[OVERVIEW]
Onix is arguably the best Stealth Rock user in Little Cup, and for very good reason. Its ability Sturdy essentially guarantees that it sets up Stealth Rock and helps give it multiple chances to do so. It also has the highest Defense stat in the tier by far, although it struggles to utilize it due to its abysmal defensive typing that gives it many weaknesses and a vulnerability to entry hazards, which can cripple it extremely.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rock Blast
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Taunt / Roar / Dragon Tail
item: Berry Juice
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock can help break opposing Sturdy Pokemon and pave the way for a sweep from a powerful Pokemon such as Omanyte or Scraggy. Rock Blast is a good general Rock-type STAB move and is useful for defeating opposing Berry Juice users, Archen and Dwebble in particular, as well as Weak Armor Vullaby. Earthquake is Onix's Ground-type STAB move, is very powerful, and is just generally good with its 100% accuracy. Taunt is a good option to prevent opposing entry hazard setters from doing their job. It is also useful for keeping opposing Pokemon from setting up on it Onix and potentially sweeping your team. Dragon Tail and Roar are similar in the sense that they phaze out problematic Pokemon. However, Dragon Tail can't force out Calm Mind Spritzee, while Roar is blocked by Taunt and deals no damage.
Set Details
========
Onix has a Jolly nature and maximum Speed investment so it can get 17 Speed, letting it Speed tie with many common threats in LC such as Mienfoo and Snivy as well as Taunt Dwebble. The rest of its EVs are put into Attack and HP; the former gives Onix extra attacking power, and the latter gives it maximum recovery from Berry Juice. Sturdy helps Onix take any one attack when at full HP and, can be very annoying to deal with in conjunction with Berry Juice.
Usage Tips
========
Onix works as an amazing lead due to its ability Sturdy against other leads such as Dwebble. With a drop in Mienfoo leads, it has become even better. Treating Onix as just a suicide lead is never a good idea, however, as it can be useful in all stages of the game. Onix can also be conserved for stopping common sweepers such as Omanyte and Zigzagoon late-game, but your team should usually already have a check for these, and Onix should only be used if all other checks are gone. Keeping Sturdy intact is usually useful, but Onix can be a good switch-in to many Flying- and Electric-types.
Team Options
========
Onix is perfect for teams that can't fit an entry hazard setter normally due to its Sturdy and Speed stat. Onix can help check Flying- and Electric-types for Pokemon such as Carvanha and Snivy. Pumpkaboo makes for a great partner for Onix, as it blocks Rapid Spin and checks the Water- and Grass-types that Onix struggles with. Any Pokemon that checks Water- and Grass-types, specifically Staryu and Ferroseed, makes for a good teammate for Onix. Staryu itself can also make a great partner, as it can clear away entry hazards and check Water-, and to some extent, Fighting-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Curse set can take advantage of Onix's sky-high Defense, but its abysmal Special Defense makes this essentially pointless. Heavy Slam can be used to hit Fairy-types, but it usually just takes away an important moveslot, and the coverage isn't really necessary. Stone Edge can be used over Rock Blast, but this detracts from Onix's ability to beat Surskit and Dwebble. Explosion can turn Onix into a suicide lead and hit incoming entry hazard removers, but common Rapid Spin and Defog users can completely shut it down by switching in afterwards. The set is quite bad, and is somewhat inferior to Geodude. A set using Eviolite and Weak Armor to boost Onix's Speed sounds good on paper, but Onix's low Attack makes this a bad option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Most Ground-types can beat Onix, but Drilbur and Mudbray stand out in particular. Drilbur can Rapid Spin away Onix's entry hazards and, thanks to Mold Breaker, OHKO Onix through Sturdy, completely shutting it down. Mudbray can switch into Rock Blast to quickly rack up Defense boosts; from there, Onix can do essentially nothing. Mudbray can also cause Onix to flinch with Rock Slide, nullifying both its Sturdy and its next move. Sandshrew, although not as much of an issue, can be annoying with Knock Off, Rapid Spin, and its own Stealth Rock.
**Multi-hit Moves**: Multi-hit moves from Ferroseed and Shellder can be devastating and completely shut down Onix's strategy. There isn't really a way it can work around them, either.
**Fighting-types**: Most Fighting-types utilize Drain Punch, which can usually out-heal Onix's damage and will make quick work of its Sturdy. Mienfoo in particular commonly uses U-turn, which can break Onix's Sturdy and, therefore, make it completely useless.
**Staryu**: Staryu is Onix's best counter, as it can clear away its entry hazards and use Scald to waste its Sturdy and Berry Juice. Onix can also deal very little damage to Staryu, as Staryu is quite bulky.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Foongus and Pumpkaboo can switch into any of Onix's moves without fear. Pumpkaboo can also use Bullet Seed to have a good chance to defeat Onix in one move. Cottonee and Snivy can also switch in but are slightly worse checks.
Onix is arguably the best Stealth Rock user in Little Cup, and for very good reason. Its ability Sturdy essentially guarantees that it sets up Stealth Rock and helps give it multiple chances to do so. It also has the highest Defense stat in the tier by far, although it struggles to utilize it due to its abysmal defensive typing that gives it many weaknesses and a vulnerability to entry hazards, which can cripple it extremely.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rock Blast
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Taunt / Roar / Dragon Tail
item: Berry Juice
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock can help break opposing Sturdy Pokemon and pave the way for a sweep from a powerful Pokemon such as Omanyte or Scraggy. Rock Blast is a good general Rock-type STAB move and is useful for defeating opposing Berry Juice users, Archen and Dwebble in particular, as well as Weak Armor Vullaby. Earthquake is Onix's Ground-type STAB move, is very powerful, and is just generally good with its 100% accuracy. Taunt is a good option to prevent opposing entry hazard setters from doing their job. It is also useful for keeping opposing Pokemon from setting up on it Onix and potentially sweeping your team. Dragon Tail and Roar are similar in the sense that they phaze out problematic Pokemon. However, Dragon Tail can't force out Calm Mind Spritzee, while Roar is blocked by Taunt and deals no damage.
Set Details
========
Onix has a Jolly nature and maximum Speed investment so it can get 17 Speed, letting it Speed tie with many common threats in LC such as Mienfoo and Snivy as well as Taunt Dwebble. The rest of its EVs are put into Attack and HP; the former gives Onix extra attacking power, and the latter gives it maximum recovery from Berry Juice. Sturdy helps Onix take any one attack when at full HP and, can be very annoying to deal with in conjunction with Berry Juice.
Usage Tips
========
Onix works as an amazing lead due to its ability Sturdy against other leads such as Dwebble. With a drop in Mienfoo leads, it has become even better. Treating Onix as just a suicide lead is never a good idea, however, as it can be useful in all stages of the game. Onix can also be conserved for stopping common sweepers such as Omanyte and Zigzagoon late-game, but your team should usually already have a check for these, and Onix should only be used if all other checks are gone. Keeping Sturdy intact is usually useful, but Onix can be a good switch-in to many Flying- and Electric-types.
Team Options
========
Onix is perfect for teams that can't fit an entry hazard setter normally due to its Sturdy and Speed stat. Onix can help check Flying- and Electric-types for Pokemon such as Carvanha and Snivy. Pumpkaboo makes for a great partner for Onix, as it blocks Rapid Spin and checks the Water- and Grass-types that Onix struggles with. Any Pokemon that checks Water- and Grass-types, specifically Staryu and Ferroseed, makes for a good teammate for Onix. Staryu itself can also make a great partner, as it can clear away entry hazards and check Water-, and to some extent, Fighting-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Curse set can take advantage of Onix's sky-high Defense, but its abysmal Special Defense makes this essentially pointless. Heavy Slam can be used to hit Fairy-types, but it usually just takes away an important moveslot, and the coverage isn't really necessary. Stone Edge can be used over Rock Blast, but this detracts from Onix's ability to beat Surskit and Dwebble. Explosion can turn Onix into a suicide lead and hit incoming entry hazard removers, but common Rapid Spin and Defog users can completely shut it down by switching in afterwards. The set is quite bad, and is somewhat inferior to Geodude. A set using Eviolite and Weak Armor to boost Onix's Speed sounds good on paper, but Onix's low Attack makes this a bad option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Most Ground-types can beat Onix, but Drilbur and Mudbray stand out in particular. Drilbur can Rapid Spin away Onix's entry hazards and, thanks to Mold Breaker, OHKO Onix through Sturdy, completely shutting it down. Mudbray can switch into Rock Blast to quickly rack up Defense boosts; from there, Onix can do essentially nothing. Mudbray can also cause Onix to flinch with Rock Slide, nullifying both its Sturdy and its next move. Sandshrew, although not as much of an issue, can be annoying with Knock Off, Rapid Spin, and its own Stealth Rock.
**Multi-hit Moves**: Multi-hit moves from Ferroseed and Shellder can be devastating and completely shut down Onix's strategy. There isn't really a way it can work around them, either.
**Fighting-types**: Most Fighting-types utilize Drain Punch, which can usually out-heal Onix's damage and will make quick work of its Sturdy. Mienfoo in particular commonly uses U-turn, which can break Onix's Sturdy and, therefore, make it completely useless.
**Staryu**: Staryu is Onix's best counter, as it can clear away its entry hazards and use Scald to waste its Sturdy and Berry Juice. Onix can also deal very little damage to Staryu, as Staryu is quite bulky.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Foongus and Pumpkaboo can switch into any of Onix's moves without fear. Pumpkaboo can also use Bullet Seed to have a good chance to defeat Onix in one move. Cottonee and Snivy can also switch in but are slightly worse checks.
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