[OVERVIEW]
- Due to its high attack stat, good offensive typing, and decent speed tier Krookodile has cemented itself as a potent offensive threat in the UU metagame.
- Access to utility options such as Stealth Rock and Taunt allows Krookodile to be versatile in what it can do therefore allowing it to fit on a wide variety of teams.
- Krookodile's defensive capabilities is furthered by Intimidate and it's Ground-typing which provides its teammates with a Volt Switch immunity from the likes of Zeraora and Rotom-H.
- Utilizing Choice Scarf, Krookodile can revenge kill a lot of its opponents as it outpaces the entire unboosted metagame.
- Although removing their item via Knock Off can be useful, Krookodile generally struggles to deal with common defensive staples such as Amoonguss, Skarmory, and Tangrowth.
- Krookodile's typing should allow it to check pokemon such as Nihilego, Slowbro-Galar, and Lycanroc-D but its average bulk leaves it unable to check such threats.
- An overall mediocore speed tier leaves Krookodile almost reliable on Choice Scarf to apply offensive pressure as otherwise it is slower than huge threats like Latias, Terrakion, and Keldeo.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Earthquake / High Horsepower
move 3: Stone Edge / Toxic
move 4: Darkest Lariat / Stealth Rock
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
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- High Horsepower should be utilized over Earthquake if Tapu Bulu is a teammmate of Krookodile due to complications with Earthquake and Grassy Terrain.
- Stone Edge is used to hit Flying-types such as Gyarados, Thundurus, and Salamence super effectively.
- Toxic can be opted over Stone Edge as a way to cripple some of its counters including Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and Kommo-o. However, being choice locked into Toxic is something that can easily be taken advantage of.
- Darkest Lariat allows Krookodile to deal more consistent damage compared to Knock Off if it has been using Knock Off to remove its opponents items throughout the game. Furthermore, it also has an added bonus of ignoring defense boosts from the likes of Iron Defense Reuniclus and opponents utilizing Grassy Seed.
- Stealth Rock can be used for role compression but Darkest Lariat is typically the more preferred option. Just like Toxic, being choice locked into Stealth Rock can easily be taken advantage of and as a result leaves Krookodile with no way to pressure entry hazard removers.
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- This set functions as speed control that can revenge kill as well as clean up weakened opponents. Therefore, Krookodile appreciates powerful wallbreakers such as Azumarill, Terrakion, and Latias to punch holes in the opposing team making it easier to clean.
- Krookodile struggles to pressure Grass-types so Fire- and Poison-types like Rotom-H, Victini, and Amoonguss pair well with it. Amoonguss deserves a special notion because it cannot be put to sleep by Tangrowth or opposing Amoonguss while also checking Azumarill which is a Pokemon that Krookodile struggles to revenge kill.
- Salamence makes a good partner for Krookodile as it takes advantage of the aforementioned counters and in return, Krookodile can act as a soft check to Rock-types that force Salamence out such as Nihilego and Lycanroc-D. In addition, they form an Intimidate spam core that can be pivotal versus offensive builds.
- Pivots that can bring Krookodile onto the battlefield such as Slowking and Jirachi are heavily appreciated by it especially when they lure in threats like Latias and Zeraora which Krookodile likes to be brought in on.
- Slower Pokemon such as Tapu Bulu and Primarina appreciate Krookodile's ability to outspeed and revenge killer faster threats. In return, Tapu Bulu provides Krookodile with a check to Water-types such as Rotom-Wash and they both provide it with a check to Fighting-types like Conkeldurr and Keldeo.
- Krookodile appreciates Spikes support to further it's capability of cleaning so Skarmory and Mew make good teammates for it. An example of this includes 2HKOing Max HP Scizor after 2 layers of Spikes.
[SET]
name: Offensive Stealth Rocker
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake / High Horsepower
move 4: Taunt / Toxic
item: Chople Berry / Focus Sash
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
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- Due to Krookodile's great offensive prowess and access to Intimidate as well as Taunt, it has cemented itself as one of the best offensive Stealth Rockers in the tier.
- High Horsepower should be utilized over Earthquake if Tapu Bulu is a teammmate of Krookodile due to complications with Earthquake and Grassy Terrain.
