Pokémon Crawdaunt

[TKGriffiths]

Can't believe nobody mentioned a Specs set yet. Well actually I can, people just aren't creative anymore these days >.>

Crawdaunt @ Choice Specs
Trait: Adaptability
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Sludge Bomb

I used this set in BW NU, and I expect it to work just as well in XY NU (when tiers get inplemented, probably will take a while still). Just remember to click your STAB moves unless you are certain that you'll hit something harder with the last two moves. A neutral Adaptability Surf does more than SE Ice Beam/Sludge Bomb for example, so keep that in mind. This set doesn't hit quite as hard purely damage-wise compared to the CB set, but the things you will hit will take significantly more damage. We all know that we love to switch in our Tangela against Crawdaunt. Well, Dark Pulse OHKO's after SR, to give you an idea.

252+ SpA Choice Specs Adaptability Crawdaunt Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Tangela: 304-358 (91 - 107.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

It's all about the surprise factor.

252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Tangela: 146-172 (43.7 - 51.4%) -- 98.4% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock

And Tangela's more or less crippled after the first hit anyway thanks to Eviolite being gone. Last gen this might have been viable but Crawdaunt really needs to be using Aqua Jet. If it had Hydro Pump that'd be a different story because of the higher base power but this set is even less viable than last gen thanks to Knock Off and Crabhammer being boosted.

 

[escarlata]

Can't believe nobody mentioned a Specs set yet. Well actually I can, people just aren't creative anymore these days >.>

Crawdaunt @ Choice Specs
Trait: Adaptability
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Sludge Bomb

I used this set in BW NU, and I expect it to work just as well in XY NU (when tiers get inplemented, probably will take a while still). Just remember to click your STAB moves unless you are certain that you'll hit something harder with the last two moves. A neutral Adaptability Surf does more than SE Ice Beam/Sludge Bomb for example, so keep that in mind. This set doesn't hit quite as hard purely damage-wise compared to the CB set, but the things you will hit will take significantly more damage. We all know that we love to switch in our Tangela against Crawdaunt. Well, Dark Pulse OHKO's after SR, to give you an idea.

252+ SpA Choice Specs Adaptability Crawdaunt Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Tangela: 304-358 (91 - 107.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

It's all about the surprise factor.

That's because what really changed for Crawdaunt that gives it a shot at OU viability is its access to Aqua Jet and Knock Off. By not running those 2 moves, you are basically still using what you had last gen, which evidently didn't get it anywhere last gen. Sure it may get some surprise kills outside of OU, but the only things in OU that a Choice Specs set takes less hits than a CB set to kill only limits to Skarmory, Avalugg, Hippowdon, M-Aggron while losing on a lot of kills on other stuff on the first page. A Choice Specs set may be viable in like say NU/RU, but in OU, it simply doesn't play to Crawdaunt's strength to be effective.

 

[amzaneok]

Can't believe nobody mentioned a Specs set yet. Well actually I can, people just aren't creative anymore these days >.>

Crawdaunt @ Choice Specs
Trait: Adaptability
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Surf
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Sludge Bomb

I used this set in BW NU, and I expect it to work just as well in XY NU (when tiers get inplemented, probably will take a while still). Just remember to click your STAB moves unless you are certain that you'll hit something harder with the last two moves. A neutral Adaptability Surf does more than SE Ice Beam/Sludge Bomb for example, so keep that in mind. This set doesn't hit quite as hard purely damage-wise compared to the CB set, but the things you will hit will take significantly more damage. We all know that we love to switch in our Tangela against Crawdaunt. Well, Dark Pulse OHKO's after SR, to give you an idea.

252+ SpA Choice Specs Adaptability Crawdaunt Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Tangela: 304-358 (91 - 107.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

It's all about the surprise factor.

There is very little purpose to this set in the OU meta game, considering most physically defensive threats are broken by Knock Off and Crabhammer already. Tangrowth is a lot more common than Tangela, and Tangrowth is rare as is, and that's really the only opponent who is hit significantly harder by a special attack (besides Avalugg). Avalugg, Breloom, Chesnaught, Virizion, and Cobalion are generally better and more common switch-ins to Crawdaunt, and none of them enjoy losing their item. (I believe Porygon2 can handle Crawdaunt as well, but it HATES losing Eviolite.)

The best way for Crawdaunt to handle its (few) counters is to strip it of its item and switch out. Being able to nerf its counters is huge plus for Crawdaunt.

 

[Liarliarpantsonfire]

Eh. Even with the Knock Off and Aqua Jet buff I still wouldn't consider using Crawdaunt in any tier higher than RU. In UU and OU it's pretty much outclassed by Bisharp. It's also way too slow and the current OU metagame really doesn't favor something like Crawdaunt atm. There are much better pokes you could be using instead. You guys bring up a good point with Knock Off crippling its switchins, but taking out Tangela outright for example is more effective considering it has Regenerator and will just come in to ruin you another day otherwise. The reason I brought up Specs Crawdaunt is first of all because it hasn't been done yet, and two it's in my opinion more effective in NU than the other sets. Also the fact that physical Crawdaunt got a huge buff makes a special set only more so surprising to the opponent.

 

[myw]

Bisharp doesn't have a good dual STAB or adaptability.

Also, surprise factor is good for one shot. I'm really not sure that one shot is worth losing all those base stat points.

 

[alexwolf]

Eh. Even with the Knock Off and Aqua Jet buff I still wouldn't consider using Crawdaunt in any tier higher than RU. In UU and OU it's pretty much outclassed by Bisharp. It's also way too slow and the current OU metagame really doesn't favor something like Crawdaunt atm. There are much better pokes you could be using instead. You guys bring up a good point with Knock Off crippling its switchins, but taking out Tangela outright for example is more effective considering it has Regenerator and will just come in to ruin you another day otherwise. The reason I brought up Specs Crawdaunt is first of all because it hasn't been done yet, and two it's in my opinion more effective in NU than the other sets. Also the fact that physical Crawdaunt got a huge buff makes a special set only more so surprising to the opponent.

1. This thread is about OU talk
2. Surprise factor alone doesn't make a set worth using
3. Crawdaunt has Aqua Jet to bypass its low Speed and its wallbreaking power is unmatched, those are the reasons it is viable in OU
4. Bisharp has much more unreliable priority (and Aqua Jet also covers things that Sucker Punch doesn't, such as Terrakion and Mega Lucario), and can't 2HKO the entire metagame

 

[Liarliarpantsonfire]

Bisharp doesn't have a good dual STAB or adaptability.

Also, surprise factor is good for one shot. I'm really not sure that one shot is worth losing all those base stat points.

Crawdaunt also doesn't have great defensive typing and Defiant. One shot is all you need to catch your opponent off guard and possibly get a free kill. Also, and this is an important lesson: base stats aren't everything. If your opponent has a fully defensive Avalugg (just for an example), a Specs Surf will do way more than a CB Crabhammer. Specs gets walled by something like Blissey. Which one will the opponent bring in on your Crawdaunt you think? Right.

 

[amzaneok]

Crawdaunt also doesn't have great defensive typing and Defiant. One shot is all you need to catch your opponent off guard and possibly get a free kill. Also, and this is an important lesson: base stats aren't everything. If your opponent has a fully defensive Avalugg (just for an example), a Specs Surf will do way more than a CB Crabhammer. Specs gets walled by something like Blissey. Which one will the opponent bring in on your Crawdaunt you think? Right.

Avalugg isn't particularly common enough to warrant this set, and it still hates losing its item, as any opponent does.

Edit: Avalugg is 2HKO'd by Knock Off + Crabhammer with Stealth Rocks up. Choice Band sets have a 96.9% chance to 2HKO with Crabhammer and Stealth Rocks.

 

[alexwolf]

Crawdaunt also doesn't have great defensive typing and Defiant. One shot is all you need to catch your opponent off guard and possibly get a free kill. Also, and this is an important lesson: base stats aren't everything. If your opponent has a fully defensive Avalugg (just for an example), a Specs Surf will do way more than a CB Crabhammer. Specs gets walled by something like Blissey. Which one will the opponent bring in on your Crawdaunt you think? Right.

Nobody said that Bisharp doesn't have pros over Crawdaunt, but this thread is about Crawdaunt so let's focus on his pros instead.

 

[Ogami]

Has anyone been playing Crawdaunt with heavy paralysis support? I like the idea, but I'm not sure what paralysis setters would have good synergy with this mean old lobster

 

[Liarliarpantsonfire]

I still wanted to say this, but my post got deleted before I could edit it: I never said Specs is better than CB, just that Specs is viable too. I was expecting people to reply negative to it though, as it's not standard and therefore considered unviable by the average player. Regardless, I still don't think Crawdaunt is OU material. SD sets are outclassed by Belly Drum Azumarill afaic, but CB Knock Off + Aqua Jet is a reason to use it I guess.

 

[alexwolf]

All your claims about Crawdaunt being unviable are backed up by nothing other than you just saying so, without any real reasoning other than some flawed comparisons. If you want to get why Crawdaunt is viable in OU i suggest you read the whole thread, where you will also see that the Crawdaunt vs Azumarill comparison has already been covered. Next post without any real arguments to back up your claims, or comparisons that have already been covered (Azumarill) will be deleted.

 

[amzaneok]

Has anyone been playing Crawdaunt with heavy paralysis support? I like the idea, but I'm not sure what paralysis setters would have good synergy with this mean old lobster

Klefki is viable on its own right with priority Thunder Wave, and can also throw up Spikes or screens for the crayfish. That's what I'm using. Thunderus has decent type synergy with Crawdaunt and has priority on Thunder Wave too. Rotom-H is a good candidate as well for being able to check or counter most of Crawdaunt's checks or counters, and can sponge BoltBeam coverage that most Electric-types rely on.

 

[myw]

Crawdaunt also doesn't have great defensive typing and Defiant. One shot is all you need to catch your opponent off guard and possibly get a free kill. Also, and this is an important lesson: base stats aren't everything. If your opponent has a fully defensive Avalugg (just for an example), a Specs Surf will do way more than a CB Crabhammer. Specs gets walled by something like Blissey. Which one will the opponent bring in on your Crawdaunt you think? Right.

So you're saying Bisharp's defensive potential outweights Crawdaunt's offensive potential? The case was viable with Azumarill, but Bisharp isn't exactly bulky, and Azumarill hits harder. Even then, Azumarill does not outclass Crawdaunt. Why would Bisharp? They all fulfill different team goals.

Base stats aren't everything, but the difference is exceptional considering the STAB and adaptability scaling.
Using the inferior attacking side might be good for one hit, but after that you just have a mediocre special attacker, and lose out on both Knock Off and Aqua Jet. Not worth it for a single useful hit that might not do jack. Actually, it's very likely that it'll do jack because almost all of the UU walls are on both sides.

So you may want to revise that. Base stats aren't everything, but they are quite significant.

 

[El Coqui]

All your claims about Crawdaunt being unviable are backed up by nothing other than you just saying so, without any real reasoning other than some flawed comparisons. If you want to get why Crawdaunt is viable in OU i suggest you read the whole thread, where you will also see that the Crawdaunt vs Azumarill comparison has already been covered. Next post without any real arguments to back up your claims, or comparisons that have already been covered (Azumarill) will be deleted.

This.

Plus everyone and their mon is comparing water-types to Azumarill which is bland and overused in any argument. For Crawduant (and other Water-types throughout the OU section) comparison should many be done on how a set fairs to another and then comparing its possible viability & role in the tier, not what its in competition with because that is not the overall deciding factor. (Example: Haxorus still had a handy spot through Gen 5 OU because its massive sweeping capabilities but just became less common because of Garchomp and Kyurem-B)

 

[Ogami]

Can we please stop comparing these three pokemon with the goal of finding who is better? That defeats the point of comparison, which should be used to understand all parties as fully as possible, as opposed to finding the winner and bashing the loser. All three are very different offensive threats despite using similar attacks to implement them. Talking about which pokemon's qualities outweigh another's gets you nowhere unless you look at them within the scope of what team they are a part of.


As far as the specs set goes, I don't think the surprise factor outweighs the sheer power of the band set. You don't need surprise with the band set, you just break everything. The band set is so threatening because it can come in on special walls and have enough power to threaten even their physical counterparts they really on. The same cannot be said when you invert the relationship for the specs set. There's a reason why people attack blissey/chansey and now sylveon/goodra/florges on the physical side. The fact that you lose aqua jet priority and the utility of knock off makes it seem clearly inferior.

After a bit of testing, rotom-h is indeed a great partner, coming in on wisps and electric moves aimed at craw while being able to volt him in on the special walls that rotom-h draws in. It can run thunderwave support, but i was finding that I was luring in ground types too often with him for it to feel like a safe option. Azumarill as I suspected was a great partner in wallbreaking, especially in the rain, but it was the fairy typing that stood out the most. I think it's important to have a fairy to come in on the dragons and fighting types that scare crawdaunt out.

 

[SnoopysWorld]

Been thinking about running a set like this:


Crawdaunt @ Life Orb
Trait: Adaptability
EVs:4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant
- Knock Off
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Swords Dance

Would it be decent at all? There's no guarantee you'll always be able to set up with Swords Dance, and Crawdaunt isn't a fast pokemon either. If you can get a Swords Dance off though, it'd hit harder than banded Crawdaunt and can make an excellent sweeper.

Oops, wasn't aware that a similar set to the one I posted was posted on the OP.

 

[Giustizia]

Personally, I've been running my CB variant with a Speed Boost/ Sword Dance Scolipede.
Suffice to say, it's been coping rather well with +2 Speed and +2 Atk as well as that CB.

Type synergy is relatively evident, Crawdaunt absorbs the Psychic type attacks Scoli attracts whilst taking Fire hits relatively well; where Scolipede lives those fighting type moves aimed at the Craw.

The sets themselves are simple, the Crawdaunt itself is pretty standard:

Crawdaunt @CB
Adamant
132HP/252Atk/124Spe
-Crabhammer
-Knock Off
-Aqua Jet
-Crunch

Even without support, this thing wrecks: the rest of the thread tells us this!

Scolipede @BlackSludge
Adamant
4HP/252Atk/252Spe
-Swords Dance
-Substitute
-Baton Pass
-Megahorn

Switching in on Mach Punches, or coming in on Toxics, or even predicting the status and getting up a Sub; Scolipede doesn't find it too hard to set up: early mid or late game.

From calcs posted earlier, we've seen the pure strongth of +2 Atk Crawdaunts and their Crabhammers/ Knock Offs, but even just Speed being passed to Crawdaunt is useable: with fast threats like Espeon, Galvantula(?) and Gengar, and post-bank Lati@s simply unable to take Knock Offs and few things really capable of tanking those Crabhammers.

 

[Ajwf]

I've been running a dual sweeper team with Crawdaunt and Mega-Luario (special mix) as the focused sweepers, and relying on screens to get me the turns to set up a dragon dance. The team support is less than fantastic, but Crawdaunt and Lucario provide perfect synergy in their sweeping and are incredibly dangerous. Crawdaunt dishes such massive damage on each attack that it is almost impossible for him to get KOs on attacks. I still run crunch over knock off for a little consistency but I probably could change that.

Crawdaunt's access to Aqua jet and dragon dance makes him a good threat to OU. I don't like the SD set and never have (I had a crawdaunt team in BW largely playing the same tactic with Breloom over Lucario) because Crawdaunt can GET that free speed boost and behind screens, he can go for two if he really wanted to.

LO Adaptability Crabhammer has to be one of the deadliest hits off one boost currently in the meta. I know last gen it was. I used to run band on Craw, but that's all wasted potential for his incredibly DD sets this gen.

 

[Ogami]

Ajwf if you don't mind me asking what screener do you use with this pair. I've never been a big fan of the dedicated screener so I don't really know any good ones.

Dragon Dance seems superior to swords dance in every way, unless you're facing the slowest stall team. Leave that to belly drum azumarill. I could see one DD being enough right now with fewer scarvers running around. Do you use Jolly on your DD craw or do you stick with adamant? Having the power of a life orb and choice band seems sweet. How often do you use DD Crawdaunt as a wallbreaker before it's safe to go for a dance?

 

[Ajwf]

Cresselia and Bronzong are my two favorite screeners by far. Bronzong can explode or toxic stall if need be and cresselia can lunar dance.

I run adamant Craw for the extra LO power. He's so slow, I'm not sure what threats I'd be outspeeding (and I invest in bulk anyways). And in this gen, I generally just dance right away unless I see something that can revenge kill me regardless, in which case I just hit and run again.

 

[Ogami]

Okay. I was thinking about trying Sylveon as a screener after noticing it has nice type synergy and defensive capabilities. It could even wish pass and provide cleric support, but that's 4mss bad. A slow baton pass would also be a nice way to bring craw in.

I used to be a big fan of bronzong explosions on my trick room team as a way to get the most out of moves with a time limit. That's an interesting idea to see surface again.

Yeah, after doing some math Crawdaunt isn't even beating timid base 110's after one dragon dance and a timid nature, so adamant seems better for the damage. How often can you get two dances behind the screens? I imagine if you softened up the team enough it's not necessary, as things like starmie, greninja, and noivern are taking half damage from a +1 LO Aqua Jet

 

[escarlata]

If anything Latios and Uxie seem as good screeners for Crawdaunt as well, since they can memento away as well, and also provide useful resistances.

 

[EternalZ]

Is it better to run 252 HP or 252 Speed on Banded Crawdaunt? I'm planning on using it in tandem with Rotom-H like Ogami suggested.

 

[TKGriffiths]

Is it better to run 252 HP or 252 Speed on Banded Crawdaunt? I'm planning on using it in tandem with Rotom-H like Ogami suggested.

I'd suggest 252 speed otherwise you're more or less totally reliant on Aqua Jet, and unlike Azumarill Crawdaunt doesn't have the bulk to take repeated hits even from defensive pokemon (which he won't be outspeeding without investment thanks to his low speed).