd [?]
-Stealth Rock
-Rapid Spin
-Earthquake
-Toxic
Can set up entry hazards and spin them away--Larvesta and Taillow practically require a Spinner so that's useful. I've been battling some with this team this morning and often I find that Sandshrew has a habit of dying before I can Rapid Spin. Perhaps it's just me not being good at predicting, but oftentimes I find myself using Stealth Rock and then dying. In any case, I've decided on Toxic, it's far more useful for problematic Pokemon.
Staryu @ Eviolite or Life Orb (more bulk or more power?)
Timid nature: 200 SpA, 240 Spd
-Hydro Pump or Surf (I'm leaning towards Surf since I have horrible luck)
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power [Fire]
-Recover
I keep on seeing Hidden Power Fire pop up as a really important move on offensive Staryu sets. Is it that important, or is Ice Beam not as important for Staryu's coverage? For the most part I've noticed I don't see an awful lot of dragons on LC teams so I'll probably opt for Hidden Power Fire, but then Ice Beam grants me coverage for Grass Pokemon already so I'm still debating with myself.
EDIT: I have now decided that Hidden Power Fire will be used over Ice Beam due to Ferroseed being a thorn in the side. Because Hidden Power [Fire] means having a perfect HP IV, I've taken out the HP EVs and dumped them somewhere since they're essentially useless now. Now I have 19 HP, which rounds down to 1 HP per turn for Life Orb damage. Tested out Hydro Pump, missed at the worst moment. Back to using Surf.
Larvesta @ Eviolite
Adamant nature: 76 HP, 236 Atk, 156 Def, 36 Spd
Ability: Flame Body
-Flare Blitz
-Wild Charge
-U-turn
-Morning Sun
If I should replace one of the attack moves with Morning Sun or Will-o-wisp, please give me your opinion as I will appreciate it lots. I want Larvesta to be primarily an attacker, though. I like this bug.
EDIT: Morning Sun far more useful for me because the Flare Blitz/Wild Charge recoil really adds up.
Ekans @ Eviolite
Careful nature: 236 HP, 4 Def, 244 Spd
Ability: Shed Skin
-Coil
-Gunk Shot
-Sucker Punch
-Rest
Ekans is probably one of my favorite LC Pokemon ever and so I have become quite attached to him. In fact, one Coil or two is enough to make sure that Sucker Punch does quite a bit to Misdrevious and Gunk Shot doesn't miss. Considering that I never use Earthquake, I think I might want to try a mono-attacking Ekans with Rest and Sleep Talk. My Ekans seems to take a lot of damage even with the defensive EVs in play and Eviolite so some form of recovery will probably help this snake in the long run.
EDIT: Testing out Shed Skin + Rest to see if that'll give me any benefits. So far it seems that Ekans is always dying, but I think with some practice I'll be able to bring him out right, although now I really am considering a Ground-type resist to replace him because I once nearly got swept by a Swords Dance Teddiursa that was on an Earthquake rampage--barely won the match by poisoning it and letting the poison damage kill him by sending out my remaining two Ground-weak Pokemon as death fodder, saving my Taillow for last to Quick Attack.
Taillow @ Choice Scarf
Adamant nature: 236 Atk, 236 Spd, 36 HP
-Brave Bird
-U-Turn
-Return
-Toxic
I have read Smogon's StrategyDex and it strongly recommends that Taillow run Toxic as a fourth move. I can definitely see its usefulness so I guess that's what I'll have as filler for bulky things Taillow can't kill. After testing out this team on Pokemon Online, I find that Taillow is hands-down the best revenge-killer ever and in fact managed to sweep half a team once (two of those Pokemon WERE Ghastly and Abra though...) with Brave Bird. Taillow's main objective is to come in, spam Brave Bird, and then die, so it seems. I find myself using the last three moves very rarely.
Magnemite @ Eviolite
Ability: Magnet Pull
Modest nature: 156 HP, 36 Def, 240 SpA, 76 SpD
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power Fire
-Thunderbolt [?]
-Magnet Rise [?] Flash Cannon [?]
I know for sure that I want Magnemite to have Volt Switch and Hidden Power Fire since it'll be useful if Magnemite happens to trap a Ferroseed or something. I'd like to have Thunderbolt in case I don't feel like switching out after using a STAB move, but I can definitely see Magnet Rise and Flash Cannon as being good options too so that I'm not either killed by Earthquake or walled by a Dragon. Any recommendations?
EDIT: For the most part, I'm not very good at using Magnemite yet, but he's good for a defensive bulky attacker that has lots of resistances. I find myself using Thunderbolt a lot and not much of the other three moves, although I can definitely see where Hidden Power Fire will come in handy so I'm keeping it.
Thanks everyone! Oh, and an apology to the administrators and moderators if I broke a rule...I'm still kinda new to this site and the forums. So I apologize in advance.
~aquashiram14
