10 Strongest Pokémon to Breed in Scarlet & Violet (2024)

has many quality-of-life additions that make it easier than ever to raise a competitive team — bottle caps can be spent to max out any Pokémon's IVs, mints can change any Pokémon's nature, an abundance of TMs render most egg moves redundant, and Hyper Training's required level is lowered to 50. Most players only breed to have extra copies of version exclusive and starter Pokémon to complete their Pokédex. Aside from Shiny hunting with the Masuda method, there's one other reason left to breed powerful Pokémon.

That reason is the Little Cup — a format named after the Cup in Pokémon Stadium 2, where players can only use unevolved Pokémon that are both capable of evolution and can legally be obtained at Level 5. Smogon, a community dedicated to competitive battling in all Pokémon generations, recognizes the Little Cup as a metagame distinct from traditional Level 50 battles. Players interested in Smogon's recognized format should be aware that certain Pokémon that fulfill the Little Cup's criteria are still banned for being overpowered.

10 Foongus Is Hard To Take Down and Spores Switch-Ins

Pokémon Black & White — September 18, 2010

Foongus is an excellent defensive pivot with its good typing, amazing Regenerator Hidden Ability, and access to Spore. Though its base Defenses seem lacking, all Pokémon in Little Cup can hold Eviolite, and it can heal itself each time it switches. Players will get the most out of Foongus if they make sure to keep entry hazards off their field, though Foongus will remove Toxic Spikes by itself the moment it switches in.

Access to moves like Giga Drain and Synthesis grants it secondary recovery options if switching is inadvisable or impossible. Players must be wary of Taunt users, as they can shut down Foongus' Spore before it can be used. A Ghost or Water Tera Type is useful — Ghost-types can't be trapped and a Water-type helps it resist strong Fire-type attacks. Keep in mind that Foongus loses its good match-up against Fighting, Grass, and Electric-types after it Terastallizes.

9 Gothita Is the Only Shadow Tag Trapper in Little Cup

Pokémon Black & White — September 18, 2010

Since Mega Evolutions and the Wobbuffet family are excluded from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, the Gothita family are the sole wielders of the formidable Shadow Tag ability. Speaking of which, this ability is very similar to Arena Trap, but it also traps Flying-type Pokémon. Gothita's stats aren't anything noteworthy, but a Choice Scarf lets it outspeed anything that isn't boosted. If an opponent's Pokémon is in KO range, Gothita may put it in a checkmate position and eliminate it, as long as that target lacks a priority move.

Gothita can also trap a defensive Pokémon — it has access to Taunt and Trick to keep it from doing anything, and it can set up Calm Minds or Nasty Plots to prepare a sweep. It has no form of Speed increase beyond a Choice Scarf, so this would work better if an Agility or Speed Boost was Baton Passed first.

8 Hisuian Growlithe Is Hardheaded and Intimidating

Pokémon Legends: Arceus — January 28, 2022

Hisuian Growlithe is a fantastic wall breaker with access to recoilless Flare Blitz and Head Smash, thanks to its Rock Head Hidden Ability. It can also have Intimidate to weaken opposing physical attackers and play a supportive role with Stealth Rock and Will-O-Wisp. A third potential strategy is to give Hisuian Growlithe a Grass Tera Type to resist Water and Ground-type attacks, while it has Flash Fire to keep an immunity to the Fire-type attacks that Grass-types would otherwise be weak to.

Hisuian Growlithe enjoys so many options that it may have ways to thwart an opponent's attempts to counter it. Flame Charge can be used instead of Choice Scarf to let it switch attacks, Psychic Fangs can break barriers, Wild Charge punishes Water-types that switch in, Morning Sun gives it self-recovery, and Sleep Talk can turn an opposing Foongus' Spore against them.

7 Shellder Is One of Little Cup’s Premier Setup Sweepers

Pokémon Red & Green (Japan) — February 27, 1996

Shellder excels at one thing — Shell Smash sweeping. Though it lacks Cloyster's Ice-type, its Skill Linked Icicle Spear is still potent enough to shatter many Little Cup staples after Stealth Rock damage. A Shell Smash Shellder usually has an Eviolite instead of a White Herb, but it basically plays the same way. A Shell Smash Shellder makes a good fit for any offensive team, but it can also appreciate dual screens or a Memento user for a safer setup.

Shellder can utilize several Tera types to aid its sweep. A Water Tera Type makes its STAB Liquidation stronger, an Ice Tera Type gives its Icicle Spear the STAB that Cloyster has, and a Ghost Tera Type grants it immunity to several priority moves — Fake Out, Mach Punch, and Extreme Speed, to name a few.

6 Mudbray Is a Physical Tank of Multiple Utilities

Pokémon Sun & Moon — November 18, 2016

Mudbray is a flexible Pokémon that can consistently tank physical attacks thanks to its Stamina ability. It has an Attack on par with the original Tauros — quite impressive for an unevolved Pokémon. It can set up Stealth Rock, phase opposing Pokémon with Roar, set up its stats with Curse, and utilize the Rest-Sleep Talk strategy effectively while keeping its boosts. A STAB Earthquake from Mudbray's formidable Attack can heavily damage any opposing Pokémon that doesn't resist it, regardless of its moveset.

