QC: Arikado / Spirit / atomicllamas
GP: Snobalt / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
While Leavanny faces competition from Kricketune, which has access to Taunt and Endeavor, Leavanny's access to Magic Coat, Grass-type STAB moves, and better Speed make it arguably the better Sticky Web setter. While Kricketune can do well against stall, using Knock Off and Endeavor to remove items and severely weaken foes, Leavanny can Knock Off items as well and can bounce back a status move or entry hazard with Magic Coat. Leavanny's solid Speed allows it to outpace most leads in the tier bar Accelgor and Archeops, as well as allowing it to outpace many entry hazard removers, such as Kabutops, Shiftry, defensive Flygon, Hitmonlee, and Hitmontop. A downside to using Leavanny is that Sticky Web isn't very effective in the tier.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web Support
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Magic Coat / Electroweb
move 3: Leaf Storm
move 4: Knock Off
item: Focus Sash
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web lowers the Speed of grounded foes and is the only reason to use Leavanny. Magic Coat can be used to bounce back Taunt and opposing entry hazards. Electroweb can be used to lower the Speed of setup sweepers, such as Dragon Dance Scrafty, to prevent them from setting up on Leavanny and sweeping its team. Leaf Storm can take on leads such as Seismitoad, Rhyperior, and Omastar. Knock Off can allow Leavanny to take on Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Mismagius, Gourgeist-XL, Xatu, Sigilyph, and Delphox, as well as remove foes' items, and it can also give Leavanny a better matchup against defensive teams.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Special Attack EVs allow Leavanny to be as fast as it can be while hitting as hard as it can with Leaf Storm. A Naive nature allows Leavanny to preserve its Attack so that it can hit as hard as it can with Knock Off. A Focus Sash allows Leavanny to survive a single hit and almost guarantee that it will get Sticky Web up against the opposing team. Chlorophyll only comes into play against uncommon sun teams, although it's Leavanny's best option if it isn't using a Bug-type move.
Usage Tips
========
If you predict the foe to use an entry hazard or status move, use Magic Coat. Sticky Web is Leavanny's main priority and should be used first unless an opportunity to use Magic Coat or an attacking move is present. Leavanny should be the lead for any team it is on so it can get Sticky Web up early-game to cripple the opposing team. Leavanny should be wary of a Pokemon with Magic Coat or Magic Bounce, such as Xatu, which can bounce back its Sticky Web and cripple your team instead.
Team Options
========
Braviary can be an effective teammate for Leavanny, as it deters the use of Defog. Braviary can also become a cleaner if a foe uses Defog against it. Ghost-type Pokemon, such as Mismagius, Jellicent, Spiritomb, and Mega Banette, can block Rapid Spin in order to keep Sticky Web up. Attackers with mediocre Speed, such as Emboar, Exploud, Tyrantrum, Medicham, and Mega Banette, appreciate Sticky Web to allow them to outpace Pokemon that they normally wouldn't. Rock-types such as Tyrantrum and Kabutops, Electric-types such as Rotom-C and Eelektross, and Ice-types such as Mega Glalie and Sneasel can take on Flying-types, which avoid Sticky Web's effects. Sneasel can also take on most Pokemon with Levitate, such as Flygon, Mespirit, Uxie, Misdreavus, and Bronzong.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
X-Scissor can deal some damage against Psychic- and Dark-type leads such as Uxie and Liepard, Pokemon that resist Leaf Storm, and Grass-types such as Shiftry. Bug Buzz can be used to take on Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Uxie better. If Bug Buzz or X-Scissor is selected, Leavanny's ability should be Swarm. Leaf Blade can be used, making Leavanny purely a physical attacker; however, Leaf Storm is much more effective, can OHKO Rhyperior, and doesn't hinder Leavanny with its Special Attack drop because Leavanny is a suicide lead. Leavanny could fill the role of a sun sweeper with Swords Dance, but it is outclassed by Shiftry in this role.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Flygon, Skuntank, Togetic, Golbat, Hitmontop, and Hitmonlee can remove Leavanny's Sticky Web, although they can be taken on by its teammates.
**Flygon**: Flygon is able to remove Leavanny's entry hazards with Defog and does not take much damage from any of its attacking moves.
**Offensive Presence**: Flying-type Pokemon such as Braviary and Fletchinder aren't affected by Sticky Web, and they can threaten Leavanny with their Flying-type moves, while Fire-types, such as Mega Camerupt, Delphox, Houndoom, and Emboar, wall Leavanny and can force it to switch out with the threat of their Fire-type STAB moves. In addition, Mega Steelix, Escavalier, Durant, and other Steel-type Pokemon wall Leavanny and can use it to set up entry hazards or boosting moves, while Rock-types such as Tyrantrum, Omastar, Rhyperior, Crustle, and Archeops can threaten Leavanny with their Rock-type STAB moves, but they have to watch out for Leaf Storm. Archeops is the only Rock-type capable of outpacing Leavanny without a boost, although Choice Scarf Tyrantrum can outpace Leavanny as well, while Rhyperior and Crustle can take it out with Rock Blast.
GP: Snobalt / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
While Leavanny faces competition from Kricketune, which has access to Taunt and Endeavor, Leavanny's access to Magic Coat, Grass-type STAB moves, and better Speed make it arguably the better Sticky Web setter. While Kricketune can do well against stall, using Knock Off and Endeavor to remove items and severely weaken foes, Leavanny can Knock Off items as well and can bounce back a status move or entry hazard with Magic Coat. Leavanny's solid Speed allows it to outpace most leads in the tier bar Accelgor and Archeops, as well as allowing it to outpace many entry hazard removers, such as Kabutops, Shiftry, defensive Flygon, Hitmonlee, and Hitmontop. A downside to using Leavanny is that Sticky Web isn't very effective in the tier.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web Support
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Magic Coat / Electroweb
move 3: Leaf Storm
move 4: Knock Off
item: Focus Sash
ability: Chlorophyll
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web lowers the Speed of grounded foes and is the only reason to use Leavanny. Magic Coat can be used to bounce back Taunt and opposing entry hazards. Electroweb can be used to lower the Speed of setup sweepers, such as Dragon Dance Scrafty, to prevent them from setting up on Leavanny and sweeping its team. Leaf Storm can take on leads such as Seismitoad, Rhyperior, and Omastar. Knock Off can allow Leavanny to take on Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Mismagius, Gourgeist-XL, Xatu, Sigilyph, and Delphox, as well as remove foes' items, and it can also give Leavanny a better matchup against defensive teams.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Special Attack EVs allow Leavanny to be as fast as it can be while hitting as hard as it can with Leaf Storm. A Naive nature allows Leavanny to preserve its Attack so that it can hit as hard as it can with Knock Off. A Focus Sash allows Leavanny to survive a single hit and almost guarantee that it will get Sticky Web up against the opposing team. Chlorophyll only comes into play against uncommon sun teams, although it's Leavanny's best option if it isn't using a Bug-type move.
Usage Tips
========
If you predict the foe to use an entry hazard or status move, use Magic Coat. Sticky Web is Leavanny's main priority and should be used first unless an opportunity to use Magic Coat or an attacking move is present. Leavanny should be the lead for any team it is on so it can get Sticky Web up early-game to cripple the opposing team. Leavanny should be wary of a Pokemon with Magic Coat or Magic Bounce, such as Xatu, which can bounce back its Sticky Web and cripple your team instead.
Team Options
========
Braviary can be an effective teammate for Leavanny, as it deters the use of Defog. Braviary can also become a cleaner if a foe uses Defog against it. Ghost-type Pokemon, such as Mismagius, Jellicent, Spiritomb, and Mega Banette, can block Rapid Spin in order to keep Sticky Web up. Attackers with mediocre Speed, such as Emboar, Exploud, Tyrantrum, Medicham, and Mega Banette, appreciate Sticky Web to allow them to outpace Pokemon that they normally wouldn't. Rock-types such as Tyrantrum and Kabutops, Electric-types such as Rotom-C and Eelektross, and Ice-types such as Mega Glalie and Sneasel can take on Flying-types, which avoid Sticky Web's effects. Sneasel can also take on most Pokemon with Levitate, such as Flygon, Mespirit, Uxie, Misdreavus, and Bronzong.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
X-Scissor can deal some damage against Psychic- and Dark-type leads such as Uxie and Liepard, Pokemon that resist Leaf Storm, and Grass-types such as Shiftry. Bug Buzz can be used to take on Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Uxie better. If Bug Buzz or X-Scissor is selected, Leavanny's ability should be Swarm. Leaf Blade can be used, making Leavanny purely a physical attacker; however, Leaf Storm is much more effective, can OHKO Rhyperior, and doesn't hinder Leavanny with its Special Attack drop because Leavanny is a suicide lead. Leavanny could fill the role of a sun sweeper with Swords Dance, but it is outclassed by Shiftry in this role.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Flygon, Skuntank, Togetic, Golbat, Hitmontop, and Hitmonlee can remove Leavanny's Sticky Web, although they can be taken on by its teammates.
**Flygon**: Flygon is able to remove Leavanny's entry hazards with Defog and does not take much damage from any of its attacking moves.
**Offensive Presence**: Flying-type Pokemon such as Braviary and Fletchinder aren't affected by Sticky Web, and they can threaten Leavanny with their Flying-type moves, while Fire-types, such as Mega Camerupt, Delphox, Houndoom, and Emboar, wall Leavanny and can force it to switch out with the threat of their Fire-type STAB moves. In addition, Mega Steelix, Escavalier, Durant, and other Steel-type Pokemon wall Leavanny and can use it to set up entry hazards or boosting moves, while Rock-types such as Tyrantrum, Omastar, Rhyperior, Crustle, and Archeops can threaten Leavanny with their Rock-type STAB moves, but they have to watch out for Leaf Storm. Archeops is the only Rock-type capable of outpacing Leavanny without a boost, although Choice Scarf Tyrantrum can outpace Leavanny as well, while Rhyperior and Crustle can take it out with Rock Blast.
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