[OVERVIEW]
Leavanny is the fastest user of Sticky Web in the tier, allowing it to set up Sticky Web against most foes even without the aid of a Focus Sash. Leavanny also has dual STAB types that allow it to threaten a wide variety of entry hazard removers and Stealth Rock users, giving it a good lead matchup compared to the other Sticky Web users. This also grants Leavanny the best offensive presence out of all the available Sticky Web users. However, like all Sticky Web users, Leavanny has a poor typing and average bulk, which give it a very short lifespan, preventing it from setting up Sticky Web repeatedly and keeping it on the field, as most entry hazard removers have better longevity than Leavanny. Leavanny also struggles to bypass Xatu, which can ward off Sticky Web with its Magic Bounce. Leavanny's most notable flaw is that it lacks a real way to deter bulky foes from setting up on it outside of raw power, and Leavanny isn't exactly a powerhouse in that regard.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Leaf Storm
move 3: Electroweb
move 4: Bug Buzz
item: Focus Sash
ability: Swarm
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web slows down the opponent's grounded Pokemon, giving powerful teammates such as Sawk, Magmortar, and Aurorus the advantage in Speed. Leaf Storm is Leavanny's main weapon, demolishing common entry hazard removers such as Kabutops, Prinplup, Claydol, and Sandslash, as well as pummeling various Stealth Rock users such as Rhydon, Piloswine, and Carracosta. Electroweb is an important move for Leavanny, as its Speed drop grants Leavanny more flexibility as a lead. Electroweb lets Leavanny gain the advantage against faster Taunt users such as Archeops and Mismagius, allowing Leavanny to properly decide its next course of action depending on the foe's move without wasting any precious turns. Electroweb also deals some chip damage against faster foes while still allowing Leavanny to set up Sticky Web, as well as slow down foes that have not been affected by Sticky Web for its teammates. Bug Buzz gives Leavanny an additional STAB move and is Leavanny's best weapon against Xatu, especially if boosted by Swarm, while also striking down Mesprit, Torterra, Lilligant, and Shiftry, which may try to set up or use Defog. More importantly, Bug Buzz provides the team insurance against Malamar, which may try to take advantage of Sticky Web with Contrary and pull off a sweep.
Magic Coat is a possible alternative to prevent Leavanny from being Taunted outright and allow it to set up Sticky Web, and it is notably useful against defensive Mawile by reflecting back Stealth Rock and Taunt. Magic Coat can also reflect back Spikes and Lovely Kiss from the likes of Garbodor, Roselia, and Jynx, but it would be risky to attempt Magic Coat against these foes due to their super effective STAB moves. Magic Coat also requires stellar prediction and has the potential to do nothing, whereas Electroweb also already makes a fine response against the faster Taunt users and is much safer to use.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Timid nature allow Leavanny to outspeed as much as possible, maximizing its chances to set up Sticky Web even without its Focus Sash intact. It also allows Leavanny to outspeed uninvested +1 Malamar, which Leavanny can proceed to KO with Bug Buzz. Maximum Special Attack investment allows Leavanny to dish out the most damage possible, which is important, as its time on the field is short. Focus Sash allows Leavanny to survive any one hit from faster foes. Swarm gives a significant boost to Bug Buzz, which can overwhelm Xatu, but Overcoat is a possible alternative to prevent hail or sand from rendering Leavanny's Focus Sash useless, although neither weather condition is very common.
Usage Tips
========
Setting up Sticky Web should be Leavanny's main priority. However, Leavanny does not necessarily have to lead, as its Speed usually allows it to set up Sticky Web on at least one of the opponent's Pokemon. Because of this, Leavanny can afford to hold off on setting up Sticky Web if it can threaten a KO on a slower Pokemon, namely a Rock-, Water-, or Ground-type, and if the opponent has other slower Pokemon available that can give Leavanny additional opportunities to set up Sticky Web. Should Leavanny, with its Focus Sash intact, face a faster foe, it should use Electroweb before setting up Sticky Web to both deal chip damage and slow down the foe for its teammates; however, this strategy is not advised if the foe has access to any priority moves besides Sucker Punch. Leavanny should exercise caution if Xatu is present on the opponent's team, as Sticky Web can be bounced back via a timely Xatu switch in. Leavanny should hit Xatu on the switch with either Electroweb or Bug Buzz in order to prompt it to use Roost, giving Leavanny's teammates a free switch into it. While it isn't advised to preserve Leavanny, it can be saved for the late-game, as it can launch strong and fast attacks of its own and act as insurance against Malamar.
