Take Azelfie
More flags more fun
[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Quiver Dance
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Psychic
item: Focus Sash
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Ribombee lacks an efficient way to break past most bulky Steel-types such as Mega Steelix or Registeel and often take advantage by getting in some chip damage or laying up Stealth Rocks or even in the case of Doublade use Ribombee as set up fodder.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Ribombee's lack of raw power leaves it vulnerable to many specially defensive Pokemon such as Florges or Milotic can easily switch into Ribombee's moves. Florges can also Defog Sticky Web away and Milotic can gain a boost to special attack.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Because Ribombee lakcs any physical bulk most physical attackers will have a breeze taking Ribombee down. Ribombee is also prone to most priority attacks such as Ice Shard from Mega Glalie, Aqua Jet from Feraligatr, or Shadow Sneak from Mega Banette as they will hit Ribombee first even if it has used Quiver Dance or set up Sticky Web.
**Rock Blast**: Due to Ribombee not being bulky and also being weak to Rock, Rock Blast can remove Ribombee even if it's Focus Sash is still intact. Gigalith also posseses naturally high special defense inside Sand making it tough to even get chip damage in.
**Magic Bounce**: While neither Espeon or Xatu are full counters to Ribombee they can at least pressure Ribombee into not setting up Sticky Web and if they are in when it happens it actually becomes super detrimental to Ribombee's team.
- Fastest Sticky Web setter in the tier while also having great special attack and moves to boot.
- Also doubles as an incredibly fast set up sweeper with late game potential.
- Strong enough to revenge kill very fast Pokemon which normally are a pain to outspeed like Salazzle.
- Decent typing gives it some potential to switch in even though its bulk is below average.
- Lackluster bulk doesn't give it the survivability against strong neutral attacks.
- Certain Pokemon like Durant and Registeel take complete advantage of it.
- Struggles against some hazard removers such as Rotom-H, Florges, and Torkoal
- Is offensively dead wait against bulky teams without a few Quiver Dance boost.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Quiver Dance
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Psychic
item: Focus Sash
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Sticky Web helps to give your team the speed advantage on grounded Pokemon switching in and allows slower Pokemon to become more threatening such as Pangoro.
- Quiver Dance lets Ribombee contribute more than just setting up Sticky Webs and become a potentially scary late game sweeper while also being able to beat Gligar who will try to remove Sticky Web.
- Moonblast is a solid STAB for Ribombee hitting the majority of the metagame for neutral damage while being incredibly strong versus Pokemon like Umbreon, Flygon, and especially Mandibuzz who may threaten to Defog your Sticky Web away.
- Psychic pairs well with Moonblast hitting the some Fairy switchins like Roserade, Salazzle, and Nidoqueen.
- Hidden Power Ground hits most of the same Poison-types and common Steel-types that would otherwise wall the previous combination but with a lower damage output.
Set Details
========
- A Timid nature and maximum Speed investment are needed for outspeeding Pokemon like Salazzle, Durant, and Noivern.
- Focus Sash guarantess that Ribombee will be able to get off Sticky Web no matter what or allow it to set up with Quiver Dance.
- Shield Dust prevents the side effects of certain moves such as Scald and gives Ribombee a little more survivability
Usage Tips
========
- Ribombee is best lead as a lead because having Sticky Web up is very important for pressuring opponents to either remove or it or take advantage of it with slower wallbreakers like Tyrantrum or Pangoro. Although holding back is an option to keep in mind with Steel-types such as Mega Steelix and Doublade are present because Ribombee forfeits a free turn to those Pokemon.
- Not playing Ribombee as a stereotypical suicide lead and keeping Ribombee around can yield benefits like providing another late game win condition for your team.
- If Ribombee manages to make it out of the first few turn at full HP, trying to keep it at full HP is very important as it grants Ribombee a free turn to switch in or set up so keeping hazards off the field.
- If Ribombee is still healthy enough to set up make sure to remove any huge problems from your opponents team before setting up as Ribombee can't do too much without being forced out again.
Team Options
========
- Obviously the Pokemon that appreciate Ribombee the most are those that can use Sticky Web the most such as Bewear, Goodra, or Tyrantrum. Mega Banette deserves a special mention due to its ability to also block Rapid Spin from removing Sticky Web and is also able to pressure Sigilyph who may try to Defog away the Sticky Web.
- Ribombee works on very offensive teams because anything slower doesn't fully capitalize on Sticky Webs effects so keeping Ribombee's teammates to being
- Ghost-types such as Mega Banette and Doublade can help to prevent Rapid Spinners from removing Sticky Web and also lure in Dark-types that Ribombee could potentially set up on at the very least KO.
- Choice Specs Milotic is very interesting because it is able to pressure the opponent from using Defog and potentially catch your opponent by surprise. After a Defog Milotic may have the capabilities of sweeping a team with its natural bulk and explosive power.
- While Ribombee shouldn't be your only sweeper it can be quite an effective one so having Pokemon that can break past its counters such as Nidoqueen, Bewear, or Darkinium Z Durant who can break past the bulky Steel-types.
- Because it can be difficult to fit hazard removal onto the type of teams Ribombee thrives on Espeon can make for a good way to keep Stealth Rock off the field.
- Since using Ribombee means you are dedicating some effort into keep hazards up having other hazard setters like Mega Glalie, Nidoqueen, and Ribombee work naturally well on teams with Ribombee.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Bug Buzz doesn't provide anything extrordinary to the table but it helps to get Sticky Web up against a leading Espeon and can aid in breaking past some of its checks like Cresselia.
- Choice Specs gives Ribombee instant offensive pressure but it is usually outdone by Swellow who has a way of hitting its checks and is all around more efficient than Ribombee.
- Life Orb can be used instead of Focus Sash to gives Ribombee more of an offensive presence before it sets up and even guarantees the KO on Salazzle with Psychic after Stealth Rock is up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Ribombee lacks an efficient way to break past most bulky Steel-types such as Mega Steelix or Registeel and often take advantage by getting in some chip damage or laying up Stealth Rocks or even in the case of Doublade use Ribombee as set up fodder.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Ribombee's lack of raw power leaves it vulnerable to many specially defensive Pokemon such as Florges or Milotic can easily switch into Ribombee's moves. Florges can also Defog Sticky Web away and Milotic can gain a boost to special attack.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Because Ribombee lakcs any physical bulk most physical attackers will have a breeze taking Ribombee down. Ribombee is also prone to most priority attacks such as Ice Shard from Mega Glalie, Aqua Jet from Feraligatr, or Shadow Sneak from Mega Banette as they will hit Ribombee first even if it has used Quiver Dance or set up Sticky Web.
**Rock Blast**: Due to Ribombee not being bulky and also being weak to Rock, Rock Blast can remove Ribombee even if it's Focus Sash is still intact. Gigalith also posseses naturally high special defense inside Sand making it tough to even get chip damage in.
**Magic Bounce**: While neither Espeon or Xatu are full counters to Ribombee they can at least pressure Ribombee into not setting up Sticky Web and if they are in when it happens it actually becomes super detrimental to Ribombee's team.
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