Introduction The original basis for Little Cup came from Pokémon Stadium 2. During Gen IV, several members of Smogon, created the Little Cup Forum, which was later integrated into Smogon in 2009. During DPP, Little Cup was an extremely offensive metagame that revolved around Speed and priority attacks. However, due to the introduction of Eviolite (as well as several other changes) in BW, Little Cup has settled into a more balanced metagame where all playstyles are viable. In XY, the metagame became more offensive after the unban of Meditite, Mienfoo, Murkrow, Scraggy, and Speed Boost and due to Knock Off's huge buff in this gen, increasing from 20 BP to 65 BP. Rules The Pokémon must be at level 5 The Pokémon must be the first of their evolutionary line and be able to evolve. The Pokémon must not be banned and should not carry a banned move or ability. Banned moves and Abilities Dragon Rage: Dragon Rage is able to always inflict a 40 HP damage on the opponent if they're not a Fairy-Type. This move is able to OHKO all non-Fairy Pokémon since no Pokémon is able to hit 40 HP in the metagame, therefore it's banned. Sonic Boom: This move is able to always deal a 20 HP to the opponent if they're not Ghost-type. Even though it's less broken than Dragon Rage, it's still able to deal massive damage and even OHKO some Pokémon. OHKO moves: Guillotine, Sheer Cold, Fissure, Horn Drill. Swagger: This move confuses the target while sharply raising their attack stat so that they do more damage when attacking themselves. This was banned partially because it could be easily abused by Prankster users, but also because it contributes nothing healthy competitively since it essentially turns matches into games of chance rather than strategy. Moody: Like every other metagame, Moody is banned since it gives one random stat +2 and one random stat -1 at the end of each turn. Banned Pokémon Scyther Type: Bug / Flying Base Stats: 70 HP / 110 Atk / 80 Def / 55 SpA / 80 SpD / 105 Spe Abilities: Swarm / Technician / Steadfast Scyther was always banned in the Little Cup and it'll likely stay like that for eternity Compared to the other Pokémon, Scyther has far too high stats. Technician with Aerial Ace and Bug Bite as STAB attacks, accompanied by either Agility or Swords Dance made Scyther a broken Pokémon. Sneasel Type: Ice / Dark Base Stats: 55 HP / 95 Atk / 55 Def / 35 SpA / 75 SpD / 115 Spe Abilities: Inner Focus / Keen Eye / Pickpocket Even though it doesn't have as extreme stats as Scyther's they're still marvelous compared to other Pokémon. With extraordinary STABs in Ice Punch and Knock Off and access to a priority attack in Ice Shard and also Swords Dance made Sneasel a dangerous Pokémon in the metagame. Tangela Type: Grass Base Stats: 65 HP / 55 Atk / 115 Def / 100 SpA / 40 SpD / 60 Spe Abilities: Chlorophyll / Leaf Guard / Regenerator Tangela is not as impressive as Scyther and Sneasel, but with a decent 100 Special Attack stat and an fantastic 115 Defense stat it's still as powerful. It also has access to two competitive abilities (Chlorophyll and Regenerator) that make it play different effective roles: Chlorophyll doubles Tangela's speed in the sun, also access to Growth and Solar Beam make it a dangerous sun sweeper. Regenerator recovers up to 1/3 max pf its HP when it leaves the field helps it play a defensive role with its 115 Defense stat, also its access to Sleep Powder and Leech Seed. All that made Tangela a powerful Pokémon for the metagame. Gligar Type: Ground / Flying Base Stats: 65 HP / 75 Atk / 105 Def / 35 SpA / 65 SpD / 85 Spe Abilities: Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil / Immunity Gligar was the first suspect in the XY LC metagame. It was a good sweeper with a decent speed and access to Swords Dance, Earthquake, Acrobatics and Knock Off. It could also run an Eviolite set thanks to its high defenses which get boosted thanks to Eviolite which made