BP
Upper Decky Lip Mints
name: Swords Dance Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Double-Edge / Return
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Surf
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Croconaw's access to Swords Dance, respectable bulk, and excellent base 80 Attack set it apart from other physical wallbreakers. These traits allow Croconaw to find opportunities to set up on Pokemon such as Rhyhorn and Seaking despite its general lack of Speed. Unboosted Double-Edge is able to net a considerable amount of damage on foes that don't resist Normal. Croconaw can use Return to avoid recoil damage, but it tends to appreciate the extra damage that a +2 Double-Edge offers against Pokemon that have reliable recovery such as Dustox and Bayleef. Brick Break is able to threaten Rock- and Steel-types that resist Double-Edge such as Lileep and Magnemite. Croconaw's STAB-boosted Surf, although not boosted by Swords Dance, can reliably remove Rhyhorn and threaten Koffing, and it provides Croconaw with a way to hit Shuppet.
Croconaw works best on balance and offense teams that rely on status users to help make progress. Butterfree makes an excellent partner, as Sleep Powder and Stun Spore offer Croconaw plenty of opportunities to set up Swords Dance. Paralysis users such as Magnemite, Chinchou, and Nosepass can help remedy Croconaw's poor base Speed as an offensive Pokemon. Nosepass is also worth mentioning for being a great answer to Aipom as well as providing support via Explosion to weaken or remove bulkier foes. Toxic users such as Magnemite, Shuppet, and Dustox can help weaken bulkier Pokemon, most notably Lileep and Bayleef. Special attackers such as Elekid, Growlithe, and the previously mentioned Chinchou all appreciate Croconaw's ability to threaten specially defensive Pokemon such as Delcatty, Dustox, and Grimer. In return, these special attackers threaten physically defensive Pokemon such as Koffing and Lileep for Croconaw. Mixed Seaking makes for an excellent partner, as it can threaten Lileep with Megahorn and other physically defensive Pokemon with STAB-boosted Hydro Pump. Castform and Sunflora shut down both Chinchou and Elekid, which otherwise prevent Croconaw from sweeping. Croconaw appreciates Spikes support from Snorunt, as the residual damage helps solidify a Double-Edge 2HKO at +2 against Bayleef.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/p-squared.168392/
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Double-Edge / Return
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Surf
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Croconaw's access to Swords Dance, respectable bulk, and excellent base 80 Attack set it apart from other physical wallbreakers. These traits allow Croconaw to find opportunities to set up on Pokemon such as Rhyhorn and Seaking despite its general lack of Speed. Unboosted Double-Edge is able to net a considerable amount of damage on foes that don't resist Normal. Croconaw can use Return to avoid recoil damage, but it tends to appreciate the extra damage that a +2 Double-Edge offers against Pokemon that have reliable recovery such as Dustox and Bayleef. Brick Break is able to threaten Rock- and Steel-types that resist Double-Edge such as Lileep and Magnemite. Croconaw's STAB-boosted Surf, although not boosted by Swords Dance, can reliably remove Rhyhorn and threaten Koffing, and it provides Croconaw with a way to hit Shuppet.
Croconaw works best on balance and offense teams that rely on status users to help make progress. Butterfree makes an excellent partner, as Sleep Powder and Stun Spore offer Croconaw plenty of opportunities to set up Swords Dance. Paralysis users such as Magnemite, Chinchou, and Nosepass can help remedy Croconaw's poor base Speed as an offensive Pokemon. Nosepass is also worth mentioning for being a great answer to Aipom as well as providing support via Explosion to weaken or remove bulkier foes. Toxic users such as Magnemite, Shuppet, and Dustox can help weaken bulkier Pokemon, most notably Lileep and Bayleef. Special attackers such as Elekid, Growlithe, and the previously mentioned Chinchou all appreciate Croconaw's ability to threaten specially defensive Pokemon such as Delcatty, Dustox, and Grimer. In return, these special attackers threaten physically defensive Pokemon such as Koffing and Lileep for Croconaw. Mixed Seaking makes for an excellent partner, as it can threaten Lileep with Megahorn and other physically defensive Pokemon with STAB-boosted Hydro Pump. Castform and Sunflora shut down both Chinchou and Elekid, which otherwise prevent Croconaw from sweeping. Croconaw appreciates Spikes support from Snorunt, as the residual damage helps solidify a Double-Edge 2HKO at +2 against Bayleef.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/p-squared.168392/
Last edited: