[Overview]
- Becomes very difficult to defeat with Shell Smash.
- Can play a variety of roles on the team; not only can it be offensive, it can also run a great tank set with Stealth Rock.
- Solid Rock - allows Carracosta to set up on offensive Pokemon while being able to tank occasional SE hits.
- Great offensive typing and two powerful STAB moves.
- Awful Speed stat, but Aqua Jet's priority mitigates that.
- Very solid Pokemon with few flaws overall.
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[/LIST]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
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- Seismitoad - can take Carracosta's attacks and OHKO with Earth Power, so Pokemon who can deal with him (ironically, Grass-types, ie Ludicolo and Vileplume) are great allies alongside Carracosta.
- LumRest Exeggutor - can deal with all of Carracosta's counters very well (Alo, Tangela, Torkoal), so it makes for a great partner.
- Charizard and Gothorita are also good partners to have, as the former can take down Carracosta's counters with the respective move, and Gothorita can trap and KO them with ease.
name: Tank
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Aqua Jet / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
- Makes use of Carracosta's defensive prowess with Solid Rock.
- Great tank that can take a hit and deliver one.
- Stealth Rock - can set it up against the common Flying- and Normal-types in the tier, as well as support the team with it.
- Waterfall + Stone Edge: STAB moves, great coverage against the majority of the tier.
- Aqua Jet - great with Carracosta, as its horrid Speed can hinder it sometimes. However, Toxic holds that surprise factor, crippling Pokemon such as Tangela, Alomomola, and Seismitoad.
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- EV spread - 248 HP EVs for maximum bulk and getting the most out of Leftovers. 252 Atk EVs + Adamant makes sure Carracosta is not offensively weak. However, those EVs can be placed in Defense for more bulk.
- As Carracosta would want to keep its SR on the field, having spinblockers such as Misdreavus (offers Heal Bell as well) and Golurk (can set up SR if Carracosta fails) are good partners.
- LumRest Exeggutor, Charizard, and Gothorita all are great partners, as they can deal with Carracosta's counters in their respective ways.
- A fully physically defensive with Solid Rock with a set of Stealth Rock/Scald/Rock Slide/Toxic can hit hard and potentially burn opponents with Scald or cripple the opponent with Toxic.
- An offensive Swift Swim set consisting of Waterfall / Stone Edge / Aqua Jet / HP Grass can work really well on rain teams.
- Shell Smash w/ special attacks, which does well against physical walls, but it's weaker than the physically attacking version.
- Mystic Water - Would power up Carracosta's Water-type attacks, but its other attacks are then noticeably weaker.
- Choice Band set is plausible, as Carracosta has many other physically attacking moves to use, such as EQ, Superpower, Body Slam and Low Kick.
- Curse - good for increasing Carracosta's tanking prowess, but with no reliable source of recovery, it isn't effective.
- Ice Beam - can hit Tangela harder, but that is all it really offers to Carracosta.
- Ice Wind / Bulldoze - situational move that can lower the Speed of Carracosta's faster threats.
- Can be a Rain Dance supporter with Damp Rock, but there are generally more Pokemon suited for that role.
- Rest - only way Carracosta can heal itself, but the two sleeping turns can be lackluster.
- Rock Polish, but generally, why use Rock Polish over Shell Smash?
- Choice Scarf Jynx - outspeeds any variant at +2, is immune to Aqua Jet, and can OHKO Carracosta with Psychic.
- Seismitoad can take any of Carracosta's attacks and retaliate back with Earth Power.
- Tangela - best counter to Carracosta, fearing the very rare Ice Beam. Other Grass-types in general (Serperior, Vileplume) are great counters to Carracosta as well.
- Alomomola can tank Carracosta's attacks as well and threaten to Toxic it.
- Specially offensive Samurott fares pretty well against Carracosta as well, as it can OHKO Carracosta with Hidden Power Grass.
- Faster Pokemon can easily outspeed and KO Carracosta, even after a Shell Smash.
- Sawk locked into Close Combat can severely weaken Carracosta as well, but it don't enjoy switching into Carracosta's attacks bar Stone Edge.
- Choice Band Primeape can check Carracosta if its CB, but cannot switch into any of Carracosta's attacks.
- Pokemon with Guts do not mind being hit by Toxic at all, specifically Gurdurr.
- Even with Solid Rock, hitting it with consistently powerful attacks are your best bet at defeating it, as it gets worn down very quickly.
- Toxic Spikes - will wear Carracosta down very easily, so Pokemon who can set it up (Garbodor, Scolipede) are great checks.
- Stopping Carracosta from setting up Shell Smash from offensive pressure / Taunt is a great way of making it less threatening.
[Overview]
<p>Carracosta is one of the best setup sweepers in the tier, as it can set up on many offensive Pokemon and tank super effective hits thanks to its ability, Solid Rock. Carracosta has a great offensive typing and powerful STAB options, which make it very difficult to defeat if it sets up Shell Smash. However, aside from being an offensive sweeper, Carracosta can also run a tank set with Stealth Rock. Carracosta's awful Speed stat might be the only thing holding it back, but having access to Aqua Jet mitigates that weakness somewhat. After Carracosta sets up a Shell Smash, it can be really devastating and game-changing, which is why it's such a good sweeper.</p>
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Life Orb
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With its great bulk in unison with Solid Rock, Carracosta can set up Shell Smash on a variety of Pokemon, including Kangaskhan, Tauros, Swellow, and Sawk and Primeape that are not locked into Close Combat. Once Carracosta has set up, it can completely flip the outcome of the game. After a Shell Smash boost, Carracosta can 2HKO Alomomola and OHKO Audino, Braviary, Kangaskhan, and Lickilicky. It should be noted, however, that Carracosta cannot switch into Kangaskhan to set up. Waterfall and Stone Edge are Carracosta's STAB moves, hitting the majority of the tier for at least neutral damage. Aqua Jet is Carracosta's STAB priority move, revenge killing weakened threats and Choice Scarf users.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Solid Rock is what permits Carracosta to set up on many Pokemon, as it weakens super effective attacks for Carracosta. The EV spread with an Adamant nature allows Carracosta to outspeed neutral base 98 Speed Pokemon, such as Swanna and Basculin, after a Shell Smash boost. However, a Jolly nature can be used to allow Carracosta to outspeed base 113 Pokemon and below, such as Serperior, once it's at +2. A Lum Berry and Sturdy combination is an option to guarantee Carracosta sets up Shell Smash at full HP. A Liechi Berry with Sturdy combination is also plausible, with the main advantage being having similar power to Life Orb, minus the recoil. However, it is harder to pull off successfully. Rock Slide can replace Stone Edge for better accuracy, but the loss in power is noticeable. Likewise, Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall as a slightly stronger STAB move, but the decrease in accuracy can hinder Carracosta. Hidden Power Grass can hit Seismitoad and Alomomola harder and more reliably than Carracosta's other moves, but it would have to give up Waterfall and have a Naughty nature to make the most of it.</p>
<p>Carracosta appreciates entry hazards on the field to make it easier to score OHKOs on Pokemon such as Primeape and Misdreavus. Scoilpede, Golurk, and Piloswine are good partners as entry hazard setters, with Scolipede also being able to take on Grass-types that Carracosta despises. Toxic Spikes is huge issue for Carracosta; it makes it harder for Carracosta to set up and maintain longevity. Poison-types, specifically Garbodor and Scolipede, can absorb Toxic Spikes for Carracosta. Seismitoad can tank Carracosta's attacks and OHKO with Earth Power, so Pokemon who can deal with it, such as Ludicolo and Vileplume, make great allies. Muk is also a good partner for Carracosta, as it can not only be a great counter to Tangela but can also weaken threats such as Misdreavus, Alomomola, and Poison Touch Seismitoad for Carracosta to KO. It can also use Memento, making it easier for Carracosta to set up. LumRest Exeggutor, Gothorita, and Charizard can deal with all of Carracosta's counters, specifically Alomomola, Tangela, and Torkoal, very well, so they make great partners.</p>
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Aqua Jet / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set takes advantage of Carracosta's defensive prowess with Soild Rock. Carracosta has great potential as a tank, as it can take a hit and deliver one back without excessive difficulty. Stealth Rock can be set up to weaken Flying- and Bug-type Pokemon in the tier, making Carracosta a great supporter to the team. Waterfall and Stone Edge are Carracosta's STAB moves, which boast great coverage against the majority of the tier. Aqua Jet patches up Carracosta's horrid Speed stat, which can hinder it at times. However, Toxic holds that surprise factor, crippling walls such as Tangela, Alomomola, and Seismitoad that Carracosta would have trouble defeating otherwise.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>248 HP EVs grant maximum bulk to Carracosta while getting the most HP recovery from Leftovers. 252 Atk EVs with an Adamant nature prevent Carracosta from being offensively weak; however, those EVs can be placed in Defense for more bulk. Rocky Helmet is optional for racking up extra damage on physically offensive Pokemon that Carracosta switches into. With Solid Rock, Carracosta can take super effective attacks more easily; it can avoid an OHKO from Choice Scarf Rotom-S's Thunderbolt and weaken Kangaskhan's Earthquake. Rock Slide and Aqua Tail can replace the original STAB moves for more accuracy or power, respectively. Knock Off is great for crippling opponents by removing their item, specifically Tangela or Misdreavus's Eviolite. It's hard to fit Knock Off into this set, however.</p>
<p>Carracosta has no reliable recovery for HP or from status conditions, so Heal Bell and/or Wish users are great allies. Alomomola, Flareon, and Vileplume are good options to consider. Seismitoad and Samurott are both notable threats to Carracosta, but Serperior and Ludicolo can KO both of them. As Carracosta's main goal is to get Stealth Rock on the field, sweepers that appreciate entry hazard support, such as Pinsir and Ludicolo, are good partners. As Carracosta wants to keep Stealth Rock on the field for its team, having spinblockers such as Misdreavus, which can offer Heal Bell and Will-O-Wisp support, and Golurk, which can serve as a backup Stealth Rock user, are good allies. Finally, LumRest Exeggutor, Charizard, and Gothorita all are great partners, as they can deal with Carracosta's counters in their own respective ways.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Carracosta is very versatile, so it has many other options to select from. A fully physically defensive spread with Solid Rock and a moveset consisting of Stealth Rock / Scald / Rock Slide / Toxic can hit hard and potentially burn opponents with Scald or cripple them with Toxic. Additionally, an offensive Swift Swim set consisting of Waterfall / Stone Edge / Aqua Jet / Hidden Power Grass is great to consider if Carracosta is used on a rain team. Flail with a Leichi Berry and Sturdy is an extremely situational tactic to OHKO Alomomola at +3 after Stealth Rock damage. Carracosta can use its Shell Smash to power up its specially offensive attacks, which does well against physical walls, but it's weaker than the physically attacking version. Mystic Water can be used to specifically power up Carracosta's Water-type attacks, but its other attacks are then noticeably weaker. A Choice Band set is plausible, as Carracosta has many other physical attacking moves to use, such as Earthquake, Superpower, Body Slam and Low Kick; however it has the potential to lose too much momentum for the team.</p>
<p>Carracosta can utilize many other alternative attacking moves. Curse is great for increasing Carracosta's tanking prowess, and it can be used in the tank set to defeat SubBU Braviary much easier, but with Carracosta wielding no reliable source of recovery, it isn't very effective. Ice Beam can hit Tangela harder, but unfortunately that is all it really offers to Carracosta. Icy Wind and Bulldoze are both situational moves that can lower the Speed of Carracosta's faster threats, but even so it is still quite slow. Carracosta can be a rain inducer with Damp Rock, but there are generally other Pokemon better suited for that role. Rest is Carracosta's only recovery source, but it leaves itself wide open during the two turns of sleep. Finally, Rock Polish can raise Carracosta's Speed without the defense drops, but unlike Shell Smash, Rock Polish does little to increase Carracosta's offensive presence.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Tangela is the best counter to Carracosta, fearing only the very rare Ice Beam. Grass-types in general, such as Serprior and Vileplume, are great counters to Carracosta as well. Seismitoad and Alomomola can tank any of Carracosta's attacks and retaliate with Earth Power or cripple it with Toxic, respectively. Specially offensive Samurott fares pretty well against Carracosta too, as it can OHKO Carracosta with Hidden Power Grass.</p>
<p>Carracosta also has its fair share of checks. Choice Scarf Jynx outspeeds any variant of Carracosta, is immune to its Water-type attacks, and can OHKO Carracosta with Psychic. However, Jynx cannot switch into a Stone Edge from Carracosta, and it can only OHKO Carracosta after a defensive drop from Shell Smash. Sawk locked into Close Combat can severely weaken Carracosta as well, but it doesn't enjoy switching into any of Carracosta's attacks except for Stone Edge. Good checks to the tank set are Pokemon with Guts, as they not mind being hit by Toxic at all; Gurdurr is a great example. Toxic Spikes will wear Carracosta down very easily, so Pokemon that can set it up, such as Garbodor and Scolipede, are great checks. Even with Solid Rock, hitting Carracosta with consistently powerful attacks is your best bet at defeating it, as it gets worn down very quickly. A great way to make Carracosta less threatening is to stop it from setting up Shell Smash by utilizing offensive pressure or Taunt.</p>
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