I wanted to try making a team oriented around sticky web and the current metagame. I’m really new to competitive battling but I tried my best. I played a bunch with it, and I think I did pretty okay, but I’m wondering if there’s any improvement.
Ribombee @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stun Spore
- Moonblast
- Sticky Web
- Hidden Power [Fire]
I chose Ribombee for my sticky web setter. It honestly was one of the only viable options, and it has a good movepool to use if it manages to survive a few turns. I essentially have been using Ribombee as a suicide lead unless I can switch it out when the opponent has a more passive lead. Unless I manage to throw out a U-turn, it’s really hard to get it back in, so I usually just let it faint to get a free switch turn. Ribombee can also knock out Ferrothorns using HP Fire that try to set up spikes.
Blacephalon @ Firium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 232 HP / 4 Def / 20 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Psyshock
I’ve never used Blacephalon, so I wanted to implement him on this team. He’s generally an early-to-mid game switch in, and if I notice that a Pokémon is going to be particularly threatening later in the game I’ll knock them out with the Z-Move. I’m still trying to decide between Firium and Ghostium Z though. With psyshock, flamethrower and shadow ball I’ve found that covers a lot of types so that he can switch in when needed. I’ve noticed that he tends to be a bit frail against some opponents, and it’s hard for him to take a hit on switch in. He also can’t function well if an opponent tries to defog the battle field, meaning he will often have to take two hits. I really like his coverage though, and if the conditions are right he works pretty well.
Weavile @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Knock Off
- Low Kick
Weavile is on this team purely because of the threat of Landorus-T at the moment. Sticky Web also helps it outspeed the few Pokémon who have a higher speed stat, so all in all it’s a pretty good fit for the team, I think. Its typing also helps it cover any typing weaknesses the team has, and it’s been an alright switch in because of its speed. It has a focus sash just in case it’s too frail to take on a Pokémon but it needs to land one more hit. I use Weavile mid to late game usually.
Pinsir-Mega @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Return
- Quick Attack
- Earthquake
Pinsir is really important on this team obviously because of Aerilate and it’s beastly attack stat. With the boosted speed from Sticky Web and the type coverage from both flying type Return and Earthquake, generally he can take on a lot of foes and OHKO quite a few common threats. He generally functions as a late game sweeper after Pokémon who might threaten him on a switch in have been KO’d.
Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Ice
- U-turn
I’ve been hesitant to put Lando-T on any of my teams, but I decided to give him a shot with this one. Overall, with a combination of spamming earthquake and HP Ice and using U-turn when he needs to bail, he’s been a very effective late game sweeper and defogger when needed. I originally used a choice scarf set with defog, but I found myself getting trapped into earthquake or HP ice when he was my only Pokemon left, and losing me the battle that would have been a victory. I changed to a more defensive set instead.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 188 Def / 72 Spe
Timid Nature
- Discharge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Heat Wave
- Roost
This was the spot on the team where I wasn’t really sure what to put. I decided to go with Zapdos to check Pokémon like toxapex, ash greninja, Mega Lopunny, Lando-T, and Serperior. Discharge has been super helpful in paralyzing Pokémon and crippling them in later switch ins, but overall I don’t feel like he’s the most amazing pick for the team setup. I'm considering replacing him with Serperior for a special sweeper, which can cover a lot of the Pokemon that Zapdos would check.
-
Weaknesses:
- I don’t really have an effective way of dealing with Heatran except pressuring a switch-out with Lando-T, which is practically on at least half of the teams in the current metagame at this point.
- Since Ribombee usually faints at the beginning of the battle, defoggers are a big threat because there’s no way to get Sticky Web back on the field. Lack of sticky web severely cripples a lot of my Pokémon.
- Celesteela can easily mow through most of my Pokémon, and I haven’t been able to find a good check that fits the dynamic of the team setup.
- Defog Zapdos and rapid spin excadrill are really hard to deal with. If a Defog or rapid spin is used, though, Lando and Blacephalon (using beast boost to late game sweep) can still pull through, although they're weakened greatly by the speed loss
- If the opponent starts with a Pokémon that has magic bounce (mega diancie is pretty popular right now) things get a little rough.
- I currently don't have an effective defog user
Ribombee @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stun Spore
- Moonblast
- Sticky Web
- Hidden Power [Fire]
I chose Ribombee for my sticky web setter. It honestly was one of the only viable options, and it has a good movepool to use if it manages to survive a few turns. I essentially have been using Ribombee as a suicide lead unless I can switch it out when the opponent has a more passive lead. Unless I manage to throw out a U-turn, it’s really hard to get it back in, so I usually just let it faint to get a free switch turn. Ribombee can also knock out Ferrothorns using HP Fire that try to set up spikes.
Blacephalon @ Firium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 232 HP / 4 Def / 20 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Psyshock
I’ve never used Blacephalon, so I wanted to implement him on this team. He’s generally an early-to-mid game switch in, and if I notice that a Pokémon is going to be particularly threatening later in the game I’ll knock them out with the Z-Move. I’m still trying to decide between Firium and Ghostium Z though. With psyshock, flamethrower and shadow ball I’ve found that covers a lot of types so that he can switch in when needed. I’ve noticed that he tends to be a bit frail against some opponents, and it’s hard for him to take a hit on switch in. He also can’t function well if an opponent tries to defog the battle field, meaning he will often have to take two hits. I really like his coverage though, and if the conditions are right he works pretty well.
Weavile @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Knock Off
- Low Kick
Weavile is on this team purely because of the threat of Landorus-T at the moment. Sticky Web also helps it outspeed the few Pokémon who have a higher speed stat, so all in all it’s a pretty good fit for the team, I think. Its typing also helps it cover any typing weaknesses the team has, and it’s been an alright switch in because of its speed. It has a focus sash just in case it’s too frail to take on a Pokémon but it needs to land one more hit. I use Weavile mid to late game usually.
Pinsir-Mega @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Return
- Quick Attack
- Earthquake
Pinsir is really important on this team obviously because of Aerilate and it’s beastly attack stat. With the boosted speed from Sticky Web and the type coverage from both flying type Return and Earthquake, generally he can take on a lot of foes and OHKO quite a few common threats. He generally functions as a late game sweeper after Pokémon who might threaten him on a switch in have been KO’d.
Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Ice
- U-turn
I’ve been hesitant to put Lando-T on any of my teams, but I decided to give him a shot with this one. Overall, with a combination of spamming earthquake and HP Ice and using U-turn when he needs to bail, he’s been a very effective late game sweeper and defogger when needed. I originally used a choice scarf set with defog, but I found myself getting trapped into earthquake or HP ice when he was my only Pokemon left, and losing me the battle that would have been a victory. I changed to a more defensive set instead.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 188 Def / 72 Spe
Timid Nature
- Discharge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Heat Wave
- Roost
This was the spot on the team where I wasn’t really sure what to put. I decided to go with Zapdos to check Pokémon like toxapex, ash greninja, Mega Lopunny, Lando-T, and Serperior. Discharge has been super helpful in paralyzing Pokémon and crippling them in later switch ins, but overall I don’t feel like he’s the most amazing pick for the team setup. I'm considering replacing him with Serperior for a special sweeper, which can cover a lot of the Pokemon that Zapdos would check.
-
Weaknesses:
- I don’t really have an effective way of dealing with Heatran except pressuring a switch-out with Lando-T, which is practically on at least half of the teams in the current metagame at this point.
- Since Ribombee usually faints at the beginning of the battle, defoggers are a big threat because there’s no way to get Sticky Web back on the field. Lack of sticky web severely cripples a lot of my Pokémon.
- Celesteela can easily mow through most of my Pokémon, and I haven’t been able to find a good check that fits the dynamic of the team setup.
- Defog Zapdos and rapid spin excadrill are really hard to deal with. If a Defog or rapid spin is used, though, Lando and Blacephalon (using beast boost to late game sweep) can still pull through, although they're weakened greatly by the speed loss
- If the opponent starts with a Pokémon that has magic bounce (mega diancie is pretty popular right now) things get a little rough.
- I currently don't have an effective defog user