[OVERVIEW]
Fairy
========
Ribombee's access to Sticky Web offers Fairy-type teams valuable speed control to support their offensive threats, with its excellent Speed tier allowing it to outspeed most opposing leads and easily get up Sticky Web early-game. Ribombee's decent Special Attack also keeps it from being overly passive and can let it check Dark-, Psychic-, and Dragon-types as well as other frail or weakened Pokemon with its high Speed. Ribombee has a varied support movepool, being able to paralyze foes with Stun Spore, clean weakened teams with Quiver Dance, or generate momentum with U-turn after it has set Sticky Web. However, its poor defensive typing and frailty make it reliant on Focus Sash to be effective. As a result, Ribombee typically cannot reliably set Sticky Web multiple times in a battle. Ribombee also is not strong enough to break past walls such as Chansey, Mega Venusaur, and Celesteela, and it Ribombee has limited coverage options and can easily be taken advantage of by threats such as Mega Scizor and Heatran.
[SET]
name: Utility Lead (Fairy)
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Stun Spore / Quiver Dance
item: Focus Sash
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web is Ribombee's primary utility and supports Fairy's offensive threats such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu. Moonblast is a powerful STAB move for threatening foes after Sticky Web has been set. Hidden Power Fire is used to keep Ribombee from being walled entirely by Mega Scizor, a dangerous threat to Fairy-type teams. Stun Spore is a strong utility move for crippling foes with paralysis. Quiver Dance is an option over Stun Spore to offer Ribombee a way to clean weakened teams and can be used alongside Bug Buzz to pressure Psychic teams. However, without Stun Spore, Ribombee has a much harder time threatening Pokemon in the metagame. Bug Buzz is a strong STAB move that can be used over Hidden Power Fire and is useful for threatening Psychic-type Pokemon such as Mew or Celebi.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Timid nature allow Ribombee to outspeed most leads and set Sticky Web reliably. Full Special Attack investment keeps Ribombee from being passive and can help it set Sticky Web by breaking through Magic Bounce users such as Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie. Focus Sash is mandatory to compensate for Ribombee's poor defenses, guaranteeing a turn to set Sticky Web. Shield Dust protects Ribombee from secondary effects, which has utility in protecting it from flinching or being burned by Scald.
Usage Tips
========
Ribombee should typically be used as a lead to get Sticky Web up as soon as possible to support the rest of the team. After setting Sticky Web, Ribombee's second priority is to spread status with Stun Spore. Preserve Ribombee against teams with effective entry hazard removers such as Zapdos and Armaldo, as it may need to set Sticky Web again. It's also a good idea to keep Ribombee healthy in matchups against types such as Psychic, Dragon, and Dark, where its STAB moves and high Speed are useful. While Ribombee can 2HKO Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye with Moonblast, be wary of Magic Bounce users, as they can still bounce back Sticky Web, crippling Ribombee's teammates. Attempt to preserve Ribombee's Focus Sash when possible in case you need an emergency check to threats such as Sand Rush Excadrill and Choice Scarf Victini, which is also Ribombee's only role in the matchup against Flying, where Sticky Web is useless.
Team Options
========
As Fairy is an offensive type, almost every Pokemon benefits from the speed control Ribombee's Sticky Web offers. Tapu Koko is a powerful offensive pivot and wallbreaker that outspeeds nearly the entire metagame under the effect of Ribombee's Sticky Web. Mega Diancie is a potent mixed attacker that benefits from Sticky Web support to outrun threats such as Mega Lopunny and Choice Scarf Excadrill. Tapu Bulu is another offensive powerhouse that appreciates Sticky Web support to outspeed the majority of the metagame when running Choice Scarf. Ribombee's support can also open Tapu Bulu up to run powerful wallbreaking sets such as Choice Band and Swords Dance. Azumarill is an incredible setup sweeper for Fairy-type teams that can outspeed checks such as Mega Venusaur and Seismitoad with Sticky Web support. Other setup sweepers such as Togekiss likewise benefit from Sticky Web support. Klefki is an incredible utility Pokemon that can further support Fairy's offensive threats alongside Ribombee by setting Light Screen, Reflect, and Spikes, by spreading status, and by checking Mega Scizor with Foul Play. Mimikyu is a decent setup sweeper and effective blanket check to offensive threats across the metagame with its ability Disguise and can also help put pressure on Psychic teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fairy
--------
U-turn is an option over Stun Spore or Quiver Dance to generate momentum on Pokemon that wall Ribombee. However, this is less useful in most circumstances than other utility moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fairy
--------
**Anti-leads**: While Ribombee is fast, faster Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Crobat, and Deoxys-S can outspeed and Taunt it, preventing it from setting Sticky Web.
**Rapid Spin**: Ribombee and Sticky Web can be easily shut down by Rapin Spin users, such as Excadrill, Armaldo, and Torkoal, that can remove Sticky Web and break Ribombee's Focus Sash in one move.
**Heatran**: Heatran 4x resists both of Ribombee's STAB moves and is immune to Hidden Power Fire, and it can take advantage of Ribombee to set Stealth Rock or attack and KO Ribombee through its Focus Sash with Magma Storm's chip damage.
**Bulky Offensive Pokemon**: Offensive Pokemon with good Special Defense such as Meloetta and Victini are able to tank Ribombee's attacks and easily KO it in return.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Ribombee poses little threat to most specially defensive Pokemon and is ineffective against walls such as Zapdos, Chansey, and Celesteela.
**Priority Attackers**: Ribombee's frailty makes it vulnerable to strong priority users that invalidate its Speed advantage, such as Bullet Punch Scizor and Aqua Jet Azumarill.
Fairy
========
Ribombee's access to Sticky Web offers Fairy-type teams valuable speed control to support their offensive threats, with its excellent Speed tier allowing it to outspeed most opposing leads and easily get up Sticky Web early-game. Ribombee's decent Special Attack also keeps it from being overly passive and can let it check Dark-, Psychic-, and Dragon-types as well as other frail or weakened Pokemon with its high Speed. Ribombee has a varied support movepool, being able to paralyze foes with Stun Spore, clean weakened teams with Quiver Dance, or generate momentum with U-turn after it has set Sticky Web. However, its poor defensive typing and frailty make it reliant on Focus Sash to be effective. As a result, Ribombee typically cannot reliably set Sticky Web multiple times in a battle. Ribombee also is not strong enough to break past walls such as Chansey, Mega Venusaur, and Celesteela, and it Ribombee has limited coverage options and can easily be taken advantage of by threats such as Mega Scizor and Heatran.
[SET]
name: Utility Lead (Fairy)
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Stun Spore / Quiver Dance
item: Focus Sash
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web is Ribombee's primary utility and supports Fairy's offensive threats such as Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu. Moonblast is a powerful STAB move for threatening foes after Sticky Web has been set. Hidden Power Fire is used to keep Ribombee from being walled entirely by Mega Scizor, a dangerous threat to Fairy-type teams. Stun Spore is a strong utility move for crippling foes with paralysis. Quiver Dance is an option over Stun Spore to offer Ribombee a way to clean weakened teams and can be used alongside Bug Buzz to pressure Psychic teams. However, without Stun Spore, Ribombee has a much harder time threatening Pokemon in the metagame. Bug Buzz is a strong STAB move that can be used over Hidden Power Fire and is useful for threatening Psychic-type Pokemon such as Mew or Celebi.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Timid nature allow Ribombee to outspeed most leads and set Sticky Web reliably. Full Special Attack investment keeps Ribombee from being passive and can help it set Sticky Web by breaking through Magic Bounce users such as Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie. Focus Sash is mandatory to compensate for Ribombee's poor defenses, guaranteeing a turn to set Sticky Web. Shield Dust protects Ribombee from secondary effects, which has utility in protecting it from flinching or being burned by Scald.
Usage Tips
========
Ribombee should typically be used as a lead to get Sticky Web up as soon as possible to support the rest of the team. After setting Sticky Web, Ribombee's second priority is to spread status with Stun Spore. Preserve Ribombee against teams with effective entry hazard removers such as Zapdos and Armaldo, as it may need to set Sticky Web again. It's also a good idea to keep Ribombee healthy in matchups against types such as Psychic, Dragon, and Dark, where its STAB moves and high Speed are useful. While Ribombee can 2HKO Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye with Moonblast, be wary of Magic Bounce users, as they can still bounce back Sticky Web, crippling Ribombee's teammates. Attempt to preserve Ribombee's Focus Sash when possible in case you need an emergency check to threats such as Sand Rush Excadrill and Choice Scarf Victini, which is also Ribombee's only role in the matchup against Flying, where Sticky Web is useless.
Team Options
========
As Fairy is an offensive type, almost every Pokemon benefits from the speed control Ribombee's Sticky Web offers. Tapu Koko is a powerful offensive pivot and wallbreaker that outspeeds nearly the entire metagame under the effect of Ribombee's Sticky Web. Mega Diancie is a potent mixed attacker that benefits from Sticky Web support to outrun threats such as Mega Lopunny and Choice Scarf Excadrill. Tapu Bulu is another offensive powerhouse that appreciates Sticky Web support to outspeed the majority of the metagame when running Choice Scarf. Ribombee's support can also open Tapu Bulu up to run powerful wallbreaking sets such as Choice Band and Swords Dance. Azumarill is an incredible setup sweeper for Fairy-type teams that can outspeed checks such as Mega Venusaur and Seismitoad with Sticky Web support. Other setup sweepers such as Togekiss likewise benefit from Sticky Web support. Klefki is an incredible utility Pokemon that can further support Fairy's offensive threats alongside Ribombee by setting Light Screen, Reflect, and Spikes, by spreading status, and by checking Mega Scizor with Foul Play. Mimikyu is a decent setup sweeper and effective blanket check to offensive threats across the metagame with its ability Disguise and can also help put pressure on Psychic teams.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fairy
--------
U-turn is an option over Stun Spore or Quiver Dance to generate momentum on Pokemon that wall Ribombee. However, this is less useful in most circumstances than other utility moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fairy
--------
**Anti-leads**: While Ribombee is fast, faster Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Crobat, and Deoxys-S can outspeed and Taunt it, preventing it from setting Sticky Web.
**Rapid Spin**: Ribombee and Sticky Web can be easily shut down by Rapin Spin users, such as Excadrill, Armaldo, and Torkoal, that can remove Sticky Web and break Ribombee's Focus Sash in one move.
**Heatran**: Heatran 4x resists both of Ribombee's STAB moves and is immune to Hidden Power Fire, and it can take advantage of Ribombee to set Stealth Rock or attack and KO Ribombee through its Focus Sash with Magma Storm's chip damage.
**Bulky Offensive Pokemon**: Offensive Pokemon with good Special Defense such as Meloetta and Victini are able to tank Ribombee's attacks and easily KO it in return.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Ribombee poses little threat to most specially defensive Pokemon and is ineffective against walls such as Zapdos, Chansey, and Celesteela.
**Priority Attackers**: Ribombee's frailty makes it vulnerable to strong priority users that invalidate its Speed advantage, such as Bullet Punch Scizor and Aqua Jet Azumarill.
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