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.
It was resurrected from an iron ball-like fossil. It downs prey with its headbutts.
A lifelong jungle dweller from 100 million years ago, it would snap obstructing trees with headbutts.
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 |
 Omanyte RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Omanyte builds →Surf 2x145-172%KO Water Gun 2x70-83% | ||
 Kabuto RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Kabuto builds →Surf 2x102-121%KO Absorb 2x17-21% | ||
 Tirtouga WaterRock | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Tirtouga builds →Surf 2x102-121%KO Water Gun 2x47-57% | ||
 Shellos Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Shellos builds →Surf 2x109-128%KO Mud Bomb 2x53-64% Water Pulse 2x74-89% Mud-Slap 2x21-26% | ||
 Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Aron SteelRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Aron builds →Metal Claw 2x63-75% Mud-Slap 2x15-19% | ||
 Relicanth WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Relicanth builds →Surf 2x98-115%KO Water Gun 2x48-58% | ||
 Lanturn WaterElectric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Lanturn builds →Surf 2x131-156%KO Bubble 2x63-75% Water Gun 2x63-75% | ||
Omanyte RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Omanyte builds →Surf 2x146-173%KO Water Gun 2x67-81% | ||
Kabuto RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Kabuto builds →Surf 2x108-127%KO Mud Shot 2x44-54% Absorb 2x19-23% | ||
Aron SteelRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Aron builds →Iron Head 2x97-115%KO Metal Claw 2x62-74% Mud-Slap 2x15-19% | ||
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnemite builds →Mirror Shot 2x115-136%KO Magnet Bomb 2x48-58% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Relicanth WaterRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Relicanth builds →Surf 2x93-111%KO Water Gun 2x45-53% | ||
 Timburr Fighting | D | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Timburr builds →Wake-Up Slap 2x90-107%KO | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Skarmory builds →Steel Wing 2x92-108%KO Metal Claw 2x67-80% Rock Smash 2x35-42% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Onix builds →Dig 2x71-84% Bulldoze 2x52-63% Rock Smash 2x26-30% | ||
Aron SteelRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Aron builds →Iron Head 2x94-112%KO Dig 2x63-74% Bulldoze 2x47-56% Metal Claw 2x59-70% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnemite builds →Mirror Shot 2x115-136%KO Magnet Bomb 2x47-56% | ||
 Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Numel builds →Earth Power 2x119-140%KO Dig 2x83-98% Bulldoze 2x65-77% Rock Smash 2x29-35% | ||
Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Skarmory builds →Steel Wing 2x93-111%KO Metal Claw 2x66-78% Rock Smash 2x37-43% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Onix builds →Dig 2x72-85% Bulldoze 2x55-65% Rock Smash 2x25-30% | ||
Aron SteelRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Aron builds →Iron Head 2x97-114%KO Dig 2x64-76% Bulldoze 2x48-57% Metal Claw 2x61-72% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnemite builds →Flash Cannon 2x141-166%KO Mirror Shot 2x116-137%KO Magnet Bomb 2x47-55% | ||
 Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Scraggy builds →High Jump Kick 2x160-189%KO Dig 2x67-80% Brick Break 2x93-111%KO Low Sweep 2x83-98% | ||
Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Skarmory builds →Steel Wing 2x94-111%KO Metal Claw 2x68-80% Rock Smash 2x36-43% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Onix builds →Dig 2x70-84% Bulldoze 2x55-65% Rock Smash 2x24-29% | ||
Aron SteelRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Aron builds →Iron Head 2x97-114%KO Dig 2x64-76% Bulldoze 2x48-58% Metal Claw 2x63-74% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnemite builds →Flash Cannon 2x141-167%KO Mirror Shot 2x115-136%KO Magnet Bomb 2x46-56% | ||
Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Scraggy builds →High Jump Kick 2x163-192%KO Dig 2x68-80% Brick Break 2x97-114%KO Low Sweep 2x84-99% | ||
Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Skarmory builds →Steel Wing 2x95-112%KO Metal Claw 2x69-81% Rock Smash 2x36-43% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x233-274%KO Focus Blast 2x116-137%KO Dig 2x104-122%KO Brick Break 2x146-172%KO | ||
 Donphan Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x188-221%KO Bulldoze 2x114-135%KO Rock Smash 2x51-60% | ||
 Klefki SteelFairy | C | |
 Throh Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Throh builds →Focus Blast 2x98-116%KO Dig 2x87-102%KO Vital Throw 2x114-135%KO Low Sweep 2x106-126%KO | ||
Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Skarmory builds →Steel Wing 2x93-110%KO Metal Claw 2x66-78% Rock Smash 2x36-43% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x225-266%KO Focus Blast 2x117-137%KO Earthquake 2x125-148%KO Dig 2x101-119%KO | ||
Donphan Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x182-215%KO Bulldoze 2x111-131%KO Rock Smash 2x49-58% | ||
Klefki SteelFairy | C | |
Throh Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Throh builds →Focus Blast 2x97-115%KO Earthquake 2x105-124%KO Dig 2x84-99% Brick Break 2x118-140%KO | ||
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Serperior can KO Cranidos with Leaf Storm (250-295%). Garchomp threatens a KO with Earthquake (242-285%).
 Serperior Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityContrary ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Serperior builds →Leaf Storm 2x250-295%KO | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x242-285%KO | ||
 Heatran FireSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 Hitmontop Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemEjectbutton NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hitmontop builds →Close Combat 2x257-302%KO Feint11-13% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityStormdrain ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Gastrodon builds →Scald 2x171-201%KO | ||
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire 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 75 breeding partners from the Monster egg group. Pass egg moves like Crunch, Curse, Double-Edge and 8 more to offspring.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Cranidos Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.
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
Transfer Moves
How to Get Cranidos in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
No searching required for Cranidos. You receive it at Rustboro 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 Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Cranidos Guide
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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 Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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 Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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 Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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