[OVERVIEW]
Crobat's useful typing provides it with notable resistances and an immunity, enabling it to check UU staples like Kommo-o, Mega Altaria, and Celebi efficiently. A high Speed stat allows Crobat to outspeed and weaken several of UU's key threats, enabling it to utilize its STAB moves to KO slower threats such as Suicune and Heracross or cripple them with Taunt. This also allows Crobat to act as an effective revenge killer for Pokemon like Gengar, Terrakion, and Infernape. Crobat's access to a variety of utility moves such as U-turn, Taunt, Super Fang, and Defog makes it a prominent support Pokemon in the UU metagame. However, its typing leaves it vulnerable to other common threats such as Nihilego, Mega Manectric, and Mega Aerodactyl, with the latter two outspeeding and OHKOing Crobat. Its use as a pivot is somewhat neutered by its weakness to Stealth Rock, limiting the number of times it can come in to perform its utility role without either being KOed or forced to use Roost. Despite access to a strong STAB move in Brave Bird, Crobat struggles to break past bulkier Pokemon like Alomomola and Hippowdon due to its mediocre offensive presence without a Z-Move.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Taunt
item: Flyinium Z / Sky Plate
ability: Infiltrator
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird heavily damages Grass- and Fighting-types such as Amoonguss, Celebi, and Infernape; it also has the ability to revenge kill several weakened slower foes. It can additionally be powered up into a strong Z-Move that can OHKO Latias and Hydreigon after Stealth Rock. U-turn allows Crobat to utilize its high Speed to pivot out of unfavorable matchups and keep up momentum for its team. Roost ensures that Crobat stays healthy over the course of a match so it can switch in multiple times even when Stealth Rock is up. Taunt shuts down defensive Pokemon such as Blissey and Alomomola; it also prevents foes such as Hippowdon from setting up entry hazards. Super Fang's ability to cut a foe's HP in half enables Crobat to weaken defensive Pokemon like Blissey and Alomomola severely when run alongside Taunt to stop recovery, putting them in range of Brave Bird, and it acts as a reliable way to weaken bulky or stall teams. Defog can be run as an alternative to provide a team with hazard control. However, Crobat struggles to switch into many hazard setters like Stakataka and Rhyperior.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs maximize Crobat's offensive presence, enabling it to shred through several UU staples like Infernape and Amoonguss. 252 Speed EVs in tandem with a Jolly nature maximize Crobat's Speed; this allows it to become a fast and effective pivot and utility Pokemon. Infiltrator allows Crobat to bypass Substitute, notably giving it an edge versus Substitute + Roost Kyurem and Substitute + Calm Mind Suicune. Flyinium Z powers up Brave Bird into a 190-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike, which Crobat can use to take down bulkier foes like Cobalion. If your team already uses a Z-Move, Sky Plate is a different option to power up Brave Bird consistently as opposed to providing a one-time powerful attack.
Usage Tips
========
Crobat should switch into Pokemon that it can survive a hit from due to its defensive typing, such as Hippowdon, Mega Altaria, and Sylveon. It can also switch into passive Pokemon such as Blissey and Alomomola to cripple them with Taunt. Against offensive teams, Crobat should aim to force out opposing Grass-types, Fighting-types, and slower Pokemon and use free turns to recover HP or use U-turn, maintaining momentum. Crobat's utility against defensive teams is incredibly useful, so its HP should be maintained throughout the game. The combination of Taunt and Brave Bird whittles down some stall staples that fail to threaten Crobat in return, such as Blissey, Quagsire, and Tentacruel. Crobat's weakness to Stealth Rock can be problematic for its pivoting abilities, so clearing the entry hazard before it switches in is advised; if Crobat itself is running Defog, ensure it stays healthy with Roost to remove hazards more than once. Pursuit trappers such as Mega Aerodactyl, Krookodile, and Scizor, especially in combination with Stealth Rock damage, can remove Crobat fairly easily. As such, if the opponent has one of these Pokemon, it is advised to play Crobat extremely aggressively to avoid being trapped. Supersonic Skystrike should be used against physically bulky foes that Crobat cannot break through with Brave Bird, such as Hippowdon and Alomomola, after weakening them and eliminating their recovery via Taunt. It can also be used to KO an offensive threat to Crobat or its teammates such as Terrakion.
Team Options
========
Crobat fits on a variety of team archetypes ranging from bulky offense to balance and stall. Steel-types such as Mega Aggron and Scizor make great partners for Crobat; they can switch into Psychic-type attacks from threats like Latias as well as Ice-type coverage options. In return, Crobat can handle the majority of Fighting- and Ground-types. However, Crobat struggles to break past bulkier Ground-types such as Hippowdon as well as Water-types like Alomomola and Quagsire, so Grass-types such as Celebi and Water-types such as Primarina make good partners. Stealth Rock users such as the aforementioned Steel-types as well as Ground-types like Swampert and Rhyperior provide entry hazards for chip damage on some of the defensive targets that Crobat can whittle down. These hazards also pressure offensive teams when Crobat forces switches due to U-turn pivoting. Crobat's ability to use U-turn reliably is a great asset for several strong wallbreakers like Terrakion, Mamoswine, Volcanion, and Choice Specs Primarina, so they make good partners to weaken the opposing team for Crobat to clean late-game with Brave Bird. Ground-types also deal with Steel-types and provide an Electric immunity for Crobat, blocking Volt Switch from the likes of Mega Manectric and Rotom-H. Crobat's Stealth Rock weakness means that it pairs well with several entry hazard removal options; Empoleon's Steel typing benefits Crobat, and Dragon-type Defoggers such as Latias and Mega Altaria provide an Electric resistance and offensive pressure to break some of Crobat's checks. Other pivots such as Scizor, Mega Manectric, and Choice Scarf Hydreigon can form a VoltTurn core to create momentum for Crobat's team.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Crobat can run a more defensive pivoting set with some EV investment in bulk so it can survive more hits, but its Stealth Rock weakness and mediocre bulk can be problematic. Black Sludge can be utilized, but the inability to utilize a Z-Move or boost Brave Bird's power with Sky Plate makes Crobat more passive. Cross Poison can be run as a Poison-type STAB move, but it is somewhat weak and the power of Brave Bird and Supersonic Skystrike is more useful. Nasty Plot can be run alongside special moves such as Sludge Bomb, Giga Drain, and Air Slash to act as a threatening sweeper, but Crobat's Special Attack is mediocre, so it is outclassed by special sweepers such as Calm Mind Latias and Nasty Plot Celebi. A Choice Band set is an option, allowing Crobat to more immediately threaten bulkier foes, but the loss of its wide utility movepool, especially Roost, damages Crobat too much.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Crobat's only STAB attack, Brave Bird, is resisted by most Steel-types such as Mega Aggron, Empoleon, and Stakataka, and they take little damage as a result. They can use their STAB moves to severely weaken Crobat or KO it. Scizor can revenge kill Crobat with priority Bullet Punch.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Despite Crobat's access to Brave Bird in tandem with Flyinium Z, some physically bulky foes cannot be effectively broken by Crobat. Hippowdon can set up Stealth Rock or heal with Slack Off, Rhyperior can also set the entey hazard and is less vulnerable to Taunt, and Alomomola has access to Regenerator, allowing it to recover HP even when afflicted by Taunt.
**Faster Pokemon**: Mega Manectric, Mega Aerodactyl, and various Choice Scarf users such as Latias, Terrakion, and Hydreigon can easily outspeed Crobat and KO it before it has a chance to attack or pivot out due to its frailty.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Due to Crobat's frailty and weakness to Stealth Rock, it can be chipped easily and thus trapped by several Pursuit users. Mega Aerodactyl threatens it with Stone Edge, forcing Crobat out and thus dealing with it with Pursuit, whle Scizor threatens Crobat just as much with priority Bullet Punch.
Crobat's useful typing provides it with notable resistances and an immunity, enabling it to check UU staples like Kommo-o, Mega Altaria, and Celebi efficiently. A high Speed stat allows Crobat to outspeed and weaken several of UU's key threats, enabling it to utilize its STAB moves to KO slower threats such as Suicune and Heracross or cripple them with Taunt. This also allows Crobat to act as an effective revenge killer for Pokemon like Gengar, Terrakion, and Infernape. Crobat's access to a variety of utility moves such as U-turn, Taunt, Super Fang, and Defog makes it a prominent support Pokemon in the UU metagame. However, its typing leaves it vulnerable to other common threats such as Nihilego, Mega Manectric, and Mega Aerodactyl, with the latter two outspeeding and OHKOing Crobat. Its use as a pivot is somewhat neutered by its weakness to Stealth Rock, limiting the number of times it can come in to perform its utility role without either being KOed or forced to use Roost. Despite access to a strong STAB move in Brave Bird, Crobat struggles to break past bulkier Pokemon like Alomomola and Hippowdon due to its mediocre offensive presence without a Z-Move.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Taunt
item: Flyinium Z / Sky Plate
ability: Infiltrator
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird heavily damages Grass- and Fighting-types such as Amoonguss, Celebi, and Infernape; it also has the ability to revenge kill several weakened slower foes. It can additionally be powered up into a strong Z-Move that can OHKO Latias and Hydreigon after Stealth Rock. U-turn allows Crobat to utilize its high Speed to pivot out of unfavorable matchups and keep up momentum for its team. Roost ensures that Crobat stays healthy over the course of a match so it can switch in multiple times even when Stealth Rock is up. Taunt shuts down defensive Pokemon such as Blissey and Alomomola; it also prevents foes such as Hippowdon from setting up entry hazards. Super Fang's ability to cut a foe's HP in half enables Crobat to weaken defensive Pokemon like Blissey and Alomomola severely when run alongside Taunt to stop recovery, putting them in range of Brave Bird, and it acts as a reliable way to weaken bulky or stall teams. Defog can be run as an alternative to provide a team with hazard control. However, Crobat struggles to switch into many hazard setters like Stakataka and Rhyperior.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs maximize Crobat's offensive presence, enabling it to shred through several UU staples like Infernape and Amoonguss. 252 Speed EVs in tandem with a Jolly nature maximize Crobat's Speed; this allows it to become a fast and effective pivot and utility Pokemon. Infiltrator allows Crobat to bypass Substitute, notably giving it an edge versus Substitute + Roost Kyurem and Substitute + Calm Mind Suicune. Flyinium Z powers up Brave Bird into a 190-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike, which Crobat can use to take down bulkier foes like Cobalion. If your team already uses a Z-Move, Sky Plate is a different option to power up Brave Bird consistently as opposed to providing a one-time powerful attack.
Usage Tips
========
Crobat should switch into Pokemon that it can survive a hit from due to its defensive typing, such as Hippowdon, Mega Altaria, and Sylveon. It can also switch into passive Pokemon such as Blissey and Alomomola to cripple them with Taunt. Against offensive teams, Crobat should aim to force out opposing Grass-types, Fighting-types, and slower Pokemon and use free turns to recover HP or use U-turn, maintaining momentum. Crobat's utility against defensive teams is incredibly useful, so its HP should be maintained throughout the game. The combination of Taunt and Brave Bird whittles down some stall staples that fail to threaten Crobat in return, such as Blissey, Quagsire, and Tentacruel. Crobat's weakness to Stealth Rock can be problematic for its pivoting abilities, so clearing the entry hazard before it switches in is advised; if Crobat itself is running Defog, ensure it stays healthy with Roost to remove hazards more than once. Pursuit trappers such as Mega Aerodactyl, Krookodile, and Scizor, especially in combination with Stealth Rock damage, can remove Crobat fairly easily. As such, if the opponent has one of these Pokemon, it is advised to play Crobat extremely aggressively to avoid being trapped. Supersonic Skystrike should be used against physically bulky foes that Crobat cannot break through with Brave Bird, such as Hippowdon and Alomomola, after weakening them and eliminating their recovery via Taunt. It can also be used to KO an offensive threat to Crobat or its teammates such as Terrakion.
Team Options
========
Crobat fits on a variety of team archetypes ranging from bulky offense to balance and stall. Steel-types such as Mega Aggron and Scizor make great partners for Crobat; they can switch into Psychic-type attacks from threats like Latias as well as Ice-type coverage options. In return, Crobat can handle the majority of Fighting- and Ground-types. However, Crobat struggles to break past bulkier Ground-types such as Hippowdon as well as Water-types like Alomomola and Quagsire, so Grass-types such as Celebi and Water-types such as Primarina make good partners. Stealth Rock users such as the aforementioned Steel-types as well as Ground-types like Swampert and Rhyperior provide entry hazards for chip damage on some of the defensive targets that Crobat can whittle down. These hazards also pressure offensive teams when Crobat forces switches due to U-turn pivoting. Crobat's ability to use U-turn reliably is a great asset for several strong wallbreakers like Terrakion, Mamoswine, Volcanion, and Choice Specs Primarina, so they make good partners to weaken the opposing team for Crobat to clean late-game with Brave Bird. Ground-types also deal with Steel-types and provide an Electric immunity for Crobat, blocking Volt Switch from the likes of Mega Manectric and Rotom-H. Crobat's Stealth Rock weakness means that it pairs well with several entry hazard removal options; Empoleon's Steel typing benefits Crobat, and Dragon-type Defoggers such as Latias and Mega Altaria provide an Electric resistance and offensive pressure to break some of Crobat's checks. Other pivots such as Scizor, Mega Manectric, and Choice Scarf Hydreigon can form a VoltTurn core to create momentum for Crobat's team.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Crobat can run a more defensive pivoting set with some EV investment in bulk so it can survive more hits, but its Stealth Rock weakness and mediocre bulk can be problematic. Black Sludge can be utilized, but the inability to utilize a Z-Move or boost Brave Bird's power with Sky Plate makes Crobat more passive. Cross Poison can be run as a Poison-type STAB move, but it is somewhat weak and the power of Brave Bird and Supersonic Skystrike is more useful. Nasty Plot can be run alongside special moves such as Sludge Bomb, Giga Drain, and Air Slash to act as a threatening sweeper, but Crobat's Special Attack is mediocre, so it is outclassed by special sweepers such as Calm Mind Latias and Nasty Plot Celebi. A Choice Band set is an option, allowing Crobat to more immediately threaten bulkier foes, but the loss of its wide utility movepool, especially Roost, damages Crobat too much.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Crobat's only STAB attack, Brave Bird, is resisted by most Steel-types such as Mega Aggron, Empoleon, and Stakataka, and they take little damage as a result. They can use their STAB moves to severely weaken Crobat or KO it. Scizor can revenge kill Crobat with priority Bullet Punch.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Despite Crobat's access to Brave Bird in tandem with Flyinium Z, some physically bulky foes cannot be effectively broken by Crobat. Hippowdon can set up Stealth Rock or heal with Slack Off, Rhyperior can also set the entey hazard and is less vulnerable to Taunt, and Alomomola has access to Regenerator, allowing it to recover HP even when afflicted by Taunt.
**Faster Pokemon**: Mega Manectric, Mega Aerodactyl, and various Choice Scarf users such as Latias, Terrakion, and Hydreigon can easily outspeed Crobat and KO it before it has a chance to attack or pivot out due to its frailty.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Due to Crobat's frailty and weakness to Stealth Rock, it can be chipped easily and thus trapped by several Pursuit users. Mega Aerodactyl threatens it with Stone Edge, forcing Crobat out and thus dealing with it with Pursuit, whle Scizor threatens Crobat just as much with priority Bullet Punch.
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