Cranidos (#0408) – Stats, Moves, Evolution & Competitive Sets

Base stats

HP67127–174244–338

Atk125117–194229–383

Def4040–10176–196

SpA3031–9058–174

SpD3031–9058–174

Spe5856–121108–236

Total350Higher than 31% of all Pokémon

Ranges: 0 IV/EV with a hindering nature to 31 IV/252 EV with a helpful nature. EV yield: 1 Atk.

Stat calculatorChampions Stat Points & Stat Alignment, or EVs, IVs & nature

Speed tiers

Speed at Lv 50 in Pokémon Champions (base 58). Scarf and Tailwind use the Max+ value.

Max+121Max110No SP78Min70Scarf181Tailwind242

At max Speed, Cranidos outspeeds 12 of the 30 most used Pokémon in Champions VGC.

Others at their most common Speed investment in Champions VGC (Reg M-C · Doubles, Sep 2026); Pokémon holding a Mega Stone are shown as their Mega.

Type matchups

Weak to

Fighting2×Grass2×Ground2×Steel2×Water2×

Resists

Fire½×Flying½×Normal½×Poison½×

Takes normal damage from 9 types

RockBugGhostElectricPsychicIceDragonDarkFairy

Abilities

Mold Breaker
Bypasses targets' abilities if they could hinder or prevent a move.
Sheer ForceHidden ability
Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

Competitive

SV SinglesLC

0.32% of teams · rank #76 · Singles, first stages at Lv 5 · 1630+ rating · 7,479 battles · Sep 2026

Most common build

Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 140 HP / 236 Atk / 132 Spe
Tera Type: Rock

Earthquake
Hammer Arm
Thunder Punch
Stone Edge

Each part is the most used on its own, so not every team runs this exact set.

Usage by rating

All players4%
Rated 1500+2.14%
Rated 1630+0.32%
Rated 1760+0.04%

Usage by month

Oct 20250.32%

Moves

Earthquake85.1%
Hammer Arm67.6%
Thunder Punch51.3%
Stone Edge45.4%
Head Smash32.9%
Rock Slide23.7%
Tera Blast23.1%
Fire Punch18%
Zen Headbutt14.5%
Iron Head12.2%

Items

Choice Scarf73.9%
Life Orb15.2%
Iron Ball8.2%
Eviolite2%
Focus Sash0.3%
Choice Band0.2%

Abilities

75.4%
24.6%

EV spreads

Adamant 140 HP / 236 Atk / 132 Spe44.4%
Brave 220 HP / 236 Atk / 36 SpD23.1%
Jolly 236 Atk / 36 SpD / 212 Spe18.9%
Adamant 236 Atk / 36 Def / 212 Spe6.2%
Adamant 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 SpD2.3%

Tera types

Rock50.2%
Grass22.1%
Psychic11.2%
Steel8.3%

Common teammates

Glimmet73.1%
Mienfoo48.2%
Corphish44.9%
Grookey44.4%
Totodile38.7%
Bronzor22%
Solosis20.6%
Slowpoke20%

Evolution

#0408CranidosRock
1. Level 30#0409RampardosRock

Moves

Game Sort Type

Level up 12

1HeadbuttHas a 30% chance to make the target flinch.NormalPhys70100%15

1LeerLowers the target’s Defense by one stage.NormalStatus—100%30

6Focus EnergyIncreases the user’s chance to score a critical hit.NormalStatus——30

10Rock SmashHas a 50% chance to lower the target’s Defense by one stage.FightingPhys40100%15

15Take DownUser receives 1/4 the damage it inflicts in recoil.NormalPhys9085%20

19Scary FaceLowers the target’s Speed by two stages.NormalStatus—100%10

24AssurancePower is doubled if the target has already received damage this turn.DarkPhys60100%10

28SlamInflicts regular damage with no additional effect.NormalPhys8075%20

33Ancient PowerHas a 10% chance to raise all of the user’s stats by one stage.RockSpec60100%5

37Zen HeadbuttHas a 20% chance to make the target flinch.PsychicPhys8090%15

42ScreechLowers the target’s Defense by two stages.NormalStatus—85%40

46Head SmashUser receives 1/2 the damage inflicted in recoil.RockPhys15080%5

TM / HM / TR 47

TM01Take DownUser receives 1/4 the damage it inflicts in recoil.NormalPhys9085%20

TM05Mud-SlapHas a 100% chance to lower the target’s accuracy by one stage.GroundSpec20100%10

TM06Scary FaceLowers the target’s Speed by two stages.NormalStatus—100%10

TM07ProtectPrevents any moves from hitting the user this turn.NormalStatus——10

TM18ThiefTakes the target’s item.DarkPhys60100%25

TM20TrailblazeThe user attacks suddenly as if leaping out from tall grass. The user's nimble footwork boosts its Speed stat.GrassPhys50100%20

TM25FacadePower doubles if user is burned, paralyzed, or poisoned.NormalPhys70100%20

TM28BulldozeHas a 100% chance to lower the target’s Speed by one stage.GroundPhys60100%20

TM36Rock TombHas a 100% chance to lower the target’s Speed by one stage.RockPhys6095%15

TM43FlingThrows held item at the target; power depends on the item.DarkPhys—100%10

TM47EndurePrevents the user’s HP from lowering below 1 this turn.NormalStatus——10

