This thread is for discussion on the Little Cup Uber metagame only, not Little Cup OU, and not Standard Ubers.
You know about the game now, but what are some of the top players?
I'll list two examples of Pokemon in various roles.
Stealth Rock users:
Phanpy (M) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Pickup
EVs: 196 HP/116 Atk/196 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
- Head Smash / Counter
---
Phanpy is a great Pokemon in Little Cup Ubers for many reasons. It has very very impressive defense, Stealth Rock and a very useful Ice-typed priority attack. After it sets up Stealth Rock, Phanpy works great as a check to Pokemon like Sneasel (survives a +2 STAB Ice Shard!!), Non-SD Scyther, Gligar, Murkrow, and others.
Bronzor @ Berry Juice
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 220 HP/4 Atk/148 Def/12 Spd/4 SAtk/68 SDef
Sassy nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
- Reflect
- Light Screen
---
Bronzor has excellent defenses and typing, Stealth Rock, and can set up dual screens! What more could you want from a support Pokemon? Gyro Ball is also a great attack in LC Ubers, because most of the Pokemon are damn fast. Dual Screens are pretty important in LC Ubers as well, it helps Pokemon like Scyther and Sneasel set up with Stealth Rock in play.
Sweepers:
Sneasel (M) @ Berry Juice / Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 236 Atk/236 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Brick Break
- Bite
- Swords Dance
---
What needs to be said about something with 23 unboosted Speed and 19 Atk? Its only "weakness" is its lack of a powerful STAB. However after a Swords Dance, Sneasel is practically unstoppable. It also has decent defenses, allowing it to abuse Berry Juice with screens, or even without. Sneasel's true strength is that it can't really be revenge killed by anything but a Scarfed Pokemon with a super effective priority.
Scyther (M) @ Berry Juice / Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 196 Atk/36 Def/236 Spd/36 SDef
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Aerial Ace
- Bug Bite
- Quick Attack / Roost / Brick Break
---
With Scyther's dual STAB attacks, it's monstrous unboosted 20 Attack stat, and a whopping 22 Speed, it's no wonder Scyther is one of the most powerful Pokemon in the metagame. Scyther also has pretty impressive defenses. That's an understatement, it has 70/80/80 defenses, those are the BEST defenses in Little Cup! This gives Scyther and easy time setting up Swords Dance, even if Stealth Rock is in play. Pretty much nothing can get in the way of a STAB 90 base power attack coming off of 40 Attack, and psuedo-stab Quick Attack is there for the Choice Scarfers who try and take the other route at beating Scyther (outpacing it). Scyther excels at everything Sneasel has trouble with, but Sneasel is faster, and has a better priority attack.
Revenge Killers:
Scyther (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Technician
EVs: 196 Atk/36 Def/236 Spd/36 SpD
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Aerial Ace
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Bug Bite / Quick Attack
---
Scyther is basically the best "everything". It reaches a whopping 33 Speed with a Choice Scarf, outspeeding everything in the entire metagame minus a Scarf Sneasel, who isn't very effective. It even outspeeds Sunny Day Tangela. STAB U-turn is a godsend on a Choice Scarfer, allowing it to lure out it's counters while dealing major damage to whatever switches in. Pursuit traps and KOes every Spin Blocker as well, meaning Scyther can take care of it's own SR problem. Bug Bite is neat as a second STAB, and it can eat the odd pinch Berry, but Quick Attack is definitely a solid choice because of Technician.
Meditite (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 196 Atk/76 Def/196 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Brick Break
- Fake Out
- Ice Punch
---
Pretty much Croagunk on crack. Fake Out + Bullet Punch will KO most Pokemon as long as Berry Juice is gone, and the best part is that it bypasses all Speed. Brick Break serves two purposes on this set: STAB and breaking screens. Screens are pretty dangerous in Little Cup with Berry Juice in play. Ice Punch is for coverage, specifically on Gligar (who is still dangerous in Ubers) and Scyther.
Rapid Spinners / Spin Blockers:
Misdreavus (M) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 196 HP/36 Atk/196 Def/76 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Will-o-wisp
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
---
Missy is, in my opinion, the best Spin blocker in Little Cup Ubers. Unlike Duskull, Missy can actually KO a huge amount of the Spinners and Pursuiters alike. With excellent defenses, Misdreavus easily adjusts from being a star sweeper in OU to being a star Spin blocker in Ubers!
