Crobat entered Gen V with an already generous reputation for setting up weather. Unfortunately for Crobat, the forces of non-uber-exclusive Drizzle and Drought pushed it aside. However, Crobat found a new spot in stopping weather, specifically the prominent Rain.
Crobat still has the advantages it had in Gen IV: immunity to flinch, superb Spe, and consequently the super-speedy Taunt. Retaining those has allowed it to remain useful in a very, very different Doubles environment.
->Sunny Day Setup<-
Crobat @ Flying Gem / Heat Rock
JOLLY
+Inner Focus+
6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Sunny Day
-Acrobatics / Brave Bird
-Taunt / Super Fang / Swagger
-Protect
I'm convinced that Crobat was given Acrobatics just because of its name, but it wears it well. Acrobatics hurts common Grass-types associated with Drought teams, the dangerous Drizzletoed-partner Ludicolo, and Fighting-types frequently included in both teams for coverage. You can use Acrobatics on Whimsicott if you suspect it of trying to Taunt your Crobat, or Taunt it if you suspect that it suspects that. Super Fang halves wall-Pokemon like Cresselia who might not be KO'd normally even with two attacks. If you absolutely can't stop a certain Pokemon with the other options, Swagger can reduce their chance of success down to 50% and ignore Mental Herb (but not the occasional Lum Berry), but dont bank on it.
Most importantly, Crobat carries Sunny Day to frustrate Drizzle teams. Whether Politoed is in the fray first turn or switches in during the first turn, Crobat will still use Sunny Day after Rain has started, and do so before the foe can use a Water-type attack.
Brave Bird is overall inferior to Acrobatics and is only included because you can use Heat Rock with it. However, in the situations where Crobat will be using Sunny Day to mess up Politoed's rain, the weather will be going back and forth, and the weather will seldom last for more than four turns anyway.
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If someone can convince me that Crobat can still be potent on the Special side of the spectrum, I'll write one up. It has a colorful movepool and all, but I don't see it doing much since Nasty Plot isn't very useful in Doubles.
Crobat still has the advantages it had in Gen IV: immunity to flinch, superb Spe, and consequently the super-speedy Taunt. Retaining those has allowed it to remain useful in a very, very different Doubles environment.
Crobat -> Double Battles
->Sunny Day Setup<-
Crobat @ Flying Gem / Heat Rock
JOLLY
+Inner Focus+
6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Sunny Day
-Acrobatics / Brave Bird
-Taunt / Super Fang / Swagger
-Protect
I'm convinced that Crobat was given Acrobatics just because of its name, but it wears it well. Acrobatics hurts common Grass-types associated with Drought teams, the dangerous Drizzletoed-partner Ludicolo, and Fighting-types frequently included in both teams for coverage. You can use Acrobatics on Whimsicott if you suspect it of trying to Taunt your Crobat, or Taunt it if you suspect that it suspects that. Super Fang halves wall-Pokemon like Cresselia who might not be KO'd normally even with two attacks. If you absolutely can't stop a certain Pokemon with the other options, Swagger can reduce their chance of success down to 50% and ignore Mental Herb (but not the occasional Lum Berry), but dont bank on it.
Most importantly, Crobat carries Sunny Day to frustrate Drizzle teams. Whether Politoed is in the fray first turn or switches in during the first turn, Crobat will still use Sunny Day after Rain has started, and do so before the foe can use a Water-type attack.
Brave Bird is overall inferior to Acrobatics and is only included because you can use Heat Rock with it. However, in the situations where Crobat will be using Sunny Day to mess up Politoed's rain, the weather will be going back and forth, and the weather will seldom last for more than four turns anyway.
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If someone can convince me that Crobat can still be potent on the Special side of the spectrum, I'll write one up. It has a colorful movepool and all, but I don't see it doing much since Nasty Plot isn't very useful in Doubles.
