Played this metagame for a tiny bit when trying to learn it for ADV slam and I really enjoy it! I like how fresh the playerbase is to this meta and it made entry very refreshing when I can toss out ideas and try to understand the meta a lil better. One of these said ideas is the reason for this post, when I brought this up in short concept to a friend I said it might be something but has its flaws here and there. When I opened the idea up to the wider public we started optimizing the spreads a little more and people started building new comps with it, and I feel like this Pokemon has a genuine place in the ADV PU metagame. This Pokemon that I'm talking about would be...
Numel.
Numel @ Leftovers
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 128 HP / 120 Atk / 152 SpA / 4 SpD / 104 Spe
Mild Nature
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Toxic
- Protect / Hidden Power Grass
Although Numel's base stats are kinda terrible (highest base stat is 65 :skull:), its typing really carries it. Minun doesn't run Hidden Power Water at all so Numel consistently gains entry on it and pressures switches with its great STAB combination or Toxic. Ground switch-ins typically dont like taking Numel head-on, while typical Fire switch-ins get hit with EQ or Toxic, or Marshtomp can even get bopped by HP Grass. Numel's neutrality to ice and grass while not taking much damage from the defensive users of these moves means it isn't uncommon for Numel to find entry against bulkier teams, pressuring the likes of Minun, Swalot, Duskull, Dragonair, Mawile, Tangela, Magcargo, and Pineco. Being immune to T-wave while aptly pressuring the T-wavers is great in paraspam tier too, making it less vulnerable to getting Trapinch'ed.
Its winning 1v1 matchups vs Minun, Pineco, and Charmeleon, the three most common leads in the tier, also makes it a very good lead! Numel can even safely click Toxic against these leads on turn 1 to catch a bulky water switching in, its just so good at generating momentum. Not only does it win against these leads but even oddball leads like Combusken, Grovyle, and Swalot lose to it on average, and against physical leads like Furret and Arbok it can use Protect against to scout.
The EV spread may seem weird but I promise every EV here counts. 120 Attack 3HKOs Dnair while consistently OHKOing Seviper and Minun, 152+ Special Attack OHKOs spdef Pineco and offensive Trapinch while 2HKOing pdef Duskull, the Speed outspeeds offensive Trapinch and min speed Swalot, the HP is a lefties number + 1 to mitigate passive damage, and while the one point in spdef is generally a dump, it consistently lives a 2HKO from Charmeleon Fire Blast from full so that's cool. In the past I've used max HP / SpD with Sassy, but I quickly realized offensive spreads are a bit better since Minun still bounces and the offensive pressure + outspeeding pinch outweighs the bulk. Do note with Mild Numel has a bit more trouble switching into Swalot Sludge Bomb (or CB Arbok Sludge Bomb) but you can also pivot around Swalot's coverage. I think toxic protect is generally best and hp grass kinda helps into marsh and omanyte if you can afford it, but other options like Rest w HBell Lickitung exist too.
I would talk about comps but I think its something a wider group of people should explore before we truly know, although one synergy I found is with Furret, as Numel switches into Furret's usual switchins such as Duskull Mawile Tangela and Magcargo (i wish it switched into Graveler lol) as well as Minun trying to offensively check Furret.
Anyway, despite its flaws, quite a few of there being if that wasn't obvious, I do think Numel has a real place in ADV PU. IMO Its not quite the Chinchou fad that happened a year ago where all it does is kinda check Minun and Sealeo, everything just carries HP Grass anyway bc of Marshtomp's existence. If Numel picks up in tournaments and gets ranked on the VR that would be awesome, even if it ends up being C alongside other mons that have a tiny niche (although ik some ppl like slowbroth would put it B- or C+). Even a bad ranking would mean people gave thought about it even if that thought is "that one shitmon Amity talked about". I'm glad that I got to add ADV PU to my repertoire of niche old gen lower tiers that I know and I hope to see this metagame stay fresh and exciting!
This mon is rivals ADV UU Kanga in viability which is quite wild. As time went on I see why you couldnt build without it. It's an important element to the speed dynamic to the tier which also serves as an offensive or defensive pivot with the coverage to boot. Rightfully the only S tier and wont change ever I feel.
Trapping in this tier is kinda lame but when is it not. The more bulky sets can get great value. With paralysis being common it also enables the mon even to higher degree. 
I'm not a fan of this mon... I see the why it deserves high praise being one of the few ground immunes with reasonable bulk and free serene grace psychic clicks. I always saw my self wanting to use another sp def wall like nair/swalot or use abra for my psychic clicking needs. I will probably see the light in the future and build something where I enjoy it.
Super slept on. Psychic in lower tiers is always free. Paired with a great speed tier in the metagame it can go a long way. With only move you need being psychic you can explore with moves like Encore, Twave, Sub, Punches, HP water, CM etc.
