Back in the day, there was a certain Choice Scarf user that caused shivers even at a mention. Its physical prowess was well heard of near and far, and even the sturdiest of walls fell to a single move, which came off of the highest unboosted Attack stat in Little Cup. Its movepool was not tremendous, nor too small, it had all it needed. Its greater than average speed also meant it outspeeded a significant chunk of other Choice Scarf users, making it even harder to revenge kill without resorting to priority.
I am talking, of course, about Cranidos.
RAWR.
Cranidos used to be a threat to many teams before HG/SS came out, and unless one packed a good check and many immunities and resistances, Cranidos could easily devastate the opposing team with its simple yet effective Choice Scarf using set.
Cranidos @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 236 HP / 212 Spe / 36 SpA
Naive nature (+Spe, -SDef)
- Stone Edge / Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Pursuit / Zen Headbutt
The main selling points of Choice Scarf Cranidos were its gargantuan attack stat of 22, 24 Speed with a Choice Scarf and its excellent Ability, Mold Breaker. Team which relied on Levitate-users such as Misdreavus and Bronzor to switch into Ground-type attacks were suddenly at a loss. No longer could Bronzor and Misdreavus stop your sweep, they were promptly OHKOed with Earthqake. Stone Edge received STAB and put a dent even in things which resisted it, and OHKOed nearly everything that didn't. Ice Beam is there to OHKO Gligar and 2HKO Hippopotas. The last move was upto a matter of preference. Pursuit made Cranidos a great trapper, and made it useful for picking off weakened Pokemon without any trouble, whereas Zen Headbutt allowed you to OHKO the likes of Machop.
Choice Scarf Cranidos also works as a great lead, OHKOing all the top ten leads with its 4 moves, only fearing Phanpy.
One may ask then, why does Cranidos not see much action anymore? The answer is simple: Priority moves. Cranidos' unfortunate typing means it is left open to common priority moves such as Vacuum Wave from Croagunk and Aqua Jet from Kabuto or Squirtle. Furthermore, Pokemon such as Aron find opportunites to set up on resisted Stone Edges due to its high innate Defense. Other decently bulky Pokemon like Gligar can set up after one of their Pokemon die to Pursuit. In both of these scenarios, this could spell the end of many a team.
Cranidos can also run other sets effectively, such as Rock Polish, which allows you to switch attacks, making you even more threatening, or as a Trick Room Sweeper in conjunction with Hammer Arm.
So go ahead and discuss what you think about Cranidos, how it would work in today's metagame and any creative sets you might use. And no Dracoyoshi, SubPetaya doesnt count :P.
I am talking, of course, about Cranidos.
RAWR.
Cranidos used to be a threat to many teams before HG/SS came out, and unless one packed a good check and many immunities and resistances, Cranidos could easily devastate the opposing team with its simple yet effective Choice Scarf using set.
**********
The set was
Cranidos @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 236 HP / 212 Spe / 36 SpA
Naive nature (+Spe, -SDef)
- Stone Edge / Head Smash
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Pursuit / Zen Headbutt
The main selling points of Choice Scarf Cranidos were its gargantuan attack stat of 22, 24 Speed with a Choice Scarf and its excellent Ability, Mold Breaker. Team which relied on Levitate-users such as Misdreavus and Bronzor to switch into Ground-type attacks were suddenly at a loss. No longer could Bronzor and Misdreavus stop your sweep, they were promptly OHKOed with Earthqake. Stone Edge received STAB and put a dent even in things which resisted it, and OHKOed nearly everything that didn't. Ice Beam is there to OHKO Gligar and 2HKO Hippopotas. The last move was upto a matter of preference. Pursuit made Cranidos a great trapper, and made it useful for picking off weakened Pokemon without any trouble, whereas Zen Headbutt allowed you to OHKO the likes of Machop.
Choice Scarf Cranidos also works as a great lead, OHKOing all the top ten leads with its 4 moves, only fearing Phanpy.
**********
One may ask then, why does Cranidos not see much action anymore? The answer is simple: Priority moves. Cranidos' unfortunate typing means it is left open to common priority moves such as Vacuum Wave from Croagunk and Aqua Jet from Kabuto or Squirtle. Furthermore, Pokemon such as Aron find opportunites to set up on resisted Stone Edges due to its high innate Defense. Other decently bulky Pokemon like Gligar can set up after one of their Pokemon die to Pursuit. In both of these scenarios, this could spell the end of many a team.
Cranidos can also run other sets effectively, such as Rock Polish, which allows you to switch attacks, making you even more threatening, or as a Trick Room Sweeper in conjunction with Hammer Arm.
**********
So go ahead and discuss what you think about Cranidos, how it would work in today's metagame and any creative sets you might use. And no Dracoyoshi, SubPetaya doesnt count :P.