Cradily
Status: Done!
QC Approvals:
1) Bloo
2) Setsuna
3) Iconic
GP Approvals:
1) Calm Pokemaster
2) NatGeo
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[OVERVIEW]
<p>Meet Cradily, the fossilized barnacle. In DPP, Cradily established itself as a diverse Pokemon, acting as a wall with its good defenses and a plethora of useful support moves, as well as a lead and a great recipient of Baton Pass boosts thanks to Suction Cups, which allows it to set up or stall without the fear of getting phazed. Though generation 5 did not give Cradily many new toys, it did get the ability Storm Drain via Dream World. Not only does this give Cradily a useful Water-type immunity, the possible +1 Special Attack boost makes a special or mixed attacking set viable, adding to its versatility. It also makes Cradily an excellent addition to sandstorm teams, as it can absorb the Water-type attacks aimed at Pokemon such as Gliscor and Hippowdon. Cradily also maintains a wide array of useful moves, such as Recover, Stockpile, and Curse, giving it the same versatility it had in the fourth generation. However, this barnacle is not without its flaws. Cradily has an abysmal base 43 Speed, which, though it doesn't impede the Curse variants much, forces it to either run Rock Polish or receive a few Agility boosts if it hopes to sweep. Also, Cradily's Rock typing, which may shield it from a weakness to common Fire-type attacks otherwise, acts as a curse in this generation with all the new Fighting-types running around, especially Conkeldurr. Despite this, Cradily remains a valuable addition to many teams, acting either as a great special wall under sandstorm and a great user of Curse.</p>
[SET]
name: Mono Attacker
move 1: Curse
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Rock Slide / Seed Bomb
item: Leftovers
nature: Careful
ability: Suction Cups
evs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One of Cradily's best sets in generation 4 still holds nicely this time around, thanks to Cradily's great special bulk and above average physical bulk. Since Cradily won't be using special attacks, Suction Cups is the preferred ability, as it allows you to stay in without fear of being phazed, along with the fact that Sleep Talk and Storm Drain are illegal together. Because of the new Fighting-type threats introduced this generation, the EVs have been tweaked to give Cradily better physical bulk so that after a few Curse boosts it can take those Drain Punches and Hi Jump Kicks as well as Scizor's Bullet Punches, while at the same time still maintaining a great Special Defense stat under sandstorm. For the choice of item, Leftovers is always a good option for constant recovery.</p>
<p>This set revolves around Curse boosting Cradily's Attack and Defense. Because of Cradily's great overall bulk, it can set up Curse with ease once it switches in safely. Once you have set up to your satisfaction, Rest can be used to heal Cradily of any damage or status it might have taken while setting up. Cradily can then take advantage of Sleep Talk to prevent itself from being a sitting duck, possibly setting up a few more Curses to boost its stats. Rock Slide is a nice STAB option for Cradily, as it hits Fire- and Ice-types, two of its most effective counters, for super-effective damage. Rock Slide also allows Cradily to hit Poison-types, who would wall it if running Seed Bomb. However, Fighting-types, as well as bulky Water- and Ground-types, can easily come in, wall Cradily, and proceed to set up. If you feel this to be a problem, Seed Bomb is an alternative, as it's Cradily's best physical STAB Grass move.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>If you want to set up Curse, recover HP, and immediately start attacking, you can use a Chesto Berry. However, since you are running Sleep Talk, you are not vulnerable in your sleep, allowing you to use Rest repeatedly, so Leftovers is generally the best option. Stone Edge can be used as an alternative to Rock Slide, but its low accuracy and PP makes it a poor option. Additionally, Earthquake can be used to hit Steel-types and Toxicroak, who completely wall you otherwise.</p>
<p>For this set, sandstorm support is greatly appreciated, as it allows for Cradily's great Special Defense to be boosted even higher. Tyranitar and Hippowdon both do a great job at this, the latter in particular as Hippowdon can shrug off most physical Fighting-type attacks aimed at Cradily and set up Stealth Rock. Both moves Cradily can use are easily taken by Steel-types, who can come in and wall Cradily with ease. Magnezone works as a great partner alongside Cradily, as the barnacle can act as bait, luring in Pokemon such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn, allowing Magnezone to come in, trap them, and KO with Hidden Power Fire. Since Fighting-types pose a massive threat to Cradily, packing a Psychic-type can really help. Pokemon such as Reuniclus and Celebi thus make great teammates for Cradily, as they can switch into a Fighting-type attack with ease and KO with their STAB attacks or set up on the switch. Trick users also nullify this set, as Cradily cannot afford to be locked into one move.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Slide / Seed Bomb
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
nature: Impish
ability: Suction Cups / Storm Drain
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set allows Cradily to function as a sweeper decently even without sandstorm support, unlike the Curse set. Suction Cups is merely the suggested ability for Cradily, as it does not have to fear being phazed and losing its Attack boosts. However, since this set does not need to be used in sandstorm, Cradily's Special Defense won't necessarily be boosted, so Storm Drain also works for Cradily, because even though the +1 SpA boost won't help it offensively, an immunity to Water-type attacks grants Cradily more opportunities to switch in. It also helps against bulky Water-types who feel they can ruin Cradily's Attack boosts with Scald, allowing you to strike back or set up on their switch.</p>
<p>Since this Cradily variant is both offensive and defensive, two boosting moves help Cradily much more than harming it. Swords Dance is the main move of the set, as once Cradily finds an opportunity to set up, it can cause massive damage. However, if you are threatened by Steel-types and Toxicroak, Earthquake may be used to get rid of said threats. For the last slot, Rock Slide is the best STAB choice, as it offers excellent coverage and gives you the freedom to run both abilities. However, if you lack Earthquake and want to hit bulky Water / Ground types so they don't resist your STAB, Seed Bomb is an alternative. The only problem is that it is only usable with Suction Cups, meaning you lose your immunity to Scald and other Water-type moves thanks to Storm Drain due to the illegality, rendering it useless.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs given focus more on Cradily's physical defense, as this set won't always have sandstorm support. This also allows Cradily to take most physical Fighting-type moves with more ease, then use Recover and start attacking. If you really want Cradily to hit harder, Life Orb is an option, as you do have Recover to heal off the recoil. However, since this set is meant to work more like a tank, and since you may have to work outside of sandstorm, Leftovers is the better choice. If you feel Unaware Quagsire will be a threat to you, Gastro Acid can be used, but Cradily is hard-pressed for moveslots as it is, and Gastro Acid has little use outside of dealing with Quagsire. Rock Tomb or Bulldoze can be used to help Cradily outspeed its foe, but both are just bad moves in general, as the former has bad accuracy and both have a low BP. An alternative way to raise Cradily's speed is Rock Polish, but it has a hard time finding a moveslot, and with Cradily being weak to three priority moves, it won't help in the end. Since status ruins Cradily, Rest can be used over Recover to heal it, but then Cradily will just be a sitting duck for two turns, allowing the opponent to easily set up.</p>
<p> Since Cradily is not using Rest, status demolishes its usefulness, making clerics excellent teammates. Chansey makes a fantastic partner, as it can switch into Ice-type attacks with ease with its massive bulk, though it must be noted that Chansey compounds Cradily's Fighting-type weakness. Lanturn also works well, as it can come in on Ice- and Steel-type attacks aimed at Cradily, use Heal Bell, and proceed to spread status. Once again, Magnezone is Cradily's best friend when dealing with Steel-type Pokemon, as it can easily trap and eliminate them with Hidden Power Fire. Xatu works as a great partner for Cradily as well, as it can bounce back status, come in on Fighting-type moves, and proceed to set up or attack with its STAB attacks. However, it shares Cradily's Ice-type weakness, and must be wary of super effective attacks such as Ice Punch and Payback from its Fighting-type adversaries. Though not needed, sandstorm support does help Cradily, and Hippowdon makes a good choice, as it takes Fighting-type moves with ease. Entry hazards aid Cradily in attempting to sweep, so Skarmory makes a good choice for a teammate as well, as it can setup both Spikes and Stealth Rock and check Fighting-types.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Stealth Rock / Energy Ball
move 3: Recover
move 4: Rock Slide / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
nature: Relaxed
ability: Storm Drain
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Cradily's great bulk and solid support movepool make it the perfect candidate to support a team. Because of many new Fighting-type threats, Cradily needs all the physical bulk it can muster to survive physical hits and balance its defenses under a sandstorm. Storm Drain is the better ability here, as it will let Cradily switch in more easily, as well as powering up Energy Ball if you opt to use it in the second slot. Leftovers is the best item, providing steady HP regeneration. Relaxed nature is used in case you want to use both a physical and special move.</p>
<p>Toxic is the main move of this set, as it allows Cradily to spread status through the opponent's team. Stealth Rock is there for entry hazard support, and coupled with Toxic and sandstorm damage it lets Cradily do a fair amount of indirect damage to the opposing team. However, if you already have something to lay down entry hazards, Energy Ball may be used for STAB and to hit bulky Water-types. For the third slot, Recover is there so Cradily can heal off any damage it may have taken. The last slot is for Cradily's attacking option. Rock Slide offers a STAB option, while Earthquake lets Cradily hit the Steel-types immune to Toxic.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Cradily has access to a great support movepool, so its options are not limited. Once again, Gastro Acid can be a good option on this set, as it allows Cradily to cripple Magic Guard users such as Reuniclus with Toxic. Rest may be used over Recover to rid Cradily of status, but the fact that Cradily will be doing nothing for two turns makes this a bad choice. Tickle can be used to limit the usefulness of physical tanks; however, that means getting rid of Recover and Stealth Rock due to issues with legality. Giga Drain may be used to hit opposing Pokemon while also gaining HP, as well as getting STAB coverage. However, you must get rid of Recover, as the two are illegal together. Hidden Power Ground may be used to hit Steel- and Fire-types as well as Toxicroak hard, but Earthquake is generally the better option. Hidden Power Fire is an alternative, as it allows Cradily to smash incoming Scizor and Ferrothorn, two prominent Cradily checks.</p>
<p>Since this Cradily is a more defensive variant than an offensive one, it should be put on a team to provide balance and support rather than having a team built around it. However, sand support is still essential, and both Tyranitar and Hippowdon make good partners for the same reasons as the sets above. Sandstorm sweepers love when their targets are weakened, as it allows them to sweep much easier than they normally would. Excadrill greatly benefits from Cradily, as it loves the combination of entry hazards, sandstorm, and Toxic damage wearing down its targets. Users of the ability Moxie, such as Krookodile, also greatly benefit from Cradily's support, as the residual damage provided allows them to pick off weaker targets and activate their ability. Fast, frail sweepers such as Infernape also enjoy residual damage, as the weaker the target is, the easier they can KO without fear of being attacked themselves.</p>
<p>Although not completely necessary, clerics allow this Cradily to stay alive much longer, allowing more status to be spread. Chansey and Blissey can come in, use Heal Bell, and pass huge Wishes to Cradily, increasing its survivability. As far as Cradily's teammates go, Magnezone hurts Steel-types, while Skarmory and Xatu can shrug off Fighting-type attacks, and set up Spikes or attack with STAB Psychic-type moves, respectively. Bulky Ghost-types such as Jellicent work too, as they block Rapid Spin. Jellicent in particular resists both of Cradily's weaknesses, and can cripple Fighting-types with Will-O-Wisp, while Cradily can take Electric-type attacks aimed at Jellicent with ease, making Jellicent a wonderful teammate for Cradily.</p>
