[OVERVIEW]
Krookodile's Attack, useful utility movepool, and ability to cater to its team's needs by either checking fast threats or punishing and taking advantage of fatter walls solidify its position as one of the top threats of NU. With Intimidate, Krookodile excels at being an entry hazard setter thanks to its ability to maintain pressure while also having access to moves like Knock Off and Taunt to cripple bulkier Pokemon like Talonflame and Vaporeon that could come in freely and take advantage of it. Krookodile's great coverage in Gunk Shot and Stone Edge helps it target Grass-, Fairy-, and Flying-types like Tsareena, Brute Bonnet, Sylveon, and Noivern, which could switch in more easily otherwise. Krookodile puts this coverage to use exceptionally well with its Choice Scarf set, letting it outspeed would-be threats like Inteleon, Basculegion, and Lycanroc-D. The Speed Krookodile gains from Choice Scarf, along with the Attack boosts from Moxie, helps it sweep unprepared teams that can't offensively check it. However, its fairly middling Speed tier means common Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Flygon easily outspeed it, and, if Krookodile manages to get a KO, a healthy defensive wall is still usually enough to force it out. Even against resisted attacks, Krookodile tends to take a lot of damage, and it can be overly reliant on Intimidate, meaning taking special attacks is quite difficult. Krookodile also tends to fail to do much to Pokemon like Slowbro and Vileplume after a Knock Off, forcing it to switch out afterward.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Stone Edge / Stealth Rock
move 4: Gunk Shot / Stealth Rock
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Intimidate / Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Poison / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Stone Edge hits Flying-types like Talonflame and Noivern, while Gunk Shot hits Grass- and Fairy-types that take advantage of Krookodile like Tsareena, Sylveon, and Tera Fairy Slowbro. Intimidate provides it extra utility throughout the battle, letting it check physical attackers more easily, while Moxie, in conjunction with Choice Scarf, allows Krookodile to be a deadly wincon that can easily snowball. Tera Poison boosts Gunk Shot and provides Krookodile with defensive utility, letting it survive one Fighting- or Fairy-type attack while helping it take on a common Choice Scarf user in Mienshao. However, Tera Dark can be used instead to boost Krookodile's Knock Off to insane levels, paving the way for its sweep with Moxie.
Faster Choice Scarf users like Mienshao, Infernape, and Flygon threaten Krookodile, so Pokemon like Vileplume and Slowbro help check them. Krookodile also has issues with beating bulky physical walls like Vileplume and Quagsire, so special wallbreakers like Munkidori, Chandelure, and Sylveon help to tear holes to aid in Krookodile's sweep. Krookodile easily checks fast Psychic- and Ghost-types like Munkidori and Hisuian Typhlosion, so teammates like Dragalge, Reuniclus, and Brambleghast can take advantage of this. Getting KOs can be difficult for Krookodile, meaning that pivots like Dragalge, Tsareena, and Mienshao, which can lure in Pokemon that are weak to Krookodile, are greatly appreciated. Assault Vest Gallade and Magnezone help check special attackers for Krookodile while also beating bulky Water-types like Swampert and Slowbro.
[SET]
name: Offensive Hazard Setter
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Gunk Shot / Stone Edge / Taunt
item: Black Glasses / Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Poison / Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
With Knock Off Krookodile is a threatening entry hazard setter, as it's able to beat every hazard removal Pokemon in the metagame with the chip damage it racks up. Gunk Shot helps Krookodile deal with Grass-types like Tsareena and Brute Bonnet, but Stone Edge allows Krookodile to hit Flying-type switch-ins such as Noivern and Talonflame. Alternatively, Taunt lets Krookodile stop bulkier Pokemon like Swampert, Diancie, and Vileplume from setting up their hazards or recovering. Unlike Knock Off, Crunch alongside Black Glasses can 2HKO Slowbro after it consumes its Colbur Berry; the trade-off of this combination is that Krookodile then can't cripple item-reliant Pokemon like Talonflame and Swampert. Black Glasses simultaneously boosts Krookodile's Knock Off while also not revealing an item, allowing Krookodile to bluff having a Choice Scarf. Alternatively, Leftovers can be used instead for some recovery. With Tera Poison, Krookodile can check Mienshao and Tsareena in a pinch while boosting Gunk Shot; however, Tera Ghost allows it to be immune to both Fighting-type attacks and Rapid Spin while giving it multiple neutralities. Leading with Stealth Rock Krookodile tends to be detrimental, as common leads carry super effective attacks or U-turn like Mienshao and Flygon.
Fighting-types such as Mienshao and Infernape easily outspeed Krookodile and threaten it with Close Combat, so pairing it with teammates like Dragalge, Slowbro, and Talonflame helps to alleviate this weakness. Bulky Grass- and Water-types like Tsareena, Vileplume, and Swampert are difficult for Krookodile to deal with, meaning it enjoys the support of Pokemon like Chandelure, Noivern, and Rotom-C. Special attackers like Inteleon, Venusaur, and Florges easily scare out Krookodile, so special walls like Copperajah, Magnezone, and Assault Vest Slowbro help take on these threats. With how easily Krookodile removes items, Spikes setters like Klefki and Brambleghast pair well with it, helping to weaken the opposing team. Pokemon such as Mienshao, Munkidori, and Gallade that take advantage of Krookodile's ability to take on Psychic- and Ghost-type attackers work well with it. Pokemon like U-turn Munkidori and Flip Turn Dragalge can bring in Krookodile against Alolan Muk, forcing progress against it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
A Choice Band set on Krookodile can be used, but it tends to get easily revenge killed due to its middling Speed. Rocky Helmet can be run on utility or bulkier sets, but most of the moves Krookodile would want to switch into to take advantage of the item's chip damage would be super effective. With either a Loaded Dice or a Lum Berry, Krookodile can be a dangerous setup sweeper with Moxie and a moveset of Knock Off / Earthquake / Scale Shot / Bulk Up.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fighting-types**: Mienshao and Infernape both outspeed Krookodile and can finish it with a Close Combat. Lucario can use Choice Scarf Krookodile as set-up fodder, and Gallade can take any hit from it, letting Gallade either setup as well or just KO it. Scrafty also takes advantage of Krookodile by using it as setup fodder as Krookodile fails to do any meaningful damage to it.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Tsareena, Brute Bonnet, and Vileplume can take an Earthquake from Krookodile and threaten it with super effective STAB moves; however, the former two should be cautious of Gunk Shot. Torterra outspeeds non-Choice Scarf Krookodile after a Shell Smash and can OHKO it with Bullet Seed.
**Water-types**: Water-type physical walls like Swampert, Quagsire, and Slowbro can easily take attacks from Krookodile. Swampert lacks recovery, though, leaving it open to being whittled down over the course of a battle. Slowbro can be forced to Terastallize, however, leaving it open to be hit super effectively by Krookodile's other moves. More offensive Water-types, like Inteleon, Feraligatr, and Cloyster, can threaten to KO Krookodile after either taking a hit or easily outspeeding it.
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Krookodile's somewhat middling Speed, it's easily outsped by faster Choice Scarf users even when using one itself. Choice Scarf Mienshao, Infernape, Inteleon, and Flygon all outspeed Krookodile and can threaten to KO with minimal chip damage, if not outright OHKOing it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/p-squared.168392/
Krookodile's Attack, useful utility movepool, and ability to cater to its team's needs by either checking fast threats or punishing and taking advantage of fatter walls solidify its position as one of the top threats of NU. With Intimidate, Krookodile excels at being an entry hazard setter thanks to its ability to maintain pressure while also having access to moves like Knock Off and Taunt to cripple bulkier Pokemon like Talonflame and Vaporeon that could come in freely and take advantage of it. Krookodile's great coverage in Gunk Shot and Stone Edge helps it target Grass-, Fairy-, and Flying-types like Tsareena, Brute Bonnet, Sylveon, and Noivern, which could switch in more easily otherwise. Krookodile puts this coverage to use exceptionally well with its Choice Scarf set, letting it outspeed would-be threats like Inteleon, Basculegion, and Lycanroc-D. The Speed Krookodile gains from Choice Scarf, along with the Attack boosts from Moxie, helps it sweep unprepared teams that can't offensively check it. However, its fairly middling Speed tier means common Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Flygon easily outspeed it, and, if Krookodile manages to get a KO, a healthy defensive wall is still usually enough to force it out. Even against resisted attacks, Krookodile tends to take a lot of damage, and it can be overly reliant on Intimidate, meaning taking special attacks is quite difficult. Krookodile also tends to fail to do much to Pokemon like Slowbro and Vileplume after a Knock Off, forcing it to switch out afterward.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Stone Edge / Stealth Rock
move 4: Gunk Shot / Stealth Rock
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Intimidate / Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Poison / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Stone Edge hits Flying-types like Talonflame and Noivern, while Gunk Shot hits Grass- and Fairy-types that take advantage of Krookodile like Tsareena, Sylveon, and Tera Fairy Slowbro. Intimidate provides it extra utility throughout the battle, letting it check physical attackers more easily, while Moxie, in conjunction with Choice Scarf, allows Krookodile to be a deadly wincon that can easily snowball. Tera Poison boosts Gunk Shot and provides Krookodile with defensive utility, letting it survive one Fighting- or Fairy-type attack while helping it take on a common Choice Scarf user in Mienshao. However, Tera Dark can be used instead to boost Krookodile's Knock Off to insane levels, paving the way for its sweep with Moxie.
