grape tylenol
white girl wasted
[OVERVIEW]
Trapinch is a slow but powerful Pokemon that can be used to trap and remove key targets in order to support its teammates. Arena Trap ensures there will be no escape for Trapinch's prey, and its base 100 Attack stat ensures that the opposing Pokemon will be hit hard. Trapinch also has surprisingly decent bulk, allowing it to take hits from Pokemon with super effective coverage like Elekid and Voltorb and Pokemon with high Special Attack stats like Abra, then OHKO them with Earthquake. However, Trapinch is outsped by everything in the metagame, making it incredibly easy for Water-types like Wailmer, Chinchou, and Staryu to come in and revenge kill it.
[SET]
Trapper (Trapinch) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 236 HP / 36 Atk / 80 Def / 80 SpD / 36 Spe
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Ghost / Rock Slide
- Quick Attack
- Protect / Rock Slide
[SET COMMENTS]
The HP and Special Defense investment on this set is what allows Trapinch to perform its role effectively as a trapper. With this investment, Trapinch can survive super effective coverage moves from Elekid, Voltorb, and Magnemite and powerful special attacks from Pokemon like Abra, as well as +1 Earthquake from Larvitar, then remove these Pokemon using Earthquake. Notably, Trapinch is able to survive Porygon's Ice Beam, unlike its counterpart Diglett, enabling it to remove Porygon as well if it's in range of Earthquake. Hidden Power Ghost is useful for getting the KO on Gastly and doing good damage to Duskull, but Rock Slide can be considered for a chance to OHKO Doduo. Additionally, running Rock Slide over Hidden Power Ghost frees up some EVs that Trapinch can combine with its otherwise useless Speed EVs to boost any of its other stats by one point; for example, investing these EVs in Special Defense gives Trapinch a good chance to survive a +1 Psychic from Abra. Quick Attack lets Trapinch bypass its abysmal Speed stat to remove weakened foes or get some chip damage off before it faints. Protect is useful for saving Trapinch from a predicted Explosion or Self-Destruct, usually from opposing Voltorb or Gastly, and is also a reliable tool for scouting an opponent's move.
Any Pokemon that wants Electric-types such as Elekid, Voltorb, and Magnemite or strong but frail special attackers such as Abra removed will appreciate Trapinch's ability to trap and remove them. In return, Trapinch appreciates a teammate that can come in on Water-types that will likely come in to revenge kill Trapinch such as Chinchou, Wailmer, or Staryu. Trapinch is able to trap and OHKO Diglett with Earthquake, so Pokemon who have poor matchups versus Diglett such as the previously mentioned Elekid, Voltorb, and Magnemite will enjoy having Trapinch as a teammate. Porygon specifically appreciates Trapinch as a teammate for its ability to counter-trap Diglett, as this lets Porygon stay healthy for other matchups. Although it's not as commonly seen in the metagame, Larvitar is trapped and removed by Trapinch even at +1 Attack, so teams looking for a way to deal with Larvitar should look no further than Trapinch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band can be used to amplify Trapinch's already impressive Attack stat and get surprise KOs on unsuspecting foes, and despite its extremely low base Speed, it can still outspeed some key metagame threats such as Porygon, Snubbull, and bulky Wailmer with maximum Speed investment. However, Trapinch is still outsped by most of the tier, and some of these matchups aren't guaranteed to be in Trapinch's favor: it needs the opposing Porygon to be chipped or have its Sitrus Berry removed, as it will be KOed by Ice Beam, and it doesn't secure a guaranteed OHKO versus bulky Wailmer. Thankfully, Trapinch still has the bulk to survive hits from threats such as unboosted Abra and Larvitar, as well as Elekid and Voltorb, but its lack of recovery means it's easily picked off by faster opponents or priority attacks afterwards.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Trapinch is outsped by every Water-type in the tier and is unable to survive their STAB attacks.
**Koffing**: Thanks to its ability Levitate, Koffing is immune to Trapinch's powerful Earthquake and takes very little damage from its other moves. Koffing typically runs Hidden Power Water, which is a 3HKO against Trapinch. While this may sound like pitiful damage, Trapinch's moves do so little to Koffing that Koffing still wins this matchup.
**Doduo**: Choice Band Doduo is able to OHKO Trapinch with Double-Edge and is also able to OHKO it with Drill Peck if Trapinch has taken any chip damage. Doduo is immune to both Earthquake and Hidden Power Ghost, normally leaving Trapinch with only Quick Attack to hit it. However, it's not a perfect matchup for Doduo, as it must be wary of Rock Slide, which has a 62% chance to OHKO it.
**Porygon**: Porygon's ability Trace allows it to counter-trap Trapinch. While Trapinch is able to 2HKO Porygon with Earthquake, Porygon usually comes out on top in this matchup. This is because Porygon outspeeds and 2HKOes Trapinch with Ice Beam and is much more likely to have its Sitrus Berry intact thanks to Recycle.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kaboom.300935/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/reggg.588561/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
Trapinch is a slow but powerful Pokemon that can be used to trap and remove key targets in order to support its teammates. Arena Trap ensures there will be no escape for Trapinch's prey, and its base 100 Attack stat ensures that the opposing Pokemon will be hit hard. Trapinch also has surprisingly decent bulk, allowing it to take hits from Pokemon with super effective coverage like Elekid and Voltorb and Pokemon with high Special Attack stats like Abra, then OHKO them with Earthquake. However, Trapinch is outsped by everything in the metagame, making it incredibly easy for Water-types like Wailmer, Chinchou, and Staryu to come in and revenge kill it.
[SET]
Trapper (Trapinch) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 236 HP / 36 Atk / 80 Def / 80 SpD / 36 Spe
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Ghost / Rock Slide
- Quick Attack
- Protect / Rock Slide
[SET COMMENTS]
The HP and Special Defense investment on this set is what allows Trapinch to perform its role effectively as a trapper. With this investment, Trapinch can survive super effective coverage moves from Elekid, Voltorb, and Magnemite and powerful special attacks from Pokemon like Abra, as well as +1 Earthquake from Larvitar, then remove these Pokemon using Earthquake. Notably, Trapinch is able to survive Porygon's Ice Beam, unlike its counterpart Diglett, enabling it to remove Porygon as well if it's in range of Earthquake. Hidden Power Ghost is useful for getting the KO on Gastly and doing good damage to Duskull, but Rock Slide can be considered for a chance to OHKO Doduo. Additionally, running Rock Slide over Hidden Power Ghost frees up some EVs that Trapinch can combine with its otherwise useless Speed EVs to boost any of its other stats by one point; for example, investing these EVs in Special Defense gives Trapinch a good chance to survive a +1 Psychic from Abra. Quick Attack lets Trapinch bypass its abysmal Speed stat to remove weakened foes or get some chip damage off before it faints. Protect is useful for saving Trapinch from a predicted Explosion or Self-Destruct, usually from opposing Voltorb or Gastly, and is also a reliable tool for scouting an opponent's move.
Any Pokemon that wants Electric-types such as Elekid, Voltorb, and Magnemite or strong but frail special attackers such as Abra removed will appreciate Trapinch's ability to trap and remove them. In return, Trapinch appreciates a teammate that can come in on Water-types that will likely come in to revenge kill Trapinch such as Chinchou, Wailmer, or Staryu. Trapinch is able to trap and OHKO Diglett with Earthquake, so Pokemon who have poor matchups versus Diglett such as the previously mentioned Elekid, Voltorb, and Magnemite will enjoy having Trapinch as a teammate. Porygon specifically appreciates Trapinch as a teammate for its ability to counter-trap Diglett, as this lets Porygon stay healthy for other matchups. Although it's not as commonly seen in the metagame, Larvitar is trapped and removed by Trapinch even at +1 Attack, so teams looking for a way to deal with Larvitar should look no further than Trapinch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band can be used to amplify Trapinch's already impressive Attack stat and get surprise KOs on unsuspecting foes, and despite its extremely low base Speed, it can still outspeed some key metagame threats such as Porygon, Snubbull, and bulky Wailmer with maximum Speed investment. However, Trapinch is still outsped by most of the tier, and some of these matchups aren't guaranteed to be in Trapinch's favor: it needs the opposing Porygon to be chipped or have its Sitrus Berry removed, as it will be KOed by Ice Beam, and it doesn't secure a guaranteed OHKO versus bulky Wailmer. Thankfully, Trapinch still has the bulk to survive hits from threats such as unboosted Abra and Larvitar, as well as Elekid and Voltorb, but its lack of recovery means it's easily picked off by faster opponents or priority attacks afterwards.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Trapinch is outsped by every Water-type in the tier and is unable to survive their STAB attacks.
**Koffing**: Thanks to its ability Levitate, Koffing is immune to Trapinch's powerful Earthquake and takes very little damage from its other moves. Koffing typically runs Hidden Power Water, which is a 3HKO against Trapinch. While this may sound like pitiful damage, Trapinch's moves do so little to Koffing that Koffing still wins this matchup.
**Doduo**: Choice Band Doduo is able to OHKO Trapinch with Double-Edge and is also able to OHKO it with Drill Peck if Trapinch has taken any chip damage. Doduo is immune to both Earthquake and Hidden Power Ghost, normally leaving Trapinch with only Quick Attack to hit it. However, it's not a perfect matchup for Doduo, as it must be wary of Rock Slide, which has a 62% chance to OHKO it.
**Porygon**: Porygon's ability Trace allows it to counter-trap Trapinch. While Trapinch is able to 2HKO Porygon with Earthquake, Porygon usually comes out on top in this matchup. This is because Porygon outspeeds and 2HKOes Trapinch with Ice Beam and is much more likely to have its Sitrus Berry intact thanks to Recycle.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kaboom.300935/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/reggg.588561/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
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