Team Options
========
Leavanny only really fits on offensive teams, as they best take advantage of the opposing team's decreased Speed and punish any attempts to use Rapid Spin or Defog with powerful blows. Spinblockers prevent Rapid Spin from clearing Sticky Web, making them useful partners; Misdreavus makes for a reliable bulky spinblocker that can make decent use of Sticky Web with access to Taunt and Will-O-Wisp, Rotom is a more offensive spinblocker that can deal with Flying-types, which are immune to Sticky Web, and Golurk is an offensive powerhouse that is more than capable of making use of Sticky Web. Fighting-types, such as Sawk and Primeape, can punch through slowed foes with little trouble while providing insurance against Pawniard, which is a threat against Sticky Web teams due to Defiant, by virtue of their resistance to Sucker Punch; Primeape even has Defiant as a bonus to take advantage of the opponent's Defog users. Malamar, Servine, and Pawniard make opposing Xatu's attempts at bouncing back Leavanny's Sticky Web fruitless, as the Contrary users will receive a boost in Speed and outrun foes, while Pawniard trades Speed for a +2 Attack boost, which is incredibly useful when using Sucker Punch.
Powerful attackers in general highly appreciate Sticky Web support; the likes of Magmortar, Jynx, Aurorus, Kabutops, Zangoose, Kangaskhan, and Mawile gain a wider range of targets that they can now plow through. It is advisable to have teammates that can counter Flying-types and Levitate users, most of which pack great offensive presence of their own and are immune to Sticky Web; Rhydon, Piloswine, Aurorus, and Kabutops make for decent stops against Flying-types, while priority moves can also help to keep both Flying-types and Levitate users in check. Alternatively, equipping a Choice Scarf on the likes of Jynx and Rotom can also help combat airborne Pokemon. Rapid Spin users such as Kabutops and Sandslash can get rid of entry hazards for Leavanny should it not want to lead but still intend to keep its Focus Sash intact, but this isn't particularly necessary.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
While Leavanny's Attack stat is superior to its Special Attack stat, the fact that Leaf Storm gives Leavanny the most favorable matchups possible means that running physical moves alongside it is considered less efficient than running full Special Attack investment. Leaf Blade is inferior to Leaf Storm against a large majority of its targets. While X-Scissor is stronger against Skuntank and Cryogonal, a fully invested Bug Buzz does more damage against most targets, particularly Psychic-types that typically run physically defensive investment. Knock Off is the most appealing physical move Leavanny gets, but considering most Xatu run physically defensive investment and commonly hold a Colbur Berry, it is much less effective against Xatu in practice. Knock Off would also require substantial Attack investment, which Leavanny cannot afford without detracting from its Speed or Leaf Storm's power. Leavanny has Flail, which makes mild use of its Focus Sash, but it doesn't offer much in either coverage or consistency.
Leavanny has access to Swords Dance, Calm Mind, Iron Defense, Agility, and Baton Pass, but it does not have room for even one of these moves; moreover, there are more consistent Baton Passers available with better bulk and less exploitable typings, such as Leafeon, Musharna, and Huntail. Leavanny has Heal Bell, but Leavanny hardly possesses the longevity required to use it effectively, and Magic Coat is a better response against incoming status moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Xatu**: Xatu's Magic Bounce reflects Leavanny's Sticky Web back to its own side and reduces the Speed of Leavanny's already slow team even further, ensuring that even if Leavanny does successfully use Sticky Web, it would only reset its Speed disadvantage. However, Xatu dislikes switching directly into Bug Buzz, and it should also tread carefully when attacking Leavanny, as a Swarm-boosted Bug Buzz puts a lot of pressure on Xatu.
**Bulky Setup Pokemon**: Leavanny's main flaw is that it doesn't really have much to deter foes from setting up on it outside of raw damage or slowing down foes with Electroweb. Klinklang and Combusken can set up on Leavanny with ease, and they are even protected from Electroweb's Speed drop due to their abilities Clear Body and Speed Boost. Garbodor and Roselia can set up Spikes on Leavanny or hit it with Poison-type STAB moves at their leisure, while Mega Audino can effortlessly set up Calm Mind on Leavanny. Leavanny becomes even easier to set up on after Leaf Storm's Special Attack drop, leaving it helpless against the likes of Gurdurr and even Psychic-type Calm Mind users.
**Pokemon Immune to Sticky Web**: Flying-type Pokemon such as Scyther, Archeops, Swellow, Vivillon, and Rotom-S are massive threats due to their Sticky Web immunity and powerful offensive presence, which allow them to overwhelm both Leavanny and its teammates. Levitate users such as Mesprit, Haunter, Cryogonal, and Rotom are also notable offensive threats. However, they usually get forced out by Leavanny's teammates if they have been hit by Electroweb beforehand.
**Entry Hazard Removers**: While Leavanny has little issues against many of the tier's entry hazard removers, it does have its unfavorable matchups. Cryogonal and Skuntank can clear away Sticky Web and proceed to beat Leavanny with their super effective STAB moves. The far less common Torkoal and Avalugg can also do the same. Alternatively, the other entry hazard removers can attempt to outlast Leavanny and clear Sticky Web in its absence.
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