[Overview]
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<p>Are you looking for a solid Toxic Spikes user in NU? Keep looking. Ariados is horribly outclassed by Roselia, Garbodor, and Scolipede. It has Insomnia and Sucker Punch, which are things that the other three don't have, but unless those two tiny niches are absolutely vital to your team, Ariados's terrible stats and mediocre Attack just don't cut it in NU.</p>
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: X-Scissor
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Baton Pass
item: Focus Sash
ability: Insomnia
nature: Jolly / Adamant
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Toxic Spikes is mandatory on this set, as it is Ariados's best chance at succeeding in NU. X-Scissor is Ariados's strongest attack, and Sucker Punch provides semi-powerful, (AC) if unreliable, (AC) priority. It should be noted that Sucker Punch is one of two things Ariados has over the identically-typed Scolipede (the other being Insomnia). Finally, due to a lack of other significant options, Baton Pass is used to try to steal momentum from the opposition, akin to a damageless U-turn.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread is used to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Band Sawk's Close Combat after switching into Stealth Rock. The remaining EVs are dumped into Attack and Speed. In terms of team support, Alomomola makes a decent partner as its HP is gigantic and it walls the problematic Kangaskhan. Ghost-types such as Misdreavus block Rapid Spin. Mold Breaker Sawk can OHKO common Stealth Rock leads, such as Golem, Piloswine, and Gigalith. As grounded Poison-types absorb Toxic Spikes upon their switch, offensive Ground- or Psychic-types are recommended as partners. Golurk in particular can spinblock and use its STAB Earthquake to damage the opposition.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Ariados has few other viable options. Spider Web is a highly interesting move, but Ariados struggles to make use of it with its bad stats. It gets the always-irritating Swagger and Foul Play combination, but Liepard is preferable for that. Shadow Sneak provides an alternate, weaker priority. Night Shade is intriguing for damaging Steel- and Poison-types but has little use beyond that. Agility can be used for a Baton Pass or full offense set, but it's outclassed severely in both jobs.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Most Poison-types, include Garbodor and Scolipede, can absorb the Toxic Spikes and completely wall Ariados. In terms of rival entry hazard setters, Golem and Gigalith can use Rock Blast to OHKO Ariados through its Focus Sash. Kangaskhan can use Focus Sash Fake Out to disable the Ariados's Focus Sash, then KO with its powerful Normal-type STAB. Ariados is heavily reliant on the its Focus Sash, (RC) and is frail nonetheless, so two powerful hits from just about anything that aren't resisted should do the job.</p>