In Diamond & Pearl, 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.

What is Cranidos weak to?

In Diamond & Pearl, Cranidos's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Blaziken (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ground and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

What is the best ability for Cranidos?

In Diamond & Pearl, 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.

What role does Cranidos play in battle?

In Diamond & Pearl, 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.

Cranidos - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Cannon

DTier

58Speed · Slow

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.

Base Stats

Avg

HP67

Attack125

Defense40

Sp. Atk30

Sp. Def30

Speed58

Total350

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Erratic600,000 XP

Height0.9 m

Weight31.5 kg

Base XP70

Abilities

Mold Breaker

Bypasses targets' abilities if they could hinder or prevent a move.

Sheer ForceHANot in game

Strengthens moves with extra effects to 1.3× their power, but prevents their extra effects.

EV Yield

HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training source

Pokedex Entries

It lived in jungles around 100 million years ago. Its skull is as hard as iron.

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.

Cranidos Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel
0.5x (Resist)	Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying

Type ChartFragile

5Weak

4Resist

0Immune

Score-6

Gen IV Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Water Grass Fighting Ground Steel

½xResist

Normal Fire Poison Flying

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (4)

Fire Ice Flying Bug

How to Beat Cranidos in Diamond & Pearl (Best Counters)

Heracross BugFighting	B
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Brick BreakTM31 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 260-306%KO Brick Break 2x 134-160%KO Rock Smash 2x 74-89% View Heracross builds →
Onix RockGround	C
HM Move Moves Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Rock Smash 2x 23-30% View Onix builds →
Omanyte RockWater	D
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Water GunLv. 10 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Water Gun 2x 70-83% Rock Smash 2x 23-30% View Omanyte builds →
Shieldon RockSteel	D
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift HM Move Moves Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Rock Smash 2x 23-30% View Shieldon builds →
Cubone Ground	D
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Brick BreakTM31 Bone ClubLv. 7 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 94-111%KO Brick Break 2x 49-60% Bone Club 2x 64-77% Rock Smash 2x 28-34% View Cubone builds →

Diamond & Pearl 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

2 Forms

#408Cranidos

Level 30

#409Rampardos

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Cranidos

Rock

Rampardos

Rock

97+30

ATK

125

165+40

DEF

60+20

SP.ATK

65+35

SP.DEF

50+20

SPE

BST

350C-Tier

495B-Tier+145

ROLE

Cannon

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Moderate

Breed Cranidos with 63 breeding partners from the Monster egg group. Pass egg moves like Crunch, Double-Edge, Hammer Arm and 5 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Monster

Gender

♂87.5%♀12.5%

Hatch Time

30 cycles·7,710 steps

Moderate~8 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

8moves

Breed With (best first)

