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Levitate
- The wielder is immune to Ground-type moves.
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Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
70
|
- |
281 |
344 |
- |
| Atk |
50
|
122 |
136 |
199 |
218 |
| Def |
30
|
86 |
96 |
159 |
174 |
| SpA |
95
|
203 |
226 |
289 |
317 |
| SpD |
135
|
275 |
306 |
369 |
405 |
| Spe |
105
|
221 |
246 |
309 |
339 |
Overview
Cryogonal's strange stat spread, access to Levitate, and useful support movepool set it apart from other run-of-the-mill Ice-types. Despite having an excellent base 135 Special Defense, a high base 105 Speed, and a usable base 95 Special Attack, Cryogonal is incapable of running a potent attacking set, as it is completely let down by its awful special movepool and abysmal base 30 Defense. Still, access to Rapid Spin in a tier infested with entry hazards, as well as other useful moves such as Recover, Haze, dual screens, and Toxic, is nothing to scoff at, and this makes Cryogonal a viable choice for any team needing a fast Rapid Spin user to keep entry hazards off the field, giving it a niche in UU.
Due to the lack of Pokemon with access to Rapid Spin in UU, Cryogonal may find its way onto your team as the only Rapid Spin user with instant recovery. Rapid Spin allows Cryogonal to remove opposing entry hazards from the field. Recover is very important for Cryogonal; even though it is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes thanks to Levitate, it is weak to Stealth Rock because of its Ice typing. Accordingly, it needs to keep its HP high in order to repeatedly switch in and spin away hazards. Ice Beam provides a relatively strong STAB attack, and prevents Cryogonal from being Taunt bait. Finally, Toxic is used to cripple the plethora of physical attackers that love switching into Cryogonal. If Toxic is unnecessary, Cryogonal has access to Haze to stop Baton Pass chains and stop setup sweepers in their tracks.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
252 EVs are put in both HP and Special Defense in order to maximize Cryogonal's special bulk. Since Cryogonal will be fleeing physical attacks in any case, investing in its poor Defense isn't recommended. However, Cryogonal's poor Defense makes it incredibly susceptible to the move Pursuit; it is OHKOed by Pursuit from Choice Band Escavalier or Life Orb Houndoom. Accordingly, one can move the Special Defense EVs to Defense to allow it to survive such threats. As Cryogonal does not invest in Speed, threats such as Jolly Heracross will outspeed it. To remedy this, you can invest in Cryogonal's high Speed stat, enabling it to outspeed and use Rapid Spin first, though generally at the cost of its life.
Common physical attackers such as Victini, Bisharp, Heracross, and Snorlax pose huge problems for Cryogonal, as they can strike at its weak Defense. Thus, physical walls such as Weezing, Slowbro, and Dusclops make great teammates for Cryogonal. Likewise, special attackers with either super effective attacks, such as Rotom-H and Nidoking, or attacks that target Cryogonal's Defense stat, such as Psyshock Azelf, still hit Cryogonal extremely hard. Other special walls can help Cryogonal with this problem. Finally, Pokemon such as Rotom-H, Moltres, Zapdos, and Zoroark appreciate Cryogonal's Rapid Spin support, as entry hazards make much harder for them to pull off a sweep.
Other Options
Cryogonal has a few other options that it can consider. Because of its usable Special Attack and high Speed, an offensive Rapid Spin set can be used with an EV spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe, a Timid nature, and a Life Orb. However, Cryogonal will be easily walled because, outside of Hidden Power, its best coverage option is Flash Cannon. Likewise, Cryogonal also has access to both Light Screen and Reflect, meaning a set consisting of Light Screen / Reflect / Recover / Rapid Spin can be used with a Light Clay. You must keep in mind that without Rapid Spin this is entirely outclassed by bulkier dual screen users such as Uxie. Finally, Cryogonal can use Frost Breath instead of Ice Beam in order to effectively check boosting threats such as Cosmic Power Sigilyph.
Checks and Counters
Cryogonal is checked by practically every physical attacker, as it will take massive damage from, if not get KOed outright by strong physical attacks. Choice Scarf Heracross does a great job at checking Cryogonal, as it outspeeds and OHKOes with Close Combat. Likewise, Pokemon such as Bisharp, Victini, Cobalion, and Poliwrath all resist Ice-type attacks and threaten Cryogonal with their super effective STAB attacks. Houndoom and Escavalier both resist Ice-type attacks as well, and can OHKO Cryogonal with Pursuit. Strong special attackers such as Moltres and Azelf also threaten Cryogonal due to the sheer power of their assaults. All in all, Pokemon with strong physical attacks or super effective moves can check Cryogonal with ease.
