April is just around the corner, honestly if you peeked it'd probably punch you, it's that close, and we all know what April means; Thats right, Little Cup!
And who better to give you the Pokemon of the Week to intro LC than the guy who has never played it?!
BY THE WAY totally using Ty's format as a baseline ;-;
Cyndaquil
The Fire Mouse Pokemon
//Description//
Original non-sprite image.
"Its fur is bluish on top of its body, but a milky color on the underside. Although called the Fire Mouse Pokémon, Cyndaquil seems to be a composite of features from the echidna, seen in the flames erupting from its back, and the shrew, the general shape of its body. Its eyes are often closed, as it is still young. It has four red-colored spots on its back from which its flames erupt. It lacks claws on its forelimbs, but has a single claw on each hind foot." - Bulbapedia
Recoloured and Restyled image for the HeartGold SoulSilver release.
"Cyndaquil is the most adorable pokemon known to mankind, if you argue with me I'll crush your tiny skull D:" - Sai
Since the dawn of the Pokemon era we've all been faced with the choice of 'favorite pokemon' and though this is an easy choice for many it's difficult for others, with new pokemon constantly coming in many favorites have changed; Mine has not, since I first laid eyes on this little fireball of adorability it's been nothing but love <3
//Movepool Analysis//
Cyndaquil's movepool is... Well sub-par at best. Scarf is basically your only option running this special machine however sporting a good ol' Hidden Power could do you quite good.
I hear what your saying, "Sai, why should I run this pokemon who is simply made of awesome but has a terrible movepool?" Well the answer to that is Cyndaquil's access to a STAB'd Eruption.
//Base Stats//
HP: 39
Attack: 52
Defense: 43
SpAttack: 60
SpDefense: 50
Speed: 65
Overall Cyndaquil is not the best pokemon in the slightest, it has a mediocre speed at best and that STAB Eruption may never even get fired off.
//Competitive Set//
Smogon Provides what I would like to call the only real choice for a competitive Cyndaquil set.
Choice Scarfed Cyndaquil
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Rash(+SpA,-SpD)/Naive(+Spe,-SpD)
Effort Values:
44 HP
24 Attack
200 Sp. Attack
240 Speed
Moveset:
Eruption
Double Kick
Hidden Power Electric// Grass
Fire Blast // Flamethrower
//Competitive Analysis//
Cyndaquil's best stats, (Speed and Special attack) will round to about 16 and 15 respectively. Depending on the chosen nature that will boost by one point.
Unlike it's NU-ranked fully evolved counterpart, This scarfed set cannot really afford to run the Sp. Attack boosting nature without serious ramifications. Scarfed Cyndaquil's speed will usually cap out at 24, allowing it to outspeed most but definitely not all LC opponents, It's frail defenses leave it open to any attack and it's poor coverage leaves it to be not very useful aside from a STAB Eruption.
So long story short it's a weaker Typhlosion.
//Weaknesses//
As you should have guessed, I don't/never have played Little Cup, my knowledge in the field is limited to the Smogon page open in the tab next to this one.
Munchlax walls Cyndaquil, impressive defenses combined with it's Thick Fat and massive HP make it take hits from a Cyndaquil like nothing.
Mantyke and Chinchou can both switch in and take Cyndaquil's STAB move with no difficulty. HP Electric and Grass are the only counters Cyndaquil can offer against these threats.
Ponyta and Houndour outclass Cyndaquil in almost everyway, not to mention they can switch in on a Cyndaquil locked into Eruption/Fire Blast and get a free Flash Fire setup. (Unless of course you are like Topher and run Early Bird on your Houndour/doom.)
//Conclusion//
Competitively Cyndaquil is NOT the best, also you might want to take a picture of that because I will never say it again. It's stats are lacking and other pokemon have far greater move pools for it to be even considered, However it's STAB Eruption (being it's only real reason of being used) can still pack quite a punch.
Cyndaquil is just like Typhlosion, the NU of LC.
Cyndaquil is still my personal favorite pokemon despite learning of it's uselessness. <3
Sai's first and only Pokemon of the Week segment has been completed, I'll go back into my cave now and let the professionals handle it from now on. =) Love and Respect PWFers.
The Fire Mouse Pokemon
//Description//
Original non-sprite image.
"Its fur is bluish on top of its body, but a milky color on the underside. Although called the Fire Mouse Pokémon, Cyndaquil seems to be a composite of features from the echidna, seen in the flames erupting from its back, and the shrew, the general shape of its body. Its eyes are often closed, as it is still young. It has four red-colored spots on its back from which its flames erupt. It lacks claws on its forelimbs, but has a single claw on each hind foot." - Bulbapedia
Recoloured and Restyled image for the HeartGold SoulSilver release.
"Cyndaquil is the most adorable pokemon known to mankind, if you argue with me I'll crush your tiny skull D:" - Sai
Since the dawn of the Pokemon era we've all been faced with the choice of 'favorite pokemon' and though this is an easy choice for many it's difficult for others, with new pokemon constantly coming in many favorites have changed; Mine has not, since I first laid eyes on this little fireball of adorability it's been nothing but love <3
//Movepool Analysis//
Cyndaquil's movepool is... Well sub-par at best. Scarf is basically your only option running this special machine however sporting a good ol' Hidden Power could do you quite good.
I hear what your saying, "Sai, why should I run this pokemon who is simply made of awesome but has a terrible movepool?" Well the answer to that is Cyndaquil's access to a STAB'd Eruption.
//Base Stats//
HP: 39
Attack: 52
Defense: 43
SpAttack: 60
SpDefense: 50
Speed: 65
Overall Cyndaquil is not the best pokemon in the slightest, it has a mediocre speed at best and that STAB Eruption may never even get fired off.
//Competitive Set//
Smogon Provides what I would like to call the only real choice for a competitive Cyndaquil set.
Choice Scarfed Cyndaquil
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Rash(+SpA,-SpD)/Naive(+Spe,-SpD)
Effort Values:
44 HP
24 Attack
200 Sp. Attack
240 Speed
Moveset:
Eruption
Double Kick
Hidden Power Electric// Grass
Fire Blast // Flamethrower
//Competitive Analysis//
Cyndaquil's best stats, (Speed and Special attack) will round to about 16 and 15 respectively. Depending on the chosen nature that will boost by one point.
Unlike it's NU-ranked fully evolved counterpart, This scarfed set cannot really afford to run the Sp. Attack boosting nature without serious ramifications. Scarfed Cyndaquil's speed will usually cap out at 24, allowing it to outspeed most but definitely not all LC opponents, It's frail defenses leave it open to any attack and it's poor coverage leaves it to be not very useful aside from a STAB Eruption.
So long story short it's a weaker Typhlosion.
//Weaknesses//
As you should have guessed, I don't/never have played Little Cup, my knowledge in the field is limited to the Smogon page open in the tab next to this one.
Munchlax walls Cyndaquil, impressive defenses combined with it's Thick Fat and massive HP make it take hits from a Cyndaquil like nothing.
Mantyke and Chinchou can both switch in and take Cyndaquil's STAB move with no difficulty. HP Electric and Grass are the only counters Cyndaquil can offer against these threats.
Ponyta and Houndour outclass Cyndaquil in almost everyway, not to mention they can switch in on a Cyndaquil locked into Eruption/Fire Blast and get a free Flash Fire setup. (Unless of course you are like Topher and run Early Bird on your Houndour/doom.)
//Conclusion//
Competitively Cyndaquil is NOT the best, also you might want to take a picture of that because I will never say it again. It's stats are lacking and other pokemon have far greater move pools for it to be even considered, However it's STAB Eruption (being it's only real reason of being used) can still pack quite a punch.
Cyndaquil is just like Typhlosion, the NU of LC.
Cyndaquil is still my personal favorite pokemon despite learning of it's uselessness. <3
Sai's first and only Pokemon of the Week segment has been completed, I'll go back into my cave now and let the professionals handle it from now on. =) Love and Respect PWFers.
(This totally isn't the place but...) I'm on my way back, a whole new team that needs somewhere to be tested.
