[SET]
name: Substitute + Toxic
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Leech Life
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Bubble
nature: Adamant
evs: 68 HP / 252 Atk / 188 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Araquanid's amazing ability in Water Bubble and respectable defensive typing allow it to act as a fearsome stallbreaker, as it can utilize Substitute and Toxic to stall out bulky Water-types and other passive targets that otherwise check it. Leech Life provides coverage for prominent Pokemon that can handle Liquidation, such as Celebi and Tsareena, while significantly increasing Araquanid's longevity. Toxic wears down foes that can otherwise wall this set with recovery, like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Mantine, and allows Araquanid to punish troublesome answers such as Infiltrator Noivern. Substitute is vital to avoid being crippled by Toxic from the aforementioned bulky Pokemon and safely Toxic stall them in return, as well as helping to ease prediction when it would otherwise be difficult to choose a move. In order to deal with faster Toxic users like Milotic, Araquanid should attempt to set up Substitute against a Pokemon it forces out like Rhyperior, Incineroar or Gigalith. The provided Speed investment lets Araquanid outspeed uninvested Vaporeon and Umbreon, greatly improving its ability to deal with them. Leftovers is preferred over Heavy-Duty Boots due to its synergy with Substitute and Leech Life, making Araquanid extremely difficult to wear down once it's on the field.
Rhyperior has amazing defensive synergy with Araquanid, as it covers all its weaknesses, helps fend off Noivern, and provides Stealth Rock support. In return, Araquanid beats Water-types like Mantine and Jellicent and can act as a check to Cobalion. Incineroar's ability to deal with threatening Fire-types such as Chandelure takes pressure off Araquanid, which also appreciates Knock Off further crippling defensive targets. Incineroar also lures in and pivots against the Water-types Araquanid preys on. Noivern is also capable of luring in similar targets, as well as revenge killing offensive threats such as Choice Band Haxorus and providing Defog and Taunt support, which allows Araquanid to safely switch in on faster Toxic users such as Milotic. Galarian Weezing is an alternative option for Defog support that can absorb Toxic while also reliably spreading the status itself. Aromatisse acts as an excellent response to Noivern, while its Wish and Heal Bell help keep Araquanid healthy throughout the battle. Grass-types, including Celebi, Roserade, and Rotom-C, can check Electric-type Pokemon that threaten Araquanid. Pokemon that appreciate Water-types being worn down for a late-game sweep, like Cobalion and Doublade, benefit heavily from Araquanid's support.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Leech Life
move 3: Sticky Web
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Water Bubble
nature: Adamant
evs: 68 HP / 252 Atk / 188 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Araquanid sets itself apart as a Sticky Web setter by virtue of its typing and high damage output, giving it a strong matchup against entry hazard setters such as Gigalith. Toxic lets Araquanid wear down foes it can't otherwise significantly threaten, like Noivern, Milotic and Mantine, in order to support teammates like Machamp. Magic Coat allows Araquanid to reflect hazards or status from other leads, while Mirror Coat's specific ability to dispatch of Noivern can be valuable to Sticky Web teams: however, both sacrifice the greater reliability of Toxic versus the aforementioned relevant targets. As these targets are often used as leads, these options are only worth using if you intend to use Araquanid as a dedicated lead. Heavy-Duty Boots removes Araquanid's vulnerability to hazards, letting it come in more often over the course of the battle. Alternatively, Focus Sash sacrifices this utility, but it can allow Araquanid to set up Sticky Web versus strong attackers that may otherwise OHKO it such as Toxtricity and Haxorus, enabling it to function better as a lead. However, this is generally done better by Ribombee and Galvantula due to their far better Speed stats.
Araquanid's best teammates are extremely powerful immediate wallbreakers with lacking Speed stats such as Machamp, Rotom-C, Gardevoir and Toxtricity, as well as setup sweepers like Lucario and Necrozma. Toxtricity in particular synergizes well with it, as it checks Hurricane Noivern, pressures bulky Water-types, and in return benefits from Araquanid threatening Gigalith and Rhyperior. Incineroar provides a valuable Ghost resistance while preserving offensive presence and removing items from defensive Pokemon like Milotic and Mantine, allowing Araquanid's Toxic to wear them down. Ghost-types, like Chandelure and Doublade, are useful for their ability to prevent or deter Rapid Spin. Cobalion provides Stealth Rock support while keeping up a useful offensive presence and preserving momentum with Volt Switch. Braviary appreciates Sticky Web and can deter the use of Defog via Defiant while also providing valuable immunities to Ground and Ghost. Tsareena provides invaluable support via Rapid Spin, which makes running Focus Sash on Araquanid a less risky choice, and checks Electric-types that threaten Araquanid.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eve, 375272]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [Hilomilo, 313384]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Last edited:
ty both!!
