Options for Expanding 260 Cup

262

Spearow
At first glance, Spearow's abilities are very lackluster. Keen Eye essentially has no effect, while Sniper relies on luck to activate. Spearow's strongest STAB move is also Drill Peck, not Brave Bird like Starly, Fletchling, or Pidgey, so it would do noticeably less damage. Despite these shortcomings, it can learn Drill Run to hit Beldum super effectively, and it has a very high Attack stat for this format; additionally, it's lightning-fast, and can learn U-turn, which rounds out its movepool and makes it a good fit on offensive teams to gain momentum. Finally, Quick Attacks acts as adequate priority in case it needs to pick off an already weakened enemy.
If Spearow entered the meta, it would lack the ability that made Starly worthy of ban, Reckless, so it could be managed by highly defensive Pokemon such as Bidoof or Marill. Unfortunately, there are no Rock-Types in 260 cup, so only Beldum and Tynamo can check it, the former of which is hurt by Drill Run and the latter of which has low utility overall. This would put a squeeze on teams to check Spearow if it uses a set that covers many different options. It also displaced Pidgey, who only gains Brave Bird at the cost of lower stats.

Suggested Set:
Spearow @ Choice Band / Eviolite
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Drill Peck
- Drill Run
- Quick Attack / Roost
- U-turn

Hoothoot
Like Spearow before it, Hoothoot has one main ability it should use: Tinted Lens. Its dual STABs do not warrant it, but Insomnia has a small niche that should only be used in case the team has no preparation for Spore from Hoppip (in which case they should use one of the myriad Grass-Types in the meta). It can learn defog, which suits its respectable defenses, as well as Heat Wave, Hurricane, Hyper Voice, Moonblast, Tailwind, and Whirlwind, making it noticeably diverse in potential. Unfortunately, however, it has rather low offensive stats, and its only boosting move is Work Up. Due to its weakness to Electric, an important coverage type from Fomantis, and lack of good resistances, its defensive utility is also limited, since it cannot check Makuhita, even as a Flying-Type.
Advantageously, Hoothoot offers a low-rank candidate to teams that would not shake the meta if added. Fomantis will still use Hidden Power Electric against it, Makuhita will still use Thunder Punch, and Bidoof will probably set up Stealth Rock regardless of whether or not one carries Hoothoot. With that said, there is only something to gain from adding Hoothoot, since it could tap into undiscovered potential without primarily shifting the status quo.

Suggested Set:
Hoothoot @ Eviolite
Ability: Tinted Lens
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Defog / Tailwind
- Hurricane / Hyper Voice
- Toxic

263

Shinx
Shinx will probably be the most fitting addition to 260 Cup due to its typing and ability Intimidate, which helps with handling the aforementioned Spearow if it ends up Choice locked into Drill Peck. If it predicts the switch and uses Drill Run, however, the circumstances will play out differently. Shinx’s movepool is concise in that it hardly requires much scrolling to get through, but offers several notable movepool options, namely Wild Charge, Thunder Wave, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Crunch, and Quick Attack. Unfortunately (or, perhaps, luckily), it has no way to boost its Attack other than Work Up, and no reliable recovery, so it will either not be able to regain health lost while attempting to switch in or will get whittled down quickly by Flame Orb.
With Shinx, one of two outcomes would surface: Either its Intimidate ability would enable it to act as a good switch-in to unboosted physical attacks, or it would get whittled down from repeated switch-ins and become a liability. STAB Wild Charge can threaten Marill, and thus would go hand-in-hand with Tyrogue and Fomantis, who tend to struggle with Marill. In that case, Shinx wouldn't become a counter to any given set, but instead one that can temporarily handle threatening Pokemon until the team can do something about them.

Suggested Set:
Shinx @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wild Charge
- Crunch
- Facade / Quick Attack
- Ice Fang

(if Guts is banned):
Shinx @ Eviolite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def
Adamant Nature
- Wild Charge
- Volt Switch
- Toxic / Thunder Wave
- Rest

264

Pidove
Yet another Normal/Flying Type, Pidove does not present any aspect particularly amazing about it. It has rather good physical stats, as well as U-turn, but does lacks a physical Flying-Type STAB to truly make use of that Attack stat. It also lacks many good utility moves, so it cannot tailor sets to what it needs.
I don’t feel the need to waste my time on a Normal/Flying Type that doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Spearow has offensive presence, and Hoothoot has a wide movepool. I would advise not giving up either of those for a slow U-turn user.
And it can't learn Brave Bird.

Suggested Set:
Pidove @ Eviolite
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
- Return

265

Diglett-Alola
One trait prevents Alolan Diglett from uselessness, and that is its Steel typing. It has too little HP to fill a defensive role, but it resists Normal nonetheless. Its Tangling Hair Ability also complements its Normal-Type resistance, since it can slow down enemies, even with boosts or in tailwind, enough to outspeed them (not to mention its other two abilities have no application in this format). One other trait makes Alolan Diglett especially deviant from typical 260 Cup competitors: its movepool of strong stab moves. Earthquake and Iron Head both hit the entire meta neutrally, and come off of a 55 base Attack stat, which often passes when landing super effective hits. It also can set up Stealth Rock, making it the third setter of it.
The advantage of adding Alolan Diglett to this meta is that it adds diversity to typing and setters of Stealth Rock. Since Normal is an unresisted type, many Pokémon can use Return in their final moveslot as a coverage move, which makes Alolan Diglett more durable. Unfortunately, no type combination available in the meta resists both of its STABs, each of which have high base power and come off of a passable Attack stat.

Suggested Set:
Diglett-Alola @ Eviolite / Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Tangling Hair
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide / Memento

Pikipek
Yet another Normal/Flying Type, Pikipek appears rather underwhelming without noticing its rather decent Speed stat and whopping 75 Attack. This massive Attack stat is accompanied by Brave Bird, Boomburst, Gunk Shot, Swords Dance, and Knock Off, all of which break past any switch-in. If Base 265 Pokemon are allowed, Pikipek will be quickbanned.

Ledyba
Ledyba's abilities leave much to be desired, and its defensive typing leaves it 4x weak to Stealth Rock; not particularly flattering for a typing that wants to switch in to strong Fighting-type moves. On the bright side, it has passable physical bulk and outstanding special bulk, with a complementary combination of U-turn and Tailwind that let it give a team speed support to deal with Zubat, Rattata, Noibat, and the Diglett that would be unbanned with it. Even more interesting is its access to Swords Dance and Baton Pass, which can grant a significant attack boost to either something already fast, such as Rattata or Spearow, or something that can also receive speed via tailwind, such as Bidoof.
If Ledyba were added to 260 Cup, it would most likely create questions regarding the ban on Baton Pass, but would also be kept in check by its Stealth Rock weakness and physical frailty. With an inability to outspeed Rattata, it would require sacrificing a lot of momentum to set up with Ledyba, so many would opt out of its Baton Pass set. Also, the Support Pivot set does not bring any new moves to the table, and therefore just acts as yet another soft check to Special Attackers (the strongest of which, Fomantis, carries HP Electric anyway).

Suggested Set:
Ledyba @ Eviolite
Ability: Early Bird
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- U-turn
- Roost
- Tailwind
- Knock Off

Diglett
Diglett differs from its Alolan cousin due to its higher Speed and slightly larger movepool, most notably illustrated through Hone Claws. While it lacks Iron Head as a STAB move, it can boost its Attack stat, fire off more accurate Rock Slides, and use Arena Trap to keep in weakened opponents. These changes seem to put Diglett in a whole different league when compared to Alolan Diglett, for this Diglett does not need coverage for switchins if they are not a possibility. As far as movepools are concerned, the two should effectively use the same moves for similar reasons.
If Diglett entered the meta, many things would change. Rather than a Shadow Tag user with no offensive presence, Diglett can outspeed and OHKO anything after chip damage that doesn't resist its Earthquake. Due to this, Diglett can switch out repeatedly, unlike Wynaut, who often has to use Encore and Destiny Bond to secure KOs. This does make using Makuhita more risky, but it also makes any play more risky, since Ground and Rock cover most of the threats the meta has to offer; Swinub has filled this niche very well so far, but Diglett would make using Swinub mostly pointless. If Base 265 Pokemon are allowed, Diglett will be suspected.

Suggested Set:
Diglett @ Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Hone Claws
- Rock Slide
- Stealth Rock / Memento / Sucker Punch

266

Nincada
A Ground-type like Diglett, Nincada has extraordinarily high Defense, which helps make up for its lackluster HP and underwhelming Special Defense. Its movepool lacks much substance, but Leech Life accompanied by Hone Claws grants semi-reliable recovery while simultaneously threatening out things that cannot put immediate pressure on it. Compound Eyes doesn't immediately help Nincada other than with Toxic, but Run Away has no effect in battle. With that said, it has no particular versatility in its moveset, aside from one of its few coverage moves, and thus its role is set in stone.
If Nincada entered the metagame, it could successfully check, set up on, or threaten out Physical attackers like Tyrogue, Rattata, and Bidoof, due to its gargantuan defense stat boosted by Eviolite. It also has weaknesses in its low Special Defense and lack of different sets, making its checks rather reliable. Essentially, Nincada would simply carve its own niche in the 260 cup meta if admitted, without forcing out much competition, and provides a further answer to common offensive threats.

Suggested Set:
Nincada @ Eviolite
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Leech Life
- Hone Claws
- Toxic
- Return

269

Surskit
If you read this name and didn't immediately think "Sticky Web," then you have yet to meet Surskit. Surskit's abilities only function in rain, but its access to several utility moves, as well as its resistances to Ground, Fighting, and Steel, would give it great usefulness in 260 Cup. To complement Nincada's immunity to Electric, it can take the Special moves that Nincada despises. It also acts as the only Sticky Web setter in the format besides Spinarak, the latter of whom Venipede generally outclasses. With Scald, Surskit can burn enemies that would take advantage of its slightly low Physical Defense, and it can check the occasional setup sweeper (most often Curse Bidoof) through Haze. These moves are accompanied by a generally fantastic stat spread, which gives it decent speed, bulk, and offensive presence.
Although it looks overpowered on paper, Surskit has a moderate weakness to Rattata and Spearow which would be unbanned with it, not to mention weakness to Stealth Rock and no reliable recovery. This keeps it in check so that it does not overwhelm the rest of the meta. As such, Surskit adds diversity and customization without replacing any given Pokémon.

Suggested Set:
Surskit @ Eviolite
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Giga Drain / Haze
- Sticky Web
- Ice Beam

Dewpider
To preface, Water Bubble Dewpider will not see the light of day in 260 Cup. Outside of Water Bubble, Water Absorb can take scalds from the likes of Marill and Surskit, while Poison Jab can hit the former super effectively. Dewpider does have somewhat lackluster attacking stats without a way to boost, as well as mediocre moves to choose from, but it does have noticeably higher defenses than Surskit, the other Sticky Web setter, giving it a different niche. Besides those differences, it seems to be simply a clone of Surskit in role.
When neutered by a Water Bubble ban, Dewpider takes on a humbler role as a niche clone of Surskit with some merit, but generally less team support; to not belabor the point, it could function in this meta, and perhaps replace Surskit if it were ever deemed banworthy.

Suggested Set:
Dewpider @ Eviolite
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Sticky Web
- Scald
- Rest
- Leech Life