[OVERVIEW]
Araquanid's devastatingly powerful Water Bubble-boosted STAB attacks, great special bulk and decent resistances that give it switch-in opportunities versus foes like Mega Steelix, Nidoqueen, and weak support Pokemon, and ability to trap and remove some of its own checks with Spider Web all contribute to it being a notable threat in the tier. The immunity to burn that Water Bubble grants is very useful for a physical attacker, meaning Araquanid can take advantage of Scald users instead of the other way around. However, Araquanid is slow and physically frail, so it is susceptible to faster physical attackers. Araquanid also has a very shallow movepool, and what few good coverage moves it does have access to are undermined by its underwhelming power outside of Water-type moves. Araquanid also has no reliable recovery, which, alongside a weakness to Stealth Rock, causes it to be whittled easily.
[SET]
name: Totem Trapper
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Spider Web
move 4: Rest
item: Splash Plate
ability: Water Bubble
nature: Adamant
evs: 96 HP / 220 Atk / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Liquidation is an absurdly powerful STAB move, capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing the majority of the tier. Toxic whittles bulky switch-ins to Liquidation such as Porygon2, Chesnaught, and Milotic. Spider Web allows Araquanid to trap and remove bulky Pokemon that aren't able to beat it one-on-one, such as Milotic lacking Refresh, Porygon2, and Cresselia. Rest is Araquanid's only method of recovery and complements Spider Web by allowing it to beat bulky Toxic users that it traps.
Set Details
========
192 Speed EVs allow Araquanid to outspeed uninvested Umbreon so it can 2HKO it. The given HP EVs make Araquanid's HP 301, which means it is not 3HKOed by Seismic Toss from Registeel, and give it an odd HP number so it can come in on Stealth Rock five times. The rest of the EVs are placed in Attack with an Adamant nature to let Araquanid hit as hard as possible. Note that Araquanid should be Totem forme, as it takes less damage from Mega Steelix's Heavy Slam, allowing it to avoid being 2HKOed after Stealth Rock damage. Water Bubble gives Araquanid's Water-type attacks their massive power. Splash Plate boosts the strength of Liquidation with no drawbacks. Waterium Z is an option that gives access to a one-time powerful STAB attack, notably KOing Doublade with the combination of Liquidation and Hydro Vortex after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
Liquidation should almost always be the move of choice, as there are very few drawbacks to using it liberally. Use Toxic to whittle bulky foes with recovery that can comfortably take Liquidation, like Chesnaught and Milotic. Use Spider Web to trap vulnerable switch-ins like bulky Water-types lacking Refresh when they enter the field. It can also be useful to prevent the opponent from double switching and gaining an advantage. Only use Rest if Araquanid is required later on in the match or if it is in the process of trapping something it wins against, as a sleeping Araquanid with no way to contribute is a liability.
Team Options
========
Teammates such as Doublade, Mega Glalie, and Moltres appreciate Araquanid's ability to trap and remove bulky Water-types. Partners that can take physical hits like Gligar, Mega Steelix, and Cresselia can take attacks aimed at Araquanid that it's not suited to take. Entry hazard clearers, such as Sigilyph, Rotom-C, and Gligar, help to mitigate Araquanid's weakness to Stealth Rock. Fast cleaners such as Salazzle and Zygarde-10% can take advantage of the holes Araquanid breaks in the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Liquidation
move 3: Magic Coat
move 4: Mirror Coat
item: Splash Plate
ability: Water Bubble
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web allows Araquanid to support the rest of its team by decreasing foes' Speed. Liquidation is Araquanid's strongest STAB move and has very high Base Power thanks to Water Bubble. Magic Coat is used to potentially bounce back status moves used against Araquanid, with Taunt and Stealth Rock being chief among them. Mirror Coat lets Araquanid dent Pokemon that use special attacks against it, which is useful against entry hazard setters such as Necrozma, Kommo-o, and Roserade.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature give Araquanid the most power behind its hits, and maximum Speed investment lets Araquanid outpace the majority of defensive Pokemon, including Umbreon and Porygon2. Water Bubble gives Araquanid's Water-type attacks their massive power. Splash Plate boosts the strength of Liquidation with no drawbacks, though Focus Sash can be used to guarantee that Araquanid gets Sticky Web up if it's lead with, but this comes at the cost of considerable power.
Usage Tips
========
Liquidation is quite a threatening tool, so use the threat of attacking to get opportunities to set up Sticky Web. Use Magic Coat against opposing Stealth Rock setters to bounce the entry hazard back. The combination of Magic Coat and Mirror Coat is useful to create mind games versus specially offensive entry hazard setters like Necrozma, Nidoqueen, and Kommo-o—if they attack, they may get hit with a chunk of damage in return, but if they set up Stealth Rock, they could get it bounced back at them. Don't be afraid to preserve Araquanid for later in the match to set Sticky Web in order to facilitate a late-game sweep.
Team Options
========
Prime teammates for Araquanid are slow, powerful attackers that can take advantage of Sticky Web such as Honchkrow, Swords Dance Feraligatr, and Nidoqueen. Ghost-types, such as Mega Banette, Mismagius, and Doublade, are also recommended to prevent foes from clearing Sticky Web with Rapid Spin. Doublade is notable, as it benefits heavily from Sticky Web, using it to outpace faster defensive Pokemon like Umbreon and Porygon2. Competitive Milotic and Taunt users like Mismagius and Kommo-o make for good partners, as they are able to punish or stop the use of Defog to clear Sticky Web from the field. Spikes setters such as Roserade and Mega Glalie support the Sticky Web team archetype well by aiding Araquanid and its teammates in their breaking role, and it also helps that they both benefit decently from Sticky Web themselves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band is an option for ridiculous power but is often less effective, as it allows bulky Water-resistant Pokemon to switch in scot-free. Assault Vest may seem appealing given Araquanid's high Special Defense, but it makes Araquanid much easier to handle due to its inability to use status moves like Toxic and Sticky Web, a decrease in power, and its inability to trap bulky foes. It also isn't often worth using, as Araquanid takes on most neutral special attackers one-on-one without the use of Assault Vest anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Chesnaught and Shaymin that have the bulk to comfortably take Liquidation, recover the damage off, and can hit Araquanid in return are detrimental to its success. Even Milotic, which would usually be trapped by Araquanid, can run Refresh + Haze and beat it in a one-on-one situation. More offensive Water-resistant Pokemon, like Tsareena, Rotom-C, and Virizion, also are threatening to Araquanid, as they can hit it hard in return after taking Liquidation.
**Faster Physical Attackers**: Because of Araquanid's poor physical bulk, the majority of physical attackers faster than it are threats to it, especially ones with super effective coverage like Honchkrow and Tyrantrum. Special mentions go to Pokemon that are able to take Liquidation comfortably and set up on or hit Araquanid hard in return, such as Bewear, Toxicroak, and Kommo-o. Toxicroak is especially notable, as it is completely immune to both Liquidation and Toxic—this gives Toxicroak free rein to set up on Araquanid as it pleases.
**Stealth Rock**: A weakness to Stealth Rock and lack of reliable recovery mean Araquanid is hard pressed to say healthy throughout a match.
Araquanid's devastatingly powerful Water Bubble-boosted STAB attacks, great special bulk and decent resistances that give it switch-in opportunities versus foes like Mega Steelix, Nidoqueen, and weak support Pokemon, and ability to trap and remove some of its own checks with Spider Web all contribute to it being a notable threat in the tier. The immunity to burn that Water Bubble grants is very useful for a physical attacker, meaning Araquanid can take advantage of Scald users instead of the other way around. However, Araquanid is slow and physically frail, so it is susceptible to faster physical attackers. Araquanid also has a very shallow movepool, and what few good coverage moves it does have access to are undermined by its underwhelming power outside of Water-type moves. Araquanid also has no reliable recovery, which, alongside a weakness to Stealth Rock, causes it to be whittled easily.
[SET]
name: Totem Trapper
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Spider Web
move 4: Rest
item: Splash Plate
ability: Water Bubble
nature: Adamant
evs: 96 HP / 220 Atk / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Liquidation is an absurdly powerful STAB move, capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing the majority of the tier. Toxic whittles bulky switch-ins to Liquidation such as Porygon2, Chesnaught, and Milotic. Spider Web allows Araquanid to trap and remove bulky Pokemon that aren't able to beat it one-on-one, such as Milotic lacking Refresh, Porygon2, and Cresselia. Rest is Araquanid's only method of recovery and complements Spider Web by allowing it to beat bulky Toxic users that it traps.
Set Details
========
192 Speed EVs allow Araquanid to outspeed uninvested Umbreon so it can 2HKO it. The given HP EVs make Araquanid's HP 301, which means it is not 3HKOed by Seismic Toss from Registeel, and give it an odd HP number so it can come in on Stealth Rock five times. The rest of the EVs are placed in Attack with an Adamant nature to let Araquanid hit as hard as possible. Note that Araquanid should be Totem forme, as it takes less damage from Mega Steelix's Heavy Slam, allowing it to avoid being 2HKOed after Stealth Rock damage. Water Bubble gives Araquanid's Water-type attacks their massive power. Splash Plate boosts the strength of Liquidation with no drawbacks. Waterium Z is an option that gives access to a one-time powerful STAB attack, notably KOing Doublade with the combination of Liquidation and Hydro Vortex after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
Liquidation should almost always be the move of choice, as there are very few drawbacks to using it liberally. Use Toxic to whittle bulky foes with recovery that can comfortably take Liquidation, like Chesnaught and Milotic. Use Spider Web to trap vulnerable switch-ins like bulky Water-types lacking Refresh when they enter the field. It can also be useful to prevent the opponent from double switching and gaining an advantage. Only use Rest if Araquanid is required later on in the match or if it is in the process of trapping something it wins against, as a sleeping Araquanid with no way to contribute is a liability.
Team Options
========
Teammates such as Doublade, Mega Glalie, and Moltres appreciate Araquanid's ability to trap and remove bulky Water-types. Partners that can take physical hits like Gligar, Mega Steelix, and Cresselia can take attacks aimed at Araquanid that it's not suited to take. Entry hazard clearers, such as Sigilyph, Rotom-C, and Gligar, help to mitigate Araquanid's weakness to Stealth Rock. Fast cleaners such as Salazzle and Zygarde-10% can take advantage of the holes Araquanid breaks in the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Liquidation
move 3: Magic Coat
move 4: Mirror Coat
item: Splash Plate
ability: Water Bubble
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web allows Araquanid to support the rest of its team by decreasing foes' Speed. Liquidation is Araquanid's strongest STAB move and has very high Base Power thanks to Water Bubble. Magic Coat is used to potentially bounce back status moves used against Araquanid, with Taunt and Stealth Rock being chief among them. Mirror Coat lets Araquanid dent Pokemon that use special attacks against it, which is useful against entry hazard setters such as Necrozma, Kommo-o, and Roserade.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature give Araquanid the most power behind its hits, and maximum Speed investment lets Araquanid outpace the majority of defensive Pokemon, including Umbreon and Porygon2. Water Bubble gives Araquanid's Water-type attacks their massive power. Splash Plate boosts the strength of Liquidation with no drawbacks, though Focus Sash can be used to guarantee that Araquanid gets Sticky Web up if it's lead with, but this comes at the cost of considerable power.
Usage Tips
========
Liquidation is quite a threatening tool, so use the threat of attacking to get opportunities to set up Sticky Web. Use Magic Coat against opposing Stealth Rock setters to bounce the entry hazard back. The combination of Magic Coat and Mirror Coat is useful to create mind games versus specially offensive entry hazard setters like Necrozma, Nidoqueen, and Kommo-o—if they attack, they may get hit with a chunk of damage in return, but if they set up Stealth Rock, they could get it bounced back at them. Don't be afraid to preserve Araquanid for later in the match to set Sticky Web in order to facilitate a late-game sweep.
Team Options
========
Prime teammates for Araquanid are slow, powerful attackers that can take advantage of Sticky Web such as Honchkrow, Swords Dance Feraligatr, and Nidoqueen. Ghost-types, such as Mega Banette, Mismagius, and Doublade, are also recommended to prevent foes from clearing Sticky Web with Rapid Spin. Doublade is notable, as it benefits heavily from Sticky Web, using it to outpace faster defensive Pokemon like Umbreon and Porygon2. Competitive Milotic and Taunt users like Mismagius and Kommo-o make for good partners, as they are able to punish or stop the use of Defog to clear Sticky Web from the field. Spikes setters such as Roserade and Mega Glalie support the Sticky Web team archetype well by aiding Araquanid and its teammates in their breaking role, and it also helps that they both benefit decently from Sticky Web themselves.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band is an option for ridiculous power but is often less effective, as it allows bulky Water-resistant Pokemon to switch in scot-free. Assault Vest may seem appealing given Araquanid's high Special Defense, but it makes Araquanid much easier to handle due to its inability to use status moves like Toxic and Sticky Web, a decrease in power, and its inability to trap bulky foes. It also isn't often worth using, as Araquanid takes on most neutral special attackers one-on-one without the use of Assault Vest anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Chesnaught and Shaymin that have the bulk to comfortably take Liquidation, recover the damage off, and can hit Araquanid in return are detrimental to its success. Even Milotic, which would usually be trapped by Araquanid, can run Refresh + Haze and beat it in a one-on-one situation. More offensive Water-resistant Pokemon, like Tsareena, Rotom-C, and Virizion, also are threatening to Araquanid, as they can hit it hard in return after taking Liquidation.
**Faster Physical Attackers**: Because of Araquanid's poor physical bulk, the majority of physical attackers faster than it are threats to it, especially ones with super effective coverage like Honchkrow and Tyrantrum. Special mentions go to Pokemon that are able to take Liquidation comfortably and set up on or hit Araquanid hard in return, such as Bewear, Toxicroak, and Kommo-o. Toxicroak is especially notable, as it is completely immune to both Liquidation and Toxic—this gives Toxicroak free rein to set up on Araquanid as it pleases.
**Stealth Rock**: A weakness to Stealth Rock and lack of reliable recovery mean Araquanid is hard pressed to say healthy throughout a match.
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