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 |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Onix builds →Bulldoze 2x56-67% Rock Smash 2x27-32% | ||
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Rhyhorn builds →Bulldoze 2x89-105%KO Rock Smash 2x40-48% | ||
 Mienfoo Fighting | D | |
 Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Scraggy builds →Brick Break 2x97-114%KO Rock Smash 2x56-67% | ||
 Hippopotas Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hippopotas builds →Dig 2x100-119%KO Bulldoze 2x76-90% Rock Smash 2x35-41% | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hawlucha builds →Flying Press 2x144-169%KO Dig 2x76-89% Low Sweep 2x95-112%KO Karate Chop 2x72-86% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Onix builds →Dig 2x70-83% Bulldoze 2x54-64% Rock Smash 2x24-30% | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Rhyhorn builds →Dig 2x109-128%KO Bulldoze 2x81-96% Rock Smash 2x37-45% | ||
Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Scraggy builds →High Jump Kick 2x156-185%KO Dig 2x65-77% Brick Break 2x91-109%KO Low Sweep 2x81-96% | ||
Hippopotas Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hippopotas builds →Dig 2x97-115%KO Bulldoze 2x72-86% Rock Smash 2x34-40% Sand Tomb 2x43-51% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hawlucha builds →Flying Press 2x144-169%KO Dig 2x76-89% Low Sweep 2x95-112%KO Karate Chop 2x72-86% | ||
 Dugtrio Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Dugtrio builds →Dig 2x121-144%KO Mud Bomb 2x70-83% Bulldoze 2x91-109%KO Rock Smash 2x41-49% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Onix builds →Dig 2x70-83% Bulldoze 2x54-64% Rock Smash 2x24-30% | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Rhyhorn builds →Dig 2x109-128%KO Bulldoze 2x81-96% Rock Smash 2x37-45% | ||
Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Scraggy builds →High Jump Kick 2x156-185%KO Dig 2x65-77% Brick Break 2x91-109%KO Low Sweep 2x81-96% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hawlucha builds →Flying Press 2x144-169%KO Dig 2x76-89% Low Sweep 2x95-112%KO Karate Chop 2x72-86% | ||
Dugtrio Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Dugtrio builds →Dig 2x121-144%KO Mud Bomb 2x70-83% Bulldoze 2x91-109%KO Rock Smash 2x41-49% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Onix builds →Dig 2x70-83% Bulldoze 2x54-64% Rock Smash 2x24-30% | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Rhyhorn builds →Dig 2x109-128%KO Bulldoze 2x81-96% Rock Smash 2x37-45% | ||
Scraggy DarkFighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Scraggy builds →High Jump Kick 2x156-185%KO Dig 2x65-77% Brick Break 2x91-109%KO Low Sweep 2x81-96% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x226-267%KO Dig 2x102-120%KO Brick Break 2x144-169%KO Bulldoze 2x77-91% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hawlucha builds →Flying Press 2x148-175%KO Dig 2x78-93% Low Sweep 2x97-115%KO Karate Chop 2x76-90% | ||
 Klefki SteelFairy | C | |
 Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magneton builds →Mirror Shot 2x144-169%KO Magnet Bomb 2x65-76% | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 14 Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x139-164%KO Surf 2x123-145%KO Dig 2x111-131%KO Mud Bomb 2x90-106%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x230-272%KO Dig 2x103-121%KO Brick Break 2x145-171%KO Bulldoze 2x78-91% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hawlucha builds →Flying Press 2x149-176%KO Dig 2x80-95% Low Sweep 2x98-116%KO Karate Chop 2x77-91% | ||
Klefki SteelFairy | C | |
Magneton ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magneton builds →Flash Cannon 2x178-209%KO Mirror Shot 2x145-171%KO Magnet Bomb 2x66-78% | ||
 Piloswine IceGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Piloswine builds →Dig 2x129-153%KO Mud Bomb 2x85-101%KO Bulldoze 2x97-114%KO Rock Smash 2x44-52% | ||
 Lucario FightingSteel | C | |
Obtain MethodTower Of Mastery Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Lucario builds →Focus Blast 2x258-304%KO Aura Sphere 2x174-205%KO Dig 2x93-110%KO Low Sweep 2x113-133%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x231-273%KO Focus Blast 2x116-137%KO Dig 2x104-123%KO Brick Break 2x145-171%KO | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hawlucha builds →High Jump Kick 2x194-228%KO Focus Blast 2x181-213%KO Flying Press 2x151-177%KO Dig 2x80-94% | ||
 Durant BugSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Durant builds →Iron Head 2x138-163%KO Dig 2x92-108%KO Metal Claw 2x87-104%KO Rock Smash 2x46-55% | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hariyama builds →Focus Blast 2x116-137%KO Surf 2x58-69% Dig 2x100-118%KO Vital Throw 2x131-154%KO | ||
In X & Y, 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 | ||
X & Y 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.
X & Y 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
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
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Cranidos in X & Y
No searching required for Cranidos. You receive it at Ambrette Town 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 X & Y
Cranidos Guide
In X & Y, 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 X & Y, 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 X & Y, 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 X & Y, 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