Analysis
Crawdaunt is the defining physical wallbreaker in the January meta currently. Utilizing Adaptability, Crawdaunt is able to break down the majority of defensive walls in the format with its Water/Dark STAB moves in Knock Off and Crabhammer. Crawdaunt also possesses set up options in Dragon Dance and Swords Dance to boost its damage output even further, which allows it to cleanly OHKO physically defensive Pokemon such as Vileplume, Slowbro, and Bellibolt. Crawdaunt has priority in Aqua Jet to dispatch faster foes like Infernape, Scyther, and Oricorio. Despite Crawdaunt's power being high for the format, it does not offer much defensive utility, and it finds it difficult to come in safely to deal its damage. Its Speed tier is also its biggest flaw, as most of the metagame outspeeds it and its typing leaves it vulnerable to common Fighting-, Fairy-, and Grass-type attacks coming from Pokemon like Shiftry, Scyther, and Dachsbun. Even after a Dragon Dance, Virizion is still able to outspeed it and OHKO it with its STAB moves.
Choice Band
Choice Band Crawdaunt is its most common set and the most devastating when it comes to dealing with defensive walls. Knock Off boosted from Adaptability is able to 2HKO even resists like Virizion and opposing Crawdaunt. Aqua Jet is mandatory to threaten faster foes like Infernape, which is one of Crawdaunt's most common offensive checks. Close Combat is a strong coverage option that targets everything that resists Crawdaunt's STAB moves, such as Shiftry, opposing Crawdaunt, and Virizion. An Adamant nature maximizes Crawdaunt's damage output whereas a Jolly nature allows Crawdaunt to risk speedties against opposing Crawdaunt and Golurk. The difference in power is not too notable while using Choice Band so a Jolly nature is preferred. Crawdaunt appreciates anything that can get it on the field safely. Pivots like Type: Null do this job perfectly. Type: Null can tank special attacks from threats that check Crawdaunt like Oricorio, Shiftry, and Kingdra, and U-turn on the defensive Pokemon switching into Type: Null like Slowbro and get Crawdaunt in again to inflict massive damage. Crawdaunt also pairs well with Infernape naturally as Infernape deals with bulky Grass types like Shaymin and Vileplume, while Crawdaunt deals with bulky Psychic-types like Slowbro, Mesprit and Reuniclus, which Infernape can struggle to break past.
Life Orb
Life Orb Crawdaunt drops off damage compared to the Choice Band set and trades it for the ability to swap moves. It continues to run the same attacks like Crabhammer, Knock Off, and Aqua Jet, but fits in either Swords Dance or Dragon Dance as a setup tool. Dragon Dance allows it to solve its issue of Speed and lets it outspeed Scyther, Shiftry, and Jynx and Swords Dance just goes all into power to demolish any sort of supposed defensive check like Colbur Berry Mesprit and Slowbro. Again, any pivot that can get Crawdaunt in safely is appreciated as a teammate. Mesprit possesses Stealth Rock and U-turn, which provides additional damage for Crawdaunt. Mesprit also has Healing Wish to heal Crawdaunt if Life Orb recoil and hazards damage has left it at low HP. Clodsire is another partner that can check Fairy-types like Comfey and Dachsbun. It also provides Spikes support which makes it harder for Crawdaunt's checks to repeatedly take its attacks. In return, Crawdaunt threatens the aforementioned Psychic-types like Reuniclus and also opposing Ground-types like Golurk and Donphan.
Written by Toy Time King