Ariados

Best moveset

Ariados can learn 12 combinations. Infestation with Megahorn does the most damage per second of them, at level 40 with a perfect attack stat. Same-type moves get the 1.2× bonus, and the cycle assumes the charged attack fires the moment it has the energy.

Stats and moves come straight from the game's own data files. Every number on this page is a raid and gym number, not a PvP one.

Best moveset against each type

Ariados does not have one best moveset, it has 5. Which one wins depends on what you are attacking, because a move only gets its bonus against something weak to it. Best against Grass, Psychic, Dark.

Same maths as the headline number, run once per defending type: level 40, perfect attack IV, and the target's own type taken into account. Sorted by damage, so the top of this table is what Ariados is actually for.

Counters: what beats Ariados

Attacker	Type	Moveset	DPS
Deoxys	Psychic	Zen HeadbuttPsycho Boost	55.2
Blacephalon	FireGhost	IncinerateMind BlownLegacy	52.4
Mewtwo	Psychic	ConfusionPsystrikeLegacy	45.1
Reshiram	DragonFire	Fire FangFusion FlareLegacy	43.5
Salamence	DragonFlying	Fire FangFly	40.1

Ranked by damage per second against Ariados's own defense, at level 40 with a 15 attack IV, one per evolution family. Twelve deep, with what Ariados is weak to.

Type matchups

Shiny

Yes. Shiny Ariados has been released. Players have found it from: wild, raid, research, evolution, photobomb.

Evolution family

Numbers

What it costs