Araquanid is definitely falling straight down to PU in singles, lol. Which I'm excited for; PU is my favorite tier and I think I'm going to have a lot of fun trying to make this pokemon shine. The defensive stats look similar to what Mantine had pre-boost-this-generation, although with an admittedly less useful typing, but with better recovery options (pre-Roost).
68/132 looks good enough to at least try specially defensive, to me. 68/92 might be alright for taking one physical hit if needed and not crumbling immediately (like Cryogonal did). Cryogonal actually is proof that a specially defensive monster weak to Stealth Rocks can work successfully in Singles, although the crucial differences are that Cryogonal had Recover and considerable offensive presence. Which are large differences, thinking about it.
It's hard to say what in the PU tier Araquanid will wall most effectively until we see what ends up in PU, although I'm sure it'll be mostly Fire types. Araquanid might also put pressure on Ground types, resisting their STAB and firing back Liquidations for okay damage, but is gonna fear Stone Edge/Rock Blast/Rock Slide from the physical ones. It might wall special Ground types better. Araquanid might also give special attacking Psychic types some trouble, with Leech Life offensive presence. But they might fire back Thunderbolt.
Leech Life is going to be this thing's lifeline, I think. It's really the best thing GF gave this thing. Liquidation almost comes in close second; automatically (?) lowering the opponent's attack stat with every use makes Liquidation very spammable. Given that the opponent team doesn't have Water Absorbers/Storm Drainers or heavy water resists, you could spam Liquidation relatively liberally and dissuade physical attackers from switching in somewhat. That's going to help significantly. And strong-enough Bug STAB that heals Araquanid in Leech Life gives Araquanid kinda impressive utility in dual STABS. Now, neither are going to be doing too much at all, especially on something that resists, so this thing's offensive presence is going to be a major issue too.
I don't know off the top of my head what else gets Liquidation, apart from Masquerain I think, but hopefully they stay out of PU so Araquanid gets more of a niche lol.
Water Absorb is always highly useful, and helps Araquanid be part of a core in defensive-oriented/stall teams if you're running one or more walls with a water weakness. However, Water Bubble is intriguing in giving Araquanid an additional resistance (always important to a wall), and prevents burns, which is somewhat important for a physically-attacking pokemon like this one. It also protects Araquanid from residual burn damage, which is also useful, although not as important this generation given that burn now does 1/16th instead of 1/12th.
Here's what I'll try running in the beginning in PU Singles:
Pacifica (Araquanid) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 HP/ 4 Atk /252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Leech Life
- Liquidation
- Stockpile
- Infestation
Infestation is mainly there for residual damage but trapping a special attacker in and boosting up on it with Stockpile and then spamming Leech Life might be a passable strategy. I might replace Infestation with Power Split to a) weaken opponents b) boost Araquanid offensively. Power Split sounds appealing if Araquanid tries or is forced to stay in on a physical attacker.
Alternative Soak/Toxic strategy, which I kinda like:
Rebecca (Araquanid) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 HP/ 128 Def /128 SpD
Careful Nature
- Leech Life
- Protect
- Toxic
- Soak
Doubles wise; doubles is the format that interests me more (after Rotation RIP) but apart from the Perish Trap strategy nyo marionette presented, I can't think of a whole lot of strategies this thing can be a part of without being a little outclassed. Entrainment is cool for Water Bubble, but what would you want to Water Bubble that's worth it? Water Absorb/Surf is kinda boring, lol. For some reason Smogon doesn't compile tier lists for doubles past UU so I just play PU doubles using the PU singles list, and I think this thing might perform decently in a PU doubles environment. Nothing crazy. Wide Guard is always immensely valuable, and you mainly see Rock Slide in doubles so that's one less weakness Araquanid will have to worry about if it can protect itself continuously with Wide Guard. Then it could annoy with Liquidation, mainly, and use Leech Life if it desperately needs healing. Mantine worked similarly (pre-this-gen), actually.
Mipsy (Araquanid) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/ 128 Def /128 SpD
Careful Nature
- Leech Life
- Liquidation
- Wide Guard
- Protect
Dewpider doesn't strike me like it's going to be very successful in Little Cup Doubles or Singles. Defensively it could make a specially defensive wall that could also take one or two physical hits, but with Leech Life being more or less its best healing, I think Dewpider would be supbar, even with the useful Liquidation. I don't know how many commonly problematic Fire types there are in Little Cup, which is what Dewpider would be mainly walling (?); maybe its Bug typing could help as a strategic pivot around the Fighting STAB of Timburr, Mienfoo, etc, but not even as a full counter given that both usually carry Stone Edge. I fully admit I don't know a lot about Little Cup, though; it's fun to watch but I don't play it a lot.
EDIT: How could I forget lol? Araquanid's biggest role is going to be in monotype doubles and singles. Far as I know, Araquanid is the ONLY bug type that resists Fire types. That's going to be nearly invaluable on Bug monotype teams, that already heavily struggle covering Fire weaknesses (often, Volcarona is the biggest 'counter', and it's still neutral). That's doubly relevant given how many powerful Bug/Steel types there are, and how often they're used on Bug monotype teams.
I'm actually really glad GF made this pokemon for monotype teams!
68/132 looks good enough to at least try specially defensive, to me. 68/92 might be alright for taking one physical hit if needed and not crumbling immediately (like Cryogonal did). Cryogonal actually is proof that a specially defensive monster weak to Stealth Rocks can work successfully in Singles, although the crucial differences are that Cryogonal had Recover and considerable offensive presence. Which are large differences, thinking about it.
It's hard to say what in the PU tier Araquanid will wall most effectively until we see what ends up in PU, although I'm sure it'll be mostly Fire types. Araquanid might also put pressure on Ground types, resisting their STAB and firing back Liquidations for okay damage, but is gonna fear Stone Edge/Rock Blast/Rock Slide from the physical ones. It might wall special Ground types better. Araquanid might also give special attacking Psychic types some trouble, with Leech Life offensive presence. But they might fire back Thunderbolt.
Leech Life is going to be this thing's lifeline, I think. It's really the best thing GF gave this thing. Liquidation almost comes in close second; automatically (?) lowering the opponent's attack stat with every use makes Liquidation very spammable. Given that the opponent team doesn't have Water Absorbers/Storm Drainers or heavy water resists, you could spam Liquidation relatively liberally and dissuade physical attackers from switching in somewhat. That's going to help significantly. And strong-enough Bug STAB that heals Araquanid in Leech Life gives Araquanid kinda impressive utility in dual STABS. Now, neither are going to be doing too much at all, especially on something that resists, so this thing's offensive presence is going to be a major issue too.
I don't know off the top of my head what else gets Liquidation, apart from Masquerain I think, but hopefully they stay out of PU so Araquanid gets more of a niche lol.
Water Absorb is always highly useful, and helps Araquanid be part of a core in defensive-oriented/stall teams if you're running one or more walls with a water weakness. However, Water Bubble is intriguing in giving Araquanid an additional resistance (always important to a wall), and prevents burns, which is somewhat important for a physically-attacking pokemon like this one. It also protects Araquanid from residual burn damage, which is also useful, although not as important this generation given that burn now does 1/16th instead of 1/12th.
Here's what I'll try running in the beginning in PU Singles:
Pacifica (Araquanid) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 HP/ 4 Atk /252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Leech Life
- Liquidation
- Stockpile
- Infestation
Infestation is mainly there for residual damage but trapping a special attacker in and boosting up on it with Stockpile and then spamming Leech Life might be a passable strategy. I might replace Infestation with Power Split to a) weaken opponents b) boost Araquanid offensively. Power Split sounds appealing if Araquanid tries or is forced to stay in on a physical attacker.
Alternative Soak/Toxic strategy, which I kinda like:
Rebecca (Araquanid) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 HP/ 128 Def /128 SpD
Careful Nature
- Leech Life
- Protect
- Toxic
- Soak
Doubles wise; doubles is the format that interests me more (after Rotation RIP) but apart from the Perish Trap strategy nyo marionette presented, I can't think of a whole lot of strategies this thing can be a part of without being a little outclassed. Entrainment is cool for Water Bubble, but what would you want to Water Bubble that's worth it? Water Absorb/Surf is kinda boring, lol. For some reason Smogon doesn't compile tier lists for doubles past UU so I just play PU doubles using the PU singles list, and I think this thing might perform decently in a PU doubles environment. Nothing crazy. Wide Guard is always immensely valuable, and you mainly see Rock Slide in doubles so that's one less weakness Araquanid will have to worry about if it can protect itself continuously with Wide Guard. Then it could annoy with Liquidation, mainly, and use Leech Life if it desperately needs healing. Mantine worked similarly (pre-this-gen), actually.
Mipsy (Araquanid) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/ 128 Def /128 SpD
Careful Nature
- Leech Life
- Liquidation
- Wide Guard
- Protect
Dewpider doesn't strike me like it's going to be very successful in Little Cup Doubles or Singles. Defensively it could make a specially defensive wall that could also take one or two physical hits, but with Leech Life being more or less its best healing, I think Dewpider would be supbar, even with the useful Liquidation. I don't know how many commonly problematic Fire types there are in Little Cup, which is what Dewpider would be mainly walling (?); maybe its Bug typing could help as a strategic pivot around the Fighting STAB of Timburr, Mienfoo, etc, but not even as a full counter given that both usually carry Stone Edge. I fully admit I don't know a lot about Little Cup, though; it's fun to watch but I don't play it a lot.
EDIT: How could I forget lol? Araquanid's biggest role is going to be in monotype doubles and singles. Far as I know, Araquanid is the ONLY bug type that resists Fire types. That's going to be nearly invaluable on Bug monotype teams, that already heavily struggle covering Fire weaknesses (often, Volcarona is the biggest 'counter', and it's still neutral). That's doubly relevant given how many powerful Bug/Steel types there are, and how often they're used on Bug monotype teams.
I'm actually really glad GF made this pokemon for monotype teams!
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