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  1. [title]
  2. Looking Back on an Era: Generation 6 LC
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  68.  
  69. [page]
  70. <div class="author">By <a href="/forums/members/coconut.150971/" target="_blank">Coconut</a>, <a href="/forums/members/corporal-levi.55063/" target="_blank">Corporal Levi</a>, <a href="/forums/members/fiend.208173/" target="_blank">Fiend</a>, <a href="/forums/members/nineage.195129/" target="_blank">Nineage</a>, and <a href="/forums/members/rowan.36965/" target="_blank">Rowan</a>. Art by <a href="/forums/members/fellfromthesky.306230/" target="_blank">FellFromtheSky</a>.</div>
  71.  
  72. <table id="articleheader">
  73. <tr>
  74. <td class="left"><a href="">&laquo; Previous Article</a></td>
  75. <td class="middle"><a href="/articles/">Home</a></td>
  76. <td class="right"><span class="inactive-link">Next Article &raquo;</span></td>
  77. </tr>
  78. </table>
  79.  
  80. <div class="align-center">
  81. <img src="/articles/images/oras-lc-retrospective.png" alt="Art by FellFromtheSky" />
  82. </div>
  83.  
  84. <p>With the release of X and Y and the onset of the sixth generation, many exciting mechanics changes arrived for LC. For instance, weather, which had dominated the fifth generation metagame, was no longer permanent. The move Knock Off was also given a hefty buff, becoming a powerful move in its own right in addition to removing the ever-common Eviolite. Meanwhile, Fairy-types and Pok&eacute;mon such as Fletchling brought new checks and counters to the powerful Fighting type. These changes convinced LC to free most of its banlist at the start of the sixth generation, which lead to a rollercoaster of a generation, with various metagames, each with their own titans and strategies. In this article, we take one final look at the history of Generation 6 LC.</p>
  85.  
  86. <hr class="small" />
  87.  
  88. <div class="align-center">
  89. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/sneasel.gif" alt="Sneasel" />
  90. </div>
  91.  
  92. <h2>Sneasel</h2>
  93. <p>At the beginning of the XY metagame, all of the previously banned Pok&eacute;mon except Scyther were unbanned. This, combined with the excitement for newly released Pok&eacute;mon, made the beginning of XY LC a chaotic metagame defined by truly overpowered old Pok&eacute;mon and overhyped new ones. Some of the most exciting and most used of the new Generation 6 Pok&eacute;mon were Swirlix, Bunnelby, and Honedge. Swirlix was initially used as a sweeper with Calm Mind, 3 attacks, and the newly unbanned Berry Juice, while Bunnelby&mdash;the cutest new Pok&eacute;mon&mdash;drew attention because of possessing one of the highest Attack stats in LC thanks to its access to Huge Power, and Honedge was hyped for its unique defensive typing. Yet it was an older Pok&eacute;mon that came to the forefront of the chaos: Sneasel. With a Speed stat far above anything else in the metagame, the potential to hit hard with Life Orb, and its access to the newly buffed Knock Off, Sneasel defined the beginning of the generation like nothing else. Teams often ran multiple dedicated Sneasel checks, such as Croagunk, Timburr, and Growlithe, and games frequently came down to Speed ties between opposing Sneasel.</p>
  94. <p>Sneasel was soon quickbanned unanimously by the LC council due to its overwhelming speed, outrageous Attack, and extreme centralization.</p>
  95.  
  96. <ul>
  97. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/sneasel.png" alt="Sneasel" title="Sneasel" /></li>
  98. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/swirlix.png" alt="Swirlix" title="Swirlix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/honedge.png" alt="Honedge" title="Honedge" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gligar.png" alt="Gligar" title="Gligar" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/scraggy.png" alt="Scraggy" title="Scraggy" /></li>
  99. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/meditite.png" alt="Meditite" title="Meditite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tangela.png" alt="Tangela" title="Tangela" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/bunnelby.png" alt="Bunnelby" title="Bunnelby" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/yanma.png" alt="Yanma" title="Yanma" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/croagunk.png" alt="Croagunk" title="Croagunk" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snubbull.png" alt="Snubbull" title="Snubbull" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/murkrow.png" alt="Murkrow" title="Murkrow" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/growlithe.png" alt="Growlithe" title="Growlithe" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" /></li>
  100. </ul>
  101.  
  102. <hr class="small" />
  103.  
  104. <div class="align-center">
  105. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/tangela.gif" alt="Tangela" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/yanma.gif" alt="Yanma" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/gligar.gif" alt="Gligar" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/murkrow.gif" alt="Murkrow" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/magnemite.gif" alt="Magnemite" />
  106. </div>
  107.  
  108. <h2>TangMa</h2>
  109. <p>TangMa is renowned as a sort of "Wild West" of the LC metagames, and as the closest thing to a balanced LC Ubers metagame that has existed in the sixth generation. For this reason, TangMa has been played in every LC Premier League since the beginning of XY (more on TangMa in LCPL below). The metagame was ruled by Tangela, which was able to use its sky-high stats and two great abilities in Chlorophyll and Regenerator to act as a terrifying sweeper in the sun or terrific bulky attacker in general. Yanma was also a major force to be reckoned with, able to either sweep with Speed Boost and a Life Orb or use its naturally high Speed and Compound Eyes to shut down its counters with Hypnosis and gain momentum on them with U-turn. Because both of the top two Pok&eacute;mon were often seen with sleep-inducing moves (for Tangela, Sleep Powder; for Yanma, Hypnosis), sleep absorbers became a necessity on most teams. In addition, Belly Drum Swirlix began to dominate the metagame during this era, and sun teams, and consequently Vulpix, gained significant popularity. Meditite found limited usage as a threatening wallbreaker, but it struggled significantly against Gligar, Yanma, and Tangela, and the extreme speed of the metagame left it frequently revenge killed. Entry hazards did not last long in the developing metagame, with Defog seen on almost every team, which allowed SturdyJuice Magnemite and Tirtouga to become major threats, although Tirtouga's viability was hindered by the popularity of Tangela. Magnemite was fantastic for checking Gligar, Murkrow, Yanma, and Swirlix with its SturdyJuice HP Ice set, but it could also don a Choice Scarf in order to avoid being crippled by Knock Off and Hypnosis. Slowpoke was a resilient check for Gligar and Meditite, and it was quite popular despite the presence of Tangela and Yanma. A few Pok&eacute;mon that would later become staples in the metagame, such as Mienfoo, Pawniard, Porygon, Chinchou, and Timburr, would begin to see use for their strengths, though the now-banned Pok&eacute;mon prevented them from becoming as prominent.</p>
  110. <p>Tangela was unanimously banned for being too bulky and too powerful for the tier to handle, while Yanma was unanimously banned for being so swift and powerful without leaving any means of reliable counterplay.</p>
  111.  
  112. <ul>
  113. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tangela.png" alt="Tangela" title="Tangela" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/yanma.png" alt="Yanma" title="Yanma" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gligar.png" alt="Gligar" title="Gligar" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/murkrow.png" alt="Murkrow" title="Murkrow" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" /></li>
  114. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vulpix.png" alt="Vulpix" title="Vulpix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/misdreavus.png" alt="Misdreavus" title="Misdreavus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/slowpoke.png" alt="Slowpoke" title="Slowpoke" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/meditite.png" alt="Meditite" title="Meditite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/swirlix.png" alt="Swirlix" title="Swirlix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" /></li>
  115. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/munchlax.png" alt="Munchlax" title="Munchlax" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" /></li>
  116. </ul>
  117.  
  118. <table class="align-center">
  119. <tr>
  120. <td>
  121. <input type="button" value="Hyper Offense Team (dcae)" data-show-target="0" />
  122. </td>
  123. <td>
  124. <input type="button" value="Balance Team" data-show-target="1" />
  125. </td>
  126. </tr>
  127. </table>
  128.  
  129. <div data-target="0">
  130. <div class="importable">
  131. <p>Yanma @ Life Orb<br />
  132. Ability: Speed Boost<br />
  133. Level: 5<br />
  134. EVs: 236 Spd / 240 SAtk<br />
  135. Timid Nature<br />
  136. IVs: 30 SAtk / 30 SDef / 1 Atk<br />
  137. - Protect<br />
  138. - Bug Buzz<br />
  139. - Air Slash<br />
  140. - Hidden Power Ground</p>
  141.  
  142. <br />
  143.  
  144. <p>Carvanha @ Life Orb<br />
  145. Ability: Speed Boost<br />
  146. Level: 5<br />
  147. EVs: 236 Spd / 196 Atk / 76 SAtk<br />
  148. Naughty Nature<br />
  149. - Aqua Jet<br />
  150. - Waterfall<br />
  151. - Crunch<br />
  152. - Ice Beam</p>
  153.  
  154. <br />
  155.  
  156. <p>Tangela @ Life Orb<br />
  157. Ability: Chlorophyll<br />
  158. Level: 5<br />
  159. EVs: 200 Spd / 200 SAtk / 108 SDef<br />
  160. Timid Nature<br />
  161. IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SAtk / 30 Spd<br />
  162. - Sleep Powder<br />
  163. - Solar Beam<br />
  164. - Hidden Power Fire<br />
  165. - Ancient Power</p>
  166.  
  167. <br />
  168.  
  169. <p>Vulpix @ Heat Rock<br />
  170. Ability: Drought<br />
  171. Level: 5<br />
  172. EVs: 236 SAtk / 236 Spd / 36 Def<br />
  173. Timid Nature<br />
  174. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  175. - Fire Blast<br />
  176. - Energy Ball<br />
  177. - Hypnosis<br />
  178. - Will-O-Wisp</p>
  179.  
  180. <br />
  181.  
  182. <p>Pawniard @ Eviolite<br />
  183. Ability: Defiant<br />
  184. Level: 5<br />
  185. EVs: 236 Atk / 196 Spd / 76 Def<br />
  186. Jolly Nature<br />
  187. - Swords Dance<br />
  188. - Knock Off<br />
  189. - Sucker Punch<br />
  190. - Iron Head</p>
  191.  
  192. <br />
  193.  
  194. <p>Swirlix @ Berry Juice<br />
  195. Ability: Unburden<br />
  196. Level: 5<br />
  197. EVs: 180 HP / 124 SAtk / 60 SDef / 124 Spd<br />
  198. Calm Nature<br />
  199. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  200. - Cotton Guard<br />
  201. - Calm Mind<br />
  202. - Draining Kiss<br />
  203. - Aromatherapy</p>
  204. </div>
  205.  
  206. <p>dcae's hyper offense team showcases the general trends of the meta. The team revolves around two potent cores: Vulpix and Chlorophyll Tangela, and two Speed Boosters as Yanma and Carvanha. Chlorophyll Tangela was extremely punishing to almost every team, being only really handled by the otherwise awful Goomy. With a powerful Solar Beam and amazing coverage, Tangela opened up holes for the other members of the team and had the option of sleeping anything mildly annoying. Yanma and Carvanha took advantage of these openings and often gave the team an edge over the other offensive teams of the era. This is also the first major usage of Cotton Guard Calm Mind Swirlix, which cleaned up when all else failed.</p>
  207. <p>RMT: <a href="/forums/threads/rip.3501600/" target="_blank">http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/rip.3501600/</a></p>
  208. </div>
  209.  
  210. <div data-target="1">
  211. <div class="importable">
  212. <p>Tangela @ Eviolite<br />
  213. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  214. Level: 5<br />
  215. EVs: 76 HP / 200 SpA / 200 Spe<br />
  216. Modest Nature<br />
  217. - Knock Off<br />
  218. - Leaf Storm<br />
  219. - Sleep Powder<br />
  220. - Hidden Power Fire</p>
  221.  
