[OVERVIEW]
With excellent pre- and post-Mega Evolution abilities in Regenerator and Magic Guard, a solid typing, and a good movepool, Mega Crucibelle is the premier offensive pivot and wallbreaker in the metagame. Its typing is very potent offensively, hitting a large majority of the metagame for at least neutral damage, and gives it plenty of opportunities to switch into Pokemon like Tornadus-T, Jumbao, and Clefable. It's also one of the most consistent Stealth Rock setters because it has a favorable matchup against Tornadus-T, which is the best Defogger in the metagame. Furthermore, its access to U-turn enables Mega Crucibelle to pivot out of unfavorable positions against common Pokemon like Arghonaut and Ferrothorn, making it very hard to consistently check. While Head Smash and Gunk Shot are very hard to switch into, they are also inconsistent because of their significant chance to miss. It should also be noted that Tornadus-T and Jumbao, two Pokemon that Mega Crucibelle would often want to take advantage of, often run Hidden Power Ground to prevent Mega Crucibelle from switching in for free. Additionally, defensive Pokemon such as Heatran, Tangrowth, and Arghonaut, Pokemon that Mega Crucibelle fails to OHKO without adequate chip damage, often run Ground-type coverage.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Crucibellite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Head Smash is preferred over Stone Edge because Magic Guard negates any recoil damage that Mega Crucibelle would otherwise take. Gunk Shot allows Mega Crucibelle to pressure Fighting-types like Arghonaut and Tomohawk with its significant chance to poison. While Stealth Rock is often preferred, Low Kick can be run to wear down Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Naviathan. Toxic Spikes can also be run instead of Stealth Rock to cripple grounded checks like Arghonaut, Revenankh, and Hippowdon and to put more pressure on the opposing team as a whole.
Set Details
========
4 HP investment maximizes Crucibelle's Regenerator recovery. Regenerator pairs particularly well with U-turn, allowing Crucibelle to consistently pivot early-game while keeping it healthy. Magic Guard further bolsters Mega Crucibelle's role as an offensive pivot, making it completely immune to Head Smash recoil as well as entry hazard, Rough Skin, Iron Barbs, and Rocky Helmet damage.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Crucibelle should not Mega Evolve, because Regenerator allows it to consistently stay healthy while softening up sturdy checks for late-game. However, if the opponent only has softer checks to Mega Crucibelle, such as Arghonaut and Landorus-T, it should look to Mega Evolve early to apply more pressure. U-turn and Stealth Rock are easily the best moves to use with Crucibelle early-game, allowing it to constantly gain momentum against checks like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, and Arghonaut. While Mega Crucibelle can try to take advantage of Tornadus-T and Jumbao, it has to be wary of Hidden Power Ground, so you should scout for this move first. Once Crucibelle has Mega Evolved, Head Smash is easily its most spammable move due to the lack of solid switch-ins to it. Alternatively, Mega Crucibelle should use Gunk Shot to fish for poison against checks such as Arghonaut and Landorus-T. It should be noted that, due to Head Smash's poor PP, it should be used very rarely until Mega Crucibelle's checks are weakened enough, because using it early will enable players to potentially PP stall it.
Team Options
========
Spikes setters like Arghonaut, Ferrothorn, and Ash-Greninja can form strong entry hazard stacking cores with Mega Crucibelle. Spikes are particularly useful to consistently wear down Steel-types. Arghonaut and Ferrothorn also provide solid checks to Ash-Greninja as well as to Choice Scarf Volkraken and Tapu Lele, respectively. Additionally, Ash-Greninja can take advantage of bulky Ground-types, which Mega Crucibelle tends to force in and U-turn out on. Magnezone can trap Ferrothorn and other troublesome Steel-types for Mega Crucibelle, which is particularly useful to spam Head Smash and Gunk Shot late-game. In a similar vein, Fightinium Z Tapu Lele can get rid of Steel-types like Ferrothorn and can take advantage of Fighting-type checks like Arghonaut and Revenankh as well. In return, it appreciates Mega Crucibelle's ability to pivot it into play. Bulky Grass-types like Jumbao and Tangrowth pair incredibly well with Mega Crucibelle because of their ability to check Ground- and Water-types. They appreciate Mega Crucibelle's ability to check Tornadus-T in return. Tornadus-T pairs particularly well with Mega Crucibelle, as they form a very solid hazard control core. Tornadus-T can also take advantage of bulky Fighting-types like Arghonaut, Revenankh, and Tomohawk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can be run to immediately cripple checks to Mega Crucibelle like Arghonaut and Landorus-T, but Toxic Spikes is often preferred because of the pressure that it puts on the opposing team. Coil is an option to turn Mega Crucibelle into a much more consistent late-game cleaner. However, Mega Crucibelle is so effective at setting Stealth Rock that this option is often foregone in favor of Stealth Rock. Low Kick is also usually a better option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Mega Aggron is the best counter to Mega Crucibelle, reliably taking anything that Mega Crucibelle might throw at it. However, Mega Aggron rarely fits on teams outside of stall builds. Mega Scizor is a soft check to Mega Crucibelle, as it can avoid a 2HKO by Head Smash without Stealth Rock damage and can pressure Mega Crucibelle with Bullet Punch. However, if Stealth Rock is up, Mega Scizor can be 2HKOed by Head Smash, and Bullet Punch does not OHKO Mega Crucibelle. Ferrothorn can easily switch into Head Smash and Gunk Shot, but it is prone to getting worn down and easy to take advantage of with U-turn. It should also be wary of Low Kick. Naviathan is often found on dedicated screens teams and can reliably set up on Mega Crucibelle if it lacks Low Kick. Similarly to Naviathan, Magearna can also use Mega Crucibelle as setup bait. While Mega Mawile and Kartana usually lack reliable recovery, they avoid getting 2HKOed by Mega Crucibelle and can KO it in return.
**Ground-types**: Fidgit can use Mega Crucibelle to set up Trick Room or entry hazards without much repercussion, though it is generally worn down quickly. Landorus-T has enough bulk to take at least one Head Smash from Mega Crucibelle and can even outspeed it with a Choice Scarf; however, it's worn down very fast. Hippowdon is one of the most self-sufficient answers to Mega Crucibelle thanks to its access to reliable recovery, but it's very passive and thus easy to take advantage of. It should be noted that Hippowdon struggles to switch into Mega Crucibelle consistently because if Toxic Spikes is up, Mega Crucibelle uses Gunk Shot, or Mega Crucibelle has revealed Toxic, the threat of getting poisoned puts a lot of pressure on it.
**Bulky Fighting-types**: Revenankh resists both Head Smash and Gunk Shot and can cripple Mega Crucibelle with Will-O-Wisp or Glare while also being able to use it as setup bait for Bulk Up. Arghonaut can reliably switch into Head Smash, but it must be careful of Gunk Shot poison and can be taken advantage of with U-turn.
**Faster Attackers**: Choice Scarf users such as Kitsunoh, Tapu Lele, and Volkraken can easily KO Mega Crucibelle with their STAB moves and outspeed Mega Crucibelle. Mega Alakazam and Ash-Greninja naturally outspeed Mega Crucibelle and can hit it with their super effective STAB moves. Thanks to Syclant's ability, Mountaineer, it can attempt to switch into Mega Crucibelle's Head Smash; however, it's far too frail to take any other attack.
**Cyclohm**: Physically defensive Cyclohm is a decent blanket check to Mega Crucibelle. It can switch into Mega Crucibelle and threaten to paralyze it with Static and has enough physical bulk to avoid getting 2HKOed by Mega Crucibelle. However, it can be 2HKOed by Head Smash with very little chip damage and thus must be wary of being poisoned by Gunk Shot.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Jordy, 395754]]
- Quality checked by: [[snake_rattler, 227784], [Jho, 208105], [Mx, 298148]]
- Grammar checked by: [[GMars, 273636], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
With excellent pre- and post-Mega Evolution abilities in Regenerator and Magic Guard, a solid typing, and a good movepool, Mega Crucibelle is the premier offensive pivot and wallbreaker in the metagame. Its typing is very potent offensively, hitting a large majority of the metagame for at least neutral damage, and gives it plenty of opportunities to switch into Pokemon like Tornadus-T, Jumbao, and Clefable. It's also one of the most consistent Stealth Rock setters because it has a favorable matchup against Tornadus-T, which is the best Defogger in the metagame. Furthermore, its access to U-turn enables Mega Crucibelle to pivot out of unfavorable positions against common Pokemon like Arghonaut and Ferrothorn, making it very hard to consistently check. While Head Smash and Gunk Shot are very hard to switch into, they are also inconsistent because of their significant chance to miss. It should also be noted that Tornadus-T and Jumbao, two Pokemon that Mega Crucibelle would often want to take advantage of, often run Hidden Power Ground to prevent Mega Crucibelle from switching in for free. Additionally, defensive Pokemon such as Heatran, Tangrowth, and Arghonaut, Pokemon that Mega Crucibelle fails to OHKO without adequate chip damage, often run Ground-type coverage.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Crucibellite
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Head Smash is preferred over Stone Edge because Magic Guard negates any recoil damage that Mega Crucibelle would otherwise take. Gunk Shot allows Mega Crucibelle to pressure Fighting-types like Arghonaut and Tomohawk with its significant chance to poison. While Stealth Rock is often preferred, Low Kick can be run to wear down Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Naviathan. Toxic Spikes can also be run instead of Stealth Rock to cripple grounded checks like Arghonaut, Revenankh, and Hippowdon and to put more pressure on the opposing team as a whole.
Set Details
========
4 HP investment maximizes Crucibelle's Regenerator recovery. Regenerator pairs particularly well with U-turn, allowing Crucibelle to consistently pivot early-game while keeping it healthy. Magic Guard further bolsters Mega Crucibelle's role as an offensive pivot, making it completely immune to Head Smash recoil as well as entry hazard, Rough Skin, Iron Barbs, and Rocky Helmet damage.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Crucibelle should not Mega Evolve, because Regenerator allows it to consistently stay healthy while softening up sturdy checks for late-game. However, if the opponent only has softer checks to Mega Crucibelle, such as Arghonaut and Landorus-T, it should look to Mega Evolve early to apply more pressure. U-turn and Stealth Rock are easily the best moves to use with Crucibelle early-game, allowing it to constantly gain momentum against checks like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, and Arghonaut. While Mega Crucibelle can try to take advantage of Tornadus-T and Jumbao, it has to be wary of Hidden Power Ground, so you should scout for this move first. Once Crucibelle has Mega Evolved, Head Smash is easily its most spammable move due to the lack of solid switch-ins to it. Alternatively, Mega Crucibelle should use Gunk Shot to fish for poison against checks such as Arghonaut and Landorus-T. It should be noted that, due to Head Smash's poor PP, it should be used very rarely until Mega Crucibelle's checks are weakened enough, because using it early will enable players to potentially PP stall it.
Team Options
========
Spikes setters like Arghonaut, Ferrothorn, and Ash-Greninja can form strong entry hazard stacking cores with Mega Crucibelle. Spikes are particularly useful to consistently wear down Steel-types. Arghonaut and Ferrothorn also provide solid checks to Ash-Greninja as well as to Choice Scarf Volkraken and Tapu Lele, respectively. Additionally, Ash-Greninja can take advantage of bulky Ground-types, which Mega Crucibelle tends to force in and U-turn out on. Magnezone can trap Ferrothorn and other troublesome Steel-types for Mega Crucibelle, which is particularly useful to spam Head Smash and Gunk Shot late-game. In a similar vein, Fightinium Z Tapu Lele can get rid of Steel-types like Ferrothorn and can take advantage of Fighting-type checks like Arghonaut and Revenankh as well. In return, it appreciates Mega Crucibelle's ability to pivot it into play. Bulky Grass-types like Jumbao and Tangrowth pair incredibly well with Mega Crucibelle because of their ability to check Ground- and Water-types. They appreciate Mega Crucibelle's ability to check Tornadus-T in return. Tornadus-T pairs particularly well with Mega Crucibelle, as they form a very solid hazard control core. Tornadus-T can also take advantage of bulky Fighting-types like Arghonaut, Revenankh, and Tomohawk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can be run to immediately cripple checks to Mega Crucibelle like Arghonaut and Landorus-T, but Toxic Spikes is often preferred because of the pressure that it puts on the opposing team. Coil is an option to turn Mega Crucibelle into a much more consistent late-game cleaner. However, Mega Crucibelle is so effective at setting Stealth Rock that this option is often foregone in favor of Stealth Rock. Low Kick is also usually a better option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Mega Aggron is the best counter to Mega Crucibelle, reliably taking anything that Mega Crucibelle might throw at it. However, Mega Aggron rarely fits on teams outside of stall builds. Mega Scizor is a soft check to Mega Crucibelle, as it can avoid a 2HKO by Head Smash without Stealth Rock damage and can pressure Mega Crucibelle with Bullet Punch. However, if Stealth Rock is up, Mega Scizor can be 2HKOed by Head Smash, and Bullet Punch does not OHKO Mega Crucibelle. Ferrothorn can easily switch into Head Smash and Gunk Shot, but it is prone to getting worn down and easy to take advantage of with U-turn. It should also be wary of Low Kick. Naviathan is often found on dedicated screens teams and can reliably set up on Mega Crucibelle if it lacks Low Kick. Similarly to Naviathan, Magearna can also use Mega Crucibelle as setup bait. While Mega Mawile and Kartana usually lack reliable recovery, they avoid getting 2HKOed by Mega Crucibelle and can KO it in return.
**Ground-types**: Fidgit can use Mega Crucibelle to set up Trick Room or entry hazards without much repercussion, though it is generally worn down quickly. Landorus-T has enough bulk to take at least one Head Smash from Mega Crucibelle and can even outspeed it with a Choice Scarf; however, it's worn down very fast. Hippowdon is one of the most self-sufficient answers to Mega Crucibelle thanks to its access to reliable recovery, but it's very passive and thus easy to take advantage of. It should be noted that Hippowdon struggles to switch into Mega Crucibelle consistently because if Toxic Spikes is up, Mega Crucibelle uses Gunk Shot, or Mega Crucibelle has revealed Toxic, the threat of getting poisoned puts a lot of pressure on it.
**Bulky Fighting-types**: Revenankh resists both Head Smash and Gunk Shot and can cripple Mega Crucibelle with Will-O-Wisp or Glare while also being able to use it as setup bait for Bulk Up. Arghonaut can reliably switch into Head Smash, but it must be careful of Gunk Shot poison and can be taken advantage of with U-turn.
**Faster Attackers**: Choice Scarf users such as Kitsunoh, Tapu Lele, and Volkraken can easily KO Mega Crucibelle with their STAB moves and outspeed Mega Crucibelle. Mega Alakazam and Ash-Greninja naturally outspeed Mega Crucibelle and can hit it with their super effective STAB moves. Thanks to Syclant's ability, Mountaineer, it can attempt to switch into Mega Crucibelle's Head Smash; however, it's far too frail to take any other attack.
**Cyclohm**: Physically defensive Cyclohm is a decent blanket check to Mega Crucibelle. It can switch into Mega Crucibelle and threaten to paralyze it with Static and has enough physical bulk to avoid getting 2HKOed by Mega Crucibelle. However, it can be 2HKOed by Head Smash with very little chip damage and thus must be wary of being poisoned by Gunk Shot.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Jordy, 395754]]
- Quality checked by: [[snake_rattler, 227784], [Jho, 208105], [Mx, 298148]]
- Grammar checked by: [[GMars, 273636], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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