Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
63
|
- |
267 |
330 |
- |
| Atk |
120
|
248 |
276 |
339 |
372 |
| Def |
85
|
185 |
206 |
269 |
295 |
| SpA |
90
|
194 |
216 |
279 |
306 |
| SpD |
55
|
131 |
146 |
209 |
229 |
| Spe |
55
|
131 |
146 |
209 |
229 |
Choice Band Crawdaunt is a great choice for terrorizing slow tanks and walls, and is rather difficult to switch into. The power of Crabhammer is not to be taken lightly, but Waterfall is an okay option if you dislike missing—particularly since Crawdaunt is quite frail. Aerial Ace hurts Grass-types, as well as the odd Poliwrath. Superpower is something of a filler, but works great if you expect to encounter Empoleon. Crunch vs. Night Slash is a matter of immediate power vs. potential power, as well as gambling on the different effects; overall, Crunch has greater average power. The given Speed outspeeds minimum Speed Meganium.
The Choice Scarf set is a little different—now Crawdaunt beats the majority of BL/UU threats, but is a bit weaker. Crabhammer becomes more desirable because the CH chance could really work out in a pinch, but Waterfall now boasts a very useful flinch chance (as well as the lack of missing). For the Choice Scarf set, you should probably just max Crawdaunt's Speed.
This is designed more for the late-game, which makes Life Orb appropriate. After a Swords Dance, very little will stop Crawdaunt's rampage—aside from something faster. Brick Break is a reliable Fighting attack that helps deal with Steel-type counters such as Empoleon.
Other Options
Knock Off is a nifty move, but Crawdaunt doesn't really want it. Same with Taunt, really—yeah, you can Taunt stuff like Whirlwind and Will-O-Wisp, but in Crawdaunt's tier, most opponents will find it more useful to just kill Crawdaunt before it kills them. Superpower could work on the Swords Dance set, but it will hinder Crawdaunt in the long run if it's trying to sweep late-game.
EVs
Crawdaunt needs to max out its Attack, because its purpose is to sweep a team, not to sit around and tank hits. A bit of Speed can be useful to beat some slower foes, but as Crawdaunt is itself very slow it will not get much mileage out of further investment unless it is using a Choice Scarf.
Opinion
Crawdaunt is a nifty UU/BL Pokémon that went from being somewhat novelty to packing a lot of power, thanks to the physical/special split. While it's a lot slower than his Water/Dark cousin Sharpedo, it takes hits significantly better, and may be more capable of sweeping a team. Kingler is faster and stronger, but Crawdaunt's Dark STAB could prove very helpful against bulky Water-types.
Counters
Empoleon and Poliwrath are effective, particularly since they're faster with Speed EVs. Oddly enough, Crawdaunt "counters" itself as far as the Choice variants go, assuming it can avoid Superpower. Otherwise, just take advantage of its low Speed.
