What is a good moveset for Crawdaunt?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Crawdaunt, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Crawdaunt Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Thanks to the increased damage of Knock Off in Gen VI Crawdaunt is one of the Pokemon that learns it and combined with STAB + 120 base Attack it's devastating and disabling a Pokemon's item is very useful. Another big change in Gen VI, Ghosts are running rampant. Thanks to Crawdaunt's STAB Dark type moves he can deal with them nicely resisting Ghosts. That's still not it... Crabhammer, it's main STAB move got an increase in power to 100 base power.

Crawdaunt @ Choice Band
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Crabhammer
- Superpower

This is what we all wish Mega Gyarados could do. This set serves as a Hit + Run set or a Revenge Killer set. You're getting a x1.5 Attack boost from Choice Band, x1.5 Attack boost from Adaptability and a x1.5 STAB bonus from 3/4 moves. Aqua Jet is mainly to revenge kill as you carry the Crabhammer for more damage anyway. Crabhammer's 100 base power + STAB + Adaptability + 120 base Attack + 252 Atk EVs is devastating. Superpower is for coverage and the 120 base power isn't too shabby, but Crawdaunt doesn't like the Attack + Defense drops which is why it's a Hit + Run/Revenge Killer set. Take a look at some damage calculations from Knock Off:

-2 252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aegislash: 232-276 (71.6 - 85.18%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Gourgeist-Super: 412-488 (110.1 - 130.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Trevenant: 564-664 (150.8 - 177.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Garchomp: 344-406 (96.08 - 113.4%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off vs. 244 HP / 40+ Def Gliscor: 238-282 (67.61 - 80.11%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 48+ Def Ferrothorn: 228-270 (64.77 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Hippowdon: 212-250 (50.4 - 59.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 172-203 (44.55 - 52.59%) -- guaranteed 2HKO since Multiscale is broken after 1st hit

Answer 2

So..uh...did you know this crab had 90 sp atk?

Crawdaunt @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump / Scald / Surf
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot / Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam / Aqua Jet / Sludge Wave

Uhhh....yea who knew right? 90 base sp atk, not bad. Anyway, hydro pump is strong stab that takes advantage of Adaptability, bit you can also use scald or surf for a guaranteed hit. Dark pulse, again strong stab. nasty plot is a nice setup move, and sludge wave can cover fairy or grass types who switch in on you. Ice beam is nice, not extremely helpful against anything execpt grass, but sludge wave covers that. Ice beam Can help with the occasional hydregon or kommo-o tho. Aqua jet can be there if you want it to have use as a revenge killer, and ssludge wave is there if you had nasty plot. Oh and it gets Adaptability boost and still has 248 attack, not amazing, but it will do. If you dont have aqua jet, 0 Atk ivs. So yea, here ya go a special crawdaunt

Comments

Crawduant is based off a crayfish/lobster, I'm pretty sure lol

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"Crawdaunt's name and appearance suggest that it is based on a red swamp crayfish, with its aggressive behavior reminiscent of the species' hardiness and status as an invasive species. However, its size and Dark type may also suggest it is based on a larger, more powerful creature, such as the lobster." -Bulbapedia
Yeah, you are correct.

Answer 3

Role: Revenge Killer

Crawdaunt (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Crabhammer
- Crunch
- Superpower
- Retaliate

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I love this Guy's revenge killing capabilities!
Crabhammer and Crunch for High Power STAB, and Adaptability boost makes it beastly.
Super Power is the classic, Nail e'm and run strategy, along with Retaliate, making for a 140 power coverage move, so its great for revenge killing.

Answer 4

Crawdaunt @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Crabhammer / Waterfall
- Crunch
- X-Scissor / Substitute / Taunt

Boss Adapdability set.
Dragon Dance gives an awesome boost and boosts its Spe and Atk.
Crabhammer is STAB with a nice chance of crit and boosted by adapdability. Waterfall is a decent alternative and can be used if you've gotten some nasty surprises in battles with 90 accuracy moves, or just prefer the full accuracy over more power.
Crunch is boosted by STAB and Adaptability as well, and gives further coverage.
X-Scissor hits Grass types for good damage and rounds out the coverage a bit, Substitute can be used to block annoying status, and Taunt can also block annoying status and stops the foe from being up to shenanigans.

