ORAS LC Diglett VoltTurn by Cydrolic

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Diglett VoltTurn by Cydrolic



Introduction
This team, built by Cydrolic, has long been the face of LC's ladder scene. The team has endured several metagames changes, dominating the top of the ladder the entire time. The team is centred around Diglett's ability to trap problematic opposing Pokemon and act as an effective supporter for the VoltTurn strategy. This idea is best shown by the inclusion of the infamous FletchDig core, where Diglett traps and removes most of Fletchling's counters. Additionally, the removal of Diglett's common targets are also helpful for other Pokemon on the team. The presence of Chinchou, Ponyta, Vulpix, Larvesta, Skrelp and Gothita are all capable of influencing matches by gaining momentum for their teams, inflicting status, or even acting as death fodder. With Diglett minimising their presence in matches, the other five members of the team are able to perform exceptionally well. The team also notably includes Berry Juice Pawniard in order to better counter Overheat Fletchling, and played a major role in popularising it.

In-Depth


Mienfoo @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 156 HP / 116 Def / 196 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 28 Spe
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Taunt
- Drain Punch
Mienfoo is the quintessential VoltTurn user due to its combination of bulk, U-turn, and Regenerator. The defensive investment allows Mienfoo to survive the OHKO from Fletchling's Acrobatics and Focus Sash Abra's Psychic after Stealth Rock the vast majority of the time, allowing Mienfoo to use U-turn against them. The reduced Speed IVs ensure that Mienfoo is outpaced by 13 Speed Pokemon such as defensive Vullaby, allowing Mienfoo to safely get its frailer teammates, such as Diglett and Fletchling, into play with U-turn. They are not reduced further so that Mienfoo can still defeat 11 Speed Download Porygon reliably. Mienfoo does not mind absorbing damage for its teammates due to Regenerator, which, in conjunction with Drain Punch's recovery, enables Mienfoo to stay healthy throughout the match. Mienfoo's survivability allows it to act as the team's main switchin to several important threats including Magnemite, Chinchou, Scraggy, and Staryu. It also provides Knock Off support so that Diglett can obtain more KOs and Fletchling can sweep more easily. Taunt is rare on this particular Mienfoo, but is necessary in this case to prevent Ferroseed and Bulk Up Timburr from attempting to set up on Mienfoo, as Drain Punch is quite weak.


Larvesta @ Eviolite
Ability: Flame Body
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Def / 156 SpD
Impish Nature
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Morning Sun
- Will-O-Wisp
Defensive Larvesta is a decent check to several prominent threats, including Mienfoo, Snivy, and Fairy-types. With its ability Flame Body, it can deter physical attackers that cannot damage it significantly from attacking it at all out of fear of being crippled by a burn. Flare Blitz and U-turn ensure that Larvesta holds its own offensively as well, as even an uninvested Flare Blitz hits hard thanks to Larvesta's naturally high Attack, and U-turn lets Larvesta pivot out of any unfavourable match-ups to gain momentum. In particular, U-turn prevents Chinchou from attempting to switch into Larvesta if it doesn't want to be trapped by Diglett. Will-O-Wisp gives Larvesta a reliable way to burn physical attackers and lets it stall out Spritzee. Morning Sun helps prevent Larvesta from being worn down by the things it is attempting to check. However, Larvesta is easily lured by certain coverage moves, such as Stone Edge on Mienfoo, and Morning Sun has low PP, so it is paired with back-up checks to most of the things it deals with. Larvesta does not run Speed EVs so that it can utilise slow U-turns to get Diglett in safely. It still outspeeds Download Porygon despite the lack of investment.


Fletchling
Ability: Gale Wings
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 52 SpD / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- U-turn
- Taunt
Fletchling is the most offensive member of the team and also one of the hardest to use. Between Acrobatics and U-turn, Fletchling has the capability to greatly influence games. However Fletchling's lack of recovery coupled with a weakness to Stealth Rock makes choosing the correct turns to U-turn into Diglett or to use Acrobatics incredibly important. Fletchling's lack of longevity adds more importance to Staryu's role as the team's Rapid Spinner, as without a fairly healthy Fletchling, the likes of four attack Gastly and four attack Carvahna become far harder to aptly handle. Taunt is a very unusual choice for Fletchling, but is required as the team is rather weak to Shell Smashers. Taunt coupled with Fletchling's high speed prevents the set up of the incredibly threatening Shell Smash users and Zigzagoon, and allows for the team to actually maintain a fair matchup against them.


Diglett @ Life Orb
Ability: Arena Trap
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Sucker Punch
- Substitute
Diglett is the star of the team, trapping many counters to Mienfoo and Fletchling while simultaneously using its incredible speed to revenge kill almost any Pokemon in the tier. With three rather threatening Pokemon to spam U-turn, Diglett is provided ample opportunities to shine. Just the threat of being trapped by Diglett tends to give the team an advantage as its opponents are hesitant to send out counters to Diglett's teammates. This hesitation is especially dangerous against Mienfoo and Larvesta, who are more than bulky enough to recklessly click U-turn as even if the opponent predicts correctly, they can just come back in to do it again.

Diglett's flexible nature helps the team overcome a variety of issues, such as a lack of real switch-ins to Abra and Larvesta or its inability to switch into many strong wallbreakers such as Scarf Bunnelby. Additionally, Diglett's Sucker Punch provides the team with rather important priority, helping make up for the team's somewhat slow nature. This Sucker Punch, as well as Diglett's other traits, in tandem with Fletchling's Acrobatics allows the team to revenge kill almost all the relevant threats in LC. Diglett's strong Life Orb boosted Earthquake is often enough to trap neutral targets at around 50% of their health, which is quickly achieved with three U-turn users and Stealth Rock damage. Further support comes from Pawniard and Mienfoo's Knock Offs, which greatly increasing Diglett's potential to KO opposing threats once their Eviolite is removed.


Staryu @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 156 Def / 236 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Recover
- Rapid Spin
- Psychic / Thunder Wave / Ice Beam
Staryu gives the team hazard control support, which is very important for this type of team which utilises a lot of switching around. Both Fletchling and Larvesta need the removal of Stealth Rock to be effective, making Staryu almost obligatory. Staryu also helps the team against problematic Ground-types, Rock-types and Fire-types. As a pure Water-type, Staryu is able to beat almost every hazard setter of the tier. There are some exceptions such as Lileep and Pawniard, but they are checked well by the rest of the team. You can also use Staryu to bait Electric-types such as Chinchou or Magnemite, giving Diglett the opportunity to revenge kill and make Fletchling's sweep easier.

The decision of Staryu's last move generally came down to current metagame trends. Psychic makes Croagunk less irksome, while denting Foongus and doing passable damage against Timburr. Thunder Wave prevents Drifloon from getting too out of hand. Psychic also allows Staryu to do a fair bit of damage against most Water-types, although Scald burns are generally more helpful. Ice Beam helps Staryu to check Flying-types while still hitting Foongus hard and KOing Pumpkaboo after a Scald burn.


Pawniard @ Berry Juice
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 116 Def / 196 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Stealth Rock
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
Pawniard has a slightly different spread and set than the standard version; the reason for this is to provide the team with a more sturdy answer to the omnipresent Fletchling. Between the Special Defense investment and Berry Juice, Pawniard is able to force out Fletching fairly easily. Despite the lack of Eviolite, Pawniard survives Overheat and usually lives an Acrobatics after it. Pawniard effectiveness as a Stealth Rock user allows the VoltTurn core of the team to be far more punishing. Additionally, Berry Juice makes Pawniard a decent Shellder counter, and allows it to stand its ground against Shellder teams attempting to defeat Steel-types through brute force. Pawniard's Sucker Punch is crucial for revenge killing certain threats, and despite Pawnaird's lack of Attack investment, it still packs more than enough power to KO frail wallbreakers.

Alternatives


Togepi and Foongus are potential alternatives to Larvesta, as they can still act as pivots with Baton Pass and Regenerator, respectively. Both are able to shut down Timburr and Foongus handles Corphish as well. However, using Togepi over Larvesta leaves the team weaker to Calm Mind Spritzee, while using Foongus leaves the team weaker to Abra and Gothita. Using either also makes the team more vulnerable to Swords Dance Pawniard.

Threatlist

Timburr is undoubtedly the most prominent threat to this team. After getting a Bulk Up under its belt, it is able to muscle through both of the team's Fighting checks in Larvesta and Fletchling, and effortlessly sweep through everything else. The team primarily deals with Timburr by not allowing it to set up Bulk Ups; Life Orb Diglett is too powerful for Timburr to remain healthy against after setting up as long as its Attack isn't reduced beforehand by Memento, and Taunt and Psychic on Mienfoo and Staryu, respectively, prevent Timburr from setting up on them. However, against Timburr, Pawniard should be used carefully, and Larvesta and Fletchling should be kept healthy just in case.


Due to Fletchling's frailness and Thunderbolt-less Staryu being the team's only Water resist, Dragon Dance Corphish is enormously threatening. Fortunately, it is relatively uncommon, as Swords Dance Corphish is more common and can be worn down with priority moves. Aqua Jet has a good chance to OHKO Fletchling after Stealth Rock and a Dragon Dance boost, +1 Knock Off + Crabhammer KOes Staryu, and Adamant boosted Crabhammer has a chance to OHKO even Mienfoo after Stealth Rock, which is guaranteed if it has been Knocked Off. It is able to force 50/50s against Diglett and Pawniard as well, as a faster Aqua Jet negates Sucker Punch. However, Corphish has to choose between Adamant and Jolly, allowing for the potential to chip away at Corphish if it takes enough damage during setup by using Mienfoo if Corphish is Jolly, or Diglett's Sucker Punch if Corphish is Adamant (although the latter risks Corphish setting up another Dragon Dance).


Shellder on its own is hard checked by Pawniard, but it becomes extremely dangerous when used in conjunction with Diglett, Magnet Pull Magnemite, or Trapinch to trap Pawniard. It is guaranteed to OHKO Fletchling with a Shell Smash boosted Ice Shard, and can OHKO everything else on the team except for Staryu, which is KOed after any prior damage, and Mienfoo, which struggles to heavily damage Shellder. Shellder + trapping combinations are also mostly dealt with by preventing Shellder from setting up; Fletchling has a fast Taunt and Larvesta carries Will-O-Wisp, meaning only Diglett can be used as setup bait.

Importable
Mienfoo @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 156 HP / 116 Def / 196 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 28 Spe
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Taunt
- Drain Punch

Larvesta @ Eviolite
Ability: Flame Body
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Def / 156 SpD
Impish Nature
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Morning Sun
- Will-O-Wisp

Fletchling
Ability: Gale Wings
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 52 SpD / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- U-turn
- Taunt

Diglett @ Life Orb
Ability: Arena Trap
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Sucker Punch
- Substitute

Staryu @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 156 Def / 236 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Recover
- Rapid Spin
- Psychic / Thunder Wave

Pawniard @ Berry Juice
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 116 Def / 196 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Stealth Rock
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head

Credits

Created by: Cydrolic
Written by: Corporal Levi, Fiend & fran17
Grammar checked by: IronBullet
Art by: Team Pokepals
 
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