  222. <br />
  223.  
  224. <p>Yanma @ Berry Juice<br />
  225. Ability: Compound Eyes<br />
  226. Level: 5<br />
  227. EVs: 236 SpA / 236 Spe<br />
  228. Timid Nature<br />
  229. - Hypnosis<br />
  230. - Bug Buzz<br />
  231. - U-turn<br />
  232. - Air Slash</p>
  233.  
  234. <br />
  235.  
  236. <p>Gligar @ Berry Juice<br />
  237. Ability: Hyper Cutter<br />
  238. Level: 5<br />
  239. EVs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe<br />
  240. Jolly Nature<br />
  241. - Earthquake<br />
  242. - Acrobatics<br />
  243. - Defog<br />
  244. - Knock Off</p>
  245.  
  246. <br />
  247.  
  248. <p>Chinchou @ Choice Scarf<br />
  249. Ability: Volt Absorb<br />
  250. Level: 5<br />
  251. EVs: 52 Def / 228 SpA / 220 Spe<br />
  252. Modest Nature<br />
  253. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  254. - Hydro Pump<br />
  255. - Ice Beam<br />
  256. - Volt Switch<br />
  257. - Scald</p>
  258.  
  259. <br />
  260.  
  261. <p>Pawniard @ Eviolite<br />
  262. Ability: Defiant<br />
  263. Level: 5<br />
  264. EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 116 Spe<br />
  265. Jolly Nature<br />
  266. - Knock Off<br />
  267. - Sucker Punch<br />
  268. - Iron Head<br />
  269. - Stealth Rock</p>
  270.  
  271. <br />
  272.  
  273. <p>Slowpoke @ Eviolite<br />
  274. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  275. Level: 5<br />
  276. EVs: 116 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 116 SpD<br />
  277. Bold Nature<br />
  278. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  279. - Scald<br />
  280. - Psychic<br />
  281. - Slack Off<br />
  282. - Thunder Wave</p>
  283. </div>
  284.  
  285. <p>In TangMa, balance teams were also potent. Regenerator Tangela is still an extremely potent threat and has the ability to continually bombard the opposition with powerful attacks. Similarly, Yanma's Hypnosis set was also irksome to handle. With its high Speed, a fairly reliable sleep-inducing move, and decent offensive presence, Yanma is able to disrupt the flow of the game and swing it in its user's favor with either a KO or switch initiative. These traits were commonly supported with anti-meta Pok&eacute;mon, such as Pawniard whose strong Sucker Punches and Knock Offs punished the slow Pok&eacute;mon and Slowpoke who has reliable recovery and immense bulk. Teams like this also required a reliable revenge killer, with Chinchou as the favored option with its powerful Ice-type coverage for Gligar and its high Speed when equipped with a Choice Scarf. Teams like this required careful play in order to not be overwhelmed by the likes of Swords Dance Gligar and Chlorophyll Tangela.</p>
  286. </div>
  287.  
  288. <hr class="small" />
  289.  
  290. <h3>LCPL TangMa</h3>
  291. <p>When TangMa was played again during LCPLs, the metagame shifted posthumously. For instance, Munchlax and especially Fletchling became much more popular in LCPL TangMa matches; Fletchling is now considered one of the best Pok&eacute;mon in the metagame due to how well it matches against both Tangela and Yanma. These games saw more usage of Cotton Guard + Calm Mind Swirlix, Scarf Magnemite, and Haze Murkrow variants, none of which were very common during the actual TangMa metagame. The last LCPL also saw significant usage of Shellder.</p>
  292.  
  293. <ul>
  294. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tangela.png" alt="Tangela" title="Tangela" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/swirlix.png" alt="Swirlix" title="Swirlix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gligar.png" alt="Gligar" title="Gligar" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/murkrow.png" alt="Murkrow" title="Murkrow" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" /></li>
  295. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/yanma.png" alt="Yanma" title="Yanma" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vulpix.png" alt="Vulpix" title="Vulpix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/slowpoke.png" alt="Slowpoke" title="Slowpoke" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/misdreavus.png" alt="Misdreavus" title="Misdreavus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/meditite.png" alt="Meditite" title="Meditite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" /></li>
  296. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/munchlax.png" alt="Munchlax" title="Munchlax" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/shellder.png" alt="Shellder" title="Shellder" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cottonee.png" alt="Cottonee" title="Cottonee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ponyta.png" alt="Ponyta" title="Ponyta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/diglett.png" alt="Diglett" title="Diglett" /></li>
  297. </ul>
  298.  
  299. <hr class="small" />
  300.  
  301. <div class="align-center">
  302. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/swirlix.gif" alt="Swirlix" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/gligar.gif" alt="Gligar" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/murkrow.gif" alt="Murkrow" />
  303. </div>
  304.  
  305. <h2>SwirlGar</h2>
  306. <p>This is often considered one of the worst Little Cup metagames. Before the banning of Tangela and Yanma, Cotton Guard Calm Mind Swirlix had hardly been discovered and was almost never used, so Swirlix was limited to running either a powerful but predictable Belly Drum set or the much less threatening Calm Mind + 3 attack set. But as Cotton Guard Calm Mind Swirlix was popularized, its diversity meant that it was hard to know what set Swirlix was using. This was amplified by how difficult both the Belly Drum and especially the Cotton Guard + CM set were to counter or even check, and how very few checks were shared. Even with dedicated counters, it could be hard to be certain Swirlix wasn't sweeping. For instance, Meditite could handle the Calm Mind or Belly Drum sets with the combo of Fake Out and Bullet Punch, but it could do little in the face of the Cotton Guard Calm Mind set. Alternatively, Clear Smog Foongus, Calm Mind Spritzee, and Ponyta were used to stop the fearsome Cotton Guard Calm Mind set but would fall to a +6 Return with a bit of prior damage. Despite its obvious drawbacks, Koffing ended up seeing some usage due to its ability to hard check all common Swirlix variants. Prankster Haze Murkrow also helped to impede Swirlix's sweep, but only once. Otherwise, keeping hazards off the field to keep Magnemite's Sturdy preserved was often key to not losing to Swirlix, though this wasn't too difficult a task thanks to the presence of Defog Gligar, which made SturdyJuice Magnemite and Tirtouga difficult deal with in general. In fact, Gligar had everything desirable in a Pok&eacute;mon. It had great support capabilities as well as an incredible Swords Dance set, coupled with incredible bulk, good coverage between its STAB moves, the means to break through almost any defensive check except for physically defensive Slowpoke, and reliable recovery&mdash;all backed up by a lively Speed stat of 19. Gligar could fit on almost every team to no detriment; there was virtually never a reason to not use Gligar. Even Baton Pass variants, which used Swords Dance, usually alongside Meditite and Speed Boost Torchic, were extremely potent. Murkrow and Misdreavus were similarly diverse, though not to the same extreme, and they played critical roles in the metagame due to Speed tying Gligar at 19 Speed and their general high power. SwirlGar is where Murkrow's SubThief set was innovated, and this set made Murkrow very common and hard to reliable deal with. SwirlGar matches frequently came down to either winning a Speed tie or setting Swirlix up first.</p>
  307. <p>Gligar's versatility was deemed too much for the tier by the LC council, and it was promptly banned. The unreliability of Swirlix counters left the tier in a state where Swirlix's set meant you won or lost a match, and this negative influence pushed the LC council to ban the cotton candy monster. As arguably the best sweeper to ever grace LC, Swirlix is unlikely to be unbanned ever, unless substantial changes to the metagame occur. And even then, it's doubtful it would happen.</p>
  308.  
  309. <ul>
  310. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/swirlix.png" alt="Swirlix" title="Swirlix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gligar.png" alt="Gligar" title="Gligar" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/murkrow.png" alt="Murkrow" title="Murkrow" /></li>
  311. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/misdreavus.png" alt="Misdreavus" title="Misdreavus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/slowpoke.png" alt="Slowpoke" title="Slowpoke" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/meditite.png" alt="Meditite" title="Meditite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/foongus.png" alt="Foongus" title="Foongus" /></li>
  312. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/koffing.png" alt="Koffing" title="Koffing" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/scraggy.png" alt="Scraggy" title="Scraggy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/torchic.png" alt="Torchic" title="Torchic" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/corphish.png" alt="Corphish" title="Corphish" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ponyta.png" alt="Ponyta" title="Ponyta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/surskit.png" alt="Surskit" title="Surskit" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/elekid.png" alt="Elekid" title="Elekid" /></li>
  313. </ul>
  314.  
  315. <table class="align-center">
  316. <tr>
  317. <td>
  318. <input type="button" value="Offense Team" data-show-target="2" />
  319. </td>
  320. <td>
  321. <input type="button" value="Defense Team" data-show-target="3" />
  322. </td>
  323. </tr>
  324. </table>
  325.  
  326. <div data-target="2">
  327. <div class="importable">
  328. <p>Scraggy @ Eviolite<br />
  329. Ability: Shed Skin<br />
  330. Level: 5<br />
  331. EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe<br />
  332. Jolly Nature<br />
  333. - Knock Off<br />
  334. - Poison Jab<br />
  335. - Drain Punch<br />
  336. - Dragon Dance</p>
  337.  
  338. <br />
  339.  
  340. <p>Misdreavus @ Berry Juice<br />
  341. Ability: Levitate<br />
  342. Level: 5<br />
  343. EVs: 240 SpA / 240 Spe<br />
  344. Timid Nature<br />
  345. IVs: 1 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe<br />
  346. - Shadow Ball<br />
  347. - Nasty Plot<br />
  348. - Hidden Power Fighting<br />
  349. - Dazzling Gleam</p>
  350.  
  351. <br />
  352.  
  353. <p>Murkrow @ Berry Juice<br />
  354. Ability: Prankster<br />
  355. Level: 5<br />
  356. EVs: 36 HP / 76 Atk / 100 Def / 100 SpD / 188 Spe<br />
  357. Jolly Nature<br />
  358. - Substitute<br />
  359. - Thief<br />
  360. - Thunder Wave<br />
  361. - Brave Bird</p>
  362.  
  363. <br />
  364.  
  365. <p>Magnemite @ Choice Scarf<br />
  366. Ability: Analytic<br />
  367. Level: 5<br />
  368. EVs: 236 SpA / 236 Spe<br />
  369. Timid Nature<br />
  370. IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def<br />
  371. - Volt Switch<br />
  372. - Thunderbolt<br />
  373. - Flash Cannon<br />
  374. - Hidden Power Ice</p>
  375.  
  376. <br />
  377.  
  378. <p>Ponyta @ Eviolite<br />
  379. Ability: Flame Body<br />
  380. Level: 5<br />
  381. EVs: 36 HP / 156 Def / 76 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  382. Jolly Nature<br />
  383. - Flare Blitz<br />
  384. - Morning Sun<br />
  385. - Will-O-Wisp<br />
  386. - Wild Charge</p>
  387.  
  388. <br />
  389.  
  390. <p>Gligar @ Berry Juice<br />
  391. Ability: Hyper Cutter<br />
  392. Level: 5<br />
  393. EVs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe<br />
  394. Jolly Nature<br />
  395. - Acrobatics<br />
  396. - Swords Dance<br />
  397. - Substitute<br />
  398. - Earthquake</p>
  399. </div>
  400.  
  401. <p>This team exemplifies the issues of the era; Murkrow, Gligar, and Misdreavus all placed insane pressure on anything slower than them, and all shared a few checks. The team could quickly overwhelm anything that did not have a good method of revenge killing them. However, Scraggy is typically able to set up on the most common of revenge killers: Magnemite and Chinchou. The team itself also utilizes a sturdy revenge killer in Magnemite, which soft checked Swirlix and added more power to the team as whole. Ponyta is the dedicated Swirlix counter, though it could fairly easily lose to Belly Drum or HP Ground Swirlix. Overwhelmingly, the team won and lost at Team Preview.</p>
  402. <p>Replay: <a href="http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-lc-949" target="_blank">http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-lc-949</a></p>
  403. </div>
  404.  
  405. <div data-target="3">
  406. <div class="importable">
  407. <p>Gligar @ Berry Juice<br />
  408. Ability: Hyper Cutter<br />
  409. Level: 5<br />
  410. EVs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe<br />
  411. Jolly Nature<br />
  412. - Acrobatics<br />
  413. - Swords Dance<br />
  414. - Substitute<br />
  415. - Earthquake</p>
  416.  
  417. <br />
  418.  
  419. <p>Archen @ Eviolite<br />
  420. Ability: Defeatist<br />
  421. Level: 5<br />
  422. EVs: 236 HP / 20 Atk / 240 Def / 4 SpA<br />
  423. Careful Nature<br />
  424. - Hidden Power Ice<br />
  425. - Roost<br />
  426. - Acrobatics<br />
  427. - Stealth Rock</p>
  428.  
  429. <br />
  430.  
  431. <p>Foongus @ Eviolite<br />
  432. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  433. Level: 5<br />
  434. EVs: 196 HP / 156 Def / 156 SpD<br />
  435. Bold Nature<br />
  436. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  437. - Spore<br />
  438. - Giga Drain<br />
  439. - Sludge Bomb<br />
  440. - Clear Smog</p>
  441.  
  442. <br />
  443.  
  444. <p>Swirlix @ Berry Juice<br />
  445. Ability: Unburden<br />
  446. Level: 5<br />
  447. EVs: 212 Atk / 68 Def / 204 Spe<br />
  448. Adamant Nature<br />
  449. - Belly Drum<br />
  450. - Return<br />
  451. - Thief<br />
  452. - Play Rough</p>
  453.  
  454. <br />
  455.  
  456. <p>Misdreavus @ Eviolite<br />
  457. Ability: Levitate<br />
  458. Level: 5<br />
  459. EVs: 36 HP / 236 SpA / 236 Spe<br />
  460. Timid Nature<br />
  461. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  462. - Shadow Ball<br />
  463. - Nasty Plot<br />
  464. - Will-O-Wisp<br />
  465. - Thunderbolt</p>
  466.  
  467. <br />
  468.  
  469. <p>Timburr @ Eviolite<br />
  470. Ability: Guts<br />
  471. Level: 5<br />
  472. EVs: 76 HP / 116 Atk / 156 Def / 156 SpD<br />
  473. Adamant Nature<br />
  474. - Knock Off<br />
  475. - Ice Punch<br />
  476. - Mach Punch<br />
  477. - Drain Punch</p>
  478. </div>
  479.  
  480. <p>On the other hand, this team shows a more defensive approach to the metagame. Eviolite HP Ice Archen and Clear Smog Foongus are the key defensive Pok&eacute;mon on the team, handling some of the most overwhelming Pok&eacute;mon of the era: Gligar, Murkrow, and Swirlix. Foongus was an incredibly reliable counter to Swirlix, but even it could be beaten if it takes a Knock Off and the Swirlix has super effective coverage or runs Belly Drum. Timburr is another key defensive choice for the team, with its Mach Punch helping revenge kill weakened Murkrow, Magnemite, and Ice-types and its Ice Punch helping lure and KO Gligar. But due to its defensive nature, the team has many shortcomings: Meditite secured a KO almost every time it came in, SubThief Murkrow annoyed the team and required careful management, SD Gligar had to be speedily dealt with, and Ice-types forced the team to choose what to sack. Most of these threats could be overcome with either Misdreavus or Swirlix, but it was an uphill battle in this regard.</p>
  481. <p>Replay: <a href="http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-lc-285" target="_blank">http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-lc-285</a></p>
  482. </div>
  483.  
  484. <hr class="small" />
  485.  
  486. <div class="align-center">
  487. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/murkrow.gif" alt="Murkrow" /> <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/chinchou.gif" alt="Chinchou" /> <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/meditite.gif" alt="Meditite" /> <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/misdreavus.gif" alt="Misdreavus" /> <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/mienfoo.gif" alt="Mienfoo" />
  488. </div>
  489.  
  490. <h2>KrowTite</h2>
  491. <p>With the most absurdly limiting Pok&eacute;mon gone, the metagame began to see some growth. Murkrow and Meditite began to cement their places as the premier offensive Pok&eacute;mon of the tier and, with both being able to wallbreak so effectively, limited the viability of defensive teams substantially. Murkrow was extremely powerful with its mixed Life Orb set, which is often hailed as virtually impossible to switch into, but also often ran a Sub/Berry Juice/Thief set, popularised by dcae during SPL. Much of the metagame revolved around checking Murkrow, with RestTalk Chinchou becoming a staple on nearly as many teams as Murkrow itself and Spritzee rising in popularity. Berry Juice Munchlax also occasionally saw use during this era due to its ability to counter Life Orb Murkrow reliably and stay healthy by Recycling its item continually. Birdspam steadily gained popularity, with Murkrow being able to dispose of most answers to Flying-types effectively, clearing the path for Fletchling to sweep late-game. Meanwhile, Meditite benefited from no longer having to run Ice Punch to hit Gligar and had a range of other coverage moves to choose from to help against its counters. It was most effective with its Eviolite set, with Drain Punch providing longevity, although it also ran High Jump Kick with Life Orb to use its ridiculous Attack stat. Many other Pok&eacute;mon benefited from Gligar's absence, which allowed them to no longer run Ice-type coverage moves. Magnemite now had room to run Hidden Power Ground for Chinchou and could use Volt Switch much more freely, whilst Timburr now no longer had to choose between Ice Punch and Poison Jab. It was this metagame in which Pawniard began to really excel. Pawniard was one of the best Scarf users in the tier, due to its unrivaled ability to revenge kill Misdreavus and Murkrow and resist Fletchling's Acrobatics.</p>
  492. <p>Another notable playstyle in this era was hazard stacking. Since the premier Defog user had left the tier, Dwebble and Trubbish saw great rises in popularity, the latter of which could counter Mienfoo and Pawniard thanks to Sticky Hold and Recycle. Hazard removal was relatively uncommon at first, which quickly cemented Dwebble as one of the most threatening support Pok&eacute;mon in the game. Backed up by a fantastic spinblocker in Misdreavus and a threatening Defog deterrent in Defiant Pawniard, hazards were very difficult to remove, and this only made Meditite and Murkrow's wallbreaking prowess more potent. Mienfoo soon switched from running a slow pivot set to a faster Taunt variant to shut Dwebble leads down. As the metagame started adapting to Dwebble, Onix was sometimes used to outspeed and Taunt Dwebble while setting up Stealth Rock itself. Drilbur began seeing significant usage as a fantastic Rapid Spinner and often ran Swords Dance to heavily damage Misdreavus with Mold Breaker Earthquake, which many teams had trouble switching into. The general lack of Ground resistances except for frail Flying-types led to Diglett beginning to see some usage towards the end of KrowTite. Omanyte was discovered part way through this metagame and soon became fairly popular. Cottonee's offensive set began seeing use. Wynaut has never been as popular as it was in this era as well, thanks to the fact it could switch into Meditite with ease and remove it from the game. In fact, many Psychic-types were used in an attempt to neuter the threat of Meditite, including Slowpoke, Exeggcute and even Elgyem.</p>
  493. <p>Murkrow was banned by the LC council due to its insane raw power coupled with its ability to muscle past its few counters. Meditite's pure power and plethora of coverage options and ways to circumvent its counters made it an incredibly centralizing, and often overwhelming, force in the metagame; Meditite was banned by the LC council on account of its devastating traits. Swagger was banned during this meta as well, partially because Murkrow could run a very threatening yet uncompetitive Swagger set, which made it even harder to handle.</p>
  494.  
  495. <ul>
  496. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/murkrow.png" alt="Murkrow" title="Murkrow" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/meditite.png" alt="Meditite" title="Meditite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/misdreavus.png" alt="Misdreavus" title="Misdreavus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" /></li>
  497. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/dwebble.png" alt="Dwebble" title="Dwebble" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drilbur.png" alt="Drilbur" title="Drilbur" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/foongus.png" alt="Foongus" title="Foongus" /></li>
  498. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/omanyte.png" alt="Omanyte" title="Omanyte" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ponyta.png" alt="Ponyta" title="Ponyta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/slowpoke.png" alt="Slowpoke" title="Slowpoke" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt=" Ferroseed" title=" Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/diglett.png" alt="Diglett" title="Diglett" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/onix.png" alt="Onix" title="Onix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cottonee.png" alt="Cottonee" title="Cottonee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/munchlax.png" alt="Munchlax" title="Munchlax" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/honedge.png" alt="Honedge" title="Honedge" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/abra.png" alt="Abra" title="Abra" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/doduo.png" alt="Doduo" title="Doduo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/trubbish.png" alt="Trubbish" title="Trubbish" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/scraggy.png" alt="Scraggy" title="Scraggy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/croagunk.png" alt="Croagunk" title="Croagunk" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/torchic.png" alt="Torchic" title="Torchic" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vullaby.png" alt="Vullaby" title="Vullaby" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/wynaut.png" alt="Wynaut" title="Wynaut" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/corphish.png" alt="Corphish" title="Corphish" /></li>
  499. </ul>
  500.  
  501. <div class="align-center">
  502. <input type="button" value="Offense Team (Fitzy)" data-show-target="4" />
  503. </div>
  504.  
  505. <div data-target="4">
  506. <div class="importable">
  507. <p>Meditite @ Eviolite<br />
  508. Ability: Pure Power<br />
  509. Level: 5<br />
  510. EVs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 76 Def / 200 Spe<br />
  511. Jolly Nature<br />
  512. - High Jump Kick<br />
  513. - Zen Headbutt<br />
  514. - Thunder Punch<br />
  515. - Bullet Punch</p>
  516.  
  517. <br />
  518.  
  519. <p>Archen<br />
  520. Ability: Defeatist<br />
  521. Level: 5<br />
  522. EVs: 76 HP / 20 Atk / 76 Def / 76 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  523. Jolly Nature<br />
  524. - Defog<br />
  525. - Acrobatics<br />
  526. - Rock Slide<br />
  527. - Roost</p>
  528.  
  529. <br />
  530.  
  531. <p>Porygon @ Choice Scarf<br />
  532. Ability: Trace<br />
  533. Level: 5<br />
  534. EVs: 40 Def / 240 SpA / 200 Spe<br />
  535. Timid Nature<br />
  536. IVs: 1 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe<br />
  537. - Tri Attack<br />
  538. - Hidden Power Fighting<br />
  539. - Shadow Ball<br />
  540. - Thunderbolt</p>
  541.  
  542. <br />
  543.  
  544. <p>Misdreavus @ Berry Juice<br />
  545. Ability: Levitate<br />
  546. Level: 5<br />
  547. EVs: 36 HP / 236 SpA / 236 Spe<br />
  548. Timid Nature<br />
  549. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  550. - Will-O-Wisp<br />
  551. - Shadow Ball<br />
  552. - Dazzling Gleam<br />
  553. - Taunt</p>
  554.  
  555. <br />
  556.  
  557. <p>Tirtouga @ Berry Juice<br />
  558. Ability: Sturdy<br />
  559. Level: 5<br />
  560. EVs: 212 Atk / 12 Def / 76 SpD / 180 Spe<br />
  561. Adamant Nature<br />
  562. - Stealth Rock<br />
  563. - Aqua Jet<br />
  564. - Knock Off<br />
  565. - Stone Edge</p>
  566.  
  567. <br />
  568.  
  569. <p>Murkrow @ Life Orb<br />
  570. Ability: Insomnia<br />
  571. Level: 5<br />
  572. EVs: 236 Atk / 76 SpA / 188 Spe<br />
  573. Naive Nature<br />
  574. - Heat Wave<br />
  575. - Brave Bird<br />
  576. - Sucker Punch<br />
  577. - Hidden Power Grass</p>
  578. </div>
  579.  
  580. <p>Fitzy's team presented sheer wallbreaking power in the metagame dominated by Murkrow and Meditite. Meditite and Murkrow had terrific synergy offensively, with Meditite able to break through the Rock-types that were Murkrow's only real counters. Here, Meditite runs a standard offensive set, opting for Jolly over Adamant to outspeed other Meditite. With no Swirlix or Gligar, Meditite no longer had to run Life Orb Bullet Punch or Ice Punch and was free to run the set seen above. Murkrow is seen with an all-out attacker set, which was virtually impossible to switch into. Fitzy then brings several counters to the dominant Pok&eacute;mon in the metagame. Misdreavus was one of the best Meditite checks in the metagame, able to dissuade it from clicking its immensely powerful High Jump Kick as well as threatening to burn it. Archen and Tirtouga both act as Flying-type checks, checking most Murkrow variants and Fletchling. Two counters were usually needed due to the sheer wallbreaking power of Murkrow. Archen and Tirtouga help control the hazard game as well, which is vital in such an offensive metagame.</p>
  581. <p>Replay: <a href="http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-lc-2080" target="_blank">http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-lc-2080</a></p>
  582. </div>
  583.  
  584. <hr class="small" />
  585.  
  586. <div class="align-center">
  587. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/misdreavus.gif" alt="Misdreavus" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/mienfoo.gif" alt="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/fletchling.gif" alt="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/pawniard.gif" alt="Pawniard" />
  588. </div>
  589.  
  590. <h2>Misdreavus</h2>
  591. <p>Naturally when the two of most the potent wallbreakers in the LC tier had been banned, the metagame was able to evolve into a metagame where balance and even semi-stall could actually exist. Despite this, offense was still the most popular style, and Misdreavus, Fletchling, and Shell Smashers shone as the early dominating forces of the metagame. Yet teams were able to diversify in a meaningful way for the first time in Generation 6 LC; balance teams based on Porygon + Spritzee defensive cores, sun teams, Flying-type spam, various hyper offense teams, and hazard stacking teams were all staples of the tier. More importantly, none of these were head and shoulders above all the other options either, another first for the tier. Misdreavus fit onto most of these archetypes with minimal consequences, and this resulted in a plethora of metagame trends. Non-mixed Fletchling began to run enough bulk to survive a +2 Hidden Power Fighting after Stealth Rock damage; Scarf Pawniard was on an astounding number of teams; Porygon gained traction and gave balance a great answer to Misdreavus; Eviolite Houndour and Stunky saw decent usage as Pursuit trappers almost exclusively for Misdreavus; Abra was forced to run Shadow Ball; and Omanyte was usually forced to run Hydro Pump to OHKO Misdreavus. With Murkrow banned, Fletchling was the premier Flying-type of the era. In the early weeks of the new metagame, Doduo and Fletchling dominated the scene, tearing apart and sweeping teams as a fearsome core. However, this core became less popular fairly quickly, and Fletchling was left to break for itself. Yet Fletchling still dominated the metagame alongside Misdreavus, and often the two would act as sweeping pairs which pressured balance immensely, especially when the duo was used on VoltTurn. Yet despite Fletchling's omnipresence, sun teams grew to be one of the most memorable aspects of the era, since they happened to have the right balance of speed, power, and flexibility. mad0ka's Sun team was the most influential and one of the strongest teams to date. Between sun teams, Misdreavus, and Fletchling, balance again began to suffer and become overall less reliable once more. And as the shift away from balance progressed, Diglett made its debut as a menace. Here, the infamous Fletchling + Diglett core became a standard. Other hyper offense trends, such as the re-emergence of Zigzagoon hyper offense, hastened the decline of balance. As the era neared its end, sun teams, Fletchling, and Misdreavus exerted the most influence on the tier.</p>
  592. <p>Fletchling and Misdreavus were suspected as a result of their insane centralization, while sun was left alone to continue to shine until further notice. Misdreavus's ability to be simultaneously a great supportive asset and one of the best offense threats caused the LC council to ban the ghost, while Fletchling's general inability to handle its counters and its only moderate centralization was deemed to be balanced enough for LC.</p>
  593.  
  594. <ul>
  595. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/misdreavus.png" alt="Misdreavus" title="Misdreavus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" /></li>
  596. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drilbur.png" alt="Drilbur" title="Drilbur" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vulpix.png" alt="Vulpix" title="Vulpix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/bellsprout.png" alt="Bellsprout" title="Bellsprout" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/foongus.png" alt="Foongus" title="Foongus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/omanyte.png" alt="Omanyte" title="Omanyte" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ponyta.png" alt="Ponyta" title="Ponyta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/houndour.png" alt="Houndour" title="Houndour" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" /></li>
  597. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/diglett.png" alt="Diglett" title="Diglett" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vullaby.png" alt="Vullaby" title="Vullaby" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/croagunk.png" alt="Croagunk" title="Croagunk" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/abra.png" alt="Abra" title="Abra" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/trubbish.png" alt="Trubbish" title="Trubbish" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cottonee.png" alt="Cottonee" title="Cottonee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/dwebble.png" alt="Dwebble" title="Dwebble" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/onix.png" alt="Onix" title="Onix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snubbull.png" alt="Snubbull" title="Snubbull" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/lickitung.png" alt="Lickitung" title="Lickitung" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/doduo.png" alt="Doduo" title="Doduo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/scraggy.png" alt="Scraggy" title="Scraggy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/zigzagoon.png" alt="Zigzagoon" title="Zigzagoon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/torchic.png" alt="Torchic" title="Torchic" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/aipom.png" alt="Aipom" title="Aipom" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pineco.png" alt="Pineco" title="Pineco" /></li>
  598. </ul>
  599.  
  600. <table class="align-center">
  601. <tr>
  602. <td>
  603. <input type="button" value="Sun Team (mad0ka)" data-show-target="5" />
  604. </td>
  605. <td>
  606. <input type="button" value="Balance Team" data-show-target="6" />
  607. </td>
  608. </tr>
  609. </table>
  610.  
  611. <div data-target="5">
  612. <div class="importable">
  613. <p>Vulpix @ Heat Rock<br />
  614. Ability: Drought<br />
  615. Level: 5<br />
  616. EVs: 76 HP / 196 SpA / 236 Spe<br />
  617. Timid Nature<br />
  618. - Fire Blast<br />
  619. - Energy Ball<br />
  620. - Will-O-Wisp<br />
  621. - Quick Attack</p>
  622.  
  623. <br />
  624.  
  625. <p>Snubbull @ Berry Juice<br />
  626. Ability: Intimidate<br />
  627. Level: 5<br />
  628. EVs: 196 HP / 36 Atk / 200 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe<br />
  629. Careful Nature<br />
  630. - Play Rough<br />
  631. - Earthquake<br />
  632. - Thief<br />
  633. - Heal Bell</p>
  634.  
  635. <br />
  636.  
  637. <p>Archen @ Berry Juice<br />
  638. Ability: Defeatist<br />
  639. Level: 5<br />
  640. EVs: 180 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe<br />
  641. Jolly Nature<br />
  642. - Earthquake<br />
  643. - Rock Tomb<br />
  644. - Acrobatics<br />
  645. - Defog</p>
  646.  
  647. <br />
  648.  
  649. <p>Bellsprout @ Eviolite<br />
  650. Ability: Chlorophyll<br />
  651. Level: 5<br />
  652. EVs: 36 HP / 196 SpA / 36 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  653. Modest Nature<br />
  654. - Solar Beam<br />
  655. - Weather Ball<br />
  656. - Sleep Powder<br />
  657. - Sludge Bomb</p>
  658.  
  659. <br />
  660.  
  661. <p>Mienfoo @ Eviolite<br />
  662. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  663. Level: 5<br />
  664. EVs: 156 HP / 116 Def / 196 SpD<br />
  665. Impish Nature<br />
  666. - Stone Edge<br />
  667. - Knock Off<br />
  668. - Drain Punch<br />
  669. - U-turn</p>
  670.  
  671. <br />
  672.  
  673. <p>Pawniard @ Choice Scarf<br />
  674. Ability: Defiant<br />
  675. Level: 5<br />
  676. EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  677. Jolly Nature<br />
  678. - Stealth Rock<br />
  679. - Knock Off<br />
  680. - Iron Head<br />
  681. - Pursuit</p>
  682. </div>
  683.  
  684. <p>mad0ka's sun team is one of the most defining teams of this generation; the team brought back the playstyle in a meaningful way for the first time since TangMa, and it performed so well the entire ladder was set on spamming the team. The team took a powerful Chlorophyll sweeper in Bellsprout and dedicated a team to supporting its flaws, and singlehandedly forced every team to have a dedicated sun counter. With a dedicated Misdreavus counter, several ways to punish Fletchling, reliable Fighting counters, and continual offensive pressure, the team was hard to stop with its solid matchups across the board.</p>
  685. <p>RMT: <a href="/forums/threads/shine-bright-like-a-vulpix.3532658/" target="_blank">http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/shine-bright-like-a-vulpix.3532658/</a></p>
  686. </div>
  687.  
  688. <div data-target="6">
  689. <div class="importable">
  690. <p>Misdreavus @ Eviolite<br />
  691. Ability: Levitate<br />
  692. Level: 5<br />
  693. EVs: 240 SpA / 240 Spe<br />
  694. Timid Nature<br />
  695. IVs: 1 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe<br />
  696. - Shadow Ball<br />
  697. - Hidden Power Fighting<br />
  698. - Will-O-Wisp<br />
  699. - Nasty Plot</p>
  700.  
  701. <br />
  702.  
  703. <p>Porygon @ Eviolite<br />
  704. Ability: Trace<br />
  705. Level: 5<br />
  706. EVs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpD<br />
  707. Calm Nature<br />
  708. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  709. - Thunder Wave<br />
  710. - Shadow Ball<br />
  711. - Tri Attack<br />
  712. - Recover</p>
  713.  
  714. <br />
  715.  
  716. <p>Spritzee @ Eviolite<br />
  717. Ability: Aroma Veil<br />
  718. Level: 5<br />
  719. EVs: 212 HP / 196 Def / 12 SpA / 76 SpD / 12 Spe<br />
  720. Bold Nature<br />
  721. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  722. - Wish<br />
  723. - Protect<br />
  724. - Moonblast<br />
  725. - Aromatherapy</p>
  726.  
  727. <br />
  728.  
  729. <p>Pawniard @ Choice Scarf<br />
  730. Ability: Defiant<br />
  731. Level: 5<br />
  732. EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  733. Jolly Nature<br />
  734. - Knock Off<br />
  735. - Iron Head<br />
  736. - Pursuit<br />
  737. - Stealth Rock</p>
  738.  
  739. <br />
  740.  
  741. <p>Mienfoo @ Eviolite<br />
  742. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  743. Level: 5<br />
  744. EVs: 196 HP / 196 Def / 116 SpD<br />
  745. Careful Nature<br />
  746. - Knock Off<br />
  747. - U-turn<br />
  748. - Drain Punch<br />
  749. - Stone Edge</p>
  750.  
  751. <br />
  752.  
  753. <p>Fletchling<br />
  754. Ability: Gale Wings<br />
  755. Level: 5<br />
  756. EVs: 196 Atk / 252 Def / 36 SpA / 20 Spe<br />
  757. Naughty Nature<br />
  758. - Acrobatics<br />
  759. - U-turn<br />
  760. - Swords Dance<br />
  761. - Overheat</p>
  762. </div>
  763.  
  764. <p>The standard team in the Misdreavus metagame looked very similar to this. Porygon was extremely common in the metagame, and Scarf Pawniard was as well. These were occasionally doubled up as to allow for teams to aptly handle the increasingly more common Shell Smashers. Misdreavus was of course the Pok&eacute;mon of the metagame, with its deadly Nasty Plot set allowing it to break down walls extremely effectively. Fletchling was the second most influential metagame force, with its priority Acrobatics being useful for revenge killing the then-common Bellsprouts. It placed a ton of pressure on most teams in tandem with Misdreavus and could be detrimental to even prepared teams. Spritzee fended off almost all Fighting-types, and what it struggled with Porygon could handle well; its Aromatherapy proved to be rather useful with the plethora of Thunder Waves, Will-O-Wisps and Scald burns found in the tier at the time.</p>
  765. </div>
  766.  
  767. <hr class="small" />
  768.  
  769. <div class="align-center">
  770. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/mienfoo.gif" alt="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/fletchling.gif" alt="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/pawniard.gif" alt="Pawniard" />
  771. </div>
  772.  
  773. <h2>Post-Misdreavus</h2>
  774. <p>With the ban of Misdreavus, the metagame settled into a much more balanced and diverse state. Mienfoo benefitted from the loss of the tier's biggest burn spreader and rose to become the top Pok&eacute;mon in the metagame, where it would remain for the rest of the generation. Pawniard, too, got a boost from the lack of Misdreavus, as it could now afford to forgo a Choice Scarf and instead adopt a role as a support Pok&eacute;mon or Swords Dance sweeper. Fletchling was still prominent, and even more often coupled with Diglett. However, with the suspect had come a general metagame trend towards running more Fletchling checks on a team. This gave Pok&eacute;mon such as Archen and Chinchou a new place in the metagame.</p>
  775. <p>Another important aspect of the post-Misdreavus metagame was the rise of varied team types. In previous metagames, the only playstyles seen had been standard offense, sun in the TangMa and Misdreavus metagames, Spikes stacking teams, and only limited balance teams. With Misdreavus's ban, new archetypes that would define the generation began to appear. Setup sweepers were now much more viable, because they didn't need to be able to OHKO Misdreavus to be effective, and thus building around them became extremely common. Teams based around Belly Drum Zigzagoon became especially popular, often pairing Zigzagoon with a Memento user such as Cottonee or Diglett. Sticky Web teams, though they had existed since the beginning of the generation, saw a spike in usage, because the tier was no longer defined by a fast Pok&eacute;mon immune to Sticky Web. Even semi-stall teams were now possible, including GlassGlaceon's popular RMT Kaleidoscope.</p>
  776.  
  777. <ul>
  778. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" /></li>
  779. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ponyta.png" alt="Ponyta" title="Ponyta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drilbur.png" alt="Drilbur" title="Drilbur" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/abra.png" alt="Abra" title="Abra" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/diglett.png" alt="Diglett" title="Diglett" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/foongus.png" alt="Foongus" title="Foongus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snubbull.png" alt="Snubbull" title="Snubbull" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/omanyte.png" alt="Omanyte" title="Omanyte" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/staryu.png" alt="Staryu" title="Staryu" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/croagunk.png" alt="Croagunk" title="Croagunk" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gastly.png" alt="Gastly" title="Gastly" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" /></li>
  780. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vulpix.png" alt="Vulpix" title="Vulpix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/bellsprout.png" alt="Bellsprout" title="Bellsprout" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vullaby.png" alt="Vullaby" title="Vullaby" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/zigzagoon.png" alt="Zigzagoon" title="Zigzagoon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/surskit.png" alt="Surskit" title="Surskit" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/stunky.png" alt="Stunky" title="Stunky" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/houndour.png" alt="Houndour" title="Houndour" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cottonee.png" alt="Cottonee" title="Cottonee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/dwebble.png" alt="Dwebble" title="Dwebble" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/onix.png" alt="Onix" title="Onix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/aipom.png" alt="Aipom" title="Aipom" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gothita.png" alt="Gothita" title="Gothita" /></li>
  781. </ul>
  782.  
  783. <table class="align-center">
  784. <tr>
  785. <td>
  786. <input type="button" value="Fish and Stuff (zeriloa)" data-show-target="7" />
  787. </td>
  788. <td>
  789. <input type="button" value="Kaleidoscope (GlassGlaceon)" data-show-target="8" />
  790. </td>
  791. </tr>
  792. </table>
  793.  
  794. <div data-target="7">
  795. <div class="importable">
  796. <p>Pawniard @ Choice Scarf<br />
  797. Ability: Defiant<br />
  798. Level: 5<br />
  799. EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe<br />
  800. Jolly Nature<br />
  801. - Knock Off<br />
  802. - Pursuit<br />
  803. - Iron Head<br />
  804. - Stealth Rock</p>
  805.  
  806. <br />
  807.  
  808. <p>Carvanha @ Life Orb<br />
  809. Ability: Speed Boost<br />
  810. Level: 5<br />
  811. EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe<br />
  812. Adamant Nature<br />
  813. IVs: 0 HP<br />
  814. - Waterfall<br />
  815. - Crunch<br />
  816. - Zen Headbutt<br />
  817. - Protect</p>
  818.  
  819. <br />
  820.  
  821. <p>Mienfoo @ Eviolite<br />
  822. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  823. Level: 5<br />
  824. EVs: 156 HP / 116 Def / 196 SpD<br />
  825. Impish Nature<br />
  826. - Drain Punch<br />
  827. - U-turn<br />
  828. - Knock Off<br />
  829. - High Jump Kick</p>
  830.  
  831. <br />
  832.  
  833. <p>Ponyta @ Eviolite<br />
  834. Ability: Flame Body<br />
  835. Level: 5<br />
  836. EVs: 76 Atk / 236 Def / 196 Spe<br />
  837. Jolly Nature<br />
  838. - Flare Blitz<br />
  839. - Will-O-Wisp<br />
  840. - Toxic<br />
  841. - Morning Sun</p>
  842.  
  843. <br />
  844.  
  845. <p>Cottonee @ Eviolite<br />
  846. Ability: Prankster<br />
  847. Level: 5<br />
  848. EVs: 116 HP / 116 Def / 36 SpD / 228 Spe<br />
  849. Timid Nature<br />
  850. - Knock Off<br />
  851. - Dazzling Gleam<br />
  852. - Stun Spore<br />
  853. - Encore</p>
  854.  
  855. <br />
  856.  
  857. <p>Archen @ Berry Juice<br />
  858. Ability: Defeatist<br />
  859. Level: 5<br />
  860. EVs: 180 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe<br />
  861. Jolly Nature<br />
  862. - Knock Off<br />
  863. - Acrobatics<br />
  864. - Earthquake<br />
  865. - Defog</p>
  866. </div>
  867.  
  868. <p>This team appeared rather quickly after Misdreavus was banned, and it quickly became one of the better teams in the new metagame. The idea behind the team is use Knock Off on anything that would otherwise handle Carvanha, such as Foongus or Mienfoo. Then the game plan would be prevent anything from setting up or recovering up out of range of Carvanha so that it can clean up late-game. The team is especially notable for its amazing LC Open run, making it all the way to the semifinals with ease. Moreover, the team marked the start of some new metagame trends, such as utilizing Ponyta and Carvanha and High Jump Kick in non-Scarf Mienfoo.</p>
  869. <p>RMT: <a href="/forums/threads/fish-and-stuff.3518628/" target="_blank">http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/fish-and-stuff.3518628/</a></p>
  870. </div>
  871.  
  872. <div data-target="8">
  873. <div class="importable">
  874. <p>Pawniard (M) @ Eviolite<br />
  875. Ability: Defiant<br />
  876. Level: 5<br />
  877. Shiny: Yes<br />
  878. EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  879. Jolly Nature<br />
  880. - Swords Dance<br />
  881. - Sucker Punch<br />
  882. - Knock Off<br />
  883. - Iron Head</p>
  884.  
  885. <br />
  886.  
  887. <p>Spritzee (F) @ Eviolite<br />
  888. Ability: Aroma Veil<br />
  889. Level: 5<br />
  890. EVs: 212 HP / 196 Def / 12 SpA / 76 SpD / 12 Spe<br />
  891. Bold Nature<br />
  892. - Wish<br />
  893. - Protect<br />
  894. - Moonblast<br />
  895. - Aromatherapy</p>
  896.  
  897. <br />
  898.  
  899. <p>Hippopotas (F) @ Eviolite<br />
  900. Ability: Sand Stream<br />
  901. Level: 5<br />
  902. EVs: 132 HP / 20 Atk / 212 Def / 100 SpD / 20 Spe<br />
  903. Impish Nature<br />
  904. - Slack Off<br />
  905. - Earthquake<br />
  906. - Whirlwind<br />
  907. - Stealth Rock</p>
  908.  
  909. <br />
  910.  
  911. <p>Vullaby @ Eviolite<br />
  912. Ability: Overcoat<br />
  913. Level: 5<br />
  914. EVs: 116 HP / 156 Def / 156 SpD / 36 Spe<br />
  915. Careful Nature<br />
  916. - Roost<br />
  917. - Defog<br />
  918. - Knock Off<br />
  919. - Brave Bird</p>
  920.  
  921. <br />
  922.  
  923. <p>Mienfoo (M) @ Eviolite<br />
  924. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  925. Level: 5<br />
  926. EVs: 196 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe<br />
  927. Jolly Nature<br />
  928. - Stone Edge<br />
  929. - Drain Punch<br />
  930. - Knock Off<br />
  931. - U-turn</p>
  932.  
  933. <br />
  934.  
  935. <p>Ferroseed @ Eviolite<br />
  936. Ability: Iron Barbs<br />
  937. Level: 5<br />
  938. EVs: 84 HP / 36 Atk / 188 Def / 148 SpD / 36 Spe<br />
  939. Careful Nature<br />
  940. - Spikes<br />
  941. - Thunder Wave<br />
  942. - Bullet Seed<br />
  943. - Leech Seed</p>
  944. </div>
  945.  
  946. <p>GlassGlaceon's Kaleidoscope marks several large shifts in metagame trends. With ban of Missy, Pawniard started to run sets besides the standard Choice Scarf. This team opts to run an Eviolite Pawniard with Swords Dance, a set that was almost never seen in the Misdreavus-dominated metagame. This is supported with an extremely bulky backbone that provides reliable hazard support to slowly wear down the opposition. This is largely allowed as bulky teams could sometimes afford to forgo Porygon now, and the team does so in favor of Hippopotas. Hippopotas has a rather important role in fending off Magnemite and Croagunk who would otherwise be extremely threatening to the team and would otherwise prevent a dual Steel core from excelling.</p>
  947. <p>RMT: <a href="/forums/threads/kaleidoscope.3519062/" target="_blank">http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/kaleidoscope.3519062/</a></p>
  948. </div>
  949.  
  950. <hr />
  951.  
  952. <div class="align-center">
  953. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/mienfoo.gif" alt="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/pawniard.gif" alt="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/timburr.gif" alt="Timburr" /> <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/abra.gif" alt="Abra" />
  954. </div>
  955.  
  956. <h2>Early ORAS</h2>
  957. <p>The metagame shifts that ORAS brought Little Cup were relatively tame compared to those of many other tiers, but they still presented some interesting new options. At the forefront were Snivy, Skrelp, and Pancham, which obtained Contrary, Adaptability, and Knock Off, respectively. Snivy immediately became, and remains, a potent sweeper against bulkier builds with Contrary Leaf Storm allowing it to break past slower teams once Foongus and Vullaby have been removed, though it struggles to get around revenge killers when facing offense. Skrelp quickly became popular for its ability to check some of the tier's most important threats in Fighting- and Fire-types while still being extremely difficult to switch into. Pancham was used as a Parting Shot pivot with its newfound ability to cripple a variety of switch-ins with Knock Off or as a Swords Dance wallbreaker due to its excellent coverage; however, it soon fell out of favor because Mienfoo and Timburr were more useful against a wider variety of matchups. A few other Pok&eacute;mon benefited slightly, such as Ferroseed gaining Knock Off and Amaura gaining Snow Warning, but these were relatively minor. Gothita gained Trick, which didn't significantly improve it but did help bring it to the attention of the LC community. As a result, some Gothita-weak Pok&eacute;mon such as Foongus and defensive Cottonee suffered somewhat, although those with significant offensive presence, such as Skrelp, remained prominent, as the main Gothita variant, Scarf Gothita, was unable to switch in on them.</p>
  958. <p>Bulky offense, especially built around VoltTurn cores, was soon cemented as the dominant archetype. Timburr grew in popularity to become arguably the best sweeper at the time and was often paired with Pursuit Stunky to eliminate Ghost- and Psychic-types. Ponyta was often listed among the top threats. Porygon + Sprizee and Ferroseed + Spritzee were considered two of the toughest cores to break. The bulkier metagame meant that Fletchling was on the decline; meanwhile, offensive Vullaby was beginning to gain popularity as the bird of choice. Sun and Spikes stacking were no longer the dominant archetypes they once were, although Tricking's Spikes-stack VoltTurn team brought a temporary resurgence to Dwebble. Taking advantage of how slow many teams were, wallbreakers such as Gastly, Snivy, Swords Dance Pawniard, and Aipom steadily rose in viability. However, the Pok&eacute;mon that took advantage of these trends the most was Diglett.</p>
  959.  
  960. <ul>
  961. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/abra.png" alt="Abra" title="Abra" /></li>
  962. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ponyta.png" alt="Ponyta" title="Ponyta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/diglett.png" alt="Diglett" title="Diglett" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gastly.png" alt="Gastly" title="Gastly" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/skrelp.png" alt="Skrelp" title="Skrelp" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drilbur.png" alt="Drilbur" title="Drilbur" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/croagunk.png" alt="Croagunk" title="Croagunk" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/staryu.png" alt="Staryu" title="Staryu" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pumpkaboo-super.png" alt="Pumpkaboo-XL" title="Pumpkaboo-XL" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pancham.png" alt="Pancham" title="Pancham" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/foongus.png" alt="Foongus" title="Foongus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gothita.png" alt="Gothita" title="Gothita" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/omanyte.png" alt="Omanyte" title="Omanyte" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/surskit.png" alt="Surskit" title="Surskit" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snubbull.png" alt="Snubbull" title="Snubbull" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snivy.png" alt="Snivy" title="Snivy" /></li>
  963. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/stunky.png" alt="Stunky" title="Stunky" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/houndour.png" alt="Houndour" title="Houndour" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/zigzagoon.png" alt="Zigzagoon" title="Zigzagoon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vulpix.png" alt="Vulpix" title="Vulpix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/bellsprout.png" alt="Bellsprout" title="Bellsprout" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cottonee.png" alt="Cottonee" title="Cottonee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/dwebble.png" alt="Dwebble" title="Dwebble" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/elekid.png" alt="Elekid" title="Elekid" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/aipom.png" alt="Aipom" title="Aipom" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/onix.png" alt="Onix" title="Onix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/shellder.png" alt="Shellder" title="Shellder" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/corphish.png" alt="Corphish" title="Corphish" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/torchic.png" alt="Torchic" title="Torchic" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cranidos.png" alt="Cranidos" title="Cranidos" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/scraggy.png" alt="Scraggy" title="Scraggy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/amaura.png" alt="Amaura" title="Amaura" /></li>
  964. </ul>
  965.  
  966. <div class="align-center">
  967. <input type="button" value="Offense Team" data-show-target="9" />
  968. </div>
  969.  
  970. <div data-target="9">
  971. <div class="importable">
  972. <p>Fletchling<br />
  973. Ability: Gale Wings<br />
  974. Level: 5<br />
  975. EVs: 196 Atk / 92 Def / 36 SpA / 180 Spe<br />
  976. Naughty Nature<br />
  977. - Acrobatics<br />
  978. - Swords Dance<br />
  979. - Overheat<br />
  980. - U-turn</p>
  981.  
  982. <br />
  983.  
  984. <p>Chinchou @ Eviolite<br />
  985. Ability: Volt Absorb<br />
  986. Level: 5<br />
  987. EVs: 76 HP / 212 Def / 148 SpA / 60 Spe<br />
  988. Bold Nature<br />
  989. IVs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD<br />
  990. - Scald<br />
  991. - Volt Switch<br />
  992. - Heal Bell<br />
  993. - Hidden Power Ground</p>
  994.  
  995. <br />
  996.  
  997. <p>Gastly @ Life Orb<br />
  998. Ability: Levitate<br />
  999. Level: 5<br />
  1000. EVs: 200 SpA / 80 SpD / 200 Spe<br />
  1001. Timid Nature<br />
  1002. IVs: 1 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe<br />
  1003. - Substitute<br />
  1004. - Shadow Ball<br />
  1005. - Sludge Bomb<br />
  1006. - Hidden Power Fighting</p>
  1007.  
  1008. <br />
  1009.  
  1010. <p>Gothita @ Choice Scarf<br />
  1011. Ability: Shadow Tag<br />
  1012. Level: 5<br />
  1013. EVs: 240 SpA / 240 Spe<br />
  1014. Modest Nature<br />
  1015. IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe<br />
  1016. - Trick<br />
  1017. - Psychic<br />
  1018. - Hidden Power Fire<br />
  1019. - Thunderbolt</p>
  1020.  
  1021. <br />
  1022.  
  1023. <p>Pancham @ Eviolite<br />
  1024. Ability: Mold Breaker<br />
  1025. Level: 5<br />
  1026. EVs: 180 Atk / 100 Def / 212 SpD / 12 Spe<br />
  1027. Adamant Nature<br />
  1028. - Drain Punch<br />
  1029. - Knock Off<br />
  1030. - Parting Shot<br />
  1031. - Gunk Shot</p>
  1032.  
  1033. <br />
  1034.  
  1035. <p>Pawniard @ Eviolite<br />
  1036. Ability: Defiant<br />
  1037. Level: 5<br />
  1038. EVs: 156 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  1039. Adamant Nature<br />
  1040. - Knock Off<br />
  1041. - Iron Head<br />
  1042. - Sucker Punch<br />
  1043. - Swords Dance</p>
  1044. </div>
  1045.  
  1046. <p>The early stages of ORAS were defined by the new abilities and expanded movepools gifted to several LC Pok&eacute;mon. Gothita spiked in usage with its access to Trick peaking everyone's interest, and this is one of the most successful teams demonstrating this. The team utilizes Gothita and the newly extremely viable wallbreaker Gastly and supports these through a VoltTurn core. With Pancham becoming viable after its access to Drain Punch, the team includes it for its exclusive Parting Shot. After a Parting Shot, Spritzee is unable to break Gastly's Substitutes, and Gothita was able to switch into a -1 Sludge Bomb from Foongus in a pinch. Parting Shot gave the team a little extra bulk, which in a metagame that revolved around breaking down bulky teams with, meant all the difference for the team's frail offensive core. Chinchou and Fletchling also lured in many other Gothita victims, such as Ferroseed, Archen, and Onix, though Gastly could also take advantage of these opportunities as well. The team took advantage of the slower teams of the previous metagame and secured a quality matchup across the board with some of the new toys in LC.</p>
  1047. </div>
  1048.  
  1049. <hr class="small" />
  1050.  
  1051. <div class="align-center">
  1052. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/mienfoo.gif" alt="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/pawniard.gif" alt="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/porygon.gif" alt="Porygon" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/diglett.gif" alt="Diglett" />
  1053. </div>
  1054.  
  1055. <h2>Rise of Trappers</h2>
  1056. <p>While trappers were somewhat useful in the KrowTite era, the only one seen often was Wynaut, which swiftly fell out of favor once Meditite was banned. In its place, Diglett and Gothita began to see usage as trappers in the Misdreavus metagame, often used alongside Fletchling and Zigzagoon, in Diglett's case, and alongside Timburr and Carvanha, in Gothita's. After Misdreavus's ban, both trappers further rose in viability. It took until the metagame had settled after the release of ORAS, though, for the trappers to truly shine. With the release of ORAS, Ponyta, Croagunk, Skrelp, and Chinchou's usage rocketed up, all of which Diglett could trap and remove, and therefore Diglett saw a spike in usage alongside them. Before, Diglett's role was limited to trapping and removing counters from specific sweeper partners, but with such a wide number of Pok&eacute;mon that Diglett could trap now everywhere, Diglett started fitting onto teams as a glue Pok&eacute;mon. VoltTurn teams and even bulky balance teams were now utilizing the mole, which had been limited previously entirely to hyper offense. Gothita also became more viable, though not nearly as easy to fit on teams as Diglett. Gothita was able to trap irksome Pok&eacute;mon for nearly every sweeper in Little Cup, using unique coverage moves depending on what a team needed eliminated. It was successfully paired with everything ranging from Fletchling to Pawniard to Omantye to Carvanha to Scraggy to Timburr. Ultimately, Gothita remained less common than Diglett yet far more viable and dangerous than it was in the Misdreavus meta. Diglett was supected twice, and Gothita was suspected once along with it; however, though dominant, neither Pok&eacute;mon has ever been deemed too much for LC to handle. Simultaneous with the meteoric rise of Diglett and Gothita, full Baton Pass teams also became notable. Originally, these teams were deemed gimmicks, but as better teams using it were developed, Baton Pass as a whole was taken more seriously. In fact, between the two suspects of Diglett, Baton Pass itself was the suspect of choice for the LC community at large, though it was deemed competitive enough to remain in LC.</p>
  1057.  
  1058. <ul>
  1059. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/diglett.png" alt="Diglett" title="Diglett" /></li>
  1060. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/abra.png" alt="Abra" title="Abra" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ponyta.png" alt="Ponyta" title="Ponyta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gastly.png" alt="Gastly" title="Gastly" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gastly.png" alt="Gastly" title="Gastly" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snivy.png" alt="Snivy" title="Snivy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pumpkaboo-super.png" alt="Pumpkaboo-XL" title="Pumpkaboo-XL" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drilbur.png" alt="Drilbur" title="Drilbur" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/staryu.png" alt="Staryu" title="Staryu" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gothita.png" alt="Gothita" title="Gothita" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/omanyte.png" alt="Omanyte" title="Omanyte" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snubbull.png" alt="Snubbull" title="Snubbull" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vullaby.png" alt="Vullaby" title="Vullaby" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/foongus.png" alt="Foongus" title="Foongus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/surskit.png" alt="Surskit" title="Surskit" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" /></li>
  1061. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/skrelp.png" alt="Skrelp" title="Skrelp" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/torchic.png" alt="Torchic" title="Torchic" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/corphish.png" alt="Corphish" title="Corphish" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/shellder.png" alt="Shellder" title="Shellder" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drifloon.png" alt="Drifloon" title="Drifloon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/croagunk.png" alt="Croagunk" title="Croagunk" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/stunky.png" alt="Stunky" title="Stunky" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/zigzagoon.png" alt="Zigzagoon" title="Zigzagoon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/houndour.png" alt="Houndour" title="Houndour" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/aipom.png" alt="Aipom" title="Aipom" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cottonee.png" alt="Cottonee" title="Cottonee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/dwebble.png" alt="Dwebble" title="Dwebble" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/honedge.png" alt="Honedge" title="Honedge" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/elekid.png" alt="Elekid" title="Elekid" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/scraggy.png" alt="Scraggy" title="Scraggy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/hippopotas.png" alt="Hippopotas" title="Hippopotas" /></li>
  1062. </ul>
  1063.  
  1064. <table class="align-center">
  1065. <tr>
  1066. <td>
  1067. <input type="button" value="Diglett VoltTurn (Cydrolic)" data-show-target="10" />
  1068. </td>
  1069. <td>
  1070. <input type="button" value="Vullaby Offense (ZoroarkForever)" data-show-target="11" />
  1071. </td>
  1072. </tr>
  1073. </table>
  1074.  
  1075. <div data-target="10">
  1076. <div class="importable">
  1077. <p>Mienfoo @ Eviolite<br />
  1078. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  1079. Level: 5<br />
  1080. EVs: 156 HP / 116 Def / 196 SpD<br />
  1081. Impish Nature<br />
  1082. IVs: 28 Spe<br />
  1083. - Knock Off<br />
  1084. - U-turn<br />
  1085. - Taunt<br />
  1086. - Drain Punch</p>
  1087.  
  1088. <br />
  1089.  
  1090. <p>Larvesta @ Eviolite<br />
  1091. Ability: Flame Body<br />
  1092. Level: 5<br />
  1093. EVs: 76 HP / 236 Def / 156 SpD<br />
  1094. Impish Nature<br />
  1095. - Flare Blitz<br />
  1096. - U-turn<br />
  1097. - Morning Sun<br />
  1098. - Will-O-Wisp</p>
  1099.  
  1100. <br />
  1101.  
  1102. <p>Fletchling<br />
  1103. Ability: Gale Wings<br />
  1104. Level: 5<br />
  1105. EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 52 SpD / 180 Spe<br />
  1106. Adamant Nature<br />
  1107. - Acrobatics<br />
  1108. - Swords Dance<br />
  1109. - U-turn<br />
  1110. - Taunt</p>
  1111.  
  1112. <br />
  1113.  
  1114. <p>Diglett @ Life Orb<br />
  1115. Ability: Arena Trap<br />
  1116. Level: 5<br />
  1117. EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe<br />
  1118. Jolly Nature<br />
  1119. - Earthquake<br />
  1120. - Rock Slide<br />
  1121. - Sucker Punch<br />
  1122. - Substitute</p>
  1123.  
  1124. <br />
  1125.  
  1126. <p>Staryu @ Eviolite<br />
  1127. Ability: Natural Cure<br />
  1128. Level: 5<br />
  1129. EVs: 116 HP / 156 Def / 236 Spe<br />
  1130. Timid Nature<br />
  1131. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  1132. - Scald<br />
  1133. - Recover<br />
  1134. - Rapid Spin<br />
  1135. - Psychic / Thunder Wave</p>
  1136.  
  1137. <br />
  1138.  
  1139. <p>Pawniard @ Berry Juice<br />
  1140. Ability: Defiant<br />
  1141. Level: 5<br />
  1142. EVs: 116 Def / 196 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  1143. Jolly Nature<br />
  1144. - Knock Off<br />
  1145. - Stealth Rock<br />
  1146. - Sucker Punch<br />
  1147. - Iron Head</p>
  1148. </div>
  1149.  
  1150. <p>Cydrolic's Diglett VoltTurn team was built when trappers were finally starting to be fully appreciated. Teams much like this dominating the ladder and even made a scene in in several tours, most notably in LCPL. The general aim is to use Diglett as a glue Pok&eacute;mon for the team, trapping almost everything annoying to it. This is notably where Flying-types and Diglett first rocketed to the top as the brainless core of LC, this team opting for most known variation: FletchDig. Mienfoo, Larvesta, and Fletchling were able to spam U-turns and get many of their counters, such as Ponyta, opposing Larvesta, Staryu, Onix, trapped in the process. This is the most famous trapping team of all time, and many permutations of it continue to exist in the final stages of ORAS LC.</p>
  1151. <p>RMT: <a href="/forums/threads/diglett-voltturn-by-cydrolic.3585624/" target="_blank">http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/diglett-voltturn-by-cydrolic.3585624/</a></p>
  1152. </div>
  1153.  
  1154. <div data-target="11">
  1155. <div class="importable">
  1156. <p>Vullaby @ Eviolite<br />
  1157. Ability: Overcoat<br />
  1158. Level: 5<br />
  1159. EVs: 236 Atk / 76 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  1160. Adamant Nature<br />
  1161. - Brave Bird<br />
  1162. - Knock Off<br />
  1163. - U-turn<br />
  1164. - Roost</p>
  1165.  
  1166. <br />
  1167.  
  1168. <p>Mienfoo @ Eviolite<br />
  1169. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  1170. Level: 5<br />
  1171. EVs: 156 HP / 196 Def / 116 SpD<br />
  1172. Careful Nature<br />
  1173. - Drain Punch<br />
  1174. - Knock Off<br />
  1175. - U-turn<br />
  1176. - High Jump Kick</p>
  1177.  
  1178. <br />
  1179.  
  1180. <p>Magnemite @ Choice Scarf<br />
  1181. Ability: Analytic<br />
  1182. Level: 5<br />
  1183. EVs: 240 SpA / 236 Spe<br />
  1184. Modest Nature<br />
  1185. IVs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD<br />
  1186. - Thunderbolt<br />
  1187. - Flash Cannon<br />
  1188. - Volt Switch<br />
  1189. - Hidden Power Ground</p>
  1190.  
  1191. <br />
  1192.  
  1193. <p>Diglett @ Life Orb<br />
  1194. Ability: Arena Trap<br />
  1195. Level: 5<br />
  1196. EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe<br />
  1197. Jolly Nature<br />
  1198. - Earthquake<br />
  1199. - Rock Slide<br />
  1200. - Substitute<br />
  1201. - Stealth Rock</p>
  1202.  
  1203. <br />
  1204.  
  1205. <p>Cottonee @ Eviolite<br />
  1206. Ability: Prankster<br />
  1207. Level: 5<br />
  1208. EVs: 36 HP / 120 Def / 64 SpA / 40 SpD / 232 Spe<br />
  1209. Timid Nature<br />
  1210. - Dazzling Gleam<br />
  1211. - Hidden Power Fighting<br />
  1212. - Knock Off<br />
  1213. - Encore</p>
  1214.  
  1215. <br />
  1216.  
  1217. <p>Staryu @ Eviolite<br />
  1218. Ability: Natural Cure<br />
  1219. Level: 5<br />
  1220. EVs: 116 HP / 156 Def / 236 Spe<br />
  1221. Timid Nature<br />
  1222. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  1223. - Scald<br />
  1224. - Ice Beam<br />
  1225. - Rapid Spin<br />
  1226. - Recover</p>
  1227. </div>
  1228.  
  1229. <p>While not wholly different than the team above, ZoroarkForever's Vullaby offense team shows how deeply trappers affected the metagame. This is another take on Flying-types + Diglett and is rather threatening to even prepared teams. Vulaby's great natural bulk, offensive pressure, and ability to force switches made it rather easy for Diglett to get in on what it needs to trap without too much risk to Vullaby. Moreover, the most common ways of punishing Diglett could be circumvented fairly easily between Cottonee's Encore, Scarf Magnemite's strong attacks, and Staryu's decent bulk and typing. Teams like this were the primary cause of the first round of suspect tests on trapping.</p>
  1230. </div>
  1231.  
  1232. <hr class="small" />
  1233.  
  1234. <div class="align-center">
  1235. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/mienfoo.gif" alt="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/diglett.gif" alt="Diglett" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/drifloon.gif" alt="Drifloon" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/pawniard.gif" alt="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/porygon.gif" alt="Porygon" />
  1236. </div>
  1237.  
  1238. <h2>Rise of Drifloon</h2>
  1239. <p>Since the Missy meta, Drifloon had barely seen usage and was nothing more than an irksome foe. However, during SPL 7, prominent LCers began to use a new Drifloon set. Its usage in SPL 7 showcased Drifloon's potential to beat almost the entire metagame through Will-O-Wisp to cripple physical attackers, Recycle to recover health while opponents were worn down from their burns, and Unburden to give it the potential to outspeed the entire metagame after consuming Berry Juice. With the discovery of this new set, and as more and more players began to use Drifloon, the meta became centralized around it. To the frustration of many, Drifloon now could dispose of most Flying-type counters and caused Pok&eacute;mon such as Archen to fall out of favor. Instead, Ponyta was used to handle Drifloon and skyrocketed up in popularity once more, with Berry Juice Magnemite and Chinchou following suite, and more obscure Pok&eacute;mon began to be used just for their ability to counter Drifloon, such as Hyper Voice Amaura and Boomburst Taillow. Many of the relatively few Pok&eacute;mon which could handle Drifloon were susceptible to Diglett, making this an extremely effective pair. Trapinch became somewhat relevant, being infrequently used in Diglett's place for its ability to trap Magnemite reliably.</p>
  1240. <p>Responding to a growing anti-Drifloon sentiment, LC decided to suspect and, subsequently, ban Drifloon. The ban was by far the most controversial of the sixth generation, as many believed Drifloon should be given more time for the metagame to settle around it, while others still blamed Diglett for being broken and considered it the real cause of the problem.</p>
  1241.  
  1242. <ul>
  1243. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/diglett.png" alt="Diglett" title="Diglett" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drifloon.png" alt="Drifloon" title="Drifloon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" /></li>
  1244. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/abra.png" alt="Abra" title="Abra" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/foongus.png" alt="Foongus" title="Foongus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gastly.png" alt="Gastly" title="Gastly" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vullaby.png" alt="Vullaby" title="Vullaby" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snivy.png" alt="Snivy" title="Snivy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/omanyte.png" alt="Omanyte" title="Omanyte" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/shellder.png" alt="Shellder" title="Shellder" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snubbull.png" alt="Snubbull" title="Snubbull" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/staryu.png" alt="Staryu" title="Staryu" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gothita.png" alt="Gothita" title="Gothita" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drilbur.png" alt="Drilbur" title="Drilbur" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" /></li>
  1245. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/onix.png" alt="Onix" title="Onix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/croagunk.png" alt="Croagunk" title="Croagunk" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/corphish.png" alt="Corphish" title="Corphish" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/aipom.png" alt="Aipom" title="Aipom" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/torchic.png" alt="Torchic" title="Torchic" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cottonee.png" alt="Cottonee" title="Cottonee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/surskit.png" alt="Surskit" title="Surskit" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/skrelp.png" alt="Skrelp" title="Skrelp" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/elekid.png" alt="Elekid" title="Elekid" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/amaura.png" alt="Amaura" title="Amaura" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/houndour.png" alt="Houndour" title="Houndour" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/scraggy.png" alt="Scraggy" title="Scraggy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/honedge.png" alt="Honedge" title="Honedge" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/dwebble.png" alt="Dwebble" title="Dwebble" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cranidos.png" alt="Cranidos" title="Cranidos" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/slowpoke.png" alt="Slowpoke" title="Slowpoke" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/hippopotas.png" alt="Hippopotas" title="Hippopotas" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/trapinch.png" alt="Trapinch" title="Trapinch" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/taillow.png" alt="Taillow" title="Taillow" /></li>
  1246. </ul>
  1247.  
  1248. <div class="align-center">
  1249. <input type="button" value="Drifloon Hyper Offense Team" data-show-target="12" />
  1250. </div>
  1251.  
  1252. <div data-target="12">
  1253. <div class="importable">
  1254. <p>Diglett @ Life Orb<br />
  1255. Ability: Arena Trap<br />
  1256. Level: 5<br />
  1257. EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe<br />
  1258. Jolly Nature<br />
  1259. - Earthquake<br />
  1260. - Rock Slide<br />
  1261. - Substitute<br />
  1262. - Sucker Punch</p>
  1263.  
  1264. <br />
  1265.  
  1266. <p>Drifloon @ Berry Juice<br />
  1267. Ability: Unburden<br />
  1268. Level: 5<br />
  1269. EVs: 36 HP / 36 Atk / 84 Def / 84 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  1270. Jolly Nature<br />
  1271. - Recycle<br />
  1272. - Will-O-Wisp<br />
  1273. - Acrobatics<br />
  1274. - Substitute</p>
  1275.  
  1276. <br />
  1277.  
  1278. <p>Cottonee @ Eviolite<br />
  1279. Ability: Prankster<br />
  1280. Level: 5<br />
  1281. EVs: 116 HP / 196 Def / 196 SpD<br />
  1282. Bold Nature<br />
  1283. - Encore<br />
  1284. - Knock Off<br />
  1285. - Giga Drain<br />
  1286. - Hidden Power Fighting</p>
  1287.  
  1288. <br />
  1289.  
  1290. <p>Mienfoo @ Eviolite<br />
  1291. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  1292. Level: 5<br />
  1293. EVs: 196 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe<br />
  1294. Jolly Nature<br />
  1295. - Drain Punch<br />
  1296. - Knock Off<br />
  1297. - U-turn<br />
  1298. - Taunt</p>
  1299.  
  1300. <br />
  1301.  
  1302. <p>Magnemite @ Choice Scarf<br />
  1303. Ability: Analytic<br />
  1304. Level: 5<br />
  1305. EVs: 240 SpA / 236 Spe<br />
  1306. Timid Nature<br />
  1307. - Volt Switch<br />
  1308. - Flash Cannon<br />
  1309. - Thunderbolt<br />
  1310. - Hidden Power Ground</p>
  1311.  
  1312. <br />
  1313.  
  1314. <p>Shellder @ Eviolite<br />
  1315. Ability: Skill Link<br />
  1316. Level: 5<br />
  1317. EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe<br />
  1318. Adamant Nature<br />
  1319. - Shell Smash<br />
  1320. - Rock Blast<br />
  1321. - Icicle Spear<br />
  1322. - Ice Shard</p>
  1323. </div>
  1324.  
  1325. <p>This is the epitome of a standard Drifloon hyper offense team. Diglett and Drifloon created a monstrous core that could eliminate a massive number of threats and run through a majority of the metagame. Cottonee was an essential Pok&eacute;mon in this metagame, as it could Encore an opposing Drifloon into a move, limiting its capability to pull off a defensive sweep. Mienfoo is the best Fighting-type in the current meta, it runs Taunt to stop opposing Drifloon and has the ability to Knock Off a Berry Juice, preventing opposing Drifloon from stalling. Magnemite is running its Choice Scarf set, allowing it to provide momentum to the team; however, it has to be wary of opposing Diglett, as locking itself into an Electric move on a Diglett switch-in is an easy way to lose your Volt Switcher. Shellder is the secondary sweeper of the team, as its Shell Smash is easily one of the most threatening things to play against. In addition to that, Shellder's multi-hit moves hit through Drifloon's Substitute and can threaten a majority of things that do not resist its Icicle Spear or Rock Blast.</p>
  1326. </div>
  1327.  
  1328. <hr class="small" />
  1329.  
  1330. <div class="align-center">
  1331. <img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/mienfoo.gif" alt="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/diglett.gif" alt="Diglett" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/pawniard.gif" alt="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/xyani/porygon.gif" alt="Porygon" />
  1332. </div>
  1333.  
  1334. <h2>Post-Floon</h2>
  1335. <p>With Drifloon banned from the tier, LC has returned to the fairly balanced metagame it was before Drifloon's rise to the top. However, Calm Mind+Rest Gothita has gained momentum in the tier after its success in SPL and has helped shape the metagame into a more offensive tier. Shellder has also cemented itself as a metagame force, no longer being overlooked in favor of other Water-types. Due to various minor changes in the metagame, Dark-type spam has become slightly more popular than before while Fighting and Water spam have become slightly less prominent. As a whole the metagame is very balanced, though some still hold grievances of Diglett being left unbanned.</p>
  1336.  
  1337. <ul>
  1338. <li><span class="title">TOP DOGS</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/mienfoo.png" alt="Mienfoo" title="Mienfoo" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/diglett.png" alt="Diglett" title="Diglett" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pawniard.png" alt="Pawniard" title="Pawniard" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/porygon.png" alt="Porygon" title="Porygon" /></li>
  1339. <li><span class="title">Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/vullaby.png" alt="Vullaby" title="Vullaby" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/fletchling.png" alt="Fletchling" title="Fletchling" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/foongus.png" alt="Foongus" title="Foongus" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/shellder.png" alt="Shellder" title="Shellder" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/magnemite.png" alt="Magnemite" title="Magnemite" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/timburr.png" alt="Timburr" title="Timburr" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ponyta.png" alt="Ponyta" title="Ponyta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gastly.png" alt="Gastly" title="Gastly" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/carvanha.png" alt="Carvanha" title="Carvanha" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/gothita.png" alt="Gothita" title="Gothita" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/chinchou.png" alt="Chinchou" title="Chinchou" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cottonee.png" alt="Cottonee" title="Cottonee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/omanyte.png" alt="Omanyte" title="Omanyte" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/staryu.png" alt="Staryu" title="Staryu" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/tirtouga.png" alt="Tirtouga" title="Tirtouga" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/abra.png" alt="Abra" title="Abra" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/croagunk.png" alt="Croagunk" title="Croagunk" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snivy.png" alt="Snivy" title="Snivy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/ferroseed.png" alt="Ferroseed" title="Ferroseed" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/drilbur.png" alt="Drilbur" title="Drilbur" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/spritzee.png" alt="Spritzee" title="Spritzee" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/snubbull.png" alt="Snubbull" title="Snubbull" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/onix.png" alt="Onix" title="Onix" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/aipom.png" alt="Aipom" title="Aipom" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/archen.png" alt="Archen" title="Archen" /></li>
  1340. <li><span class="title">Anti-Meta Pok&eacute;mon</span>: <img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/scraggy.png" alt="Scraggy" title="Scraggy" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/corphish.png" alt="Corphish" title="Corphish" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/skrelp.png" alt="Skrelp" title="Skrelp" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/dwebble.png" alt="Dwebble" title="Dwebble" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/slowpoke.png" alt="Slowpoke" title="Slowpoke" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/torchic.png" alt="Torchic" title="Torchic" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/trapinch.png" alt="Trapinch" title="Trapinch" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/larvesta.png" alt="Larvesta" title="Larvesta" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/surskit.png" alt="Surskit" title="Surskit" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/elekid.png" alt="Elekid" title="Elekid" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/hippopotas.png" alt="Hippopotas" title="Hippopotas" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/houndour.png" alt="Houndour" title="Houndour" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/pumpkaboo-super.png" alt="Pumpkaboo-XL" title="Pumpkaboo-XL" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/cranidos.png" alt="Cranidos" title="Cranidos" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/zigzagoon.png" alt="Zigzagoon" title="Zigzagoon" />&nbsp;<img src="/dex/media/sprites/xyicons/clamperl.png" alt="Clamperl" title="Clamperl" /></li>
  1341. </ul>
  1342.  
  1343. <div class="align-center">
  1344. <input type="button" value="Gothita + Scraggy Team (GOAO)" data-show-target="13" />
  1345. </div>
  1346.  
  1347. <div data-target="13">
  1348. <div class="importable">
  1349. <p>chool like choolio (Gothita) @ Eviolite<br />
  1350. Ability: Shadow Tag<br />
  1351. Level: 5<br />
  1352. EVs: 236 HP / 36 Def / 156 SpD / 76 Spe<br />
  1353. Calm Nature<br />
  1354. IVs: 0 Atk<br />
  1355. - Calm Mind<br />
  1356. - Rest<br />
  1357. - Substitute<br />
  1358. - Psyshock</p>
  1359.  
  1360. <br />
  1361.  
  1362. <p>tony like a flygon (Scraggy) @ Eviolite<br />
  1363. Ability: Shed Skin<br />
  1364. Level: 5<br />
  1365. EVs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe<br />
  1366. Jolly Nature<br />
  1367. - Dragon Dance<br />
  1368. - Knock Off<br />
  1369. - Drain Punch<br />
  1370. - High Jump Kick</p>
  1371.  
  1372. <br />
  1373.  
  1374. <p>ice like a tea (Onix) @ Berry Juice<br />
  1375. Ability: Sturdy<br />
  1376. Level: 5<br />
  1377. EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe<br />
  1378. Jolly Nature<br />
  1379. - Earthquake<br />
  1380. - Rock Blast<br />
  1381. - Stealth Rock<br />
  1382. - Taunt</p>
  1383.  
  1384. <br />
  1385.  
  1386. <p>blim like a lax (Ponyta) @ Eviolite<br />
  1387. Ability: Flame Body<br />
  1388. Level: 5<br />
  1389. EVs: 76 Atk / 156 Def / 76 SpD / 196 Spe<br />
  1390. Jolly Nature<br />
  1391. - Flare Blitz<br />
  1392. - Morning Sun<br />
  1393. - Will-O-Wisp<br />
  1394. - Toxic</p>
  1395.  
  1396. <br />
  1397.  
  1398. <p>twin like cities (Vullaby) @ Eviolite<br />
  1399. Ability: Overcoat<br />
  1400. Level: 5<br />
  1401. EVs: 116 HP / 76 Atk / 236 Def / 76 SpD<br />
  1402. Impish Nature<br />
  1403. - Roost<br />
  1404. - Knock Off<br />
  1405. - Brave Bird<br />
  1406. - Defog</p>
  1407.  
  1408. <br />
  1409.  
  1410. <p>cased like victory (Foongus) @ Eviolite<br />
  1411. Ability: Regenerator<br />
  1412. Level: 5<br />
  1413. EVs: 124 HP / 160 Def / 160 SpD<br />
  1414. Bold Nature<br />
  1415. - Spore<br />
  1416. - Giga Drain<br />
  1417. - Sludge Bomb<br />
  1418. - Hidden Power Fighting</p>
  1419. </div>
  1420.  
  1421. <p>GOAO's team was built around the hyped core of Calm Mind Gothita and Scraggy. Gothita is able to trap the most common and persistent of Scraggy's counters, namely Spritzee and Foongus, while also making defensive Porygon a liability. Scraggy is then able to handle most balanced teams extremely well, especially if Gothita also traps Timburr or Croagunk. Scraggy and Vullaby form a Dark spam core, quickly wearing down ScraggyGoth checks. Foongus and Ponyta are there to spread status to give the team more room to maneuver while checking the common metagame threats, while Onix is the Stealth Rocker of choice and rounds off the defensive backbone.</p>
  1422. </div>
  1423.  
  1424. <table id="articlefooter">
  1425. <tr>
  1426. <td class="left"><a href="">&laquo; Previous Article</a></td>
  1427. <td class="middle"><a href="/articles/">Home</a></td>
  1428. <td class="right"><span class="inactive-link">Next Article &raquo;</span></td>
  1429. </tr>
  1430. </table>
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