In Black & White, Cranidos isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Rampardos to unlock its full potential. At 350 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

What is Cranidos weak to?

In Black & White, Cranidos's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Blaziken (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ground and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

What is the best ability for Cranidos?

In Black & White, Run Sheer Force on Cranidos. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Cranidos also gets Mold Breaker, but they don't compare.

What role does Cranidos play in battle?

In Black & White, Cranidos fills the cannon role. It's a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. At base 58 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's fragile, can't afford to take many hits.

Cranidos - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Cannon

DTier

58Speed · Slow

Stats & Training

Cranidos's all-in on Attack at the expense of Sp. Atk. The physical lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 1 Attack EV and follows a standard growth curve.

Base Stats

Avg

HP67

Attack125

Defense40

Sp. Atk30

Sp. Def30

Speed58

Total350

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Erratic600,000 XP

Height0.9 m

Weight31.5 kg

Base XP70

Abilities

Mold Breaker

Bypasses targets' abilities if they could hinder or prevent a move.

Sheer ForceHA

Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

EV Yield

HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training source

Pokedex Entries

A lifelong jungle dweller from 100 million years ago, it would snap obstructing trees with head butts.

Cranidos Weakness

Cranidos is weak to Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, and Steel. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. That's a lot of weak spots to cover so team support is important.

Cranidos Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel
0.5x (Resist)	Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying

Type ChartFragile

5Weak

4Resist

0Immune

Score-6

Gen V Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Water Grass Fighting Ground Steel

½xResist

Normal Fire Poison Flying

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (4)

Fire Ice Flying Bug

How to Beat Cranidos in Black & White (Best Counters)

Virizion GrassFighting	C
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Solar BeamTM22 Magical LeafLv. 13 Rock SmashTM94 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 207-244%KO Solar Beam 2x 207-244%KO Magical Leaf 2x 104-124%KO Rock Smash 2x 61-73% View Virizion builds →
Throh Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Vital ThrowLv. 17 Low SweepTM47 RevengeLv. 21 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 101-120%KO Vital Throw 2x 113-133%KO Low Sweep 2x 104-124%KO Revenge 2x 97-116%KO View Throh builds →
Sawk Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Low SweepTM47 Rock SmashTM94 Double KickLv. 13 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 101-120%KO Low Sweep 2x 123-146%KO Rock Smash 2x 80-94% Double Kick 2x 61-73% View Sawk builds →
Scraggy DarkFighting	D
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Brick BreakLv. 20 Low SweepTM47 Rock SmashTM94 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 113-133%KO Brick Break 2x 97-116%KO Low Sweep 2x 83-99% Rock Smash 2x 54-64% View Scraggy builds →
Drilbur Ground	D
Available Moves Moves DigLv. 19 Metal ClawLv. 15 Rock SmashTM94 Mud-SlapLv. 8 Damage vs Cranidos Dig 2x 113-133%KO Metal Claw 2x 49-57% Rock Smash 2x 39-46% Mud-Slap 2x 21-26% View Drilbur builds →

Black & White Evolution

Cranidos evolves into Rampardos. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. Plenty of partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are slow to hatch. Evolving adds up to 145 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#408Cranidos

Level 30

#409Rampardos

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Cranidos

Rock

Rampardos

Rock

97+30

ATK

125

165+40

DEF

60+20

SP.ATK

65+35

SP.DEF

50+20

SPE

BST

350C-Tier

495B-Tier+145

ROLE

Cannon

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Moderate

Breed Cranidos with 67 breeding partners from the Monster egg group. Pass egg moves like Crunch, Curse, Double-Edge and 8 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Monster

Gender

♂87.5%♀12.5%

Hatch Time

30 cycles·7,710 steps

Moderate~8 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

11moves

Breed With (best first)

Black & White Cranidos Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

Breeding opens up real options for Cranidos. Crunch and Curse come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Head Smash and Stone Edge and coverage across 9 types.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Headbutt

