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Pokemon Go PvP can be a minefield, with strong opponents using a variety of meta choices to bully you into submission. This is no different between the main three leagues or the limited-time cups that come into rotation every couple of weeks, and introduce strict rules.

RELATED: Pokemon Go: The Best Pokemon Of Every Type

As such, you'll want to use the best team possible to counter the counters, so to speak. This can be a daunting task, as you'll need plenty of Stardust and TMs to tweak your team so they become the most effective they can be. This guide helps you select a team that can compete.

Pokemon Go Little Cup: Restrictions

Igglybuff and Wynaut on a Pokemon Go map with 500 indicating the CP limit for Little Cup.

The Little Cup is one of the most difficult to build for, as the restrictions mean that you'll have to use some of your weakest Pokemon. We say that relatively speaking, given that you can train some Pokemon to have several thousand CP (Combat Power).

The Little Cup, however, puts a restriction of 500 CP on its participants, although the upside to this is that there are no restrictions on type.

When it comes to levelling up Pokemon that can evolve, be mindful of their CP level after evolution — it may take them over the 1,500 CP limit for the Great League, 2,500 CP limit fo the Ultra League, or several other themed cups.

When you go to evolve a Pokemon, you'll be able to see the post-evolution CP level before confirming.

Best Little Cup Lead Pokemon

Image showing Alolan Vulpix, Ducklett, Bronzor and Deino for the Pokemon Go Little Cup

When sending out a Pokemon to lead your team into battle, you'll want one that can take a bit of a beating, but also give you an advantage over your opponent. You do this by forcing them to use their shields early, meaning you'll need charged attacks that come online quickly.

Ideally this lead Pokemon will be a hard counter to whatever your opponent sends out, but given this cup has no restrictions on type that's going to be very difficult. A better tactic is to go with Pokemon strong against popular, problematic types, such as Fairy, Dark, or Ice.

Fast Moves are in normal text, Charge Moves in italic.


Resistant means that the Pokemon takes less damage from moves of that type.


Weak means that the Pokemon takes more damage from moves of that type.

Pokemon

Best Moves

Resistant

Weak

Pokemon Alolan Vulpix Sprite  500px

Alolan Vulpix (Ice)

Powder Snow


Weather Ball (Ice)


Dark Pulse

Ice

Fighting


Fire


Rock


Steel

Pokemon Ducklett Sprite 500px

Ducklett (Water/Flying)

Wing Attack


Brave Bird


Bubble Beam

Ground


Water


Steel


Fire


Fighting


Bug

Electric


Rock

Pokemon Bronzor Sprite 500px

Bronzor (Steel/Psychic)

Confusion


Payback


Heavy Slam

Psychic


Poison


Steel


Rock


Normal


Ice


Grass


Flying


Fairy


Dragon

Dark


Fire


Ghost


Ground

Pokemon Deino Sprite 500px

Deino (Dark/Dragon)

Dragon Breath


Body Slam


Crunch

Psychic


Water


Grass


Ghost


Fire


Electric


Dark

Fairy


Bug


Dragon


Fighting


Ice

Best Little Cup Pokemon Switches

Pokemon Go Little Cup Switches

Once your lead has done its work, you'll need a dependable Pokemon to come in and do as much damage as possible. You may need to finish off a weak lead, finish baiting the shields, or just dominate a second and press home your advantage.

Good Pokemon here are ones that have powerful Charge Moves, are good against multiple types, or just tanky enough to survive what your opponent may try to throw at you.

Pokemon

Best Moves

Resistant

Weak

Poikemon Igglybuff Sprite 500px

Igglybuff (Normal/Fairy)

Feint Attack


Body Slam


Shadow Ball

Ghost


Dragon


Dark


Bug

Poison


Steel

Pokemon Lickitung Sprite 500px

Lickitung (Normal)

Lick


Body Slam


Power Whip

Ghost

Fighting

Pokemon Shelmet Sprite 500px

Shelmet (Bug)

Infestation


Body Slam


Bug Buzz

Ground


Grass


Fighting

Fire


Flying


Rock

Pokemon Seel Sprite 500px

Seel (Water)

Lick


Aqua Tail


Icy Wind

Water


Steel


Ice


Fire

Electric


Grass

Body Slam is a legacy move on Igglybuff and Lickitung, removed in 2017 and now only obtainable using an Elite TM. These are only given as limited rewards during events or PvP.