Faster Choice Scarf users like Mienshao, Infernape, and Flygon threaten Krookodile, so Pokemon like Vileplume and Slowbro help check them. Krookodile also has issues with beating bulky physical walls like Vileplume and Quagsire, so special wallbreakers like Munkidori, Chandelure, and Sylveon help to tear holes to aid in Krookodile's sweep. Krookodile easily checks fast Psychic- and Ghost-types like Munkidori and Hisuian Typhlosion, so teammates like Dragalge, Reuniclus, and Brambleghast can take advantage of this. Getting KOs can be difficult for Krookodile, meaning that pivots like Dragalge, Tsareena, and Mienshao, which can lure in Pokemon that are weak to Krookodile, are greatly appreciated. Assault Vest Gallade and Magnezone help check special attackers for Krookodile while also beating bulky Water-types like Swampert and Slowbro.
[SET]
name: Offensive Hazard Setter
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Gunk Shot / Stone Edge / Taunt
item: Black Glasses / Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Poison / Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
With Knock Off Krookodile is a threatening entry hazard setter, as it's able to beat every hazard removal Pokemon in the metagame with the chip damage it racks up. Gunk Shot helps Krookodile deal with Grass-types like Tsareena and Brute Bonnet, but Stone Edge allows Krookodile to hit Flying-type switch-ins such as Noivern and Talonflame. Alternatively, Taunt lets Krookodile stop bulkier Pokemon like Swampert, Diancie, and Vileplume from setting up their hazards or recovering. Unlike Knock Off, Crunch alongside Black Glasses can 2HKO Slowbro after it consumes its Colbur Berry; the trade-off of this combination is that Krookodile then can't cripple item-reliant Pokemon like Talonflame and Swampert. Black Glasses simultaneously boosts Krookodile's Knock Off while also not revealing an item, allowing Krookodile to bluff having a Choice Scarf. Alternatively, Leftovers can be used instead for some recovery. With Tera Poison, Krookodile can check Mienshao and Tsareena in a pinch while boosting Gunk Shot; however, Tera Ghost allows it to be immune to both Fighting-type attacks and Rapid Spin while giving it multiple neutralities. Leading with Stealth Rock Krookodile tends to be detrimental, as common leads carry super effective attacks or U-turn like Mienshao and Flygon.
Fighting-types such as Mienshao and Infernape easily outspeed Krookodile and threaten it with Close Combat, so pairing it with teammates like Dragalge, Slowbro, and Talonflame helps to alleviate this weakness. Bulky Grass- and Water-types like Tsareena, Vileplume, and Swampert are difficult for Krookodile to deal with, meaning it enjoys the support of Pokemon like Chandelure, Noivern, and Rotom-C. Special attackers like Inteleon, Venusaur, and Florges easily scare out Krookodile, so special walls like Copperajah, Magnezone, and Assault Vest Slowbro help take on these threats. With how easily Krookodile removes items, Spikes setters like Klefki and Brambleghast pair well with it, helping to weaken the opposing team. Pokemon such as Mienshao, Munkidori, and Gallade that take advantage of Krookodile's ability to take on Psychic- and Ghost-type attackers work well with it. Pokemon like U-turn Munkidori and Flip Turn Dragalge can bring in Krookodile against Alolan Muk, forcing progress against it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
A Choice Band set on Krookodile can be used, but it tends to get easily revenge killed due to its middling Speed. Rocky Helmet can be run on utility or bulkier sets, but most of the moves Krookodile would want to switch into to take advantage of the item's chip damage would be super effective. With either a Loaded Dice or a Lum Berry, Krookodile can be a dangerous setup sweeper with Moxie and a moveset of Knock Off / Earthquake / Scale Shot / Bulk Up.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fighting-types**: Mienshao and Infernape both outspeed Krookodile and can finish it with a Close Combat. Lucario can use Choice Scarf Krookodile as set-up fodder, and Gallade can take any hit from it, letting Gallade either setup as well or just KO it. Scrafty also takes advantage of Krookodile by using it as setup fodder as Krookodile fails to do any meaningful damage to it.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Tsareena, Brute Bonnet, and Vileplume can take an Earthquake from Krookodile and threaten it with super effective STAB moves; however, the former two should be cautious of Gunk Shot. Torterra outspeeds non-Choice Scarf Krookodile after a Shell Smash and can OHKO it with Bullet Seed.
**Water-types**: Water-type physical walls like Swampert, Quagsire, and Slowbro can easily take attacks from Krookodile. Swampert lacks recovery, though, leaving it open to being whittled down over the course of a battle. Slowbro can be forced to Terastallize, however, leaving it open to be hit super effectively by Krookodile's other moves. More offensive Water-types, like Inteleon, Feraligatr, and Cloyster, can threaten to KO Krookodile after either taking a hit or easily outspeeding it.
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Krookodile's somewhat middling Speed, it's easily outsped by faster Choice Scarf users even when using one itself. Choice Scarf Mienshao, Infernape, Inteleon, and Flygon all outspeed Krookodile and can threaten to KO with minimal chip damage, if not outright OHKOing it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/p-squared.168392/
Last edited:
