Ariados Best Moveset
90 Attack at 40 Speed on Bug/Poison with AbilitySniper boosting critical hit damage by 50%. Held ItemFocus Sash guarantees surviving one hit to set MoveSticky Web that slows all grounded opponents on entry. The moveset is a hazard setter first, attacker second. 40 Speed makes the Sticky Web setup almost certain to go second.
Bug/Poison with 40 Speed in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Baton Pass was the one useful move, passing Swords Dance boosts to something faster. Ariados itself wasn't the threat.
Utility Moveset
- Sludge Bomb
- Spider Web
- Agility
- Baton Pass
Recommended Teammates
Insomnia blocked sleep in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire), but Ariados couldn't use the extra turns. 90 Attack with no physical Bug STAB worth running.
Physical Wallbreaker Moveset
- Signal Beam
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power Fighting
- Body Slam
Recommended Teammates
Peaked in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Toxic Spikes gave Ariados a hazard-setting role, and the physical/Special split helped 90 Attack. 40 Speed still moved last.
Best Moves
Best Build
Ariados best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Spider Web
- Poison Jab
Recommended Teammates
Dropped in Gen V (Black & White). Roserade, Tentacruel, and other Toxic Spikes setters did the job from better stats. Ariados was the budget option.
Physical Tank Moveset
- Poison Jab
- Toxic Spikes
- Sucker Punch
- X Scissor
Recommended Teammates
Sticky Web arrived in Gen VI (X & Y) to slow opponents on switch-in. The best utility move Ariados ever got, but 40 Speed meant it set one layer and fainted.
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Sticky Web
- Substitute
- Toxic Spikes
- Sucker Punch
Recommended Teammates
Sticky Web was still the niche in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Other setters did it from better stat lines. Ariados was the cheapest entry point for the move.
Physical Tank Moveset
- Sticky Web
- Sucker Punch
- Lunge
- Attract
Recommended Teammates
Returned in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet) after missing Gen VIII. Sticky Web was the only selling point, and stronger setters owned the role.
Physical Tank Moveset
- Sticky Web
- Sucker Punch
- Toxic Thread
- Toxic Spikes
Recommended Teammates
Ariados Weakness
Ariados is weak to Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Rock. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. 4 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Flying, Psychic, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting |
What is Ariados Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Ariados
Iron Treads's Earthquake hits Ariados for 38-45%. Scizor deals 46-54% with Knock Off.
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityProtosynthesis ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ariados View Great Tusk builds →Rapid Spin22-26% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityQuarkdrive ItemBooster Energy NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ariados View Iron Treads builds →Rapid Spin20-23% Earthquake38-45% Knock Off25-30% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Ariados View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch28-33% Knock Off46-54% U Turn24-29% Close Combat21-25% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Ariados View Gliscor builds →Earthquake27-32% Knock Off18-21% | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves View Landorus-Therian builds →
| ||
Evolution
Ariados is the evolved form of Spinarak. Breeding produces Spinarak eggs, and they're quick to hatch. Evolving from Spinarak gave Ariados the biggest boost in HP (+30), bringing the total to 400 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Ariados to get Spinarak eggs easily using 91 partners from the Bug egg group.
How to Get Ariados
A handful of locations for Ariados with moderate rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Ariados in SV
To get Ariados, start by catching Spinarak through walking encounters at Lv. 7-60. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch SpinarakApple HillsLv.7-60OverworldFellhorn GorgeLv.7-60OverworldKitakami HallLv.7-60OverworldKitakami RoadLv.7-60OverworldKitakami WildsLv.7-60OverworldMossfell ConfluenceLv.7-60OverworldRevelers RoadLv.7-60OverworldTimeless WoodsLv.7-60Overworld
Step 2Ariados ✓Fellhorn GorgeLv.22-60OverworldKitakami WildsLv.22-60OverworldMossfell ConfluenceLv.22-60OverworldTimeless WoodsLv.22-60Overworldor evolve from Spinarak (Step 1)
Ariados starts showing up in endgame routes at moderate rates across 1 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Ariados in LZA
Spinarak is your first catch on the way to Ariados. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 7-64 across 3 total spots in the chain.
- Step 1Catch SpinarakWild Zone 4Lv.7-8OverworldLegends: Z-AWild Zone 4Lv.20-21OverworldLegends: Z-A
- Step 2Ariados ✓Wild Zone 20Lv.63-64OverworldLegends: Z-Aor evolve from Spinarak (Step 1)
10 encounter spots for Ariados at decent spawn rates starting from endgame routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Ariados in BDSP
To get Ariados, start by catching Spinarak through walking encounters at Lv. 52-63. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Obtain Spinarak
Step 2Ariados ✓Route 229Lv.52GrassRate 20%NightBogsunk CavernLv.58-63GrassPost-gameGrassland CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameSwampy CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-gameor evolve from Spinarak (Step 1)
A solid number of locations for Ariados with decent spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Ariados in USUM
To get Ariados, start by catching Spinarak through walking encounters at Lv. 2-36. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch SpinarakRoute 1 - EastLv.2-3GrassRate 20%Night
Step 2Ariados ✓Malie GardenLv.25-28GrassRate 20%NightRoute 10Lv.26-29GrassRate 20%NightRoute 11Lv.26-29GrassRate 20%NightRoute 17 - WestLv.33-36GrassRate 20%NightUla'ula MeadowLv.33-36GrassRate 20%NightRoute 17 - WestLv.33-36GrassUltra SunNightSOS from Fearowor evolve from Spinarak (Step 1)
Base Stats
Ariados's spread isn't flashy. Attack leads, Speed trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Moderately hard to find and worth 2 Attack EVs, on a fast 800K XP curve.
It attaches silk to its prey and sets it free. Later, it tracks the silk to the prey and its friends.
Ariados Guide
Ariados's biggest threats include Charizard (Fire), Aerodactyl (Flying), and Espeon (Psychic), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Rock-type attackers are also a problem. At base 40 Speed, Ariados won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Ariados can work for a story run. 400 BST is average, but Bug/Poison typing fills a niche depending on your team composition.
Ariados has a 400 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier: a situational pick that fills a niche. It works best as a trick room.
Swarm is the go-to ability for Ariados. It strengthens bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. Its hidden ability Sniper can work in specific setups. Insomnia is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.
Ariados fills the trick room role. It's a physical attacker with base 90 Attack. Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Game Availability
Ariados first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 17 games across 9 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves