Pokémon Cramorant

[Argnam]

『CRAMORANT』



Type:

Base Stats:
HP 70
ATK 85
DEF 55
SATK 85
SDEF 95
SPD 85


Ability (has only one): Gulp Missile

Complete Moveset:

All moves

Level Up Moves:
- [01] Belch
- [01] Peck
- [01] Stockpile
- [01] Swallow
- [01] Spit Up
- [07] Water Gun
- [14] Fury Attack
- [21] Pluck
- [28] Dive
- [35] Drill Peck
- [42] Amnesia
- [49] Thrash
- [56] Hydro Pump

Egg Moves:
- Defog
- Aerial Ace
- Feather Dance
- Aqua Ring
- Roost

TMs:
- [TM06] Fly
- [TM08] Hyper Beam
- [TM09] Giga Impact
- [TM21] Rest
- [TM23] Thief
- [TM24] Snore
- [TM25] Protect
- [TM27] Icy Wind
- [TM30] Steel Wing
- [TM31] Attract
- [TM33] Rain Dance
- [TM36] Whirlpool
- [TM39] Facade
- [TM45] Dive
- [TM46] Weather Ball
- [TM58] Assurance
- [TM76] Round
- [TM95] Air Slash

TRs:
- [TR03] Hydro Pump
- [TR04] Surf
- [TR05] Ice Beam
- [TR06] Blizzard
- [TR12] Agility
- [TR17] Amnesia
- [TR20] Substitute
- [TR21] Reversal
- [TR26] Endure
- [TR27] Sleep Talk
- [TR35] Uproar
- [TR39] Superpower
- [TR66] Brave Bird
- [TR84] Scald
- [TR89] Hurricane
- [TR95] Throat Chop
- [TR98] Liquidation

Notable Moves (Stab moves are in blue):

Air Slash
Brave Bird
Defog
Dive (Obligatory for ability to work)
Hurricane
Hydro Pump
Ice Beam
Liquidation
Roost
Scald
Surf (Obligatory for ability to work)
Superpower
Icy Wind
Throat Chop
Weather Ball


New Ability:「Gulp Missile」 - Will change form to either Gulping or Gorging Form when using Surf or Dive. If hit afterwards, form reverts and it shoots out its prey to attack, doing 1/4th of opponent's maximum HP in damage. If the Cramorant was in Gulping Form, the opponent's Defense is lowered 1 stage. If the Cramorant was in Gorging Form, the opponent is paralyzed.



OVERVIEW

Positives:

+ Immunity to Ground moves and spikes/webs, thanks to its Flying type;
+ Access to Defog, Scald and Roost;
+ Good Special Def. stat, nice Speed stat, altough not the highest;
+ Nice offensive typing and STAB

Negatives:

- Weakness to Stealth Rock due to Typing;
- Middling/Mediocre Stats across the board, and really bad Phys Def stat;
- Access to only one ability, and either the move Surf or Dive is required in order for it to work, filling a move slot that could be used for Scald/Hydro Pump or Liquidation, respectively;
- Lack of U-turn for momentum (almost all bird Pokemon gets u-turn, for comparison);
- Lack of an Offensive Settup move, like Swords Dance, Calm Mind and etc;
- Lack of better support moves apart from Defog. It doesn't even learn Toxic.


Dynamaxing Potential:

Passable if used as a sweeper of sorts, maybe on lower tiers. Max Geyser and Max Airstream can be used to summon rain and increase speed by 1 stage, respectively.

General Thoughts:
As you can see by Cramorant's base stats and movepool, It's extremely average/mediocre. In OU, it is entirely outclassed as a Flying/Water mon by Gyarados, which has better stats, abilities and a way better movepool.
It's Ability is quite weird to be honest. Dealing 1/4th of the opponent's max HP as damage is really cool, but the settup required for it is what holds it back: Surf or Dive is needed to be used first. Hydro Pump is a better offensive move than Surf, and Scald is also a better "passive-aggressive" move than Surf, due to the 100% 30% Burn chance. On the Physical spectrum, Dive being a 2 turn move is a huge drawback, as it allows for the opponent to freely switch in or protect/heal. Liquidation is better on the physicial side, being a 1 turn move with a 20% chance of lowering the enemy phys def by 1 stage.
Not having a better ability, like Swift Swim or Water Absorb helps hindering his perfomance.

Movepool-wise, Water/Flying is a really nice type combo, and Cramorant gets some nice moves for both stab and coverage, in the form of Hydro Pump, Scald, Liquidation, Brave Bird, Air Slash, Hurricane, Superpower and Ice beam. Even Icy wind could be used on a niche set, perhaps. However, the lack of U-turn, a move almost all Bird Looking pokemon can learn, should be noted, as it is further detrimental on both a sweeper or support set, when trying to achieve a momentum grab.
As for the support-oriented movepool, Cramorant only has Defog and Roost as good, usable moves. Not even Tailwind, Toxic or whirlwind. Its physical defense is abysmal, so keep that in mind if trying to use it as a Defogger. 85 Base speed is not bad, but it gets trolled by the Rotom-Forms (which also outclass it as a Defogger), being outsped by 1 base point, with the Rotom Forms hitting 86 Base Speed.

Overall, unless you're using it for meme purposes, Cramorant is not recommended for use in the OU tier. Maybe later, when we are able to form lower tiers, It will be usable on NU, or maybe RU, since the Pokedex is way, way smaller now. Only the future will tell.


Potential Movesets:

Regular Rain Sweeper, Specially offensive
Cramorant @ Life Orb
Ability: Gulp Missile
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump/Surf
- Hurricane
- Ice Beam
- Roost

Nothing special, pretty much the first set that comes to mind when seeing this mon. Like I said before, Its totally outclassed by Gyarados or a Swift Swim mon, But it might be usable on lower tiers later on. The lack of bulk and settup moves like Nasty Plot, Calm Mind and even Work Up also detriments it further when trying to accomplish a sweeper role. Surf can be used instead of Hydro Pump to activate Cramorant's Ability.

Regular Rain Sweeper, Physically offensive
Cramorant @ Life Orb
Ability: Gulp Missile
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Liquidation/Dive
- Brave Bird
- Superpower
- Roost

Same as the previous one, except this time it hits on the physical side. Superpower is a cool move, and it is a cool combo with flying stab. Like the previous one as well, the lack of bulk and settup moves like Swords Dance, Bulk Up and even Work Up, makes it hard to justify using on a team. Dive can be used to activate Cramorant's ability, I guess.

Fast Defogger Wannabe
Cramorant @ Leftovers
Ability: Gulp Missile
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Defog
- Scald
- Protect/Air Slash/Icy Wind

As you can see, if being a sweeper was not hard enough for this poor little bird, being a support mon is even harder. Not being able to learn Toxic is ungodly awful. You can try to invest on the Sp.Def side a little bit more, instead of speed. But, with all due respect, it's still gonna suck in OU. Once lower tiers are formed, we will be able to invest on speed just to hit certain speed tiers on the tier it's in, and use the remaining EV points onto phys or spdef. But until there, a max speed investment might be better.


Final thoughts:

Cramorant, although having a really fun/goofy/silly design, is a really mediocre Pokemon. Again, it's completely outclassed in OU, by a lot of other mons available. Unless it is your absolute favorite Pokemon of all time, or you are just trying to meme on the ladder, I wouldn't reccomend using it.


PS.: This is my first review/analysis thread. Please let me know if I did anything wrong or if something needs to be corrected. Despite writing a lot of stuff, i tried to be as clean as possible. I also tried to made it as organized as possible aesthetically. Thanks in advance, specially to the Moderator GMars for letting me know about the reservation thread and the review format. :]

 

[Argnam]

ALSO:

 

[Gamingfan2.0]

View attachment 207379

mood

 

[Matleo]

this one should get more Gorgle and Gulp shot forms in future using other pokemon and moves.
It learns Belch, give it Sludge wave and make it shot a grimer with stench, quilwish with poison point or intimidate, politoed with drizzle, barboach with mud sport, carvanah with rough skin, masquerain with intimidate, frilish with cursed body.

Would make it some more for fun. With different effects.

It only work when user uses surf and dive?

what with muddy water, waterfal, sludge wave?
or when oponet uses surf or those moves against Cramorant? or Brine? I think then it should also activate.

 

[Madrigal]

How about a surprise trapper set with roost/dive/whirlpool? And maybe defog in the last slot, or featherdance, scald, substitute etc.

Just trying to make use of the reliable recovery along with with the % damage of gulp missile.

 

[DrPumpkinz]

Whether you invest in speed or spdef, I think the bulky Defog set should make better use of Gulp Missile, as it seems pretty damn strong, at least on paper.

Cramorant @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
Ability: Gulp Missile
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Roost
- Surf
- Air Slash / Scald / Feather Dance

Using Surf instead of Scald does further worsen Cramorant's physical frailty, but Gulp Missile is not to be trifled with. Losing 25% of your max HP isn't something to take lightly, and getting paralyzed from getting a Pikachu shot into your face is potentially even worse. Because Cramorant starts catching Pikachu once it's below half health, you can put your opponent in a tough spot where they can either finish the bird off and get paralyzed, or switch to something that won't mind paralysis while Cramorant gets a safe Roost or Defog. Though it is unfortunate that Electric types, the thing Cramorant fears the most, don't fear paralysis.

In case anyone is wondering why I listed Feather Dance on the set, it's a more reliable (though more temporary) way of punishing a physical attacker switching in than Scald. It also dodges the potential issue of burning something you would have rather been paralyzed. This thing doesn't have many options, okay?

 

[SnowyOwl713]

Cramorant @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Gulp Missile
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Surf
- Endure
- Blizzard
- Hurricane

This set is more of a meme strategy than anything, and requires proper setup, preferably involving debuffing the opponent offenses and setting Rain before switching in. Surf is obligatory in order to trigger Gulp Missile. Endure is to tank a hit, thus ensuring the opponent takes the 25% damage. If Cramorant takes enough damage on a Surf turn to go to yellow (in the case of opponents outspeeding), Cramorant will get a Pikachu. Endure, and the opponent will be paralyzed, thus allowing Cramorant to outspeed and finish with Surf, thus gaining another Pikachu. Blizzard and Hurricane are to offer coverage against Grass and Dragon types. Weakness Policy gives Cramorant a means to buff its meager offensive stats, but requires the opponent to be debuffed and hit Cramorant super effectively to work.

In Doubles, an ally support with Telepathy could be an interesting asset for Cramorant, healing and setting up for him to sweep with the Endure / Surf pattern. Probably still fairly low-tier though.

 

[RalphThePyro]

I am actually having much success with a Defensive Trick Room variant!

Max Defense, and a split between special defense, special attack, and HP.

Held item: Weakness Policy
Moveset: Surf, Stockpile, Swallow, Hurricane

You will need a Screen Setter and a healer, but it works!

 

[Divine Retribution]

I am actually having much success with a Defensive Trick Room variant!

Max Defense, and a split between special defense, special attack, and HP.

Held item: Weakness Policy
Moveset: Surf, Stockpile, Swallow, Hurricane

You will need a Screen Setter and a healer, but it works!

So you need Screens support, Wish support, and Trick Room support in order to make this thing do anything? What if you gave all that support to something that doesn't suck ass to begin with, like Aegislash, Conkeldurr, or Tyranitar?

Nearly anything can sweep occasionally if you provide enough support and only play against bad players. That isn't enough to make it viable, especially in light of the fact that you can give all that support to something that isn't terrible even without it and get way more bang for your buck.

 

[RalphThePyro]

So you need Screens support, Wish support, and Trick Room support in order to make this thing do anything? What if you gave all that support to something that doesn't suck ass to begin with, like Aegislash, Conkeldurr, or Tyranitar?

Nearly anything can sweep occasionally if you provide enough support and only play against bad players. That isn't enough to make it viable, especially in light of the fact that you can give all that support to something that isn't terrible even without it and get way more bang for your buck.

Yes this is true. In fact since Seires 3 dropped I haven't been doing so hot in Ranked Doubles.