TM49Sunny DayChanges the weather to sunny for five turns.FireStatus——5

TM50Rain DanceChanges the weather to rain for five turns.WaterStatus——5

TM51SandstormChanges the weather to a sandstorm for five turns.RockStatus——10

TM55DigUser digs underground, dodging all attacks, and hits next turn.GroundPhys80100%10

TM59Zen HeadbuttHas a 20% chance to make the target flinch.PsychicPhys8090%15

TM66Body SlamHas a 30% chance to paralyze the target.NormalPhys85100%15

TM67Fire PunchHas a 10% chance to burn the target.FirePhys75100%15

TM68Thunder PunchHas a 10% chance to paralyze the target.ElectricPhys75100%15

TM70Sleep TalkRandomly uses one of the user’s other three moves. Only works if the user is sleeping.NormalStatus——10

TM76Rock BlastHits 2-5 times in one turn.RockPhys2590%10

TM84Stomping TantrumHas double power if the user’s last move failed.GroundPhys75100%10

TM85RestUser sleeps for two turns, completely healing itself.PsychicStatus——5

TM86Rock SlideHas a 30% chance to make the target flinch.RockPhys7590%10

TM88Swords DanceRaises the user’s Attack by two stages.NormalStatus——20

TM99Iron HeadHas a 30% chance to make the target flinch.SteelPhys80100%15

TM103SubstituteTransfers 1/4 of the user’s max HP into a doll, protecting the user from further damage or status changes until it breaks.NormalStatus——10

TM108CrunchHas a 20% chance to lower the target’s Defense by one stage.DarkPhys80100%15

TM115Dragon PulseInflicts regular damage with no additional effect.DragonSpec85100%10

TM116Stealth RockCauses damage when opposing Pokémon switch in.RockStatus——20

TM125FlamethrowerHas a 10% chance to burn the target.FireSpec90100%15

TM126ThunderboltHas a 10% chance to paralyze the target.ElectricSpec90100%15

TM133Earth PowerHas a 10% chance to lower the target’s Special Defense by one stage.GroundSpec90100%10

TM135Ice BeamHas a 10% chance to freeze the target.IceSpec90100%10

TM141Fire BlastHas a 10% chance to burn the target.FireSpec11085%5

TM143BlizzardHas a 10% chance to freeze the target.IceSpec11070%5

TM149EarthquakeInflicts regular damage and can hit Dig users.GroundPhys100100%10

TM150Stone EdgeHas an increased chance for a critical hit.RockPhys10080%5

TM166ThunderHas a 30% chance to paralyze the target.ElectricSpec11070%10

TM171Tera BlastIf the user has Terastallized, it unleashes energy of its Tera Type. This move inflicts damage using the Attack or Sp. Atk stat—whichever is higher for the user.NormalSpec80100%10

TM172RoarImmediately ends wild battles. Forces trainers to switch Pokémon.NormalStatus——20

TM179Smack DownRemoves any immunity to Ground damage.RockPhys50100%15

TM191UproarForced to use this move for several turns. Pokémon cannot fall asleep in that time.NormalSpec90100%10

TM204Double-EdgeUser receives 1/3 the damage inflicted in recoil.NormalPhys120100%15

TM205EndeavorLowers the target’s HP to equal the user’s.NormalPhys—100%5

TM224CurseGhosts pay half their max HP to hurt the target every turn. Others decrease Speed but raise Attack and Defense.GhostStatus——10

TM226Dragon CheerThe user raises its allies’ morale with a draconic cry so that their future attacks have a heightened chance of landing critical hits. This rouses Dragon types more.DragonStatus——15

Egg moves 4

EggHammer ArmLowers user’s Speed by one stage.FightingPhys10090%10

EggStompHas a 30% chance to make the target flinch.NormalPhys65100%20

EggThrashHits every turn for 2-3 turns, then confuses the user.NormalPhys120100%10

EggWhirlwindImmediately ends wild battles. Forces trainers to switch Pokémon.NormalStatus——20

Pokédex entries

Category: Head Butt Pokémon
Debut: Sinnoh · Diamond & Pearl
Color: Blue
Shape
Habitat: —
Pal Park area: Mountain

Original Sinnoh#036Extended Sinnoh#036Original Alola#188Original Akala#115Updated Alola#235Updated Akala#136Hisui#208Blueberry#107

An incredibly rare sight. They duel each other by ramming their heads together, and the resulting sound echoes throughout the area like the pealing of a bell.
Legends: Arceus
Its hard skull is its distinguishing feature. It snapped trees by headbutting them, and then it fed on their ripe berries.
Ultra Moon
A primeval Pokémon, it possesses a hard and sturdy skull, lacking any intelligence within.
Ultra Sun
In rock layers where Cranidos fossils are found, the fossilized trunks of trees snapped in two are also often found.
Moon
It lived in jungles around a hundred million years ago. It used its skillful headbutts to combat Aerodactyl.
Sun
CRANIDOS toughen up their already rock-hard heads by headbutting one another.
HeartGold · SoulSilver
A lifelong jungle dweller from 100 million years ago, it would snap obstructing trees with head butts.
Platinum · Black · White · Black 2 · White 2 · Y · Alpha Sapphire
It was resurrected from an iron ball-like fossil. It downs prey with its head butts.
Pearl · X · Omega Ruby
It lived in jungles around 100 million years ago. Its skull is as hard as iron.
Diamond