RELATED: Pokemon Go: Every Possible Way To Earn Stardust

Best Little Cup Pokemon Closers

Pokemon Go Little Cup Closers

In order to secure victory, you'll need Pokemon that are ruthless. Type advantage is still a lottery, so you'll want to be quick and efficient in taking down your opponent's third choice. Having lots of resistances helps, too.

These four Pokemon are good at pressuring defenseless opponents even further, with solid movesets. Manage to bring a Charge Move online, and you're more than likely to win.

Pokemon

Best Moves

Resistant

Weak

Pokemon Wynaut Sprite 500px

Wynaut (Psychic)

Counter


Mirror Coat

Psychic


Fighting

Bug


Dark


Ghost

Pokemon Pawniard Sprite 500px

Pawniard (Dark/Steel)

Fury Cutter


Night Slash


Iron Head

Psychic


Poison


Steel


Rock


Normal


Ice


Grass


Ghost


Flying


Dragon


Dark

Fighting


Fire


Ground

Pokemon Salandit Sprite 500px

Salandit (Poison/Fire)

Poison Jab


Poison Fang


Flamethrower

Grass


Fairy


Bug


Steel


Poison


Ice


Fire


Fighting

Ground


Psychic


Rock


Water

Pokemon Growlithe Sprite 500px

Growlithe (Fire)

Ember


Body Slam


Flamethrower

Steel


Ice


Grass


Fire


Fairy


Bug

Ground


Rock


Water

Generic Pokemon Go header showing trainers at night

As mentioned previously, building a team that can take on the Little Cup is no easy feat. The possibilities are huge, but we've put together a few that could work well.

STAB - Same Type Attack Bonus - is key when building a team when you don't know how your opponent will build. This way, moves are boosted by 20 percent more damage when you match the Pokemon and move types, such as Growlithe using Flamethrower. If you manage to hit a weakness with this, the damage will be huge!

Coverage is hard with an open cup like this, but you can build towards having plenty of resistances. Hit hard with atypical move types, such as Ice or Steel, and your defensive prowess should carry you through.

Bronzor - Igglybuff - Pawniard

Pokémon Go Little Cup Team 1

This team is all about starting with possibly the strongest Pokemon available for this cup, Bronzor. It has tons of resistances, moves of three strong types, and doesn't fall to many other types. It may be slow at charging moves, but it should last through the first round.

Igglybuff is a solid, spammy switch, while Pawniard brings even more resistances and dangerous moves to close things out. All in all, this team should decimate most foes.

Deino - Lickitung - Salandit

Pokémon Go Little Cup Team 2

This team comp is more focused on trying to draw out the middle rounds through Lickitung's tankiness and survivability, while being pretty agile. You'll want to have baited all the opponent's shields by the time it comes in, with Deino being speedy and spammy.

If you end up needing more shield pressure heading into the final round, Salandit is ideal as a closer. It also has rapid standard attacks, and a whole raft of resistances to help it survive.

Alolan Vulpix - Seel Pawniard

Pokémon Go Little Cup Team 3

Alolan Vulpix is a great starter, largely thanks to being a bit spammy and having the strong Ice-type lead the way. It doesn't come with a lot of resistances, but nor is it weak to too many types, either.

Seel is a great second to Vulpix, and brings more bulk to the table. You'll still be able to get plenty of hits in, and taking Lick gives you a strong Ghost-type move. Pawniard is fantastic in this comp, as it can survive plenty of move types.

NEXT: Pokemon Go: Every Pokemon Still Missing From The Game