[OVERVIEW]
Crobat acts as a fast offensive pivot thanks to its incredible natural Speed, allowing it to outspeed fast offensive Pokemon like Azelf, Zygarde-10%, Keldeo, and Noivern. Crobat can make use of its high Speed and offensive pivoting with STAB Brave Bird and U-turn to outlast checks such as Nihilego and Rotom-W, making it threatening to many common team styles. Taunt prevents would-be checks like Salamence, Skarmory, Hippowdon, and Chansey from recovering while also preventing the latter two and Amoonguss from using status moves. While Crobat's Poison / Flying typing allows it to switch in on Grass- and Fighting-type attacks from Pokemon like Zarude, Amoonguss, and Conkeldurr, it must beware switching directly into a status move like Stun Spore or Spore from Amoonguss, or strong attacks like Darkest Lariat from Zarude and Knock Off and Facade from Conkeldurr. Furthermore, Crobat's average bulk makes it struggle to switch in on strong attacks from offensive Pokemon like Hydreigon, Azelf, and Zygarde-10%. Crobat's lack of relevant resistances also makes it fear moves from Pokemon it would otherwise check, such as Facade from Conkeldurr and Hydro Pump from Keldeo. Lastly, Crobat is dependent on Heavy-Duty Boots to be effective, forcing it to play carefully against Knock Off users like Diggersby and Scizor. This flaw also forces Crobat to think twice about switching into Knock Off users it would otherwise counter like Tangrowth.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Taunt
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly
evs: 108 HP / 148 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Brave Bird allows Crobat to maintain offensive presence with a strong STAB attack, threatening heavy damage on fast, frail offensive Pokemon like Azelf, Zygarde-10%, and Keldeo. U-turn lets Crobat escape Pokemon it cannot meaningfully damage, like Jirachi and Celesteela. U-turn also wears down switch-ins and offensive checks like Rotom-W, Thundurus-T, Raikou, and Nihilego, allowing Crobat to beat them long-term. Roost keeps Crobat healthy, allowing it to last in long games, beat bulky threats like defensive Salamence and Chansey one-on-one, and utilize its typing to switch into Zarude. Roost can also be used to remove Crobat's Flying typing for a turn, reducing its damage from moves like Volt Switch from Rotom-W and Rotom-H and Stone Edge from Cobalion. Roost also helps compensate for the recoil damage Crobat takes from using Brave Bird. Taunt lets Crobat shut down status moves from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Chansey, as well as healing attempts from Pokemon like Salamence and Skarmory. Even if Crobat itself does not fear Toxic from Pokemon like Chansey and Hippowdon, its teammates may appreciate Taunt shutting down the threat of Toxic after they switch in. Taunt can also prevent Defog attempts from Pokemon like Salamence and Mandibuzz. Inner Focus is the preferred ability, as it prevents Salamence from lowering Crobat's Attack with Intimidate upon switch-in, and it additionally makes Crobat immune to flinches from attacks like Choice Scarf Hydreigon's Dark Pulse and +1 Speed Jolly Gyarados's Waterfall. Maximum Speed investment and Jolly are necessary to keep Adamant Dragon Dance Gyarados and Adamant Choice Scarf Diggersby in check.
Crobat pairs well with other pivots like Zarude, Thundurus-T, Rotom-H, and Rotom-W to keep momentum up. These can also bring Crobat in safely against targets like Amoonguss, reducing Crobat's need to use Roost often. Rotom-H and Rotom-W make particularly good partners, as Crobat appreciates them checking Mamoswine and Steel-types like Scizor and Celesteela. Ground-type teammates like Hippowdon and Excadrill absorb Electric- and Rock-type moves aimed at Crobat from Pokemon like Rotom-H and Nihilego, respectively. Knock Off absorbers like Amoonguss and Tangrowth prevent Crobat from losing its Heavy-Duty Boots. Amoonguss and Tangrowth can also check Electric-types like Thundurus-T and Raikou for Crobat. Wallbreakers like Choice Specs Hydreigon and Keldeo pair well with Crobat, as Crobat can bring them in against Pokemon like Rotom-W and Celesteela with U-turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Inflitrator can be used instead of Inner Focus to allow Crobat to bypass Substitute, preventing Pokemon like SubCM Keldeo and Primarina from getting a safe hit on Crobat from behind a Substitute. Defog can be used over Taunt to make Crobat an entry hazard remover. However, foregoing Taunt limits Crobat's offensive potency and stops it from keeping Stealth Rock off the field against some common setters, like Cobalion, Hippowdon, and Nihilego. Hypnosis can be used in the final moveslot to cripple switch-ins, although it suffers from low accuracy and opportunity cost in not using the more reliable Taunt. A set of Nasty Plot, Sludge Bomb, Heat Wave, and Roost can be used to break through Crobat's usual Steel-type checks, and it provides excellent Fire / Poison coverage against most of the UU tier. This set is particularly effective against bulkier teams due to the aforementioned coverage, Crobat's reliable recovery, and its Toxic immunity. However, this set can be hard to justify over Crobat's usual utility. In addition, Crobat's base Special Attack is low, so this set usually requires multiple Nasty Plot uses to break through its targets. Finally, Super Fang could be used over U-turn and alongside Taunt to weaken sturdy Crobat checks like Celesteela for its teammates. This turns Crobat into a dangerous stallbreaker.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Jirachi take very little damage from Brave Bird and can hinder Crobat. Skarmory can lose one-on-one against Crobat due to Taunt preventing it from healing with Roost, but it would still damage Crobat significantly in the process, especially if Skarmory is holding a Rocky Helmet. Cobalion does not resist Brave Bird, but it's never 2HKOed thanks to its great physical bulk, and it can threaten Crobat with Stone Edge or Volt Switch and chip it with Rocky Helmet as well. Scizor also does not resist Brave Bird and does not like switching into it, but it can revenge kill a weakened Crobat with Bullet Punch.
**Knock Off**: Crobat's reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots makes Knock Off a giant threat to its longevity, making it dangerous to switch into Pokemon like Tangrowth and Krookodile, which would otherwise be less threatening.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types like Raikou, Thundurus-T, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H resist Crobat's Brave Bird and threaten heavy damage or OHKOs on it. They can be worn down over time with repeated hits, however, and are not safe switch-ins at low HP.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types like Nihilego, Lycanroc-D, and Rhyperior resist Brave Bird and threaten heavy damage on Crobat. Rhyperior in particular stonewalls Crobat. While Lycanroc-D and especially Nihilego take more damage from Brave Bird and must be more careful about switching into Crobat, they can survive a hit from it and revenge kill in return. Lycanroc-D also has priority Accelerock to prevent Crobat from hitting it first.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Hippowdon and Swampert can take repeated hits from Crobat without fearing a KO. Swampert can use Flip Turn to pivot into a Pokemon that can threaten Crobat, while Hippowdon mandates Taunt use with Slack Off and forces sand chip damage. Both can also hit Crobat with a super effective Earthquake if it is forced to use Roost, and Hippowdon can potentially punish Brave Bird and U-turn with Rocky Helmet. Hippowdon will usually fail to beat Taunt Crobat one-on-one, but Rocky Helmet and sand can significantly chip Crobat in the process. Slowking can also comfortably take a Brave Bird and threaten heavy damage with Psychic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Celebiii, 476515]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [pokemonisfun, 56643], [estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Band, 301217], [Sulo, 528036], [Adeleine, 517429]
Crobat acts as a fast offensive pivot thanks to its incredible natural Speed, allowing it to outspeed fast offensive Pokemon like Azelf, Zygarde-10%, Keldeo, and Noivern. Crobat can make use of its high Speed and offensive pivoting with STAB Brave Bird and U-turn to outlast checks such as Nihilego and Rotom-W, making it threatening to many common team styles. Taunt prevents would-be checks like Salamence, Skarmory, Hippowdon, and Chansey from recovering while also preventing the latter two and Amoonguss from using status moves. While Crobat's Poison / Flying typing allows it to switch in on Grass- and Fighting-type attacks from Pokemon like Zarude, Amoonguss, and Conkeldurr, it must beware switching directly into a status move like Stun Spore or Spore from Amoonguss, or strong attacks like Darkest Lariat from Zarude and Knock Off and Facade from Conkeldurr. Furthermore, Crobat's average bulk makes it struggle to switch in on strong attacks from offensive Pokemon like Hydreigon, Azelf, and Zygarde-10%. Crobat's lack of relevant resistances also makes it fear moves from Pokemon it would otherwise check, such as Facade from Conkeldurr and Hydro Pump from Keldeo. Lastly, Crobat is dependent on Heavy-Duty Boots to be effective, forcing it to play carefully against Knock Off users like Diggersby and Scizor. This flaw also forces Crobat to think twice about switching into Knock Off users it would otherwise counter like Tangrowth.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Taunt
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly
evs: 108 HP / 148 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Brave Bird allows Crobat to maintain offensive presence with a strong STAB attack, threatening heavy damage on fast, frail offensive Pokemon like Azelf, Zygarde-10%, and Keldeo. U-turn lets Crobat escape Pokemon it cannot meaningfully damage, like Jirachi and Celesteela. U-turn also wears down switch-ins and offensive checks like Rotom-W, Thundurus-T, Raikou, and Nihilego, allowing Crobat to beat them long-term. Roost keeps Crobat healthy, allowing it to last in long games, beat bulky threats like defensive Salamence and Chansey one-on-one, and utilize its typing to switch into Zarude. Roost can also be used to remove Crobat's Flying typing for a turn, reducing its damage from moves like Volt Switch from Rotom-W and Rotom-H and Stone Edge from Cobalion. Roost also helps compensate for the recoil damage Crobat takes from using Brave Bird. Taunt lets Crobat shut down status moves from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Chansey, as well as healing attempts from Pokemon like Salamence and Skarmory. Even if Crobat itself does not fear Toxic from Pokemon like Chansey and Hippowdon, its teammates may appreciate Taunt shutting down the threat of Toxic after they switch in. Taunt can also prevent Defog attempts from Pokemon like Salamence and Mandibuzz. Inner Focus is the preferred ability, as it prevents Salamence from lowering Crobat's Attack with Intimidate upon switch-in, and it additionally makes Crobat immune to flinches from attacks like Choice Scarf Hydreigon's Dark Pulse and +1 Speed Jolly Gyarados's Waterfall. Maximum Speed investment and Jolly are necessary to keep Adamant Dragon Dance Gyarados and Adamant Choice Scarf Diggersby in check.
