[OVERVIEW]
Lillipup is not a great Pokemon in Little Cup, because it lacks the bulk to switch in on attacks, the power to wallbreak well, or the Speed to threaten offensive Pokemon. As a Normal-type, it faces competition both as an offensive Pokemon and as a defensive one. Aipom and Bunnelby are much stronger Normal-types with more power, Speed, and coverage, while Porygon is much bulkier and has access to reliable recovery. However, Lillipup is able to carve out a small niche for itself. Thanks to its ability Vital Spirit, Lillipup can be used to absorb sleep for teams that cannot afford a Pokemon to be put to sleep. Access to Thunder Wave and several coverage options such as Play Rough also lets Lillipup support its teammates and threaten traditional counters to Normal-types.
[SET]
name: Thunder Wave Support
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Return
move 3: Play Rough
move 4: Fire Fang / Crunch / Wild Charge
item: Berry Juice
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 156 HP / 196 Atk / 156 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Thunder Wave cripples Lillipup switch-ins, allowing its teammates to outspeed the opposing Pokemon. It also ensures Lillipup is not setup bait for dangerous sweepers such as Shell Smash Omanyte. Return is a good STAB move that packs a punch off of Lillipup's decent Attack stat. Play Rough lets Lillipup 2HKO Fighting-types, which otherwise counter it. Fire Fang can be used to 2HKO Ferroseed and Magnemite, and it gives Lillipup some way to hit Pawniard. Crunch hits Ghost-types such as Gastly, which can be extremely threatening thanks to its immunity to Return and ability to use Substitute on a Thunder Wave. Wild Charge can be used to OHKO Berry Juice Archen after it takes Stealth Rock damage and also does considerable damage to Omanyte and Tirtouga.
Set Details
========
Vital Spirit makes Lillipup immune to sleep and allows it to switch in on Foongus's Spore and other sleep moves. Berry Juice restores Lillipup's HP and can allow it to come in more often on Foongus and other weaker Pokemon. Maximum Attack investment is needed to 2HKO Fighting-types with Play Rough. 23 HP and 13 Special Defense let Lillipup avoid a 2HKO from any of Foongus's attacks and survive a Sludge Bomb from Life Orb Gastly at full health and Eviolite Bellsprout's Solar Beam after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
Use Thunder Wave often in order to spread status and cripple switch-ins, and then switch Lillipup out to a counter. If the opponent has a Foongus, switch Lillipup in on it so that none of your Pokemon have to be put to sleep. However, be careful of allowing Lillipup to be poisoned by Sludge Bomb, as this will wear it down quickly. If the opponent has a Timburr or Scraggy, it is a good idea to use Play Rough as they switch in order to 2HKO and OHKO them, respectively.
Team Options
========
Teams that cannot afford to have a Pokemon crippled by sleep and appreciate paralysis support will appreciate having Lillipup. Swords Dance Pawniard works as a partner because it has an easier time if its checks are paralyzed. Slow wallbreakers like Skrelp and Swords Dance Pancham appreciate being able to outpace faster Pokemon. Fairy-types make for good partners for Lillipup because they counter Fighting-types while Lillipup can switch into Foongus for them. Checks to Flying-types are necessary because Lillipup is OHKOed by Doduo and Taillow and can be setup bait for Fletchling. Pursuit support is appreciated so Lillipup isn't walled by Ghost-types when not running Crunch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pursuit can be used to trap Pokemon such as Gastly and Abra, but it is very weak without STAB and fails to OHKO them if they do not switch out, as well as failing to OHKO Gothita even if it does switch out. Roar can be used for phazing, but few Pokemon will really be setting up on Lillipup due to not wanting to be paralyzed. An EV spread of 196 Atk / 76 Def / 236 Spe with a Jolly nature and Eviolite can be used to outspeed Scraggy and Timid Magnemite, but it loses out on Berry Juice recovery and isn't really needed to beat Scraggy because the opponent will most likely try to set up a Dragon Dance on Lillipup.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types fear being 2HKOed by Play Rough, but they force Lillipup out if they are not already paralyzed in addition to having less than half of their maximum HP. Timburr is a particularly good check because it can set up on Lillipup and takes advantage of Thunder Wave.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Bulky Pokemon such as Porygon, Hippopotas, and Spritzee take little damage from Lillipup's attacks and can recover off any damage.
**Powerful Attackers**: Wallbreakers such as Archen, Life Orb Abra, and Skrelp all make short work of Lillipup. Pokemon that use Substitute, such as Snivy and Gastly, can avoid Lillipup's Thunder Wave and KO it with powerful attacks. Snivy can even proceed to boost its Special Attack.
**Steel-types**: If Lillipup lacks Fire Fang, it has no way to hit Ferroseed, which can set up entry hazards, or Magnemite, which is immune to Thunder Wave. Although it fears Thunder Wave, Pawniard takes very little from Lillipup's attacks and forces it to lose its Berry Juice or be KOed after prior damage.
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