Sage
From the River To the Sea
[OVERVIEW]
Ribombee can be a passable option as a fast special attacker thanks to its high Speed tier and good coverage. It can revenge kill an assortment of offensive threats, including Choice Band Zygarde-10%, Nasty Plot Salazzle, Noivern, and Virizion, and has Quiver Dance to beat Choice Scarf users that would otherwise revenge kill it. Ribombee also has a few appealing support options in Sticky Web, Tailwind, and Defog, which could potentially fill holes in a team. Unfortunately, several large weaknesses prevent Ribombee from being very common in the metagame. While Bug / Fairy isn't a terrible defensive typing, Ribombee's absurd frailty means it can only switch into passive walls and weak resisted hits. Anything remotely strong, even resisted, will likely 2HKO it. While fast, it still is outsped by every relevant Choice Scarf user when unboosted, and most of them will OHKO it as long as Stealth Rock is up. Priority users such as Doublade and Zygarde-10% can also prove troublesome. Having average Special Attack for a sweeper forces Ribombee to use its Z-Move to revenge kill prominent threats like Virizion, leaving it depleted for potential future sweeps. Finally, common special tanks on bulky teams like Mega Steelix, Registeel, Snorlax, and Bronzong can weather even boosted attacks, making Ribombee struggle to successfully dent holes in such teams.
[SET]
name: Quiver Dance
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Psychic / Bug Buzz
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Fairium Z
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Quiver Dance allows Ribombee to boost its Special Attack and Speed to high levels and buff its Special Defense to something respectable. Moonblast is Ribombee's strongest STAB move, possessing strong neutral coverage. Psychic prevents common Poison-types such as Nidoqueen and Salazzle from walling Ribombee. Bug Buzz can be used over Psychic to have another strong STAB option and hit threats like Shaymin, Cresselia, Meloetta, and Bronzong harder, but losing the coverage for Poison-types will make it much harder to pull off a sweep. Hidden Power Fire hits the numerous Steel-types in RU, including Escavalier and Mega Steelix.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs let Ribombee hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow unboosted Ribombee to outspeed threats like Noivern and Zygarde-10%, and even the fastest Choice Scarf users like Salazzle after a boost. Fairium Z lets Ribombee break through some naturally bulky Fairy-neutral checks like Gardevoir and Shaymin. Shield Dust prevents secondary effects from attacks that Ribombee might tank while boosting like Milotic's Scald.
Usage Tips
========
Remove priority users such as Doublade, Zygarde-10%, Golisopod, Medicham, and Mega Glalie before attempting to boost, as they can quickly cut a sweep short. Try to preserve Ribombee's health early-game so that it has a better chance to survive a hit when it needs to boost. You should avoid bringing it in with direct switches, but you can still use this set to revenge kill if necessary. Weakening Ribombee's checks and counters to the point where Twinkle Tackle can KO them will allow you to sweep more easily. Keeping entry hazards away for Ribombee allows it to revenge kill early- and mid-game without removing its ability to sweep late-game.
Team Options
========
Ground-types such as Nidoqueen, Mega Steelix, and Rhyperior can both threaten Steel-types and keep Stealth Rock on the field to increase Ribombee's chance of sweeping. Fighting-types such as Medicham, Virizion, and Bewear can break holes in special tanks like Snorlax, Registeel, and Porygon2, creating chances for Ribombee to sweep the rest of your opponent's team. Roserade and Gardevoir are interesting teammate options on hyper offense teams, as with Sleep Powder and Memento they can give Ribombee chances to set up freely. Mega Blastoise synergizes very well with Ribombee, providing both good coverage and hazard removal. Pursuit trappers like Drapion and Sneasel can remove troublesome Ribombee checks like Bronzong and Alolan Marowak.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Sticky Web lead set with Focus Sash is usable, but Sticky Web offense is too unreliable for this set to warrant much attention. Tailwind can give wallbreakers a couple turns to wreak havoc. Choice Specs can be used to try combining wallbreaking and revenge killing in one set, but Ribombee likes to switch moves so it can use its coverage. Defog can be used if you desperately need hazard removal and can't fit it anywhere else, but Ribombee is horrible at removing because of its Stealth Rock weakness and inability to adequately threaten most hazard users.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types easily punish Ribombee for attempting to sweep too early and can come in on most of its coverage options. Alolan Marowak gets chances to fire off powerful attacks, Ninetales can set up Nasty Plot, and Rotom-H can get a chance to remove hazards or spread status.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types wall Ribombee's STAB moves, with most also having the bulk to take boosted Hidden Power Fire comfortably. Mega Steelix, Bronzong, and Registeel can do so while retaliating with STAB attacks or Toxic.
**Special Tanks**: Ribombee's average Special Attack means that walls such as Snorlax, Porygon2, and even Cresselia if Ribombee doesn't have Bug Buzz will take its hits easily and be free to either attack it or use Toxic and stall it.
**Faster Threats**: While it has an amazing natural Speed tier, Choice Scarf users such as Gardevoir, Roserade, and Salazzle can revenge kill any unboosted Ribombee, and priority users like Zygarde-10%, Medicham, Pangoro, and Golisopod will beat it regardless with a little chip damage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [Sage, 192227]
- Quality checked by: [roman, 396169], [MrAldo, 227521], [phantom, 180300]
- Grammar checked by: [CryoGyro, 331519], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]
Ribombee can be a passable option as a fast special attacker thanks to its high Speed tier and good coverage. It can revenge kill an assortment of offensive threats, including Choice Band Zygarde-10%, Nasty Plot Salazzle, Noivern, and Virizion, and has Quiver Dance to beat Choice Scarf users that would otherwise revenge kill it. Ribombee also has a few appealing support options in Sticky Web, Tailwind, and Defog, which could potentially fill holes in a team. Unfortunately, several large weaknesses prevent Ribombee from being very common in the metagame. While Bug / Fairy isn't a terrible defensive typing, Ribombee's absurd frailty means it can only switch into passive walls and weak resisted hits. Anything remotely strong, even resisted, will likely 2HKO it. While fast, it still is outsped by every relevant Choice Scarf user when unboosted, and most of them will OHKO it as long as Stealth Rock is up. Priority users such as Doublade and Zygarde-10% can also prove troublesome. Having average Special Attack for a sweeper forces Ribombee to use its Z-Move to revenge kill prominent threats like Virizion, leaving it depleted for potential future sweeps. Finally, common special tanks on bulky teams like Mega Steelix, Registeel, Snorlax, and Bronzong can weather even boosted attacks, making Ribombee struggle to successfully dent holes in such teams.
[SET]
name: Quiver Dance
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Psychic / Bug Buzz
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Fairium Z
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Quiver Dance allows Ribombee to boost its Special Attack and Speed to high levels and buff its Special Defense to something respectable. Moonblast is Ribombee's strongest STAB move, possessing strong neutral coverage. Psychic prevents common Poison-types such as Nidoqueen and Salazzle from walling Ribombee. Bug Buzz can be used over Psychic to have another strong STAB option and hit threats like Shaymin, Cresselia, Meloetta, and Bronzong harder, but losing the coverage for Poison-types will make it much harder to pull off a sweep. Hidden Power Fire hits the numerous Steel-types in RU, including Escavalier and Mega Steelix.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs let Ribombee hit as hard as possible. 252 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow unboosted Ribombee to outspeed threats like Noivern and Zygarde-10%, and even the fastest Choice Scarf users like Salazzle after a boost. Fairium Z lets Ribombee break through some naturally bulky Fairy-neutral checks like Gardevoir and Shaymin. Shield Dust prevents secondary effects from attacks that Ribombee might tank while boosting like Milotic's Scald.
Usage Tips
========
Remove priority users such as Doublade, Zygarde-10%, Golisopod, Medicham, and Mega Glalie before attempting to boost, as they can quickly cut a sweep short. Try to preserve Ribombee's health early-game so that it has a better chance to survive a hit when it needs to boost. You should avoid bringing it in with direct switches, but you can still use this set to revenge kill if necessary. Weakening Ribombee's checks and counters to the point where Twinkle Tackle can KO them will allow you to sweep more easily. Keeping entry hazards away for Ribombee allows it to revenge kill early- and mid-game without removing its ability to sweep late-game.
Team Options
========
Ground-types such as Nidoqueen, Mega Steelix, and Rhyperior can both threaten Steel-types and keep Stealth Rock on the field to increase Ribombee's chance of sweeping. Fighting-types such as Medicham, Virizion, and Bewear can break holes in special tanks like Snorlax, Registeel, and Porygon2, creating chances for Ribombee to sweep the rest of your opponent's team. Roserade and Gardevoir are interesting teammate options on hyper offense teams, as with Sleep Powder and Memento they can give Ribombee chances to set up freely. Mega Blastoise synergizes very well with Ribombee, providing both good coverage and hazard removal. Pursuit trappers like Drapion and Sneasel can remove troublesome Ribombee checks like Bronzong and Alolan Marowak.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Sticky Web lead set with Focus Sash is usable, but Sticky Web offense is too unreliable for this set to warrant much attention. Tailwind can give wallbreakers a couple turns to wreak havoc. Choice Specs can be used to try combining wallbreaking and revenge killing in one set, but Ribombee likes to switch moves so it can use its coverage. Defog can be used if you desperately need hazard removal and can't fit it anywhere else, but Ribombee is horrible at removing because of its Stealth Rock weakness and inability to adequately threaten most hazard users.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Fire-types easily punish Ribombee for attempting to sweep too early and can come in on most of its coverage options. Alolan Marowak gets chances to fire off powerful attacks, Ninetales can set up Nasty Plot, and Rotom-H can get a chance to remove hazards or spread status.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types wall Ribombee's STAB moves, with most also having the bulk to take boosted Hidden Power Fire comfortably. Mega Steelix, Bronzong, and Registeel can do so while retaliating with STAB attacks or Toxic.
**Special Tanks**: Ribombee's average Special Attack means that walls such as Snorlax, Porygon2, and even Cresselia if Ribombee doesn't have Bug Buzz will take its hits easily and be free to either attack it or use Toxic and stall it.
**Faster Threats**: While it has an amazing natural Speed tier, Choice Scarf users such as Gardevoir, Roserade, and Salazzle can revenge kill any unboosted Ribombee, and priority users like Zygarde-10%, Medicham, Pangoro, and Golisopod will beat it regardless with a little chip damage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [Sage, 192227]
- Quality checked by: [roman, 396169], [MrAldo, 227521], [phantom, 180300]
- Grammar checked by: [CryoGyro, 331519], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]
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