Crustle, The Stone Home Pokémon. This highly territorial Pokémon prefers dry climates. It won't come out of its boulder on rainy days. Its thick claws are its greatest weapons. They're mighty enough to crack Rhyperior's carapace.
Overview
Introduced in Generation 5, Crustle is one of the Pokemon gifted with a unique typing and Shell Smash, one of the best boosting moves in the game. However, Crustle never saw true competitive success in higher tiers due to its middling typing and stats. At its peak though, Crustle is a terrifying late game sweeper, and with the introduction of Heavy Duty Boots, Crustle has become even harder to remove once it boosts thanks to its access to Sturdy. Crustle may not be the most dangerous sweeper around, but with the right support you can definitely expect it to put in some work.
Positives
-Access to one of the best boosting moves in the game means that Crustle is a potent threat once it sets up.
-Crustle packs some solid coverage, not a wide movepool but it has enough tools to threaten near anything for neutral damage between Stone Edge, Knock Off, X-Scissor, and Earthquake.
Negatives
-Bug is a poor defensive type and while the secondary Rock typing helps, it does make Crustle weak to a number of priority moves such as Aqua Jet, Bullet Punch, and Accelerock when Lycanroc returns, while being being neutral to others such as Mach Punch, Vacuum Wave, and Sucker Punch.
-Crustle is very slow, meaning even with a boost it is very easy to outspeed it with nearly any common Choice Scarf user, or any Pokemon with base 126 Speed or higher.
Abilities
Shell Armor - Prevents Critical Hits - Not a very exciting or exceptionally useful option, this is overall subpar to Crustle's other abilities.
Sturdy - Prevents OHKOs - With the change in Generation 5, this ability now prevents the Pokemon from being one hit KOed by any move, making this the best option. With Heavy-Duty Boots, Crustle will always get a Shell Smash off or need to be hit twice post boost to be removed.
Weak Armor - When hit with a physical move, this Pokemon's Defense falls by 1 stage but Speed is increased by 2 - This can be used with Shell Smash for some interesting combos as well as with Weakness Policy, but this is a bit more unreliable than Sturdy.
Movesets
Shell Smash
-Shell Smash
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-Knock Off / X-Scissor
Item Attached: Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sturdy
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Speed
Adamant Nature
With Shell Smash as the main move of the set, Crustle finds its home on a team that needs a late game sweeper. The combination of Sturdy and Heavy Duty Boots allows Crustle to effectively maintain a Focus Sash as long as it does not switch into an attack. Stone Edge is Crustle's strongest STAB option which is unfortunate due to its shaky accuracy. Earthquake is strong coverage for Steel-types that resist Rock-type moves and makes the QuakeEdge combo that is largely unresisted. Last slot if open for moves such as Knock Off which can prevent a Choice Scarf user from switching in and revenge killing Crustle, or X-Scissor for a more reliable, albeit more resisted, STAB option that shreds Dark-, Grass-, and Psychic-types.
Other Options
Weak Armor in combination with Heavy-Duty Boots, White Herb, or Weakness Policy adds some flexibility to Crustle's options to sweep. However, they tend to be less reliable than Heavy-Duty Boots with Sturdy. Any of these alternative items are nice with Sturdy as well though, and will perform more explosively but less reliably than Heavy-Duty Boots.
Partners
Crustle's partners are dependent on the item selected as this changes how one approaches getting Crustle into the field. Without Heavy-Duty Boots, hazard control is a must which makes options such as Hattrem and Eldegoss excellent. Hattrem is a nice option in general as its Magic Bounce can just stop Stallbreakers that could prevent Crustle from setting up. as well as can hinder tanks by reflecting Toxic with well timed switches. With Heavy-Duty Boots, Pokemon that can weaken walls are needed. Pokemon such as Galarian Rapidash and Choice Scarf Arctovish with their high power are solid options, especially since they can pivot into threats that could prevent Crustle from sweeping.
Countering Crustle
-Abomasnow is a strong answer as its Snow Warning will break Sturdy even if Crustle opts for Heavy-Duty Boots, and also has access to Ice Shard to pick it off. However, it can't reliably switch in to either of Crustle's STABs so it must be careful.
-Cofagrigus is just a good answer in general due to its high bulk and access to Will-O-Wisp to hinder Crustle. However, it doesn't appreciate taking a boosted Knock Off.
-Hitmontop resists both of Crustle's STABs and has Intimidate to help limit Crustle's power or force out the White Herb early. Hitmontop also has access to Mach Punch, Bullet Punch, and Sucker Punch to revenge kill Crustle. Kommo-o - While weak to Ice-types, Assault Vest Kommo-o is a menace with its massive offensive stats and powerful STAB moves, namely Close Combat which hit Crustle on its softer defense stat.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Route 18
Black 2/White 2:
Route 18, Seaside Cave
X/Y:
Evolve Dwebble
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Mirage Mountain
Sun/Moon:
Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Ultra Space Wilds
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Route 8, Axew's Eye, Rolling Fields, South Lake Miloch, Stony Wilderness
Max Raid Battles: Dusty Bowl, Giant's Seat, Rolling Fields, Stony Wilderness
Anime Appearences
