[OVERVIEW]
Trapinch's rather good bulk and access to Arena Trap allow it to switch into, trap, and KO specific Pokemon. Notably, Trapinch is guaranteed to remove Onix and has great odds to remove Pawniard thanks to its ability to switch into these Pokemon, something Diglett cannot do. However, due to its slow Speed, Trapinch fears Scald burns and Iron Head flinches far more than Diglett does. First Impression gives Trapinch some extra utility against many faster Pokemon, though many of the move's targets often run Protect for this specific reason. Trapinch will often be at low HP after it has trapped its target, and due to its low Speed, it will likely only attack again with a priority move.
[SET]
name: Trapper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: First Impression
move 4: Superpower / Feint
item: Eviolite
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Careful
evs: 76 HP / 36 Atk / 236 Def / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is mandatory in order for Trapinch to threaten the likes of Ponyta and Pawniard. Giga Drain is primarily for Onix, though it also allows Trapinch to remain healthy enough to potentially trap another Pokemon if needed. First Impression offers some marginal utility to Trapinch once its primary targets have been KOed; it is potentially useful against a foe like Galarian Ponyta or a low health Vullaby after a Defense drop from Weak Armor. Superpower allows Trapinch to greatly damage Ferroseed and OHKO Pawniard. Feint can be used instead for substantially weaker priority that is nonetheless useful for picking off a low health Pokemon; it can be particularly useful against Abra, which will often use Protect to avoid First Impression. Alternatively, Protect is useful to scout for Onix's Explosion, especially when Trapinch needs to remain healthy throughout the match.
Set Details
========
The Speed EVs let Trapinch hit 9 Speed to outspeed Ferroseed. The remaining EVs are tailored to trap and remove Onix as efficiently as possible, with Eviolite bolstering Trapinch's ability to handle Dragon Dance Onix and other powerful physical attackers. A Careful nature is desirable to give Trapinch a better chance to survive a Scald from Mareanie in a pinch, and it will not drop Trapinch's Special Attack.
Usage Tips
========
It is most important to prioritize Trapinch's targets in any given game, and such targets will vary depending on your team's structure regardless of team archetype, with the biggest priorities tending to be Onix and Diglett. Trapinch is a support Pokemon and thus will seek to trap the counters of its teammates. Typically, Trapinch is able to switch directly into what it is meant to remove and can use the appropriate move without issue. In some cases, preserving Trapinch to nail a revenge killer like Abra or Grookey with First Impression later in the game can be particularly useful.
Team Options
========
Vullaby and Ponyta love Trapinch's ability to switch into and remove two of their best checks in Pawniard and Onix, and Ponyta also appreciates Trapinch counter trapping Diglett. Spritzee forms a great defensive pairing with Trapinch, as the two can take care of each other's checks. Ferroseed also shares good type synergy with Trapinch, as it acts as a solid answer to Staryu and Grass-types, which prove to be troublesome for teams built around Trapinch. Offensive Porygon appreciates the removal of Steel-types and is a useful teammate due to its good bulk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can be useful to status Spritzee and Porygon, which Trapinch does not threaten otherwise, but the move can be hard to fit over other options. An alternative EV spread of 156 HP / 36 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe with a Jolly nature is useful, albeit only on Sticky Web teams. The additional Speed alongside Sticky Web enables Trapinch to trap several more Pokemon such as Mareanie and some variants of Chinchou. Rock Slide can threaten Flying-types and prevent Trapinch from giving free turns to some of the more threatening Pokemon in the tier.
Checks and Counters
===================
It should be noted that Trapinch cannot be countered directly, as its ability Arena Trap prevents switching out if the Pokemon is grounded. With the ability to pick its matchups, Trapinch often needs to be dealt with after it has picked up a KO. Fortunately, Trapinch will frequently take significant damage in the process, which can leave it vulnerable to almost any strong attacker in the tier.
**Water-types**: Staryu and Wingull can punish Trapinch with relatively few downsides. Both are rather difficult to switch into outside of specific counters, which often forces Trapinch to stay in and be KOed. Mareanie is threatened by a healthy Trapinch, but it can often burn Trapinch with Scald, allowing it to stall out Earthquake with Recover.
**Grass-types**: With the exception of Ferroseed, Grass-types fear little from Trapinch after its first turn. Grookey and Foongus are solid examples of capable revenge killers, though Grookey does need to be mindful of First Impression.
**Woobat**: Trapinch gives Woobat free turns, which can can end the game immediately. Very few Pokemon in LC can survive a +4 Heat Wave or Stored Power, and Woobat can be hard to revenge kill.
**Porygon**: Porygon is incredibly bulky and can Trace Arena Trap, locking Trapinch on the field. If Porygon is unable to KO Trapinch immediately, it can stall out Superpower with Recover. Alternatively, Download Porygon can often KO Trapinch reliably and make use of this relatively free turn.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Fiend, 208173]]
- Quality checked by: [[Stoward, 420389], [Dreamcatcher, 449990], [San Tomas, 255030]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Empress, 175616], [Estronic, 240732]]
Trapinch's rather good bulk and access to Arena Trap allow it to switch into, trap, and KO specific Pokemon. Notably, Trapinch is guaranteed to remove Onix and has great odds to remove Pawniard thanks to its ability to switch into these Pokemon, something Diglett cannot do. However, due to its slow Speed, Trapinch fears Scald burns and Iron Head flinches far more than Diglett does. First Impression gives Trapinch some extra utility against many faster Pokemon, though many of the move's targets often run Protect for this specific reason. Trapinch will often be at low HP after it has trapped its target, and due to its low Speed, it will likely only attack again with a priority move.
[SET]
name: Trapper
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: First Impression
move 4: Superpower / Feint
item: Eviolite
ability: Arena Trap
nature: Careful
evs: 76 HP / 36 Atk / 236 Def / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is mandatory in order for Trapinch to threaten the likes of Ponyta and Pawniard. Giga Drain is primarily for Onix, though it also allows Trapinch to remain healthy enough to potentially trap another Pokemon if needed. First Impression offers some marginal utility to Trapinch once its primary targets have been KOed; it is potentially useful against a foe like Galarian Ponyta or a low health Vullaby after a Defense drop from Weak Armor. Superpower allows Trapinch to greatly damage Ferroseed and OHKO Pawniard. Feint can be used instead for substantially weaker priority that is nonetheless useful for picking off a low health Pokemon; it can be particularly useful against Abra, which will often use Protect to avoid First Impression. Alternatively, Protect is useful to scout for Onix's Explosion, especially when Trapinch needs to remain healthy throughout the match.
Set Details
========
The Speed EVs let Trapinch hit 9 Speed to outspeed Ferroseed. The remaining EVs are tailored to trap and remove Onix as efficiently as possible, with Eviolite bolstering Trapinch's ability to handle Dragon Dance Onix and other powerful physical attackers. A Careful nature is desirable to give Trapinch a better chance to survive a Scald from Mareanie in a pinch, and it will not drop Trapinch's Special Attack.
Usage Tips
========
It is most important to prioritize Trapinch's targets in any given game, and such targets will vary depending on your team's structure regardless of team archetype, with the biggest priorities tending to be Onix and Diglett. Trapinch is a support Pokemon and thus will seek to trap the counters of its teammates. Typically, Trapinch is able to switch directly into what it is meant to remove and can use the appropriate move without issue. In some cases, preserving Trapinch to nail a revenge killer like Abra or Grookey with First Impression later in the game can be particularly useful.
Team Options
========
Vullaby and Ponyta love Trapinch's ability to switch into and remove two of their best checks in Pawniard and Onix, and Ponyta also appreciates Trapinch counter trapping Diglett. Spritzee forms a great defensive pairing with Trapinch, as the two can take care of each other's checks. Ferroseed also shares good type synergy with Trapinch, as it acts as a solid answer to Staryu and Grass-types, which prove to be troublesome for teams built around Trapinch. Offensive Porygon appreciates the removal of Steel-types and is a useful teammate due to its good bulk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can be useful to status Spritzee and Porygon, which Trapinch does not threaten otherwise, but the move can be hard to fit over other options. An alternative EV spread of 156 HP / 36 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe with a Jolly nature is useful, albeit only on Sticky Web teams. The additional Speed alongside Sticky Web enables Trapinch to trap several more Pokemon such as Mareanie and some variants of Chinchou. Rock Slide can threaten Flying-types and prevent Trapinch from giving free turns to some of the more threatening Pokemon in the tier.
Checks and Counters
===================
It should be noted that Trapinch cannot be countered directly, as its ability Arena Trap prevents switching out if the Pokemon is grounded. With the ability to pick its matchups, Trapinch often needs to be dealt with after it has picked up a KO. Fortunately, Trapinch will frequently take significant damage in the process, which can leave it vulnerable to almost any strong attacker in the tier.
**Water-types**: Staryu and Wingull can punish Trapinch with relatively few downsides. Both are rather difficult to switch into outside of specific counters, which often forces Trapinch to stay in and be KOed. Mareanie is threatened by a healthy Trapinch, but it can often burn Trapinch with Scald, allowing it to stall out Earthquake with Recover.
**Grass-types**: With the exception of Ferroseed, Grass-types fear little from Trapinch after its first turn. Grookey and Foongus are solid examples of capable revenge killers, though Grookey does need to be mindful of First Impression.
**Woobat**: Trapinch gives Woobat free turns, which can can end the game immediately. Very few Pokemon in LC can survive a +4 Heat Wave or Stored Power, and Woobat can be hard to revenge kill.
**Porygon**: Porygon is incredibly bulky and can Trace Arena Trap, locking Trapinch on the field. If Porygon is unable to KO Trapinch immediately, it can stall out Superpower with Recover. Alternatively, Download Porygon can often KO Trapinch reliably and make use of this relatively free turn.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Fiend, 208173]]
- Quality checked by: [[Stoward, 420389], [Dreamcatcher, 449990], [San Tomas, 255030]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Empress, 175616], [Estronic, 240732]]
Last edited:
