6th Gen:
[OVERVIEW]
A solid typing combined with excellent physical bulk lets Carracosta check Archeops, Scyther, Normal-types, Fire-types, and various other physical attackers. Solid Rock further enhances its defensive capabilities, allowing it to take weak or non-STAB super effective moves with ease. Carracosta also boasts access to the coveted Shell Smash, the best setup move in the game, which it finds ample opportunity to use due to its aforementioned qualities. Shell Smash pairs well with Carracosta's high Attack and decent Special Attack stats, as it is able to attack with boosted physical or special hits to surprise its checks and counters. Carracosta isn't perfect, however; its low Speed stat means that it can't outspeed much of anything, and even at +2 it's not that fast and is reliant on Aqua Jet. A low Special Defense stat makes Carracosta struggle to check most moderately strong special attackers. For all its advantages, its typing leaves it weak to several common types, most notably giving it an exploitable 4x weakness to Grass and a susceptibility to Fighting- and Electric-types. Carracosta also faces competition from Barbaracle as a physical Shell Smash user, as Barbaracle has important niches in its wide coverage, Tough Claws, and, most importantly, a higher Speed stat that lets it outspeed most Choice Scarf users.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Scald
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Knock Off / Toxic / Protect / Aqua Jet
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is one of the best moves in the game and Carracosta is one of its better setters, finding ample opportunities to set it up and having decent matchups against most spinners and Defoggers. Scald has decent power and has a high chance to burn the foe, severely crippling physical attackers and wearing down otherwise hard counters to Carracosta such as Vileplume and Torterra. Rock Slide hits from Carracosta's higher Attack stat and has solid coverage alongside Scald, and it has higher accuracy and PP than Stone Edge. It also smacks Xatu, which might want to try to bounce back Carracosta's Stealth Rock. Carracosta has a very versatile last slot. Knock Off removes items and cripples switch-ins such as Tangela. Toxic statuses switch-ins and helps Carracosta more quickly wear down the foe. Protect gives Carracosta a little extra HP from Leftovers, gains an extra turn for burn damage on the foe, and lets Carracosta scout Choice-locked Pokemon such as Sawk and Mesprit. Aqua Jet picks off weakened foes and Pokemon weak to it, notably allowing Carracosta to hit Double Dance Rhydon, as well as Fire-types before they can KO Carracosta with a Grass-type coverage move, but is generally very weak. Stone Edge can be used over Rock Slide, as it hits harder in general and, in particular, OHKOes Pyroar after one round of Life Orb recoil.
Set Details
========
The spread and a boosting nature make Carracosta ridiculously physically bulky, and the Special Defense investment ensures Carracosta can avoid an OHKO from Life Orb Pyroar's Hidden Power Grass. Relaxed is chosen as to not weaken Carracosta's attacking options, and Carracosta is exceedingly slow anyways. A spread of 252 HP / 92 Def / 168 SpD lets Carracosta take special attacks significantly better, specifically allowing it to take a Life Orb Pyroar's Hidden Power Grass after Stealth Rock. Solid Rock lets Carracosta take non-STAB physical super effective moves, notably Earthquake coverage, much better.
Usage Tips
========
Come in on the Normal-, Flying-, and Fire-types, such as Kangaskhan, Archeops, and Choice Specs Pyroar, and various other physical attackers that Carracosta walls throughout the game. Set up Stealth Rock early-game, unless the opponent has Prinplup or any other entry hazard remover that beats Carracosta, against which it's better for Carracosta to cripple them as they switch in with Toxic, Knock Off, or even a Scald burn. If the opponent has a Xatu and they are aware this is defensive Carracosta, go for Rock Slide or Scald if predicting it to switch in to bounce back Stealth Rock. Scald is Carracosta's most spammable move due to its burn chance, allowing Carracosta to wear down even otherwise hard counters such as Vileplume and Tangela. Knock Off and Toxic are similarly spammable if Carracosta runs them, as they severely cripple most common switch-ins. Use Protect when in against Choice-locked Pokemon such as Sawk and Mesprit to see which move they use, and then switch or stay in accordingly. If running Aqua Jet, Carracosta can be used as a revenge killer for Pokemon weak to the move or low on health. Due to its lack of reliable recovery, be careful switching in if Carracosta is needed for another threat, as, for example, the Fire-types it checks can severely weaken if not outright KO it with super effective coverage.
Team Options
========
A check to Grass-types is a mandatory partner for Carracosta, with Xatu, Scyther, Ice-types, Poison-types, and Fire-types all working well as partners. Garbodor or Roselia also forms an entry hazard-stacking core with Carracosta, with the former being an overall better Grass and Fighting check and the latter being a check to the Water-, Electric-, and Ground-types that trouble Carracosta. Most Grass-types make quick work of the Water-, Electric-, and Ground-types that wall or threaten Carracosta, and in return it takes on Flying- and Fire-types for them. Thanks to its access to Freeze-Dry and great special bulk, Cryogonal also serves as a solid answer to the aforementioned threats to Carracosta. Psychic-, Flying-, Poison-, and Ghost-types can check or counter Fighting-types, which can severely dent if not outright KO Carracosta with their STAB moves. Pokemon such as Klinklang and Electric-types appreciate Carracosta's ability to cripple the likes of Quagsire and Grass-types with Toxic, Scald burns, and Knock Off. Due to Carracosta's passivity, it gives common sweepers a lot of setup opportunities, making answers to the likes of Malamar, Gurdurr, and Calm Mind Psychic-types, such as Scyther and Signal Beam Psychic-types, very welcome partners.
[SET]
name: Physical Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Waterfall
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash is the best boosting move in the game, boosting Carracosta's bad Speed to solid levels and making its already good attacking stats even more powerful. Aqua Jet helps remedy Carracosta's bad Speed and allows it to KO weakened Choice Scarf users and faster Pokemon at +2. Stone Edge is Carracosta's most powerful physical STAB move and has decent coverage with Water, hitting Grass- and opposing Water-types. Waterfall is significantly more powerful than Aqua Jet and has perfect accuracy, unlike Stone Edge. Ice Beam is a good option over Waterfall to nail Carracosta's physically defensive Grass-type answers, such as Torterra and Tangela, and can allow Carracosta to act as a lure for its teammates.
Set Details
========
Carracosta's spread is standard for an offensive sweeper. Jolly allows Carracosta to outspeed everything up to Tauros and Jumpluff at +2, while Adamant significantly increases its power and outspeeds everything up to Swanna. Jolly also allows Carracosta to use Aqua Jet on Liepard before it can Encore Carracosta into Shell Smash. A Naughty or Naive nature should be run if Carracosta is running Ice Beam, however. Solid Rock lets Carracosta take non-STAB super effective physical attacks, such as Archeops's Earthquake, with greater ease and generally helps Carracosta set up more easily. Life Orb makes Carracosta incredibly strong, especially after a Shell Smash boost. Lum Berry, on the other hand, lets Carracosta set up against status users.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Carracosta can come in to check Pokemon such as Tauros and Archeops, in addition to most physical attackers that can't hit it with a super effective STAB move. However, Carracosta has to be mindful of its HP if it wants to sweep, and it should generally be saved for late-game if it is your primary win condition, unless it is paired with Healing Wish support. If the opponent has a counter to Carracosta, such as Poliwrath or Torterra, it's best to double switch to a teammate in order to force the foe to take entry hazard damage and to put Carracosta in a more favorable position. Aqua Jet lets Carracosta pick off Pokemon weak to the move or low on health throughout the match. Set up Shell Smash on Pokemon that can't do too much to Carracosta, such as Tauros and Archeops, when Choice Scarf users are in +2 Aqua Jet range and Carracosta's checks have been worn down.
Team Options
========
Entry hazards make Carracosta's job of sweeping significantly easier by wearing down anything that can take a +2 hit, such as Tangela and non-RestTalk Poliwrath; Garbodor and Cacturne are both very good hazard setters that pair decently with Carracosta. Flying-, Poison-, Ice-, and Fire-types that check Grass-types are mandatory partners, with all of them having decent offensive or defensive synergy with Carracosta. Garbodor, in particular, also sets up deeply appreciated entry hazards, while both Articuno and Cryogonal also double as counters to Quagsire. Grass-types are excellent checks or counters to the Water- and Electric-types Carracosta struggles against, especially Quagsire, and in return Carracosta can handle Fire- and Flying-types for them. Choice Scarf Lilligant in particular can also use Healing Wish to return Carracosta back to full health and give it an opportunity to sweep. Poison- and Psychic-types help Carracosta against the troublesome Fighting-types it struggles against, particularly Gurdurr. Physical wallbreakers such as Tauros, Mawile, and Zangoose wear down if not outright beat physical walls inhibiting Carracosta, such as Poliwrath, Weezing, Ferroseed, and the aforementioned Quagsire, with their powerful STAB moves and coverage. Healing Wish users such as Mesprit, Audino, Lilligant, and Musharna allow Carracosta to do work early-game and still be able to sweep late-game.
[SET]
name: Special Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Focus Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash boosts Carracosta's average Special Attack and bad Speed to dangerous levels and allows it to sweep. Hydro Pump is Carracosta's strongest move and its main damage source. Ice Beam hits Grass-types super effectively, luring Pokemon that would usually check Carracosta such as Tangela, Torterra, and Gourgeist. Hidden Power Grass rounds out Carracosta's coverage nicely and hits Water-types such as Quagsire, Poliwrath, and Lanturn. Focus Blast allows Carracosta to get past Ferroseed, in addition to hitting most Water-types about as hard as a super effective Hidden Power Grass, though it has terrible accuracy. It also hits Cryogonal super effectively. Stone Edge helps against specially defensive walls, notably Lanturn, Cryogonal, and Mantine.
Set Details
========
This is a standard offensive spread, with a Timid nature letting Carracosta outspeed everything up to base 110 Speed Pokemon, but note that you should run Naive if running Stone Edge. Solid Rock eases setup by letting Carracosta take super effective coverage from physical attackers better. Life Orb gives Carracosta a much-needed boost in power, letting it 2HKO Vileplume with Ice Beam.
Usage Tips
========
Carracosta can be useful early in the game by checking Pokemon such as Tauros and Archeops and forcing out the likes of Pyroar or Magmortar by bluffing Aqua Jet. This can critically wear down Carracosta over time, however, keeping it from sweeping late-game, so if Carracosta is your main win condition, save it for later in the game. If it is not your win condition, however, Carracosta can act as a early- and mid-game wallbreaker by spamming its powerful Hydro Pump and hitting physical Carracosta's common switch-ins, such as Torterra, Quagsire, and Ferroseed, with a super effective coverage move, weakening them for a teammate to sweep. Using Shell Smash early further increases Carracosta's wallbreaking potential by allowing Carracosta to plow through opposing teams for another sweeper, and generally eases prediction when choosing which coverage move to go for when Carracosta forces something out. Late-game, once Carracosta's checks and counters have been worn down, set up Shell Smash against a foe that it checks, such as Tauros, to sweep.
Team Options
========
Special Carracosta works best as a lure for its typical answers, so Pokemon that want them gone are its best teammates. Klinklang, Electric-types, and Samurott appreciate Carracosta's ability to lure Grass-types, bulky Water-types, Quagsire, Gurdurr, or even just physical walls in general. Entry hazards wear down the bulky Water-types, most importantly Lanturn, every time they come in to check or counter Carracosta, eventually putting them in range of a +2 attack. Garbodor sets both Spikes and Toxic Spikes and has particularly good synergy with Carracosta due to its resistances to Grass and Fighting, though other hazard setters work just fine. Checks to Grass-types are important partners due to Grass-types' ability to either take an unboosted Ice Beam or outspeed Carracosta, with the likes of Fletchinder, Cryogonal, and Articuno being solid partners. A check to the Water-types that check Carracosta is also important; Grass-types such as Ludicolo and Ferroseed, Cryogonal, Articuno, and Electric-types pair well with it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An offensive Stealth Rock set still has plenty of opportunities to set it up, has an excellent matchup against Xatu, spinners, and Defoggers, and functions as as a powerful bulky attacker. White Herb allows Carracosta to retain its bulk after setting up and makes it less susceptible to priority, but it comes at the significant cost of Life Orb's power boost. Superpower or Zen Headbutt can be used on the physical Shell Smash set to beat Ferroseed or Gurdurr and Poliwrath, respectively. Weakness Policy gives Carracosta a ridiculous power boost combined with Shell Smash, and it pairs nicely with both Solid Rock, Sturdy, and Carracosta's many common weaknesses. However, this strategy is rather unreliable, and Carracosta will more consistently benefit from other items.
Checks & Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Most Grass-types can come in with relative ease as Carracosta goes for a Water-type move, outspeed, and OHKO with their STAB move. After a Shell Smash, however, only very physically bulky Grass-types, such as Tangela, Leafeon, and Ferroseed, can survive a +2 Stone Edge, though the former two are beaten by Ice Beam variants of Carracosta.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types can usually take even a boosted Stone Edge and severely weaken if not outright beat Carracosta with Scald or even a super effective secondary STAB or coverage move. Poliwrath and Quagsire in particular counter most sets, with the former resisting both of Carracosta's STAB moves and having access to Vacuum Wave and the latter simply ignoring any boosts because of Unaware, though Poliwrath is OHKOed by the occasional +2 Zen Headbutt, and they both fear the special set.
**Gurdurr**: At high health and with its Eviolite intact, Gurdurr can take even a +2 Life Orb Waterfall from Carracosta and KO it at -1 after some prior damage with Drain Punch or even just revenge kill Carracosta instantly with Mach Punch if Carracosta's HP is under 45%. Gurdurr fares even better against the defensive set, as it's not afraid of Scald due to Guts, though it hates having its Eviolite Knocked Off. Gurdurr loses to the special set and the occasional Zen Headbutt, however.
**Fast Pokemon and Choice Scarf Users**: Due to Carracosta's extremely low Speed stat, it is outsped even at +2 by Pokemon with a Speed stat higher than 98 if Adamant or 110 if Jolly or Timid, which includes basically all common Choice Scarf users, Floatzel, and Zebstrika. However, Aqua Jet bypasses their higher Speed and can KO weakened foes or those hit super effectively by it. Choice Scarf Lilligant and Jynx get special mentions due to their resistance and immunity to Aqua Jet, respectively.
**Super Effective Coverage Moves**: Grass- and Electric-type coverage allows Fire-types that would otherwise be walled by Carracosta, such as Pyroar and Magmortar, to beat it as it comes in; however, Aqua Jet can KO them before they can attack. Physical super effective coverage moves, such as Earthquake from Tauros and Archeops, on the other hand, don't deal much damage due to Solid Rock and Carracosta's high physical defense.
Last edited:
