QC [3/3]: Snunch , PK Gaming , Chou Toshio
GP [2/2]: Cosmicexplorer, Flora
[Overview]
<p>Crobat has always been one of the best stallbreakers in the game, and the new generation does nothing to change that. Crobat has excellent synergy with many Pokemon thanks to its multitude of resistances, including an immunity to Ground-type attacks and Toxic, and a 4x resistance to the common Fighting-, Grass-, and Bug-type moves. Crobat's blistering 130 base Speed allows it to outpace the majority of UU, while 85/80/80 defenses give it the durability to switch in multiple times. Despite a weakness to Stealth Rock and a rather shallow offensive movepool, Crobat is still a very solid Pokemon that any team should be prepared for.</p>
[Set]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Super Fang
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: U-turn / Toxic
item: Choice Band
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe item: Choice Band
nature: Jolly
[Set Comments]
<p>Unlike a traditional stallbreaker set which focuses on whittling down stall teams, this set deals a massive amount of damage from the get-go. Brave Bird is Crobat's most powerful move, and when Crobat is equipped with a Choice Band, it hits like a nuke and will do an insane amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Super Fang chips away 50% of any switch-in's health, which gives Crobat an advantage over its immediate counter or check. Pursuit traps Pokemon such as Alakazam, Espeon, and Mismagius, while U-turn scouts for Crobat's checks so that you can act accordingly to remove it. Toxic, while an unorthodox move on a Choice set, cripples would-be checks Pokemon such as Rhyperior, Zapdos, and Rotom-A, making it easier for Crobat to spam Brave Bird later on.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>252 Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature allows Crobat to outspeed most of the metagame while hitting as hard as possible. Other attacks such as Steel Wing and Cross Poison are available, but do not offer significant coverage outside of the moves already listed. This set should be paired up with Donphan or another Rapid Spin user because Crobat will find itself losing quite a bit of health due to Stealth Rock and Brave Bird recoil. Chansey also makes a good teammate with its access to Wish, allowing Crobat to spam Brave Bird without worrying about recoil.</p>
[Set]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Brave Birdmove 2: Roost
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Super Fang / U-turn
item: Leftovers
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe item: Leftovers
nature: Jolly
[Set Comments]
<p>Stallbreaker Crobat can be a welcomed member to a team that is weak to stall or needs an answer to Grass-, Bug-, and Fighting-type attacks. Crobat has decent defenses and multiple resistances, which allows it to switch in consistently against offensive and stall teams alike. Brave Bird is invaluable, providing a powerful STAB move that picks off weakened foes and does severe damage to a number of Pokemon. The combination of Super Fang, Taunt, and Roost allows Crobat to slowly whittle down most walls in UU while fearing little in return thanks to its good bulk. This Crobat pairs up nicely with Chansey who can tank most special attacks that Crobat is prone to while Crobat can come in on Fighting-type attacks aimed at Chansey.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>252 HP EVs gives Crobat the bulk to survive most neutral or resisted attacks and 252 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature allow it to get off the first move the majority of the time. A bulkier spread consisting of 232 HP / 56 Def / 76 SpD / 144 Spe could be used, if more bulk is wanted, as it still outspeeds everything up to Choice Scarf Abomasnow. U-turn can be used over Super Fang if you're more into scouting Crobat's initial check and obtaining momentum in the process. Taunt is what makes this Crobat a stallbreaker, as it blocks most Pokemon on stall teams from recovering health or inflicting status on Crobat while it whittles them down with Super Fang and Brave Bird. Toxic can be used to weaken down walls such as Chansey, Dusclops, and Deoxys-D, after they've been taunted and can also weaken several other Pokemon, mainly Zapdos and Rotom-H. Toxic Spikes support is helpful for Crobat, as it helps wear down Chansey and Milotic a lot more quickly. This set pairs up nicely with Registeel, as Crobat resists or is immune to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks while Registeel resists Ice- and Rock-type moves. Crobat also pairs up well with Donphan who is immune to Electric type moves, resists Rock-type attacks, and can spin away Stealth Rock which can cripple Crobat in the long run.</p>
[Other Options]
<p> Crobat can utilize Haze to shut down set-up sweepers who've already received some boosts. Bite is an option to hit Rotom for super effective damage; additionally, Crobat's Speed allows it to have a good chance at flinching its opponent. Confuse Ray is also an option to give your opponent a chance to hurt themselves 50% of the time while giving you a free turn. A Nasty Plot set using Sludge Bomb, Heat Wave, and Dark Pulse is an option, but despite Crobat's Speed, it finds itself outclassed by Azelf and Celebi who hit harder and can get past Chansey. Don't use Acrobatics as it's still weaker than Brave Bird even when Crobat is not holding an item, and Crobat prefers to hold a Choice Band or Leftovers. A combination of Curse and White herb can be an interesting gimmick, but it is walled very easily by Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon. Whirlwind is Crobat's only phazing move and is a great move in general, but the fact that it always makes Crobat move last is a turn off.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Zapdos can take on any move Crobat throws at it and Roost off the damage or do severe damage with Thunderbolt. Most of the Rotom formes, mainly Rotom-H can switch into Crobat fairly easily and hurt it badly with Thunderbolt. Aerodactyl and Jolteon are the only other Pokemon in UU that hit 130 base Speed and they both beat Crobat one on one with their STAB attacks. Registeel and Rhyperior resist Brave Bird and the former can paralyze Crobat while the latter threatens with a Rock-type move. Slowbro and Donphan with their physical bulk are able to withstand multiple Brave Birds from Crobat and retaliate with Psychic or Stone Edge/Ice Shard respectively. Slowbro has Slack Off as well as Regenerator to keep it's health relatively high, while Donphan can set up Stealth Rock to punish Crobat each time it switches in. These two are mainly counters to Choice Band Crobat, however Donphan struggles to KO stallbreaker Crobat as it could simply Roost off any damage and even Taunt to prevent Stealth Rock. Weavile is also a check as an Ice Shard will do a large amount of damage and can pick off a weakened Crobat.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Crobat's Dream World ability is Infiltrator and it isn't as useful as Inner Focus. It negates the effects of Reflect, Light Screen and Safeguard, but the only use Infiltrator Crobat has is to negate the effect of Reflect. Infiltrator does allow Crobat to beat teams that are supported by dual screens as most teams that do carry them are either fully offensive or Baton Pass chains; a full-powered Brave Bird can punch holes in both with the help of Infiltrator.</p>
