So the Little Cup metagame has been pretty stale for quite some time now, only being slightly shaken up during LCPL (With the rise of Salandit/Wingull usage), and USUM release where Mudbray and Snivy both saw a rise as consistent Hazard and Hazard Control mons. Some other pokemon’s usage dropped and rose as well due to these small changes, but had little to no impact on the metagame otherwise. As of such I was going to make a post that would undermine Trash’s reputation as the biggest Levi wannabe, but realised that if I did so no one would actually bother reading it (And I would never bother making it), so am keeping this short. With that said, this list was made to make the Little Cup metagame a little more interesting, so I hereby present underrated B- and below threats that serves significant niches in the current metagame. Scroll to a picture of a mon you like and try it out on ladder or in Quotetour, or just wait for like Seasonals.


BUDEW

Natural Cure / Poison Point / Leaf Guard
40 / 30 / 35 / 50 / 70 / 55

Mr. Shrug has recently argued in favour of this mon rising in the mighty ranks of viability, which seems fair enough. This little rosebud got ok defensive stats, boasting 23/15/17 as max for each individual stat, as well as being able to hit 16 speed to creep some notable threats like Mudbray/Vullaby/Croagunk. It’s movepool includes support moves like Spikes and Sleep Powder and reliable recovery. For offensive coverage it has access to moves like Giga Drain, Leaf Storm and Sludge Bomb as incredible STABs, along with coverage from Extrasensory and Dazzling Gleam.

Budew @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
Level: 5
EVs: 196 HP / 236 Def / 36 SpA / 36 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Sleep Powder
- Giga Drain  / Leaf Storm
- Sludge Bomb / Extrasensory / Dazzling Gleam / Hidden Power [Fire]

Can really drop any move you want in those last slots, but Giga Drain is the best way to regain some health in my opinion, along with Sludge Bomb pressuring most switch-ins well enough. I’ll just quote Shrug on this one

GRHAPUHERUGIPA SHRUG QUOTE HER OK HUSK DET DI JÆVLA FITTE


CHESPIN

Overgrow / Bulletproof
56 / 61 / 65 / 48 / 45 / 38

https://i.imgur.com/CYUmiac.gif
Most people saw this coming, but holy shit never has a hippie been able to tank bullets n bombs as well as Chespin. Bulletproof is a lifesaver, making Chespin the single best mon to take advantage of Foongus’ lack of diversity. Funny how I am to mention 2 spikers as the first “fun” mons to use? Chespin always carries support moves like Spikes, along with moves like Synthesis and Taunt as reliable options. It also got STAB moves like Seed Bomb and Giga Drain, with odd coverage moves like Drain Punch, Zen Headbutt, Rock Slide, Stomping Tantrum,  Rock Tomb, Superpower, Thunder Punch, literally any fucking coverage move you can think of.

Chespin @ Eviolite
Ability: Bulletproof
Level: 5
EVs: 148 HP / 28 Atk / 76 Def / 52 SpA / 156 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Zen Headbutt  / Literally any move you can think of
- Spikes
- Synthesis

With great mixed defences, this thing can cancel out top tier threats like Foongus, Mudbray, Abra, Gastly, Onix, Staryu and Chinchou and still have a say against other annoying behemoths like  Grimer-Alola, Pawniard and Ferroseed if carrying the appropriate coverage move. Now obviously banking on 1 mon to do all this while setting spikes and healing itself is ridiculous, but it is definitely a viable niche option for people that hate Foongus.


KOFFING

Levitate
40 / 65 / 95 / 60 / 45 / 35

Possibly the greatest pokemon concept of all time: a farting grenade. For real though, Poison types in general all have the niche of resisting Fighting and Fairy, which alone gives them a niche in the current metagame. This little tank can, however, bop donkeys as wells. With one of the biggest defence stats, as well as an ability to avoid Earthquakes, Koffing holds a top 5 spot on the niche-pedia of smogon. With support moves like Will o Wisp, Haze, Memento, Taunt and the ability to set Toxic Spikes, Koffing got the goods to serve a team well.  Sludge Bomb STAB and coverage moves like Psybeam, Fire Blast and Thunderbolt + niche options like Thief and Clear Smog makes Koffing a rather annoying mon to deal with.

Koffing @ Berry Juice
Ability: Levitate
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 76 Def / 36 SpA / 236 SpD / 76 Spe
Bold Nature
- Thief
- Will-O-Wisp
- Sludge Bomb  / Thunderbolt / Clear Smog
- Psybeam / Fire Blast / Thunderbolt / Explosion / Toxic Spikes

This set is really just there to be a pain to deal with. Berry Juice+Thief makes it a fun counter to Mudbray, Spritzee, Snubbull, Timburr and Mienfoo,  while depending on the coverage move it can deal with mons like Croagunk, Shellder, Ferroseed and Pumpkaboo.


GIBLE

Sand Veil / Rough Skin
58 / 70 / 45 / 40 / 45 / 42

DO YOU HATE TORCHIC? DOES PONYTA TRAMPLE OVER YOUR TEAM? FEAR NO MORE! HERE IS THE MOST NICHE FROG (!!??) YOU’VE NEVER CONSIDERED USING!

Infamy (Gible) (M) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Rough Skin
Level: 5
EVs: 52 HP / 36 Atk / 156 Def / 236 SpD / 20 Spe
Careful Nature
- Earthquake  / Earth Power
- Rock Slide  / Fire Blast
- Roar
- Stealth Rock

It’s only real niche right now is being a Fire resist that doesn’t die to any of Ponytas coverage moves, as well as the ability to tank various other special moves like +2 Dark Pulse from Vullaby and Roaring out. Access to Stealth Rocks and Fire Blast helps a little bit though, and a semi-strong Earthquake goes a long way. Shoutouts to Jox for spread.


MANTYKE

Swift Swim / Water Absorb / Water Veil
45 / 20 / 50 / 60 / 120 / 50

With actually good bulk, this thing shares the throne with Omanyte as the best Swift Swim sweeper (And by Throne I mean potty). Omanyte got better shit to do though, like smash and setting rocks and spikes n countering flying types n shit, so Mantyke is probably the only viable mon that’ll come in on you and you’ll be thinking “Rain Dance”. It’s defensive capabilities are present though, and as always, having a resistance to Fighting is brilliant in this metagame. With heat STABs like Hydro Pump, Scald, Surf and Air Slash, and access to the prime support move Defog and less prime move Rain Dance, Mantyke can easily be considered as an offensive lategame cleaner or a defensive tank.

Mantyke @ Waterium Z  / life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 36 Def / 196 SpA / 196 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Air Slash
- Substitute  / Surf / Hidden Power [Grass]
- Rain Dance

While water types doesn’t really mind Mantyke at all, other threats need little to no chip to die to a rain boosted Hydro Pump, and Air Slash provides a good STAB move for grass types. While z move is preferred, as one can come in on a knock off and set up, Life Orb can be used if a different Z move user is required.


RIOLU

Inner Focus / Prankster / Steadfast
40 / 70 / 40 / 35 / 40 / 60

We all remember the niche roar sweeps from gen 5, where a random youtuber would come in with this cute little pre evolution against this Bulky Eviolite Bayleef in OU and the other player would think that a Drain Punch wouln’t hurt at all because his Bayleef was named after his Crystal starter from 10 years ago and couldn’t die just to get roared out and Copycat swept while he swept away his tears from watching his gen 2 starter slowly die to rocks, spikes and legos. While those roar shenanigans may not work anymore, High Jump Kicks, Meteor Mashes, Crunches and Drain Punches can easily be copied, along with opposing whatever the fuck they throw at you really.  Shoutouts Final Gamibt Snubbull Lure for fightspam!

Riolu @ Normalium Z
Ability: Prankster
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 76 SpA / 200 Spe
Naughty Nature
IVs: 30 Spe
- Copycat
- High Jump Kick
- Crunch / Meteor Mash
- Substitute / Protect

For those who do not know: Z Copycat basically takes the last move used and makes it a Z move, while raising ones Accuracy meaning NO MORE HIGH JUMP MISS LOSSES !! (Unless one Copycats on a Dark type because those fuckers don’t mind Prankster anymore apparently) … Either way it’s niches are few except the +1 priority STAB moves and potentially snatching Volt Switches n shit like that, but it definitely a fun option for fightspam teams. The addition of Meteor Mash helps a ton too vs shit like Spritzee and ehm ye that’s it.

PANCHAM

Iron Fist / Mold Breaker / Scrappy
67 / 82 / 62 / 46 / 48 / 43

“Pancham is so trash why would I ever use that over TimbuRr omg” Yeah well Panda’s got feelings too. Pancham has access to probably 3 of the best abilities a Fighting type could dream of, but is unfortunately a bit slow compared to the threats it’d want to hit with these moves. Boasting a Massive attack stat with good defences does however make it a great wallbreaker for Fightspam teams to break down threats that even Timburr fears, such as Spritzee and Snubbull. With STAB Drain Punch and coverage moves like Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Gunk Shot, Zen Headbutt, Knock Off and Rock Tomb, as well as options like Parting Shot, Swords Dance and Bulk Up, Pancham can mow down fairies and the likes or go full Frenchman and let something else take a weakened hit. It’s newly added Power Trip also makes it a fun Baton Pass speed receiver with Mold Breaker for Sturdy mons.

Pancham @ Eviolite
Ability: Iron Fist
Level: 5
EVs: 180 Atk / 100 Def / 52 SpD / 172 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Swords Dance

Setting up an SD on a switch means you can oneshot incoming Spritzee, Foongus, Pumpkaboo and Snubbull, 4 relatively huge threats to Fightspam teams. It’s bulk is also solid enough to tank most hits that would normally be aimed at a Timburr, meaning it can potentially clean lategame with Drain Punch.