Pikachu Cup: Game Freak's Shocking Tournament Metagame!

Electivire

This is it —the big cheese of Pikachu Cup, which is none other than the overhyped has-been of Generation IV, Electivire!

Physical Attacker

Electivire @ Life Orb / Expert Belt
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Protect
- Rock Slide / Ice Punch / Facade
- Return / Ice Punch / Facade

Choice Scarf

Electivire @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Return / Facade / Brick Break

What's the big deal?

One word: Earthquake. In a metagame where almost every single Pokémon is weak to Ground-type attacks, having access to a strong spread move like such as Earthquake is an incredible selling point! Electivire fully takes advantage of it too, having an excellent base 123 Attack stat to ignore Light Screen with and a very usable base 95 Speed to outspeed many of Pikachu Cup's bulky threats. Electivire even has access to Motor Drive, making it immune to Electroweb and Soak shenanigans!

What can I expect to see?

Usually, Electivire variants come in two flavors: general physical attacker and Choice Scarf. The physical attacker always runs Earthquake and Protect, and it will usually have either Life Orb, Expert Belt, or Soft Sand / Earth Plate. The final two moves are a bit of a toss-up. Rock Slide is common, as it gives Electivire yet another spread move, a way to hit Levitators, and a frightening chance to make the foe flinch! Return is also common, giving Electivire its most powerful attack against Levitators. Ice Punch allows Electivire to hit Rotom-C super effectively, and it does as much damage as to Stunfisk as Earthquake without risking spread damage. Facade is seen occasionally as a way to make Rotom formes wish they had never burned Electivire!

Finally, we have two interesting support options. Ion Deluge may seem like a strange move because it only affects Normal-type attacks. However, this can be used to ruin Heliolisk that attempt to use Hyper Voice, giving Electivire a free Speed boost so that it can KO it with Earthquake! If you feel like powering up Electivire's teammates after they've protected themselves from Earthquake, feel free to use Helping Hand Electivire. Finally, if you want to nail some predicted Protects, Electivire can use Feint to open up a hole!

The Choice Scarf set is more vulnerable to airborne Pokémon, but it's an incredibly dangerous late-game cleaner with its fast and powerful Earthquakes! It also has a tendency to mess with foes with its timely Rock Slide flinches. Ice Punch and Return or Facade usually round out the set, but you may occasionally see Brick Break. Brick Break allows Electivire to smash Heliolisk without harming its teammate, and it also breaks the ever-annoying Light Screen for its more specially inclined teammates.

Finally, if you want to play with some more obscure items, Air Balloon can be a great choice, as it puts opposing Electivire in a tough spot (especially Choice Scarf Electivire, which usually outspeeds everything). If you're one of those gutsy risk-takers who likes to bet on Lady Luck, you can equip Electivire with a Persim Berry to double its Attack with a self-targeting Swagger!

What are its flaws?

You can expect to see Electivire on almost every team in this tournament, meaning that most teams will be very well prepared for this threat. Expect to see plenty of Levitators and Air Balloons around attempting to stop Electivire in its tracks. Electivire also isn't a particularly bulky Pokémon, especially physically, so it might fall faster in battle than you'd expect! Electivire's last major flaw is that because it relies on Earthquake so much, it often forces its own teammates to use Protect in order to avoid being KOed, which is a predictable pattern that your opponent can prey on.

Heliolisk

One of the few Generation VI Electric-types just so happens to be a huge special attacking threat!

Choice Specs

Heliolisk @ Choice Specs
Ability: Dry Skin / Solar Power
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Dark Pulse
- Hyper Beam
- Hidden Power Ground / Dragon Pulse

Special Attacker

Heliolisk @ Life Orb / Silk Scarf
Ability: Dry Skin / Solar Power
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Dark Pulse
- Protect
- Hidden Power Ground / Magnet Rise / Electrify / Hyper Beam

What's the big deal?

Heliolisk's bizarre Normal typing gives it STAB on Hyper Voice, making it one of the most effective spread attackers around! Unlike with Electivire, Heliolisk's teammates don't have to avoid its spread attack, making Heliolisk an incredibly effective abuser of its teammates' Helping Hand. Heliolisk has a fairly good base 109 Special Attack, backed up by a blistering base 109 Speed, making it one of the best cleaners in Pikachu Cup!

What can I expect to see?

The most common Heliolisk variant is the Choice Specs set. Usually, they simply spam Hyper Voice as much as they can. Expect to see Heliolisk paired with users of Helping Hand such as Emolga, Raichu, Jolteon, and Luxray, as Helping Hand support dramatically boosts its sweeping power! The rest of its moves are basically filler: Dark Pulse ensures that Heliolisk isn't a sitting duck against Rotom, Hyper Beam gives Heliolisk a suicidal last-ditch move to KO a foe, Dragon Pulse hits Mega Ampharos a bit harder, and Hidden Power Ground does more damage against individual grounded foes.

The non-Choice set is much of the same, giving up some power in exchange for being able to use Protect and changing moves. You can opt to give this Heliolisk Magnet Rise, which is great for avoiding an OHKO from Electivire and Stunfisk and dodging Hidden Power Ground in general. Electrify is also a rather unique move: it changes the typing of a foe's move into Electric. As most of the metagame resists Electric, this could potentially save your teammate from getting KOed! Unfortunately, Electrify is actually absorbed by Motor Drive, Lightning Rod, and Volt Absorb, which are found on quite a few Pokémon.

One final aspect of Heliolisk to remember is its two viable abilities: Dry Skin and Solar Power. Dry Skin gives Heliolisk an immunity to Rotom-W's and Lanturn's main STAB moves, which can give Heliolisk a valuable opportunity to switch in (especially when paired with Stunfisk). However, this also makes Heliolisk vulnerable to Rotom-H's Overheat and Mega Manectric's Flamethrower, so you can opt for Solar Power to survive those attacks. Solar Power also comes with the benefit of making Heliolisk even more powerful in the sun, and it is a major reason why Sunny Day teams are viable!

What are its flaws?

Heliolisk's defining flaw is its low bulk: it may have a nice base 94 Special Defense, but its HP and Defense stats leave much to be desired. Combine this with the fact that Hyper Voice, while powerful, doesn't usually OHKO both foes, and you'll find that Heliolisk can be difficult to use early-game. Heliolisk is also very vulnerable to Light Screen, so pairing it with a Brick Break user such as Raichu, Electivire, Eelektross, or Ampharos isn't a bad idea. While not too common, watch out for potential Ion Deluge users such as Electivire, Eelektross, and Ampharos, as this priority move will change Hyper Voice into an Electric-type attack, ruining Heliolisk's chances of sweeping. Finally, pay special attention to Choice Scarf Electivire, which can obliterate Heliolisk with a faster Earthquake!

Eelektross

Finally, a metagame where the classic "OMG IT HAS NO WEAK!!!!!!11!!11111!" means something!

Physical Attacker

Eelektross @ Sitrus Berry / Muscle Band / Assault Vest
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Coil / Power-Up Punch
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Return / Facade / Ion Deluge

Special Attacker

Eelektross @ Expert Belt / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Hidden Power Ground
- Flamethrower
- Giga Drain
- Brick Break / Drain Punch / Superpower

Specially Defensive

Eelektross @ Sitrus Berry / Leftovers / Chesto Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Super Fang
- Light Screen / Ion Deluge
- Brick Break / Superpower / Drain Punch
- Gastro Acid / Acid Spray / Knock Off / Rest

What's the big deal?

Eelektross is one of the best Levitators around! It has fairly good mixed offensive stats, and its average bulk is made up for by the fact that Eelektross has no weaknesses. What truly makes Eelektross one of the biggest threats in the metagame is its incredible movepool. Eelektross has the chops to use an incredible number of sets, each with a lot of variation!

What can I expect to see?

This is a bit of a tough question to answer, as Eelektross is a very customizable Pokémon. However, the three most common categories of Eelektross are physical attackers, special attackers, and support sets. Just remember: these sets are more for guidelines than anything else, as Eelektross can run many specialized moves!

The most common set is probably the physical attacker. Normally, they'll run either Coil or Power-Up Punch as a setup move. Usually, Coil is the better option for making Eelektross even more difficult to KO with physical attacks, but Power-Up Punch bypasses Taunt from Emolga and Electrode and is also the only way Eelektross can set up if holding an Assault Vest! Drain Punch keeps Eelektross alive even longer and also allows it to OHKO the deadly Heliolisk. Knock Off gives Eelektross perfect coverage with Drain Punch and removes pesky items as well! The final moveslot has a ton of options to choose from. Return gives Eelektross a strong, reliable attack, while Facade ensures that Rotom formes won't totally cripple it with Will-O-Wisp. Ion Deluge can prevent Heliolisk from running through your entire team, which makes it an especially enticing support move. Rock Slide gives Eelektross a spread move, Fire Punch hits Rotom-C harder than any other move, Dragon Claw is for people that especially hate Mega Ampharos, and Aqua Tail gives Eelektross an edge against Rotom-H and Stunfisk. If the perfect coverage of Drain Punch and Knock Off is enough for your team, you can even give Eelektross some more supportive moves such as Gastro Acid, Light Screen, and Brick Break! Item-wise, you also have a lot of options. Sitrus Berry gives Eelektross more longevity, Muscle Band gives Eelektross an extra kick when Item Clause is getting in your way, and Assault Vest gives Eelektross even more longevity with regard to special attacks.

The second most common set is the special attacker, which uses Eelektross's impressive special movepool to score more super effective hits and avoid being crippled by Will-O-Wisp! Hidden Power Ground gives Eelektross a generally move to hit most foes with. Flamethrower is nice for slamming annoying Rotom-C and random Air Balloon targets, and it gets boosted in sun if you're into that kind of thing. Giga Drain ensures that Rotom-W won't get away scot-free, and it does more damage to Stunfisk and Lanturn than Hidden Power Ground would, all while restoring Eelektross's health! The last move is usually going to be a Fighting-type attack in order to OHKO Heliolisk. Brick Break deserves a special mention here because it does more than just knock out Heliolisk: it also breaks those dastardly Light Screens, which can otherwise really ruin your day! If you don't care much about Light Screen, Drain Punch is just fine for restoring some health back, while Superpower can be used if you don't plan on using an offensive item on Eelektross.

Last but not least, we have specially defensive Eelektross, which uses its lack of weaknesses to tank some of the more powerful attacks of the metagame! Super Fang is perfect for this set: it allows Eelektross to slice off half its foe's health, which is great for a set that doesn't invest in offenses! Light Screen is the usual generic support move in the Pikachu Cup, and it makes Eelektross even more difficult to KO, while Ion Deluge can save your team from a Heliolisk sweep and tends to mess with the Normal-type attacks that physical attackers aim at Eelektross. This set may not be offensive, but you'll still want a Fighting-type attack to hit Heliolisk. Brick Break supports the team further with Light Screen removal, while Superpower OHKOes that annoying lizard! Of course, if you want an extra bit of healing, Drain Punch is always on the table. The last move tends to be a bit more tricky to choose. Gastro Acid can be an incredibly unwelcome surprise against other Levitators, allowing your Electivire or Stunfisk to run wild! Acid Spray halves the foe's Special Defense, making them especially vulnerable to teammates that are slower than Eelektross such as Mega Ampharos and Stunfisk. Knock Off removes scary items such as Choice Scarf from Electivire, and it also means that your poor Eelektross isn't totally walled by Rotom! Finally, you can opt to use Chesto Berry + Rest to give Eelektross a second chance at life!

What are its flaws?

Eelektross's biggest flaw is its mediocre base 50 Speed, leaving it open to getting double targeted before it can launch off a move. Also, its offensive sets lack a good STAB attack to take advantage of, meaning that it isn't quite as powerful as you'd hope at times.

Rotom Trio (Rotom-W, Rotom-C, and Rotom-H)

Support Sets

Rotom-W @ Light Clay / Life Orb / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest / Calm Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power Ground
- Light Screen
- Reflect / Will-O-Wisp

Rotom-C @ Light Clay / Miracle Seed / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest / Calm Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Light Screen
- Reflect / Will-O-Wisp
- Hidden Power Ground / Protect

Rotom-H @ Light Clay / Charcoal / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest / Calm Nature
- Overheat
- Light Screen
- Reflect / Will-O-Wisp
- Hidden Power Ground / Protect

Choice Sets

Rotom-W @ Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power Ground
- Trick
- Light Screen / Will-O-Wisp / Reflect

Rotom-C @ Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Trick
- Hidden Power Ground / Will-O-Wisp
- Light Screen / Will-O-Wisp / Reflect

Rotom-H @ Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Overheat
- Trick
- Hidden Power Ground / Will-O-Wisp
- Light Screen / Will-O-Wisp / Reflect

What's the big deal?

Oh yeah, baby, the other Levitators of the Pikachu Cup! These three have excellent and disruptive movepools that give them an edge over Eelektross on the support front. Also, their secondary typings mean that they don't have to rely on Hidden Power Ground as much, which is great news offensively. Of course, because these formes have been slightly different Pokémon since Generation V, they do have individual selling points as well.

Rotom-W: Rotom-W has the excellent secondary STAB attack Hydro Pump, which only Heliolisk, opposing Rotom-W, Lanturn, and Rotom-C resist! Unlike the signature attacks of other two Rotom formes, Hydro Pump means that Rotom-W doesn't have to switch out as much, as it isn't losing any Special Attack by using it. It also happens to be weak to none of Electivire's attacks, which comes in handy. Rotom-W is also the best Rotom-H counter.

Rotom-C: Rotom-C has a powerful STAB move in Leaf Storm, which is only resisted by Rotom-H, Rotom-C, Emolga, and the rare Magnezone. Unlike Rotom-W, Rotom-C can actually deal serious damage to Heliolisk, Lanturn, and Rotom-W, which generally makes Rotom-C the more reliable offensive Rotom forme. Rotom-C is also neutral to Ground-type attacks, which can be a life saver when facing off against Gravity teams!

Rotom-H: This is the anti-metagame Rotom forme, being the best counter to Rotom-C in the game! Also, thanks to STAB Overheat, Rotom-H actually OHKOes Dry Skin Heliolisk, a feat unique to this Rotom forme. Rotom-H also resists the moves commonly aimed at Rotom-C and Rotom-W, which gives it an edge against Pokémon such as Eelektross and Mega Manectric.

What can I expect to see?

Regadless of which of these Rotom formes you see, they generally come in three flavors: support, Choice Scarf, and Choice Specs. The support sets take advantage of the fact that Rotom is the only Pokémon in Pikachu Cup that can soften physical moves thanks to Reflect and Will-O-Wisp! Choosing between Reflect and Will-O-Wisp can actually be rather tricky. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers for the rest of the match, but some of them actually run Facade specifically to deal with this set! Reflect avoids the Facade problem but softens physical attacks by 33% instead of 50%, and you have to worry about its time limit and Brick Break. The support set also has to decide between being offensively based with a Modest nature and maximum Special Attack and using a Calm nature with investment in Special Defense to better take on threats such as Heliolisk and Mega Ampharos. As for the rest of the moves, Light Screen is your generic special attack-absorbing move, while Hidden Power Ground gives the Rotom formes an alternate offensive option. Finally, the items Rotom-A can utilize are fairly variable as well. Light Clay is an obvious choice for Light Screen. Offensive items such as Life Orb and type-boosting items give the Rotoms formes an extra offensive edge, while Sitrus Berry gives them more staying power.

The Choice sets are rather simple. Choice Scarf Rotom formes tend to focus on revenge killing weakened threats early-game, while Choice Specs Rotoms formes will usually try to hit hard early-game and may opt to invest in HP instead of Speed for more bulk. Both Choice Scarf and Choice Specs Rotom-A variants can also cripple more supportive Pokémon with Trick, which can be a huge game changer! Choice Scarf Rotom-A in particular excels at crippling fast support Pokémon such as Emolga and Raichu, while Choice Specs Rotom-A has to be careful about inadvertently boosting the power of its foes.

Now, on to the more specfic things to expect for each Rotom forme!

Rotom-W: This Rotom forme has huge problems with Dry Skin Heliolisk, and because of this, you'll usually be forced to carry Hidden Power Ground so it doesn't completely wall Rotom-W (this is also why Life Orb is slashed on the support set). On the bright side, because Hydro Pump doesn't lower Rotom-W's Special Attack, Rotom-W's Choice sets are especially deadly, as Rotom-W isn't as much of a hit-and-run Pokémon as the other two Rotom formes! Because of this, Rotom-W is usually seen taking advantage of its offensive power. However, specially defensive Rotom-W is still fairly viable due to not being weak to any of Electivire's moves; just note that you absolutely need to pair it with Heliolisk checks!