Answer 5

Gen 3 NU

Crawdaunt @ Salac Berry
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 30 Def / 30 SpD
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Hidden Power [Ghost]
- Brick Break

Subsitute + Swords Dance set. The ability is Hyper Cutter to prevent Intimidate from Mawile and Arbok lowering your attack. Substitute is to scout for opposing moves, avoid status moves, and helps bring you down to Salac Berry range. HP Ghost is for a physical version of "dark STAB" in Gen 3 since ghost and dark type moves cover the same thing. Brick Break is for coverage against opposing dark types and hits Mawile super effectively.

Comments

Brick Break hits Mawile in Gens 3-5 super effectively due to fairy not existing.

Answer 6

Crawdaunt @ Focus Sash
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords / Dragon Dance
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Crabhammer

Adaptability for 2x STAB on the Water and Dark type moves(Aqua Jet, Crabhammer and Knock Off).
252 Attack EVs because attack attack attack, and 252 Speed EVs for his usual crap speed.
Focus Sash cause he can easily be OHKO'd with his low HP, Def and SpDef.
Swords or Dragon Dance to set up, choose what fits you the most, I prefer SD for 2 up in attack.
Aqua Jet for 2x STAB, and priority for his low speed.
Knock Off for 2x STAB, and to get rit off important items.
Crabhammer same reason as Aqua Jet, just not the priority and 100 power instead of Aqua Jet's 40.

Answer 7

this is a revenge killer/sweeper set

Crawdaunt @ Focus Sash
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Crabhammer
- Night Slash
- Dragon Dance / Swords Dance

Aqua jet is for revenge killing, with Adaptability it hits for an incredible 80 base power. The Dances are to boost his sweeping stats. Night Slash (160 base power) and Crabhammer(200 base power!!!) are for sweeping.

Answer 8

Bulky High-Coverage Sweeper

Crawdaunt @ Assault Vest
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Knock Off
- Aqua Jet
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor / Superpower

Moves:
Knock-Off, STAB, Makes opponent's item useless, Massive damage if they are holding something
Aqua Jet, STAB, Priority, Revenge killing
Rock Slide, Good coverage, Flinch chance
X-Scissor, Mediocre coverage, High crit chance OR Super Power, Good coverage, high damage, but take the stat blow every usage

Answer 9

Crawdaunt @ Razor Claw
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Crabhammer
- Night Slash
- Swords Dance
- Avalanche

With this set, his powerful STAB Crabhammer (boosted by Adaptability) and his awesome STAB Night Slash will be powerful critical hits! Avalanche is for grass types and will deal twice damage because it's likely to get hit before you attack! Swords Dance is great too!

Answer 10

Crawdaunt @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Crabhammer
- Knock Off
- Aqua Jet
- Crunch / Close Combat

Crabhammer is crushingly strong STAB when boosted by Adaptability. Knock Off is powerful STAB, lessens damage, or removes gradual recovery, and ensures almost nothing can switch in all in one fell swoop. Aqua Jet is priority Adaptability boosted STAB. Crunch can be used once an item is knocked off, since the boost only occurs if the enemy has an item on the turn it is used. Close Combat can be used instead for coverage

Comments

Why Jolly but no d dance? It's kinda slow and with no boost it's a bit of a waste

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Jolly lets it speed tie with 252 Spe Modest Magearna and lets it outspeed 128 Speed Calm Heatran. Both are recommended smogon sets for some of OU's biggest threats so those sets will naturally be popular

Answer 11

Trick Room Sweeper

Crawdaunt @ Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Crabhammer / Waterfall / Liquidation
- Crunch / Knock Off
- Close Combat
- Hone Claws / Swords Dance

To be used with Trick Room support. Hone Claws pairs with Crabhammer, and Swords Dance pairs with Waterfall or Liquidation