[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 5-7 points
**Overview**: Ribombee is the most reliable Sticky Web setter in the format. Blistering Speed and the ability to threaten opposing Defog users are what set Ribombee apart from other Sticky Web setters. If speed control is not needed, then its access to Quiver Dance means it can become a budget setup sweeper. However, aside from Speed, the rest of Ribombee's stats are pretty lacking, making positioning and planning of the utmost importance if it needs to spend multiple turns on the field. Because of this, it is most often used as a Sticky Web sacrificial lead.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Sticky Web Lead**: Ribombee is outsped by only a handful of other Pokemon, making it very easy for it to set Sticky Web on the first turn. Using a Focus Sash can guarantee an immediate Sticky Web use, which can shut down the opponent's fast wallbreakers and position your team for a late-game sweep.
**Setup Sweeper**: In certain circumstances, Ribombee can use Quiver Dance to sweep opposing teams. With a strong Fairy-type STAB in Moonblast and a few coverage moves like Psychic and Energy Ball, it can clear out the field if left unchecked for too long. Its frailty means it requires heavy support to succeed, however.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Bug Buzz, Moonblast, Draining Kiss
**Setup Moves**: Quiver Dance
**Utility Moves**: Sticky Web, Substitute, Stun Spore, U-turn, Trick, Switcheroo
**Coverage**: Energy Ball, Psychic, Psychic Noise, Stored Power, Grass Knot
Niche Moves
========
**Reflect / Light Screen**: Reflect and Light Screen are sometimes ran on lead sets. Ribombee's access to dual screens allows it to increase a teammate's setup potential. This is particularly useful against bulkier teams where Ribombee struggles with doing any meaningful damage.
**Skill Swap**: Skill Swap is particularly useful on setup sweeper sets to get around walls with defensive abilities like Unaware. Ribombee can swap its mediocre ability for a much more powerful one and catch many foes by surprise.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Ribombee to switch in without fearing its weakness to entry hazards, which increases its chances to use Sticky Web or Quiver Dance and turn the game in its favor.
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash is used on lead sets to guarantee that Ribombee can set Sticky Web. Its low defenses mean opposing Choice Scarf users have a good chance of OHKOing it. With Focus Sash, means that only multi-hit moves like Rock Blast stand a chance to KO Ribombee.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs boosts Ribombee's low Special Attack to make it hit decently hard instantly, at the cost of making it unable to change moves. It works well against teams that don't have a great Fairy-resistant Pokemon. Choice Specs can also be given to Ribombee's checks with Trick or Switcheroo.
**Mental Herb**: One of the only reliable strategies to prevent Ribombee from setting up Sticky Web is to use a really fast Pokemon or Prankster Pokemon to use Taunt on it. A Mental Herb allows Ribombee to break through the Taunt and set up Sticky Web in spite of the opponent's preparation.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Ribombee's less-than-stellar Special Attack usually means it needs multiple turns to set up. With the help of a damage-boosting item like Fairy Feather or Expert Belt, it may be able to set up in fewer turns and begin sweeping.
Tera
========
As a Quiver Dance user, Ribombee makes a decent secondary Tera Captain, but it still struggles due to its poor defenses, average base Special Attack, and lack of recovery. Tera Fairy is a common choice to make Moonblast deal much more damage. Coverage Tera types such as Tera Fire and Ground are also used to hit Ribombee's common checks, such as Steel-types.
Draft Strategy
========
Ribombee is a good speed control option that provides valuable support to its teammates through its various options, especially Sticky Web. If you're looking to draft it, you should have at least some of these roles covered.
**Spinners**: Entry hazard removal is good on any team, but Defog synergizes poorly with Ribombee due to removing Sticky Web, which it finds difficult to set up again mid-game. Grabbing a spinner like Terapagos, Iron Treads, or Great Tusk helps keep entry hazards off your side of the field while keeping them up on your opponent's side.
**Ghost-types**: As mentioned above, Ribombee hates having Sticky Web removed and struggles setting it up mid-game. Therefore, opposing entry hazard removers pose a high threat. Ghost-types like Gholdengo, Drifblim, and Annihilape can prevent opposing spinners from removing Sticky Web and lets your team keep it up for more turns. Gholdengo is particularly noteworthy here, blocking Defog with Good as Gold and Mortal Spin by being a Steel-type.
**Wallbreakers**: Ribombee has poor offensive stats. Hence, its main role should be to set Sticky Web so that its teammates can outspeed foes and potentially sweep. Therefore, it pairs well with Pokemon that have high offensive stats like Thundurus-T, Landorus, and both Urshifu formes.
**Setup Sweepers**: The reduction in Speed from Sticky Web means a lot of average Speed Pokemon can end up outrunning the entire opposing roster. Therefore, a good teammate with Swords Dance or Calm Mind like Landorus-T or Necrozma can set up on a possible switch and begin to clean very easily.
**Steel-resistant Pokemon*: Ribombee being an incredibly fast Fairy-type means Pokemon designed to counter it will usually carry Bullet Punch. One great way to take advantage of this is to have a strong Steel-resistant teammate like Keldeo, Thundurus, or Iron Hands, which will take very little damage on switching in and can set up or hit hard back.
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel-, Fire-, and Poison-types**: Ribombee's STAB types are both resisted by Steel- and Poison-type Pokemon such as Gholdengo, Glimmora, and Iron Treads. It does have Psychic-type coverage to hit Poison-types, but this does not do much damage and it would rather be using other moves.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Whilst Ribombee can disrupt your opponent's plans by setting Sticky Web, your opponent can most likely disrupt yours by removing it. Pokemon like Great Tusk are very difficult to spinblock without risking a lot of damage to the spinblockers, and Pokemon like Corviknight can just remove Sticky Web as soon as Ribombee sets it up.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Even if Ribombee's coverage moves can hit the foe for super effective damage, they're quite weak without STAB, meaning Ribombee struggles to break some moderately strong specially defensive walls. These include Alolan Muk, Primarina, and Scream Tail. With their stats alone, special walls can easily take Ribombee's boosted attacks and hit back for substantial damage.
**Bullet Punch Users**: Any Pokemon with moderately high Attack can reliably check Ribombee so long as it has access to Bullet Punch. The main users of this move are Lucario, Scizor, and Metagross, so be cautious when using Ribombee's moves against them.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/faultierchunk60.602692/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/olivia.620359/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 5-7 points
**Overview**: Ribombee is the most reliable Sticky Web setter in the format. Blistering Speed and the ability to threaten opposing Defog users are what set Ribombee apart from other Sticky Web setters. If speed control is not needed, then its access to Quiver Dance means it can become a budget setup sweeper. However, aside from Speed, the rest of Ribombee's stats are pretty lacking, making positioning and planning of the utmost importance if it needs to spend multiple turns on the field. Because of this, it is most often used as a Sticky Web sacrificial lead.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Sticky Web Lead**: Ribombee is outsped by only a handful of other Pokemon, making it very easy for it to set Sticky Web on the first turn. Using a Focus Sash can guarantee an immediate Sticky Web use, which can shut down the opponent's fast wallbreakers and position your team for a late-game sweep.
**Setup Sweeper**: In certain circumstances, Ribombee can use Quiver Dance to sweep opposing teams. With a strong Fairy-type STAB in Moonblast and a few coverage moves like Psychic and Energy Ball, it can clear out the field if left unchecked for too long. Its frailty means it requires heavy support to succeed, however.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Bug Buzz, Moonblast, Draining Kiss
**Setup Moves**: Quiver Dance
**Utility Moves**: Sticky Web, Substitute, Stun Spore, U-turn, Trick, Switcheroo
**Coverage**: Energy Ball, Psychic, Psychic Noise, Stored Power, Grass Knot
Niche Moves
========
**Reflect / Light Screen**: Reflect and Light Screen are sometimes ran on lead sets. Ribombee's access to dual screens allows it to increase a teammate's setup potential. This is particularly useful against bulkier teams where Ribombee struggles with doing any meaningful damage.
**Skill Swap**: Skill Swap is particularly useful on setup sweeper sets to get around walls with defensive abilities like Unaware. Ribombee can swap its mediocre ability for a much more powerful one and catch many foes by surprise.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Ribombee to switch in without fearing its weakness to entry hazards, which increases its chances to use Sticky Web or Quiver Dance and turn the game in its favor.
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash is used on lead sets to guarantee that Ribombee can set Sticky Web. Its low defenses mean opposing Choice Scarf users have a good chance of OHKOing it. With Focus Sash, means that only multi-hit moves like Rock Blast stand a chance to KO Ribombee.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs boosts Ribombee's low Special Attack to make it hit decently hard instantly, at the cost of making it unable to change moves. It works well against teams that don't have a great Fairy-resistant Pokemon. Choice Specs can also be given to Ribombee's checks with Trick or Switcheroo.
**Mental Herb**: One of the only reliable strategies to prevent Ribombee from setting up Sticky Web is to use a really fast Pokemon or Prankster Pokemon to use Taunt on it. A Mental Herb allows Ribombee to break through the Taunt and set up Sticky Web in spite of the opponent's preparation.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Ribombee's less-than-stellar Special Attack usually means it needs multiple turns to set up. With the help of a damage-boosting item like Fairy Feather or Expert Belt, it may be able to set up in fewer turns and begin sweeping.
Tera
========
As a Quiver Dance user, Ribombee makes a decent secondary Tera Captain, but it still struggles due to its poor defenses, average base Special Attack, and lack of recovery. Tera Fairy is a common choice to make Moonblast deal much more damage. Coverage Tera types such as Tera Fire and Ground are also used to hit Ribombee's common checks, such as Steel-types.
Draft Strategy
========
Ribombee is a good speed control option that provides valuable support to its teammates through its various options, especially Sticky Web. If you're looking to draft it, you should have at least some of these roles covered.
**Spinners**: Entry hazard removal is good on any team, but Defog synergizes poorly with Ribombee due to removing Sticky Web, which it finds difficult to set up again mid-game. Grabbing a spinner like Terapagos, Iron Treads, or Great Tusk helps keep entry hazards off your side of the field while keeping them up on your opponent's side.
**Ghost-types**: As mentioned above, Ribombee hates having Sticky Web removed and struggles setting it up mid-game. Therefore, opposing entry hazard removers pose a high threat. Ghost-types like Gholdengo, Drifblim, and Annihilape can prevent opposing spinners from removing Sticky Web and lets your team keep it up for more turns. Gholdengo is particularly noteworthy here, blocking Defog with Good as Gold and Mortal Spin by being a Steel-type.
**Wallbreakers**: Ribombee has poor offensive stats. Hence, its main role should be to set Sticky Web so that its teammates can outspeed foes and potentially sweep. Therefore, it pairs well with Pokemon that have high offensive stats like Thundurus-T, Landorus, and both Urshifu formes.
**Setup Sweepers**: The reduction in Speed from Sticky Web means a lot of average Speed Pokemon can end up outrunning the entire opposing roster. Therefore, a good teammate with Swords Dance or Calm Mind like Landorus-T or Necrozma can set up on a possible switch and begin to clean very easily.
**Steel-resistant Pokemon*: Ribombee being an incredibly fast Fairy-type means Pokemon designed to counter it will usually carry Bullet Punch. One great way to take advantage of this is to have a strong Steel-resistant teammate like Keldeo, Thundurus, or Iron Hands, which will take very little damage on switching in and can set up or hit hard back.
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel-, Fire-, and Poison-types**: Ribombee's STAB types are both resisted by Steel- and Poison-type Pokemon such as Gholdengo, Glimmora, and Iron Treads. It does have Psychic-type coverage to hit Poison-types, but this does not do much damage and it would rather be using other moves.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Whilst Ribombee can disrupt your opponent's plans by setting Sticky Web, your opponent can most likely disrupt yours by removing it. Pokemon like Great Tusk are very difficult to spinblock without risking a lot of damage to the spinblockers, and Pokemon like Corviknight can just remove Sticky Web as soon as Ribombee sets it up.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Even if Ribombee's coverage moves can hit the foe for super effective damage, they're quite weak without STAB, meaning Ribombee struggles to break some moderately strong specially defensive walls. These include Alolan Muk, Primarina, and Scream Tail. With their stats alone, special walls can easily take Ribombee's boosted attacks and hit back for substantial damage.
**Bullet Punch Users**: Any Pokemon with moderately high Attack can reliably check Ribombee so long as it has access to Bullet Punch. The main users of this move are Lucario, Scizor, and Metagross, so be cautious when using Ribombee's moves against them.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/faultierchunk60.602692/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/olivia.620359/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
