SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Crabhammer
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Waterium Z / Life Orb
ability: Adaptability
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Crawdaunt is a potent wallbreaker, demolishing slower teams with Swords Dance and Adaptability while revenge killing faster Pokemon with a boosted Aqua Jet, as most teams lack a defensive answer to its power and STAB moves. It even eviscerates defensive Pokemon like Clefable, specially defensive Toxapex, and Ferrothorn. However, its middling Speed and bulk limit its switch-in opportunities. Knock Off is Crawdaunt’s most spammable move, letting it cripple switch-ins by removing their items and KOing the bulky Grass-types that attempt to tank a boosted hit. Crabhammer nets KOs on Dark-resistant Pokemon such as Clefable and Mega Tyranitar. Aqua Jet lets Crawdaunt pick off weakened foes, clean late-game, and revenge kill Pokemon like Volcarona and Mega Diancie that would otherwise end a sweep. Waterium Z is the preferred item, as it gives Crawdaunt a one-time nuke on many of its usual switch-ins and almost always KOes a neutral target, while Life Orb is a secondary optionmto pull off ridiculous feats such as OHKOing physically defensive Tangrowth and Toxapex after a boost.
Crawdaunt fits on bulky offense teams that can safely bring it in multiple times throughout the match; it therefore appreciates slow pivoting from the likes of Corviknight, Slowbro, and Slowking. Reliable speed control such as Mega Lopunny complement this further by helping to deal with faster teams, while Crawdaunt shreds through bulkier teams for them. As Crawdaunt is prone to being revenge killed by even resisted and neutral hits due to its pitiful defences, a strong defensive core to fall back on complements it perfectly. Specifically, checks to offensive Grass-types such as Rillaboom, Kartana, and Serperior such as Corviknight and Zapdos deny these Pokemon a free boost or KO each time it comes in. Lastly, other wallbreakers such as Rillaboom and Tapu Koko work with it amazingly, softening up the opponent’s team early on for Crawdaunt to clean late-game.
SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Crabhammer
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Crunch
item: Choice Band
ability: Adaptability
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Crawdaunt is one of the hardest Pokemon to switch into in the tier due to its enormous, Adaptability-boosted immediate power and nearly unresisted STAB combination. However, its middling Speed and bulk limit its ability to switch in. Aqua Jet is Crawdaunt’s main way of damaging faster foes that threaten to revenge kill it such as Mega Lopunny, Zeraora, and Tapu Koko, doing over half to all three of them. Knock Off synergizes well with Crabhammer due to most of the tier’s Dark-resistant Pokemon fearing Crabhammer, which is also Crawdaunt's hardest hitting move. Crunch is the usual fourth option for Choice Band Crawdaunt, as it provides a secondary STAB option if the target has already lost its item or uses a Mega Stone or Z-Crystal. Close Combat is an extremely niche option and is used for nailing Hydreigon, which can switch in to scout Crawdaunt’s move, and Ferrothorn.
Crawdaunt fits perfectly on VoltTurn teams that can repeatedly bring it in to further pressure the opponent. A good defensive core that focuses on bringing Crawdaunt in is a must, with Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Corviknight, Slowbro, and Slowking as Crawdaunt is extremely susceptible to being revenge killed and is a huge momentum sink after getting a KO. Other than that, fast threats pair well with Crawdaunt such as Tapu Koko and Mega Lopunny, helping Crawdaunt pressure and soften up offensive teams for it to clean.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragon Dance can be used instead of Swords Dance to give Crawdaunt a chance to improve its middling Speed, but this set is largely outclassed, as you lose out on the extreme wallbreaking power Swords Dance provides, and the Speed isn’t enough to help it sweep without multiple boosts. Even then it is prone to revenge killing due to its pitiful bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Venusaur can switch into Crawdaunt’s moves with relative ease and force it out, and offensive Grass-Types such as Rillaboom, Kartana, and Serperior can all revenge kill Crawdaunt. Tapu Bulu is an exceptionally good check, as it is resistant to both of Crawdaunt’s STAB moves, has reliable recovery, and can run a Z-Crystal to negate the damage increase from Knock Off, while still outspeeding it with minimal investment to KO it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Generally the best way to deal with Crawdaunt is by forcing it out with a faster check such as Tapu Koko, Mega Lopunny, or Kyurem, as Crawdaunt lacks consistent defensive counterplay that don’t get shredded by its spammable STAB moves.
**Hydreigon**: Hydreigon is one of the few Pokemon that can switch into both of Crawdaunt‘s STAB moves and heal them off while also forcing Crawdaunt out.
**Bulky Water-types** Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados and Tapu Fini can both switch into Crawdaunt‘s STAB moves and threaten it out with a burn or outright KO it; however, Tapu Fini hates losing its Leftovers, as it is its main form of recovery.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adsam, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Solaros & Lunaris, 471780], [The Dragon Master, 521275]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Crabhammer
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Waterium Z / Life Orb
ability: Adaptability
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Crawdaunt is a potent wallbreaker, demolishing slower teams with Swords Dance and Adaptability while revenge killing faster Pokemon with a boosted Aqua Jet, as most teams lack a defensive answer to its power and STAB moves. It even eviscerates defensive Pokemon like Clefable, specially defensive Toxapex, and Ferrothorn. However, its middling Speed and bulk limit its switch-in opportunities. Knock Off is Crawdaunt’s most spammable move, letting it cripple switch-ins by removing their items and KOing the bulky Grass-types that attempt to tank a boosted hit. Crabhammer nets KOs on Dark-resistant Pokemon such as Clefable and Mega Tyranitar. Aqua Jet lets Crawdaunt pick off weakened foes, clean late-game, and revenge kill Pokemon like Volcarona and Mega Diancie that would otherwise end a sweep. Waterium Z is the preferred item, as it gives Crawdaunt a one-time nuke on many of its usual switch-ins and almost always KOes a neutral target, while Life Orb is a secondary optionmto pull off ridiculous feats such as OHKOing physically defensive Tangrowth and Toxapex after a boost.
Crawdaunt fits on bulky offense teams that can safely bring it in multiple times throughout the match; it therefore appreciates slow pivoting from the likes of Corviknight, Slowbro, and Slowking. Reliable speed control such as Mega Lopunny complement this further by helping to deal with faster teams, while Crawdaunt shreds through bulkier teams for them. As Crawdaunt is prone to being revenge killed by even resisted and neutral hits due to its pitiful defences, a strong defensive core to fall back on complements it perfectly. Specifically, checks to offensive Grass-types such as Rillaboom, Kartana, and Serperior such as Corviknight and Zapdos deny these Pokemon a free boost or KO each time it comes in. Lastly, other wallbreakers such as Rillaboom and Tapu Koko work with it amazingly, softening up the opponent’s team early on for Crawdaunt to clean late-game.
SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Crabhammer
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Crunch
item: Choice Band
ability: Adaptability
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Crawdaunt is one of the hardest Pokemon to switch into in the tier due to its enormous, Adaptability-boosted immediate power and nearly unresisted STAB combination. However, its middling Speed and bulk limit its ability to switch in. Aqua Jet is Crawdaunt’s main way of damaging faster foes that threaten to revenge kill it such as Mega Lopunny, Zeraora, and Tapu Koko, doing over half to all three of them. Knock Off synergizes well with Crabhammer due to most of the tier’s Dark-resistant Pokemon fearing Crabhammer, which is also Crawdaunt's hardest hitting move. Crunch is the usual fourth option for Choice Band Crawdaunt, as it provides a secondary STAB option if the target has already lost its item or uses a Mega Stone or Z-Crystal. Close Combat is an extremely niche option and is used for nailing Hydreigon, which can switch in to scout Crawdaunt’s move, and Ferrothorn.
Crawdaunt fits perfectly on VoltTurn teams that can repeatedly bring it in to further pressure the opponent. A good defensive core that focuses on bringing Crawdaunt in is a must, with Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Corviknight, Slowbro, and Slowking as Crawdaunt is extremely susceptible to being revenge killed and is a huge momentum sink after getting a KO. Other than that, fast threats pair well with Crawdaunt such as Tapu Koko and Mega Lopunny, helping Crawdaunt pressure and soften up offensive teams for it to clean.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragon Dance can be used instead of Swords Dance to give Crawdaunt a chance to improve its middling Speed, but this set is largely outclassed, as you lose out on the extreme wallbreaking power Swords Dance provides, and the Speed isn’t enough to help it sweep without multiple boosts. Even then it is prone to revenge killing due to its pitiful bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Venusaur can switch into Crawdaunt’s moves with relative ease and force it out, and offensive Grass-Types such as Rillaboom, Kartana, and Serperior can all revenge kill Crawdaunt. Tapu Bulu is an exceptionally good check, as it is resistant to both of Crawdaunt’s STAB moves, has reliable recovery, and can run a Z-Crystal to negate the damage increase from Knock Off, while still outspeeding it with minimal investment to KO it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Generally the best way to deal with Crawdaunt is by forcing it out with a faster check such as Tapu Koko, Mega Lopunny, or Kyurem, as Crawdaunt lacks consistent defensive counterplay that don’t get shredded by its spammable STAB moves.
**Hydreigon**: Hydreigon is one of the few Pokemon that can switch into both of Crawdaunt‘s STAB moves and heal them off while also forcing Crawdaunt out.
**Bulky Water-types** Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados and Tapu Fini can both switch into Crawdaunt‘s STAB moves and threaten it out with a burn or outright KO it; however, Tapu Fini hates losing its Leftovers, as it is its main form of recovery.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adsam, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Solaros & Lunaris, 471780], [The Dragon Master, 521275]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