Squirtle (M) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 244 HP/132 Atk/76 Def/12 Spd/4 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Aqua Jet
- Brick Break
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Punch
---
"Wtf is Squirtle doing on this list??". I know, it's Squirtle. Once you wrap your head around that, take a closer look. Squirtle has a very very important role in LC Ubers. It can a ton of hits, Rapid Spin, and KO most of the Little Cup sweepers with its great coverage moves (hits Sneasel and Gligar 4x Super Effective, and hits Yanma, Tangela, Scyther, and Murkrow 2x Super effective). Priority is priority.
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Now that you know a bit about the game....discuss!
The Game
Little Cup Ubers is a unique metagame. It's obscenely fast-paced, even by Little Cup standards. With all of the powerhouses in Little Cup being banned from OU because of sweeping power, what else would you expect?
Stealth Rock
In LC Ubers, Stealth Rock is the most important part of the game. With every Pokemon minus Meditite, Tangela, and DST Clamperl weak to Stealth Rock, likely anything dangerous switching in will be sent straight to 75% HP, or even 50% in Scyther and Yanma's case. If you can keep Stealth Rock on the field, chances are you will have an easy time knocking your opponent's Pokemon out quick and fast before they get a chance to set up. For this reason, set up is a little harder than one might think even with the decent defenses of most of the Uber Pokemon (Scyther and Tangela specifically). Scyther can set up Swords Dance with Stealth Rock in play if sent in at the right time, but it is hard to get that chance since even a semi-powerful priority attack will KO it at half HP.
Rapid Spin / Spin Blocking
This is all good and well, but if you can't keep Stealth Rock on the field you are going to have some trouble. Keeping Stealth Rock on the field is quite difficult because of the lack of a truly defensive Ghost to block Rapid Spin. The best that choices are Misdreavus and Duskull, obviously EVed as defensively as possible.
Speed
Another huge factor is that there is no "magic" speed anymore. The fastest speed in LC Uber belongs to Sneasel, who reaches a whopping 23 Speed with max Speed and a Jolly nature. If there was a magic Speed, it would probably be 16, as it reaches 24 Speed after a Choice Scarf boost.
Stealth Rock
In LC Ubers, Stealth Rock is the most important part of the game. With every Pokemon minus Meditite, Tangela, and DST Clamperl weak to Stealth Rock, likely anything dangerous switching in will be sent straight to 75% HP, or even 50% in Scyther and Yanma's case. If you can keep Stealth Rock on the field, chances are you will have an easy time knocking your opponent's Pokemon out quick and fast before they get a chance to set up. For this reason, set up is a little harder than one might think even with the decent defenses of most of the Uber Pokemon (Scyther and Tangela specifically). Scyther can set up Swords Dance with Stealth Rock in play if sent in at the right time, but it is hard to get that chance since even a semi-powerful priority attack will KO it at half HP.
Rapid Spin / Spin Blocking
This is all good and well, but if you can't keep Stealth Rock on the field you are going to have some trouble. Keeping Stealth Rock on the field is quite difficult because of the lack of a truly defensive Ghost to block Rapid Spin. The best that choices are Misdreavus and Duskull, obviously EVed as defensively as possible.
Speed
Another huge factor is that there is no "magic" speed anymore. The fastest speed in LC Uber belongs to Sneasel, who reaches a whopping 23 Speed with max Speed and a Jolly nature. If there was a magic Speed, it would probably be 16, as it reaches 24 Speed after a Choice Scarf boost.
The Players
You know about the game now, but what are some of the top players?
I'll list two examples of Pokemon in various roles.
Stealth Rock users:
Phanpy (M) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Pickup
EVs: 196 HP/116 Atk/196 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Ice Shard
- Head Smash / Counter
---
Phanpy is a great Pokemon in Little Cup Ubers for many reasons. It has very very impressive defense, Stealth Rock and a very useful Ice-typed priority attack. After it sets up Stealth Rock, Phanpy works great as a check to Pokemon like Sneasel (survives a +2 STAB Ice Shard!!), Non-SD Scyther, Gligar, Murkrow, and others.
Bronzor @ Berry Juice
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 220 HP/4 Atk/148 Def/12 Spd/4 SAtk/68 SDef
Sassy nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
- Reflect
- Light Screen
---
Bronzor has excellent defenses and typing, Stealth Rock, and can set up dual screens! What more could you want from a support Pokemon? Gyro Ball is also a great attack in LC Ubers, because most of the Pokemon are damn fast. Dual Screens are pretty important in LC Ubers as well, it helps Pokemon like Scyther and Sneasel set up with Stealth Rock in play.
Sweepers:
Sneasel (M) @ Berry Juice / Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 236 Atk/236 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Brick Break
- Bite
- Swords Dance
---
What needs to be said about something with 23 unboosted Speed and 19 Atk? Its only "weakness" is its lack of a powerful STAB. However after a Swords Dance, Sneasel is practically unstoppable. It also has decent defenses, allowing it to abuse Berry Juice with screens, or even without. Sneasel's true strength is that it can't really be revenge killed by anything but a Scarfed Pokemon with a super effective priority.
Scyther (M) @ Berry Juice / Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 196 Atk/36 Def/236 Spd/36 SDef
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Aerial Ace
- Bug Bite
- Quick Attack / Roost / Brick Break
---
With Scyther's dual STAB attacks, it's monstrous unboosted 20 Attack stat, and a whopping 22 Speed, it's no wonder Scyther is one of the most powerful Pokemon in the metagame. Scyther also has pretty impressive defenses. That's an understatement, it has 70/80/80 defenses, those are the BEST defenses in Little Cup! This gives Scyther and easy time setting up Swords Dance, even if Stealth Rock is in play. Pretty much nothing can get in the way of a STAB 90 base power attack coming off of 40 Attack, and psuedo-stab Quick Attack is there for the Choice Scarfers who try and take the other route at beating Scyther (outpacing it). Scyther excels at everything Sneasel has trouble with, but Sneasel is faster, and has a better priority attack.
Revenge Killers:
Scyther (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Technician
EVs: 196 Atk/36 Def/236 Spd/36 SpD
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Aerial Ace
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Bug Bite / Quick Attack
---
Scyther is basically the best "everything". It reaches a whopping 33 Speed with a Choice Scarf, outspeeding everything in the entire metagame minus a Scarf Sneasel, who isn't very effective. It even outspeeds Sunny Day Tangela. STAB U-turn is a godsend on a Choice Scarfer, allowing it to lure out it's counters while dealing major damage to whatever switches in. Pursuit traps and KOes every Spin Blocker as well, meaning Scyther can take care of it's own SR problem. Bug Bite is neat as a second STAB, and it can eat the odd pinch Berry, but Quick Attack is definitely a solid choice because of Technician.
Meditite (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 196 Atk/76 Def/196 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- Brick Break
- Fake Out
- Ice Punch
---
Pretty much Croagunk on crack. Fake Out + Bullet Punch will KO most Pokemon as long as Berry Juice is gone, and the best part is that it bypasses all Speed. Brick Break serves two purposes on this set: STAB and breaking screens. Screens are pretty dangerous in Little Cup with Berry Juice in play. Ice Punch is for coverage, specifically on Gligar (who is still dangerous in Ubers) and Scyther.
Rapid Spinners / Spin Blockers:
Misdreavus (M) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 196 HP/36 Atk/196 Def/76 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Will-o-wisp
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
---
Missy is, in my opinion, the best Spin blocker in Little Cup Ubers. Unlike Duskull, Missy can actually KO a huge amount of the Spinners and Pursuiters alike. With excellent defenses, Misdreavus easily adjusts from being a star sweeper in OU to being a star Spin blocker in Ubers!
Squirtle (M) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 244 HP/132 Atk/76 Def/12 Spd/4 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Aqua Jet
- Brick Break
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Punch
---
"Wtf is Squirtle doing on this list??". I know, it's Squirtle. Once you wrap your head around that, take a closer look. Squirtle has a very very important role in LC Ubers. It can a ton of hits, Rapid Spin, and KO most of the Little Cup sweepers with its great coverage moves (hits Sneasel and Gligar 4x Super Effective, and hits Yanma, Tangela, Scyther, and Murkrow 2x Super effective). Priority is priority.
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Now that you know a bit about the game....discuss!