Always couple this set with Sand Stream. Cradily's Special Defense coupled with Sandstorm is like the yellow Sun of Earth is to Superman, letting it take a Salamence Draco Meteor as well as other things, completely Recover off the damage, and live another day. Rock Slide helps beat up that very same Salamence and other Fliers like Gyarados. When not using Stealth Rock to plant sneaky and shady rocks on the opponent's field, Earthquake beats Magnezone and Raikou, even with Hidden Power Ice. Slip some Toxic into Pokémon that don't resist it and bask as the indirect damage destroys them.
There's one thing Cradily's got going for it: Suction Cups. It can't be Whirlwinded or Roared away, allowing it to stat up for however long it pleases. Thus, Swords Dance up to your leisure and send Pokémon shuffling to their graves with Rock Slide and Earthquake. Unfortunately, Cradily is about as fast as the Gingerbread Man without legs.
Cradily's biggest weakness happens to be that it is destroyed by status, particularly Poison. This set tries to remedy this, allowing Cradily to stick around for an obscenely long time with Rest. Rest and Sleep Talk is the core of the set, getting rid of any unwanted status, as well as healing any health lost. You then have a plethora of attacks to choose from to benefit Cradily. Stockpile lets you raise both of your defenses to a maximum of 3 stages, making you near impossible to take down. With constant healing from Rest, as well as a chance to select Stockpile when using Sleep Talk, it can be fairly easy to pull off 3 successful Stockpiles. Thanks to Suction Cups, Cradily can never be forcibly removed from the playing field, meaning you will never have to worry about Roar or Whirlwind. Toxic is useful for dealing damage to any switch-inthat are trying to pick away at Cradily. Toxic is a solid way to slowly take down an opponent, especially with Sandstorm raging. The attack depends on your biggest worries. Earthquake is a great option for Steel and Posion-types who are immune to Toxic. Grass Knot is a solid STAB attack that deals with the likes of Hippowdon and Swampert. It also can take down Gyarados, who can theaten Cradily in return. However your best choice may be Ancientpower. Although it has limited PP, if you can successfully achieve 1 or 2 boosts you will pretty much have everything under control. Other OptionsCradily's movepool is poorer than the bum staring at you outside of the window. It can Tickle to soften up physical hits, Stockpile to stall even more, Mirror Coat back special attacks when not using Sand Stream or Grass Knot or Energy Ball for STAB and hitting Waters. OpinionA strange, tentacled being that arose from the depths of the desert, Cradily suddenly mutated from a mediocre Pokémon that people laughed at for its poor stalling ability into a good special wall under Sand Stream. It also happens to be one of the most reliable Specs Salamence counters out there. And, of course, Cradily is famous for its unusual typing and weaknesses no one ever remembers. CountersSteel Pokémon are formidable; their dense exteriors resist Toxic and Rock Slide, and they take pathetic damage from Earthquake. Metagross in particular mashes Cradily through walls. Bronzong proves the superior wall when fighting Cradily one versus one. Skarmory sets up on Cradily with Spikes or Stealth Rock ridiculously easily, as does Calm Mind Jirachi, Wishing off Earthquake damage as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The Swords Dancer beats both of these, though. Fighters such as Heracross and Hariyama can come on on Cradily's weak attacks and bring it crashing down on its head with a Fighting attack like Close Combat. Heracross and Hariyama also like being poisoned by Toxic because they have Guts. Lucario 2HKOs Cradily on both sides of the spectrum, quadruply resists Rock, and has immunity to Toxic, though a predicted Earthquake can throw Lucario off balance. Toxic instantly debilitates Cradily, because it has no real way to get rid of it aside from Rest, Aromatherapy or Heal Bell. |
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