[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Taunt / Pursuit
item: Rocky Helmet / Groundium Z
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock provides crucial entry hazard support for Krookodile and its teammates and pressures some of its common switch-ins such as Togekiss and Mega Aerodactyl. Knock Off heavily damages common Psychic- and Ghost-types like Latias, Starmie, and Chandelure and cripples defensive Pokemon such as Alomomola and Blissey with the removal of their items. The combination of Knock Off and Taunt allows Krookodile to hinder threats like Suicune, giving teammates an easier time in dealing with it. Earthquake provides a secondary, consistent STAB option for Krookodile, which can heavily threaten foes such as Alolan Muk, Tentacruel, and Empoleon. Taunt helps Krookodile keep entry hazards off its side of the field from slower setters like Hippowdon and Mega Aggron while stopping walls such as Blissey and Quagsire from recovering HP or afflicting Krookodile with status. Taunt also shuts down Defoggers like Empoleon and Gliscor. Pursuit puts pressure on Dark-weak foes like Latias and Gengar and can effectively trap and remove them to benefit Krookodile and its teammates. Alternatively, Stone Edge can also be used in the last slot to hit Flying-types such as Togekiss and Moltres, but it lacks the utility of Taunt or Pursuit. Krookodile can also run Superpower to deal with Hydreigon, which does not mind any of Krookodile's STAB attacks. Iron Tail in conjunction with Steelium Z or Aqua Tail in conjunction with Waterium Z can be run to help deal with common Defoggers like Togekiss and Mega Altaria and Stealth Rock setters like Hippowdon and Gliscor.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs maximize Krookodile's offensive presence so it can deal with the Pokemon that it checks more easily, and 252 Speed EVs coupled with a Jolly nature allow it to outspeed common foes like Gliscor, Tentacruel, and Lucario. Intimidate cripples physical attackers such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Aggron, increasing Krookodile's longevity and ability to set up hazards against them. It also helps Krookodile take hits from some of its checks such as Choice Band Scizor. Rocky Helmet further pressures physical attackers, damaging all contact move users and allowing it to weaken some of its answers like Scizor. Krookodile can also utilize Groundium Z, powering up Earthquake to a 180-Base Power Tectonic Rage that either OHKOes or severely weakens foes like Scizor and Mega Aggron. Leftovers can be run as another option, providing Krookodile with a form of longevity.
Usage Tips
========
Krookodile should be primarily used early-game to set up Stealth Rock, taking advantage of its good matchup against other Stealth Rock users such as Gliscor and Hippowdon to either cripple them with Knock Off or afflict them with Taunt. After Stealth Rock has been set up, Krookodile can utilize Taunt and its offensive typing to pressure Defoggers like Gliscor, Empoleon, and Latias to keep its hazards up. Knock Off should be used liberally, particularly against defensive teams, to remove items early-game to cripple foes and make it easier for Krookodile's teammates to break them. Earthquake's high Base Power and overall good neutral coverage means it can be used frequently, especially to weaken or KO bulky hazard removers like Empoleon and Tentacruel. If running Groundium Z, it should be saved for breaking past a particularly bulky target like Mega Aggron or OHKOing a crucial threat that avoids it otherwise. Pursuit can be used when predicting a Pokemon that is severely threatened by Krookodile to switch out, particularly Latias and Chandelure,(AC) due to Krookodile's ability to survive an unboosted attack from them and retaliate for an OHKO on both. If Krookodile is severely weakened and Stealth Rock is up, it can be used to switch into some of its physically oriented answers, such as Breloom and Scizor, to lower their Attack with Intimidate and potentially chip at them with Rocky Helmet damage.
Team Options
========
Krookodile fits best on bulky offense and balance teams due to its offensive and defensive capabilities. Krookodile's vulnerability to the ever-present Fairy-type moves from foes such as Sylveon, Mega Altaria, and Primarina can be problematic, so bulky Steel-types like Empoleon, Klefki, and Doublade can act as switch-ins to them. Cobalion also pairs well with Krookodile due to its ability to absorb U-turn and act as a setup sweeper that can capitalize on Krookodile's hazards to punish foes. The aforementioned teammates can also switch into Grass-type moves from Serperior and Celebi as well as U-turn from Scizor and Mega Beedrill. Pokemon that appreciate the constant chip damage that Stealth Rock provides and have the ability to force switches to capitalize on this are also appreciated; as such, strong wallbreakers like Primarina, Heracross, and Nasty Plot Celebi make for good teammates. These teammates can also take advantage of Krookodile's Knock Off support. Krookodile's average Speed stat leaves it outsped and pressured by foes such as Serperior and Starmie; a faster partner that can take advantage of these checks, such as Mega Manectric or Mega Aerodactyl, is appreciated due to this. In addition, a Choice Scarf user such as Latias or Infernape is also an option. Due to Krookodile's lack of recovery, it is prone to being chipped and worn down. Wish support from Sylveon and Alomomola patches up this issue and enables Krookodile to set up Stealth Rock more consistently.
