Ewww Sticky!

Stat1k

Hi. I recently posted up my first RMT (see here: http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/speed-and-power.3507930/) but before putting it up, I had created a second team. This team consisted of what I think was missing from the first: setup. Anyway, here goes:

Arachnoshock (Galvantula) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Compound Eyes
EV's: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Sticky Web
- Gastro Acid
- Bug Buzz
- Thunder
Role: Webber

In gen 6, this spider became a much more useful asset to teams due to Sticky Web setup. He would obviously act as my lead and with his speed and a Focus Sash, would almost always be able to setup and usually get a second move. 91% Accuracy STAB Thunder does a lot of damage at successful odds. Bug Buzz uses his other STAB and covers some other common types, like Dark. Finally, Gastro Acid is a nice addition I saw someone else had. It really destroys those who depend on their ability, such as Gliscor or Prankster users. So far, the biggest threats I've witnessed to this lead are Ambipom (with Fake Out/Double Hit) and Pranksters with Taunt (Sableye/Whimsicott). Predicting failure will result in a switch.

Klefkomaniac (Klefki) @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
EV's: 252 HP / 128 Def / 124 SDef / 4 Spd
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Thunder Wave
- Foul Play
Role: Wall Setter

Also, a possible lead but proves practically useless after taunt. Klefki's main goal is to setup defences and then to further cripple the opposing team. I've made her to be a mixed defender but also a dual Wall Setter to minimize OHKO's on my fragile team. The Light Clay works much more effectively then say, Leftovers, as it maximises duration of defence. The Prankster ability is great as it almost always ensures at least one wall (depending on opponent). Thunder Wave works great on those that depend on speed (unaffected by Sticky Web) leading to an easy faint or switch. Foul Play is used on those that underestimate Klefki and attempt Swords Dance, only to be punished. This is commonly Aegislash or Garchomp.

Shuriken (Starmie) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Natural Cure
EV's: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Rapid Spin
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
Role: Spinner + Special Coverage

The biggest threat to this team would be a Pokemon with Magic Bounce or something to set entry hazards on me. This is where Starmie comes in as a Spinner. However, with that speed and sp. attack, it would be a waste not to use it as coverage. The Expert Belt increases the power of the BoltBeam combo and STAB Hydro Pump without any negative drawbacks. This allows it to threaten a wide range of typings.

Archageddon (Archeops) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Defeatist
EV's: 252 Spe / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Acrobatics
- U-Turn
- Earthquake
- Head Smash
Role: HEAD SMASH!

Archeops is a physical powerhouse with tremendous attack but an awful ability. For this, he was placed in the RU Tier in the last gen (maybe lower now) so I thought it would be interesting to use him well. Including him on a Sticky Web team helps greatly as his speed is good, not incredible and so allows him to outspeed most. Flying Gem boosted Acrobatics was amazing but no longer possible so I tried to adopt a new strategy. I will normally begin with a STAB Head Smash that will severly hurt or faint anything that doesn't resist. The recoil damage after one or two uses should lower to under half life and activate the Sitrus Berry and return to green. Then, I can continue to spam 110 power STAB Acrobatics. U-Turn is always a nice addition, espically when you are using a glass cannon. Earthquake covers Rocks and Steels that will pose a threat.

Starscream (Staraptor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EV's: 252 Spe / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Nature: Jolly (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- U-Turn
- Double Edge
- Close Combat
Role: Be Reckless

Staraptor operates in a very similar way to Archeops, being a flying, physical attacker that has to adapt to recoil. The difference, howerver , is that Staraptor is a little more suicidal in the fact that, more often than not, it will just continue to mash powered up STAB Brave Bird. Again, Staraptor heavily depends on the Sticky Web speed drop to get the upper hand and go on to create holes in teams. U-Turn is there for the optional (and tactical) switch while causing a large amount of damage. Although Close Combat does not benefit from Reckless, it is used to focus on Rocks and Steels that would resist Brave Bird. Finally, Double Edge utilises his other STAB and is for particular threats, such as Rotom-W.

Hammerhead (Garchomp) @ Garchompite
Ability: Rough Skin
EV's: 252 Spe / 252 SAtk / 4 Atk
Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SDef)
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Draco Meteor
Role: Mixed annihilator

Another fantastic addition to a Sticky Web team. Most people will not mega evolve him because of the critically important speed drop but here, he will outspeed a lot and becomes a great late game sweeper. Draco Meteor uses the much needed power that Dragon Claw doesn't quite have and STAB Earthquake causes so much destruction. Stone Edge covers Flying types and Ice mostly and Fire Blast is used against things like Scizors or Ferrothorns. However, there is still no escaping the 4x Ice weakness (that also threatens the rest of my team offence) so would often be a switch when expecting Ice Shard to Klefki or Starmie.

Personal points of critisism would have to include the fact that Archeops and Staraptor MAY be to similar and PERHAPS I have too many Pokemon that are just for setup etc.

Rate away :)
 
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I think there are too many pokemon immune to sticky web, and situations that it's not up, for you to go without priority or a scarfer. Right now, anything with a sticky web immunity and 362+ speed will rip through your team unless you can check it defensively, which looks like having Klefki throw a screen or t-wave.