Given its flexibility, Mudbray has several good Tera Types to choose from. A Steel Tera Type buffs Mudbray's Heavy Slam, a Water or Grass Tera Type gives it resistance to two out of three Ground-type weaknesses, and a Ghost Tera Type lets it cast a curse upon an opposing Pokémon with Curse. This may result in Mudbray's self-KO, which can combo well with Gothita or Trapinch to trap the cursed opponent.

5 Glimmet Sets Multiple Entry Hazards Quickly

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet — November 18, 2022

Glimmet and its evolution have access to the Toxic Debris ability — it sets Toxic Spikes on the opposing board each time its user is physically damaged. Glimmet also has access to Stealth Rock and Spikes, and a fantastic Special Attack for an unevolved Pokémon. Its dual Ground-type weakness can be negated with an Air Balloon, but it won't have an Eviolite if it does. A Flying Tera Type is a useful alternative to this.

Glimmet can also sweep teams if it uses Rock Polish to double its Speed. Venoshock can be used in place of Sludge Bomb/Wave in conjunction with Toxic Spikes. Unlike most Rock-types, Glimmet has few options for Ground-type moves — its only Special Ground-type attack is Mud Shot. Finally, it can switch in to remove Toxic Spikes if it hasn't Terastallized.

4 Stunky Puts Constant Offensive Pressure on the Opponent

Pokémon Diamond & Pearl — September 28, 2006

Stunky is a potent offensive Pokémon in Little Cup. It has a STAB Knock Off to hobble defensive opponents and a STAB Sucker Punch to get the jump on opposing attackers. Like Glimmet, Stunky can also take Toxic Spikes off the player's board upon switching in. Most Stunky players prefer Aftermath to punish an opposing attacker, but Stench can score players some lucky flinches with Stunky's good Speed.

Players who own the Indigo Disk DLC can also teach Stunky the Fire-type attack, Temper Flare, which offers great coverage against Steel-type Pokémon. Play Rough can give Stunky an edge against other Dark-type Pokémon. It can also utilize support moves — Taunt shuts down defensive opponents, it can use Toxic Spikes like Glimmet, Roar can phase opponents, and Explosion or Memento can be used in Stench builds when Stunky's HP is low.

3 Vullaby Offers Incredible Versatility for Any Team Style

Pokémon Black & White — September 18, 2010

Vullaby is one of the three elites of Little Cup for many reasons — it's extremely versatile, it has a great STAB combination, and it can fit into any team like glue. Like Stunky, Vullaby also has Knock Off, and Brave Bird wrecks the Fighting-types that resist Dark-type attacks. It also has access to U-Turn to maintain momentum, Roost for self-recovery, Defog to remove entry hazards, Whirlwind to phaze opposing Pokémon, and Taunt to shut down defensive strategies.

All three of Vullaby's abilities are potentially useful — Weak Armor lets it sweep after it boosts itself with Nasty Plot, Overcoat gives it immunity to Spore and Sandstorm, and Big Pecks prevents opponents from lowering its Defense. An Electric Tera Type lets it resist Electric-type attacks and prevents it from being paralyzed by Thunder Wave.

2 Hisuian Voltorb Is the Fastest Unboosted Pokémon in Little Cup

Pokémon Legends: Arceus — January 28, 2022

Hisuian Voltorb stands out as the fastest Pokémon in Little Cup and is an excellent pivot with Volt Switch. Giga Drain lets it slightly recover, Thunder Wave hobbles offensive Pokémon, and Taunt shuts down defensive ones. While nearly any Pokémon can learn Tera Blast, Hisuian Voltorb's Speed all but ensures it can get an edge against an opponent's Grass or Dragon-type switch-in. Leaf Storm is potentially useful despite the Special Attack drop since Volt Switch lets it escape from a Gothita.

Fire and Ice Tera Types, not meant to be named after the popular high-fantasy novel series, grants Hisuian Voltorb offensive type coverage. The former Tera Type also offers resistance against three of its usual weaknesses. Alternatively, a Fairy Tera Type gives it resistance to Fighting and Dark-type attacks, which make up the priority moves that are used most often — Mach Punch and Sucker Punch.

1 Mienfoo Should Be in Every Little Cup Team

Pokémon Black & White — September 18, 2010

If there's any Pokémon that deserves to be bred for a Little Cup team, it's Mienfoo. It's fast, hits hard, offers utility, and has defensive potential with its Hidden Ability, Regenerator. Fake Out helps it break Focus Sashes, Knock Off removes the Eviolites of Poison and Fairy-types that switch in, and U-turn maintains offensive momentum. High Jump Kick has an incredible 130 Base Power — 10 more than Close Combat without the defense drops.

Most Mienfoo players give it an Eviolite, a Choice Scarf, or a Life Orb, but there's one more interesting option — a Normal Gem. Mienfoo will consume it to buff its first Fake Out, then can utilize a 110 Base Power Acrobatics against opposing Fighting-types or Foongus. If Mienfoo isn't meant to switch, it can utilize Reckless to buff its High Jump Kick's already high damage output by another 20%.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Franchise

Pokemon

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

November 18, 2022

Developer(s)

Game Freak

Publisher(s)

Nintendo , The Pokemon Company

Genre(s)

RPG

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence

How Long To Beat

32 Hours

Metascore

72