[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 14 points
**Overview**: Krookodile is a solid role compression Pokemon that offers teams an excellent Ground- and Dark-type, a range of utility options including Stealth Rock, Knock Off, Pursuit, and Intimidate, and the ability to function as a revenge killer, Pursuit trapper, or late-game sweeper. Unfortunately, Krookodile's great typing also leaves it with a number of important weaknesses to Water, Fairy, and Fighting, which can limit its ability to check threats like Tapu Koko and Zeraora. While Intimidate helps Krookodile switch into physical attacks, its bulk isn't anything special and it can be worn down very quickly. While Krookodile is a great Choice Scarf user, its speed without it is average, leaving it vulnerable to many offensive threats.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Revenge Killer**: Choice Scarf lets Krookodile outspeed unboosted foes, and, with its powerful STAB attacks and useful coverage options, it can revenge kill threats like Tapu Koko, Mega Mawile, and Mega Charizard X or Pursuit trap foes. Moxie can even let Krookodile sweep a weakened team after a boost.
**Utility**: Krookodile has access to a number of strong utility options such as Intimidate, Stealth Rock, Knock Off, and Taunt, making it a solid utility piece that can set entry hazards and threaten switch-ins with a powerful STAB Knock Off.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Earthquake, Knock Off, Pursuit, Crunch
**Setup Moves**: Bulk Up, Hone Claws
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Taunt, Toxic, Roar, Dragon Tail, Brick Break, Substitute
**Coverage**: Stone Edge, Superpower, Low Kick, Aqua Tail, Outrage, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Shadow Claw
Niche Moves
========
**Foul Play**: Boosted physical sweepers like Garchomp and Kartana can be revenge killed by Foul Play.
**Throat Chop**: Against very specific opponents that rely on sound-based moves like Boomburst and Clangorous Scales, Throat Chop can temporarily stop them.
**Counter**: Intimidate can let Krookodile survive an attack and strike back with Counter to catch a physical attacker off guard.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Krookodile outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame with a Choice Scarf, and can function either as a revenge killer or a sweeper with Moxie.
**Damage-Boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items such as Choice Band, Life Orb, Soft Sand, and Black Glasses can supplement Krookodile's solid Attack stat to turn it into a threatening wallbreaker and threaten switch-ins with powerful STAB attacks.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers extends Krookodile's longevity and allows it to switch in and check physical threats more often while also healing the damage done by entry hazards.
**Pinch Berries**: Much like Leftovers, Krookodile can use pinch Berries to recover the damage it takes from checking opposing physical attackers.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berry**: A resistance Berry, such as a Chople or Passho Berry, can allow Krookodile to survive an attack from one of its checks and KO it in return.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet can can be used in conjunction with Intimidate to punish physical attackers even harder by dealing chip damage to them.
**Focus Sash**: Sash can be used on lead Krookodile to guarantee Stealth Rock or damage on your opponent's lead.
**Assault Vest**: Krookodile can check special attackers with an Assault Vest while still having utility with Knock Off, Pursuit, and Dragon Tail.
Draft Strategy
========
Krookodile should be chosen to complement a strong team that is looking to support its top end with reliable utility and resistances. It should never be your most threatening Pokemon, rather, it should provide utility like Stealth Rock and Knock Off as well as an important Electric immunity. It's also a great choice for drafts that are looking to deal with the bulky Psychic-types that are common in the meta.
**Water-Types**: Krookodile has excellent synergy with Water-type Pokemon, as it is able to switch into Electric-type attacks that threaten them, while they are able to take any Water- and Ice-type attacks that can threaten Krookodile. Tapu Fini, Keldeo, and Rotom-W all complement Krookodile extremely well.
**Faster Wallbreakers / Sweepers**: Knock Off and Stealth Rock can wear down foes and remove any items that may stop your sweeper from finishing off the opposing team. High tier picks like Zeraora, Mega Charizard X, and Kartana all appreciate support from Krookodile to let them sweep in endgame scenarios.
**Hazard Removal**: Even though it resists Stealth Rock, Krookodile switches in often enough that it can be easily worn down by entry hazards. Hazard removers like Starmie, Blastoise, and Tentacruel that have Rapid Spin tend to complement Krookodile, as they don't remove your own Stealth Rock.
**Poison- and Fighting-Types**: Psychic-weak teammates can lure in foes that can be Pursuit trapped by Krookodile, and they can also take U-turn aimed at Krookodile. Poison-types like Roserade and Venusaur can switch into Grass-, Fighting-, and Fairy-type attacks for Krookodile, while MegaGallade, a premier partner for Krookodile, lures in bulky Psychic-types that Krookodile can Pursuit trap.
Checks and Counters
========
**Water-Types**: Krookodile has no real way to break past bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Tapu Fini, and they all threaten it with Scald or any Water-type STAB move. Faster Water-types like Keldeo and Greninja outspeed non-Choice Scarf sets, though they have a harder time switching in against Krookodile.
**Fast Special Attackers**: Krookodile is a great check to physical attackers; however, its special bulk leaves a lot to be desired, and it can be taken out by neutral hits from strong special attackers like Landorus and Latios.
**Knock Off Absorbers**: Mega Pokemon and Z-Crystal carriers can switch into Knock Off without fear of losing their item or taking a strong STAB attack from Krookodile. Additionally, Pokemon like Landorus-T, Celesteela, and Mega Aerodactyl are immune to Earthquake, forcing Krookodile to either run a coverage move or be unable to effectively check those Pokemon.
