Generation 9 LC — Little Cup Format Reference
Little Cup is Singles 6v6 played at level 5 with unevolved Pokémon only. The distinct power curve, the universal Eviolite hold, and the base-stat ratios that govern LC turn it into a different competitive game from any other Smogon Singles tier.
Cartridge
Scarlet & Violet
Type
6v6 Singles, level 5
Roster
Unevolved species only
Defining item
Eviolite (universal)
A Pokémon's base stats matter less than their ratios at level 5. 50 base Speed and 60 base Speed produce identical level-5 Speed; 100 base Speed produces a tier-defining one. LC is mathematics in plain sight.
At a glance
Little Cup is one of the franchise's most distinctive competitive formats. The level cap and unevolved restriction produce competitive dynamics impossible in any other Smogon Singles tier — Eviolite is universal, base-stat ratios drive matchups, and item choices matter as much as Pokémon choices.
The format has been continuously played for over a decade. LC has dedicated tournaments and an active ladder; it sits parallel to the OU/UU/RU/NU/PU usage hierarchy as a specialty Singles format with its own competitive identity.
- Format type6v6 Singles
- Level capLevel 5 — every Pokémon set to 5
- Roster restrictionUnevolved Pokémon only — no fully-evolved species permitted
- Defining item
Eviolite (50% Def + SpD boost on unevolved Pokémon) — universal hold - MechanicsTera legal; same Smogon Singles clause set
- Where it's playedPokémon Showdown ladder + Smogon LC tournaments. Live tier page: /sv/lc.
Format rules
LC applies the standard Smogon Singles clauses plus three format-specific rules: level cap, roster restriction, and tier-specific bans for trapping abilities and breaking item interactions.
| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| Level cap | All Pokémon set to level 5. |
| Roster restriction | Unevolved Pokémon only — Pokémon that can still evolve are eligible; final-stage Pokémon are banned outright. |
| Sleep Clause | Only one opposing Pokémon may be put to sleep at a time. |
| Species Clause | Each team can only carry one of any given species. |
| Evasion Clause | Evasion-boosting moves and abilities are banned. |
| OHKO Clause | Sheer Cold, Fissure, Horn Drill, Guillotine are banned. |
| Endless Battle Clause | Battle states that cannot end are forbidden. |
| Trapping ability bans | Some trapping abilities (e.g. Arena Trap on Diglett) are banned to prevent uncontestable trap-and-kill patterns. |
| Tera | LEGAL — once per team, per battle. Tera Type interactions are weighted differently in LC due to the lower stat ceiling. |
Eviolite & base-stat ratios
Two structural features define LC's competitive identity. Eviolite is universal — almost every LC Pokémon holds it. Base-stat ratios matter more than absolute stats — small differences become decisive at level 5.
Eviolite — the universal item
Evioliteboosts a holder's Defense and Special Defense by 50% — but only on Pokémon that can still evolve. LC is the only Smogon Singles format where Eviolite applies universally, since the entire roster is unevolved.
The result: almost every LC Pokémon holds Eviolite. Other items appear on offensive sweepers (Choice Scarf, Life Orb) or specific counter-set picks, but Eviolite is the default. Defensive Pokémon without Eviolite are functionally penalised; offensive Pokémon often run Eviolite anyway for survival on the Speed tiers Eviolite enables.
Base-stat ratios at level 5
At level 5, a Pokémon's actual stats are computed from base stats but with very small absolute spreads. The result: ratios between Pokémon's stats matter much more than the absolute base values.
L5
Level cap
Every Pokémon set to 5
+50%
Eviolite
Universal Def + SpD boost
ratio
Stat math
Base-stat ratios > absolute stats
↑↑
Item impact
Items shift outcomes more than in higher tiers
Banlist
LC's banlist is structurally distinct from usage tiers. Bans focus on trapping abilities, broken interactions, and Pokémon that distort the format despite being unevolved.
Categorical bans
- Final-stage Pokémon — automatically excluded by the unevolved-only rule.
- Pokémon with Arena Trap — Diglett line specifically banned for uncontestable trap-and-kill patterns at level 5.
- Pokémon banned for breaking the format — historically Sneasel (Speed/Atk profile), Misdreavus (Levitate Calm Mind setup), and other specifically-banned Pokémon. The list rotates per cycle.
Item bans
- Berry Juice nerfs — historically powerful in LC due to instant 20-HP recovery on a level-5 frame; specific interactions banned across cycles.
- Specific-Pokémon item-pair bans — items that produce uncompetitive interactions on specific Pokémon.
Archetypes
LC archetypes lean toward bulky offense and setup wincons. Eviolite's universal defensive boost makes pure offense harder to push through; setup sweepers close games when they can break through Eviolite walls.
Aggressive
Hyper Offense
Six offensive Pokémon. LC HO leans on priority + Choice items + high-base-Speed unevolved Pokémon. Sneasel-style fast threats define the offensive top.
Balance
Bulky Offense
3-4 offensive Pokémon plus 2-3 defensive pivots. MienfooRegenerator + Fake Out + U-turn is the format's archetypal pivot.
Defensive
Stall
Eviolite defensive cores can produce viable stall in LC. Vullaby physical wall + Defog, Misdreavus-equivalents Calm Mind wincons.
Setup
Calm Mind / Iron Defense Wincons
Ghost-type Calm Mind + Stored Power on Misdreavus-equivalents. Iron Defense + Body Press niche on specific Steel-types.
Specialty
Trick Room
Slow setters + Eviolite-bulky physical attackers. Niche but unique due to LC's lower offensive ceiling making slow attackers more competitive.
Priority
Priority offense
Bullet Punch, Aqua Jet, Sucker Punch, Mach Punch, Fake Out — priority moves cover speed-control gaps. Mienfoo Fake Out is universal.
Team roles in LC
The seven structural roles apply to LC with format-specific adaptations. Eviolite-on-everything means defensive walls are more universal; offensive cornerstones rely on raw Speed and offensive item investments.
LC hazard setters: Steel-type unevolved options, niche Sticky Web users. Hazards punish Eviolite-non-holding offensive Pokémon disproportionately.
VullabyDefog is the format's most-played hazard remover. Rapid Spin specialists also viable.
LC speed control: Choice Scarf high-base-Speed users, priority on Mienfoo, Fake Out as the universal turn-1 disrupt.
Mienfoo Regenerator absorbs status via switching. Magic Guard / Natural Cure carriers exist at LC stage of evolution.
Mienfoo Regenerator + U-turn is THE LC pivot. Volt Switch from Electric-type unevolved options.
LC breakers: Specs special attackers (high-base-SpA unevolved), Choice Band physical attackers, niche setup wallbreakers.
LC wincons: Misdreavus-equivalent Calm Mind + Stored Power, niche Iron Defense + Body Press, fast offensive priority cleaners.
What makes LC different
LC is the only Smogon Singles format with structural rules beyond bans. Level cap, roster restriction, and Eviolite universality produce a competitive game distinct from every other tier.
L5
Level cap
Unique to LC
≈100%
Eviolite usage
Universal item
ratio
Stat math
Ratios > absolutes
- Level cap reshapes math — every stat calculation flows through level 5. Move BP, healing absolutes, hazard damage all carry different competitive weight than at level 50/100.
- Eviolite as default — almost every LC Pokémon holds Eviolite. Other items are exceptions, not norms.
- Base-stat ratios over absolutes — small base-stat differences only matter when they cross meaningful thresholds. The format rewards Pokémon-knowledge at a different layer than higher tiers.
- Mienfoo as the format anchor — Regenerator + Fake Out + U-turn produces a Pokémon every team has to plan around.
How to get started
LC is one of Smogon's most distinctive formats. The structural differences from other Singles tiers mean OU experience transfers only partially — LC-specific knowledge is critical.
- Read Smogon's LC tier page — banlist, ability bans, item bans canonical.
- Learn Eviolite math — most LC Pokémon hold Eviolite; understanding which Pokémon CAN'T afford the item slot is critical.
- Build around Mienfoo — most LC teams carry Mienfoo as the central pivot. The Pokémon is the format's structural anchor.
- Copy a sample team — Smogon's LC samples are vetted and rotate less than usage-based tiers.
- Ladder Pokémon Showdown — LC ladder is active. Tournament play continues via LC Open and dedicated LC tournaments.
Where to go from here
The above is the static reference for Gen 9 LC. Live tier data lives in the rest of Pokékipe.
- Live tier data — /sv/lc for LC usage and Pokémon stats.
- Mechanics — Gen 9 — Scarlet & Violet covers Tera and the underlying engine; LC inherits the engine but with the level-5 cap modifying stat math.
- Adjacent formats — Gen 9 PU, Gen 9 Doubles OU as other specialty Singles / Doubles formats.
- Workflow — VGC Teambuilding and Core Mechanics guides.