Sticky Web in Ubers

« Previous Article

Next Article »

Introduction

In a tier with many powerhouses that share similar middling Speed tiers, Sticky Web builds stand out in Ubers as a prominent offensive playstyle that takes advantage of various Pokémon's reliance on outspeeding their targets to properly check or revenge kill them. This gives way to many less viable but strong Pokémon, allowing them to have an ideal environment to become significantly more threatening or making already threatening Pokémon more difficult to handle by narrowing their counterplay options, thus allowing them to easily overpower many teams.

This article will cover the various setters, wallbreakers, and sweepers that Sticky Web teams make full use of in Ubers in order to showcase the potential of the playstyle. It will also go over various elements of the metagame that threaten Sticky Web teams and cover counterplay methods available so that readers may come out educated on both how to handle facing Sticky Web teams and how to build them for themselves.

---

Setters

Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sticky Web
- Nuzzle / Glare
- Taunt
- Whirlwind / Toxic Thread

Any team with Smeargle is extremely likely going to be focused around Sticky Web. Smeargle's access to practically every move in the game enables it to carry many tools that will make it a helpful Sticky Web setter. Making up for its passivity with moves like Nuzzle, Glare, and Taunt that will cripple an opposing lead, Smeargle can reliably lead and set Sticky Web against many teams. However, Smeargle suffers from four-moveslot syndrome, and it will inevitably miss out on counteracting against a lead depending on the move it drops. For example, forgoing Nuzzle will make Smeargle very easily shut down by Taunt users, while forgoing Glare and Toxic Thread will result in Defog variants of Arceus-Ground being a serious nuisance.

Although almost every team based around Sticky Web uses Smeargle as a lead, Shuckle and Ribombee are niche yet possible options. Shuckle's better bulk and Sturdy allow it to justify holding Mental Herb to set Sticky Web against Taunt users and potentially do the same in the middle of the game if it is healthy enough. Ribombee's better offensive presence as a Sticky Web setter allows it to better perform against Mega Salamence and Yveltal, preventing them from freely using Defog. It can also force out Mega Sableye and set Sticky Web against Mega Diancie if using Skill Swap.

---

Common Pokémon

Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 68 Atk / 252 SpA / 188 Spe
Mild Nature
- Stealth Rock / Swords Dance
- Precipice Blades
- Rock Tomb
- Eruption

Much like it is on any team, Primal Groudon is a solid Stealth Rock user on Sticky Web teams. The number of Pokémon that can safely take on Primal Groudon significantly decreases as Sticky Web gives it a Speed advantage over a lot of Pokémon. With the given EV spread, Primal Groudon outspeeds every foe up to Mega Gengar with Sticky Web up. Along with its offensive presence, Primal Groudon can easily force switches to set Stealth Rock or cause serious damage with a full-powered Eruption that can be spammed easily with Sticky Web support. Teams that rely on checking Primal Groudon offensively will have an extremely hard time dealing with this set once Sticky Web is set and will typically be forced to sacrifice at least one Pokémon to get checks like Yveltal switched in safely. Should Primal Groudon's team already have a capable Stealth Rock setter, Primal Groudon can run Swords Dance to greatly narrow down its defensive counterplay by pressuring checks like Arceus-Water and untransformed Zygarde.

Yveltal @ Life Orb
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty / Naive Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Oblivion Wing
- Taunt
- Sucker Punch

Yveltal's already great offensive prowess is further amplified when its foes are caught by Sticky Web. Support Arceus formes that would stand up to Yveltal will struggle due to Dark Pulse 2HKOing them after minimal or no prior damage, and their attempts at removing Sticky Web will be a failure, as Yveltal will outspeed and Taunt them. Yveltal's access to Taunt also comes in handy versus Defog users like Giratina-O and Ho-Oh as well as defensive teams if the rest of its teammates struggle against them. A very powerful Sucker Punch boosted by Dark Aura and Life Orb also serves as good security against setup sweepers like Mega Salamence and Rayquaza that can pose a danger.

/

Arceus-Ground @ Groundium Z / Earth Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Substitute / Stealth Rock / Ice Beam / Recover

Arceus-Ground is a versatile offensive threat that can come in handy for different reasons depending on its moveset. The Swords Dance set's EdgeQuake coverage becomes more threatening, as threats like Mega Gengar and Ultra Necrozma can no longer outspeed and revenge kill Arceus-Ground after Sticky Web's effect. Arceus-Ground can customize its moveset with different moves in the fourth slot to deal with various foes that may prove to be nuisances to Sticky Web teams: Substitute makes Arceus-Ground extremely difficult for defensive teams to stop if it remains as the last Pokémon, Stealth Rock is a viable option due to Arceus-Ground's ability to immediately threaten foes like Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, Ice Beam can be run with some Special Attack investment and a Naive nature to OHKO Mega Salamence and untransformed Zygarde, and Recover can be used to extend Arceus-Ground's longevity and thus improve its effectiveness as a sweeper and an offensive check to Primal Groudon.

Though Necrozma-DW is rejected from most other teams, it holds a justifiable niche on Sticky Web teams. While other Ghost-types like Marshadow and Arceus-Ghost can block Rapid Spin as well, Necrozma-DW can prevent Rapid Spin or pose a greater offensive threat after transforming into Ultra Necrozma. Its moveset is also flexible; Swords Dance and Calm Mind sets have different targets that they can immediately threaten and different teams they can blast through that other teammates cannot.

In place of Necrozma-DW, Necrozma-DM can be used to provide its team with more security against Xerneas. This comes in handy, especially since the team's Primal Groudon is likely going to lack enough investment to check Geomancy Xerneas. Necrozma-DM can also temporarily utilize its immunity to Toxic to better capitalize on support Arceus formes and defensive Pokémon when setting up.

---

Other Viable Pokémon

Xerneas @ Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 168 HP / 252 SpA / 88 Spe
Modest Nature
- Geomancy
- Moonblast
- Thunder
- Focus Blast

Geomancy Xerneas is a threat almost every competitive team has to account for, and its offensive prowess as a cleaner makes it a good option on Sticky Web teams as well. Sticky Web's Speed drop on foes helps Xerneas reduce the damage it takes when setting up on special attackers like support Arceus formes. Along with Yveltal, Xerneas is one of the few Pokémon that can threaten to outright OHKO Giratina-O, a bulky, non-grounded Defogger that can immediately remove Sticky Web if given a chance to pivot into a threat it can take a hit from. As a sweeper, Xerneas can harshly punish Defog by setting up Geomancy unharmed when Sticky Web is no longer necessary to deal with the rest of the opposing team. While Xerneas can force switches quite well, refrain from playing aggressively too early. If Xerneas is not sent to the field at the right moment, it will take unnecessary damage, and in a specific case, Ho-Oh can switch into Xerneas and remove Sticky Web with Defog if Stealth Rock was not set beforehand.

Arceus @ Leftovers
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Shadow Claw
- Substitute

While Arceus-Ground is a solid Swords Dance sweeper, Extreme Killer Arceus is also a viable pick. Arceus can simultaneously use a bulky EV spread and Substitute to avoid status while setting up. If healthy enough, Arceus can also harshly punish Defog against Giratina-O by setting up behind a Substitute if the only attack that can harm Arceus is revealed to be Draco Meteor. Arceus's strong Extreme Speed is also helpful with adding security against setup sweepers.

Arceus-Fairy @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Judgment
- Earth Power / Fire Blast
- Recover

Arceus-Fairy's solid offensive presence against offensive teams makes it a viable Calm Mind user on Sticky Web teams. It can notably threaten out Mega Salamence and Yveltal, two airborne Pokémon that can threaten various Pokémon on Sticky Web teams and may even carry Defog. Ensure that Arceus-Fairy doesn't become fodder for Ho-Oh, however; defensive variants in particular can switch into and shut down this set even when Stealth Rock is up and remove Sticky Web with Defog.

Diancie-Mega @ Diancite
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Explosion

Though it takes a Mega slot, Mega Diancie is another viable Stealth Rock user on Sticky Web teams. After the team's lead sets Sticky Web and goes down, Mega Diancie can switch in and threaten many airborne Pokémon, such as Yveltal, Mega Salamence, Giratina-O, and Ho-Oh that may carry Defog and set Stealth Rock. In addition, when Mega Diancie is no longer needed, it can simply use Explosion to heavily damage its foe, prevent the use of Defog, and let a favorable teammate switch in. Magic Bounce is also a valuable tool to prevent entry hazards from other Pokémon.

Marshadow can already overpower slower targets with repeated Life Orb-boosted attacks or by using a Marshadium Z set, and it doesn't benefit too much from Sticky Web apart from being able to outspeed Choice Scarf Xerneas. However, Marshadow's ability to offensively check opposing Extreme Killer Arceus becomes very valuable on Sticky Web teams, as many Pokémon will rely on the Speed advantage from Sticky Web to effectively combat foes, and Extreme Killer Arceus bypasses this advantage with Extreme Speed. Extreme Killer Arceus can quite often even attempt to outright sweep Sticky Web teams after a Swords Dance, as many offensive Pokémon from Sticky Webs are frail, and even bulky Pokémon like Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground do not run defensive investment. Apart from offensively checking Extreme Killer Arceus, Marshadow also comes in handy by being the best anti-offense Pokémon and reinforcing the team's matchup against bulkier teams if running a Marshadium Z set. Though much more niche, Marshadow with Focus Sash can also function on Sticky Web teams. It can effectively be insurance against threatening leads like offensive Zygarde using Substitute and Dragon Tail and potentially even take advantage of foes using Defog to secure its Focus Sash for itself.

---

Niche Pokémon

Kyogre-Primal @ Blue Orb
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Water Spout
- Origin Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Thunder

While Primal Kyogre does not have the utility of setting Stealth Rock or checking Fairy- and Steel-types like Primal Groudon, it possesses more danger as an offensive threat. Primal Kyogre has enough power to outright OHKO maximum HP Arceus formes with a full-powered, unresisted Water Spout. Thanks to Sticky Web, many foes that were faster than Primal Kyogre will now have to survive a hit to retaliate. Due to how notoriously difficult it is to defensively check this Primal Kyogre, many teams decide to simply sacrifice the Pokémon on the field and send an airborne Pokémon that is faster or a priority move user to revenge kill it. Primal Kyogre also has an option to use Calm Mind to obliterate defensive teams that may have a way to handle this set, but a turn used for Calm Mind will open up room for foes to weaken it or even use Defog to remove Sticky Web, an entry hazard that Primal Kyogre will rely on to effectively do its work in Sticky Web team.

/

Rayquaza @ Flyinium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Air Lock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Dragon Ascent
- Earthquake
- Extreme Speed

Rayquaza is already a threat to be reckoned with when running a Dragon Dance set, but thanks to Sticky Web slowing down its checks, it can choose to run Swords Dance to become absurdly powerful in a single turn of setup. To describe this increase in power, Rayquaza can OHKO support Arceus formes after Stealth Rock damage with one turn of setup while not using Supersonic Skystrike. Rayquaza is also useful for its access to Extreme Speed, which can take out weakened threats in a pinch. Despite its offensive prowess, Rayquaza struggles setting up safely without relying on Focus Sash, and it may even have to set up on a foe that will remove Sticky Web with Defog in the process.

Lucario-Mega @ Lucarionite
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Meteor Mash
- Bullet Punch

Mega Lucario can overcome its somewhat middling Speed as an offensive threat with Sticky Web support, allowing it to overcome checks like Arceus formes and Mega Gengar. Utilizing its immunity to Toxic and ability to force out many Pokémon from defensive teams, Mega Lucario can find opportunities to set up quite easily against appropriate foes and become powerful enough to OHKO many Pokémon. Notably, it can also take out damaged Geomancy Xerneas with Bullet Punch, and this utility is appreciated, as Primal Groudon is likely going to be too frail to fully deal with Xerneas. Being an offensive check to Extreme Killer Arceus is also notable for previously stated reasons. However, Mega Lucario's frailty heavily limits its chance to set up against offensive teams, and it is reliant on Stealth Rock to overcome foes like Ho-Oh. It is also easily shut down by common Pokémon like Mega Salamence and Choice Scarf Yveltal.

---

Threats to Sticky Web

As many Pokémon found in teams based around Sticky Web are heavily reliant on the existence of the entry hazard to function, the most effective way to threaten Sticky Web teams is preventing the entry hazard from being set in the first place or having a bulky or fast non-grounded Defog user to swiftly remove Sticky Web. Therefore, Pokémon that can anti-lead leads like Smeargle or switch into and remove Sticky Web with Defog against Stealth Rock users like Primal Groudon are threats to be watched out for.

Mega Salamence is one of the worst Pokémon that Sticky Web teams can possibly encounter. With immunity to Ground, high Speed, and already great physical bulk further improved by Intimidate, Mega Salamence can easily punish a single misplay from Sticky Web teams by removing their crucial entry hazard with Defog. Being a solid Defog user isn't the only problem that Mega Salamence poses to Sticky Web teams. As Sticky Web teams will typically attempt to set Stealth Rock after their lead goes down, they will likely have Pokémon like Primal Groudon to fulfill such a job, and this only gives Mega Salamence an opportunity to switch in and at worst remove Sticky Web before going down. Mega Salamence also poses a threat to many common Pokémon on Sticky Web teams; Primal Groudon will at best emerge heavily impaired after combating Mega Salamence, +2 Arceus-Ground fails to OHKO Mega Salamence with Stone Edge, and slower Pokémon like Yveltal and Primal Kyogre risk getting OHKOed by Mega Salamence after Stealth Rock damage.

Other airborne Pokémon like Yveltal and Ho-Oh can pose similar issues. They may be slower than some Pokémon found on Sticky Web teams and may be overwhelmed by strong attacks after Stealth Rock damage, but without Stealth Rock, they can be very difficult to properly handle. Yveltal can revenge kill faster threats like Ultra Necrozma with Sucker Punch and threaten practically any Pokémon apart from Mega Diancie and Xerneas. Even in the case of those two Fairy-types, the former will likely go down early-game after setting Stealth Rock, and the latter that can be hindered by Taunt or repeated Oblivion Wings. Both Yveltal and Ho-Oh are also viable users of Choice Scarf and Defog, so many Sticky Web teams can do nothing but watch them easily removing Sticky Web while circumventing Taunt users that would otherwise outspeed them.

Without a solid offensive check like Marshadow, many Sticky Web teams are vulnerable to Extreme Killer Arceus. While Extreme Killer Arceus has to deal with Sticky Web teams' immense offensive pressure, it can prove to be a pesky Pokémon that picks off weakened sweepers with a strong Extreme Speed. Extreme Killer Arceus is also difficult to OHKO without a boosted Pokémon, so Sticky Web teams should be prepared to potentially deal with a +2 Extreme Killer Arceus that bypasses other Pokémon's Speed even after being slowed by Sticky Web. Even Marshadow or Mega Lucario may have to be careful; they will have to possibly rely on the sacrifice of other Pokémon if Extreme Killer Arceus is behind a Substitute, and if Extreme Killer Arceus is holding a Chople Berry, they will likely lose one-on-one combat.

Support Arceus formes can survive many attacks and remove Sticky Web with Defog as long as they do not confront Taunt users. Arceus-Ground in particular is problematic for Smeargle lacking Glare or Toxic Thread, as it can simply lead against Smeargle, 2HKO it without any fear, and proceed to remove Sticky Web with Defog the next turn. Though it is less common for Arceus-Water to use Defog, it can notably avoid the 2HKO from Primal Groudon's full-powered Eruption and remove Sticky Web.

Sticky Web setters typically have no way around Magic Bounce users and will likely remain useless for the whole game. In Mega Diancie's case, it can simply lead against a Sticky Web team to set Stealth Rock itself to ensure that the opposing lead Pokémon's Focus Sash is broken should it be forced to switch out. Smeargle can at best annoy Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye with Nuzzle, and Shuckle can do exactly nothing against them except using itself as fodder for double switching into a suitable teammate. Ribombee can threaten and bypass Mega Sableye to set Sticky Web, but it still has to play a mind game against Mega Diancie.

Cloyster can anti-lead multiple lead Pokémon in Ubers due to its access to multi-hitting moves and Rapid Spin, and it can similarly trouble leads from Sticky Web teams. Especially in Smeargle's case, it will have to paralyze Cloyster with Nuzzle or Glare and hope the paralysis takes effect; if luck isn't on Smeargle's side, Cloyster will OHKO Smeargle with Icicle Spear through Focus Sash. Even if Smeargle sets Sticky Web before it goes down, Cloyster can simply use Rapid Spin to get rid of it the next turn if there isn't any spinblocker on Smeargle's team.

Pokémon that can outspeed a Sticky Web setter and use Taunt can prove to be nuisances as well, though they are unreliable ways to counter Sticky Web teams depending on the setter's moveset. If Smeargle lacks Nuzzle, it is practically helpless against any Taunt user that outspeeds it. Even if Smeargle carries Nuzzle, it can be shut down by Mega Gengar that runs Taunt and Substitute. Shuckle can circumvent many Taunt users and set Sticky Web thanks to Mental Herb and annoy the opposing lead with Rock Tomb, however.

---

Sticky Web in Action

	VS
Exiline		leru
	Exiline vs Leru in Smogon Snake Draft phase 2.

Above is the replay of an Ubers game between Exiline and Leru during Snake Draft phase 2. From the beginning of the game, Leru's Smeargle caused serious annoyance to Exiline's Zygarde and Primal Groudon with Glare, leaving them much more exploitable late-game. With Sticky Web set, Exiline's team rapidly collapsed to Leru's Swords Dance Arceus-Ground that could take out slowed Ultra Necrozma without fearing retaliation. While it wasn't revealed until the very last moment of the game, Exiline's Marshadow was practically helpless against Leru's team, as it essentially couldn't outspeed any Pokémon from Leru's team; hence, it couldn't offensively check Swords Dance Arceus-Ground either.

	VS
Garay Oak		leru
	Garay Oak vs leru in Smogon Snake draft 2, week 3.

In Snake Draft stage 2, week 3, Leru brought a Sticky Web team against Garay Oak. After losing Choice Scarf Yveltal, the rest of Garay Oak's team was disadvantaged against Leru's team with Sticky Web slowing down his entire team. This was visible from Garay Oak's Zygarde-C having to use two Dragon Dances to outspeed Leru's Necrozma-DM (and thus taking serious damage while combating it) and Ultra Necrozma being very easily revenge killed by Leru's Pokémon after KOing Primal Kyogre. Slowed Arceus-Ground was also easily weakened and taken out by Primal Groudon before it could use Calm Mind and hope to pull off a comeback.

« Previous Article

Next Article »

All guides and strategy information are © 2004 Smogon.com and its contributors. Pokémon is © 1995 Nintendo. Privacy Policy