Creatine should be used on cycle, off cycle, and everything in between. There is NEVER a time to come off of it, and it does not need to be cycled. The water retained on creatine is exactly what you want, because it puts water inside the muscle where you need it, giving more fullness, and not at the sub-Q level under the skin like some believe. Anybody that doesn't use creatine before a contest is cutting it out for the wrong reasons, and will lose a little fullness because of it. Creatine will not smooth you out in any way, shape, or form. Some people can get a little bloat by creatine loading from super saturation, which is exactly why loading is unnecessary.