**Physical Walls**: Many physical walls have little to fear from Krookodile, and they can chip it down with Rocky Helmet and their own attacks or force it to switch without being able to make much progress. Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and Tangrowth are tough for Krookodile to deal with.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/freya.574067/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/red-fintans.637479
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 14 points
**Overview**: Krookodile is a solid role compression Pokemon that offers teams an excellent Ground- and Dark-type, a range of utility options including Stealth Rock, Knock Off, Pursuit, and Intimidate, and the ability to function as a revenge killer, Pursuit trapper, or late-game sweeper. Unfortunately, Krookodile's great typing also leaves it with a number of important weaknesses to Water, Fairy, and Fighting, which can limit its ability to check threats like Tapu Koko and Zeraora. While Intimidate helps Krookodile switch into physical attacks, its bulk isn't anything special and it can be worn down very quickly. While Krookodile is a great Choice Scarf user, its speed without it is average, leaving it vulnerable to many offensive threats.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Revenge Killer**: Choice Scarf lets Krookodile outspeed unboosted foes, and, with its powerful STAB attacks and useful coverage options, it can revenge kill threats like Tapu Koko, Mega Mawile, and Mega Charizard X or Pursuit trap foes. Moxie can even let Krookodile sweep a weakened team after a boost.
**Utility**: Krookodile has access to a number of strong utility options such as Intimidate, Stealth Rock, Knock Off, and Taunt, making it a solid utility piece that can set entry hazards and threaten switch-ins with a powerful STAB Knock Off.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Earthquake, Knock Off, Pursuit, Crunch
**Setup Moves**: Bulk Up, Hone Claws
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Taunt, Toxic, Roar, Dragon Tail, Brick Break, Substitute
**Coverage**: Stone Edge, Superpower, Low Kick, Aqua Tail, Outrage, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Shadow Claw
Niche Moves
========
**Foul Play**: Boosted physical sweepers like Garchomp and Kartana can be revenge killed by Foul Play.
**Throat Chop**: Against very specific opponents that rely on sound-based moves like Boomburst and Clangorous Scales, Throat Chop can temporarily stop them.
**Counter**: Intimidate can let Krookodile survive an attack and strike back with Counter to catch a physical attacker off guard.
Common Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Krookodile outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame with a Choice Scarf, and can function either as a revenge killer or a sweeper with Moxie.
**Damage-Boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items such as Choice Band, Life Orb, Soft Sand, and Black Glasses can supplement Krookodile's solid Attack stat to turn it into a threatening wallbreaker and threaten switch-ins with powerful STAB attacks.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers extends Krookodile's longevity and allows it to switch in and check physical threats more often while also healing the damage done by entry hazards.
**Pinch Berries**: Much like Leftovers, Krookodile can use pinch Berries to recover the damage it takes from checking opposing physical attackers.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berry**: A resistance Berry, such as a Chople or Passho Berry, can allow Krookodile to survive an attack from one of its checks and KO it in return.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet can can be used in conjunction with Intimidate to punish physical attackers even harder by dealing chip damage to them.
**Focus Sash**: Sash can be used on lead Krookodile to guarantee Stealth Rock or damage on your opponent's lead.
**Assault Vest**: Krookodile can check special attackers with an Assault Vest while still having utility with Knock Off, Pursuit, and Dragon Tail.
Draft Strategy
========
Krookodile should be chosen to complement a strong team that is looking to support its top end with reliable utility and resistances. It should never be your most threatening Pokemon, rather, it should provide utility like Stealth Rock and Knock Off as well as an important Electric immunity. It's also a great choice for drafts that are looking to deal with the bulky Psychic-types that are common in the meta.
**Water-Types**: Krookodile has excellent synergy with Water-type Pokemon, as it is able to switch into Electric-type attacks that threaten them, while they are able to take any Water- and Ice-type attacks that can threaten Krookodile. Tapu Fini, Keldeo, and Rotom-W all complement Krookodile extremely well.
**Faster Wallbreakers / Sweepers**: Knock Off and Stealth Rock can wear down foes and remove any items that may stop your sweeper from finishing off the opposing team. High tier picks like Zeraora, Mega Charizard X, and Kartana all appreciate support from Krookodile to let them sweep in endgame scenarios.
**Hazard Removal**: Even though it resists Stealth Rock, Krookodile switches in often enough that it can be easily worn down by entry hazards. Hazard removers like Starmie, Blastoise, and Tentacruel that have Rapid Spin tend to complement Krookodile, as they don't remove your own Stealth Rock.
**Poison- and Fighting-Types**: Psychic-weak teammates can lure in foes that can be Pursuit trapped by Krookodile, and they can also take U-turn aimed at Krookodile. Poison-types like Roserade and Venusaur can switch into Grass-, Fighting-, and Fairy-type attacks for Krookodile, while MegaGallade, a premier partner for Krookodile, lures in bulky Psychic-types that Krookodile can Pursuit trap.
Checks and Counters
========
**Water-Types**: Krookodile has no real way to break past bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Tapu Fini, and they all threaten it with Scald or any Water-type STAB move. Faster Water-types like Keldeo and Greninja outspeed non-Choice Scarf sets, though they have a harder time switching in against Krookodile.
**Fast Special Attackers**: Krookodile is a great check to physical attackers; however, its special bulk leaves a lot to be desired, and it can be taken out by neutral hits from strong special attackers like Landorus and Latios.
**Knock Off Absorbers**: Mega Pokemon and Z-Crystal carriers can switch into Knock Off without fear of losing their item or taking a strong STAB attack from Krookodile. Additionally, Pokemon like Landorus-T, Celesteela, and Mega Aerodactyl are immune to Earthquake, forcing Krookodile to either run a coverage move or be unable to effectively check those Pokemon.
**Physical Walls**: Many physical walls have little to fear from Krookodile, and they can chip it down with Rocky Helmet and their own attacks or force it to switch without being able to make much progress. Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and Tangrowth are tough for Krookodile to deal with.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/freya.574067/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/red-fintans.637479
Last edited by a moderator:
