[OVERVIEW]
Crawdaunt is an incredibly strong physical attacker with powerful STAB options such as Knock Off and Crabhammer backed up by a fantastic ability in Adaptability. It also boasts a great STAB combination with very few resistant Pokemon bar Keldeo and Mega Gyarados, as well as a decently strong priority move in Aqua Jet, which mitigates its Speed issues. To top it all off, Crawdaunt has access to Swords Dance, which transforms it into a terrifying wallbreaker against slower teams and an annoyance to offense due to deceptively strong Aqua Jets. However, Crawdaunt has very poor Speed, leaving it outpaced by much of the metagame. It also has rather pitiful bulk and a myriad of common weaknesses such as to Electric, Fairy, and Fighting, which leaves it susceptible to attackers such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Mega Medicham.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Superpower / Crunch
item: Choice Band
ability: Adaptability
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is Crawdaunt's most useful and strongest STAB attack, and it hits anything that doesn't resist it extremely hard, along with handily removing items. Crabhammer is a monstrously powerful STAB attack that breaks through Fairy-, Fighting-, and Dark-types that resist Knock Off. Aqua Jet is strong priority that somewhat alleviates Crawdaunt's Speed issues and can revenge kill frail or weakened threats. Superpower is used to hit many of the Pokemon that can switch into Crawdaunt's STAB moves such as Ferrothorn, Mega Gyarados, and Keldeo, the last of which resists both of Crawdaunt's STAB attacks. Crunch could be used to take advantage of Pokemon with items that cannot be be removed with Knock Off such as Mega Venusaur and Pokemon that have already lost their item.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed capitalize on Crawdaunt's offensive capabilities. A Jolly nature is used to outrun threats such as Rotom-W and defensive Landorus-T. An Adamant nature could be used for more power, but you miss out on the aforementioned Speed benchmarks. Adaptability is what makes Crawdaunt strong to begin with and Choice Band is used for much immediate power at the expense of switching moves.
Usage Tips
========
Due to its frailty, it's best to bring Crawdaunt in via U-turn or Volt Switch on a Pokemon it can pressure such as Landorus-T or Heatran. It's best to use Knock Off early-game to remove items as well as hit much of the opposition hard. It's also a generally safe option. Use Crawdaunt to break opposing walls and make aggressive plays, such as double switching into a Pokemon Crawdaunt can take advantage of. Only use Aqua Jet only to finish off weakened, faster threats, as its power pales in comparison to its other move options.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can safely bring Crawdaunt into play with U-turn or Volt Switch, such as Jirachi, Landorus-T, and Tapu Koko, make swell partners. The former two are also able to set Stealth Rock, which is useful for helping Crawdaunt secure KOs. Partners that can threaten or beat Grass-types such as Tangrowth and Mega Venusaur are very appreciated to make Crawdaunt's job much easier. Such teammates include Tornadus-T, Heatran, and Volcarona. Keldeo is a pain for Crawdaunt to face, as it can usually tank a hit from Crawdaunt and threaten it with its super effective Fighting-type STAB attacks. Thus, teammates such as Latios, Tornadus-T, and Latias are good picks. Latias also offers Healing Wish support, which gives Crawdaunt another chance at breaking. Tapu Fini is also very annoying for Crawdaunt to face, so partners that can pressure it such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Bulu, and Bloom Doom Heatran are recommended. Electric-types such as Mega Manectric and Tapu Koko are swell partners, as they provide a way to beat Water-types as well as pressure their shared checks with Crawdaunt. Greninja and Ash-Greninja are great partners as well, as they also break down their shared checks with Crawdaunt as well as functioning as Spikes setters to wear down the opposition even further.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Adaptability
nature: Jolly Nature
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is a spammable STAB attack that hits anything that doesn't resist it for heavy damage, as well as removing items. Crabhammer is obscenely powerful and hits most of what Knock Off can't handle, such as Fairy-types and Dark-types like Clefable and Bisharp, very hard. Aqua Jet is priority that revenge kills frail, faster threats and assists with Crawdaunt's Speed issues. Swords Dance boosts Crawdaunt's Attack to insane levels, making it a nightmare for slower teams to deal with.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature along with maximum Attack and Speed allows Crawdaunt to hit as hard and fast as possible. An Adamant nature isn't recommended, as the extra power is redundant with Swords Dance already boosting Crawduant's firepower. Life Orb bolsters the power behind Crawdaunt's attacks. Adaptability doubles the power of Crawdaunt's STAB attacks, allowing it to hit incredibly hard. Darkinium Z and Waterium Z are both options over Life Orb, as they bestow Crawdaunt with a one-time nuke to utterly destroy a stubborn switch-in.
Usage Tips
========
It's best to bring Crawdaunt into battle via Volt Switch or U-turn, as it's very frail. Swords Dance should be used against offensive teams when threats are in boosted Aqua Jet range. Against defensive or slower teams Crawdaunt should set up a Swords Dance against Pokemon that aren't able to threaten it or are passive enough to take advantage of.
Team Options
========
Crawdaunt appreciates Volt Switch or U-turn support to give it an easier time getting into battle from Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Mega Scizor. These Pokemon also work well to wear down Crawdaunt's checks via chip damage or outright pressuring them. Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu are very threatening, (AC) as most outspeed Crawdaunt and threaten it with their super effective attacks. Teammates that can deal with them like Jirachi, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor are good partners. Hazards are important for securing KOs, so Stealth Rock or Spikes setters such as Landorus-T, Heatran, Ferrothorn, Ash-Greninja, and Greninja are ideal teammates. The latter two are especially good teammates, as they share the same checks as Crawdaunt, thus making it easier for one or the other to break through their checks. Pokemon that appreciate Crawdaunt's breaking power to give them an easier time sweeping such as Shift Gear Magearna and Mega Alakazam are decent teammates. Crawdaunt works very well on Trick Room teams, as Trick Room nullifies its Speed issues, and it has enough power to make good use of the few turns Trick Room is up. Thus, Trick Room setters such as Magearna, Cresselia, and Uxie are necessary. If Crawdaunt is paired with Trick Room setters, an EV spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe is optimal, with the Speed being necessary to outspeed Skarmory outside of Trick Room.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Sash is an option that pairs well with Swords Dance to guarantee setup, but entry hazards make it hard to keep intact and Life Orb's power will be sorely missed. Lum Berry is also on option that pairs best with Swords Dance sets to prevent crippling status, but Life Orb's power boost makes it a better option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Keldeo, Greninja, and Tapu Bulu can easily outspeed and KO Crawdaunt, but they must be wary when switching into its powerful STAB attacks.
**Pokemon That Resist Crawdaunt's STAB Attacks**: Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Azumarill, Mega Gyarados, Keldeo, and Primarina are all threats to Crawdaunt, as they resist Crawdaunt's STAB moves and can usually sponge an attack and retaliate with their own or, in the former three's case, set up on it.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur can't safely switch into Crawdaunt's Dark-type STAB attacks, but they can comfortably tank Crabhammer and Aqua Jet and then reciprocate with a Grass-type attack.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types with enough bulk to tank an Aqua Jet such as Zapdos, Mega Manectric, and Tapu Koko are all eminent threats due to their super effective STAB attacks and superior Speed.
Crawdaunt is an incredibly strong physical attacker with powerful STAB options such as Knock Off and Crabhammer backed up by a fantastic ability in Adaptability. It also boasts a great STAB combination with very few resistant Pokemon bar Keldeo and Mega Gyarados, as well as a decently strong priority move in Aqua Jet, which mitigates its Speed issues. To top it all off, Crawdaunt has access to Swords Dance, which transforms it into a terrifying wallbreaker against slower teams and an annoyance to offense due to deceptively strong Aqua Jets. However, Crawdaunt has very poor Speed, leaving it outpaced by much of the metagame. It also has rather pitiful bulk and a myriad of common weaknesses such as to Electric, Fairy, and Fighting, which leaves it susceptible to attackers such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Mega Medicham.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Superpower / Crunch
item: Choice Band
ability: Adaptability
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is Crawdaunt's most useful and strongest STAB attack, and it hits anything that doesn't resist it extremely hard, along with handily removing items. Crabhammer is a monstrously powerful STAB attack that breaks through Fairy-, Fighting-, and Dark-types that resist Knock Off. Aqua Jet is strong priority that somewhat alleviates Crawdaunt's Speed issues and can revenge kill frail or weakened threats. Superpower is used to hit many of the Pokemon that can switch into Crawdaunt's STAB moves such as Ferrothorn, Mega Gyarados, and Keldeo, the last of which resists both of Crawdaunt's STAB attacks. Crunch could be used to take advantage of Pokemon with items that cannot be be removed with Knock Off such as Mega Venusaur and Pokemon that have already lost their item.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed capitalize on Crawdaunt's offensive capabilities. A Jolly nature is used to outrun threats such as Rotom-W and defensive Landorus-T. An Adamant nature could be used for more power, but you miss out on the aforementioned Speed benchmarks. Adaptability is what makes Crawdaunt strong to begin with and Choice Band is used for much immediate power at the expense of switching moves.
Usage Tips
========
Due to its frailty, it's best to bring Crawdaunt in via U-turn or Volt Switch on a Pokemon it can pressure such as Landorus-T or Heatran. It's best to use Knock Off early-game to remove items as well as hit much of the opposition hard. It's also a generally safe option. Use Crawdaunt to break opposing walls and make aggressive plays, such as double switching into a Pokemon Crawdaunt can take advantage of. Only use Aqua Jet only to finish off weakened, faster threats, as its power pales in comparison to its other move options.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can safely bring Crawdaunt into play with U-turn or Volt Switch, such as Jirachi, Landorus-T, and Tapu Koko, make swell partners. The former two are also able to set Stealth Rock, which is useful for helping Crawdaunt secure KOs. Partners that can threaten or beat Grass-types such as Tangrowth and Mega Venusaur are very appreciated to make Crawdaunt's job much easier. Such teammates include Tornadus-T, Heatran, and Volcarona. Keldeo is a pain for Crawdaunt to face, as it can usually tank a hit from Crawdaunt and threaten it with its super effective Fighting-type STAB attacks. Thus, teammates such as Latios, Tornadus-T, and Latias are good picks. Latias also offers Healing Wish support, which gives Crawdaunt another chance at breaking. Tapu Fini is also very annoying for Crawdaunt to face, so partners that can pressure it such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Bulu, and Bloom Doom Heatran are recommended. Electric-types such as Mega Manectric and Tapu Koko are swell partners, as they provide a way to beat Water-types as well as pressure their shared checks with Crawdaunt. Greninja and Ash-Greninja are great partners as well, as they also break down their shared checks with Crawdaunt as well as functioning as Spikes setters to wear down the opposition even further.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Crabhammer
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Adaptability
nature: Jolly Nature
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is a spammable STAB attack that hits anything that doesn't resist it for heavy damage, as well as removing items. Crabhammer is obscenely powerful and hits most of what Knock Off can't handle, such as Fairy-types and Dark-types like Clefable and Bisharp, very hard. Aqua Jet is priority that revenge kills frail, faster threats and assists with Crawdaunt's Speed issues. Swords Dance boosts Crawdaunt's Attack to insane levels, making it a nightmare for slower teams to deal with.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature along with maximum Attack and Speed allows Crawdaunt to hit as hard and fast as possible. An Adamant nature isn't recommended, as the extra power is redundant with Swords Dance already boosting Crawduant's firepower. Life Orb bolsters the power behind Crawdaunt's attacks. Adaptability doubles the power of Crawdaunt's STAB attacks, allowing it to hit incredibly hard. Darkinium Z and Waterium Z are both options over Life Orb, as they bestow Crawdaunt with a one-time nuke to utterly destroy a stubborn switch-in.
Usage Tips
========
It's best to bring Crawdaunt into battle via Volt Switch or U-turn, as it's very frail. Swords Dance should be used against offensive teams when threats are in boosted Aqua Jet range. Against defensive or slower teams Crawdaunt should set up a Swords Dance against Pokemon that aren't able to threaten it or are passive enough to take advantage of.
Team Options
========
Crawdaunt appreciates Volt Switch or U-turn support to give it an easier time getting into battle from Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Mega Scizor. These Pokemon also work well to wear down Crawdaunt's checks via chip damage or outright pressuring them. Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu are very threatening, (AC) as most outspeed Crawdaunt and threaten it with their super effective attacks. Teammates that can deal with them like Jirachi, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor are good partners. Hazards are important for securing KOs, so Stealth Rock or Spikes setters such as Landorus-T, Heatran, Ferrothorn, Ash-Greninja, and Greninja are ideal teammates. The latter two are especially good teammates, as they share the same checks as Crawdaunt, thus making it easier for one or the other to break through their checks. Pokemon that appreciate Crawdaunt's breaking power to give them an easier time sweeping such as Shift Gear Magearna and Mega Alakazam are decent teammates. Crawdaunt works very well on Trick Room teams, as Trick Room nullifies its Speed issues, and it has enough power to make good use of the few turns Trick Room is up. Thus, Trick Room setters such as Magearna, Cresselia, and Uxie are necessary. If Crawdaunt is paired with Trick Room setters, an EV spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe is optimal, with the Speed being necessary to outspeed Skarmory outside of Trick Room.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Sash is an option that pairs well with Swords Dance to guarantee setup, but entry hazards make it hard to keep intact and Life Orb's power will be sorely missed. Lum Berry is also on option that pairs best with Swords Dance sets to prevent crippling status, but Life Orb's power boost makes it a better option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Keldeo, Greninja, and Tapu Bulu can easily outspeed and KO Crawdaunt, but they must be wary when switching into its powerful STAB attacks.
**Pokemon That Resist Crawdaunt's STAB Attacks**: Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Azumarill, Mega Gyarados, Keldeo, and Primarina are all threats to Crawdaunt, as they resist Crawdaunt's STAB moves and can usually sponge an attack and retaliate with their own or, in the former three's case, set up on it.
**Bulky Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types such as Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur can't safely switch into Crawdaunt's Dark-type STAB attacks, but they can comfortably tank Crabhammer and Aqua Jet and then reciprocate with a Grass-type attack.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types with enough bulk to tank an Aqua Jet such as Zapdos, Mega Manectric, and Tapu Koko are all eminent threats due to their super effective STAB attacks and superior Speed.
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