Speaking of Klefki, make it 128 Def EVs and 124 SpD EVs. Remember it takes 4 EVs to boost your stat a point, and 126 EVs is wasting 2 EVs, so move 2 from SpD into Def. You'll get 2 more points in Def without losing any in SpD.

A lot of dragon dancers are immune to sticky web at least on the initial switch-in, like Charizard-x, Dragonite, and Gyarados, and if they get to +1 and have the right coverage, your only hope is to sac Klefki and hope it doesn't totally rip through your team. Other Levitating/Flying pokemon outspeed most of your team, like the Lati twins, Gengar, Tornadus-T, Thundurus, etc (ok a few of those are checked by Starmie I admit).

One idea for a priority user is Bisharp, it is at that speed range where it can abuse sticky web to get the first hit on stuff like Mamoswine and Terrakion. Its Sucker Punch can do a lot of damage to some of those sweepers, and it helps prevent the opponent from defogging away the sticky web.
 
Zebstrika said:
I think there are too many pokemon immune to sticky web, and situations that it's not up, for you to go without priority or a scarfer. Right now, anything with a sticky web immunity and 362+ speed will rip through your team unless you can check it defensively, which looks like having Klefki throw a screen or t-wave.

Speaking of Klefki, make it 128 Def EVs and 124 SpD EVs. Remember it takes 4 EVs to boost your stat a point, and 126 EVs is wasting 2 EVs, so move 2 from SpD into Def. You'll get 2 more points in Def without losing any in SpD.

A lot of dragon dancers are immune to sticky web at least on the initial switch-in, like Charizard-x, Dragonite, and Gyarados, and if they get to +1 and have the right coverage, your only hope is to sac Klefki and hope it doesn't totally rip through your team. Other Levitating/Flying pokemon outspeed most of your team, like the Lati twins, Gengar, Tornadus-T, Thundurus, etc (ok a few of those are checked by Starmie I admit).

One idea for a priority user is Bisharp, it is at that speed range where it can abuse sticky web to get the first hit on stuff like Mamoswine and Terrakion. Its Sucker Punch can do a lot of damage to some of those sweepers, and it helps prevent the opponent from defogging away the sticky web.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice! The EV's for Klefki were my error. Easy fix. I understand now that there is a quite a dependence on Klefki to paralyse those that escape Sticky Web. Afterall, there's very few Pokemon that avoid Sticky Web AND are immune to Thunder Wave.

Now, you recommended Bisharp but, to be honest, I have no idea how to set one up. At a glance, that 4x weakness to fighting and SDef stat is a deal breaker, but that's just my opinion. Any ideas?
 
Jolly/adamant bisharp
252ev in speed and 252 attack and 4 hp
Swords dance if you can use it if you force switches
Iron head for stab
sucker punch after swords dance is amazing
knock off (if you can use black white 2)/brick break / ariel ace are good options
 
Bisharp Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Jolly Nature (+Spd -SAtk)
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Knock off
- Swords Dance

I recommend this set for Bisharp. Though having a spinner, I think Bisharp is a good replacement for Archeops, so you can resist Stealth Rock.

Excellent team you have! =]
 
Ok first. As rude as this may sound, do not ever use Galvantula. It is bad. Shuckle is better as a whole for setting Sticky Webs. It also gets Stealth Rock + Encore and doesn't have to rely on Focus Sash to get Sticky Web up.
I recommend something like this:

Shuckle @ Mental Herb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP (Or Def) / 252 SDef / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Infestation
- Stealth Rock
- Sticky Web
- Encore

Next instead of using Klefki I would probably use something like Landorus to set up Gravity which makes the types immune to Sticky Web effected by it. This helps with the rest of the team outspeed and hit hard with big damage. Klefki isn't as good as it really should be, and if you really want to use Klefki, which i highly recommend not to use, Max out HP and Defense and Impish nature with the same set. Spikes is also an option over Foul Play but then you become Taunt bait and physical attackers can set up easily on you, but Thunder Wave does come in handy so it's a double standard sorta.

With Starmie, if you try to go full offensive I recommend Life Orb + Analytic which helps against common switch in on Starmie such as Aegislash and Bisharp (Assault Vest variant). It helps yo u 2HKO threats you never would have been able to.

With the mix between Archeops / Staraptor I recommend you only use one which would be Staraptor because Archeops is bad, and then carry a Flying Spam counter such as Zapdos or Skarmory. I know you already have a spinner, but maybe that opens up a 4th move for Skarmory. Being able to carry something like Roost Brave Bird Counter filler. Just some ideas. They both check Fly spam which is much needed for this team.

Last Garchomp, I recommend using this set and it's pretty self explanatory.

Garchomp @ Garchompite
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 32 SAtk / 224 Spd
Naughty Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge / Outrage
- Fire Blast

Damn I felt I just went through a whole teambuilding session.
Anyways good luck with this team!
 
I would use life orb analytic starmie You wont always be hitting things for super effective damage so life orb helps. Also youre an offensive starmie so might as well use analytic, which makes it possible for you to 2HKO aegi switch in sometimes.
 
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