Featured LC RMT

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The LC metagame has been consistent for a while, with its last suspect test having been done mid September with no bans occurring. Sand teams with Drilbur (and occasionally Sandshrew) are a very powerful playstyle, and despite their relatively low usage they play a big factor in the teambuilding stage. In his team, Hawkstar opts to use Snover, a popular way of beating sand teams, as well as a few unorthodox Pokemon and sets, such as the underrated Timburr and Pawniard. The goal of the team is to hit hard and wear down the opponent, plain and simple. As an offensive team, it may seem weak to many other offensive Pokemon, notably Murkrow, but because every single Pokemon packs a punch, Hawkstar's team protects itself against many offensive threats very well.

Snover, the flagship Pokemon of the team, guards against sand teams with its mere presence. Sand teams are an incredibly powerful archetype in LC, because Drilbur is a potent sweeper with Sand Rush and Swords Dance, while Hippopotas and Lileep can form a very good defensive backbone. Most sand teams lack a good Ice-type resist though, partly because Snover is one of the only Pokemon in LC that runs Ice-type attacks, but also because good, non-redundant Ice resists are hard to come by for an archetype that's strapped for teamslots as it is. Snover can capitalize on all of this by being an excellent switch-in to Hippopotas that also threatens most other Pokemon with its powerful STAB Blizzard, and uses Giga Drain to crush the Water-types that dare to switch in. Hidden Power Rock can smack the Fire-types that this team has slight issues with, while Ice Shard can provide priority in a pinch to help against Pokemon such as Murkrow. With sand gone, Drilbur and Sandshrew are much less menacing, as the majority of Hawkstar's team can outrun them in hail and pick them off.

The somewhat underrated Timburr makes an appearance as the second member of the team. Timburr provides Hawkstar with a powerful setup Pokemon that can bust holes in many teams, with the addition of powerful and consistent priority in the form of Mach Punch as well. It also brings quite a bit of bulk to the team, which helps immensely against opposing attackers such as Misdreavus and Scraggy. Just by having Timburr and its Mach Punch around, the opponent is forced to play more conservatively with Pokemon such as Shell Smash Tirtouga or Dragon Dance Scraggy, which helps Hawkstar grab momentum and gives him a huge advantage.

Misdreavus, undoubtedly one of the best Pokemon in Little Cup, graces this team with a somewhat unorthodox set that's been growing in popularity lately. Running Taunt on Misdreavus allows it to bust through walls such as Porygon and Lileep, and also prevents the opposing team from setting up. This is especially important against entry hazard users, because if the opponent has a Misdreavus as well, even Staryu might have a hard time spinning. Misdreavus also provides Hawkstar with an answer to Mienfoo and other Fighting-types, being able to switch in on most of their moves and cripple them with Will-O-Wisp. Additionally, with Misdreavus's high Speed, Special Attack, and perfect coverage in Shadow Ball and Hidden Power, it can easily wear down the opposing team early on or clean up late-game.

Hawkstar, like many others who run Snover, chooses to pair it with a spinner. With Rapid Spin support, teams that have Snover can neutralize the biggest weapon that sand teams (and many other teams as well) have against Snover: Stealth Rock. Alongside support from Taunt Misdreavus, it should be difficult for the opponent to keep hazards up long enough for them to matter. On this offensive team, Staryu fits the spinner role well as serving as a fast and powerful attacker that also resists Fire. Staryu is perhaps the easiest Pokemon on Hawkstar's team to switch into, as there are a variety of Pokemon in Little Cup that can brush off both Hydro Pump and Thunderbolt. However, this can work to Hawkstar's advantage, because many of the Pokemon that can come in to take those hits provide easy switches for Snover, Timburr, or Pawniard. The Fire resist is particularly helpful, as it gives Hawkstar a way of dealing with Houndour, Larvesta, and Ponyta to an extent. Hawkstar's team lacks Stealth Rock of its own to wear down Fire-types, but with Recover on Staryu and Hail nerfing their longevity, Staryu should be able to outlast them.

It's rare to see a top tier LC team without Mienfoo, so it shouldn't be a surprise that the little cutie is present on this team as well. Hawkstar brings back a set that's fallen in popularity though, by using Choice Scarf Mienfoo over the incredibly common bulky Eviolite Mienfoo that we've all come to know and love. Choice Scarf allows Mienfoo to act as a great revenge killer. Alongside the powerful priority of Timburr, Pawniard, and Snover, it'll be almost impossible for the opponent to outright sweep. Aside from the Speed boost, Choice Scarf Mienfoo also sports a lot more power than the standard Mienfoo. Spamming Hi Jump Kick isn't always safe, but it's much stronger than the standard Drain Punch, and if the opponent's Fighting-type resists have been eliminated, they'll be hard-pressed to find something that isn't at best 2HKOed. Of course, Mienfoo can also spam U-turn to help get its teammates in, keep momentum in Hawkstar's hands, and recover HP due to Regenerator. It also has Stone Edge to hit pesky Fighting resists, and Drain Punch as a safer STAB move. Scarf Mienfoo can't hard counter Scraggy like the Eviolite version can, but Hawkstar has Timburr who can switch in well enough, so between the two, Scraggy isn't an issue. Mienfoo and Timburr also pair well together offensively. Timburr can wear down many of the Pokemon that can tank Hi Jump Kicks from Mienfoo, leaving the opponent unable to beat it.

Pawniard is the last Pokemon on the team, and it's also the biggest surprise. Most players write off Pawniard, as it struggles to hit hard enough in a metagame filled to the brim with Fighting-types, and the Pokemon that it should be an answer to have ways around it. It really rounds out this team though, providing a key Flying resist that's needed to tank Murkrow's Brave Birds and a strong Sucker Punch to revenge kill threats that Mienfoo and Timburr can't, while not detracting from the offensive nature of the team. It also gives Hawkstar another sweeper that can clean up late-game. Although Pawniard will have trouble dealing with Life Orb Murkrow, it's a very solid answer to the SubRoost set that would give the rest of the team a lot of headaches otherwise. Life Orb Murkrow can still be dealt with, as the passive damage from Hail, Life Orb, and Brave Bird recoil will take its toll, and it can be forced out with Mienfoo, so it all works out.

This team does a great job at keeping momentum and putting up an offensive presence, but there are a few Pokemon that give it a difficult time. Opposing Bulk Up Timburr aren't threatened by all that much on this team, so if it can come in and nab a boost against Pawniard or Mienfoo locked into a weak move, it'll take down a lot before going down itself. The much more rare Bulk Up Croagunk poses an even worse problem, as it can actively set up on Timburr and Mienfoo, and doesn't have to worry about Hydro Pump from Staryu. Shelmet can also quickly steal momentum away, easily walling Timburr, Mienfoo, and Pawniard while setting up Spikes, and being bulky enough to avoid a 2HKO from mostly everything. As Hawkstar's team lacks Stealth Rock, Larvesta is also a Pokemon that can be tricky to face. It can come in on the moves that Snover and Mienfoo will spam—and isn't too worried about Timburr or Pawniard either—and then spread burns around with Flame Body and Will-O-Wisp. Since Hawkstar's team lacks a cleric, this could prove troublesome if a predicted Hidden Power Rock from Snover or Stone Edge from Mienfoo doesn't take Larvesta out quickly. A well-played Misdreavus will be a pain for this team, as Timburr and Mienfoo can't be too reckless while Misdreavus is still around, and neither can Pawniard if Misdreavus is carrying Will-O-Wisp, and that puts Hawkstar at a disadvantage. However, it can be played around, and most of the other Pokemon are rare enough that they aren't huge issues either. Hawkstar's team is somewhat refreshing to see, using some underrated Pokemon and sets, but it still remains very effective in the current metagame. Kudos to him~

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