Crobat pairs well with other pivots like Zarude, Thundurus-T, Rotom-H, and Rotom-W to keep momentum up. These can also bring Crobat in safely against targets like Amoonguss, reducing Crobat's need to use Roost often. Rotom-H and Rotom-W make particularly good partners, as Crobat appreciates them checking Mamoswine and Steel-types like Scizor and Celesteela. Ground-type teammates like Hippowdon and Excadrill absorb Electric- and Rock-type moves aimed at Crobat from Pokemon like Rotom-H and Nihilego, respectively. Knock Off absorbers like Amoonguss and Tangrowth prevent Crobat from losing its Heavy-Duty Boots. Amoonguss and Tangrowth can also check Electric-types like Thundurus-T and Raikou for Crobat. Wallbreakers like Choice Specs Hydreigon and Keldeo pair well with Crobat, as Crobat can bring them in against Pokemon like Rotom-W and Celesteela with U-turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Inflitrator can be used instead of Inner Focus to allow Crobat to bypass Substitute, preventing Pokemon like SubCM Keldeo and Primarina from getting a safe hit on Crobat from behind a Substitute. Defog can be used over Taunt to make Crobat an entry hazard remover. However, foregoing Taunt limits Crobat's offensive potency and stops it from keeping Stealth Rock off the field against some common setters, like Cobalion, Hippowdon, and Nihilego. Hypnosis can be used in the final moveslot to cripple switch-ins, although it suffers from low accuracy and opportunity cost in not using the more reliable Taunt. A set of Nasty Plot, Sludge Bomb, Heat Wave, and Roost can be used to break through Crobat's usual Steel-type checks, and it provides excellent Fire / Poison coverage against most of the UU tier. This set is particularly effective against bulkier teams due to the aforementioned coverage, Crobat's reliable recovery, and its Toxic immunity. However, this set can be hard to justify over Crobat's usual utility. In addition, Crobat's base Special Attack is low, so this set usually requires multiple Nasty Plot uses to break through its targets. Finally, Super Fang could be used over U-turn and alongside Taunt to weaken sturdy Crobat checks like Celesteela for its teammates. This turns Crobat into a dangerous stallbreaker.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Celesteela, Skarmory, and Jirachi take very little damage from Brave Bird and can hinder Crobat. Skarmory can lose one-on-one against Crobat due to Taunt preventing it from healing with Roost, but it would still damage Crobat significantly in the process, especially if Skarmory is holding a Rocky Helmet. Cobalion does not resist Brave Bird, but it's never 2HKOed thanks to its great physical bulk, and it can threaten Crobat with Stone Edge or Volt Switch and chip it with Rocky Helmet as well. Scizor also does not resist Brave Bird and does not like switching into it, but it can revenge kill a weakened Crobat with Bullet Punch.
**Knock Off**: Crobat's reliance on Heavy-Duty Boots makes Knock Off a giant threat to its longevity, making it dangerous to switch into Pokemon like Tangrowth and Krookodile, which would otherwise be less threatening.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types like Raikou, Thundurus-T, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H resist Crobat's Brave Bird and threaten heavy damage or OHKOs on it. They can be worn down over time with repeated hits, however, and are not safe switch-ins at low HP.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types like Nihilego, Lycanroc-D, and Rhyperior resist Brave Bird and threaten heavy damage on Crobat. Rhyperior in particular stonewalls Crobat. While Lycanroc-D and especially Nihilego take more damage from Brave Bird and must be more careful about switching into Crobat, they can survive a hit from it and revenge kill in return. Lycanroc-D also has priority Accelerock to prevent Crobat from hitting it first.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Hippowdon and Swampert can take repeated hits from Crobat without fearing a KO. Swampert can use Flip Turn to pivot into a Pokemon that can threaten Crobat, while Hippowdon mandates Taunt use with Slack Off and forces sand chip damage. Both can also hit Crobat with a super effective Earthquake if it is forced to use Roost, and Hippowdon can potentially punish Brave Bird and U-turn with Rocky Helmet. Hippowdon will usually fail to beat Taunt Crobat one-on-one, but Rocky Helmet and sand can significantly chip Crobat in the process. Slowking can also comfortably take a Brave Bird and threaten heavy damage with Psychic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Celebiii, 476515]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [pokemonisfun, 56643], [estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Band, 301217], [Sulo, 528036], [Adeleine, 517429]
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