crocs and boat shoes
[OVERVIEW]
* Krookodile's typing gives it both a good STAB combination and defensive utility.
* It is one of the better Stealth Rock setters in the tier due to its good typing and all-around stats, Intimidate, and large movepool.
* Krookodile can run Choice sets as well, with its Choice Scarf set being a great revenge killer and Pursuit trapper.
* However, Krookodile is weak to common offensive types and Pokemon.
* While not bad by any means, its Speed tier leaves it outsped by a fair number of offensive Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Stone Edge / Superpower
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Knock Off and Earthquake are both powerful STAB moves that have good coverage.
* Knock Off also has the utility of removing the foe's item.
* Pursuit is used to trap fast Pokemon like Gengar, Latias, and Starmie.
* Stone Edge hits Flying-type Pokemon, such as Crobat, Togekiss, and Mega Aerodactyl.
* Superpower is primarily used to hit Hydreigon, which resists both of Krookodile's STAB moves.
Set Details
========
* Choice Scarf is used to bolster Krookodile's Speed, letting it outspeed and check Pokemon such as Latias, Gengar, Raikou, and Starmie.
* Intimidate lowers the foe's Attack, which lets Krookodile come in more comfortably on physical attacks.
* Moxie can be used to boost Krookodile's Attack stat after knocking out a foe, but this is generally less useful than Intimidate, as neither of its STAB attacks is reliable for sweeping.
* The EV spread and a Jolly nature are used to maximize Krookodile's Attack and Speed.
Usage Tips
========
* Krookodile should generally be used as a revenge killer, as it outspeeds every unboosted Pokemon in the tier.
* Krookodile can generally be switched in on most Electric-, Ghost-, and Psychic-type Pokemon, although it must be wary of their coverage options.
* All of Krookodile's attacks barring Knock Off can be taken advantage of, as they leave it open to being set up on.
* Knock Off can be used early-game to cripple whatever switches in on it.
* Pursuit should be used if you feel that a Pokemon weak to Dark, like Gengar or Latias, will switch out.
Team Options
========
* Pokemon that appreciate Latias and Starmie being pressured, such as Keldeo and Suicune, make for good partners, although these Pokemon in particular share a Grass-type weakness with Krookodile.
* Pokemon that can reliably take on Fighting-types, such as Clefable, Crobat, Togekiss, and Slowbro, are appreciated by Krookodile, as although it can revenge kill some of them, it needs to weaken them in order to do so, and it is outsped by them if they're running a Choice Scarf.
* Klefki can set up Spikes for Krookodile, can wear down its switch-ins with Toxic, and covers many of Krookodile's weaknesses.
* Electric- and Grass-types like Raikou, Decidueye, and Celebi are good partners, as they can deal with Water-types reliably.
* Strong wallbreakers such as Choice Band Scizor, Primarina, Volcanion, and Keldeo are also appreciated by Krookodile, since they can nuke many of Krookodile's switch-ins.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Taunt / Iron Tail
item: Rocky Helmet / Steelium Z
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Stealth Rock wears down the opposing Pokemon upon them switching in. Krookodile sets it up without much trouble due to its typing and Intimidate.
* Knock Off and Earthquake are great STAB attacks thanks to their coverage and power. Knock Off also has the utility of removing the foe's item, which is useful against common switch-ins.
* Taunt is useful mainly for preventing the foe from setting up their own hazards, as well as preventing them from boosting stats.
* Iron Tail is used to KO Pokemon like Togekiss, Clefable, and Mega Aerodactyl, which normally beat Krookodile otherwise.
* Pursuit is also an option in order to trap Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon, like Chandelure, Decidueye, and Bronzong.
Set Details
========
* Rocky Helmet is used to punish physical attacks directed at Krookodile and is useful in particular against Rapid Spin users such as Forretress trying to clear away hazards.
* Steelium Z is used in conjunction with Iron Tail to use Corkscrew Crash.
* Chople Berry can be used in order to take Fighting-type attacks better, making it a good check to Pokemon like Alakazam and Gengar.
* Intimidate is useful for letting Krookodile come in more easily, and it deters physical attacks in conjunction with Rocky Helmet reliably.
* The EV spread is used so that Krookodile can be as fast as possible while also letting it deal a respectable amount of damage. Maximum Speed is necessary for outspeeding Pokemon like Entei and Lucario.
Usage Tips
========
* Krookodile should be switched in on foes that it can take on comfortably, although it should be noted that both of the types Krookodile is immune to generally pack coverage options that can hurt it.
* Krookodile can use both Stealth Rock and Knock Off without a lot of repercussions early-game.
* Knock Off in particular is safe to use most of the time, as Krookodile's switch-ins don't appreciate having their item removed.
Team Options
========
* Krookodile generally fits best on bulky offensive and balance teams.
* Pokemon that appreciate hazard support, such as Scizor, Alakazam, and Cobalion are good partners.
* Scizor in particular is a good partner, as it can reliably switch in and check Fairy- and Ice-types, as well as bring Krookodile in safely with U-turn.
* Scizor checks such as Keldeo, Volcanion, and Tentacruel make for good partners, as they resist both of Scizor's STAB attacks and can threaten it with a super effective attack or pressure it with Scald.
* Pokemon that can switch in on Ice-types such as Kyurem and Alolan Ninetales are also good partners for Krookodile, such as; examples are Klefki and Forretress, which and can also set up Spikes. Krookodile can use Taunt to prevent hazards from being cleared by Defog and can also punish Rapid Spin through Rocky Helmet.
* Mantine has good synergy with Krookodile, as it can switch into Fighting-types and Scizor and has good special bulk, while Krookodile is immune to Electric-type moves.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge / Superpower
move 4: Superpower / Pursuit
item: Choice Band
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Knock Off and Earthquake are STAB attacks with solid coverage and Base Power, with the former having the utility of removing the foe's item.
* Stone Edge is used to KO Togekiss, Crobat, and Mega Aerodactyl, although it needs Stealth Rock up to KO the former.
* Superpower is used to hit Normal- and Dark-types like Porygon2, Blissey, and Hydreigon for super effective damage.
* Pursuit can be used to trap Pokemon such as Chandelure.
Set Details
========
* Choice Band gives Krookodile a massive boost to its Attack, making it difficult to switch into for many teams.
* Intimidate is used to weaken the foe's physical attacks, which makes it easier for Krookodile to switch in on some Pokemon.
* The EV spread and nature are used so that Krookodile can outspeed as much as possible while also maximizing its damage output.
Usage Tips
========
* Krookodile should be brought in on attacks that it resists or is immune to so that it can start breaking teams with its STAB attacks.
* However, Earthquake should be used with caution early-game, as if the opponent switches in a Pokemon that is immune to it, Krookodile will be forced to switch out, losing momentum.
* Knock Off, on the other hand, is fairly safe to use early-game, as the usual switch-ins to Krookodile are reliant on their item.
* Krookodile should also be brought in safely through pivoting moves like Volt Switch and U-turn.
* If running Pursuit, it should be used if you're up against a foe that will probably switch, such as Chandelure or a -2 Latias. However, only use it if you know that it won't be punished right after.
Team Options
========
* Grass- and Electric-type Pokemon, such as Celebi, Amoonguss, and Raikou, are good partners, as they can take on Water-types like Keldeo and Swampert that check Krookodile, although Raikou can't switch into Scald as easily as the former two.
* Magneton is also a good partner, as it can deal with physically defensive Steel-types like Scizor and Forretress while also checking Water- and Fairy-types.
* Other Steel-types like Forretress, Cobalion, and Scizor also pair well with Krookodile, as they can check Fairy-types like Togekiss and Clefable.
* Forretress and Klefki can set up Spikes for Krookodile and appreciate spinblockers being trapped by Pursuit.
* Pokemon that can break through physical walls like Forretress, Suicune, and Chesnaught are appreciated by Krookodile, such as Choice Specs Keldeo, Gengar, and Kyurem.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Firium Z with Fire Fang can be used in order to surprise Scizor and Forretress, which Krookodile usually lures in.
* Either Groundium or Darkium Z can be used in order to give a boost to its STAB moves, but a Z-Move is better used on something else, since it doesn't achieve anything that Choice Band can't.
* Snatch or Me First in conjunction with Darkium Z can be used to give Krookodile a +2 boost in Speed, and it can snowball when coupled with Moxie late-game.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Walls**: Pokemon like Hippowdon, Chesnaught, and Gliscor shrug off Krookodile's attacks with little trouble, although Gliscor in particular has to be extremely cautious of getting its item knocked off if Poison Heal hasn't been activated.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Mega Sharpedo, Kyurem, and Starmie can check non-Scarf variants of Krookodile.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Clefable, Togekiss, and Sylveon can switch into Krookodile and threaten it with a STAB Moonblast, or in Togekiss's case, wall it entirely barring Steelium Z sets and proceed to set up on it. Whimsicott also resists both STAB attacks and can threaten it with either of its STAB attacks.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Keldeo, Cobalion, Mienshao, Conkeldurr, and Infernape can all KO Krookodile with their STAB attacks, although only Conkeldurr doesn't have to worry about switching into Earthquake.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Suicune, Swampert, and Mega Blastoise can all tank Krookodile's attacks and KO it with their STAB attacks, although they have a little trouble switching in, and the former two don't like having their item removed.
**Grass-types**: Chesnaught can switch into Krookodile without worry and set up on it or KO it with its STAB attacks. Tsareena can switch into Earthquake and clear away Krookodile's hazards, although it doesn't particularly like having its item knocked off. Celebi can check Krookodile, although it needs Stealth Rock to have a chance at KOing it with Giga Drain from full without a boost, and it is KOed by Knock Off.
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