Overview
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- Cryogonal is one of the best Rapid Spinners in the tier, facing competition from not many others outside of Kabutops
- It's immune to (Toxic) Spikes and Webs via Levitate
- Cryogonal has great Special bulk and access to recovery that lets it wall a lot of hits
- It has a decent support movepool that lets it do its job even better, with moves such as Haze and Reflect.
- Base 105 Speed allows it to outspeed a good portion of the tier
- Cryogonal has absolutely pitiful defense, at an awful base 30. Ice typing doesn't help this very much
- Typing clashes with Pokemon weak to SR, as it itself is weak to rock.
Offensive Rapid Spin
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name: Offensive Rapid Spin
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Freeze Dry
move 3: Hidden Power Ground / Ice Beam
move 4: Recover
ability: Levitate
item: Leftovers / Nevermeltice
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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- Rapid Spin is the main feature, seeing as Cryogonal is a spinner
- Freeze Dry is STAB and has more coverage than Ice Beam because it hits water types
- Ice Beam has more power than Freeze Dry, and the freeze chance can be useful
- Hidden Powers are there for Steels types; hitting Probopass the hardest
- Recover allows Cryogonal to regain HP, which allows it to switch in on Rocks to spin even without lefties
- HP Fire can be used to hit Ferroseed super effectively
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- Nevermeltice boosts Cryo's Ice moves without dropping it's HP every time it spins
- Life Orb powers up Hidden Power, if you decide to use that over Ice Beam to hit steel types.
- The EVs max Cryo's speed and Special Attack, letting it hit harder and outspeed a good portion of the tier.
Usage Tips
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- Spinblockers will attempt to come in and, of course, block your spin. However, offensive Cryogonal has the ability to beat many spinblockers, so predicting the switches can allow for a big hit and a possible 2HKO, freeing up Cryogonal to clear hazards.
- Because of its Stealth Rock weakness, Cryogonal doesn't like having to clear rocks more than once. Eliminating the hazards setter on the other team before spinning or before it can reset Rocks can keep Cryogonal alive longer.
- Cryogonal is a good offensive pivot against Special Attackers due to its Special Attack, able to take a hit and give back.
Team Options
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- Obviously, Pokemon that appreciate Spin support (Pokemon that are weak to Rock, Sash users, etc) will appreciate Cryogonal. However, Cryogonal faces competition with Kabutops.
- There are a few reasons to use Cryogonal over Kabutops as an offensive spinner. Cryogonal has better synergy with water types, as Kabutops shares a type and most likely a grass weakness while Cryogonal can hit them Super Effectively with Ice STAB. Since Cryogonal has Levitate, it's also better for Ground-weak teams than Kabutops, which is weak to ground itself, as it can be a reliable pivot and check/counter against Ground types, which it handles with Ice STAB.
- Many Physical attackers will try to take advantage of Cryogonal and set up. Cryogonal works well with Pokemon that can stop them. Klinklang can be stopped by Seismitoed (which appreciates Cryogonal's ability to handle Grass types, something Kabutops can not do at all), for example, Feraligatr can be stopped by grass types such as Sceptile, Vileplume, and others, while Slurpuff can be handled effectively by Steelix.
Bulky Rapid Spin
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name: Bulky Rapid Spin
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Freeze Dry
move 3: Recover
move 4: Haze / Toxic
ability: Levitate
item: Leftovers
evs: 240 hp / 168 def / 60 spdef / 40 spe
ivs: 0 Atk
nature: Calm
Moves
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- Rapid Spin is the main move, as Cryogonal is a spinner
- Freeze Dry is STAB, and is used over Ice Beam because the extra coverage is helpful
- Recover allows Cryogonal to regain HP outside of lefties, which is important for a defensive Pokemon
- Haze allows Cryogonal to stop Pokemon from trying to set up on it
- Toxic allows Cryogonal to force out or cripple many switch-ins or other defensive Pokemon. It gives Cryogonal the option to stall with Recover.
- Reflect can be used in the last spot as it allows Cryogonal to compensate for the lack of bulk
Set Details
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- Leftovers allow Cryo to gain back HP every turn, instead of only when it Recovers
- Levitate is a good ability in that it gains a ground immunity, which is good because it's also your only option
- The EV spread gives Cryo a good bit of needed physical bulk
- The Speed EVs let it outspeed unboosted Feraligatr
- 0 Atk IVs are to ensure it takes minimal damage from Foul Play.
Usage Tips
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- Defensive Cryogonal can be used as a great pivot. Switching Cryogonal in on Special hits and forcing a switch or stalling is a specialty for Cryogonal.
- Rapid Spin essential gives the opponent a free turn, so it is important to spin on a free turn of your own, because if your opponent takes the opportunity to switch and setup the consequences could be devastating.
- It's also important to recover any lost momentum, which can be done through forcing switches of your own and setting up on the counter.
Team Options
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- Physical wallbreakers also stop Cryogonal's walling capabilities. Pairing Cryogonal with Pokemon that can wall and handle Physical Pokemon can let Cryogonal
- While Cryogonal can wall most Special attackers, Psyshock users such as Mesprit can greatly hurt it. Pokemon that can handle these can boost Cryogonal's walling capabilities.
- Cryogonal can be a very effective Rapid Spinner on bulky offense, defensive balance, and defensive teams, as it soaks up Special hits. Bulkier teams also appreciate Defensive Cryogonal's other qualities, such as its higher Speed (a feature most bulky Pokemon lack) and ability to put up Reflect.
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- Magic Coat is a nice move, however it may be hard to fit on a moveset.
- Icy Wind is also nice to lower opponent's speeds, but again it may be hard to find a spot for.
- Knock Off is a good utility move, as while it can't hit hard the secondary effect can help Cryogonal
Checks & Counters
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**Physical Pokemon** Physical Pokemon such as Gurdurr can take advantage of Cryogonal's incredibly low base 30 Defense, hitting it hard and OHKO or 2HKOing it.
**Psyshock users** Special attackers with Psyshock can hurt Cryogonal greatly.
**Steel Types** Steel types such as Klinklang, and Probopass resist Ice typing and are immune to Toxic, so unless Cryogonal runs some SE Hidden Power Steel types will threaten you.
**Non-water ice resists** Pokemon like Thick Fat Hariyama and SpD Flareon and Torkoal run over Cryogonal
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