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.
CRANIDOS toughen up their already rock-hard heads by headbutting one another.
CRANIDOS toughen up their already rock-hard heads by headbutting one another.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
 Buizel Water | C | |
 Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
 Totodile Water | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
 Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Whiscash builds →Mud Bomb 2x98-115%KO Water Gun 2x63-75% Mud-Slap 2x33-40% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Lapras builds →Water Pulse 2x98-115%KO Water Gun 2x67-81% | ||
 Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Carnivine builds →Vine Whip 2x73-87% Bullet Seed 2x42-52% | ||
 Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Makuhita builds →Vital Throw 2x77-92% Arm Thrust 2x23-29% | ||
 Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Wooper builds →Mud Shot 2x42-52% Water Gun 2x33-40% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Whiscash builds →Mud Bomb 2x100-119%KO Water Gun 2x63-76% Mud-Slap 2x35-43% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodUnion Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Lapras builds →Water Pulse 2x100-119%KO Water Gun 2x68-81% | ||
 Meditite FightingPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Meditite builds →Focus Blast 2x121-143%KO Brick Break 2x68-81% Drain Punch 2x68-81% | ||
Makuhita Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Makuhita builds →Focus Blast 2x84-100%KO Brick Break 2x84-100%KO Vital Throw 2x81-95% Arm Thrust 2x19-24% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Wooper builds →Mud Bomb 2x52-62% Mud Shot 2x48-57% Water Gun 2x35-43% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x141-166%KO Mud Bomb 2x100-118%KO Water Pulse 2x93-111%KO Water Gun 2x63-75% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Onix builds →Dig 2x76-91% Flash Cannon 2x46-55% Rock Smash 2x26-32% | ||
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
 Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Numel builds →Dig 2x89-107%KO Rock Smash 2x30-37% | ||
 Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x107-126%KO Brick Break 2x67-79% Rock Smash 2x37-45% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x133-157%KO Mud Bomb 2x97-114%KO Water Pulse 2x91-108%KO Water Gun 2x61-72% | ||
 Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x229-271%KO Focus Blast 2x129-153%KO Dig 2x83-98% Brick Break 2x116-137%KO | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnemite builds →Flash Cannon 2x141-166%KO Magnet Bomb 2x47-55% | ||
 Mankey Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Mankey builds →Focus Punch 2x193-228%KO Focus Blast 2x104-124%KO Iron Tail 2x86-102%KO Dig 2x70-83% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Numel builds →Dig 2x86-101%KO Rock Smash 2x29-35% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x142-168%KO Mud Bomb 2x102-121%KO Water Pulse 2x94-112%KO Water Gun 2x65-76% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x239-282%KO Focus Blast 2x137-162%KO Submission 2x129-153%KO Dig 2x86-102%KO | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnemite builds →Flash Cannon 2x150-176%KO Magnet Bomb 2x47-56% | ||
Mankey Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Mankey builds →Focus Punch 2x202-238%KO Focus Blast 2x110-129%KO Iron Tail 2x89-106%KO Dig 2x73-86% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Numel builds →Earth Power 2x125-147%KO Dig 2x87-103%KO Rock Smash 2x29-35% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Whiscash builds →Surf 2x135-159%KO Mud Bomb 2x99-117%KO Water Pulse 2x91-108%KO Water Gun 2x61-72% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x229-270%KO Focus Blast 2x132-156%KO Submission 2x124-147%KO Dig 2x83-98% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnemite builds →Flash Cannon 2x142-168%KO Magnet Bomb 2x45-54% | ||
Mankey Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Mankey builds →Focus Punch 2x191-225%KO Focus Blast 2x107-126%KO Iron Tail 2x86-102%KO Dig 2x69-82% | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Numel builds →Dig 2x86-102%KO Rock Smash 2x30-36% | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Skarmory builds →Flash Cannon 2x78-93% Steel Wing 2x94-111%KO Rock Smash 2x36-43% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Whiscash builds →Aqua Tail 2x118-140%KO Surf 2x138-163%KO Waterfall 2x105-124%KO Mud Bomb 2x101-119%KO | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x237-279%KO Focus Blast 2x136-160%KO Cross Chop 2x160-189%KO Submission 2x129-153%KO | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnemite builds →Flash Cannon 2x147-173%KO Magnet Bomb 2x46-54% | ||
Mankey Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Mankey builds →Focus Punch 2x200-235%KO Focus Blast 2x107-127%KO Cross Chop 2x134-158%KO Iron Tail 2x89-105%KO | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Infernape can KO Cranidos with Close Combat (248-292%). Flygon threatens a KO with Earthquake (202-238%). Bronzong's Earthquake also KOs at 137-161%.
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Infernape builds →Close Combat 2x248-292%KO U Turn48-57% Fire Blast49-58% | ||
 Flygon GroundDragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x202-238%KO Outrage121-142%KO U Turn47-56% | ||
 Bronzong SteelPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Bronzong builds →Explosion85-100%KO Earthquake 2x137-161%KO | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Swampert builds →Earthquake 2x173-204%KO Ice Beam51-60% Waterfall 2x139-164%KO | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves View Roserade builds →
| ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver 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
Breeding
Breed Cranidos with 63 breeding partners from the Monster egg group. Pass egg moves like Crunch, Curse, Double-Edge and 6 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Cranidos Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 10 types means almost nothing walls Cranidos cleanly, with Head Smash and Stone Edge anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Cranidos in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Cranidos is handed to you at Pewter City. No encounter rates or random spawns involved, so there's nothing to grind. Check the location details below for the exact conditions to trigger it.
Best Locations to Catch Cranidos in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Cranidos Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves