[OVERVIEW]
Despite having mediocre Attack and Speed stats for a wallbreaker, Araquanid has managed to find a niche for itself on Trick Room teams thanks to its Water Bubble ability, which doubles the Base Power of its STAB Liquidation and prevents it from being burned. Great special bulk sets Araquanid apart from other offensive Water-types found on Trick Room teams such as Crawdaunt, as this lets it reliably switch into Ash-Greninja, a big threat to the Trick Room archetype. Unfortunately, Araquanid's low Speed doesn't let it function properly outside of Trick Room, so its niche is pretty limited to that specific playstyle. A Stealth Rock weakness also deters its ability to switch into attacks, as it gets worn down too quickly when Stealth Rock is active.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Leech Life
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Toxic / Rest
item: Choice Band
ability: Water Bubble
nature: Brave
evs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Liquidation is Araquanid's most powerful STAB move and deals insane amounts of damage thanks to Water Bubble. Leech Life is significantly weaker but still provides coverage for bulky Grass-types like Tangrowth. Sleep Talk lets Araquanid switch into sleep-inducing moves such as Amoonguss's Spore and Tangrowth's Sleep Powder. Toxic hits bulky Water-types like Alomomola, Gastrodon, and Mantine on the switch and slowly wears them down during a game. Rest might seem odd at first on a Choice Band set, but Araquanid can find situations to use Rest and switch out to keep itself at a fair amount of health to switch into Ash-Greninja and Heatran. It also becomes more useful, should Araquanid's Choice Band be removed via Knock Off, though this scenario should be avoided because the power loss is pretty significant. Poison Jab is another option for the last slot, notably hitting Tapu Fini and Tapu Bulu for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with a Brave nature maximizes Araquanid's damage output and reduces its Speed stat for Trick Room. Maximum HP investment increases Araquanid's bulk and is the best option for the remaining EVs, since it doesn't need any Speed investment. No Speed IVs make Araquanid as slow as possible, thus letting it outpace as many Pokemon as possible under Trick Room. Water Bubble is Araquanid's only viable ability because it boosts the power of its Liquidation to deadly levels. A Choice Band further boosts its Attack stat and makes its Liquidation extremely powerful. An alternative EV spread of 28 HP / 252 Atk / 228 Spe with an Adamant nature lets Araquanid outspeed Skarmory outside of Trick Room, which turns it into a more effective Stallbreaker.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Araquanid's amazing special bulk, it can afford to switch into most special attackers that threaten the Trick Room archetype such as Ash-Greninja and Heatran. Trick Room being up is crucial to maximize Araquanid's wallbreaking potential. Therefore, it shouldn't attempt to come in on a battle to start breaking the opposing team unless Trick Room is up or it's granted a free switch in thanks to a teammate's U-turn or Volt Switch. Araquanid's niche comes from its strong Liquidation, so it should only use that move unless the opponent has a Water-immune Pokemon, in which case it can use either Leech Life or Toxic to cripple the switch-in.
Team Options
========
Trick Room setters such as Magearna, Cresselia, and Porygon2 provide Araquanid with the support it needs to start punching holes on the opposing team. Other Trick Room wallbreakers like Alolan Marowak, Mega Mawile, and Magearna can break the opposing team under Trick Room alongside it. Alolan Marowak in particular can take advantage of the bulky Grass-types that attempt to switch into Araquanid to get free switches for itself. A suicide lead with access to Trick Room and Stealth Rock such as Uxie or Bronzong is pretty common on the Trick Room archetype and can help Araquanid grab momentum from the beginning of the game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Araquanid's niche is pretty limited, which doesn't allow it to run too many options outside of the ones listed. However, it can use a set consisting of Liquidation / Rain Dance / Rest / Sleep Talk with an EV spread of 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe and Waterium Z. This spread allows Araquanid to outspeed Clefable with the remaining EVs invested into HP. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk lets it switch into passive Pokemon like Tangrowth and Toxapex and threaten them with a rain-boosted Liquidation and Hydro Vortex while keeping itself healthy after taking a couple of hits. If the foe isn't in KO range of Hydro Vortex, Araquanid can fish for a Defense drop from Liquidation before using the Z-Move. Due to its amazing bulk it can still work like a Choice Band Araquanid against offensive teams by switching into Ash-Greninja or Heatran and hitting a switch-in with Hydro Vortex.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Alomomola resist Liquidation and can come into Araquanid several times during a game. Tapu Fini has to watch out for its HP though as it lacks a reliable form of recovery. Mantine and Gastrodon also prevent Araquanid from spamming Liquidation due to their Water immunity and are not 2HKOed by Leech Life.
**Grass-types**: Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, and Tapu Bulu prevent Araquanid from spamming Liquidation, though they have to be wary of Leech Life, as it 2HKOes them after taking some prior damage.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Outside of Trick Room, Araquanid's low Speed stat will leave it vulnerable to the likes of Tapu Koko, Mega Pinsir, and Tyranitar, which outspeed and OHKO it with their respective STAB moves.
Despite having mediocre Attack and Speed stats for a wallbreaker, Araquanid has managed to find a niche for itself on Trick Room teams thanks to its Water Bubble ability, which doubles the Base Power of its STAB Liquidation and prevents it from being burned. Great special bulk sets Araquanid apart from other offensive Water-types found on Trick Room teams such as Crawdaunt, as this lets it reliably switch into Ash-Greninja, a big threat to the Trick Room archetype. Unfortunately, Araquanid's low Speed doesn't let it function properly outside of Trick Room, so its niche is pretty limited to that specific playstyle. A Stealth Rock weakness also deters its ability to switch into attacks, as it gets worn down too quickly when Stealth Rock is active.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Leech Life
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Toxic / Rest
item: Choice Band
ability: Water Bubble
nature: Brave
evs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Liquidation is Araquanid's most powerful STAB move and deals insane amounts of damage thanks to Water Bubble. Leech Life is significantly weaker but still provides coverage for bulky Grass-types like Tangrowth. Sleep Talk lets Araquanid switch into sleep-inducing moves such as Amoonguss's Spore and Tangrowth's Sleep Powder. Toxic hits bulky Water-types like Alomomola, Gastrodon, and Mantine on the switch and slowly wears them down during a game. Rest might seem odd at first on a Choice Band set, but Araquanid can find situations to use Rest and switch out to keep itself at a fair amount of health to switch into Ash-Greninja and Heatran. It also becomes more useful, should Araquanid's Choice Band be removed via Knock Off, though this scenario should be avoided because the power loss is pretty significant. Poison Jab is another option for the last slot, notably hitting Tapu Fini and Tapu Bulu for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with a Brave nature maximizes Araquanid's damage output and reduces its Speed stat for Trick Room. Maximum HP investment increases Araquanid's bulk and is the best option for the remaining EVs, since it doesn't need any Speed investment. No Speed IVs make Araquanid as slow as possible, thus letting it outpace as many Pokemon as possible under Trick Room. Water Bubble is Araquanid's only viable ability because it boosts the power of its Liquidation to deadly levels. A Choice Band further boosts its Attack stat and makes its Liquidation extremely powerful. An alternative EV spread of 28 HP / 252 Atk / 228 Spe with an Adamant nature lets Araquanid outspeed Skarmory outside of Trick Room, which turns it into a more effective Stallbreaker.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Araquanid's amazing special bulk, it can afford to switch into most special attackers that threaten the Trick Room archetype such as Ash-Greninja and Heatran. Trick Room being up is crucial to maximize Araquanid's wallbreaking potential. Therefore, it shouldn't attempt to come in on a battle to start breaking the opposing team unless Trick Room is up or it's granted a free switch in thanks to a teammate's U-turn or Volt Switch. Araquanid's niche comes from its strong Liquidation, so it should only use that move unless the opponent has a Water-immune Pokemon, in which case it can use either Leech Life or Toxic to cripple the switch-in.
Team Options
========
Trick Room setters such as Magearna, Cresselia, and Porygon2 provide Araquanid with the support it needs to start punching holes on the opposing team. Other Trick Room wallbreakers like Alolan Marowak, Mega Mawile, and Magearna can break the opposing team under Trick Room alongside it. Alolan Marowak in particular can take advantage of the bulky Grass-types that attempt to switch into Araquanid to get free switches for itself. A suicide lead with access to Trick Room and Stealth Rock such as Uxie or Bronzong is pretty common on the Trick Room archetype and can help Araquanid grab momentum from the beginning of the game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Araquanid's niche is pretty limited, which doesn't allow it to run too many options outside of the ones listed. However, it can use a set consisting of Liquidation / Rain Dance / Rest / Sleep Talk with an EV spread of 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe and Waterium Z. This spread allows Araquanid to outspeed Clefable with the remaining EVs invested into HP. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk lets it switch into passive Pokemon like Tangrowth and Toxapex and threaten them with a rain-boosted Liquidation and Hydro Vortex while keeping itself healthy after taking a couple of hits. If the foe isn't in KO range of Hydro Vortex, Araquanid can fish for a Defense drop from Liquidation before using the Z-Move. Due to its amazing bulk it can still work like a Choice Band Araquanid against offensive teams by switching into Ash-Greninja or Heatran and hitting a switch-in with Hydro Vortex.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Alomomola resist Liquidation and can come into Araquanid several times during a game. Tapu Fini has to watch out for its HP though as it lacks a reliable form of recovery. Mantine and Gastrodon also prevent Araquanid from spamming Liquidation due to their Water immunity and are not 2HKOed by Leech Life.
**Grass-types**: Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur, and Tapu Bulu prevent Araquanid from spamming Liquidation, though they have to be wary of Leech Life, as it 2HKOes them after taking some prior damage.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Outside of Trick Room, Araquanid's low Speed stat will leave it vulnerable to the likes of Tapu Koko, Mega Pinsir, and Tyranitar, which outspeed and OHKO it with their respective STAB moves.
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