Is Cranidos Good in Black 2 & White 2 Playthrough?
Rock from the Skull Fossil in Twist Mountain. AbilityMold Breaker ignoring abilities. Rampardos at level 30 has one of the highest Attack stats of any non-legendary. The offense is absurd, but paper-thin defenses make every fight a coinflip.
Cranidos resists most of Cheren's coverage and hits back hard.
Cranidos has the type edge here and should clean up Roxie's team.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Burgh's team.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Elesa's team.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Clay's team.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Skyla's team.
Drayden's team hits Cranidos's weaknesses hard.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Marlon's team.
Rampardos trades roughly evenly with Shauntal's team.
Rampardos trades roughly evenly with Grimsley's team.
Rampardos has the type edge here and should clean up Caitlin's team.
Marshal's team hits Rampardos's weaknesses hard.
Rampardos trades roughly evenly with Iris's team.
Cranidos can be revived from a fossil obtained on Nacrene City. Revive Skull Fossil.
Your Cranidos should hit Level 30 before you reach Shauntal, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Cranidos in Black 2 & White 2
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.
How to Obtain Cranidos in B2W2
- Step 1Cranidos ✓Nacrene City - Nacrene MuseumLv.25Gift from NPCLimitedAnyRevive Skull Fossil
Step 2Evolve into Rampardos
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)
What is Cranidos Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Cranidos
 Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Jellicent builds →Bubble Beam 2x107-126%KO Energy Ball 2x89-105%KO | ||
 Alomomola Water | B | |
 Azumarill Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Azumarill builds →Bubble Beam 2x84-100%KO Rock Smash 2x30-35% | ||
 Riolu Fighting | C | |
 Psyduck Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Psyduck builds →Water Pulse 2x79-95% Rock Smash 2x30-35% | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
 Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Leafeon builds →Razor Leaf 2x93-111%KO Rock Smash 2x47-55% | ||
 Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Jellicent builds →Bubble Beam 2x108-127%KO Energy Ball 2x85-101%KO | ||
Alomomola Water | B | |
Lilligant Grass | C | |
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnezone builds →Mirror Shot 2x154-182%KO | ||
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Sandslash builds →Dig 2x128-152%KO Rock Smash 2x44-52% | ||
 Sunflora Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Sunflora builds →Petal Dance 2x235-276%KO | ||
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Leafeon builds →Dig 2x93-110%KO Razor Leaf 2x97-115%KO Rock Smash 2x47-56% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x221-261%KO Dig 2x100-118%KO | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Sandslash builds →Dig 2x124-147%KO Brick Break 2x78-92% | ||
Sunflora Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Sunflora builds →Petal Dance 2x229-270%KO | ||
Magnezone ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnezone builds →Mirror Shot 2x150-177%KO | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x198-234%KO Brick Break 2x99-117%KO Metal Claw 2x101-119%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x220-260%KO Dig 2x99-117%KO | ||
 Samurott Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Oshawott (Aspertia City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Samurott builds →Surf 2x187-220%KO Dig 2x82-97% Revenge 2x63-74% | ||
Magnezone ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Magnezone builds →Flash Cannon 2x185-218%KO | ||
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x202-239%KO Brick Break 2x101-120%KO Metal Claw 2x102-120%KO | ||
 Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Cobalion builds →Sacred Sword 2x132-155%KO Iron Head 2x117-138%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x227-267%KO Dig 2x101-120%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x247-291%KO | ||
Sunflora Grass | C | |
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x202-238%KO Brick Break 2x101-120%KO Metal Claw 2x101-120%KO | ||
Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Cobalion builds →Sacred Sword 2x130-153%KO Iron Head 2x116-137%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x228-269%KO Dig 2x101-120%KO | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 22 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Terrakion builds →Sacred Sword 2x176-207%KO Bulldoze 2x78-92% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x244-288%KO | ||
Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 22 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Terrakion builds →Close Combat 2x238-280%KO Earthquake 2x132-156%KO | ||
Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Cobalion builds →Close Combat 2x175-206%KO Iron Head 2x117-139%KO | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x207-243%KO Brick Break 2x104-122%KO Metal Claw 2x104-122%KO | ||
 Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 2x249-293%KO Dig 2x89-105%KO | ||
 Sawk Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Sawk builds →Close Combat 2x232-273%KO Earthquake 2x129-152%KO | ||
In Black 2 & White 2, Garchomp can KO Cranidos with Earthquake (229-270%). Scizor threatens a KO with Superpower (262-308%). Machamp deals 84-99% with Stone Edge.
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x229-270%KO Outrage138-162%KO | ||
 Scizor BugSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch 2x132-156%KO Superpower 2x262-308%KO Pursuit44-52% U Turn115-135%KO | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNoguard ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Machamp builds →Bullet Punch 2x68-80% Stone Edge84-99% | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityOvergrow ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x174-205%KO Sludge Bomb52-61% | ||
Cranidos Evolutions
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
B2W2 Cranidos Best Moveset
125 Attack is devastating for a first stage, and AbilityMold Breaker ignores defensive abilities like AbilitySturdy. The moveset fires physical Rock TermStab harder than most fully evolved Pokemon. 40 Defense and 58 Speed mean going second and dying to one hit. Rampardos adds more power.
Best Build
Cranidos best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Zen Headbutt
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Fire Punch
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
A lifelong jungle dweller from 100 million years ago, it would snap obstructing trees with head butts.
Cranidos Black 2 & White 2 Guide
In Black 2 & White 2, 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.
. Cranidos is revived at level 5. Give it Rare Candies or experience-share if you want it ready for the late-game.
In Black 2 & White 2, 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 2 & White 2, 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.
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 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves