Cranidos
[Overview]
<p>One of the two Pokemon you can resurrect from a fossil in generation 4, Cranidos certainly hasn't lost any of its strength during its long hibernation. Its incredible base 125 Attack stat is higher than anything else in the tier, and Cranidos's access to a multitude of high-powered attacks makes it very difficult to switch in to. However, the little dinosaur is unfortunately quite frail, and has to resort to coverage moves to defeat the numerous Fighting-types in the tier. In addition, its primary STAB attacks, Stone Edge and Head Smash, often find themselves missing at the worst of times. Don't let that deter you, though. Cranidos's ability to 2HKO almost everything in the tier, coupled with its usable Speed, make it an excellent choice for almost any team.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant
evs: 60 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Cranidos is an excellent hit-and-run attacker when equipped with a Choice Scarf. With an Adamant nature, it reaches 22 Speed and 24 Attack, outspeeding many other Choice Scarf users and doing huge damage with its high Attack. Head Smash is Cranidos's primary STAB attack, 2HKOing everything that doesn't resist it. However, when the recoil becomes too much to handle, Stone Edge still does good damage to most opponents. Double-Edge 2HKOes all of the Fighting-types in LC, even sets with Eviolite. Fire Punch rounds out the coverage, attaining a quick OHKO on Ferroseed that may switch in expecting a Rock-type attack.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Earthquake is an option to hit the uncommon Bronzor, since Mold Breaker nullifies Levitate, but doesn't have any other notable coverage, and Fire Punch covers Bronzor anyway. Cranidos has few real counters due to its huge power and good coverage, but it is very susceptible to recoil damage and hazards, so a Wish user like Natu can be useful as a partner. While Cranidos can 2HKO Timburr with Double-Edge, Timburr can quickly KO Cranidos with Mach Punch before it attacks, so a partner such as Slowpoke or Frillish can be useful to stop Timburr. Stealth Rock allows Cranidos to obtain notable OHKOes and 2HKOes, so a hazards layer such as Dwebble or Ferroseed is worth consideration. Hippopotas can set up sandstorm, which can allow Cranidos to switch in on weaker special attacks more easily. However, it also completely counters Cranidos, so a partner such as Snover which can take advantage of Hippopotas makes an excellent teammate for Cranidos.</p>
[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 60 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Rock Polish Cranidos is an excellent cleaner late-game, hitting incredibly hard and outpacing every Choice Scarf user, only tying with Choice Scarf Diglett, Voltorb, and Elekid. Stone Edge is a powerful STAB attack which OHKOes a large portion of the metagame, while Zen Headbutt hits Fighting-types, KOing all but Scraggy. Fire Punch easily OHKOes Ferroseed.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Cranidos's huge Attack stat and good coverage, along with the boost from Life Orb, makes it incredibly hard to wall. In addition, Rock Polish boosts Cranidos's Speed, making Choice Scarf users helpless against it. However, it is quite weak to priority such as Timburr's Mach Punch or Croagunk's Vacuum Wave, and loses to Scraggy due to its lack of a weakness to Zen Headbutt. For this reason, a partner such as Misdreavus, Gligar, Mantyke, or Croagunk that can handle these can be really useful. Dual screen users such as Mareep and Natu can allow Cranidos to set up more easily. Hippowdon, Slowpoke, and Ferroseed can easily take any hit from this set and OHKO back with a super effective attack, so a Pokemon such as Scraggy which can set up on them makes a great partner.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>A Choice Band set hits ridiculously hard, but is too slow to be effective. Screech is usable, but mostly unnecessary when Cranidos hits so hard, and the Speed is always an issue. Curse can work well with sandstorm support from Hippopotas, but Cranidos is really too frail and has too poor of a defensive typing to take advantage of it. Toxic can cripple bulkier walls like Hippopotas that like to switch into Cranidos. A Swords Dance set is ruinously strong but too slow to attack effectively.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Hippopotas can easily take any attack, heal off the damage, and KO with Earthquake. Slowpoke can survive a Life Orb Stone Edge with plenty of HP to spare and OHKO in return with Surf or Scald, but is 2HKOed by a Choice Scarf Head Smash, and Cranidos can take a Scald with sandstorm up. Fighting-types can switch into any Rock-type attack and KO with their STAB attacks, but must watch out for Zen Headbutt, which will OHKO or 2HKO most of them, or Double-Edge, which 2HKOes any Fighting-type. Most priority attacks are super effective against Cranidos and will KO it, but it can survive Croagunk's Vacuum Wave with sandstorm active and KO with Zen Headbutt.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is Cranidos's Dream World ability, and boosts Rock Slide, making it basically a more accurate Stone Edge, but Cranidos will lose out on Mold Breaker Earthquake, which allows it to get past Bronzor.</p>
