Cranidos (Analysis)

[Black Buddha]

Status: WIP

As of 7th Dec: Choice Scarf set writtten

All forms of Criticism accepted.

Working on: Trick Room sweeper, Rock Polish sweeper

Opinions on Double Dance / SD sweeper??

---------------------------------------------
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/cranidos

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 60 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Choice Scarf Cranidos is potentially one of the best revenge killers in the metagame, thanks to its sky-high Attack stat, above average Speed, and its excellent ability, Mold Breaker.<p>

<p>Head Smash is one of the most powerful physical attacks in Little Cup, capable of OHKOing defensive juggernauts such as Max HP Gligar 74% of the time with Stealth Rock in play. However, Cranidos will be racking up a lot of recoil damage soon enough. On the other hand, Stone Edge does not suffer from recoil and is generally the safer move to use for Cranidos. Earthquake provides great coverage alongside Stone Edge, and due to Mold Breaker, common Levitate users such as Bronzor and Misdreavus will find themselves unable to take advantage of Cranidos being locked into Earthquake. This allows Cranidos to abuse Earthquake near endlessly, only fearing a Flying-type switch-in, which should be an unlikley situation given the threat of switching into Cranidos' STAB Rock-type attacks. Zen Headbutt rounds off the set, hitting Fighting-types such as Machop harder than all other moves.</p>

<p>Another advantage of Cranidos is that it reaches 22 Speed with an Adamant nature, allowing it to outspeed a large number of Choice Scarf users that reach only 21 Speed. This furthermore increases Cranidos' efficiency as a late game sweeper, as common 21 Speed Choice Scarf users will be unable to end Cranidos' rampage during lategame, where it can turn into a formidable sweeper.</p>

<p>A lategame Choice Scarf Cranidos sweep can only be stopped by three things: Priority, faster Choice Scarf users, and bulky Ground-types such as Phanpy. Common users of priority such as Kabuto, Carvanha and Croagunk should be removed before Cranidos sets foot in the arena. Kabuto and Carvanha can be eliminated with a Croagunk of your own, which can also sponge Water-type attacks threatening to end Cranidos' rampage, while Gligar can swiftly deal with Croagunk, although one should watch out for a stray Ice Punch. Gligar is also a great teammate defensively, being immune to the Ground-type attacks and resistant to the Fighting-type attacks Cranidos is weak to, although the shared Water-type weakness is not appreciated. Gligar can also set up Stealth Rock, which nullifies Focus Sash, aiding in Cranidos' sweep. Alternately, one may use Bronzor in order to set up Stealth Rock and dual screens, while walling Phanpy, who is the best Cranidos counter in the game. Some of the faster Choice Scarf users are Gligar, Mankey, Houndour, and Gastly, who can all OHKO Cranidos. Gligar and Mankey are again walled by Bronzor whereas Houndour and Gastly can be removed by Munchlax and Stunky respectively.</p>

 

[bugmaniacbob]

Status: WIP

As of 7th Dec: Choice Scarf set writtten

All forms of Criticism accepted.

Working on: Trick Room sweeper, Rock Polish sweeper

---------------------------------------------
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/cranidos

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 60 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Choice Scarf Cranidos is potentially one of the best revenge killers in the metagame, thanks to its sky-high Attack stat, above average Speed, and its excellent ability, Mold Breaker.<p>

<p>Head Smash is one of the most powerful physical attacks in Little Cup, dealing (sentence unfinished). However, Cranidos will be racking up a lot of recoil damage soon enough. On the other hand, Stone Edge does not suffer from recoil and is generally the safer move to use for Cranidos. Earthquake provides great coverage alongside Stone Edge, and due to Mold Breaker common Levitate users such as Bronzor and Misdreavus will be unable to take advantage of a Cranidos locked on Earthquake. This allows Cranidos to abuse Earthquake near endlessly, only fearing a Flying-type switch-in, which should be an unlikely situation given Cranidos's STAB Rock-type attacks. Zen Headbutt rounds off the set, hitting Fighting-types such as Machop harder than all other moves.</p>

<p>Another advantage of Cranidos is that it reaches 22 Speed with an Adamant nature, allowing it to outspeed a large number of Choice Scarf users that reach only 21 Speed. This furthermore increases Cranidos' efficiency as a late game sweeper, as common 21 Speed Choice Scarf users will be unable to end Cranidos' sweep (I thought this was revenge orientated?).</p>

<p>A lategame Choice Scarf Cranidos sweep can only be stopped by three things: Priority, faster Choice Scarf users, and bulky Ground-types such as Phanpy. Common users of priority such as Kabuto, Carvanha and Croagunk should be removed before Cranidos sets foot in the arena. Kabuto and Carvanha can be eliminated with a Croagunk of your own, which can also sponge Water-type attacks threatening to end Cranidos' rampage, while Gligar can swiftly deal with Croagunk, although one should watch out for a stray Ice Punch. Gligar is also a great teammate defensively, being immune to the Ground-type attacks and resistant to the Fighting-type attacks Cranidos is weak to (shared Water weakness mention?). Gligar can also set up Stealth Rock, which nullifies Focus Sash, aiding in Cranidos' sweep. Alternately, one may use Bronzor in order to set up Stealth Rock and dual screens, while walling Phanpy, who is the best Cranidos counter in the game. Some of the faster Choice Scarf users are Gligar, Mankey, Houndour, and Gastly, who can all OHKO Cranidos. Gligar and Mankey are again walled by Bronzor whereas Houndour and Gastly can be removed by Munchlax and Stunky respectively.</p>

Looks good so far, only thing that stuck out was that endless sentence... good luck with the rest of the analysis.

 

[Black Buddha]

Thanks for the fixes, bugmaniacbob.

The unfinished sentence was where I was meant to put a small calculations which I never got around to doing....

Yeah Cranidos is more revnge oriented, but often lategame it can turn into a sweeper where you just switch in and spam Stone Edge till you win, making it a makeshift lategame sweeper of sorts.

Still havent got around to putting up the TR / RP sets, sorry for that!

 

[Sheshi]

<p>Earthquake provides great coverage alongside Stone Edge, and due to Mold Breaker, common Levitate users such as Bronzor and Misdreavus will find themselves unable to take advantage of Cranidos being locked into Earthquake. moves.</p>

Sorry. Had to pick that little thing up. It was bugging me :p

Considering Cranidos doesn't have that great defensive stats, I think its worth having Trick Room sweeper and a Rock Polish Sweeper, but not a Double Dance or SD Sweeper. Its attack stat is so high, why boost it even further?

Perhaps SD might be mentioned in OO but that should be it in my opinion.

 

[Heysup]

There is not a chance any battler who is actually using attack moves is going to let you get a RP and a Swords Dance. Cranidos also isn't going to get very far with an SD set, it's too slow.

 

[eric the espeon]

With something like Encore Wynaut+Focus Sash, its quite possible.. but that's overly specific so probably borderline OO. I did use RP+SD Crani in very early Little Cup, worked pretty well. Not often getting both boosts in, but it's handy being able to pick which boost is most helpful to your situation.

 

[dr00]

eric also mentioned a naive nature and using ice beam for gligar when i posted an RMT a long time ago.

i never actually tried it though, but i thought i'd bring it up if anyone remembers that it could deserve a mention (if just in OO at least)

 

[Black Buddha]

Well we did have a discussion about using Ice Beam with naive, but the thing is HEad Smash will OHKO standard gligar after rocks 3/4th of the time. Also, being locked into 150 BP STAB off 24 attack >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> locked into 95 BP off what, 12 SpA?

Zen Headbutt is just too good to pass up as well for Machop and Mankey on the switch.

Ice Beam might have been an OK choice earlier due to greater number of Hippopotas (I dont see it much nowadays), and Phanpy takes near shit from it anyways, so not worth it.

 

[dr00]

good to know.

but this was for a rock polish set, not scarf btw, so you wouldn't be locked in per se

 

[Heysup]

good to know.

but this was for a rock polish set, not scarf btw, so you wouldn't be locked in per se

Zen Headbutt is still needed for Fighters with the Rock Polish set.

 

[dr00]

i was just responding to

Also, being locked into 150 BP STAB off 24 attack >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> locked into 95 BP off what, 12 SpA?

i still accepted that zen headbutt was needed.

also, the move that i would get rid of in that scenario would be headsmash, not zen headbutt.

given that he's planning to stat up one turn and attempt a sweep, i don't think he would appreciate the recoil that much and would opt for stone edge in most cases.
he needs to get rid of a move for rock polish, so what do you think the moveset is for the rock polish sweeper? get rid of headsmash for rock polish?


- stone edge
- earthquake
- zen headbutt
- rock polish


i would put a mention for head smash and ice beam and their ability to KO gligar. maybe in the set comments instead of slashed in somewhere.

 

[mtr]

Edits in my trademark hot pink.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 60 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Choice Scarf Cranidos is potentially one of the best revenge killers in the metagame, thanks to its sky-high Attack stat, above average Speed, and its excellent ability, Mold Breaker.</p>

<p>Head Smash is one of the most powerful physical attacks in Little Cup, capable of OHKOing defensive beasts (juggernaut connotes an offensive Pokemon) such as Max HP Gligar 74% of the time with Stealth Rock in play. However, Cranidos will be racking up a lot of recoil damage soon enough. On the other hand, Stone Edge does not suffer from recoil and is generally the safer move to use for Cranidos. Earthquake provides great coverage alongside Stone Edge, and due to Mold Breaker, common Levitate users such as Bronzor and Misdreavus will find themselves unable to take advantage of Cranidos being locked into Earthquake. This allows Cranidos to abuse Earthquake near endlessly, only fearing a Flying-type switch-in, which should be an unlikely given the threat of switching into Cranidos' STAB Rock-type attacks. Zen Headbutt rounds off the set, hitting Fighting-types such as Machop harder than all other moves. Wouldn't Fire Punch be worth a slash-in? It hits Bronzor harder than anything else.</p>

<p>(Deleted) Cranidos is that it reaches 22 Speed with an Adamant nature, allowing it to outspeed a large number of Choice Scarf users that reach only 21 Speed. This furthermore increases Cranidos' efficiency as a late game sweeper, as common 21 Speed Choice Scarf users will be unable to end Cranidos' rampage during lategame, where it can turn into a formidable sweeper.</p>

<p>A lategame Choice Scarf Cranidos sweep can only be stopped by three things: Priority, faster Choice Scarf users, and bulky Ground-types such as Phanpy. Common users of priority such as Kabuto, Carvanha and Croagunk should be removed before Cranidos sets foot in the arena. Kabuto and Carvanha can be eliminated with a Croagunk of your own, which can also sponge Water-type attacks threatening to end Cranidos' rampage, while Gligar can swiftly deal with Croagunk, although one should watch out for a stray Ice Punch. Gligar is also a great teammate defensively, being immune to the Ground-type attacks and resistant to the Fighting-type attacks Cranidos is weak to, although the shared Water-type weakness is not appreciated. Gligar can also set up Stealth Rock, which nullifies Focus Sash, aiding in Cranidos' sweep. Alternately, one (I didn't check this, but make sure that you are consistent in choosing 'one' or 'you') may use Bronzor in order to set up Stealth Rock and dual screens, while walling Phanpy, who is the best Cranidos counter in the game. Some of the faster Choice Scarf users are Gligar, Mankey, Houndour, and Gastly, who can all OHKO Cranidos. Gligar and Mankey are again walled by Bronzor whereas Houndour and Gastly can be removed by Munchlax and Stunky, respectively.</p>

 

[macle]

---------------------------------------------
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/cranidos

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 60 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Choice Scarf Cranidos is potentially one of the best revenge killers in the metagame, thanks to its sky-high Attack stat, above average Speed, and its excellent ability, Mold Breaker.<p>

<p>Head Smash is one of the most powerful physical attacks in Little Cup, capable of OHKOing defensive juggernauts such as Max HP Gligar 74% of the time with Stealth Rock in play. However, Cranidos will be racking up a lot of recoil damage soon enough. On the other hand, Stone Edge does not suffer from recoil and is generally the safer move to use for Cranidos. Earthquake provides great coverage alongside Stone Edge, and due to Mold Breaker, common Levitate users such as Bronzor and Misdreavus will find themselves unable to take advantage of Cranidos being locked into Earthquake. This allows Cranidos to abuse Earthquake near endlessly, only fearing a Flying-type switch-in, which should be an unlikely situation given the threat of switching into Cranidos' STAB Rock-type attacks. Zen Headbutt rounds off the set, hitting Fighting-types such as Machop harder than all other moves.</p>

<p>Another advantage of Cranidos is that it reaches 22 Speed with an Adamant nature, allowing it to outspeed a large number of Choice Scarf users that reach only 21 Speed. This furthermore increases Cranidos' efficiency as a late game sweeper, as common 21 Speed Choice Scarf users will be unable to end Cranidos' rampage during late game, where it can turn into a formidable sweeper.</p>

<p>A late game Choice Scarf Cranidos sweep can only be stopped by three things: Priority, faster Choice Scarf users, and bulky Ground-types such as Phanpy. Common users of priority such as Kabuto, Carvanha and Croagunk should be removed before Cranidos sets foot in the arena. Kabuto and Carvanha can be eliminated with a Croagunk of your own, which can also sponge Water-type attacks threatening to end Cranidos' rampage, while Gligar can swiftly deal with Croagunk, although one should watch out for a stray Ice Punch. Gligar is also a great teammate defensively, being immune to the Ground-type attacks and resistant to the Fighting-type attacks Cranidos is weak to, although the shared Water-type weakness is not appreciated. Gligar can also set up Stealth Rock, which nullifies Focus Sash, aiding in Cranidos' sweep. Alternately, one may use Bronzor in order to set up Stealth Rock and dual screens, while walling Phanpy, who is the best Cranidos counter in the game. Some of the faster Choice Scarf users are Gligar, Mankey, Houndour, and Gastly, who can all OHKO Cranidos. Gligar and Mankey are again walled by Bronzor whereas Houndour and Gastly can be removed by Munchlax and Stunky respectively.</p>

you need to update this...