What is a good moveset for Ariados?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Ariados, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Ariados Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

The only good Ariados is the sweeping Baton Pass support Critiados.

Ariados is one of my favorite mons, it sweeps well, but isn't very good without Baton Pass support. Here is the set I run with Baton Pass support (4x speed Focus Energy, used by Scyther with Focus Energy and a Scolipede)

360 Noscope (Ariados) (M) @ Scope Lens
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Megahorn / Shadow Sneak
- Poison Jab
- Fell Stinger
- Pin Missile / Hone Claws / X-Scissor

The only semi-good Ariados is the sweeping no Baton Pass support Ariados that's kinda lame.

Ariados (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Jolly Nature
- Hone Claws / Substitute
- Poison Jab
- Agility
- X-Scissor / Megahorn

Answer 2

BABIES (Ariados) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Bounce
- Poison Jab
- Hone Claws

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Interesting Pokemon!
Hone Claws will get your Accuracy nice and boosted up, so Bounce will get up to 100% accuracy. Sucker Punch benefits greatly from the Attack boost, making for a hard hitting priority move/ Poison Jab makes STAB work, since he lacks any super good Bug type STAB moves.

Comments

Not true. Breed one with Scolipede to get a STAB Megahorn

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This is like 3 years ago and Ariados learns Megahorn in Gen 6 by breeding so :/

Answer 3

I really love Ariados, shame it's so awful. I'll try to make a physical attacker set for it anyways.

Gen 4 PU

Ariados @ Focus Sash
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Agility
- Poison Jab
- Sucker Punch / Shadow Sneak
- Bug Bite

Ariados doesn't have Sniper, Hone Claws, Swords Dance, X-Scissor, or any of that good stuff in Gen 4, sadly. Focus Sash guarantees you pull off at least on Agility to boost Ariados' godawful Speed. Swarm is almost a guarantee to be triggered because of Focus Sash. Bug Bite is a pretty bad Bug move, but it's the best Ariados can do. It's at least boosted by Swarm and Ariados' manageable Attack stat, so it can do decent damage. Poison Jab is an actually solid STAB move, though Poison as an attacking type doesn't do a whole lot in Gen 4. Sucker Punch requires some predicting, but it's a solid priority move if you play it right. Shadow Sneak is weaker, but safer than Sucker Punch.

Answer 4

This guy got a great buff this generation! :3

Ariados (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Sticky Web
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak

Posing a great threat to Fairies and now lowering all speeds of Pokemon that switch in by 1 stage, Sticky Web is the main reason to use Ariados, due to its rather limited distribution. Toxic Spikes also can be set up. Poison Jab threatens Fairies, and Shadow Sneak gets a little damage to the target before going down.

Answer 5

Ariados @ Focus Sash
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Agility
- Poison Jab
- Fell Stinger / X-Scissor
- Shadow Sneak

So the plan here is to set up under Sticky Web and just sweep. It can work without Sticky Web, but just not nearly as well. Now for the moves! Agility makes this thing hit 392 which isn't all that bad. Poison Jab is standard STAB and Fell Stinger is when the opponent has a Sash, you have +2 Attack! Hopefully you understood. X-Scissor is more reliable STAB but doesn't give you that nifty +2 after a KO. Shadow Sneak is to quickly finish off foes at low health. This can work up to RU but anything above that, this thing just dies.

Hope this set brings victory to many! :D

Comments

How can it set up Sticky Web if it don't have the move?

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Have something else do it obv.

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Fell Stinger does 3+ attack

Answer 6

Double/Triple Battle

Ariados (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Bug Bite
- Poison Jab
- Bounce
- Shadow Sneak

Bug Bite and Poison Jab are STAB. Bounce can hit any foe and is less predictable in multi-battles. Shadow Sneak is priority.

Answer 7

Fun thought I just had:

Ariados @ Scope Lens
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk
IVs: 0 Spe
Brave Nature
- Focus Energy
- Cross Poison
- Shadow Sneak
- Fell Stinger / Leech Life

Put it on a Trick Room set, preferably with someone that could Baton Pass a sub to it (oh just imagine a sub AND Belly Drum Baton Pass, ooooo)

Once that happens, do the following:

1. Focus Energy set up first turn
2. Cross Poison for increased crit rate, STAB, and good base power
3. Shadow Sneak for when the Trick Room wears off
4. (Either of these) Fell Stinger for the lols and STAB / Leech Life for any sustain, and STAB

Late game sweeper anyone?

Now obviously this require a lot of set-up, but just... imagine sweeping with an Ariados. Yeah, this isn't JUST an individual moveset, it's an accessory for a team, but I still thought it was pretty funny. Tweak it any way ya like.

Answer 8

SWEEPER SET
Ariados @ Razor Claw
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance / Focus Energy
- X-Scissor
- Poison Jab
- Sucker Punch

Swords Dance to increase its Attack. Alternatively, Focus Energy could work because of Sniper, Razor Claw, and Focus Energy. X-Scissor and Poison Jab are STAB. Sucker Punch is an interesting move that moves before the target, which helps Ariados' poor defenses.

STALLER SET
Ariados @ Focus Sash
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 HP
Impish Nature
- Toxic / Toxic Thread
- Spider Web
- Sticky Web / Scary Face / Swagger
- Protect

Toxic to badly poison them, or Toxic Thread poisons the target and lowers their Speed. Spider Web stops them from switching. Sticky Web is possibly an option to set hazards, or Scary Face or Swagger to lower their stats as they can't switch. Protect to let poison do its job.

Answer 9

Gen 7 ZU

Ariados @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Hone Claws
- Megahorn
- Sucker Punch / Shadow Sneak
- Poison Jab

This is to be used on a Trick Room team. The Darknium-Z is for Z-Hone Claws, which will boost the Attack 2 stages, making it equivalent to a Swords Dance, but with an accuracy boost. Megahorn is strong STAB and will have it's accuracy boosted. Sucker Punch is for priority, so is Shadow Sneak if you to play it safe, and is useful outside of Trick Room. Poison Jab is also STAB.

Answer 10

Gen 7 ZU

Ariados @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leech Life
- Cross Poison
- Swords Dance
- Agility

A dual dance set. Leech Life is STAB. Cross Poison is STAB and has a high critical hit rate. Swords Dance boosts your attack. Agility is to boost your speed.