Diamond & Pearl 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

Lv 1

Headbutt

C7010015Normal

Lv 1

Leer

——10030Normal

Lv 6

Focus Energy

———30Normal

Lv 10

Pursuit

D4010020Dark

Lv 15

Take Down

—908520Normal

Lv 19

Scary Face

D—9010Normal

Lv 24

Assurance

—5010010Dark

Lv 28

Ancient Power

D601005Rock

Lv 33

Zen Headbutt

C809015Psychic

Lv 37

Screech

——8540Normal

Lv 43

Head Smash

B150805Rock

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM14

Blizzard

D120705Ice

TM78

Captivate

——10020Normal

TM28

Dig

C8010010Ground

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM59

Dragon Pulse

D9010010Dragon

TM26

Earthquake

B10010010Ground

TM58

Endure+4

———10Normal

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM38

Fire Blast

D120855Fire

TM35

Flamethrower

D9510015Fire

TM56

Fling

——10010Dark

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

D9510010Ice

TM23

Iron Tail

C1007515Steel

TM83

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

TM66

Payback

C5010010Dark

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C——20Normal

HM08

Rock Climb

—908520Normal

TM69

Rock Polish

C——20Rock

TM80

Rock Slide

B759010Rock

HM06

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM39

Rock Tomb

C609510Rock

TM37

Sandstorm

———10Rock

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM34

Shock Wave

D60—20Electric

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM76

Stealth Rock

C——20Rock

TM71

Stone Edge

B100805Rock

HM04

Strength

C8010015Normal

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM75

Swords Dance

C——30Normal

TM46

Thief

—6010025Dark

TM25

Thunder

D1207010Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

D9510015Electric

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Crunch

C8010015Dark

Egg

Double-Edge

B12010015Normal

Egg

Hammer Arm

—1009010Fighting

Egg

Leer

——10030Normal

Egg

Slam

—807520Normal

Egg

Stomp

—6510020Normal

Egg

Thrash

—12010020Normal

Egg

Whirlwind-6

D——20Normal

Tutor Moves

Cranidos can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Cranidos in Diamond & Pearl

Cranidos is a gift in this game. Pick it up at Oreburgh City — no wild encounters or spawn rates to deal with. The details below cover exactly when it becomes available.

Best Locations to Catch Cranidos in Diamond & Pearl

Oreburgh City - Mining Museum

PearlGift from NPC Lv.20 City

LimitedMid

Revive Skull Fossil

Oreburgh City - Mining Museum

DiamondGift from NPC Lv.20 City

LimitedMid

Revive Skull Fossil

Cranidos Guide

In Diamond & Pearl, 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 Diamond & Pearl, Cranidos's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Blaziken (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ground and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
In Diamond & Pearl, 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 Diamond & Pearl, 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 Diamond & Pearl, 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

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Heracross BugFighting	B
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Brick BreakTM31 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 262-309%KO Brick Break 2x 134-159%KO Rock Smash 2x 75-88% View Heracross builds →
Onix RockGround	C
HM Move Moves Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Rock Smash 2x 25-29% View Onix builds →
Omanyte RockWater	D
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Water PulseTM03 Water GunLv. 10 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Water Pulse 2x 97-115%KO Water Gun 2x 66-79% Rock Smash 2x 25-29% View Omanyte builds →
Kabuto RockWater	D
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves Water PulseTM03 Mud ShotLv. 16 Rock SmashHM06 AbsorbLv. 6 Damage vs Cranidos Water Pulse 2x 71-84% Mud Shot 2x 41-50% Rock Smash 2x 34-41% Absorb 2x 16-21% View Kabuto builds →
Lileep RockGrass	D
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift TM Move Moves Bullet SeedTM09 Damage vs Cranidos Bullet Seed 2x 25-31% View Lileep builds →

Heracross BugFighting	B
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 Brick BreakTM31 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 287-337%KO Focus Blast 2x 117-138%KO Earthquake 2x 127-151%KO Brick Break 2x 146-172%KO View Heracross builds →
Gligar GroundFlying	C
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeTM26 Brick BreakTM31 Steel WingTM47 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 128-152%KO Brick Break 2x 64-76% Steel Wing 2x 61-72% Rock Smash 2x 36-43% View Gligar builds →
Machoke Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 Brick BreakTM31 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 237-280%KO Focus Blast 2x 137-162%KO Earthquake 2x 107-126%KO Brick Break 2x 120-142%KO View Machoke builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeTM26 Rock SmashHM06 Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 91-108%KO Rock Smash 2x 26-31% View Onix builds →
Medicham FightingPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 Drain PunchTM60 Brick BreakTM31 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 163-192%KO Focus Blast 2x 154-182%KO Drain Punch 2x 82-98% Brick Break 2x 82-98% View Medicham builds →

Heracross BugFighting	B
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 287-337%KO Focus Blast 2x 117-138%KO Earthquake 2x 127-151%KO Dig 2x 102-121%KO View Heracross builds →
Toxicroak PoisonFighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 248-293%KO Focus Blast 2x 200-236%KO Earthquake 2x 110-130%KO Dig 2x 89-106%KO View Toxicroak builds →
Gligar GroundFlying	C
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Brick BreakTM31 Steel WingTM47 Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 128-152%KO Dig 2x 102-121%KO Brick Break 2x 64-76% Steel Wing 2x 61-72% View Gligar builds →
Machoke Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 237-280%KO Focus Blast 2x 137-162%KO Earthquake 2x 107-126%KO Dig 2x 85-101%KO View Machoke builds →
Medicham FightingPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 Drain PunchTM60 Brick BreakTM31 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 163-192%KO Focus Blast 2x 154-182%KO Drain Punch 2x 82-98% Brick Break 2x 82-98% View Medicham builds →

Heracross BugFighting	B
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 284-334%KO Focus Blast 2x 113-134%KO Earthquake 2x 128-150%KO Dig 2x 102-120%KO View Heracross builds →
Toxicroak PoisonFighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 248-291%KO Focus Blast 2x 199-234%KO Earthquake 2x 110-130%KO Dig 2x 89-105%KO View Toxicroak builds →
Gligar GroundFlying	C
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Brick BreakTM31 Steel WingTM47 Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 126-149%KO Dig 2x 102-120%KO Brick Break 2x 65-76% Steel Wing 2x 59-70% View Gligar builds →
Machoke Fighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 SubmissionLv. 32 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 237-280%KO Focus Blast 2x 133-157%KO Earthquake 2x 107-126%KO Submission 2x 129-151%KO View Machoke builds →
Medicham FightingPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 High Jump KickLv. 32 Focus BlastTM52 Drain PunchTM60 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 160-189%KO High Jump Kick 2x 138-163%KO Focus Blast 2x 152-180%KO Drain Punch 2x 82-97% View Medicham builds →

Heracross BugFighting	B
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Close CombatLv. 37 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 277-327%KO Close Combat 2x 220-260%KO Focus Blast 2x 112-133%KO Earthquake 2x 123-145%KO View Heracross builds →
Steelix SteelGround	C
Available Moves Moves Iron TailTM23 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Flash CannonTM91 Damage vs Cranidos Iron Tail 2x 135-159%KO Earthquake 2x 135-159%KO Dig 2x 110-130%KO Flash Cannon 2x 95-112%KO View Steelix builds →
Toxicroak PoisonFighting	C
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 Focus BlastTM52 EarthquakeTM26 DigTM28 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 241-284%KO Focus Blast 2x 196-231%KO Earthquake 2x 108-127%KO Dig 2x 87-103%KO View Toxicroak builds →
Gastrodon WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeTM26 SurfHM03 DigTM28 Mud BombLv. 11 Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 133-157%KO Surf 2x 155-183%KO Dig 2x 105-125%KO Mud Bomb 2x 112-133%KO View Gastrodon builds →
Medicham FightingPsychic	D
Available Moves Moves Focus PunchTM01 High Jump KickLv. 32 Focus BlastTM52 Drain PunchTM60 Damage vs Cranidos Focus Punch 2x 153-181%KO High Jump Kick 2x 135-159%KO Focus Blast 2x 149-175%KO Drain Punch 2x 79-93% View Medicham builds →

Infernape FireFighting	A
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves Close Combat U Turn Grass Knot Fire Blast Damage vs Cranidos Close Combat 2x 248-292%KO U Turn 48-57% Fire Blast 49-58% View Infernape builds →
Flygon GroundDragon	A
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB OutrageSTAB U Turn Thunder Punch Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 202-238%KO Outrage 121-142%KO U Turn 47-56% View Flygon builds →
Bronzong SteelPsychic	A
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves Gyro Ball Explosion Earthquake Stealth Rock Damage vs Cranidos Explosion 85-100%KO Earthquake 2x 137-161%KO View Bronzong builds →
Swampert WaterGround	B
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves EarthquakeSTAB Stealth Rock Ice Beam WaterfallSTAB Damage vs Cranidos Earthquake 2x 173-204%KO Ice Beam 51-60% Waterfall 2x 139-164%KO View Swampert builds →
Roserade GrassPoison	B
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves Toxic Spikes Hidden Power Fire SpikesHazard Sleep Powder View Roserade builds →