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Taunt / Pursuit
item: Rocky Helmet / Groundium Z
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock provides crucial entry hazard support for Krookodile and its teammates and pressures some of its common switch-ins such as Togekiss and Mega Aerodactyl. Knock Off heavily damages common Psychic- and Ghost-types like Latias, Starmie, and Chandelure and cripples defensive Pokemon such as Alomomola and Blissey with the removal of their items. The combination of Knock Off and Taunt allows Krookodile to hinder threats like Suicune, giving teammates an easier time in dealing with it. Earthquake provides a secondary, consistent STAB option for Krookodile, which can heavily threaten foes such as Alolan Muk, Tentacruel, and Empoleon. Taunt helps Krookodile keep entry hazards off its side of the field from slower setters like Hippowdon and Mega Aggron while stopping walls such as Blissey and Quagsire from recovering HP or afflicting Krookodile with status. Taunt also shuts down Defoggers like Empoleon and Gliscor. Pursuit puts pressure on Dark-weak foes like Latias and Gengar and can effectively trap and remove them to benefit Krookodile and its teammates. Alternatively, Stone Edge can also be used in the last slot to hit Flying-types such as Togekiss and Moltres, but it lacks the utility of Taunt or Pursuit. Krookodile can also run Superpower to deal with Hydreigon, which does not mind any of Krookodile's STAB attacks. Iron Tail in conjunction with Steelium Z or Aqua Tail in conjunction with Waterium Z can be run to help deal with common Defoggers like Togekiss and Mega Altaria and Stealth Rock setters like Hippowdon and Gliscor.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs maximize Krookodile's offensive presence so it can deal with the Pokemon that it checks more easily, and 252 Speed EVs coupled with a Jolly nature allow it to outspeed common foes like Gliscor, Tentacruel, and Lucario. Intimidate cripples physical attackers such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Aggron, increasing Krookodile's longevity and ability to set up hazards against them. It also helps Krookodile take hits from some of its checks such as Choice Band Scizor. Rocky Helmet further pressures physical attackers, damaging all contact move users and allowing it to weaken some of its answers like Scizor. Krookodile can also utilize Groundium Z, powering up Earthquake to a 180-Base Power Tectonic Rage that either OHKOes or severely weakens foes like Scizor and Mega Aggron. Leftovers can be run as another option, providing Krookodile with a form of longevity.
Usage Tips
========
Krookodile should be primarily used early-game to set up Stealth Rock, taking advantage of its good matchup against other Stealth Rock users such as Gliscor and Hippowdon to either cripple them with Knock Off or afflict them with Taunt. After Stealth Rock has been set up, Krookodile can utilize Taunt and its offensive typing to pressure Defoggers like Gliscor, Empoleon, and Latias to keep its hazards up. Knock Off should be used liberally, particularly against defensive teams, to remove items early-game to cripple foes and make it easier for Krookodile's teammates to break them. Earthquake's high Base Power and overall good neutral coverage means it can be used frequently, especially to weaken or KO bulky hazard removers like Empoleon and Tentacruel. If running Groundium Z, it should be saved for breaking past a particularly bulky target like Mega Aggron or OHKOing a crucial threat that avoids it otherwise. Pursuit can be used when predicting a Pokemon that is severely threatened by Krookodile to switch out, particularly Latias and Chandelure,(AC) due to Krookodile's ability to survive an unboosted attack from them and retaliate for an OHKO on both. If Krookodile is severely weakened and Stealth Rock is up, it can be used to switch into some of its physically oriented answers, such as Breloom and Scizor, to lower their Attack with Intimidate and potentially chip at them with Rocky Helmet damage.
Team Options
========
Krookodile fits best on bulky offense and balance teams due to its offensive and defensive capabilities. Krookodile's vulnerability to the ever-present Fairy-type moves from foes such as Sylveon, Mega Altaria, and Primarina can be problematic, so bulky Steel-types like Empoleon, Klefki, and Doublade can act as switch-ins to them. Cobalion also pairs well with Krookodile due to its ability to absorb U-turn and act as a setup sweeper that can capitalize on Krookodile's hazards to punish foes. The aforementioned teammates can also switch into Grass-type moves from Serperior and Celebi as well as U-turn from Scizor and Mega Beedrill. Pokemon that appreciate the constant chip damage that Stealth Rock provides and have the ability to force switches to capitalize on this are also appreciated; as such, strong wallbreakers like Primarina, Heracross, and Nasty Plot Celebi make for good teammates. These teammates can also take advantage of Krookodile's Knock Off support. Krookodile's average Speed stat leaves it outsped and pressured by foes such as Serperior and Starmie; a faster partner that can take advantage of these checks, such as Mega Manectric or Mega Aerodactyl, is appreciated due to this. In addition, a Choice Scarf user such as Latias or Infernape is also an option. Due to Krookodile's lack of recovery, it is prone to being chipped and worn down. Wish support from Sylveon and Alomomola patches up this issue and enables Krookodile to set up Stealth Rock more consistently.
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