Crushing Crawdaunt

[Nolafus]

After reading a thread about Crawdaunt on Smogon, I wanted to see just how well this oversized lobster could perform. So, I went and built a team around it. The team performs pretty well, but I just can't seem to pull off the win most times because of crits against me or some other form of luck. I'm not complaining, a good team should be able to bounce back from an unlucky hit. Anyway, I haven't been taking gen 6 OU very seriously, but I figured I might as well start, so that's why I'm here.

Crawdaunt @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Crabhammer

Crawdaunt is the star of the team. I think it could be the most overlooked pokemon in existence. I was stuck between Dragon Dance and Swords Dance, but settled on Dragon Dance so Crawdaunt could use Knock Off and Crabhammer with a little more freedom. Besides, with Life Orb and full attack investment, Crawdaunt hits like a truck anyway. A huge problem for this guy is Megasaur, but that's what the rest of the team is there for.

Bronzong @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Explosion

Bronzong is my suicide lead. It's meant to get out hazards and both screens before exploding so Crawdaunt can switch in and set up. It's worked very well so far and I don't really have any complaints. I wanted a suicide lead because Crawdaunt can't take a hit, so I need the free switch in.

Volcarona @ Life Orb
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain

Volcarona is here because it makes an excellent teammate with Crawdaunt, resisting those pesky grass and fighting moves. This is just your typical set-up sweeper set and it's been working pretty dang well, as Volcarona always does.

Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam

Since Volcarona is here, I need a rapid spinner. I must admit, Starmie has been a little lackluster so far, but I'm not sure who to replace it with. I like the coverage the moves bring, but Starmie is often KO'd by priority before it has a chance to do anything. I don't want a defogger since Crawdaunt needs the hazards to break sashes on the opponents side, so some help here would be appreciated.

Magnezone @ Choice Specs
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Volt Switch

Magnezone is here to deal with Ferrothorn and Klefki. Magnezone has been great so far and I can't complain about it. Klefki was awful for me until I put this guy in. It's a solid team member and does its job exceedingly well.

Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 SDef / 252 HP / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sleep Powder
- Earthquake
- Synthesis

Megasaur is here because it's one of the best tanks around. Earthquake is here to get rid of Heatran and other fire types that think that they can actually do something against it. I must admit, I wasn't sure who to put here so I just went with it because Megasaur is an awesome pokemon. If you notice any glaring holes that need to be covered, Megasaur will probably be the pokemon I consider switching out first. It's great, but I already have some good defensive synergy going on with the rest of the team.

Anyway, that's my team so far. I'm open to all and any advice to help Crawdaunt's sweeping potential. It's turned out to be a killer and I want to emphasize that. It's been a really fun team to play with and I want to start winning a lot with it.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Crawdaunt is still slow, even after +1 Speed from Dragon Dance, leaving it outsped by other Choice Scarf Pokemon. It's better off with Choice Band or Swords Dance:
-Crab Hammer
-Knock Off
-Aqua Jet
-Crunch
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Adaptability

or
-Swords Dance
-Crab Hammer
-Knock Off
-Aqua Jet
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 SPe
Item: Life Orb/Mystic Water/Splash Plate
Ability: Adaptability

I'd use Psyshock over Psychic on Starmie because of the move's ability to deal with special walls. I'd also use Ice Beam over Psychic/Psyshock or Thunderbolt so that Starmie can deal with Grass and Dragon Pokemon.

I think Choice Specs is a better idea for Magnezone than Leftovers because while being locked into one move may be a bad idea, Magnezone can simply spam one move against a trapped Steel until it's KOed, thens switch out. The EV spread should be 172 HP/252 Atk/84 Spe so that Magnezone can outspeed Skarmory.

A Mild nature wastes away Mega Venusaur's good Defense. Here's what it should look like so it can better check physical threats like Mega Lucario:
-Giga Drain/Power Whip
-Sludge Bomb/Sleep Powder
-Earthquake
-Synthesis
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Venusaurite
Ability: Overgrow

or
-Giga Drain/Leech Seed
-Sludge Bomb
-Hidden Power (Fire)
-Synthesis
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Item: Venusaurite
Ability: Overgrow

 

[Nah]

Ya know, I've been a little interested in Crawdaunt too lately. Just been too lazy to make more teams atm. Funny thing is that my own Safari has Crawdaunts in it.

Starmie does have a bulky Rapid Spin set. Perhaps you'll like that better if the offensive one doesn't cut it for you:

-Starmie w/Leftovers
Nature: Timid
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP, 32 Defense, 4 Sp.Attack, 224 Speed
Moves: Rapid Spin, Scald, Recover, Psyshock/Ice Beam

And Volcarona doesn't have to use Leftovers. It gets plenty of healing with Giga Drain from all the Water types and Rock types that think they're countering it (its so fun to see someone send in their Rotom Wash, only to have it get killed by a +1 Giga Drain they weren't expecting ^^).

 

[Nolafus]

All the changes I implemented are in bold. Sorry for not getting back sooner, but I had to wait until I was at college to abuse their internet since mine was really slow last night. Anyway, I did implement most of the changes that you guys suggested and the team is starting to rack up some wins.

One thing I keep running into is opposing Megasaurs. The opponent keeps switching it out to keep it alive, which means that Crawdaunt can't do its job and sweep. Any help with that?

 

[PlatinumDude]

All the changes I implemented are in bold. Sorry for not getting back sooner, but I had to wait until I was at college to abuse their internet since mine was really slow last night. Anyway, I did implement most of the changes that you guys suggested and the team is starting to rack up some wins.

One thing I keep running into is opposing Megasaurs. The opponent keeps switching it out to keep it alive, which means that Crawdaunt can't do its job and sweep. Any help with that?

Volcarona can do a number on Mega Venusaur with Bug Buzz (or Fire Blast, but that's a neutrality because of Thick Fat). You could give Starmie Psyshock or use Talonflame:
-Flare Blitz
-Brave Bird
-U-turn/Swords Dance
-Roost
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 48 HP/252 Atk/208 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Sharp Beak/Sky Plate
Ability: Gale Wings

or
-Flare Blitz
-Brave Bird
-U-turn
-Tailwind/Will-o-Wisp
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 48 HP/252 Atk/208 Spe
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings

 

[Nolafus]

Hmm...

I think I'll just replace Thunderbolt with Psyshock. My problem is that my opponent keeps switching out Megasaur and it's constantly one of the last pokemon on their team, preventing that Crawdaunt sweep I want. Anyway, Starmie might be enough to convince Megasaur to stay in. I'll try it out.