[OVERVIEW]
Due its decent Speed stat, offensive presence, and useful support moves, Leavanny stands out as the most reliable Sticky Web user in PU. Leavanny's decent Attack stat, good STAB moves, and Bug / Grass typing give it a good matchup against common Stealth Rock users in PU such as Golurk, Mesprit, Regirock, and Carracosta, and access to Knock Off lets Leavanny cripple Pokemon holding items like Eviolite and Leftovers. Leavanny also gets Magic Coat, which lets it bounce back entry hazards and status moves such as Taunt and Encore against foes like Archeops and Liepard. However, Leavanny's bad defensive typing, Stealth Rock weakness, and average bulk make it very easy to wear down, which means it can't keep up Sticky Web reliably during the match. Leavanny's typing also makes it weak to common Defoggers such as Skuntank and Swanna. Leavanny is overall a niche pick, as it lacks value outside of being a Sticky Web user.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: X-Scissor
move 4: Knock Off / Magic Coat
item: Focus Sash
ability: Swarm
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web is the only reason for using Leavanny, lowering opposing grounded Pokemon's Speed by one stage. Leaf Blade is one of Leavanny's STAB moves, hitting Rock-, Ground- and Water-type Pokemon super effectively such as Carracosta, Golurk, and Regirock while also hitting Hitmonchan and Swanna for a decent amount of damage. X-Scissor serves as the other STAB move and hits Mesprit, Grass-type Pokemon such as Shiftry and Lilligant, and the most popular hazard remover, Skuntank, which otherwise walls Leavanny. Knock Off removes items such as Leftovers and Eviolite from opposing Pokemon, which cripples them for the rest of the battle. Magic Coat could also be used to bounce entry hazards such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes from Pokemon like Miltank, Ferroseed, and Weezing and Taunt from Pokemon like Pyroar and Sableye.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature are needed for Leavanny to outspeed base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Zangoose and set Sticky Web to the best of its ability, especially if its Focus Sash is broken. 252 Attack EVs are used for maximizing Leavanny's damage output. Focus Sash is the preferred item because Leavanny is used as a suicide lead and it guarantees Sticky Web to go up at least once in the match while also activating Leavanny's ability Swarm. Swarm is the preferred ability over Chlorophyll and Overcoat due to its ability to boost the power of X-Scissor after the Focus Sash is used.
Usage Tips
========
Leavanny should be used as a lead to set up Sticky Web early on. However, if the opponent has an entry hazard remover such as Swanna or Skuntank that can't be pressured enough, you can keep Leavanny around to set Sticky Web later. Leavanny's main priority is to set Sticky Web, but in some cases it can be used offensively. If Leavanny has already set up Sticky Web and is facing a Stealth Rock or Spikes user that cannot be removed like Miltank or Ferroseed, spamming Magic Coat to at least get the hazards on your opponent's side of the field too before being KOed is a good idea.
Team Options
========
Leavanny should be used on hyper offensive teams that can exploit Sticky Web. Good partners for Leavanny are the Pokemon that take most advantage of Sticky Web such as Zangoose and Haunter. Offensive Pokemon that can spinblock also make good partners for Leavanny, as they can simultaneously keep Sticky Web on the field and benefit from the Speed drops. Oricorio-G is a particularly good spinblocker because it also pressures Skuntank with its Supersonic Skystrike. Golurk is another notable spinblocker, since it also provides Stealth Rock and acts as a solid Primeape check, which can be a pain to deal with on Sticky Web teams due to its ability Defiant. Conversely, Pokemon that can punish Defog with Defiant like Primeape and Pawniard are also great partners for Leavanny. Electric-types such as Eelektross and Zebstrika help deal with Flying-type Pokemon like Articuno and Swanna, which are immune to Sticky Web.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Chlorophyll and Overcoat could be used over Swarm; Chlorophyll provides a better matchup against sun teams and Overcoat protects Leavanny from being KOed from Aurorus or Abomasnow's hail after it has been knocked down to its Focus Sash. However, sun teams aren't common and weather damage doesn't really stop Leavanny from setting Sticky Web. A Swords Dance set could be used due to Leavanny's decent Speed and Attack stats, but this is done better by other Grass-types in the tier such as Leafeon with its better stats and Shiftry with its better offensive typing and priority. A mixed set with Electroweb / Leaf Storm / Knock Off or Magic Coat / Sticky Web could be used too; Electroweb hampers leads such as Archeops with the Speed drop and prevents Swanna from using Defog. Leaf Storm hits physical walls such as Mudsdale harder than Leaf Blade, and Knock Off and Magic Coat are used in the same way as the main set. However, mixed Leavanny struggles with Skuntank and Assault Vest Hitmonchan.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt**: Pokemon with a fast Taunt like Floatzel and Sableye can prevent Leavanny from setting Sticky Web; however, all Taunt users need to be wary of the possibility of Magic Coat.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Pokemon that can remove Leavanny's Sticky Web from the field after it faints such as Skuntank and Hitmonchan render Leavanny's attempts useless.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Articuno and Oricorio-E are immune to Sticky Web, take nothing from Leavanny's attacks, and threaten it with super effective moves or use Leavanny as setup fodder.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Combusken and Pyroar resist Leavanny's STAB moves and KO it with their super effective STAB moves if Leavanny's Focus Sash has been broken.
Due its decent Speed stat, offensive presence, and useful support moves, Leavanny stands out as the most reliable Sticky Web user in PU. Leavanny's decent Attack stat, good STAB moves, and Bug / Grass typing give it a good matchup against common Stealth Rock users in PU such as Golurk, Mesprit, Regirock, and Carracosta, and access to Knock Off lets Leavanny cripple Pokemon holding items like Eviolite and Leftovers. Leavanny also gets Magic Coat, which lets it bounce back entry hazards and status moves such as Taunt and Encore against foes like Archeops and Liepard. However, Leavanny's bad defensive typing, Stealth Rock weakness, and average bulk make it very easy to wear down, which means it can't keep up Sticky Web reliably during the match. Leavanny's typing also makes it weak to common Defoggers such as Skuntank and Swanna. Leavanny is overall a niche pick, as it lacks value outside of being a Sticky Web user.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: X-Scissor
move 4: Knock Off / Magic Coat
item: Focus Sash
ability: Swarm
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web is the only reason for using Leavanny, lowering opposing grounded Pokemon's Speed by one stage. Leaf Blade is one of Leavanny's STAB moves, hitting Rock-, Ground- and Water-type Pokemon super effectively such as Carracosta, Golurk, and Regirock while also hitting Hitmonchan and Swanna for a decent amount of damage. X-Scissor serves as the other STAB move and hits Mesprit, Grass-type Pokemon such as Shiftry and Lilligant, and the most popular hazard remover, Skuntank, which otherwise walls Leavanny. Knock Off removes items such as Leftovers and Eviolite from opposing Pokemon, which cripples them for the rest of the battle. Magic Coat could also be used to bounce entry hazards such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes from Pokemon like Miltank, Ferroseed, and Weezing and Taunt from Pokemon like Pyroar and Sableye.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature are needed for Leavanny to outspeed base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Zangoose and set Sticky Web to the best of its ability, especially if its Focus Sash is broken. 252 Attack EVs are used for maximizing Leavanny's damage output. Focus Sash is the preferred item because Leavanny is used as a suicide lead and it guarantees Sticky Web to go up at least once in the match while also activating Leavanny's ability Swarm. Swarm is the preferred ability over Chlorophyll and Overcoat due to its ability to boost the power of X-Scissor after the Focus Sash is used.
Usage Tips
========
Leavanny should be used as a lead to set up Sticky Web early on. However, if the opponent has an entry hazard remover such as Swanna or Skuntank that can't be pressured enough, you can keep Leavanny around to set Sticky Web later. Leavanny's main priority is to set Sticky Web, but in some cases it can be used offensively. If Leavanny has already set up Sticky Web and is facing a Stealth Rock or Spikes user that cannot be removed like Miltank or Ferroseed, spamming Magic Coat to at least get the hazards on your opponent's side of the field too before being KOed is a good idea.
Team Options
========
Leavanny should be used on hyper offensive teams that can exploit Sticky Web. Good partners for Leavanny are the Pokemon that take most advantage of Sticky Web such as Zangoose and Haunter. Offensive Pokemon that can spinblock also make good partners for Leavanny, as they can simultaneously keep Sticky Web on the field and benefit from the Speed drops. Oricorio-G is a particularly good spinblocker because it also pressures Skuntank with its Supersonic Skystrike. Golurk is another notable spinblocker, since it also provides Stealth Rock and acts as a solid Primeape check, which can be a pain to deal with on Sticky Web teams due to its ability Defiant. Conversely, Pokemon that can punish Defog with Defiant like Primeape and Pawniard are also great partners for Leavanny. Electric-types such as Eelektross and Zebstrika help deal with Flying-type Pokemon like Articuno and Swanna, which are immune to Sticky Web.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Chlorophyll and Overcoat could be used over Swarm; Chlorophyll provides a better matchup against sun teams and Overcoat protects Leavanny from being KOed from Aurorus or Abomasnow's hail after it has been knocked down to its Focus Sash. However, sun teams aren't common and weather damage doesn't really stop Leavanny from setting Sticky Web. A Swords Dance set could be used due to Leavanny's decent Speed and Attack stats, but this is done better by other Grass-types in the tier such as Leafeon with its better stats and Shiftry with its better offensive typing and priority. A mixed set with Electroweb / Leaf Storm / Knock Off or Magic Coat / Sticky Web could be used too; Electroweb hampers leads such as Archeops with the Speed drop and prevents Swanna from using Defog. Leaf Storm hits physical walls such as Mudsdale harder than Leaf Blade, and Knock Off and Magic Coat are used in the same way as the main set. However, mixed Leavanny struggles with Skuntank and Assault Vest Hitmonchan.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt**: Pokemon with a fast Taunt like Floatzel and Sableye can prevent Leavanny from setting Sticky Web; however, all Taunt users need to be wary of the possibility of Magic Coat.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Pokemon that can remove Leavanny's Sticky Web from the field after it faints such as Skuntank and Hitmonchan render Leavanny's attempts useless.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Articuno and Oricorio-E are immune to Sticky Web, take nothing from Leavanny's attacks, and threaten it with super effective moves or use Leavanny as setup fodder.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Combusken and Pyroar resist Leavanny's STAB moves and KO it with their super effective STAB moves if Leavanny's Focus Sash has been broken.
Last edited by a moderator: