[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 1 point
**Overview**: Ariados has three traits that cause it to get drafted: it has Sticky Web, it has Toxic Spikes, and it's a grounded Poison-type. Unfortunately, it doesn't have very much else going for it. Its decent utility movepool is held back by its mediocre bulk, typing, and Speed. On the bright side, its unassuming appearance might make opponents less likely to prepare for its tricks.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Entry Hazard Lead**: The most common task for Ariados is that of a sacrificial lead, attempting to set a Sticky Web and perhaps some Toxic Spikes against an unprepared team. A Focus Sash makes the set more consistent against lead attackers, and it can tickle the foe with a Shadow Sneak or Sucker Punch before going down.
**Utility**: Ariados can also seek out mid-game opportunities to set entry hazards against more passive foes. It can usually survive one or two hits with the correct defensive investment, and some foes may not have the coverage they need to threaten it. As a result, it can set entry hazards and then pressure foes with moves like Knock Off or a deceptively strong Megahorn.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Megahorn, Poison Jab, Lunge, Skitter Smack, Leech Life
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Swords Dance
**Utility Moves**: Sticky Web, Toxic Spikes, Knock Off, Foul Play, Baton Pass, Toxic, Toxic Thread
**Coverage**: Sucker Punch, Shadow Sneak, Smart Strike
Niche Moves
========
**Endure**: Endure can be used with a Custap Berry to set Sticky Web while facing a faster foe or potentially end a foe's sweep with another move.
Common Items
========
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash keeps lead Ariados alive so it can set Sticky Web more easily.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots helps Ariados switch in more often to set its own entry hazards and clear Toxic Spikes.
Niche Items
========
**Mental Herb**: If the opponent seems likely to use Taunt to stop Sticky Web, Mental Herb can be used to deal with it at the cost of being vulnerable to turn 1 OHKOs.
**Choice Scarf**: Most foes easily outspeed Ariados, so a slightly faster spider can surprise the opponent and set Sticky Web before fainting.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can enhance Araidos's effective bulk against foes that lack better ways to hit it. For example, a Payapa Berry can keep it safe against Iron Valiant and allow it to set Sticky Web or strike back with Poison Jab.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry can grant an opportunity to set Sticky Web mid-game if paired with Endure.
Tera
========
Ariados should not be a Tera Captain. Its stats are too low and there are far too many better options.
Draft Strategy
========
Ariados should always be taken at the end of a draft to add a cheap Sticky Web setter. It fits well with the following picks.
**Wallbreakers**: Offensive Pokemon with mediocre Speed like Chi-Yu and Urshifu-S become significantly more threatening with Sticky Web support. Bulkier wallbreakers like Palafin and Iron Hands appreciate its ability to clear Toxic Spikes as well.
**Ghost-type Pokemon**: Ghost-types can block Rapid Spin, making it easier to keep Sticky Web in play even after Ariados faints. Gholdengo fits this role especially well, since it also blocks Defog.
Checks and Counters
========
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Ariados's main job is to set entry hazards, and a reliable Rapid Spin or Defog user can make it feel like a wasted slot.
**Taunt**: Taunt prevents Ariados from using its beloved entry hazard moves, and most Taunt users can outspeed it.
**Poison- and Steel-type Pokemon**: Ariados has no way to deal meaningful damage to many Pokemon, mostly the Poison- and Steel-types that resist both of its STAB attacks. These Pokemon can easily set up on it or use a move to prevent Sticky Web.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 1 point
**Overview**: Ariados has three traits that cause it to get drafted: it has Sticky Web, it has Toxic Spikes, and it's a grounded Poison-type. Unfortunately, it doesn't have very much else going for it. Its decent utility movepool is held back by its mediocre bulk, typing, and Speed. On the bright side, its unassuming appearance might make opponents less likely to prepare for its tricks.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Entry Hazard Lead**: The most common task for Ariados is that of a sacrificial lead, attempting to set a Sticky Web and perhaps some Toxic Spikes against an unprepared team. A Focus Sash makes the set more consistent against lead attackers, and it can tickle the foe with a Shadow Sneak or Sucker Punch before going down.
**Utility**: Ariados can also seek out mid-game opportunities to set entry hazards against more passive foes. It can usually survive one or two hits with the correct defensive investment, and some foes may not have the coverage they need to threaten it. As a result, it can set entry hazards and then pressure foes with moves like Knock Off or a deceptively strong Megahorn.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Megahorn, Poison Jab, Lunge, Skitter Smack, Leech Life
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Swords Dance
**Utility Moves**: Sticky Web, Toxic Spikes, Knock Off, Foul Play, Baton Pass, Toxic, Toxic Thread
**Coverage**: Sucker Punch, Shadow Sneak, Smart Strike
Niche Moves
========
**Endure**: Endure can be used with a Custap Berry to set Sticky Web while facing a faster foe or potentially end a foe's sweep with another move.
Common Items
========
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash keeps lead Ariados alive so it can set Sticky Web more easily.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots helps Ariados switch in more often to set its own entry hazards and clear Toxic Spikes.
Niche Items
========
**Mental Herb**: If the opponent seems likely to use Taunt to stop Sticky Web, Mental Herb can be used to deal with it at the cost of being vulnerable to turn 1 OHKOs.
**Choice Scarf**: Most foes easily outspeed Ariados, so a slightly faster spider can surprise the opponent and set Sticky Web before fainting.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can enhance Araidos's effective bulk against foes that lack better ways to hit it. For example, a Payapa Berry can keep it safe against Iron Valiant and allow it to set Sticky Web or strike back with Poison Jab.
**Custap Berry**: Custap Berry can grant an opportunity to set Sticky Web mid-game if paired with Endure.
Tera
========
Ariados should not be a Tera Captain. Its stats are too low and there are far too many better options.
Draft Strategy
========
Ariados should always be taken at the end of a draft to add a cheap Sticky Web setter. It fits well with the following picks.
**Wallbreakers**: Offensive Pokemon with mediocre Speed like Chi-Yu and Urshifu-S become significantly more threatening with Sticky Web support. Bulkier wallbreakers like Palafin and Iron Hands appreciate its ability to clear Toxic Spikes as well.
**Ghost-type Pokemon**: Ghost-types can block Rapid Spin, making it easier to keep Sticky Web in play even after Ariados faints. Gholdengo fits this role especially well, since it also blocks Defog.
Checks and Counters
========
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Ariados's main job is to set entry hazards, and a reliable Rapid Spin or Defog user can make it feel like a wasted slot.
**Taunt**: Taunt prevents Ariados from using its beloved entry hazard moves, and most Taunt users can outspeed it.
**Poison- and Steel-type Pokemon**: Ariados has no way to deal meaningful damage to many Pokemon, mostly the Poison- and Steel-types that resist both of its STAB attacks. These Pokemon can easily set up on it or use a move to prevent Sticky Web.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
