LC rules for beginners (2.5.1)

To see an overview of what Little Cup is in a more formal and explanatory way, go here: http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/introductions-faq-help-thread-please-read-if-new.3491009/

Basic Rules/Clauses for Little Cup:
    1 - Only Pokémon THAT CAN EVOLVE and are at the SMALLEST EVOLUTION STAGE may enter. (Like Charmeleon can't enter but Charmander can)
    2 - The Pokémon must be level 5.

Clauses and bans:
    1 - Sleep Clause is on; only one Pokémon on each team can be put to sleep by the opponent at a time.
    2 - Self-KO Clause is on; if a player causes the game to end via the use of a move such as Explosion, that player loses the game.
    3 - OHKO Clause is on; moves such as Sheer Cold or Horn Drill are banned.
    4 - Evasion Clause is on; moves such as Double Team are banned.
    5 - Species Clause is on; no team can have more than one of the same Pokémon.
    6 - Item Clause is off; a team is free to use six of the same item if it so desires.
    7 - The moves Dragon Rage, Sonic Boom and Swagger are banned.
    8 - The Pokémon Gligar, Meditite, Misdreavus, Murkrow, Scyther, Sneasel, Swirlix, Tangela and Yanma are banned.
    9 - The ability Moody is banned.

Viable Pokemon (This is a list of most LC Pokemon ranked by their viability):
    http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/lc-viability-rankings.3496013/

Beginner tips:
    1 - NEVER use Leftovers (or Black Sludge).
    2 - Don't use Choice Band/Specs. (Life Orb is better Band and Specs in most situations, but there are some exceptions)
    3 - NEVER use Sitrus Berry OR Oran Berry. Instead, Berry Juice.
    4 - EVs aren't 252/252/4. Refer to this link to learn more: http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/a-little-help-everything-you-need-to-know-about-lc.3494230/
    5 - Wait until you're accustomed to the metagame before trying stall teams. (Stall requires a fair bit of experience to use effectively as LC is a mostly offensive metagame.
    6 - NEVER use Assault Vest. (Just use Eviolite)
    7 - Do NOT use the EV "Suggested Spread" from the Teambuilder. (Instead, look in the forum analyses, ask in the LC chatroom, or PM one of the people listed as "People you can turn to for help" below)
    8 - If you're using a Pokemon with Belly Drum, make sure the HP (hit points) of the Pokemon are an even number. Or else, when you use Belly Drum, your Berry Juice will not be activated and you'll be left at 51% health.
    9 - If you're using the item Life Orb, a great number of HP for your Pokemon to be at is 19. This is because with 19 HP, you only lose 1 HP from each attack. With 20 to 29, you'd be losing 2 HP instead. This does not mean that a Pokemon that is unable to reach 19 HP can't use Life Orb.

Metagame tips:
    1 - Knock Off is present on basically every team and it is a move you should make sure doesn't cripple your team too hard.
    2 - Fletchling is a potent sweeper with Gale Wings Acrobatics and Swords Dance and it is a Pokemon you should be ready for.
    3 - Stealth Rock is a great move to use on teams in the current metagame to keep Flying-Type Pokemon in check as well as Sturdy + Berry Juice Pokemon like Tirtouga and Dwebble.
    4 - Sturdy + Berry Juice is a great combo to use in Little Cup. (Common counters to this combo are Fake Out, Stealth Rock, Knock Off, Spikes.)
    5 - Pawniard is a popular Pokemon in the metagame and you should be ready for its Knock Off, Sucker Punch and Iron Head at all times. (Sometimes it runs Choice Scarf with Brick Break)
    6 - Dragon-Type Pokemon are not very good in the Little Cup metagame and you shouldn't use them if you're new.
    7 - Fighting-Type Pokemon are great in the Little Cup metagame (Mienfoo, Timburr, Croagunk, and Scraggy are the best examples) and you should be ready for them by carrying a Poison, Fairy or Flying-Type Pokemon on your team. Notable checks are Fletchling, Trubbish, Tentacool, Spritzee, Snubbull and Foongus)
    8 - Contrary to popular belief, Aipom is not an excellent Pokemon and you shouldn't use it if you're new.
    9 - Carvanha is strong threat in the metagame and you should carry a check to it. The best answers are priority users such as Timburr, Croagunk, Fake Out users and bulky Grass-Type Pokemon like Cottonee, Foongus and Ferroseed.

Users you could turn to for help/tips: dsr95, prem, QuoteCS, Rowan, apt-get, blizzardy, Antgeezyy, Champion Fizz, Corporal Levi, Amp Pharaohs, Jac, GlassGlaceon, sparkychild, Artemis Fowl, Caledrith, Goddess Briyella, Aerow, zeriloa, absdaddy, Pumphead, Maomiraeniya,  Superpowerdude, Aaron's Aron, Obvious Power, Yagura, Fiend Hound, bubblegum heart, HeDancesWithSwords and AroundtheSwirlz <-(Call him Swirlix, he likes it)

-MADE BY: dsr95
With help from: kingmidas, blizzardy, Syan, dcae, Ray Jay, Corkscrew, apt-get, princessofmusic, Corporal Levi, DeathxShinigami, Champion Fizz, Ashley11, Antgeezyy, Aaron's Aron, Superpowerdude, Maomiraeniya (props for being massive help with the Metagame Tips section)