- Taunt is the preferred fourth slot of choice as it gives Krookodile the capability of blocking Defog as well as other utility moves like Celesteela's Leech Seed, Rotom-Wash's Pain Split, and opposing Stealth Rock from the likes of Mamoswine or Skarmory. Additionally, Taunt can prevent set-up sweepers that take advantage of Krookodile like Dragon Dance Kommo-o or Belly Drum Azumarill from setting up.
- Toxic can be opted over Taunt as a way to cripple some of its counters including Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and Kommo-o. However, Taunt is almost always preferred on this set due to the aforementioned benefits.
- Chople Berry in tandem with Intimidate allows Krookodile to tank Fighting-type moves from the likes of Terrakion, Zeraora, and Lycanroc-D and in return, it can OHKO them with its Ground-type STAB.
-Focus Sash can be utilized on Hyper Offense builds as a way to ensure that Stealth Rock goes up.
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- This Krookodile set works best on hyper offense and bulky offense builds.
- Its utility options help support powerful wallbreakers such as Conkeldurr, Latias, and Thundurus.
- Krookodile appreciates being brought onto the battlefield via pivoting options from the likes of Rotom-H and Scizor. In return, Krookodile provides hazards to help chip down the checks of such pivots including Chansey and Latias for the former and Skarmory and Celesteela for the latter.
- Set-up sweepers like Swords Dance Scizor and Belly Drum Azumarill are massively supported by Krookodile due to the combination of Intimidate + Taunt giving them the ability to set up on Pokemon like Krookodile, Terrakion, and Celesteela or Kommo-o for the latter specifically.
- Krookodile is threatened by Water- and Grass-types including Rotom-W, Keldeo, and Tapu Bulu so checks to these like the aforementioned Latias and Amoonguss make good teammates for it.
- Pokemon that are forced out by Zeraora like Keldeo and Celesteela appreciate Krookodile's ability to check it.
- Krookodile's average speed tier leaves it wanting to be paired with faster Pokemon that can make up for this deficit like Zeraora or Choice Scarf users like Jirachi or Keldeo.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Moxie can be utilized over Intimidate on the Choice Scarf set as a way to further Krookodile's cleaning capabilities. However, the defensive utility of Intimidate is almost always preferred.
- Krookodile could employ a Choice Band giving it the capability to wallbreak. Nonetheless, this set is typically brushed aside due to its mediocore speed and the inability to dish out any sort of damage to physical walls like Tangrowth or Skarmory even when equipped with a Choice Band.
- Life Orb can be utilized on the Stealth Rock set for the ability to dish out slightly stronger attacks. However, this is strongly advised against due to the fact that the other two items have much better uses and they don't leave Krookodile constantly wearing itself down.
- Close Combat can be opted on the Choice Scarf set over the third or fourth slot to super effectively hit Zarude and opposing Krookodile but has little uses otherwise.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Krookodile struggles to apply any sort of pressure towards common Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Amoonguss, Zarude, and Tapu Bulu. While removing their item with Knock Off can be useful, all four of these Pokemon force Krookodile out due to the fear of their Grass-type STAB. Additionally, the latter uses Krookodile as set-up fodder if sporting a Swords Dance set.
**Fighting-types**: Premiere fighting types in the UU metagame like Keldeo, Terrakion, Conkeldurr, and Kommo-o give Krookodile troubles. If Krookodile is not running the Choice Scarf set, Keldeo and Terrakion outspeed and swiftly OHKO it. Additionally, while Conkeldurr may be slower than Krookodile is still forces it out with Mach Punch. Kommo-o sports many sets and all of them take advantage of Kommo-o whether it is to set hazards or use a set-up move like Clangarous Soul.
**Skarmory*: Skarmory completely walls Krookodile and uses it to either set up hazards or afflict status on an opponent.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Azumarill, Rotom-Wash, and Primarina all force out Krookodile. Rotom-Wash deserves a special notion because as a Defogger, it can clear away the hazards that Krookodile has set up.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Sensei Axew, 482517]]
- Quality checked by: [[Juno, 444224], [username2, userid2], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
Last edited:
, Terrakion, and Keldeo.