C7010015Normal

Lv 1

Leer

——10030Normal

Lv 6

Focus Energy

———30Normal

Lv 10

Pursuit

D4010020Dark

Lv 15

Take Down

—908520Normal

Lv 19

Scary Face

——10010Normal

Lv 24

Assurance

—5010010Dark

Lv 28

Chip Away

—7010020Normal

Lv 33

Ancient Power

D601005Rock

Lv 37

Zen Headbutt

C809015Psychic

Lv 42

Screech

——8540Normal

Lv 46

Head Smash

B150805Rock

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

C—10015Normal

TM14

Blizzard

D120705Ice

TM78

Bulldoze

C6010020Ground

TM28

Dig

C8010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM26

Earthquake

B10010010Ground

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM38

Fire Blast

D120855Fire

TM35

Flamethrower

D9510015Fire

TM56

Fling

——10010Dark

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

D9510010Ice

TM59

Incinerate

—3010015Fire

TM66

Payback

C5010010Dark

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C—10020Normal

TM69

Rock Polish

D——20Rock

TM80

Rock Slide

B759010Rock

TM94

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM39

Rock Tomb

—609510Rock

TM48

Round

—6010015Normal

TM37

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TM23

Smack Down

—5010015Rock

TM71

Stone Edge

B100805Rock

HM04

Strength

C8010015Normal

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM75

Swords Dance

C——30Normal

TM46

Thief

—6010010Dark

TM25

Thunder

D1207010Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

D9510015Electric

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Crunch

C8010015Dark

Egg

Curse

C——10Ghost

Egg

Double-Edge

B12010015Normal

Egg

Hammer Arm

C1009010Fighting

Egg

Iron Head

C8010015Steel

Egg

Iron Tail

C1007515Steel

Egg

Leer

——10030Normal

Egg

Slam

—807520Normal

Egg

Stomp

—6510020Normal

Egg

Thrash

B12010010Normal

Egg

Whirlwind-6

D—10020Normal

Tutor Moves

Cranidos can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 4

Captivate

——10020Normal

Gen 4

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Gen 4

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Gen 4

Natural Gift

——10015Normal

Gen 4

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

Gen 4

Shock Wave

—60—20Electric

How to Get Cranidos in Black & White

No searching required for Cranidos. You receive it at Nacrene City from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.

Best Locations to Catch Cranidos in Black & White

Nacrene City - Nacrene Museum

WhiteGift from NPC Lv.25 City

LimitedMid

AnyRevive Skull Fossil

Nacrene City - Nacrene Museum

BlackGift from NPC Lv.25 City

LimitedMid

AnyRevive Skull Fossil

Cranidos Guide

In Black & White, Cranidos isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Rampardos to unlock its full potential. At 350 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
In Black & White, Cranidos's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Blaziken (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ground and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
In Black & White, Run Sheer Force on Cranidos. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Cranidos also gets Mold Breaker, but they don't compare.
In Black & White, Sheer Force is the hidden ability. It strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects. Worth hunting for if you want Cranidos to compete at a higher level.
In Black & White, Cranidos fills the cannon role. It's a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. At base 58 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's fragile, can't afford to take many hits.

Game Availability

Cranidos first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 12 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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Pansage Grass	D
Obtain MethodDreamyard Gift Available Move Moves Vine WhipLv. 10 Damage vs Cranidos Vine Whip 2x 47-57% View Pansage builds →
Panpour Water	D
Obtain MethodDreamyard Gift Available Move Moves Water GunLv. 10 Damage vs Cranidos Water Gun 2x 47-57% View Panpour builds →
Snivy Grass	D
Obtain MethodNuvema Town Gift Available Move Moves Vine WhipLv. 7 Damage vs Cranidos Vine Whip 2x 43-51% View Snivy builds →
Oshawott Water	D
Obtain MethodNuvema Town Gift Available Move Moves Water GunLv. 7 Damage vs Cranidos Water Gun 2x 53-64% View Oshawott builds →
Scraggy DarkFighting	D
Upcoming Move Moves Brick BreakLv. 20 Learns Brick Break at Level 20 View Scraggy builds →

Tirtouga WaterRock	C
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves Water GunLv. 1 Aqua JetLv. 15 Damage vs Cranidos Water Gun 2x 52-62% Aqua Jet 2x 56-67% View Tirtouga builds →
Scraggy DarkFighting	D
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Brick BreakLv. 20 Low SweepTM47 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 113-133%KO Brick Break 2x 97-114%KO Low Sweep 2x 84-100%KO View Scraggy builds →
Drilbur Ground	D
Available Moves Moves DigLv. 19 Metal ClawLv. 15 Mud-SlapLv. 8 Damage vs Cranidos Dig 2x 113-133%KO Metal Claw 2x 48-57% Mud-Slap 2x 24-29% View Drilbur builds →
Omanyte RockWater	D
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Move Moves Water GunLv. 10 Damage vs Cranidos Water Gun 2x 71-86% View Omanyte builds →
Snivy Grass	D
Obtain MethodNuvema Town Gift Available Moves Moves Leaf TornadoLv. 16 Vine WhipLv. 7 Damage vs Cranidos Leaf Tornado 2x 71-86% Vine Whip 2x 44-52% View Snivy builds →

Virizion GrassFighting	C
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Solar BeamTM22 Magical LeafLv. 13 Rock SmashTM94 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 195-230%KO Solar Beam 2x 195-230%KO Magical Leaf 2x 100-119%KO Rock Smash 2x 59-70% View Virizion builds →
Throh Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Vital ThrowLv. 17 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 94-111%KO Earthquake 2x 102-121%KO Dig 2x 81-96% Vital Throw 2x 110-130%KO View Throh builds →
Sawk Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Low SweepTM47 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 94-111%KO Earthquake 2x 121-143%KO Dig 2x 98-116%KO Low Sweep 2x 119-141%KO View Sawk builds →
Krokorok GroundDark	D
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Low SweepTM47 Rock SmashTM94 Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 132-156%KO Dig 2x 106-126%KO Low Sweep 2x 58-69% Rock Smash 2x 37-44% View Krokorok builds →
Scraggy DarkFighting	D
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 DigTM28 Brick BreakLv. 20 Low SweepTM47 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 104-122%KO Dig 2x 64-77% Brick Break 2x 94-111%KO Low Sweep 2x 81-96% View Scraggy builds →

Virizion GrassFighting	C
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Solar BeamTM22 Magical LeafLv. 13 Rock SmashTM94 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 202-238%KO Solar Beam 2x 202-238%KO Magical Leaf 2x 102-121%KO Rock Smash 2x 61-72% View Virizion builds →
Throh Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Vital ThrowLv. 17 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 97-114%KO Earthquake 2x 103-122%KO Dig 2x 83-98% Vital Throw 2x 111-130%KO View Throh builds →
Sawk Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Brick BreakLv. 29 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 97-114%KO Earthquake 2x 125-148%KO Dig 2x 99-117%KO Brick Break 2x 141-166%KO View Sawk builds →
Krokorok GroundDark	D
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Low SweepTM47 BulldozeTM78 Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 133-157%KO Dig 2x 108-127%KO Low Sweep 2x 59-70% Bulldoze 2x 83-98% View Krokorok builds →
Scraggy DarkFighting	D
Available Moves Moves High Jump KickLv. 31 Focus BlastTM52 DigTM28 Brick BreakLv. 20 Damage vs Cranidos High Jump Kick 2x 160-189%KO Focus Blast 2x 104-124%KO Dig 2x 67-80% Brick Break 2x 93-111%KO View Scraggy builds →

Virizion GrassFighting	C
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 Solar BeamTM22 Magical LeafLv. 13 Rock SmashTM94 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 212-250%KO Solar Beam 2x 212-250%KO Magical Leaf 2x 107-126%KO Rock Smash 2x 62-74% View Virizion builds →
Throh Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Vital ThrowLv. 17 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 100-118%KO Earthquake 2x 108-127%KO Dig 2x 86-102%KO Vital Throw 2x 115-135%KO View Throh builds →
Sawk Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Brick BreakLv. 29 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Blast 2x 100-118%KO Earthquake 2x 129-153%KO Dig 2x 105-124%KO Brick Break 2x 147-174%KO View Sawk builds →
Krokorok GroundDark	D
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Low SweepTM47 BulldozeTM78 Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 139-165%KO Dig 2x 112-132%KO Low Sweep 2x 61-73% Bulldoze 2x 84-100%KO View Krokorok builds →
Scraggy DarkFighting	D
Available Moves Moves High Jump KickLv. 31 Focus BlastTM52 DigTM28 Brick BreakLv. 20 Damage vs Cranidos High Jump Kick 2x 167-197%KO Focus Blast 2x 110-129%KO Dig 2x 70-82% Brick Break 2x 97-115%KO View Scraggy builds →

Excadrill GroundSteel	A
Recommended Build AbilitySandforce ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Rapid Spin Iron Head Rock Slide Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 249-293%KO Rapid Spin 21-24% Rock Slide 62-73% View Excadrill builds →
Jirachi SteelPsychic	A
Recommended Build AbilitySerenegrace ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves Iron Head U Turn Ice Punch Healing Wish Damage vs Cranidos U Turn 37-44% View Jirachi builds →
Politoed Water	B
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves ScaldSTAB EncoreUtility ProtectPriority ToxicUtility Damage vs Cranidos Scald 2x 142-167%KO View Politoed builds →
Conkeldurr Fighting	B
Recommended Build AbilityGuts ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves Drain Punch Mach Punch Ice Punch Thunder Punch Damage vs Cranidos Drain Punch 2x 210-248%KO Mach Punch 2x 113-133%KO View Conkeldurr builds →
Breloom GrassFighting	B
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves Mach Punch Bullet Seed Swords Dance Low Sweep Damage vs Cranidos Mach Punch 2x 140-164%KO Bullet Seed 2x 88-103%KO View Breloom builds →