[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 7 onwards
**Price Range**: 5-6 points
**Overview**: Cinccino is a great budget setup sweeper that can deal solid damage with its Technician- and Loaded Dice-boosted multi-hit moves and guarantee entry hazard removal with Tidy Up. Its solid Speed stat and access to Encore mean it can often create setup opportunities for itself, but it can also function in a fast utility role if needed. Cinccino is unfortunately held back by its near-total lack of viable coverage moves that hit Steel-types even neutrally, weakness to contact-punishing effects, and poor defensive stats, which can prevent it from finding setup opportunities and leave it vulnerable to faster revenge killers and strong priority users.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: With Technician, Loaded Dice, and several STAB and coverage multi-hit moves, Cinccino can deal a surprising amount of damage despite its middling Attack stat and lack of super effective STAB moves. A great Speed stat and access to Encore mean that Cinccino can create opportunities for itself to safely deal damage or set up with Tidy Up, though it can still struggle to find openings due to its lacking defensive stats.
**Wallbreaker**: While Cinccino often runs similar sets as a wallbreaker and setup sweeper, its wallbreaker set focuses more on doing damage early-game and sometimes runs Choice Band for more immediate damage. Tidy Up can be used on Loaded Dice sets to allow Cinccino to muscle past its allies' defensive checks and create openings for them to sweep.
**Offensive Utility**: A great Speed stat along with access to a variety of utility moves means Cinccino can function decently well as a disruptor and entry hazard remover. Moves like Thunder Wave and Encore can stop slower foes from setting up and sweeping, Tidy Up can clear hazards and is notably the one of the few methods of hazard removal that works against Gholdengo, and U-turn allows Cinccino to maintain momentum against incoming foes looking to take advantage of its set's lack of offensive pressure. Knock Off and Super Fang can also be run as damage options with additional utility in item removal and HP halving, respectively.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Tail Slap, Double Edge
**Setup Moves**: Tidy Up, Trailblaze
**Utility Moves**: Baton Pass, Encore, Knock Off, Substitute, Super Fang, Thunder Wave, U-turn
**Coverage**: Bullet Seed, Gunk Shot, Play Rough, Rock Blast, Triple Axel, Ice Spinner
Niche Moves
========
**Facade**: Although status-boosted Facade does not reach the damage of Technician- and Loaded Dice-boosted Tail Slap, it can prevent Cinccino from being rendered useless by opposing Flame Body or Will-O-Wisp users.
**Focus Blast**: Despite Cinccino's poor Special Attack stat, Focus Blast can be used to catch incoming defensive Steel-types off guard and deal more damage to them than its other attacks.
**Endeavor**: Endeavor can be run with Focus Sash to break through Pokemon that would normally wall Cinccino.
Common Items
========
**Loaded Dice**: Loaded Dice allows Cinccino to take advantage of its ability Technician, rather than Skill Link, and should almost always be used when running Cinccino as a setup sweeper. Since Loaded Dice effectively replaces Skill Link, it's worth noting that running any other item on offensive Cinccino sets requires you to also run Skill Link, thereby cutting Cinccino's damage output significantly.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Utility Cinccino sets should use Heavy-Duty Boots to allow Cinccino to switch in to clear entry hazards or prevent sweeps without worrying about taking damage from hazards or losing its important Speed to Sticky Web.
**Protective Pads**: As many of Cinccino's incoming checks are Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin users, Protective Pads can allow Cinccino to avoid taking heavy recoil damage on its multi-hit attacks.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band with Skill Link allows Cinccino to deal more immediate damage than Loaded Dice sets and become an even more threatening wallbreaker.
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash guarantees Cinccino a chance to use Tidy Up or deal damage against faster foes. It can also be used with Endeavor to quickly break through Pokemon that normally wall Cinccino.
**Clear Amulet**: Clear Amulet lets Cinccino ignore stat-dropping effects from moves or abilities like Intimidate that could otherwise prevent it from effectively sweeping with Tidy Up.
Tera
========
Cinccino serves as a solid budget Tera Captain, as Tera can allow it to circumvent its weaknesses. Since all of its viable physical moves aside from Knock Off are resisted by Steel-types , Tera Ground, Fighting, and Fire in conjunction with Tera Blast are all great options that can allow Cinccino to overpower its dedicated checks and continue sweeping. Defensive Tera types such as Tera Ghost, Steel, and Fairy can also make up for Cinccino's lack of bulk and give it free turns to set up.
Draft Strategy
========
Cinccino can function as a budget option for teams in need of a setup sweeper, entry hazard remover, or both. It should be only be drafted as a setup sweeper if your team has a strong wallbreaker that can break through the defensive Steel-types that wall Cinccino, and it should not be your team's only potential wincon. It can do well as a secondary hazard remover if your primary hazard remover struggles against Ghost-types or Defiant and Competitive users or if your draft features especially hazard-weak Pokemon.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Physically defensive walls, particularly Steel-types, can prevent Cinccino from sweeping, and thus special wallbreakers such as Iron Moth, Landorus, and Keldeo can remove these threats and provide it an opening. Strong special wallbreakers also force foes to invest more EVs in Special Defense, which further enables Cinccino.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: When fulfilling the role of a setup sweeper, Cinccino rarely wants to run an item other than Loaded Dice, leaving it exposed to entry hazards on its switch in. Although it can clear hazards itself with Tidy Up, Toxic Spikes and Sticky Web can prevent Cinccino from getting an opportunity to set up. Pokemon such as Corviknight, Great Tusk, and Torkoal can remove entry hazards while also comfortably taking many of the physical Fighting-type attacks that threaten Cinccino.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Pokemon with access to Stealth Rock and Spikes such as Mew, Deoxys-D, and Gliscor provide entry hazard support, which weakens foes on their switch in and can help enable a Cinccino sweep. These examples additionally resist Fighting and can switch into super effective attacks that threaten Cinccino.
**Slow Pivots**: Cinccino's poor defensive stats mean it can struggle to switch in or even survive long enough to set up, so slow pivots with access to debilitating moves like Parting Shot and Will-O-Wisp can allow it to come in safely while also providing a setup opportunity in front of a weakened foe. Pokemon like Incineroar, Moltres, and Pecharunt fulfill this role well. Slow pivots that can set Light Screen and Reflect like Grimmsnarl and Deoxys-D can similarly provide safe setup opportunities for Cinccino.
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Cinccino's only viable physical coverage move that hits Steel-types neutrally is Knock Off, meaning most defensive Steel-type Pokemon can stop a Cinccino sweep in its tracks. Pokemon like Corviknight, Skarmory, and Orthworm wall Cinccino particularly well and can threaten a KO back with Body Press.
**Contact Effects**: Two of Cinccino's most powerful moves, Tail Slap and Triple Axel, are contact multi-hit moves, meaning Rocky Helmet and Pokemon with abilities like Rough Skin, Static, and Flame Body can easily punish offensive Cinccino sets. Pokemon with these abilities that can comfortably hold Rocky Helmet and have enough bulk to survive a hit from Cinccino such as Garchomp, Zapdos, and Heatran threaten it greatly.
**Faster Threats**: Although Cinccino has a decent Speed stat, its frailty means that it can easily be OHKOed by offensive threats that outspeed it like Meowscarada and Iron Valiant. Choice Scarf and Booster Energy, respectively, can allow these Pokemon to outspeed Cinccino even after a +1 Speed boost from Tidy Up, and faster Unburden users can outspeed it after a +2 Speed boost. Cinccino's frailty also leaves it vulnerable to priority attacks. Pokemon such as Kingambit and Bisharp threaten STAB Sucker Punch while also resisting Cinccino's STAB moves and many of its coverage moves.
