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Written by Tidus

• Article

Introduction:

You feel boredom, don´t you? You´re sick of all the over used pokes and wish to play a new metagame that helps you pass time and basically let you have fun, well little cup was developed in standium and It´s sole purpose was to do that. Basically you play with first stage Pokémons of an evolutionary line for the sole purpose of trying out pokes you will never use in any other environment. This guide will try and help you be a good little cup player and basically know how to have fun by winning a lot of matches and knowing how to play this amazing metagame.

The Ban List:
Every tier has its ban list and little cup or lc (whatever you like to name it) is no different, here I will mention the ban list of little cup and I will mention why such pokes got the ban ban list as in you can not use these pokes in standard battles, in this case standard little cup battles.):

Skyther: Not only is it one of the fastest Pokémons in little cup, but it also can kill every little cup Pokémon after 1 sword dance, and if a scarf Pokémon comes in the way, then why not use a technician quick attack to destroy them!

Tangela: On sunny day teams, this guy is terribly scary, nothing can survive it´s life orb boosted stab boosted solar beam, and it´s chlorophyll ability makes it the fastest Pokémon in little cup.

Sneasel: Basically same reason as scyther.

Meditie: It can make a decent and very fast scarfer, and all of it´s moves ohko every single Pokémon in little cup, even the most defensive, bronzong, yes it can actually ko a bronzor and is basically really fast with a scarf.

Clamperl ofcourse only with Deepseatooth): with a special attack stat of 36, assuming modest nature and 252 evs in the special attack stat) it will surely ko anything in it´s path, and it´s great defenses further aid it in surviving a lot of hits, if you can find a way to pass this monster speed rock polish gliscor or the use of trick room) then your opponent will basically loose, this is why it can only be used without the item deepseatooth doubles it´s attack stat by 2).

Yanma: If anything that it can´t ko is in it´s way, then it will simply use hypnosis, with speed boost, nothing will outspeed it after a couple of turns, and protect can further waste a turn which gives it more time to raise it´s speed with it´s amazing ability, speed boost.

Little Cup Rules:

The Level Rule: Every other metagame except the faux not fully evolved metagame) is played with level 100 pokes, little cup can be played with all level 100 pokes, level 1 pokes and level 5 pokes, usually it´s played with level 5 Pokémons, just to make little cup further more unique.
Species Clause: No 2 Pokémon of the same species can be used on a team meaning you can not use 4 misdreavuse´s or 2 gastly´s).
Evasion Clause: No Pokémon can use an evasion rising move double team, minimize etc).

Sleep Clause: No 2 Pokémon can be put to sleep at the same time.
Sonic Boom, Dragon Rage Clause: These following moves are banned because they take 20% and 40% off the Pokémons hp every time, respectively. And since you´re probably playing level 5 little cup, then a dragon rage can ko every single poke, since no poke in level 5 little cup can have more than 40 hp, hence their ban.

Item Clause: No 2 Pokémons can have the same item.
Only Pokémon hatched from eggs are eligible.
Eligible Pokémon must be able to evolve, and be the first in an evolution chain.
These are basically all the rules you should play under whilst having a little cup match.

The List of the Little Cup Pokémons:

Now I shall outline all the eligible Pokémons that can compete in the little cup environment:


• Abra
• Aipom
• Anorith
• Aron
• Azurill
• Bagon
• Baltoy
• Barboach
• Beldum
• Bellsprout
• Bidoof
• Bonsly
• Bronzor
• Budew
• Buizel
• Bulbasaur
• Buneary
• Burmy
• Cacnea
• Carvanha
• Caterpie
• Charmander
• Cherubi
• Chikorita
• Chimchar
• Chinchou
• Chingling
• Cleffa
• Combee
• Corphish
• Cranidos
• Croagunk
• Cubone
• Cyndaquil
• Diglett
• Doduo
• Dratini
• Drifloon
• Drowzee
• Duskull
• Eevee
• Ekans
• Electrike
• Elekid
• Exeggcute
• Feebas
• Finneon
• Mareep
• Gastly
• Geodude
• Gible
• Glameow
• Gligar
• Goldeen
• Grimer
• Growlithe
• Gulpin
• Happiny
• Hippopotas
• Hoothoot
• Hoppip
• Horsea
• Houndour
• Igglybuff
• Kabuto
• Koffing
• Krabby
• Kricketot
• Larvitar
• Ledyba
• Lickitung
• Lileep
• Lotad
• Machop
• Magby
• Magikarp
• Magnemite
• Makuhita
• Mankey
• Mantyke
• Marill
• Meowth
• Mime Jr.
• Misdreavus
• Mudkip
• Munchlax
• Murkrow
• Natu
• Nidoran­F
• Nidoran­M
• Nincada
• Nosepass
• Numel
• Oddish
• Omanyte
• Onix
• Paras
• Phanpy
• Pichu
• Pidgey
• Pineco
• Piplup
• Poliwag
• Ponyta
• Poochyena
• Porygon
• Psyduck
• Ralts
• Rattata
• Remoraid
• Rhyhorn
• Riolu
• Sandshrew
• Seedot
• Seel
• Sentret
• Shellder
• Shellos
• Shieldon
• Shinx
• Shroomish
• Shuppet
• Skitty
• Skorupi
• Slakoth
• Slowpoke
• Slugma
• Smoochum
• Snorunt
• Snover
• Snubbull
• Spearow
• Spheal
• Spinarak
• Spoink
• Squirtle
• Starly
• Staryu
• Stunky
• Sunkern
• Surskit
• Swablu
• Swinub
• Taillow
• Teddiursa
• Tentacool
• Togepi
• Torchic
• Totodile
• Treecko
• Turtwig
• Tyrogue
• Venonat
• Voltorb
• Vulpix
• Wailmer
• Weedle
• Whismur
• Wingull
• Wooper
• Wurmple
• Wynaut
• Zigzagoon
• Zubat


Walling And Stall:
In the Over Used environment, stalling is probably one of the best and most annoying strategies, you basically use a lot of walls whom all in all give your team the coverage of all the entry hazards, a rapid spinner and a rapid spin blocker, this all can be achieved in over used with relative ease, and a good walling combination can actually wall sweepers quite effectively to the degree where the opponents team can´t utterly do anything except die to all the residual damage and all those walls that are on the opponents team which will basically wall all your sweepers with relative ease.

This is all fine and dandy in the over used again you can use the abbreviation ´ou") environment, but in little cup, walling and stalling is a thing that isn´t really good, i have seen many people want to try stall in little cup just to proove that in such a offensive and speed based metagame stall is possible, but that is completely wrong, look at it this way, in over used, there are anti spinners, spinners, spikers, toxic spikers, stealth rockers etc, those all make a good stall team, but look at the little cup enviroment...There are only 5 Pokémon who can use Spikes that are eligible in LC. Budew 40/35/70 defenses), Omanyte 35/100/55), Snorunt 50/50/50), Cacnea 50/40/40), and Pineco 50/90/35). The bulkiest Pokémon is Pineco and Budew SpDef wise), with actually defense stats of 24 HP, 19 Def, and 11 SpDef. It has crappy typing, lacks recovery, and only has one really offensive move outside of Explosion. It also walls nothing.

Toxic Spikes are limited because not too many Pokémon are really helpful that get it, and there are so many TS immune Pokémon in LC Croagunk, Murkrow, Bronzong, random Poison type, etc.) that it´s almost a waste. Coupled with the fact that most Pokémon don´t have recovery anyways so the need for Poison is limited, and that Poison takes so long to kill Pokémon even with SR, Spikes, and SS support), you are almost sure to die before they do).

Basically, what i´m trying to say, is don´t act like you want to proove something is good while it really isn´t. Just don´t use stall in little cup and look like you want to make a metagame change, because stall is almost impossible in little cup.

Tips:
Now I will list one of the most used sets for one of the most standard Pokémons, I won´t bother with commenting on the sets since it can all be covered with some little cup analysis.

Staryu:
Late Game Sweeper @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
Nature: Timid
Evs: 200 SpA / 236 Spe
Ivs: 30 SpA
Surf
Ice Beam
Thunderbolt
Hidden Power (Grass)

Snover:
Swords Dancer @ Life Orb / Oran Berry / Focus Sash
Nature: Hasty
Evs: 184 Atk / 104 SpA / 200 Spe
Ivs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
Swords Dance
Ice Shard
Seed Bomb / Wood Hammer
Hidden Power (Fire) / Blizzard / Return

Bronzor:
The Great Wall @ Oran Berry/Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Sassy
EVs: 220 HP/148 Def/68 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe
Stealth Rock
Gyro Ball/Earthquake
Recycle
Light Screen/Reflect

Buizel:
Choice Band @ Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
Evs: 236 Atk/236 Spe
Aqua Jet/Waterfall
Quick Attack/Return
Brick Break
Pursuit

Cranidos:
Abusing That Speed @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
Nature: Naughty
Evs: 236 Atk/212 Spd/36 SpA
Stone Edge/Head Smash
Earthquake
Zen Headbutt/Pursuit
Ice Beam
Choice Scarf

Cyndaquil:
Watch Out For That Speedy Volcano! @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Hasty
Evs: 44HP / 24Atk / 200SpA / 236Spe
Ivs: 30Atk / 30SpA
Eruption
Flamethrower / Fire Blast
Hidden Power Grass
Double Kick

Dratini:
The Dancing Dragon @ Life Orb
Evs: 68 HP / 244 Atk / 196 Spd
Nature: Adamant
Dragon Dance
Outrage
Waterfall
Safeguard / Substitute

Digglet:
Revenge Killer of Choice @ Choice Scarf / Choice Band
Ability: Arena Trap
Nature: Adamant / Jolly
Evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe

Earthquake
Sucker Punch
Aerial Ace
Rock Slide / Pursuit

Elekid:
Mixed Attacker @ Life Orb / Expert Belt
Ability: Static
Nature: Mild
Evs: 196 Atk / 76 SpA / 236 Spe
Thunderbolt
Ice Punch / Hidden Power Ice
Cross Chop
Psychic / Fire Punch

Gligar:
Dancing Scorpions @ Life Orb
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 236 Atk/236 Spe
Swords Dance/Rock Polish
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Quick Attack/X­Scissor/Baton Pass

Magby:
Mixing Some Scarves @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Hasty
Evs: 252Spe, 200SpA
Ivs: 30 HP / 30SpA
Fire Blast / Overheat
Thunderpunch
Hidden Power Grass
Cross Chop

Misdreavus:
I Can´t Calm It! @ Wise Glasses / Oran Berry
Nature: Timid
Evs: 28 HP / 240 SpA / 240 Spe
Calm Mind
Shadow Ball
Hidden Power (Fighting)
Destiny Bond / Will­o­wisp

Munchlax:
Cursing Eternity @ Oran Berry
Ability: Thick Fat
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 236 HP/ 36 Def/ 236 SpD
Curse
Return
Pursuit
Earthquake/Brick Break/Pursuit/Zen Headbutt

Meowth:
Nasty Plot sweeper @ Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Technician
Evs: 116 HP / 196 SAtk / 196 Spd
Nature: Timid
Nasty Plot
Hypnosis
Swift
Water Pulse

Murkrow:
Choice Bander @ Choice Band
Ability: Insomnia
Nature: Hasty
Evs: 236Atk, 236Spe, 36Hp
Sucker Punch
Pursuit
Drill Peck
Hidden Power Fighting

Analysis On The Little Cup Metagame:

LC is highly dependant on team synergy, effective revenge killing and carefully set up sweeps. A metagame where one turn can decide the outcome of the battle! Making lc a really interesting environment to play in.

Now I shall leave you, I hope you enjoyed reading this guide which will hopefully help you in becoming a good little cup battler and basically know how to have fun in this fun filled metagame which was developed for the sole purpose of, well, having, FUN!