<p>Poison Heal Gliscor and Skarmory are two excellent counters for this set if Cradily is not carrying Hidden Power Fire. The two don't fear Toxic and can use Cradily as pure setup fodder, the former with Swords Dance and the latter with entry hazards. Skarmory can also Whirlwind out Cradily carrying Hidden Power Fire, as an unboosted hit fails to OHKO it.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Cradily's movepool is fairly vast, and it can take full advantage of some of its other moves. As mentioned in many of the sets, Gastro Acid is quite an interesting option, as it allows Cradily to nullify the ability of the opponent. This can enable Cradily to cripple users of Magic Guard with Toxic, such as Reuniclus. Confuse Ray is an option for possibly more residual damage, but faces competition for a moveslot. On the Swords Dance set, Stockpile can be used to boost both of Cradily's defensive stats and makes it a tremendous pain to KO, thanks to its boosted defenses and access to Recover. Cradily can also use Substitute on stall and support sets, as its bulk makes its Substitute quite sturdy. However, Cradily is generally too slow to effectively set up Substitute.</p>
<p>As far as offensive options go, Cradily has a few moves it can utilize. Cradily can use Storm Drain boosts to power up Giga Drain, though Cradily will then be unable to utilize any of its egg moves; Recover is generally the better recovery option, as Giga Drain can easily be walled by the likes of Heatran and Scizor. Wring Out may be used to hit foes at full HP for more damage, but does not help Cradily with coverage. Cradily can run Hidden Power Psychic to hit Fighting-types harder, but it finds no use outside of that. Also, Cradily has respectable base 81 Attack and Special Attack stats, meaning it can utilize a generic Choice set pretty well with its decent movepool, but stronger, faster Grass-types such as Sceptile and Shiftry are generally better at running Choice sets.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Scizor and Breloom are two of Cradily's best counters if it does not carry Hidden Power Fire, as they can come in on any of its STAB attacks and strike, Scizor with Technician-boosted STAB Bullet Punch, and Breloom with a powerful Focus Punch backed up by the threat of Spore. Steel-types completely wall Cradily if it does not carry Earthquake or Hidden Power Fire, and can easily set up on or KO Cradily with their STAB attacks. Ferrothorn completely walls Cradily, only taking significant damage from boosted Hidden Power Fire, and can easily set up entry hazards on Cradily or cripple the switchin with Thunder Wave. Toxicroak poses a massive problem for Cradily that do not carry Earthquake or Hidden Power Ground, and can set up Swords Dance or Nasty Plot on the switch or easily KO Cradily with its STAB Fighting-type attacks. Conkeldurr counters Cradily quite nicely as well, and can easily set up on the switch, while not fearing status thanks to Guts. Prankster users such as Whimsicott will also stop Cradily in its tracks with Taunt, forcing it to switch out. Although rare, Weezing also completely walls all physical Cradily variants, and can hurt it with Fire Blast or inflict status, the latter of which hurts Cradily variants who do not carry Rest. Bulky Ghost-types such as Eviolite Dusclops and Spiritomb, as well as the rare, aforementioned Weezing, will completely ruin Cradily with Will-O-Wisp. Chansey and Blissey can also switch in with ease and cripple Cradily with Toxic, while shrugging off status with Natural Cure.</p>
<p>Trick users check and ruin Cradily incredibly well, especially Jirachi and Metagross. The two of them can come in on both of Cradily's STAB moves, Trick it a Choice item, and render Cradily completely useless. However, they both have to be wary of boosted Hidden Power Fire and Earthquake, which can severely damage them.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Cradily got a great ability via Dream World: Storm Drain, which really gave it a boost this generation. It gives Cradily a useful Water-type immunity as well as a +1 Special Attack boost whenever it is hit by a Water-type move, letting Cradily run a special or even mixed set. Storm Drain is a released ability, and is the primary option for many of Cradily's sets.</p>