Rotom-C: Rotom-C is the most unpredictable Rotom forme of the lot, using all of its sets almost equally well! Just remember that because of Leaf Storm's Special Attack drop, this Rotom forme will be switching in and out of battle quite often, so make sure you don't leave yourself vulnerable to being outpredicted. Also, Rotom-C has one particularly nasty trick up its sleeve: Trick + Iron Ball. Because Rotom-C isn't weak to Ground-type attacks, it can get away with Tricking Iron Ball onto other Levitators, potentially making them ultra weak to Electivire and Stunfisk!

Rotom-H: Rotom-H is especially adept at using Choice Scarf because its ability to OHKO Dry Skin Heliolisk with Overheat is an awesome and rare selling point in the Pikachu Cup! Rotom-H also has access to the rare Sunny Day, which not only can power up Solar Power Heliolisk but also turns Rotom-H's Overheat into an absolute nuke of a move!

What are its flaws?

All of the Rotom formes share one basic flaw: their Speed and defenses, while good, require investment to be fairly effective, giving you the hard choice of choosing between offense and defense. The other more apparent flaws depend on the Rotom forme you've chosen.

Rotom-W: Dry Skin Heliolisk is a menace to this set, forcing Rotom-W to reduce its versatility by always running Hidden Power Ground. Rotom-W also has serious problems against Rotom-C, which may actually be the most common Rotom forme in this format! Finally, watch out for the rare Sunny Day: if you face a Sunny Day team, Rotom-W becomes next to useless.

Rotom-C: Rotom-C's defining flaw is that because Leaf Storm lowers its Special Attack, it must switch out often in order to maintain consistent offensive presence. Also, because of its ubiquity, Pokémon often run coverage moves such as Signal Beam and Flamethrower specifically to hit Rotom-C! And, of course, Rotom-C tends to get destroyed by Rotom-H.

Rotom-H: Much like Rotom-C, Rotom-H must switch out often in order to maintain an offensive presence due to Overheat lowering its Special Attack. It also happens to be weak to Rock Slide, which can be rather troublesome because so many Electivire run this move. Finally, Rotom-H is hard countered by Rotom-W and Lanturn, completing the "Rotom triangle".

Emolga

Hey, remember Generation V's Electric rodent? Yeah, didn't think so...

Support

Emolga @ Mental Herb / Focus Sash
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid / Jolly Nature
- Tailwind
- Helping Hand
- Encore
- Protect / Taunt / Light Screen / Knock Off

What's the big deal?

It's pretty easy to think at first glance that Emolga is one of those trashy Electric rodents that have no competitive use, but that all changes in the Pikachu Cup thanks to its excellent support movepool. Most notably, Emolga is the only Pokémon allowed in the Pikachu Cup that has access to the super useful Tailwind! Emolga's Flying typing also makes it a great partner for Electivire.

What can I expect to see?

Tailwind is a must-use on Emolga, allowing it to double the Speed of your team for four turns! Helping Hand ensures that Emolga contributes offensively, boosting the power of its partner's attack by 50%. This is especially deadly when Emolga is paired with Electivire or Heliolisk, as these Pokémon take advantage of spread moves. Expect to see Emolga commonly paired with those two! Encore is a move that heavily punishes complacency. Because Emolga is rather fast, especially after Tailwind, it can easily lock a foe into a support move it used in the previous turn, such as Protect. This combined with Helping Hand makes Emolga one of the best offensive support Pokémon around! The last slot can be difficult to decide. Protect can be useful to let Emolga dodge Fake Out from Raichu and Pikachu, as it's a high-value target. Taunt cripples other support Pokémon, including Emolga that lack Mental Herb. Light Screen further supports your team against special attacks, while Knock Off can cripple offensive Pokémon and let Emolga pop Air Balloons and destroy Shuca Berries. If you're especially fearful of Heliolisk, Emolga can run Ion Deluge to absorb its Hyper Voice and prevent your other active Pokémon from getting KOed. The final thing to consider on Emolga is its item. Mental Herb usually ensures that Emolga will be able to support the team for at least one turn, while Focus Sash allows Emolga to survive a potentially fatal assault.

Emolga has some more niche options as well. Charm can cripple Electivire and Eelektross before they switch out, while Tickle can do that while making them more vulnerable to physical attacks. If you're okay with relying on Lady Luck, Emolga is also a particularly effective user of Swagger.

What are its flaws?

Even with maximized HP, Emolga is still rather frail, usually folding to the most powerful attackers of Pikachu Cup such as Electivire, Heliolisk, Rotom-W, Rotom-H, and Mega Ampharos. Emolga also has almost zero offensive presence, meaning that you're toast if Emolga is your last Pokémon standing!

Raichu

Support

Raichu @ Air Balloon / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Helping Hand
- Encore
- Knock Off / Brick Break / Light Screen / Charm

What's the big deal?

Raichu is another supporting rodent like Emolga. It may seem easy to dismiss Raichu because it doesn't have the awesome Tailwind, but Raichu more than makes up for that by being one of the metagame's two users of Fake Out!

What can I expect to see?

Raichu is all about that delicious Fake Out, so make sure that you make full use of it! Helping Hand ensures that Raichu will further aid teammates after turn one and makes it an especially fearsome Pokémon when paired with Heliolisk. Encore has great synergy with Fake Out, heavily punishing most Pokémon that dare to use Protect thanks to Raichu's high Speed. The last slot is a toss-up. Knock Off can remove pesky items such as Choice Specs and Shuca Berry, while Brick Break removes the annoying Light Screen and 2HKOes Heliolisk, the latter of which is especially helpful given that Raichu outspeeds it. Of course, you can also set up an annoying Light Screen yourself with Raichu! If you care more about physical attackers, Raichu outspeeds all of them and can cripple them with Charm. If you really hate Protect, you can use Feint to get a surprise KO on a Pokémon your opponent thought was safe! Finally, if you just want some general offensive power, Hidden Power Ground with a Timid nature is an alright choice.

Item-wise, Air Balloon is very common on Raichu. With an Air Balloon in tow, Raichu becomes an awesome teammate for Electivire, especially Choice Scarf variants, and also pressures opposing Electivire to use a different attack, making its teammate an easier target for Fake Out. Focus Sash is an option if Raichu's teammate has Air Balloon or if you want to maximize Raichu's Attack stat, as Raichu will become even more frail without HP investment. Raichu isn't exactly a paragon of power, but with maximum Attack investment, Fake Out + Brick Break actually KOes Heliolisk!

What are its flaws?

Raichu isn't as weak and frail as Emolga is, but it still isn't very powerful or bulky. Raichu is easily KOed by Pikachu Cup's stronger threats such as Electivire and Stunfisk, and due to its low offensive power, Raichu isn't going to do much to them back. Raichu is based around being a team player, which means that if Raichu is the last Pokémon standing, it's usually time to throw in the towel!

(Mega) Ampharos

Hey Game Freak, when are ya gonna give Ampharos Tail Glow?

Offensive Mega

Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Plus
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Protect
- Hidden Power Ground / Light Screen / Brick Break
- Cotton Spore / Electroweb / Brick Break / Ion Deluge

Offensive Plus

Ampharos @ Expert Belt / Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Plus
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hidden Power Ground
- Signal Beam
- Protect
- Cotton Spore / Light Screen / Ion Deluge / Brick Break

What's the big deal?

Woah, we got a Mega Evolution here, and a dangerous one at that: Mega Ampharos has the highest Special Attack stat in the metagame! Unlike many of Pikachu Cup's biggest offensive threats, it's also very bulky. To top it all off, Mega Ampharos has that awesome Dragon type, which, when combined with Hidden Power Ground for the rare Magnezone and Dedenne, is totally unresisted!

What can I expect to see?

Dragon Pulse is Mega Ampharos's main offensive tool. Thanks to the STAB boost and almost nothing resisting it, it actually does more damage to pretty much every Pokémon than Hidden Power Ground does! Speaking of Hidden Power Ground, some Mega Ampharos still carry that to ensure they won't be walled by the rare Magnezone, Magneton, and Dedenne. Mega Ampharos also comes with a nice bundle of support moves to consider. Cotton Spore halves the Speed of both foes , making it a nice alternative to Emolga's Tailwind. If you prefer to deal some chip damage and avoid Emolga's Taunt, Electroweb can work too, as Mold Breaker ensures that the likes of Electivire and Raichu won't gain a boost from it. Light Screen is the usual "go away special attacks" move, while Brick Break will destroy annoying Light Screens for your own team! If you want to throw a Hail Mary at Heliolisk, Mega Ampharos can carry Ion Deluge to prevent it from sweeping your team with Hyper Voice.

If you want to patch up Ampharos's Speed a bit, you can sacrifice some of its bulk. Generally, you'll want to at least outspeed Raichu after a Cotton Spore to ensure that it won't get away with its Encore, which requires 196 Speed EVs with a neutral nature.

Most Ampharos are going to Mega Evolve, but non-Mega Ampharos does have a rather quirky ability: Plus. When Ampharos is paired with another Pokémon that has Plus or Minus, both Pokémon will have their Special Attack boosted by 50%. If you see an Ampharos paired with Manectric, watch out: they might be going for the Special Attack boost, which actually makes them more powerful than their Mega Evolutions! For these rare Ampharos, Hidden Power Ground will be their main offensive move, supplemented by Signal Beam to nail Rotom-C.

What are its flaws?

Mega Ampharos has one defining flaw: its poor Speed. It's only a bit faster than Stunfisk, meaning that it can be outsped by almost anything. Mega Ampharos may be bulky, but its power makes it such a high-value target that its low Speed can really hinder it when it's the final Pokémon.

Stunfisk

I think this metagame might be revenge for all the times we paraded around Stunfisk as a meme!

Special Attacker

Stunfisk @ Expert Belt / Soft Sand / Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest / Quiet Nature
- Earth Power
- Scald
- Yawn / Sludge Bomb / Earthquake
- Protect / Sludge Bomb / Earthquake

Choice Specs

Stunfisk @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Earth Power
- Scald
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power Grass / Thunderbolt

Specially Defensive

Stunfisk @ Sitrus Berry / Leftovers / Soft Sand
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Earth Power
- Yawn
- Protect
- Scald / Sludge Bomb

Physical Attacker

Stunfisk @ Expert Belt / Soft Sand
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Earthquake
- Earth Power
- Scald
- Protect / Yawn / Sludge Bomb

What's the big deal?

Dude... it has Ground-type STAB attacks! Hitting nearly everything for super effective damage while getting a STAB boost is awesome, and Stunfisk's offenses are decent enough to capitalize on it! Stunfisk also has very good defensive stats, meaning that OHKOing it is a very difficult task!

What can I expect to see?

All Stunfisk generally revolve around using Earth Power in some fashion, but what may seem like an obviously one-note Pokémon actually has quite a few builds and tweaks. A funny thing to note, by the way: because this metagame only has Electric-types, Sand Veil is, by default, the only semi-useful ability for Stunfisk!

The most common Stunfisk set you'll find is a general bulky special attacking set. Usually, this set is all about spamming Earth Power with a boost from Expert Belt and Soft Sand (and occasionally Life Orb instead of Expert Belt, though that compromises Stunfisk's bulk). For coverage, Stunfisk usually uses Scald to hit Rotom-H and aim for burns, while Sludge Bomb hits Rotom-C switch-ins hard. Even though Stunfisk has a very mediocre base 66 Attack, Earthquake is still a nice spread move to consider as well. Finally, Stunfisk has Yawn, which can be a great way to pressure Levitate users to switch out or risk a long sleep! Also of note: this set can get away with Assault Vest if you are willing to trade power and support moves for some extra bulk.

Choice Specs Stunfisk is even simpler: just spam that stupidly powerful Earth Power and watch grounded Pokémon fall! It uses the same coverage as the last set, except that the last move is total filler. Hidden Power Grass will do more to Rotom-W switch-ins than anything other attack, while Thunderbolt can be pretty cool alonbside Soak Lanturn.

Specially defensive Stunfisk takes advantage of its great bulk to stick around. Earth Power won't hit as hard, but it'll still do decent damage, while Yawn is a good support move as always. Just pick whatever coverage move you like more: Scald for Rotom-H or Sludge Bomb for Rotom-C. You can also use Hidden Power Grass for Rotom-W, but this is going to be rather weak without a boosting item. Speaking of those, you can opt for Expert Belt or Soft Sand over Leftovers and Sitrus Berry if you want some extra kick.

Finally, we have the physically attacking Stunfisk. This may seem really weird considering Stunfisk's low Attack stat, but thanks to Stunfisk's Ground typing, a fully invested Earthquake actually does more than Electivire's Earthquake! You'll still want Earth Power, though, as it gives Stunfisk a STAB move that doesn't hit its teammates. Otherwise, it acts pretty similarly to your average Stunfisk.

One more interesting thing to note: if you desperately want Stunfisk to outspeed threats, you can use 236 Speed EVs with either a Modest nature to outspeed Electivire under Tailwind or after Cotton Spore or a Timid nature to outspeed Raichu. However, note that this will make Stunfisk much easier to KO!

What are its flaws?

Stunfisk has one major Achilles heel: Pokémon with Leitate. This is where Stunfisk's average offenses let it down, as if it can't slam the foe with a Ground-type attack, it usually won't be able to do much! This is especially true for Eelektross, which doesn't take much of anything from Stunfisk, and the specially based sets can actually hit it with Giga Drain! Meanwhile, Rotom-W, Rotom-C, and Lanturn may be hit by coverage moves, but their super effective STAB attacks can bust through Stunfisk's bulk. And, of course, it's hard to ignore that awful base 32 Speed, which makes Stunfisk the slowest Pokémon in the Pikachu Cup!

(Mega) Manectric

I wonder what Dr. Wiley is planning this time for our Mega Man?

Mega Attacker

Manectric @ Manectite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hidden Power Ground
- Snarl
- Protect
- Flamethrower / Overheat / Magnet Rise

Minus Attacker

Manectric @ Life Orb / Expert Belt
Ability: Minus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hidden Power Ground
- Flamethrower
- Protect
- Snarl

What's the big deal?

Mega Manectric's obvious selling point is that blistering base 135 Speed, which makes it the second fastest Pokémon in Pikachu Cup! Mega Manectric's secret selling point however, is actually its supportive capabilities with Intimidate and Snarl, which make its disappointing bulk into something much more appealing!

What can I expect to see?

Generally, Mega Manectric's main method of attack is going to be Hidden Power Ground due to its lack of good STAB moves. You can also expect Mega Manectric to use Snarl a lot. Snarl may seem inferior to Light Screen, but because it's unaffected by Taunt, does chip damage, and can't be ruined by Brick Break or Protect stalling, it gives Mega Manectric a unique edge to its support! Flamethrower is Mega Manectric's way of hitting Rotom-C, while Overheat is a more drastic option that actually does a bit more than Hidden Power Ground against neutral targets. While many Mega Manectric will opt for maximum special attacking power, you may want to maximize its HP instead if you plan on spamming Snarl. Also, if you're a Snarlaholic, you may want to consider Magnet Rise over the Fire-type attack, as this really lets you stick it to Electivire and Stunfisk!

As a final note, Manectric also has Minus as an ability. So if you see it paired with Ampharos for any reason, watch out: both will get a 50% boost to their Special Attack, making them more powerful than their Mega Evolutions!

What are its flaws?

Base 135 Special Attack is pretty great, but when you're forced to hold a Mega Stone for it, you'll realize that Mega Manectric is a bit on the weak side. Also, while Mega Manectric is great at neutering the offenses of its foes, it's extremely vulnerable to revenge killing from foes that haven't had their offenses tampered with, especially from physical attackers such as Electivire and Eelektross.

Luxray

I bet Luxray would have been Atari's favorite Pokémon!

Guts Attacker

Luxray @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Protect
- Facade
- Crunch
- Magnet Rise / Quick Attack / Helping Hand

Defensive Support

Luxray @ Sitrus Berry / Leftovers / Shuca Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 92 Def / 164 SpD
Careful Nature
- Protect
- Helping Hand
- Snarl / Light Screen
- Return / Superpower

What's the big deal?

What makes Luxray rather scary is that you never know what it's going to do based on Team Preview, as it has two very different sets! The most obvious set is the Guts set, which makes Luxray into an extremely powerful physical attacker, which is, of course, rare in Pikachu Cup! The other set is the exact opposite, making Luxray into a formidable support Pokémon that is extremely difficult to KO!

What can I expect to see?

The offensive set is pretty simple: Luxray uses Protect on turn one to activate its status Orb and Guts, and then it smashes anything unlucky enough to be slower with Facade! Crunch is there to cover Rotom and Magnezone, and the last slot is up to you. Magnet Rise is a good idea, as it prevents Electivire from getting an easy revenge kill, and it generally makes Luxray more difficult to KO. Quick Attack allows Luxray to pick off weakened foes, while Helping Hand could win the game in a last-ditch Heliolisk sweep! Consider using this set with speed control support from Emolga, Mega Ampharos, or Lanturn. Luxray outspeeds plenty of Pikachu Cup's bulky attackers, but base 70 Speed still isn't too good, so giving Luxray Speed advantages can be devestating for the frailer Pokémon of Pikachu Cup!

The defensive set is a totally different story. The EV spread given above ensures that Luxray avoids the 2HKO from Electivire's Earthquake after Intimidate. With that kind of bulk, Luxray is easily the best choice for a Helping Hand user that sticks around! This set is extremely deadly when paired with Heliolisk, but this Luxray isn't a one-trick pony: it can spam Snarl to utterly ruin special attackers! If you aren't worried about Brick Break, though, feel free to use Light Screen, as this can give Luxray more time to use Helping Hand. The last move is just to ensure that Luxray doesn't become useless after being hit by Taunt. Return is nice for general damage, while Superpower can be used to utterly demolish Heliolisk. As for items, Sitrus Berry can give Luxray the recovery it needs to tank another hit, while Leftovers goes great with Protect. If you really hate Electivire, you can use a Shuca Berry to laugh even harder at its Earthquake. Of course, if you want to use Luxray with Choice Scarf Electivire, you can make it float with an Air Balloon to launch off Helping Hand-boosted Earthquakes!

What are its flaws?

Luxray's biggest general flaw is its base 70 Speed. This isn't too slow, as it outspeeds significant threats such as Eelektross, but it isn't particularly fast either, leaving Luxray vulnerable to revenge killing. The rest of Luxray's flaws depend on what set its using. The offensive set has a timer on its head considering the burn status, meaning that it usually doesn't last very long. The defensive set, on the other hand, doesn't have great offensive presence, and it is vulnerable to being revenge killed by Pokémon that haven't had their stats cut.

Jolteon

Did you know that Jolteon's Japanese name is Thunders and Zapdos's Japanese name is Thunder? Man, that sounds pretty confusing!

Offensive Support

Jolteon @ Twisted Spoon / Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Synchronoise
- Helping Hand
- Protect
- Hidden Power Ground / Magnet Rise / Light Screen / Sunny Day

What's the big deal?

Jolteon posses a strange move called Synchronoise. Synchronoise is a 120 Base Power Psychic-type attack that hits all adjacent Pokémon on the field that share the user's typing. Normally, this attack stinks to high heavens, but because everything in the Pikachu Cup is an Electric-type, Synchronoise transforms Jolteon into a fairly effective cleaner! And, of course, it's hard to ignore that fabulous base 130 Speed that allows Jolteon to smash through weakened teams with Synchronoise!

What can I expect to see?

Almost any competent Jolteon is going to have Synchronoise; that move is just too good to pass up! Jolteon is also one of the few Pokémon that has access to Helping Hand, which allows Jolteon to do something useful when your partner isn't using Protect. The last move tends to be a bit of a toss-up. Hidden Power Ground is a great choice in Jolteon's case because its high Speed and good Special Attack let it pick off weakened threats fairly easily. Magnet Rise can save Jolteon from getting annhilated by Electivire and Stunfisk, while Light Screen is the usual Special Defense support, which is more awesome than usual because Jolteon is faster than Heliolisk! Sunny Day may seem inexplicable, but hear me out: Jolteon is one of the few Pokémon that has access to this move, and when combined with Helping Hand, it can turn Solar Power Heliolisk into a terrifying sweeper! It also helps out Mega Manectric and Rotom-H's Fire-type moves and ruins Rotom-W, which is always a nice plus! Finally, if you just really hate physical attackers, you can always run Charm to halve their Attack.

Twisted Spoon may seem like a strange item to use, but because one of Jolteon's number one partners, Heliolisk, will want to use Life Orb over a Choice item so that it can Protect itself from Synchronoise, Twisted Spoon tends to be more useful than Life Orb. Of course, if you don't plan on using those partners, Life Orb is a fine choice. If you care more about Jolteon's support moves, Focus Sash is a viable choice to get around Jolteon's frailness. Finally, much like with Raichu, if you want Jolteon to provide Helping Hand support for Electivire, Air Balloon is a worthy option to consider.

What are its flaws?

Jolteon's greatest strength can also be its greatest weakness. Because Synchronoise will hit every other Pokémon on the field, aiding a Jolteon sweep with Helping Hand will often KO the Helping Hand user! Synchronoise may be powerful, but it usually won't smash through a healthy team. Combine this with Jolteon's frailness, and usually this means that Jolteon shouldn't attempt a sweep until late-game.

Pachirisu

ALL HAIL SE JUN PARK!

Redirection Support

Pachirisu @ Sitrus Berry / Shuca Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Follow Me
- Super Fang
- Helping Hand
- Protect / Ion Deluge

What's the big deal?

If any of you saw last year's VGC finals, you'll know what Pachirisu is all about: redirecting attacks with Follow Me! Pachirisu does much of the same in the Pikachu Cup, with the bonus of most Pokémon relying on single-target moves!

What can I expect to see?

Obviously, Pachirisu's main point is to redirect attacks so that its teammate can live to see another day. Pretty much any Pokémon appreciates this, but some common ones that work particularly well with Pachirisu include the Rotom formes, Stunfisk, Eelektross, and Heliolisk, as these are Pokémon that opponents usually want KOed as soon as possible. Super Fang gives Pachirisu some offensive pressence, slicing off half the foe's HP! Helping Hand furthers Pachirisu's supportive goals, potentially allowing threats such as Heliolisk to sweep. Finally, you'll usually want Protect in the last slot, as opponents who know what Pachirisu does may want it down fast. However, if your team is especially having problems against Heliolisk, Ion Deluge is a reasonable option, especially as Pachirisu will recover health from it thanks to Volt Absorb!

Most Pachirisu will want to invest in Special Defense with a Calm nature, as most of the metagame is specially based. However, because Electivire can be a huge problem, investing in Defense with a Shuca Berry can let Pachirisu avoid a 2HKO from Earthquake, which can be life saving! Just note that this gives threats such as Mega Ampharos a better chance of 2HKOing Pachirisu, regardless of Sitrus Berry or Leftovers.

What are its flaws?

Pachirisu's biggest flaw is its Defense. Even if it runs defensive investment, most powerful physical Pokémon have no problems 2HKOing Pachirisu. Even worse, with Electivire being the most common Pokémon around, it can totally bypass Pachirisu's Follow Me shenanigans and smash it to pieces with Earthquake!

If you're planning on using Pachirisu, make sure you pair it with offensive Pokémon, or else it'll simply absorb attacks and do almost nothing back with Follow Me.

Lanturn

Soak Support

Lanturn @ Sitrus Berry / Shuca Berry / Air Balloon
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Soak
- Thunderbolt / Icy Wind / Ion Deluge
- Protect / Icy Wind / Ion Deluge

Offensive Soak

Lanturn @ Expert Belt / Mystic Water / Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Soak
- Thunderbolt
- Protect / Ice Beam / Ion Deluge

Choice Specs

Lanturn @ Choice Specs
Ability: Volt Absorb / Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
- Ice Beam / Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ground / Thunderbolt

What's the big deal?

Normally, you'd expect Rotom-W to outclass Lanturn by a mile, but things are different in Pikachu Cup! The first thing that works in Lanturn's favor is that the choice of Rotom formes isn't as clear as usual to most teams, meaning that Lanturn can find its way onto teams that need a different Rotom forme. Secondly, Lanturn has a very unique support movepool. Soak is the most notable move, turning the target into a Water-type, which actually makes Electric-type attacks useful for once!

What can I expect to see?

Most Lanturn you're going to see will be using Soak. Soak is an incredible move when paired with slower Electric-types such as Eelektross and Mega Ampharos because targeting a Pokémon with Soak + an Electric-type attack from the slower Pokémon will deal a ton of damage! Soak is also a very high-pressure move with faster Pokémon, often forcing the opponent to make a predictable switch that you can take advantage of! The most deadly time to use Soak, however, is late-game when your opponent only has two Pokémon left. Being unable to switch their Pokémon out from Soak will often seal your opponent's fate!

Soak Lanturn usually come in either a defensive or offensive variant. Defensive Soakers tend to invest in Special Defense and may actually opt out of running Thunderbolt to run an extra support move. Icy Wind is very notable among these moves, making Lanturn one of the few Pokémon in Pikachu Cup with speed control! Ion Deluge, as usual, works as a way to neuter Heliolisk's Hyper Voice, especially as Lanturn has Volt Absorb. Sitrus Berry allows Lanturn to last longer, while Shuca Berry and Air Balloon will protect Lanturn from the dreaded Earthquake. If you wish, you can actually invest in Defense with a Shuca Berry to survive two Earthquakes from Electivire.

Offensive Lanturn, while much more vulnerable to the likes of Mega Ampharos and Heliolisk, can actually hit decently hard with Hydro Pump, allowing Lanturn to actually take advantage of the switches Soak causes!

Finally, there's Choice Specs Lanturn. While Rotom-W is obviously more powerful than this rare variant of Lanturn, Lanturn offers better coverage thanks to Ice Beam, which 2HKOes Rotom-C and Mega Ampharos and a spread move in Surf. Hidden Power Ground won't be used often because of Lanturn's more powerful STAB moves, but it's the best chance you have against the dangerous Heliolisk. Thunderbolt may seem like a strange move, but it's the most damage Lanturn is going to do against Rotom-W.

What are its flaws?

Lanturn's biggest flaw is that, compared to Rotom-W, its offensive presence isn't too good due to its weak base 76 Special Attack. Moreover, a lot of Pokémon in Pikachu Cup have abilities that make them immune to Electric-type attacks, reducing Soak's potential targets. Also, Lanturn's Defense is rather low, making it extremely vulnerable to Electivire, physical Eelektross, and Luxray. Finally, most Lanturn are so reliant on Soak that teams have to justify it with Electric-type attacks, which reduces team versatility when Lanturn goes down!

Magnezone / Magneton

Why is it that the floating magnets are deathly afraid of Ground-type moves?

Gravity (Magnezone)

Magnezone @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Gravity
- Light Screen / Reflect
- Hidden Power Ground / Light Screen / Reflect
- Protect

Gravity (Magneton)

Magneton @ Eviolite
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Gravity
- Light Screen / Reflect
- Hidden Power Ground / Light Screen / Reflect
- Protect

Choice Scarf

Magneton @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty / Timid Nature
- Gravity
- Hidden Power Ground
- Light Screen / Reflect
- Explosion / Light Screen / Reflect

What's the big deal?

You'd think that a Pokémon that's 4x weak to Ground in a metagame where almost everything has a Ground-type attack would struggle, and you're correct! However, Magnezone and Magneton have a hidden trump card in Gravity. With this, they can potentially ruin Levitators as Electivire and Stunfisk run wild!

What can I expect to see?

The entire point of Magnezone and Magneton is to set up Gravity, so they'll run anything that can help them achieve this goal. Light Screen lets Magnezone and Magneton tank weak Hidden Power Grounds, while Hidden Power Ground itself allows them to do something besides faint! If Magnezone or Magneton gets the chance, they may also want to set up Reflect so that opposing Electivire won't hit your team as hard. Magnezone usually wants to run something that doesn't make it totally mincemeat for Ground-type attacks; Shuca Berry is the most reliable item for this task. If you want more bulk at the cost of being more vulnerable to Earthquake, Magneton with Eviolite can also work. Regardless, you'll want Sturdy to survive surprise critical hits and a Calm nature with maximum HP and Special Defense to take on weaker Hidden Power Grounds.

There is an even more rare and gimmicky, but potentially dangerous, Magneton set you should know about: Choice Scarf. Because these Pokémon are rather suicidal anyways, some teams take this to its logical extreme and try to get the fastest Gravity setup that they possibly can, outspeeding Jolteon and possibly picking off a few foes with Hidden Power Ground if it somehow survives. This is gimmicky, but be wary: if you lead with Pokémon that aren't able to defeat Electivire immediately, Choice Scarf Magneton can bypass Emolga and double targeting, allowing Electivire to potentially annihilate your leads!

No matter what set you use, make sure you have Electivire on your team, and possibly Stunfisk as well. Magnezone and Magneton are basically sacrificial lambs to induce an Electivire sweep, so you need to make it count! You'll also want Rotom-C, as it's one of the few Pikachu Cup Pokémon that isn't weak to Earthquake under Gravity!

What are its flaws?

Besides the obvious 4x weakness to Ground-type attacks, Gravity itself can be a double-edged sword. Gravity doesn't just affect your opponent: you too are affected! If you don't play your Magnezone or Magneton carefully, you might just get swept by an Electivire yourself! Also, Magnezone and Magneton are very suicidal Pokémon, so if you mess up Gravity, you're basically down one Pokémon right at the start!

Rotom-F

The chilled beverage container of Pokémon actually has a use here!

Sample Set

Rotom-F @ Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Blizzard
- Trick
- Hidden Power Ground / Will-O-Wisp
- Light Screen / Will-O-Wisp / Reflect

What's the big deal?

Rotom-F is one of the few Pokémon of Pikachu Cup with a powerful STAB spread move, which, in this case, is Blizzard. Blizzard's 70% accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, but it's still dangerous, as it's actually more powerful than Heliolisk's Hyper Voice! Rotom-F becomes especially dangerous if it gets Hail support from Lanturn or Gravity support from Magnezone / Magneton!

What can I expect to see?

Rotom-F is all about spamming Blizzard, so don't expect to see many defensive variants! Choice Scarf gets around this set's middling Speed, and those powerful Blizzards tend to hit the faster, frailer Pokémon of Pikachu Cup rather hard. Of course, if you'd prefer more power to slam those defensive Pokémon, Choice Specs should be right up your alley! Besides spamming Blizzard, Rotom-F works much like the other Rotom formes.

Because Blizzard has iffy accuracy, most Rotom-F have some kind of support to make Blizzard far more accurate. The easiest and more reliable method is to use Hail Lanturn, as its bulk usually ensures setup. If you want something more risky, you can use Gravity Magnezone or Magneton. In this case, Rotom-F shouldn't be the star when Electivire is far more threatening, but Rotom-F can make for a decent backup spread attacker.

What are its flaws?

The reason why Rotom-F is rather rare is its typing, which is rather poor defensively. Rotom-F is weak to Fighting-, Fire-, and Rock-type attacks, with the former two being seen on common Pokémon and the latter being common on Electivire. Rotom-F usually doesn't last long compared to the other Rotom formes, and this is exacerbated by the push towards providing Rotom-F additional support to patch up Blizzard's accuracy.

Rotom

What the... is that regular Rotom?!

Support

Rotom @ Colbur Berry / Light Clay / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Light Screen
- Reflect / Will-O-Wisp
- Protect

Choice Specs

Rotom @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power Ground
- Trick
- Light Screen / Will-O-Wisp / Reflect

What's the big deal?

Okay, Rotom might seem totally incomprehensible and weird, but there's a big reason why you should expect to see a few of these: Heliolisk. That's right, Rotom is the only Pokémon in Pikachu Cup with a Normal-type immunity! Sure, Heliolisk might have Dark Pulse, but so many of them use Choice items that Rotom can switch in and ruin them anyways. Rotom also has STAB Shadow Ball, which, ironically, only Heliolisk can take. Thankfully, Hidden Power Ground hits Heliolisk as hard as Shadow Ball would!

What can I expect to see?

Rotom's stats are rather mediocre, so expect most of them to focus on trying to deal with Heliolisk. Rotom is pretty frail, but because of Heliolisk's Dark Pulse, many of them will maximize their HP and Special Defense and use a similar set to most support Rotom formes. Some Rotom might even run Colbur Berry, which, in conjunction with Light Screen, allows Rotom to avoid the 2HKO from Dark Pulse. Shadow Ball isn't very powerful, but it ensures that Rotom isn't totally useless after Taunt.

Some Rotom also carry Choice Specs. Rotom might be weak, but, believe it or not, Choice Specs Shadow Ball actually 2HKOes a majority of the metagame! Hidden Power Ground actually offers the same amount of power as Shadow Ball and hits Heliolisk, though there are far more Pokémon immune to it than Shadow Ball. Also, Rotom is a contender for the best Baton Pass recipient in Pikachu Cup. Baton Pass in doubles might sound really weird, but once you get to Minun, you'll see why I mention that!

What are its flaws?

Let's face it: Rotom's stats suck. The entire point of Rotom is that awesome Ghost typing. Because of this, Rotom will usually be either really frail or really weak. Rotom is also especially weak to Knock Off, which is seen on common Pokémon such as Eelektross and Raichu. You're usually better off with the other Rotom formes, but if you desperately need another check to Heliolisk, Rotom might just fill your team's hole!

Galvantula

Remember when Electroweb was Galvantula's signature move? Now almost everything in this metagame learns it!

Speed Control

Galvantula @ Focus Sash
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sticky Web
- Bug Buzz
- Hidden Power Rock
- Light Screen / Protect

What's the big deal?

Speed control is hard to come by in Pikachu Cup outside of Electroweb, and many prominent Pokémon in Pikachu Cup have abilities that grant them an Electric immunity, nullifying its usefulness. Galvantula, while not too great on its own, offers a unique form of speed control in the form of Sticky Web!

What can I expect to see?

Sticky Web is the big selling point of Galvantula. Normally, entry hazards aren't very good in doubles, but in a metagame so starved of speed control, an exception can be made here! Galvantula won't immediately affect the flow of the match, but later on, Sticky Web's Speed drops can be perfect for stopping sweeps from dangerous Pokémon such as Electivire and Heliolisk!

Bug Buzz is a pretty cool STAB move that actually makes Hidden Power Ground irrelevant, and it hits Rotom-C for super effective damage. Because Galvantula usually wants Swarm and Focus Sash, the move can even deal some nice damage once Galvantula is low on health! Hidden Power Rock lets Galvantula at least do something to Emolga and Rotom-H, and Protect and Light Screen are its final filler moves.

What are its flaws?

Galvantula won't immediately affect the flow of the battle unlike the other speed control Pokémon in Emolga, Ampharos, and Lanturn. Because of this, you have to make sure you can deal with the lead Pokémon in other ways, or else Galvantula will be a waste. Also, Galvantula isn't too strong and is rather frail, so it's highly reliant on its teammates to get the job done!

Eelektrik

You know, I hate how it takes until level 39 for Tynamo to evolve into this thing...

Support

Eelektrik @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful / Calm Nature
- Super Fang
- Light Screen
- Gastro Acid / Acid Spray
- Protect / Knock Off / Acid Spray

What's the big deal?

Eelektrik might seem like a weird idea, but it's likely to see a bit of usage for two reasons. The first reason is that it actually takes hits better than Eelektross, which is pretty neat. The biggest reason, however, is that Eelektrik frees up your Eelektross to use its more offensive sets!

What can I expect to see?

The entire point of Eelektrik is its support set. Super Fang gives Eelektrik some good offensive presence, chopping off half of the foe's HP! Light Screen lets the rest of your team tank special attacks more easily. Gastro Acid is mainly for getting rid of Levitate, which is awesome for Electivire and Stunfisk, the latter of (which is still slower than Eelektrik!), while Acid Spray can aid against your opponent's Light Screen and is generally nice as an offensive support move. Knock Off further aids the team by getting rid of items, while Protect can scout opposing Knock Off users.

If you're interested in using Eelektrik, pairing it with Eelektross is highly recommended! Freeing up Eelektross to use a more offensive set can be awesome news for team versatility, and it also reduces the risk of just having a "bad Eelektross" if you see a team full of Knock Off users in Team Preview.

What are its flaws?

Eelektrik's biggest flaw is its intense fear of Knock Off: one strike from that and you suddenly have a worse Eelektross! Also, Eelektrik isn't nearly as strong offensively as Eelektross, making foes such as Heliolisk more difficult to check. Finally, Eelektrik is much more predictable than Eelektross, meaning that you have little chance of getting surprise KOs.

Dedenne

Oh look, it's the electric rodent of Generation VI...

Entrainment

Dedenne @ Sitrus Berry / Focus Sash
Ability: Cheek Pouch / Plus
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Entrainment
- Helping Hand
- Super Fang
- Protect

Choice Band

Dedenne @ Choice Band
Ability: Plus
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Play Rough
- Helping Hand
- Entrainment
- Giga Impact

What's the big deal?

Let's be clear here: Dedenne is not a very good Pokémon. However, it has two odd sets that I feel need to be talked about because they're good enough to actually catch you off guard and get you nailed with a surprise loss! The first ace is Entrainment, which can cripple Levitate users, and the second ace is the surprising power of Choice Band Dedenne.

What can I expect to see?

Dedenne is going to be a rare Pokémon, but watch out for that Entrainment set. Entrainment changes the foe's ability to the same as the user's. Because Dedenne is fairly fast, this can make Dedenne an effective remover of Levitating Pokémon, allowing Electivire and Stunfisk to deal massive damage! Super Fang is used so Dedenne can actually deal some damage, and Helping Hand makes Dedenne even more of a team player by boosting its teammate's power. Cheek Pouch allows Dedenne to restore more health from Sitrus Berry, but because Dedenne is frail even with HP investment, you might want to consider Focus Sash. If you're using Focus Sash, use Plus so that Dedenne can at least boost the power of Ampharos or Manectric.

Yes, I'm serious about that Choice Band set. Dedenne's Attack is really poor, but because Dedenne is one of the only Pokémon in Pikachu Cup to get a good physical STAB move, it can do a lot more damage than you think! For example, Mega Ampharos and frailer Pokémon such as Electivire, Heliolisk, Jolteon, and uninvested Rotom formes are all 2HKOed by Play Rough! Dedenne's good base 101 Speed and surprising power can put slower Pokémon in actual danger late-game; just remember not to use it early-game, as Dedenne's defenses are pathetic! By the way, the rest of the moves are 100% filler that you are almost never going to use. Giga Impact is there because it's more powerful than Play Rough and could get Dedenne an important KO, while Helping Hand and Entratainment are just support moves to use in obscure situations.

What are its flaws?

It doesn't take a genius to see why Dedenne is going to be an obscure Pokémon; it's extremely frail, is very weak, and doesn't have the excellent support movepool that Emolga and Raichu have to make up for it. As for the Choice Band set, while it may 2HKO much of the metagame, it's so frail that it only usually makes an impact in the late-game. Only use Dedenne if you are confident in your skills to surprise opponents or if you are desperate for a way to deal with Pokémon with Levitate!

Electrode

Why the heck does the Pokémon that's known for exploding have base 50 Attack?!

Support

Electrode @ Sitrus Berry / Air Balloon / Shuca Berry
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Taunt
- Foul Play
- Light Screen / Magnetic Flux
- Protect / Magnetic Flux

What's the big deal?

Electrode's the fastest Pokémon in the game... and that's pretty much its selling point! It has access to Taunt, which means that it can effectively shut down every support Pokémon in Pikachu Cup and get rid of Protects, which is pretty neat! Electrode also has the valuable Soundproof, which makes it immune to Heliolisk's Hyper Voice!

What can I expect to see?

Speed is Electrode's only good stat, so expect all of them to focus on support. Taunt is the big point of Electrode, shutting down every other support Pokémon in the game, which is pretty useful! Because Electrode's offenses aren't anything to write home about with no investment, you'll actually see them carry Foul Play. Foul Play allows Electrode to 2HKO Electivire, which is certainly more useful than picking off weakened foes with super weak Hidden Power Grounds. Light Screen is a generic support move, and it allows Electrode to do something besides Taunt everything. Sitrus Berry gives Electrode a bit of extra longevity, while Air Balloon and Shuca Berry allow Electrode to survive early encounters with Electivire and Stunfisk. By the way, if you're willing to do some gambling, Electrode is one of the best users of Swagger in Pikachu Cup!

Magnetic Flux is an odd move that boosts the Defense and Special Defense of Pokémon with Plus or Minus (even if they've used Protect!), which is really cool when paired with Ampharos and Manectric. It also makes Electrode an important part of a somewhat dangerous strategy with Minun that we'll look at soon!

What are its flaws?

Electrode's biggest flaw is its support movepool, which is generally limited to Taunt, Light Screen, and occasionally Magnetic Flux. There are much better support Pokémon to choose from for most teams, such as Emolga, Raichu, and Pachirisu. Only use Electrode if you absolutely want all support Pokémon shut down, or if you plan on using a certain special tactic involving Minun...

Minun

Hey, I wonder where Plusle went...

