Galvantula



Overview
########

While Galvantula didn't receive an amazing ability or buffed base stats in the transition to XY, its newfound access to the near-exclusive Sticky Web has finally given it a niche in OU. Being able to effectively neuter fast, deadly threats such as Mega Lucario, Terrakion, Garchomp, and the omnipresent Genesect in a single turn is a huge boon for nearly any team archetype, and as a bonus, Galvantula doesn't fear Magic Bounce as all of its users are destroyed by its dual STAB.

Unfortunately, Galvantula, as well as Sticky Web itself, has some severe limitations that prevent it from being a shoe-in for every team. With the re-introduction of Excadrill to OU and the new Defog mechanics, entry hazards are easier than ever to remove, which is a major problem for Galvantula as its frailty prevents it from reliably setting up Sticky Web more than once a match. Sticky Web also suffers from its inability to affect Flying or Levitating opponents; common Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Thundurus, Talonflame, Latios, and Latias remain unfazed and can carry out their normal duties without interruption, which leaves a lot of Sticky Web's (and thus Galvantula's) utility up to team match-up.

Sticky Web
########
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
ability: Compound Eyes
item: Focus Sash
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Sticky Web is the reason to run Galvantula. It provides massive team support at the cost of only a single turn and instantly provides your team with a huge advantage over the opponent as long it remains active. Thunder combines well with Compound Eyes, reaching a much more reliable 91% accuracy, and helping to make up for Galvantula's mediocre Special Attack with its high Base Power. Thunder provides valuable coverage against Xatu, Starmie, Tentacruel, and Mega Blastoise, which might try to reflect or remove Sticky Web. The high paralysis rate is also generally handy against fast offensive Pokemon that aren't weak to it, such as Terrakion and Genesect, potentially crippling them if they stay in to attack Galvantula. Bug Buzz dissuades Latios and Latias from attempting to use Defog on Galvantula, and also makes short work of Espeon and Mega Absol. Hidden Power Ice provides valuable coverage against Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Garchomp, and is also Galvantula's best way to deal damage to Thundurus-T, which could otherwise use Galvantula as setup fodder. Volt Switch is also an option in the last slot to preserve momentum after Galvantula sets up Sticky Web, although at the cost of greatly limiting its coverage. Hidden Power Fire is also an option in the final slot to 2HKO Excadrill, Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Forretress, and to OHKO Genesect. However, Galvantula needs a Life Orb to secure the 2HKO on Excadrill and the OHKO on Naive Genesect.

Set Details
========

As Galvantula's defenses are beyond salvageable, this set invests solely in Speed and Special Attack to provide as much offensive presence as possible while still Speed tying with other base 108 Speed Pokemon, most notably lead Terrakion. The 4 remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to prevent Genesect from gaining a Special Attack boost from Download. Focus Sash is generally the best item choice as it nearly guarantees that Galvantula will be able to set up Sticky Web in the lead position. However, Life Orb is an option to give Galvantula a secondary role as a speedy, decently powerful attacker and to secure the KOs mentioned earlier.

Usage Tips
========

Sticky Web should be set up as early as possible. As Galvantula has little defensive synergy and very few switch-in opportunities, it should usually lead or be brought in early-game with U-turn or Volt Switch. Galvantula doesn't require much in the way of complex strategy: set up Sticky Web and then do a little bit of damage or Volt Switch away, depending on the match-up. If the opposing team has an obvious Defog user, it's best to not sacrifice Galvantula right away, as its high Speed might give it the opportunity to set up Sticky Web again. It's also best not to immediately set Sticky Web against teams that carry Bisharp, as the Speed drop will double Bisharp's attack every time it switches in.

Team Options
========

Powerful Pokemon with no way to boost their Speed, especially Mega Pokemon, are perfect partners to capitalize off of Galvantula's Sticky Web. Mega Lucario, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Garchomp are great examples of Pokemon that really shine with Sticky Web support. Sticky Web also allows Pokemon that gain Speed upon Mega Evolving to outspeed more threats before they do so. In particular, Sticky Web has good synergy with slow, bulky boosters that fail to outspeed Choice Scarf users at +1, such as Dragonite and Gyarados, as it prevents their sweeps from being cut short by the likes of Choice Scarf Genesect and Terrakion. Swords Dance Bisharp also pairs well with Sticky Web as it becomes much less reliant on Sucker Punch and its mere presence on a team discourages Defog, as the Evasion drop will double its Attack due to its ability, Defiant. Powerful Choice Band and Choice Specs users form the final group of Pokemon that appreciate Sticky Web support. Notably, Choice Band Tyranitar and Choice Specs Sylveon particularly capitalize off of Sticky Web as Flying-type and Levitating Pokemon that don't fear the hazard have difficulty damaging either of them.

In the case that Galvantula is not used as a lead or manages to preserve its Focus Sash, Rapid Spin support from the likes of Excadrill and Mega Blastoise is useful to mitigate Galvantula's own weakness to hazards. Galvantula also pairs well with spinblockers; Gourgeist-H and Trevenant in particular are notable as they can reliably take on Excadrill, though Trevenant risks being overpowered by more offensive sets.

Other Options
########

Energy Ball and Giga Drain can be used to hit Rotom-W and Mamoswine for super effective damage, but they don't hit any other common threats in OU harder than Galvantula's STAB moves. Thief is an option to steal an opponents item after Galvantula uses its Focus Sash, but Galvantula is usually better off attacking or switching out. Galvantula can also run typical Choice or all-out attacker sets, but they're outclassed by many other Electric-type Pokemon, such as Thundurus, Thundurus-T, and Mega Manectric.

Checks & Counters
########

**Special Walls**: Galvantula itself can't break through anything particularly bulky that isn't weak to its STAB moves, but the real threat is Sticky Web.

**Hazard Removal**: Bulky Defog users such as Latias and Scizor can easily remove Sticky Web if given the opportunity, and Excadrill can take any hit from Galvantula itself bar the rare Hidden Power Fire and Rapid Spin away Sticky Web with ease.

**Taunt**: Fast Taunt users can prevent Galvantula from setting up Sticky Web. Most notably, Thundurus can taunt Galvantula, live any hit, and then Volt Switch to break Galvantula's Focus Sash and bring in a counter to finish Galvantula off. Deoxy-S can also Taunt Galvantula to prevent Sticky Web from going up on turn one, but in the process is limited to one layer of hazards if Galvantula immediately attacks it, and possibly even none if Thunder's 30% paralysis chance comes through. Terrakion risks a Speed tie but can also Taunt Galvantula and proceed to set up Stealth Rock.
 
Last edited:

Ash Borer

I've heard they're short of room in hell
In Galvantula's moveslot descriptions, can you mention that bug buzz is pretty useful not just due to STAB but because it can really do a number on common defoggers; Latios and Latias. It also helps beat magic bounce Espeon, and Mega Absol, while thunder reduces Xatu to ashes. Galvantula doesnt do enough damage to simply say "it's STAB so you want it", but you definitely do want it. Hidden power fire is a decent other option i'd say, it lets you beat up common defoggers and spinners, or at least do real damage to Excadrill, Scizor, and Forretress who immediately try and dismantle your web. Starmie, the other good rapid spinner is already punished brutally with Thunder if it attempts to spin on you. Having an opponent u-turn on Galv, brining you down to focus sash, while you set sticky web, then going into forretress to try and spin only to be OHKO'd by HP fire after is pretty plausible, imo.
 
I expanded on Bug Buzz and Thunder and the targets they hit. I had considered HP Fire as a slash when I wrote the skeleton, but I left it in AC for now because that's what QC decided on for the pre-pokebank preview.
 
Mention some Choice Specs and Choice Band Pokemon in the team options that benefit from Sticky Web, not just slow boosters or Megas. You can also mention Bisharp as a means to discourage Defog users, as it will give Bisharp an instant +2 Attack.

Mention some fast Taunt users that can prevent Sticky Web from being laid down early.

QC 1/3
 
while giga drain's healing is nice i'd think i'd rather use energy ball for the power since it's 90 BP now for the targets for a grass move.
 

PK Gaming

Persona 5
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There's no mention Sticky Web being limited to grounded pokemon in the Overview. There's also no mention of it being somewhat easy to remove (doubly so because Galvantula practically no longevity and that it's vulnerable to Excadrill).
Outclassed by other electric types outside of its access to Sticky Web
Mentioning that it's outclassed by electric-types outside of that is unnecessary. Galvantula is only viable because of Sticky Web... in other words, Galvantula = Sticky Web, it doesn't exist as a Pokemon in OU outside of it.

You mentioned strong Choice users that can abuse Sticky Web, but I think you can take it one step further. Choice Band Tyranitar & Choice Specs Sylveon are fantastic Sticky Web abusers because the Pokemon that are unaffected by Sticky Web have difficulty taking down either Pokemon. Latios, Latias, Thundurus(w/o LO), Talonflame (in Tyranitar's case) & Rotom-W. They deserve special mention.
 
There's no mention Sticky Web being limited to grounded pokemon in the Overview. There's also no mention of it being somewhat easy to remove (doubly so because Galvantula practically no longevity and that it's vulnerable to Excadrill).

Mentioning that it's outclassed by electric-types outside of that is unnecessary. Galvantula is only viable because of Sticky Web... in other words, Galvantula = Sticky Web, it doesn't exist as a Pokemon in OU outside of it.

You mentioned strong Choice users that can abuse Sticky Web, but I think you can take it one step further. Choice Band Tyranitar & Choice Specs Sylveon are fantastic Sticky Web abusers because the Pokemon that are unaffected by Sticky Web have difficulty taking down either Pokemon. Latios, Latias, Thundurus(w/o LO), Talonflame (in Tyranitar's case) & Rotom-W. They deserve special mention.
Made these changes + wrote it up. Ready for 3rd QC check hopefully.
 
Good job overall, but there were several capitalization errors and abbreviations used where they shouldn't be. Try to be more careful with that.
Additions in Blue
Subtractions in Red
Comments in Purple
Overview
########

While Galvantula didn't receive an amazing ability or buffed base stats in the transition to XY, its newfound access to the near-exclusive Sticky Web has finally given the electrified arachnid it a niche in OU. Being able to effectively neuter fast, deadly threats like such as Mega Lucario, Terrakion, Garchomp, and the omnipresent Genesect in a single turn is a huge boon for nearly any team archetype - (change to comma) and as a bonus, Galvantula doesn't fear Magic Bounce as all of its users are destroyed by its dual STAB. Unfortunately, Galvantula, as well as Sticky Web itself, have has some severe limitations that prevent it from being a shoe-in for every team - (start new sentence) with the re-introduction of Excadrill to OU and the new Defog mechanics, entry hazards are easier than ever to remove, which is a major problem for Galvantula as its fraility frailty prevents it from reliably setting up Sticky Web more than once a match. Sticky Web also suffers from its inability to affect flying or levitating Flying and Levitating opponents; common Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Thundurus, Talonflame, and the Lati twins Latios, and Latias remain unfazed and can carry out their normal duties without interruption, which leaves a lot of Sticky Web's (and thus Galvantula's) utility up to team match-up.

Sticky Web
########
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Volt Switch / Hidden Power Ice
ability: Compoundeyes Compound Eyes (new XY spelling)
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Sticky Web is the reason to run Galvantula. It provides massive team support for at the cost of only a single turn and instantly provides a huge advantage over the opponent as long it remains active. Thunder combines well with Compoundeyes Compound Eyes, providing it with reaching a much more reliable 91% accuracy (add comma) and helping helps to make up for Galvantula's mediocre Special Attack with its increased base power high Base Power. Thunder provides valuable coverage for against Xatu, Starmie, Tentacruel, and Mega Blastoise, who may which might try to reflect or remove Sticky Web. The high paralysis rate is also generally handy against fast offensive pokemon Pokemon that aren't weak to it, like such as Terrakion or and Genesect, potentially crippling them if they stay in to attack Galvantula. Bug Buzz dissuades the Lati twins Latios and Latias from attempting to use defog Defog on Galvantula, as well as making short work of Espeon and Mega Absol. Volt Switch is used in the last slot to preserve momentum after Galvantula sets up Sticky Web. However (add comma) Hidden Power Ice provides valuable coverage for against Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Garchomp, and is also Galvantula's best way to deal damage to Thundurus-T, who which could otherwise use Galvantula as set-up setup fodder. Hidden Power Fire is also an option in the final slot to OHKO Genesect and to 2HKO Excadrill, Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Forretress, though the OHKO on Naive Genesect and the 2HKO on Excadrill are only secured if Galvantula runs Life Orb. The 2HKO on Excadrill is especially notable because it can Rapid Spin away Sticky Web and doesn't care about anything else Galvantula can do. (even unslashed moves go in the moves section; your call, but you might want to slightly reword this though, because there's more on why you would choose Hidden Power Fire than the two slashed moves)

Set Details
========

As Galvantula's defenses are beyond salvageable, this set invests solely in speed and special attack Speed and Special Attack to provide as much offensive presence as possible while still speed-tying Speed tying with other base 108 speed Speed Pokemon, most notably anti-lead Terrakion. The 4 remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to prevent Genesect from gaining a Special Attack boost from Download. As for items, Focus Sash is the superior option for teams that lack speed Speed boosting sweepers or and fast revenge killers and rely on Sticky Web as a win condition. However, Life Orb can be used on more offensive teams to give Galvantula a secondary role as a speedy, decently powerful attacker and to secure the KOs mentioned earlier. Hidden Power Fire is also an option in the final slot to 2HKO Excadrill, Scizor, Ferrothorn, Forretress, and to OHKO Genesect. The 2HKO on Excadrill is especially notable because it can rapid spin away Sticky Web and doesn't care about anything else Galvantula can do. However, Galvantula needs a Life Orb to secure the 2HKO on Excadrill and the OHKO on Naive Genesect.

Usage Tips
========

Sticky Web should be set up as early as possible. As Galvantula has little defensive synergy and very few switch-in opportunities, it should usually lead or be brought in early game early-game with a pivoting move like U-turn or Volt Switch. Galvantula doesn't require much in the way of complex strategy - (change to colon) set up Sticky Web, (remove comma) and then do a little bit of damage or volt switch Volt Switch away, depending on the match-up. If the opposing team has an obvious Defog user, it's best to not sacrifice Galvantula right away, as its high speed may Speed might give it the opportunity to set up Sticky Web again.

Team Options
========

Powerful Pokemon with no way to boost their speed Speed—especially Mega Pokemon—are perfect partners to capitalize off of Galvantula's Sticky Web - especially Mega Pokemon. Mega Lucario, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Garchomp are great examples of Pokemon that really shine with Sticky Web support. Sticky Web also allows these Pokemon that gain Speed upon Mega Evolving to outspeed more threats before they gain their speed boosts upon Mega Evolving do so. Sticky Web also has particularly good synergy with slow, bulky boosters such as Dragonite and Gyarados that fail to outspeed scarfers Choice Scarf users at +1, as it prevents their sweeps from being cut short by the likes of Choice Scarf Genesect or and Terrakion. Swords Dance Bisharp also pairs well with Sticky Web as it makes it becomes much less reliant on Sucker Punch and Bisharp's its mere presence on a team discourages Defog as the evasion drop will double its attack Attack due to its ability, Defiant. Powerful Choice Band and Choice Specs users also appreciate Sticky Web support. Notably, Choice Band Tyranitar and Choice Specs Sylveon particularly capitalize off of Sticky Web as Flying-type and Levitating Pokemon that don't fear the hazard have difficulty damaging either of them regardless. In the case Galvantula is not used as a lead or manages to preserve its Focus Sash, Rapid Spin support from the likes of Excadrill or and Mega Blastoise is useful to mitigate Galvantula's own weakness to hazards. Galvantula also pairs well with spinblockers - change to semicolon) Gourgeist-Super Gourgeist-H and Trevenant in particular are notable as they can reliably take on Excadrill - (change to comma) though Trevenant risks being overpowered by more offensive sets.

Other Options
########

Energy Ball or and Giga Drain can be used to hit Rotom-W and Mamoswine for super effective damage, but they don't hit any other common threats in OU harder than Galvantula's STAB moves. Galvantula can also run typical Choice or All Out Attacker all-out attacker sets, but they're outclassed by many other Electric-type Pokemon, such as Thundurus(-T) Thundurus, Thundurus-T, and Mega Manectric.

Checks & Counters
########

**Special Walls**: Galvantula itself can't break through anything particularly bulky that isn't weak to its STAB moves, but the real threat is Sticky Web.
(add line break)
**Hazard Removal**: Sturdy Defog users like such as Latias and Scizor can easily remove Sticky Web if given the opportunity, and Excadrill can take any hit from Galvantula itself bar the rare Hidden Power Fire and Rapid Spin away Sticky Web with ease.
(add line break)
**Taunt**: Fast taunt Taunt users can hinder prevent Galvantula from setting up Sticky Web, (start new sentence) most notably Thundurus-I, who Most notably, Thundurus can taunt Galvantula, live any hit, and then Volt Switch to break Galvantula's sash while bringing Focus Sash and bring in a counter to finish Galvantula off. Deo-S Deoxys-S can also Taunt Galvantula to prevent Sticky Web from going up first turn, but in the process is limited to one layer of hazards if Galvantula immediately attacks it, (remove comma) and possibly none if Thunder's 30% paralysis chance comes through. Terrakion risks a speed Speed tie but can also taunt Galvantula and proceed to set up Stealth Rock.


GP: 1/2
 
Overview
########

While Galvantula didn't receive an amazing ability or buffed base stats in the transition to XY, its newfound access to the near-exclusive Sticky Web has finally given it a niche in OU. Being able to effectively neuter fast, deadly threats such as Mega Lucario, Terrakion, Garchomp, and the omnipresent Genesect in a single turn is a huge boon for nearly any team archetype, and as a bonus, Galvantula doesn't fear Magic Bounce as all of its users are destroyed by its dual STAB (i'd paragraph break after this).

Unfortunately, Galvantula, as well as Sticky Web itself, has some severe limitations that prevent it from being a shoe-in for every team. With the re-introduction of Excadrill to OU and the new Defog mechanics, entry hazards are easier than ever to remove, which is a major problem for Galvantula as its frailty prevents it from reliably setting up Sticky Web more than once a match. Sticky Web also suffers from its an inability to affect Flying or Levitating opponents; common Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Thundurus, Talonflame, Latios, and Latias remain unfazed and can carry out their normal duties without interruption, which leaves a lot of Sticky Web's (and thus Galvantula's) utility up to team match-up.

Sticky Web
########
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Volt Switch / Hidden Power Ice
ability: Compound Eyes
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Sticky Web is the reason to run Galvantula. It provides massive team support at the cost of only a single turn and instantly provides your team with a huge advantage over the opponent as long it remains active. Thunder combines well with Compound Eyes, reaching a much more reliable 91% accuracy, and helping to make up for Galvantula's mediocre Special Attack with its high Base Power. Thunder provides valuable coverage against Xatu, Starmie, Tentacruel, and Mega Blastoise, which might try to reflect or remove Sticky Web. The high paralysis rate is also generally handy against fast offensive Pokemon that aren't weak to it, such as Terrakion and Genesect, potentially crippling them if they stay in to attack Galvantula. Bug Buzz dissuades the Latios and Latias from attempting to use Defog on Galvantula, as well as making and also makes short work of Espeon and Mega Absol. Volt Switch is used in the last slot to preserve momentum after Galvantula sets up Sticky Web. However, Hidden Power Ice provides valuable coverage against Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Garchomp, and is also Galvantula's best way to deal damage to Thundurus-T, which could otherwise use Galvantula as setup fodder. Hidden Power Fire is also an option in the final slot to 2HKO Excadrill, Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Forretress, and to OHKO Genesect. However, Galvantula needs a Life Orb to secure the 2HKO on Excadrill and the OHKO on Naive Genesect.

Set Details
========

As Galvantula's defenses are beyond salvageable, this set invests solely in Speed and Special Attack to provide as much offensive presence as possible while still Speed tying with other base 108 Speed Pokemon, most notably anti-lead Terrakion. The 4 remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to prevent Genesect from gaining a Special Attack boost from Download. As for items, Focus Sash is the superior option for teams that lack Speed-(hyphen)boosting sweepers and fast revenge killers,(comma) and rely on Sticky Web as a win condition. However, Life Orb can be used on more offensive teams to give Galvantula a secondary role as a speedy, decently powerful attacker and to secure the KOs mentioned earlier.

Usage Tips
========

Sticky Web should be set up as early as possible. As Galvantula has little defensive synergy and very few switch-in opportunities, it should usually lead or be brought in early-game with a pivoting move like U-turn or Volt Switch. Galvantula doesn't require much in the way of complex strategy: set up Sticky Web and then do a little bit of damage or Volt Switch away, depending on the match-up. If the opposing team has an obvious Defog user, it's best to not sacrifice Galvantula right away, as its high Speed might give it the opportunity to set up Sticky Web again.

Team Options
========

Powerful Pokemon with no way to boost their Speed, especially Mega Pokemon, are perfect partners to capitalize off of Galvantula's Sticky Web. Mega Lucario, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Garchomp are great examples of Pokemon that really shine with Sticky Web support. Sticky Web also allows Pokemon that gain Speed upon Mega Evolving to outspeed more threats before they do so. In particular, Sticky Web also has particularly good synergy with slow, bulky boosters such as Dragonite and Gyarados that fail to outspeed Choice Scarf users at +1, such as Dragonite and Gyarados, as it prevents their sweeps from being cut short by the likes of Choice Scarf Genesect and Terrakion. Swords Dance Bisharp also pairs well with Sticky Web as it becomes much less reliant on Sucker Punch and its mere presence on a team discourages Defog,(comma) as the Evasion drop will double its Attack due to its ability, Defiant. Powerful Choice Band and Choice Specs users also form the final group of Pokemon that appreciate Sticky Web support. Notably, Choice Band Tyranitar and Choice Specs Sylveon particularly capitalize off of Sticky Web as Flying-type and Levitating Pokemon that don't fear the hazard have difficulty damaging either of them.
paragraph break, imo
In the case that Galvantula is not used as a lead or manages to preserve its Focus Sash, Rapid Spin support from the likes of Excadrill and Mega Blastoise is useful to mitigate Galvantula's own weakness to hazards. Galvantula also pairs well with spinblockers;(semicolon) Gourgeist-H and Trevenant in particular are notable as they can reliably take on Excadrill, though Trevenant risks being overpowered by more offensive sets.

Other Options
########

Energy Ball and Giga Drain can be used to hit Rotom-W and Mamoswine for super effective damage, but they don't hit any other common threats in OU harder than Galvantula's STAB moves do. Galvantula can also run typical Choice or all-out attacker sets, but they're outclassed by many other Electric-type Pokemon, such as Thundurus, Thundurus-T, and Mega Manectric.

Checks & Counters
########

**Special Walls**: Galvantula itself can't break through anything particularly bulky that isn't weak to its STAB moves, but the real threat is Sticky Web.

**Hazard Removal**: Sturdy Bulky my first thought was the ability sturdy, lol :x Defog users such as Latias and Scizor can easily remove Sticky Web if given the opportunity, and Excadrill can take any hit from Galvantula itself bar the rare Hidden Power Fire and Rapid Spin away Sticky Web with ease.

**Taunt**: Fast Taunt users can hinder prevent Galvantula from setting up Sticky Web. Most notably,(comma) Thundurus can taunt Galvantula, live any hit, and then Volt Switch to break Galvantula's Focus Sash and bring in a counter to finish Galvantula off. Deoxys-S can also Taunt Galvantula to prevent Sticky Web from going up first turn on turn one, but in the process is limited to one layer of hazards if Galvantula immediately attacks it,(comma) and possibly even none if Thunder's 30% paralysis chance comes through. Terrakion risks a Speed tie but can also Taunt Galvantula and proceed to set up Stealth Rock.
hardly anything to change (melvni you are too good!) haha, good work everyone :)

gp 2/2
 
Last edited:

Knight of Cydonia

I COULD BE BANNED!
It may be worth mentioning in the usage tips to watch out for opposing Bisharp since if you set up Sticky Web you then have to deal with a +2 Bisharp every time it comes in (not an easy thing to do).
 

PK Gaming

Persona 5
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Discord Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Past SPL Champion
Hidden Power Ice and Focus Sash should be the only move/item choice listed on the main set. Everything else can be mentioned in set details. Oh and mention Thief too; you can steal some valuable items after your Sash is broken.

Sorry about this.
 

Aragorn the King

Literally a duck
is a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnus
Overview
########

While Galvantula didn't receive an amazing ability or buffed base stats in the transition to XY, its newfound access to the near-exclusive Sticky Web has finally given it a niche in OU. Being able to effectively neuter fast, deadly threats such as Mega Lucario, Terrakion, Garchomp, and the omnipresent Genesect in a single turn is a huge boon for nearly any team archetype, and as a bonus, Galvantula doesn't fear Magic Bounce as all of its users are destroyed by its dual STAB.

Unfortunately, Galvantula, as well as Sticky Web itself, has some severe limitations that prevent it from being a shoe-in for every team. With the re-introduction of Excadrill to OU and the new Defog mechanics, entry hazards are easier than ever to remove, which is a major problem for Galvantula as its frailty prevents it from reliably setting up Sticky Web more than once a match. Sticky Web also suffers from its inability to affect Flying or Levitating opponents; common Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Thundurus, Talonflame, Latios, and Latias remain unfazed and can carry out their normal duties without interruption, which leaves a lot of Sticky Web's (and thus Galvantula's) utility up to team match-up.

Sticky Web
########
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Bug Buzz
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
ability: Compound Eyes
item: Focus Sash
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Sticky Web is the reason to run Galvantula. It provides massive team support at the cost of only a single turn and instantly provides your team with a huge advantage over the opponent as long it remains active. Thunder combines well with Compound Eyes, reaching a much more reliable 91% accuracy, and helping to make up for Galvantula's mediocre Special Attack with its high Base Power. Thunder provides valuable coverage against Xatu, Starmie, Tentacruel, and Mega Blastoise, which might try to reflect or remove Sticky Web. The high paralysis rate is also generally handy against fast offensive Pokemon that aren't weak to it, such as Terrakion and Genesect, potentially crippling them if they stay in to attack Galvantula. Bug Buzz dissuades Latios and Latias from attempting to use Defog on Galvantula, and also makes short work of Espeon and Mega Absol. Hidden Power Ice provides valuable coverage against Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Garchomp, and is also Galvantula's best way to deal damage to Thundurus-T, which could otherwise use Galvantula as setup fodder. Volt Switch is also an option in the last slot to preserve momentum after Galvantula sets up Sticky Web, although at the cost of greatly limiting its coverage. Hidden Power Fire is also an option in the final slot to 2HKO Excadrill, Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Forretress, and to OHKO Genesect. However, Galvantula needs a Life Orb to secure the 2HKO on Excadrill and the OHKO on Naive Genesect.

Set Details
========

As Galvantula's defenses are beyond salvageable, this set invests solely in Speed and Special Attack to provide as much offensive presence as possible while still Speed tying with other base 108 Speed Pokemon, most notably lead Terrakion. The 4 remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to prevent Genesect from gaining a Special Attack boost from Download. Focus Sash is generally the best item choice as it nearly guarantees that Galvantula will be able to set up Sticky Web in the lead position. However, Life Orb is an option to give Galvantula a secondary role as a speedy, decently powerful attacker and to secure the KOs mentioned earlier.

Usage Tips
========

Sticky Web should be set up as early as possible. As Galvantula has little defensive synergy and very few switch-in opportunities, it should usually lead or be brought in early-game with U-turn or Volt Switch. Galvantula doesn't require much in the way of complex strategy: set up Sticky Web and then do a little bit of damage or Volt Switch away, depending on the match-up. If the opposing team has an obvious Defog user, it's best to not sacrifice Galvantula right away, as its high Speed might give it the opportunity to set up Sticky Web again. It's also best not to immediately set Sticky Web against teams that carry Bisharp, as the Speed drop will double Bisharp's attack every time it switches in.

Team Options
========

Powerful Pokemon with no way to boost their Speed, especially Mega Pokemon, are perfect partners to capitalize off of Galvantula's Sticky Web. Mega Lucario, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Garchomp are great examples of Pokemon that really shine with Sticky Web support. Sticky Web also allows Pokemon that gain Speed upon Mega Evolving to outspeed more threats before they do so. In particular, Sticky Web has good synergy with slow, bulky boosters that fail to outspeed Choice Scarf users at +1, such as Dragonite and Gyarados, as it prevents their sweeps from being cut short by the likes of Choice Scarf Genesect and Terrakion. Swords Dance Bisharp also pairs well with Sticky Web as it becomes much less reliant on Sucker Punch and its mere presence on a team discourages Defog, as the Evasion drop will double its Attack due to its ability, Defiant. Powerful Choice Band and Choice Specs users form the final group of Pokemon that appreciate Sticky Web support. Notably, Choice Band Tyranitar and Choice Specs Sylveon particularly capitalize off of Sticky Web as Flying-type and Levitating Pokemon that don't fear the hazard have difficulty damaging either of them.

In the case that Galvantula is not used as a lead or manages to preserve its Focus Sash, Rapid Spin support from the likes of Excadrill and Mega Blastoise is useful to mitigate Galvantula's own weakness to hazards. Galvantula also pairs well with spinblockers; Gourgeist-H Gourgeist-XL and Trevenant in particular are notable as they can reliably take on Excadrill, though Trevenant risks being overpowered by more offensive sets.

Other Options
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Energy Ball and Giga Drain can be used to hit Rotom-W and Mamoswine for super effective damage, but they don't hit any other common threats in OU harder than Galvantula's STAB moves. Thief is an option to steal an opponents item after Galvantula uses its Focus Sash, but Galvantula is usually better off attacking or switching out. Galvantula can also run typical Choice or all-out attacker sets, but they're outclassed by many other Electric-type Pokemon, such as Thundurus, Thundurus-T, and Mega Manectric.

Checks & Counters
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**Special Walls**: Galvantula itself can't break through anything particularly bulky that isn't weak to its STAB moves, but the real threat is Sticky Web.

**Hazard Removal**: Bulky Defog users such as Latias and Scizor can easily remove Sticky Web if given the opportunity, and Excadrill can take any hit from Galvantula itself bar the rare Hidden Power Fire and Rapid Spin away Sticky Web with ease.

**Taunt**: Fast Taunt users can prevent Galvantula from setting up Sticky Web. Most notably, Thundurus can taunt Galvantula, live any hit, and then Volt Switch to break Galvantula's Focus Sash and bring in a counter to finish Galvantula off. Deoxy-S can also Taunt Galvantula to prevent Sticky Web from going up on turn one, but in the process is limited to one layer of hazards if Galvantula immediately attacks it, and possibly even none if Thunder's 30% paralysis chance comes through. Terrakion risks a Speed tie but can also Taunt Galvantula and proceed to set up Stealth Rock.
All of the bolded words need to be removed. Also, change the writing of Gourgeist-H to XL.

Also, I'm pretty sure Galvantula has been decided to be generally worse than Shuckle and Smeargle, and yet neither is mentioned. I think this analysis should be reworked to fit the current metagame, with no more Mega Luke, Genesect, Trevenent, and Forretress, and Galvantula often finding itself outclassed.

QC thoughts? I'll just tag Ash Borer and TRC., cuz they're cool and online.
 

Ash Borer

I've heard they're short of room in hell
well, the unfortunate thing is that this was completed so long ago, and the way this usually works is that this would have been uploaded months ago, and a new analysis would be written now that the meta is completely different.

steviestar you around dude? This needs some updating if youre willing? If not we can get someone else to do it.

But yes, the overview should reflect competition from shuckle and shit
 
I'm still alive, just been putting this off because this analysis is so out of date that it basically needs to be completely rewritten lol. I'll revamp this later tonight with all of the Genesect / Lucario mentions replaced with pokemon relevant now and with a large emphasis on how Shuckle is typically the superior Sticky Web setter for most teams.
 
Eh, on second thought... I would prefer for this to be reassigned. I haven't actually used Galvantula at all recently and tbh I have pretty serious doubts about its viability in general. Someone with more experience with Galvantula in the current metagame should take this over.
 

Ash Borer

I've heard they're short of room in hell
yeah Galv is pretty bad. Shuckle does the job much more reliably, and smeargle, although is smeargle its more appealing than Galv I think.

This is probably going to get rejected, briefly, on the grounds that Galv's lack of utility and offensive presence, combined with its frailty means that it isnt that hard to easily take down and remove hazards on. Galv pretty much never does anything but sashlead webs while Shucks can be used midgame due to bulk, and can get up SR, encore anti hazard users, and such.

k this thing is ass theres almost no reason to use it over shuck lee

QC reject 1/3
 
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CyclicCompound

is a bicycle person thing
is a Contributor Alumnus
I have two main problems with Galvantula.

Similarly to Ash Borer's argument, Galvantula doesn't do much more than set up Sticky Web. It actually has a decent offensive presence—most Pokemon can't really set up on it safely—but this is ruined by the fact that Galvantula has to take a turn to set up sticky web, which in most cases ends in its utter destruction in the following turn. You're essentially sacrificing a whole teamslot to set up a single entry hazard, and barely nothing else.

The second problem is Sticky Web itself. It's a decent entry hazard every now and then, and I'm will admit I've lost at least a couple battles in which Sticky Web was a serious detriment. However, the problem is that it's not always useful. It's a free Swords Dance to Bisharp, which sucks. Stall couldn't care less about it, which sucks. A lot of OU's top attackers are completely immune to it—Latios, Talonflame, Thundurus, and Landorus, among others, jump to mind—which sucks. And of course, it can be removed—almost always after Galvantula is already dead—which sucks.

So what you're left with is an already-subpar Pokemon whose only relevant role isn't even guaranteed to matter in every match. At least Smeargle and Shuckle have relevant uses outside of Sticky Web (being an okay-ish special attacker doesn't count when you're severely outclassed by every other special attacker).

QC Reject 2/3
 

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