
[Overview]
Galvantula secures its niche on hyper offense teams as the fastest viable Sticky Web setter, outspeeding key Pokemon such as defensive Eternatus and Palkia while crippling them with a Thunder Wave. Its powerful STAB Thunder allows it to threaten common Defoggers such as Yveltal and Ho-Oh, keeping Sticky Web up as long as it is on the field. However, Galvantula suffers from paltry bulk and middling power. This relegates it to a lead position, having next to no defensive utility. It only fits on dedicated Sticky Web teams, and even then it can face competition from Pokemon such as Slurpuff and Shuckle, with the former having Magic Coat and Misty Explosion, while the latter has Stealth Rock and Sturdy, freeing up its item slot. It also loses to opposing hyper offense leads such as Aerodactyl and Froslass, which can play constant mind games between Taunt and their own entry hazards due to their higher Speed and ways of breaking its Focus Sash.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web Setter
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Toxic / String Shot
item: Focus Sash
ability: Compound Eyes
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Toxic puts Pokemon that would love to set up on Galvantula, such as Zekrom and Zygarde, on a timer, crippling them if they lack a Lum Berry. String Shot is a speed control option against Electric-type Pokemon like Regieleki, which are immune to Thunder Wave. Compound Eyes boosts Thunder's accuracy to 91%, making it a much more consistent and useful option, as well as making Toxic always hit. A Timid nature ensures Galvantula can outspeed foes such as Lunala, Mew, and offensive Yveltal.
Wallbreakers like Choice Specs Kyogre, Xerneas, and offensive Eternatus greatly appreciate Sticky Web letting them outspeed their checks. All of them have good offensive synergy as Xerneas, for example, can break through Kyogre checks such as Palkia and Eternatus, while Kyogre can beat Necrozma-DM for it. Galvantula also enjoys the support of offensive Stealth Rock users or and anti-entry hazard Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM and Excadrill.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Bug Buzz is an option that severely damages Grass-types that would otherwise not care about anything else Galvantula has, OHKOing Tangrowth and Zarude, as well as having the added benefit of going through Substitute. However, this leaves it as setup fodder for Zekrom and Zygarde, two notably dangerous Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
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**Dragon-type Pokemon**: Even with Toxic, Galvantula simply lacks ways to threaten Zekrom due to its 4x resistance to Electric and paralysis immunity. Zekrom can easily set up a Substitute and boost up with Dragon Dance before sweeping Galvantula's team. While Eternatus lacks the paralysis immunity of Zekrom, it resists Thunder and is immune to Toxic, so it uses Galvantula as Toxic Spikes fodder or a chance to safely switch in and start wallbreaking. Zygarde-C can easily set up on Galvantula due to its Electric immunity, although Toxic does annoy variants lacking Rest. Rare sights in Dialga and Giratina do not care about Thunder Wave due to running defensive sets and can set up entry hazards or remove Sticky Web with Defog, respectively. Notable Dragon-types that don’t check Galvantula well include Palkia and Rayquaza due to their Electric neutrality.
**Faster Leads**: Pokemon such as Aerodactyl and Froslass can prevent Sticky Web from going up by using Taunt while setting their own entry hazards. Grimmsnarl has Prankster Taunt to also stop Sticky Web. Slurpuff is not faster, nor does it have Taunt, but Magic Coat bounces back Sticky Web, which is detrimental for teams that rely on it to function. All of these Pokemon dislike the possible paralysis chance from Thunder, however, as paralysis prevents them from playing sufficient mind games with Galvantula.
**Anti-Sticky Web Pokemon**: Defoggers such as defensive Xerneas, Giratina-O, and Lunala all do not take much from a Thunder and can easily remove Sticky Web while breaking Galvantula's Focus Sash, although Lunala is quite annoyed by Toxic. Flying-type wallbreakers such as Landorus-I and offensive Yveltal do not mind Sticky Web, but they don't enjoy switching into Toxic or Thunder, respectively. Excadrill can remove Sticky Web with Rapid Spin and is immune to both Thunder Wave and Toxic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Heracross2.0, 414072]]
- Quality checked by: [[Manaphy, 50695], [Minority, 222996]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Rabia, 336073]
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