it the best physical wall in the metagame. It can also learn some team supporting moves like Stealth Rock, Defog and also Baton Pass. All that made banning it the best choice. Yanma Type: Bug / Flying Base Stats: 65 HP / 65 Atk / 45 Def / 75 SpA / 45 SpD / 95 Spe Abilities: Speed Boost / Compound Eyes / Frisk Yanma was the second suspect in the XY LC Metagame. It was the fastest Pokémon tying with Diglett and Voltorb, along with Speed Boost it was a powerful late-game sweeper. It can also run a Compound Eyes set that uses Hypnosis to cripple its slower counters. All that made Yanma a hard Pokémon to handle which caused in its ban. Swirlix Type: Fairy Base Stats: 62 HP / 48 Atk / 66 Def / 59 SpA / 57 SpD / 49 Spe Abilities: Sweet Veil / Unburden Even though its stats are low compared to other Pokémon, its wide moveset and the ability Unburden made it the most feared threat in the metagame. With Unburden that doubles its speed once it consumes its item, and powerful boosting moves in Calm Mind, Cotton Guard and Belly Drum made Swirlix an unstoppable late-game sweeper. Its unpredictability and power made it a Pokémon that is almost impossible to handle. Murkrow Type: Dark / Flying Base Stats: 60 HP / 85 Atk / 42 Def / 85 SpA / 42 SpD / 91 Spe Abilities: Insomnia / SuperLuck / Prankster Murkrow is blessed with the ability to be a mixed attacker with a good attacking move pool with moves like Brave Bird, Dark Pulse, Heat Wave, and Sucker Punch, and an excellent 19 Speed tier. It also has access to Prankster which can alternatively give it the ability scout or Toxic stall. Its versatility made it extremely difficult to check or counter, so it was deemed broken. Meditite Type: Fighting / Psychic Base Stats: 30 HP / 40 Atk / 55 Def / 40 SpA / 55 SpD / 60 Spe Abilities: Pure Power / Telepathy Meditite was a bulky attacker with a massive attack stat of 28 thanks to Pure Power. With an expansive move pool with moves such as Drain Punch, High Jump Kick, Zen Headbutt, Ice/Fire/Thunder Punch, Poison Jab, Fake Out, and Bullet Punch that caused it to be too difficult to check or counter. Misdreavus Type: Ghost Base Stats: 60 HP / 60 Atk / 60 Def / 85 SpA / 85 SpD / 85 Spe Abilities: Levitate Misdreavus was a versatile special attacker with the excellent 19 Speed tier. Good coverage between Shadow Ball, Dazzling Gleam (which made it harder to check with Dark types), and Thunderbolt along with other moves like Nasty Plot, Calm Mind, Will-O-Wisp, Trick, and Destiny Bond made it a challenge to check or counter. Misdreavus was also so good at filling the need for a Ghost type on a team that there was little reason to run anything else. Diglett Type: Ground Base Stats: 10 HP / 55 Atk / 25 Def / 35 SpA / 45 SpD / 95 Spe Abilities: Arena Trap / Sand Veil / Sand Force Diglett was blessed with the ability to trap Pokemon with Arena Trap and the rare 20 Speed tier. Arena Trap made Diglett the ultimate revenge killer while also helping it form toxic cores with Flying-types such as Fletchling that disliked Electric or Rock Pokemon. A guide about Items in Little Cup A guide about Items can be found here Threat List The Threat List can be found here More Little Cup Resources can be found here
I feel like you chould mention how leftovers is NOWHERE near as effient in lc as in other tiers Could probably just do an entire thing on items Another thing that could be mentioned is using the pomeg glitch to get moves on genderless pokes :v Great job guy~
There was a Guide to Items made by Weavile in the last gen, and it's still viable in this gen. The only thing that it should have is Assault Vest saying that it's outclassed by Eviolite that boosts both Defense and Special Defense and not locking the Pokémon into only attacking moves. It should also mention how Berry Juice is better than Oran Berry.
I will update that guide. Edit: http://pokemon-online.eu/forums/showthread.php?26716-Items-in-Little-Cup