Araquanid
Name - Araquanid
Number - National #752
Type -
Resists:
Weaknesses:
Ability: Water Bubble - Decreases Fire-type move power on the Pokémon by 50%. Increases power of Water-type moves used by the Pokémon by 100% before adding STAB. Prevents Burn
Hidden Ability (Available): Water Absorb - The Pokémon heals up to 1/4 of its maximum Hit Points when hit with Water-type moves.
Base Stats - 68 HP / 70 Atk / 92 Def / 50 SAtk / 132 SDef / 42 Spe
Level Up
- Water Sport (Pre-Evolution Only)
- Wide Guard
- Soak
- Bubble
- Infestation
- Spider Web
- Bug Bite
- Infestation
- Bubble Beam
- Bite
- Aqua Ring
- Leech Life
- Crunch
- Lunge
- Mirror Coat
- Liquidation
- Entertainment
- Toxic
- Hidden Power
- Ice Beam
- Blizzard
- Protect
- Rain Dance
- Safeguard
- Frustration
- Return
- Leech Life
- Double Team
- Reflect
- Facade
- Rest
- Attract
- Round
- Scald
- Frost Breath
- X-Scissor
- Infestation
- Poison Jab
- Swagger
- Sleep Talk
- Substitute
- Waterfall
- Confide
- Power Split
- Aurora Beam
- Stockpile
- Spit Up
- Breakneck Blitz
- Acid Downpour
- Savage Spinout
- Hydro Vortex
- Shattered Psyche
- Subzero Hammer
- Black Hole Eclipse
Araquanid is the opposite of a straightforward pokemon. There is no clear role that springs to mind when looking at its repertoire. It's potential appears to be in a combination of secondary characteristics and factors that make tackling a pokemon like Araquanid more difficult than it initially appears. Let's look at some of its unique characteristics.
It's exclusive ability Water Bubble is an amalgamation of several other abilities with offensive and defensive benefits. Adding a Fire resistance means a total of 6 resistances with skewed, yet workable 68/92/132 defenses. While it only has three weaknesses, one is to Stealth Rock, and its crappy speed means it won't be the best option for switch ins if it has to take two hits in a row. A burn immunity however makes it a great switch into Scald and WoW users. Since its Attack stat can't be hampered and a form of passive damage is prevented, Araquanid can be a potentially good tank. And the final benefit is that Water moves, after factoring STAB, essentially have tripled BP. Liquidation, your best physical Water move (with a chance to lower Def no less (%chance unconfirmed atm)), has an effective BP of 255. Here's a calc to give you a rough idea of the unresisted power:
252+ Atk Araquanid Liquidation (255 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mew: 203-239 (50.2 - 59.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
As an aside, Z-Liquidation becomes Hydro Vortex, with a BP of 480. Is it worth it? Likely not, but it's there.
Other Noteworthy Moves:
- Leech Life has been buffed to a whopping 80 BP in SuMo. That's a 120 BP Bug STAB version of Drain Punch. This is a big benefit.
- Lunge is another 80 BP physical Bug move, but with the secondary effect of always lowering your opponent's Atk stat.
- Despite the horrible 50 SpA stat, Scald is an option to handle potential physical attackers by spreading Burn, really helping Araquanid perform as a tank with additional passive damage on top of being safer defensively.
- Aqua Ring, combined with Leftovers, Leech Life, and a burn immunity, can potentially pay dividends in the long run with that much HP regeneration. Z-Aqua Ring also has the effect of boosting your Def by one stage. You lose Leftovers, but those also have the potential to be Knocked Off. Is the trade worth it? Unlikely, but its there.
- Power Split has the potential to be absolutely devastating if someone tries to set up in front of you. This move is one of the only ways to increase your Atk stat.
Araquanid @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
IVs: Atk 0 / SpA 0
Nature Bold
- Liquidation
- Leech Life
- Power Split
- Aqua Ring/Scald/Toxic/Substitute
So the obvious goal of this set is to take advantage of HO teams. Set up Aqua Ring or start spamming Scald as they switch to a strong physical attacker. If they think you are set up bait, that's when you hit them with Power Split and drastically increase your power output. The power boost and combination of HP recovery means you'll be able to muscle past many would be obstacles outside of SE Z moves. Impish and regular Atk IVs with some EV investment are another option should you wish to be less reliant on Power Split itself.
Substitute
Araquanid @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Nature Impish
- Substitute
- Toxic/Scald
- Leech Life/Lunge/Aqua Ring
- Aqua Ring/Stockpile/Protect
A stall set with Substitute as the crux of your defense. With your good resistance pool, you can mitigate a lot of damage. Toxic or Scald for your status of choice. Toxic would pair better with Lunge for the Attack drops, otherwise Scald and Aqua Ring have a similar effect. Finally, Stockpile or Protect will help immensely to prolong the enemy's pain.
All-Out-Attacker
Araquanid @ Choice Band/Splash Plate/Expert Belt
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Nature Adamant
- Liquidation
- Leech Life
- Waterfall/Poison Jab/Scald
- Sleep Talk/Poison Jab/Lunge
Standard CB set. Try to force switches and take advantage of slow U-Turns to come in against something that can't hurt you much. Araquanid actually has decent coverage, and the side effects of your STABs make them highly spammable. While Liquidation is your go-to move, bulky Grass types will fear your Bug STAB and risk switching in. Many bulky water types also fear your STAB or coverage like Slowbro, Azumarill, etc. Splash Plate can bluff a Choice Band and works really well adding further multipliers to your Water STAB. Life Orb is unwise considering your already low HP, SR weakness and low speed.
Rest Talk (by Martin )
Araquanid @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Liquidation
- Scald
"I personally think that this is the best Araquanid set because it takes best advantage of it's typing to take stuff on repeatedly. RestTalk allows it to heal up and check stuff repeatedly throughout the match with its cool set of resistances. It's typing allows it to use Pheromosa to burn sleep turns without risking it KOing due to taking hits from it very convincingly (252+ Atk Pheromosa High Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Araquanid: 92-108 (27.1 - 31.8%) -- 42.2% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery; 252+ Atk Pheromosa Lunge vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Araquanid: 114-135 (33.6 - 39.8%) -- 22.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery). While Lunge can net the 3HKO with good rolls, the chance is still pretty low and one Scald Sleep Talk roll could very easily end it's career if it banks on rolls (0 SpA Water Bubble Araquanid Scald vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Pheromosa: 237-279 (83.7 - 98.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO). It is able to spread burns pretty consistently, and it's not a sitting duck when it's healing due to just how scary Water Bubble is." - Martin
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