Krookodile and Beat Up?

[monkeybard]

This is just a small thing I've been thinking of for a while that I'm slightly surprised hasn't been considered at all. It doesn't feel like something like this would be considered a Simple Question, but feel free to move this into the Simple Q&A thread if you see it fit.

As I understand it, the current way Beat Up is calculated is solely based on the base attack stat of the Pokemon using it (sourced from pokemondb.net). The formula is the User's Base Attack divided by 10, with 5 added on afterwards. This means that Krookodile, with a base attack of 117, gets a Multi-Hit attack that can hit up to 6 times with a base power of 16.7. This adds up to a natural base power of 100.2 if the entire party is conscious, or 83.5 with a single Pokemon fainted.

Even allowing for one fainted Pokemon, Krookodile effectively gets a STAB attack stronger than Crunch, possibly as powerful as Earthquake and a multi-hit option to attack through Substitute and Focus Sash. It even outpowers Knock Off in the Gen 6 meta, assuming it is knocking off an item. With a Scarf, Focus Sash, or a Volt Switching Sticky Webbing Galvantula assist, this makes for a very threatening attack.

Just for comparison of Crunch vs Beat Up, assuming a 100BP of Beat Up:
252 Atk Krookodile Crunch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 216-254 (66.6 - 78.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Tyranitar Crunch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 206-246 (63.5 - 75.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Even without being Adamant, Krookodile's attack stat being 333, Tyranitar's being 403, Krookodile's Beat Up is stronger than Tyranitar's Crunch. Imagine this power with the aid of Life Orb or Choice Band.

While 16.7 is a lower base power than basic multi-hit attacks such as Fury Swipes, its ability to always hit 6 times with a full party and Krookodile's STAB makes it a much more powerful attack, especially going off the 117 Base Attack that makes Krookodile one of the strongest "skill link" users besides Mega Heracross. Comparing it to Cloyster, while there isn't any Shell Smash abuse possible, Krookodile is stronger, faster and the bulks are 95/80/70 (Krookodile) to 50/180/45 (Cloyster). Krookodile's bulk is no joke either.

The only real downside I see is that it is apparently unaffected by the Moxie boosts, but Beat Up seems to be a pretty strong option at the very least and I'm just curious as to why I haven't seen much discussion on it.

 

[Flushed]

I hadn't considered it, because honestly I thought that it was a crap move haha. But the way I see it, it's kind of like the accuracy vs. base power debate. Essentially, this move "misses" as you have more fainted Pokemon. I think having the more consistent Crunch (w/Defense drops) is preferred, especially if you're in a bind late-game.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Beat Up is only good in the early game, but falters late-game. In Gen VI, Knock Off is the better option over Crunch (though Crunch is useful for those who didn't transfer via Poke Bank) because it has better utility in the opponent's items; it also gets stronger when the opponent was holding an item before the move was used.