Credit to Disjunction for much of the original QC skeleton.
[OVERVIEW]
Cryogonal is the fastest Rapid Spin user in the tier, managing to outspeed many threats, such as Lilligant and Vivillon, and use Rapid Spin before they can attack. Furthermore, its immunity to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, excellent Special Defense, respectably powerful Ice-type coverage, and access to Recover give it significant niches over competitors such as Kabutops, Claydol, and Hitmonchan. These attributes allow Cryogonal to act as an effective offensive spinner that can keep up with the pace of offensive teams without sacrificing too much momentum. Meanwhile, it still has good longevity with Recover and provides a good switch-in to a number of specially attacking Pokemon, including powerful wallbreakers such as Aurorus. However, a weakness to Stealth Rock and an abysmal Defense stat are significant drawbacks that really hinder Cryogonal's general reliability, offsetting its good special bulk and making it extremely vulnerable to priority attackers and Pursuit trappers. Cryogonal should only be used if your team can compensate for its glaring weaknesses and significantly benefits from its specific characteristics.
[SET]
name: Offensive Spinner
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Ice Beam / Frost Breath
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Recover
item: Never-Melt Ice
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rapid Spin clears entry hazards from your side of the field, allowing hazard-weak teammates to switch into battle throughout the match. This is the main reason to use Cryogonal over other Ice-types, such as Jynx, Vanilluxe, and Aurorus, that sorely outclass it otherwise due to its relative lack of offensive coverage and power. Ice Beam is Cryogonal's strongest STAB move and hits most spinblockers for good damage, especially Gourgeist-XL, which most other spinners struggle to break through. Frost Breath is an alternative that, while only 90% accurate, deals the same damage overall and always lands a critical hit, letting Cryogonal wear down or break through setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Audino if needed. Freeze-Dry hits Water-types super effectively, allowing Cryogonal to do well against threats such as Lanturn, Ludicolo, and Mantine. Recover restores health and makes Cryogonal a decent special tank for offensive teams, letting it spin multiple times in a match if necessary and preventing defensive Pokemon such as Vileplume from wearing it down.
Set Details
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Maximum offensive investment with a Timid nature lets Cryogonal outspeed as many offensive threats as possible and hit them hard, reinforcing its main offensive niche over Claydol. A Modest nature can also be used, allowing Cryogonal to Speed tie with Timid Rotom while hitting slightly harder. Levitate is Cryogonal's only ability and is useful for avoiding Spikes damage, avoiding poison from Toxic Spikes, and switching into Earth Power without taking damage. Switch into predicted Earthquakes at your own risk, and only if the opponent would be a fool to use any other move with their physical attacker in that context. Never-Melt Ice boosts all of Cryogonal's attacks without inflicting recoil, making it a better option for taking on special attackers than Life Orb. Leftovers is a good alternative if you'd prefer to have more staying power on your spinner, mitigating Cryogonal's weakness to Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Cryogonal can make use of its high Speed and Rapid Spin to sacrifice itself to clear entry hazards for a sweeper if necessary, being able to spin against fast attackers such as Choice Band Primeape and allow a response such as Scyther or Vivillon to switch in without taking hazard damage, securing the endgame. Cryogonal is walled by Ice-, Fire-, and Steel-type Pokémon as well as Thick Fat Hariyama, so if these threats are still in play, it should only be brought out to use Rapid Spin. Cryogonal can use its good special bulk to switch into many defensive threats that can cause offensive teams problems, such as Vileplume, Lanturn, and Gourgeist-XL, and either hit them with STAB Ice-type attacks or spin away hazards. Recover should be used against defensive Pokemon such as these that provide Cryogonal with free turns to heal or against special attackers that pose little threat, such as Aurorus locked into an Ice-type attack.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that appreciate the absence of Stealth Rock, such as Vivillon, Scyther, and Sturdy Sawk, benefit from the Rapid Spin support that Cryogonal provides. Offensive Water-types, such as Swords Dance Samurott and Kabutops, appreciate Cryogonal's ability to threaten the Fire-type Pokemon that can beat Cryogonal and pressure defensive Grass-types, such as Gourgeist-XL and Vileplume. Teammates that can switch into physical attacks are absolutely mandatory due to Cryogonal's abysmal Defense. On balance teams, Rotom-S and Weezing are great partners that can switch into many threats and burn the opponent's physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp. Teammates that can deal with Pursuit trappers in advance are also highly appreciated, such as Fighting-types like Sawk and Primeape, which also boast good offensive synergy with Cryogonal's Ice-type attacks. Thick Fat Hariyama is another good option in this regard, as it can also take on Fire-types. While tempting, Cryogonal should not be used as a spinner on Hail teams due to stacking considerable defensive weaknesses to Fighting-, Steel-, Fire-, and Rock-type attacks, particularly with Aurorus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A defensive set with an EV spread of 240 HP / 212 Def / 56 SpD, a Calm nature, and Leftovers can be used on more defensive teams and has the bulk to survive two Hydro Pumps from mixed Samurott while also taking significantly less damage from Pursuit users and the occasional Aqua Jet. Haze can be used on this set to stop sweepers such as Lilligant and Vivillon from setting up effectively, and Safety Goggles can even be used to block Sleep Powder from these foes and make Cryogonal a hard counter. Knock Off can remove items from Pokemon Cryogonal has difficulty breaking through, but this role is better left to other Pokemon due to Cryogonal's low Attack stat and lack of space for the move. Hidden Power Ground hits Fire- and Steel-types, while Flash Cannon hits other Ice-types, particularly Jynx and Aurorus, for decent damage, but both require use of a Life Orb to be effective. Toxic can be used to cripple defensive responses that Cryogonal can't normally deal decent damage to, such as Mega Audino and Musharna. Explosion can similarly be used to weaken switch-ins such as Assault Vest Magmortar and Hariyama, allowing other teammates to break through them later.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Attackers**: Cryogonal is extremely physically frail even with investment, leaving it susceptible to faster physical attackers, such as Tauros, Swellow, and Archeops, and physical priority users, such as Hariyama, Kangaskhan, and Hitmonchan. Thick Fat Hariyama is a particularly good check, as it also effectively resists Ice-type attacks.
**Pursuit**: Pursuit users, such as Skuntank and Liepard, can capitalize on Cryogonal's low Defense stat and trap it with Pursuit, doing about 50% damage to it even if it stays in. This makes Cryogonal a much less reliable spinner against teams with these threats.
**Psyshock**: Psychic-type Pokemon, such as Mesprit and Jynx, can also use Psyshock to exploit Cryogonal's low Defense stat and force it out. Even if they lack the move, they can still bluff it effectively in the early-game.
**Fire- and Steel-types**: Fire-types, such as Magmortar and Pyroar, and Steel-types, such as Klinklang and Mawile, can comfortably switch into Freeze-Dry and Ice Beam and hit back with their STAB moves. Additionally, Pyroar can outspeed Cryogonal, while Klinklang can set up without worry on Cryogonal that lack Haze.
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