**Entry Hazards**: Offensive Cinccino sets almost always run Loaded Dice, meaning Cinccino is vulnerable to entry hazards. Spikes and Stealth Rock can put it in KO range of many priority moves, and Sticky Web can make it difficult for Cinccino to set up safely. Spikes and Stealth Rock users like Garchomp and Skarmory can fulfill this role while providing defensive utility against Cinccino, and Sticky Web users like Ribombee and Araquanid can set Sticky Web while providing general offensive utility.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cheesynutbutterboy.619297/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 7 onwards
**Price Range**: 5-6 points
**Overview**: Cinccino is a great budget setup sweeper that can deal solid damage with its Technician- and Loaded Dice-boosted multi-hit moves and guarantee entry hazard removal with Tidy Up. Its solid Speed stat and access to Encore mean it can often create setup opportunities for itself, but it can also function in a fast utility role if needed. Cinccino is unfortunately held back by its near-total lack of viable coverage moves that hit Steel-types even neutrally, weakness to contact-punishing effects, and poor defensive stats, which can prevent it from finding setup opportunities and leave it vulnerable to faster revenge killers and strong priority users.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: With Technician, Loaded Dice, and several STAB and coverage multi-hit moves, Cinccino can deal a surprising amount of damage despite its middling Attack stat and lack of super effective STAB moves. A great Speed stat and access to Encore mean that Cinccino can create opportunities for itself to safely deal damage or set up with Tidy Up, though it can still struggle to find openings due to its lacking defensive stats.
**Wallbreaker**: While Cinccino often runs similar sets as a wallbreaker and setup sweeper, its wallbreaker set focuses more on doing damage early-game and sometimes runs Choice Band for more immediate damage. Tidy Up can be used on Loaded Dice sets to allow Cinccino to muscle past its allies' defensive checks and create openings for them to sweep.
**Offensive Utility**: A great Speed stat along with access to a variety of utility moves means Cinccino can function decently well as a disruptor and entry hazard remover. Moves like Thunder Wave and Encore can stop slower foes from setting up and sweeping, Tidy Up can clear hazards and is notably the one of the few methods of hazard removal that works against Gholdengo, and U-turn allows Cinccino to maintain momentum against incoming foes looking to take advantage of its set's lack of offensive pressure. Knock Off and Super Fang can also be run as damage options with additional utility in item removal and HP halving, respectively.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Tail Slap, Double Edge
**Setup Moves**: Tidy Up, Trailblaze
**Utility Moves**: Baton Pass, Encore, Knock Off, Substitute, Super Fang, Thunder Wave, U-turn
**Coverage**: Bullet Seed, Gunk Shot, Play Rough, Rock Blast, Triple Axel, Ice Spinner
Niche Moves
========
**Facade**: Although status-boosted Facade does not reach the damage of Technician- and Loaded Dice-boosted Tail Slap, it can prevent Cinccino from being rendered useless by opposing Flame Body or Will-O-Wisp users.
**Focus Blast**: Despite Cinccino's poor Special Attack stat, Focus Blast can be used to catch incoming defensive Steel-types off guard and deal more damage to them than its other attacks.
**Endeavor**: Endeavor can be run with Focus Sash to break through Pokemon that would normally wall Cinccino.
Common Items
========
**Loaded Dice**: Loaded Dice allows Cinccino to take advantage of its ability Technician, rather than Skill Link, and should almost always be used when running Cinccino as a setup sweeper. Since Loaded Dice effectively replaces Skill Link, it's worth noting that running any other item on offensive Cinccino sets requires you to also run Skill Link, thereby cutting Cinccino's damage output significantly.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Utility Cinccino sets should use Heavy-Duty Boots to allow Cinccino to switch in to clear entry hazards or prevent sweeps without worrying about taking damage from hazards or losing its important Speed to Sticky Web.
**Protective Pads**: As many of Cinccino's incoming checks are Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin users, Protective Pads can allow Cinccino to avoid taking heavy recoil damage on its multi-hit attacks.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Band**: Choice Band with Skill Link allows Cinccino to deal more immediate damage than Loaded Dice sets and become an even more threatening wallbreaker.
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash guarantees Cinccino a chance to use Tidy Up or deal damage against faster foes. It can also be used with Endeavor to quickly break through Pokemon that normally wall Cinccino.
**Clear Amulet**: Clear Amulet lets Cinccino ignore stat-dropping effects from moves or abilities like Intimidate that could otherwise prevent it from effectively sweeping with Tidy Up.
Tera
========
Cinccino serves as a solid budget Tera Captain, as Tera can allow it to circumvent its weaknesses. Since all of its viable physical moves aside from Knock Off are resisted by Steel-types , Tera Ground, Fighting, and Fire in conjunction with Tera Blast are all great options that can allow Cinccino to overpower its dedicated checks and continue sweeping. Defensive Tera types such as Tera Ghost, Steel, and Fairy can also make up for Cinccino's lack of bulk and give it free turns to set up.
Draft Strategy
========
Cinccino can function as a budget option for teams in need of a setup sweeper, entry hazard remover, or both. It should be only be drafted as a setup sweeper if your team has a strong wallbreaker that can break through the defensive Steel-types that wall Cinccino, and it should not be your team's only potential wincon. It can do well as a secondary hazard remover if your primary hazard remover struggles against Ghost-types or Defiant and Competitive users or if your draft features especially hazard-weak Pokemon.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Physically defensive walls, particularly Steel-types, can prevent Cinccino from sweeping, and thus special wallbreakers such as Iron Moth, Landorus, and Keldeo can remove these threats and provide it an opening. Strong special wallbreakers also force foes to invest more EVs in Special Defense, which further enables Cinccino.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: When fulfilling the role of a setup sweeper, Cinccino rarely wants to run an item other than Loaded Dice, leaving it exposed to entry hazards on its switch in. Although it can clear hazards itself with Tidy Up, Toxic Spikes and Sticky Web can prevent Cinccino from getting an opportunity to set up. Pokemon such as Corviknight, Great Tusk, and Torkoal can remove entry hazards while also comfortably taking many of the physical Fighting-type attacks that threaten Cinccino.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Pokemon with access to Stealth Rock and Spikes such as Mew, Deoxys-D, and Gliscor provide entry hazard support, which weakens foes on their switch in and can help enable a Cinccino sweep. These examples additionally resist Fighting and can switch into super effective attacks that threaten Cinccino.
**Slow Pivots**: Cinccino's poor defensive stats mean it can struggle to switch in or even survive long enough to set up, so slow pivots with access to debilitating moves like Parting Shot and Will-O-Wisp can allow it to come in safely while also providing a setup opportunity in front of a weakened foe. Pokemon like Incineroar, Moltres, and Pecharunt fulfill this role well. Slow pivots that can set Light Screen and Reflect like Grimmsnarl and Deoxys-D can similarly provide safe setup opportunities for Cinccino.
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Cinccino's only viable physical coverage move that hits Steel-types neutrally is Knock Off, meaning most defensive Steel-type Pokemon can stop a Cinccino sweep in its tracks. Pokemon like Corviknight, Skarmory, and Orthworm wall Cinccino particularly well and can threaten a KO back with Body Press.
**Contact Effects**: Two of Cinccino's most powerful moves, Tail Slap and Triple Axel, are contact multi-hit moves, meaning Rocky Helmet and Pokemon with abilities like Rough Skin, Static, and Flame Body can easily punish offensive Cinccino sets. Pokemon with these abilities that can comfortably hold Rocky Helmet and have enough bulk to survive a hit from Cinccino such as Garchomp, Zapdos, and Heatran threaten it greatly.
**Faster Threats**: Although Cinccino has a decent Speed stat, its frailty means that it can easily be OHKOed by offensive threats that outspeed it like Meowscarada and Iron Valiant. Choice Scarf and Booster Energy, respectively, can allow these Pokemon to outspeed Cinccino even after a +1 Speed boost from Tidy Up, and faster Unburden users can outspeed it after a +2 Speed boost. Cinccino's frailty also leaves it vulnerable to priority attacks. Pokemon such as Kingambit and Bisharp threaten STAB Sucker Punch while also resisting Cinccino's STAB moves and many of its coverage moves.
**Entry Hazards**: Offensive Cinccino sets almost always run Loaded Dice, meaning Cinccino is vulnerable to entry hazards. Spikes and Stealth Rock can put it in KO range of many priority moves, and Sticky Web can make it difficult for Cinccino to set up safely. Spikes and Stealth Rock users like Garchomp and Skarmory can fulfill this role while providing defensive utility against Cinccino, and Sticky Web users like Ribombee and Araquanid can set Sticky Web while providing general offensive utility.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/cheesynutbutterboy.619297/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
