HypnoEmpire
Yokatta...
Overview
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+ With Gligar gone, it's sooo much easier for Crustle to function.
+ Custap Berry being released also gave it life, as now it can take advantage of Sturdy to get up multiple hazards.
+ Has access to Stealth Rock and Spikes.
+ Nice utility move in Knock Off.
+ Good match-up vs defoggers.
+ Is a crab and is krusty.
- Really hates Taunt; its low Speed highlights this.
- Has competition with other hazard setters such as Omastar and Accelgor.
- High Defense can hinder it more than help it (for instance, LO Jolly Medicham 2HKOs Crustle with Zen Headbutt before Custap can activate).
Crustap
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name: Crustap
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Knock Off / Earthquake
ability: Sturdy
item: Custap Berry
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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**Multi-Hit Moves**: Rock Blast from Rhyperior can limit Crustle to one hazard, but the tank set needs to hit 4-5 times to have a chance to OHKO. Rock Blast from Cincinno only really has a good chance to OHKO Crustle if it's running a Choice Band.
**Hazard Removal**: Hitmonlee and Kabutops can both take Crustle down to Sturdy and then proceed to remove hazards and KO with Rapid Spin. Hitmontop laughs at pretty much everything Crustle can throw at it while being able to Toxic stall it and remove hazards whenever Crustle attempts to set them up. Offensive defoggers get boned by Stone Edge, but Golbat outspeeds Crustle and can Roost, Toxic, and Defog in its face. Needs to watch out for Knock Off though.
**Taunt**: While most Taunt users such as Cobalion and Qwilfish don't appreciate taking an Earthquake from Crustle, they can still prevent Crustle from completing its task and put pressure on it.
**Moves That 2HKO Crustle But Don't Activate Custap Berry**: LO Jolly Medicham with Zen Headbutt and Choice Band Dugtrio with Earthquake are some examples of Pokemon that achieve this. They limit Crustle to one hazard.
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+ With Gligar gone, it's sooo much easier for Crustle to function.
+ Custap Berry being released also gave it life, as now it can take advantage of Sturdy to get up multiple hazards.
+ Has access to Stealth Rock and Spikes.
+ Nice utility move in Knock Off.
+ Good match-up vs defoggers.
+ Is a crab and is krusty.
- Really hates Taunt; its low Speed highlights this.
- Has competition with other hazard setters such as Omastar and Accelgor.
- High Defense can hinder it more than help it (for instance, LO Jolly Medicham 2HKOs Crustle with Zen Headbutt before Custap can activate).
Crustap
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name: Crustap
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Knock Off / Earthquake
ability: Sturdy
item: Custap Berry
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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- Stealth Rock and Spikes to wear down pokemon for teammates.
- Stone Edge 2HKOs every defogger in RU and can inflict solid damage to other Pokemon if Crustle decides to attack them for some reason.
- Knock Off is a nice utility move that can be very useful, especially in removing Golbat's Eviolite.
- Earthquake 3HKOs support Cobalion and can 2HKO nearly every common user of Taunt. Unless Cobalion runs Iron Head, Crustle wins 1v1.
- Rock Blast can be run over Stone Edge to OHKO lead Accelgor and have more accuracy, but it can potentially fail to 2HKO stuff like Golbat.
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- Sturdy + Custap Berry is a godly combination since it can help Crustle get up more hazards.
- Max Attack Adamant enables Crustle to 2HKO Golbat and other stuff like Drapion and Focus Sash Qwilfish.
- Max Speed outpaces Abomasnow's Ice Shard the turn Custap Berry activates. Also outspeeds stuff like Druddigon and Eelektross.
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- Use as a suicide lead and get hazards up asap.
- Against Taunt users, use Earthquake. If lacking Earthquake, predict the Taunt users to lead and lead with a Pokemon that can handle them.
- Against a Rapid Spinner such as Hitmonlee and Kabutops, switch to a Ghost-type on a predicted Rapid Spin.
- Stone Edge defoggers.
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- Good on hyper offensive teams since sweepers and wallbreakers like having hazards to wear down their checks / counters.
- A Ghost-type such as Doublade or Spiritomb can be nice to block Rapid Spin.
- Braviary can be a nice option since its presence alone can deter the use of Defog.
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- Sturdy + Shell Smash sounds cool and I won't downplay it until someone else or I can confirm that it's bad.
- X-Scissor OHKOs Shiftry and is a STAB that doesn't miss. It also does damage to Virizion.
- Counter can get a surprise KO on many physical attackers, Kabutops and Hitmonlee being notable ones for being Rapid Spinners.
- Flail inflicts way more damage than Stone Edge at 1 HP, but it needs to be at or about 1 HP for it to even do solid damage.
- Mental Herb blocks Taunt and pretty much guarantees that Crustle can get up at least one hazard.
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**Multi-Hit Moves**: Rock Blast from Rhyperior can limit Crustle to one hazard, but the tank set needs to hit 4-5 times to have a chance to OHKO. Rock Blast from Cincinno only really has a good chance to OHKO Crustle if it's running a Choice Band.
**Hazard Removal**: Hitmonlee and Kabutops can both take Crustle down to Sturdy and then proceed to remove hazards and KO with Rapid Spin. Hitmontop laughs at pretty much everything Crustle can throw at it while being able to Toxic stall it and remove hazards whenever Crustle attempts to set them up. Offensive defoggers get boned by Stone Edge, but Golbat outspeeds Crustle and can Roost, Toxic, and Defog in its face. Needs to watch out for Knock Off though.
**Taunt**: While most Taunt users such as Cobalion and Qwilfish don't appreciate taking an Earthquake from Crustle, they can still prevent Crustle from completing its task and put pressure on it.
**Moves That 2HKO Crustle But Don't Activate Custap Berry**: LO Jolly Medicham with Zen Headbutt and Choice Band Dugtrio with Earthquake are some examples of Pokemon that achieve this. They limit Crustle to one hazard.
QC Checks: Spirit / Arikado / atomicllamas
GP Checks: Winry. / The Dutch Plumberjack
Overview
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Gligar shifting to UU has greatly reduced the pressure previously put on Crustle because now it no longer has to waste a moveslot for the mediocre Hidden Power Ice. Custap Berry also gave it a new lease on life, as it can now take advantage of its ability Sturdy to set up multiple layers of entry hazards. Crustle offers a lot of support to teams in the form of Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can soften up checks and counters for offensive teammates. These entry hazards will usually stay for the duration of the match, as nearly every Defogger is OHKOed or 2HKOed by Crustle. However, Crustle is pretty slow, which leaves it vulnerable to faster Taunt users and faster priority. It also faces competition from other entry hazard setters such as Omastar and Accelgor. Crustle's high Defense stat, which can be useful at times, can also be detrimental if the opposing Pokemon 2HKOes it before Custap Berry can activate.
Crustap
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name: Crustap
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Knock Off / Earthquake
ability: Sturdy
item: Custap Berry
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Stealth Rock and Spikes enable Crustle to support its team by wearing down opposing Pokemon. Stone Edge 2HKOes nearly every Defogger in RU and can inflict solid damage to other Pokemon. However, Rock Blast has better accuracy and can be run over Stone Edge to OHKO lead Accelgor, but it can fail to 2HKO some Defoggers such as Togetic. Knock Off is useful for removing Golbat's Eviolite. Earthquake 3HKOes support Cobalion and can 2HKO nearly every common user of Taunt. Unless Cobalion runs Iron Head, Crustle beats it in a one-on-one situation. X-Scissor can be run as a Bug-type STAB move that doesn't miss, which is useful for OHKOing Shiftry without relying on Stone Edge's accuracy.
Set Details
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Sturdy in tandem with Custap Berry is a godly combination because it can help Crustle set up more entry hazards. Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature enables Crustle to 2HKO Defoggers such as Togetic and 2HKO Taunt users such as Drapion and Focus Sash Qwilfish. Maximum Speed EVs allow Crustle to outpace Pokemon such as Druddigon and Eelektross.
Usage Tips
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Crustle should be used primarily as a suicide lead. It is crucial that Crustle attempt to get up as many entry hazards as possible early on. Against common Taunt users, Earthquake is usually the best option, but against centain Pokemon such as Golbat, Stone Edge and Knock Off are better options. If Crustle is lacking Earthquake, predict the opponent to lead with a Taunt user and lead with a Pokemon that can handle it. Against a Rapid Spinner such as Hitmonlee or Kabutops, switch to a Ghost-type on a predicted Rapid Spin. Crustle should use Stone Edge on most Defoggers to 2HKO or OHKO them and prevent them from removing its entry hazards.
Team Options
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Crustle is a good choice on hyper offensive teams because sweepers and wallbreakers such as Virizion, Tyrantrum, and Hitmonlee enjoy the entry hazards Crustle sets up, which wear down their checks and counters. A Ghost-type such as Doublade or Spiritomb can be a nice teammate to block Rapid Spin while providing some offensive pressure. While not as crucial, Braviary can be a decent team option because its presence alone can deter the use of Defog.
Other Options
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Sturdy paired with Shell Smash can work well with Crustle's decent Attack stat, and its incredible Defense stat can limit the number of Pokemon that can revenge kill it. Counter can get a surprise KO on a variety of physical attackers and works well with Sturdy. Flail inflicts way more damage than Stone Edge at 1 HP, though that is the only time where it inflicts solid damage. Mental Herb blocks Taunt and Encore and pretty much guarantees that Crustle can set up at least one entry hazard, which Custap Berry cannot do.
Checks & Counters
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**Multi-Hit Moves**: Rock Blast from Rhyperior can limit Crustle to only setting up one entry hazard, but the tank set needs to hit four to five times to have a chance to OHKO. Rock Blast from Cincinno has a decent chance to OHKO Crustle if it's running a Choice Band.
**Hazard Removal**: Hitmonlee and Kabutops can both take Crustle down to Sturdy and proceed to remove entry hazards and KO with Rapid Spin. Hitmontop laughs at pretty much anything Crustle can throw at it, can Toxic stall Crustle, and can remove entry hazards whenever Crustle attempts to set them up. Offensive Defoggers get crushed by Stone Edge, but Golbat outspeeds Crustle and can use Roost, Toxic, and Defog freely against variants lacking Knock Off.
**Taunt**: While most Taunt users such as Cobalion and Qwilfish don't appreciate taking an Earthquake from Crustle, they can still prevent Crustle from completing its task and put pressure on it.
**Pokemon that 2HKO Crustle but don't activate Custap Berry**: Life Orb Jolly Medicham with Zen Headbutt and Choice Band Dugtrio with Earthquake are some examples of Pokemon that can 2HKO Crustle and don't activate its Custap Berry. Some Pokemon with priority moves such as Bullet Punch Medicham can also KO Crustle after it has been inflicted the necessary amount of damage.
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