Spinarak** [QC: 3/3]

[chimp]

Original analysis written by blizzardy. This analysis, among others, had to be completed and submitted in a hurry for Smogon's new dex. The OP here has been fully changed to reflect QC's version of this, written by Goddess Briyella. Corkscrew has already QC checked this within the LC QC project and his changes have already been implemented, and Goddess Briyella and Ray Jay have QCed on the forums, making this QC 3/3.

Overview
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- Gets the rare Sticky Web hazard for slowing down teams
- The only user of Sticky Web to be immune to Sleep
- Gets Toxic Spikes as well
- It now gets Megahorn
- Offense is decent, Speed is very low
- Sub-par bulk
- Sticky Web is the only real reason to use it

Sticky Web
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name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Protect / Toxic Spikes
move 4: Poison Jab / Baton Pass / Toxic Spikes
ability: Insomnia
item: Focus Sash
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spe
nature: Adamant / Jolly

Moves
========

- Sticky Web sets down a hazard that causes a Speed drop to every grounded enemy that enters battle and can be useful in the long run for securing important Speed advantages
- Megahorn is now available to Spinarak and is its most powerful attack, dealing surprising amounts of damage against neutral targets and slamming the ones that are weak to Bug
- Protect blocks Fake Out and therefore guarantees that Focus Sash stays intact long enough to get Sticky Web down without fail
- Toxic Spikes is an additional hazard that inflicts all grounded enemies with Poison status upon entering battle, Poison-type foes effortlessly remove these by coming in, however
- Poison Jab is a secondary STAB option available to Spinarak and is decently powerful
- Baton Pass can be used to "Dry-Pass" to a teammate after getting Sticky Web down and can be useful in maintaining momentum, Spinarak can be sacrificed later as death fodder, usually

Set Details
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- Adamant nature gives Spinarak a respectable maxed Attack stat of 16, from which it can fire off STAB Megahorns for shocking amounts of damage
- Jolly can be used for a bit more Speed at the cost of a bit of attacking power, but it still only maxes at a mere stat of 13
- An advantage Spinarak has over other Sticky Web setters in the tier is that Insomnia makes it immune to Sleep status, and therefore it cannot be prevented from setting up Sticky Web by way of being put to sleep

Usage Tips
========

- Always use Protect when facing a Fake Out user and in the lead position
- Getting Sticky Web down is the absolute highest priority, everything else can wait and if you get nothing done except get this one hazard down, Spinarak has succeeded in doing its job
- Recognize users of Taunt or multi-hit moves, particularly Rock Blast, and don't allow users of these moves to stop Spinarak from doing its job, switch out if necessary, also be wary of Natu
- Don't use Toxic Spikes if your opponent has any grounded Poison-types on their team that can still battle
- Baton Pass can be great for securing momentum even without boosts to pass
- It can often doesn't matter if you sacrifice Spinarak once its set up Sticky Web.
- However it could be preserved as it is a decent switch-in to most Fighting-types thanks to its typing.

Team Options
========

- Dark-types that can deal with Misdreavus for Spinarak are greatly appreciated, examples include Vullaby, Pawniard, Carvanha, etc
- Fighting-types like Mienfoo come to mind for taking the Rock Blasts aimed at Spinarak in an attempt to override its Focus Sash
- Croagunk beats the Prankster Taunt users Cottonee and Purrloin fairly handily, Murkrow has access to this combination as well but does not commonly run Taunt; Magnemite or Chinchou can be ideal teammates for Murkrow if it is deemed a problem
- Strong attackers that are sort of lacking in the Speed department that would appreciate a Speed advantage over their opponents include Mienfoo, Timburr, Cacnea, Pawniard, etc
- Ghost-types such as Misdreavus and Frillish work well for blocking Rapid Spin, and having Defiant Pawniard as a teammate punishes the opposition for using Defog to clear Sticky Web on the switch-in

Other Options
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- Sucker Punch can be used to surprise Misdreavus or other Dark-weak targets
- Shadow Sneak can also be used to pick off weakened threats; its very weak but is more reliable than Sucker Punch.
- X-Scissor is an option over Megahorn that is notably less powerful but is ideal if Megahorn's accuracy is unappealing and you don't want to risk it; however, Spinarak's offense is not what it's supposed to use for anyway
- Agility can be used in tandem with Baton Pass to give it some use after Sticky Web is set.
- Eviolite is useful if you prefer to have some bulk which allows it to easily switch in on Fighting-types not named ScragScraggy or Meditite.

Checks & Counters
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**Pawniard**: Defiant Pawniard is by far a Sticky Web strategy's greatest enemy; it gives it a free +2 Attack and makes it horrifying to face, beware of this thing if you're using Spinarak

**Natu**: Natu is hit decently hard by Megahorn but the problem lies in that Natu's Magic Bounce actually deflects Sticky Web and Toxic Spikes back to Spinarak's side of the field

**Taunt users**: Users of Taunt, most notably ones with the Prankster ability, can prevent Spinarak from putting Sticky Web down and therefore defeat its entire purpose

**Multi-hit move users**: Multi-hit attacks override Focus Sash if the combined damage results in a KO from full health, and Rock Blast is particularly problematic due to Spinarak's Rock weakness; notable users of multi-hit moves include Dwebble, Shellder, Minccino, etc

 

[Mylo Xyloto]

I'm not qc so take these comments with a grain of salt. The set looks a bit messy imo with all the slashes etc. Firstly I dont think Agility should be slashed since Sticky Web already provides the needed speed control. Spinarak should be used as a suicide lead imo, to get Sticky Web off as fast as possible. Thus making Focus Sash the superior item as it guaruntees Spinarak to setup Sticky Web (unless taunt ofc). PS! is allowing Megahorn + Tspikes btw. I'd probably add Taunt users like Misdreavus to checks and counters. As well as pokemon with multi hit moves like Dwebble and Shellder that can KO through Sash to prevent SW. Spinarak is one of 4 Sticky Web users available in lc btw (Spinarak, Surskit, Swewaddle and Kricketot). Below is the set that i use. The evs are to set sticky web as fast as possible, while still being able to hit hard with Megahorn. I'd also mention Swarm in other option, if you want the power. Also mention how Insomnia can be useful vs Tangela and other sleep users like yanma etc.

move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Toxic Spikes / Poison Jab
move 4: Baton Pass / Shadow Sneak
item: Focus Sash
evs: 44 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
nature: Adamant

 

[Raseri]

I really don't like this spinarak set much at all, it has a big case of slashitis, when it really doesn't need it at all. The set should look more like this:

Spinarak @ Focus Sash
Ability: Insomnia
Level: 5
EVs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SDef /196 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Sticky Web
- Megahorn
- Baton Pass / Poison Jab / Toxic Spikes
- Shadow Sneak / Sucker Punch

• The only item Spinarak should use is Focus Sash, it is to frail and slow to use any other item. Even with Eviolite, its pretty frail and risks being OHKOed, therefore not setting up Sticky Web.
• The EV Spread I have is a lot more effective than the one you have in the OP. It fives you max attack and speed, as well as a point in HP, defense, and special defense. Also, the HP EVs give you odd HP, letting you life 3 SR switch-ins if that ever comes into play somehow.
• Sticky Web and Megahorn are non negotiable moves. Without Megahorn, Spinarak would not be a viable setter of Sticky Web. It needs to be the 2nd move, unslashed. It hits hard enough to threaten things. It wont hurt Gligar at all, but LO Tang wont like taking a megahorn, not will anything hit neutrally by it.
• The 3rd and 4th moves are where things get interesting for Spinarak. Generally, you want one of (Baton Pass / Poison Jab / Toxic Spikes) and one of (Shadow Sneak / Sucker Punch). This is what most teams would benefit from. But taking 2 of (Baton Pass / Poison Jab / Toxic Spikes) is also really viable because the priority is weak as shit anyways, and will only be threatening Abra and things that have had a focus sash activated. Because of this, the priority moves should be the 4th move on the set, because theyre the least useful, have less utility, but are still good enough to warrant being there. But it should be made clear that if you are to drop any move on the set, those should be the first to go.
• Toxic Spikes is the last slash on move 3 because you'll almost never have an opportunity to set it up, and against most teams Sticky Web is far more valuable. Keeping up momentum with Baton Pass is better than hitting fairys with Poison Jab because you're really not doing that much to them anyways. BPing out to a counter is much more worthwhile.

I use Spinarak a lot, probably more than anyone else in LC right now, so ill gladly look over this again in the future, but the changes I proposed would requite quite a bit to change in this skeleton. If QC approves my changes, I'll work more with the usage tips, because those could be a bit more helpful as well.

:)

 

[Goddess Briyella]

• Change the name of the set to Sticky Web Setter. It is often a lead but due to there being things that can stop Spinarak from doing its job, sometimes these things must be eliminated before Sticky Web can be reliably used, and as such, it will need to be used at times other than as a lead to function.

• Focus Sash should be the primary item for Spinarak, to absolutely ensure that Sticky Web goes down (in most cases), as it's honestly Spinarak's only selling point for a teamslot. Eviolite can be used, but Spinarak's ability to take hits is not reliable enough to provide the same security as Focus Sash for this purpose.

• Both Mylo Xyloto and Raseri have provided more optimal versions of what should be the standard Spinarak set (though 36 HP EVs are all that's needed to raise HP by a stat point). Since they beat me to it, I'm going to say just go ahead and replace your set's details with what Raseri has here. One important change I recommend though is giving Protect a slash in the fourth slot. Otherwise, Fake Out users can bypass Focus Sash and knock Spinarak out on the following turn before Sticky Web goes down, defeating its purpose.

• As Mylo mentioned, definitely add Taunt users and multi-hit move users to Checks & Counters, with a strong mention for Dwebble, a Pokemon that can setup while Sticky Web goes down, and then pull off an early game sweep by bypassing Spinarak's Focus Sash with Rock Blast. This is especially problematic because Dwebble itself will not be affected by Sticky Web in this scenario and Sturdy + Berry Juice allows Dwebble to live any three attacks in most cases as it is. Switching out of Dwebble provides it with a free setup turn, which is why I'd like to recommend adding Gligar and Eviolite Mienfoo to the Team Options, as they can deal with Dwebble relatively well and is probably Spinarak's worst nightmare in battle, especially when both are in the lead position.

• Insomnia's purpose is important. With random Pokemon having access to sleep moves such as Vulpix and Yanma, it needs to be stressed how this ability ensures that Sticky Web goes down in the face of this kind of preventative measure.

• Add checks to Gligar in the Team Options, as this is a very important base to cover if Sticky Web is going to be used by any player. Scarf Gothita with HP Ice is the biggest one that comes to mind, as it can trap Gligar and kill it off easily in most cases (though it would hate to switch into Knock Off).

• Baton Passing out without stat boosts (or "dry passing") might seem impractical, but it allows you to have switch advantage if the active foe switches out, letting you bring in a teammate most suited to deal with what they switched to. This needs a mention. Megahorn is actually surprisingly strong coming from Spinarak and this should be stressed as well.

Make these changes and that's QC 1/3

Spinarak is one of 4 Sticky Web users available in lc btw (Spinarak, Surskit, Swewaddle and Kricketot).

Unfortunately, Sticky Web is only available to Kricketot's evolution, same case as Joltik.

 

[chimp]

Thank you guys!
I'll make the changes now.

 

[Goddess Briyella]

While somewhat uncommon, Natu should be given a special mention in Checks & Counters as well, as it can deflect Sticky Web with its mere presence on the battlefield.

 

[Kavatika]

Change the HP EVs to 36, you should be optimizing EVs and only putting in what will do something, plus it makes the whole thing look neater.

 

[Eol]

Protect is a good way to prevent fake out users (LO Mienfoo, Meditite, Aipom among others) from ruining your day.

 

[Ray Jay]

QC 2/3

• Formatting: get rid of random bold and make sure you have the correct bullet points throughout (area under set details is correct, area under moves is not), add spaces between your slashes (IE Shadow Sneak / Sucker Punch and not Shadow Sneak/Sucker Punch
• For set name, "Sticky Web" is fine and preferable to "Sticky Web Setter"
• For last two slots: I'd go with Baton Pass / Toxic Spikes in slot 3 and Poison Jab / Shadow Sneak in slot 4, similar to what Raseri suggested. Then, just mention that if one wants priority still but a little more power, they can go with Sucker Punch instead of Shadow Sneak. This setup makes sense as slot 3 then becomes the slot you choose how Spinarak can best support the team; as most Sticky Web teams are offensive, momentum from Baton Pass is valuable, but defensive Sticky Web teams (which are less common but still can exist as it allows defensive Pokemon to outspeed some of their common checks) obviously don't benefit much from momentum so Toxic Spikes is superior. Poison Jab or Shadow Sneak go in slot 4, making it the slot where you choose where you'd like your secondary damage source to come, either as a method of handling Fairy-types later in the game or to pick things off later via priority if you do not sac yourself.
• I'd agree that Protect is worth mentioning on a set with Focus Sash, so at the very least mention it as a possibilty under "Moves" (you can mention things here even if they are not slashed). If you really like Protect, you're welcome to slash it in after Poison Jab / Shadow Sneak.
• You need to stress the importance of opposing Pawniard when playing Sticky Web. Explain thoroughly how it actually enjoys Sticky Web due to Defiant. Make sure to explain what are good teammates for dealing with Pawniard, and that if you set up Sticky Web at the start of the match (you've rightly suggested you don't always have to do this) you've basically set yourself up to fail as many of Pawniard's counters now cannot switch into +2 Knock Off.

I think you've done a great job on this analysis so far.

 

[athleteandy1]

Don't want to add to the slashitis, but Protect has a lot of merit since this is essentially a suicide lead. There are a lot of Fake Out leads (I run one myself and was thwarted by a Protect Spinarak) and Protect preserves the sash.

 

[Goddess Briyella]

This Pokemon, as is the case with many others, was on a list of Pokemon that were high priority and needed to have completed skeletons for Smogon's new dex as soon as possible. As such, the OP of the thread has been fully edited to reflect the QC team's writeup of this Pokemon, as it will make things run a lot faster.

Thank you for understanding. :)

 

[Goddess Briyella]

This article has been reassigned and the new writer has made a new thread for it, so I'll be locking this one.