Purrloin's Analysis Skeleton
Purrloin Analysis
[Overview]
<p>Purrloin is one of the most underrated and unpredictable Pokemon in all of Little Cup. With exceptional early-game and late-game viability, Purrloin can be an intimidating threat mutilating the opposing Pokemon with status moves, aided by its ability, Prankster. The opponent will have to play with the constant annoyance of having their Pokemon locked into the same move by Encore, getting confused by Swagger, and inflicted with paralysis. Sadly, Purrloin is easily checked by many Fighting-types and sweepers abundant in the metagame. However, when played right, the little feline fits into a unique niche of utilizing U-turn and Encore, making it tough to beat. With many fearsome attributes, Purrloin can be beneficial on any team, providing good support and annoying the opponent senseless.</p>
[SET]
name: Puddytat
move 1: Encore
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Swagger / Thunder Wave
move 4: Foul Play / Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Prankster
nature: Jolly
evs: 188 HP / 60 Def / 228 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set can turn the tide of battle by utilizing Purrloin's ability, Prankster. With access to both Encore and U-turn, Purrloin can scout potential switches and provide its teammates with opportunities to set up on the opponent, all while dealing additional damage with U-turn. With 17 Speed, Purrloin can be played offensively with Swagger and Foul Play or as a supporter with Thunder Wave and Knock Off. Thunder Wave cripples threats, such as Mienfoo, that frequently switch out with U-turn. On the other hand, Swagger can possibly force the opposing Pokemon to deal a large amount of damage to itself while or force switches. Either option is best used after locking a Pokemon into Encore or on a predicted switch. Knock Off cripples Pokemon that rely on Eviolite to enhance their overall bulk, allowing your team's sweepers to break through them more efficiently.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs in HP and Defense with Eviolite allow Purrloin to tank more attacks than it usually could, providing acceptable longevity.Taunt can be used in the third moveslot if you would like a reliable way to counter entry hazards. Pursuit can be used in the final moveslot if you wish to play more aggressively and have problems with Ghost-type Pokemon, namely Gastly and Drifloon.</p>
<p>Purrloin works well when entry hazards are up because of its ability to force switches. Natu is a useful teammate to Purrloin since it can prevent status and entry hazards from crippling Purrloin. Purrloin works well with setup sweepers such as Tirtouga and Scraggy as they need time to set up, something Purrloin can provide with its status moves. Strong Pokemon that deal with Fighting-types easily, such as Taillow and Abra, work well with Purrloin. Purrloin needs a team that can take hits, so bulky Pokemon, such as Misdreavus and Slowpoke, are also good teammates.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>An Unburden set may not be a bad idea on Purrloin if you're looking to throw off opponents with an unconventional sweeper. Rain Dance can be used to interrupt ongoing weather or to create a hybrid Rain Dance team. Trick with Choice Specs can be used to severely disrupt the opponent's sweepers, along with Pokemon reliant on their items.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Purrloin does not fare well against Fighting-types such as Machop and Mienfoo because they can usually OHKO it with their powerful STAB moves. Physical setup sweepers such as Scraggy and Pawniard can counter Purrloin easily; however, they need to be wary of Swagger. Purrloin will not often expect Megahorn from Ponyta or Rhyhorn, so that surprise element can be used as well. Mold Breaker Drilbur and Magic Guard Abra are excellent counters to Purrloin due to their abilities and offensive presence. Shed Skin Dratini and Scraggy can be a problem for Purrloin, but they should focus on hitting with brute strength as their primary strategy. Natu's ability, Magic Bounce, can reflect Purrloin's status moves, but Purrloin's Knock Off can be troublesome, as Natu's defenses suffer a major drop when Eviolite is removed.</p>
[Overview]
name: Puddytat
move 1: Encore
move 2: U-Turn
move 3: Swagger / Thunder Wave
move 4: Foul Play / Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Prankster
nature: Jolly
evs: 188 HP / 60 Def / 228 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Excellent job at countering sweepers of all types, especially special sweepers
- Can be very annoying for an opponent to beat
- Nice early and late game playing power
- Excellent niche in U-turn and Encore
- Viable strategy on teams that wish to cripple opposing team with status
- Halts shell smash sweepers in their tracks
- Pretty bulky for a kitty cat
name: Puddytat
move 1: Encore
move 2: U-Turn
move 3: Swagger / Thunder Wave
move 4: Foul Play / Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Prankster
nature: Jolly
evs: 188 HP / 60 Def / 228 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Utilizes prankster as core theme
- Encore and U-turn is Purrloin's niche
- Goal of set is to encore your opponent and therefore force switches
- Able to scout out opponent with U-turn, usually after an encore
- This set relies on good prediction and a team that has good synergy with Purrloin
- Defensive EVs and eviolite are on this set to give Purrloin a defensive edge in tanking attacks and thus the ability to switch in on many pokemon
- Swagger is preferred since it deals with physical sweepers better, boosts foul play, and can't be countered by ground types other than Own Tempo Numel
- Run foul play with swagger and knock off with thunder wave as a general rule
- Thunder wave can be used if looking to cut speed on sweepers that normally switch out often like Mienfoo
- Knock off can cripple common eviolite and leftovers users like Murkrow and Slowpoke
- Taunt can be used if you are looking for a reliable counter lead against entry hazard pokemon
- Pursuit can best be placed in a set that likes to force switches or go after ghost type pokemon
- Purrloin works well with pokemon that set up entry hazards since it forces a lot of switches
- Purrloin works well with magic bounce Natu since it can not entirely prevent entry hazards, unless it runs taunt, while Natu can
- Purrloin works well with sweepers that require a turn to set up, such as Tirtouga and Scraggy
- Purrloin works well with strong psychic and flying types like Abra and Taillow respectively due to their ability to remove fighting types
- Purrloin's primary purpose is to offset the opponent and to counter their sweepers and ghosts, so keep this in mind when designing a team
- Purrloin reaches a 17 speed, so an unburden set is not a bad idea if looking to throw off the opponent
- Rain dance can be used with prankster Purrloin for weather interrupt or on a rain dance team
- Trick with choice specs can be used to severely offset the opponent's sweeper pokemon and item relying pokemon with the right team support
- Purrloin does not appreciate fighting types because they can usually one hit KO it with drain or dynamicpunch, so facing fighting types like Machop and Mienfoo is difficult for it
- Scraggy and pawniard can counter Purrloin if they don't try to set up on it.
- Megahorn Ponyta or Rhyhorn are unexpected counters for most Purrloin users
- Sweepers like Drilbur and Abra generally don't set up, so Purrloin is not the best pokemon to counter them
- Priority users like Cottonee can upset Purrloin's flow of battle
- Shed skin Dratini and Scraggy can be annoying for Purrloin to deal with, and is often unable to counter them due to their status recovery
- Natu's magic bounce causes Purrloin to fall victim to itself
Purrloin Analysis
[Overview]
<p>Purrloin is one of the most underrated and unpredictable Pokemon in all of Little Cup. With exceptional early-game and late-game viability, Purrloin can be an intimidating threat mutilating the opposing Pokemon with status moves, aided by its ability, Prankster. The opponent will have to play with the constant annoyance of having their Pokemon locked into the same move by Encore, getting confused by Swagger, and inflicted with paralysis. Sadly, Purrloin is easily checked by many Fighting-types and sweepers abundant in the metagame. However, when played right, the little feline fits into a unique niche of utilizing U-turn and Encore, making it tough to beat. With many fearsome attributes, Purrloin can be beneficial on any team, providing good support and annoying the opponent senseless.</p>
[SET]
name: Puddytat
move 1: Encore
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Swagger / Thunder Wave
move 4: Foul Play / Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Prankster
nature: Jolly
evs: 188 HP / 60 Def / 228 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set can turn the tide of battle by utilizing Purrloin's ability, Prankster. With access to both Encore and U-turn, Purrloin can scout potential switches and provide its teammates with opportunities to set up on the opponent, all while dealing additional damage with U-turn. With 17 Speed, Purrloin can be played offensively with Swagger and Foul Play or as a supporter with Thunder Wave and Knock Off. Thunder Wave cripples threats, such as Mienfoo, that frequently switch out with U-turn. On the other hand, Swagger can possibly force the opposing Pokemon to deal a large amount of damage to itself while or force switches. Either option is best used after locking a Pokemon into Encore or on a predicted switch. Knock Off cripples Pokemon that rely on Eviolite to enhance their overall bulk, allowing your team's sweepers to break through them more efficiently.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs in HP and Defense with Eviolite allow Purrloin to tank more attacks than it usually could, providing acceptable longevity.Taunt can be used in the third moveslot if you would like a reliable way to counter entry hazards. Pursuit can be used in the final moveslot if you wish to play more aggressively and have problems with Ghost-type Pokemon, namely Gastly and Drifloon.</p>
<p>Purrloin works well when entry hazards are up because of its ability to force switches. Natu is a useful teammate to Purrloin since it can prevent status and entry hazards from crippling Purrloin. Purrloin works well with setup sweepers such as Tirtouga and Scraggy as they need time to set up, something Purrloin can provide with its status moves. Strong Pokemon that deal with Fighting-types easily, such as Taillow and Abra, work well with Purrloin. Purrloin needs a team that can take hits, so bulky Pokemon, such as Misdreavus and Slowpoke, are also good teammates.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>An Unburden set may not be a bad idea on Purrloin if you're looking to throw off opponents with an unconventional sweeper. Rain Dance can be used to interrupt ongoing weather or to create a hybrid Rain Dance team. Trick with Choice Specs can be used to severely disrupt the opponent's sweepers, along with Pokemon reliant on their items.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Purrloin does not fare well against Fighting-types such as Machop and Mienfoo because they can usually OHKO it with their powerful STAB moves. Physical setup sweepers such as Scraggy and Pawniard can counter Purrloin easily; however, they need to be wary of Swagger. Purrloin will not often expect Megahorn from Ponyta or Rhyhorn, so that surprise element can be used as well. Mold Breaker Drilbur and Magic Guard Abra are excellent counters to Purrloin due to their abilities and offensive presence. Shed Skin Dratini and Scraggy can be a problem for Purrloin, but they should focus on hitting with brute strength as their primary strategy. Natu's ability, Magic Bounce, can reflect Purrloin's status moves, but Purrloin's Knock Off can be troublesome, as Natu's defenses suffer a major drop when Eviolite is removed.</p>