Baton Pass

Minun @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Minus
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold nature
- Protect
- Agility
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass

Entrainment

Minun @ Sitrus Berry / Shuca Berry
Ability: Minus / Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold nature
- Entrainment
- Encore
- Helping Hand
- Protect

What's the big deal?

Baton Pass in doubles? What madness is this? Why, it's the madness of Pikachu Cup! When paired with Magnetic Flux Electrode, Minun can pull off a gimmicky yet deadly Baton Pass sweep if you aren't prepared! Minun also has Entrainment, which could potentially screw over some unsuspecting Levitators.

What can I expect to see?

This is how the Minun strategy usually works. On turn one, expect Minun to use Protect and an Air Balloon Electrode to use Magnetic Flux to boost Minun's Defense and Special Defense (unless you bring out Emolga, in which case Electrode will probably Taunt it). Electrode will likely use Magnetic Flux again, ensuring that nothing short of a critical hit will OHKO Minun while it uses Agility. Whatever you do, resist the urge to use a Ground-type attack because Minun carries Weakness Policy. Giving Minun double Speed, Defense, Special Defense, Attack, and Special Attack to pass is a very easy way to lose the game on turn 3! Otherwise, Minun will usually either set up with Nasty Plot or Baton Pass away its boosts at this point.

This is a gimmicky strategy, but don't underestimate it, as dangerous boosted Baton Pass recipients such as Mega Ampharos and Rotom can easily spell doom for you!

Of course, Minun also learns Entrainment, which can give Levitating Pokémon a nasty surprise. Encore and Helping Hand help round off the support, but only use this if you are desperate for a way to remove Levitators, as there are generally much better options for support Pokémon. Still, if you see a Minun in Team Preview without Electrode, it's good to know what it might attempt!

What are its flaws?

Minun's strange Baton Pass strategy may be very deadly, but it also requires a lot of effort to pull off. You'll need to dedicate at least one-third your team to this strategy in some form or another, which can really restrict your team's versatility! And, of course, if your opponent manages to defeat your strategy (this is occasionally done via Snarl from Luxray and Mega Manectric, which Minun loathes), then Minun will become a useless piece of meat ready to be KOed!

As for the support set, Minun just isn't that good of a support Pokémon due to its poor bulk and support movepool outside of Entrainment. It's only really good for a potential surprise KO of a Levitating Pokémon when paired with Stunfisk.

Zebstrika

Did you know that Zebstrika shares the same Pokémon classification as Electivire? This will be interesting for a reason that you'll see soon!

Me First!

Zebstrika @ Life Orb
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe Hasty nature
- Me First
- Double-Edge
- Facade
- Protect

Choice Scarf Me First!

Zebstrika @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Lonely nature
- Me First
- Double-Edge
- Facade
- Light Screen

What's the big deal?

Zebstrika is a rather unremarkable Pokémon at first glance, with its only defining feature being its awesome base 116 Speed. However, Zebstrika has two dirty tricks up its sleeve. The first is Me First, which allows Zebstrika to potentially destroy Electivire harder than anything! The other is Sap Sipper, which allows Zebstrika to use Rotom-C as a potential target for set up.

What can I expect to see?

Zebstrika is all about Me First, so whatever you do, don't use Earthquake on it! Most will use an offensive item such as Life Orb to further boost their power, but some particularly desperate Zebstrika actually use Choice Scarf to nail even Choice Scarf Electivire!

Otherwise, once that surprise is over, Zebstrika will usually just try to hit foes with Double-Edge or Facade, which deal a good amount of damage, especially if you managed to switch Zebstrika into a Rotom-C's Leaf Storm! Also, Zebstrika gets Lighting Rod, Motor Drive, and Ion Deluge, which can mess with Heliolisk if that suits your fancy.

What are its flaws?

Zebstrika is very much a one trick pony in regards to Me First. If your opponent knows what Zebstrika is going to pull, it just becomes an okay physical attacker because of Double-Edge and Sap Sipper. Also, Zebstrika is very frail, so don't expect it to last too long!

Electabuzz

Look, I've run out of ideas for these cute little comments, so just make up your own!

Follow Me

Electabuzz @ Eviolite
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm / Careful Nature
- Follow Me
- Helping Hand
- Light Screen / Brick Break
- Protect / Brick Break

What's the big deal?

Thanks to the wonders of Pokebank, you can actually use Follow Me Electabuzz in Pikachu Cup! With Eviolite, Electabuzz is actually quite a bit bulkier than Pachirisu, which is really awesome for a Follow Me user! However, there is a good reason why it is in the niche Pokémon section...

What can I expect to see?

If you manage to fight someone lucky enough to have a Follow Me Electabuzz, expect it to work very similarly to Pachirisu, except it's more difficult to KO. Unfortunately, Electabuzz doesn't learn Super Fang, which makes it far more vulnerable to Taunt Emolga than Pachirisu. On the bright side, it does learn Brick Break, meaning that Electabuzz can destroy those annoying Light Screens.

What are its flaws?

There is one huge flaw that prevents Electabuzz from being a really good Pokémon: it's nearly impossible to get! In order to even get one of these elusive Pokémon, you'll need a Gamecube, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a Gameboy Advance to Gamecube cable, a Gameboy Advance, a DS, and a Gen III, IV, and V Pokémon game. That is an insanely expensive and messy amount of equipment just to get one Pokémon! But, believe it or not, it gets even worse: It's almost impossible to RNG and soft reset in Pokémon XD, so for all that hard work, you'll probably get an Electabuzz with a horrible nature and trash IVs. It's a shame, because if Follow Me Electabuzz was reasonable to get, it'd probably be fairly common!

The Pikachu Factor

If you remember the introduction way back in the beginning of this article, you'll remember that Game Freak is offering a special event Pikachu if Pikachu lands in the top 3 Pokémon in usage in this tournament. Pikachu isn't really that good, but because it's the namesake of this tournament, we can't ignore it in this article! And besides, admit it: I know some of you want that special event Pikachu!

What can I do with Pikachu?

Pikachu @ Light Ball
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- Knock Off
- Protect

Pikachu-Belle @ Light Ball
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Return
- Knock Off
- Protect

The best use of Pikachu is an all-out physical attacker, as Light Ball gives Pikachu a significant offensive boost! Fake Out gives Pikachu the ability to deal some chip damage and make a foe flinch, while Return is Pikachu's most reliable offensive move. Knock Off is great for remove items, and Protect avoids the usual OHKOs that most offensive Pokémon tend to hand Pikachu. If you loathe Rotom-C and Stunfisk, you can opt to use the Cosplay Pikachu-Belle to slam them with Icicle Crash, but note that this means you lose out on Fake Out and suffer the painful fate of soft resetting for it.

Pikachu's big problem is that it's just too frail to usually make that big of an impact, and it isn't fast enough to revenge kill many targets either. And on the supportive side, Emolga and Raichu are much better choices. Honestly, if you want that event Pikachu that badly, you'll usually be better off benching Pikachu most of the time. That's a bit of a sad fate for the Pokémon that this tournament is named after!

All The Other Cosplay Pikachu

Pikachu already has a ton of problems in its own tournament, but don't even get me started on the other Cosplay Pikachu. Their special moves are absolutely useless in this metagame. In fact, they're so bad that I'm not even going to waste my time explaining them! If you really want that event Pikachu, please stick to regular Pikachu and Pikachu-Belle.

Plusle

Oh, so that's where Plusle ran off to —the slums of the Pikachu Cup! Plusle is nearly identical to Minun, except it gains slightly better offenses in exchange for slightly worse defenses. Because Minun's only niche involves supportive roles, this means that Plusle is totally outclassed by its sibling! It can still potentially mess your team up with that Magnetic Flux Baton Pass nonsense, though, so at least it isn't a total joke.

Rotom-S

Ugh... it's Game Freak's most impressive display of laziness, Rotom-S. Like, seriously, what the hell was Game Freak thinking by giving a Flying-type Pokémon Levitate?! Yes, I know it was originally a Ghost-type in Gen IV, but this is still an outstanding display of laziness: Game Freak couldn't even bother to give it a new ability in Gen V! The only silver lining to Rotom-S is that it happens to have a slightly different set of resistances than the other Rotom formes, which means it can still potentially pull off the more supportive sets. I know everyone jokes about Air Balloon Rotom-S, but I've got a better one: I dare you to use Iron Ball Trick Rotom-S! I bet no one will see that coming!