Is Cranidos Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
Fossil Rock-type with AbilityMold Breaker ignoring opposing abilities. Rampardos has the highest Attack of almost any non-legendary. Breed-only access in USUM limits practical availability.
Cranidos resists most of Ilima's coverage and hits back hard.
Hala's team hits Cranidos's weaknesses hard.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Lana's team.
ElectricSteelReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Moon only)
BugElectricReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GrassReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GhostFairyReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou...
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Kiawe's team.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Mallow's team.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Sophocles's team hits Cranidos's weaknesses hard.
Rampardos has the type edge here and should clean up Acerola's team.
Cranidos trades roughly evenly with Nanu's team.
Rampardos trades roughly evenly with Mina's team.
Hapu's team hits Cranidos's weaknesses hard.
Molayne's team hits Rampardos's weaknesses hard.
Rampardos trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Rampardos trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Rampardos trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Rampardos trades roughly evenly with Kukui's team.
Cranidos can be revived from a fossil obtained on Route 8. Revive Skull Fossil. Restore from a fossil at the Fossil Restoration Center on Route 8
Your Cranidos should hit Level 30 before you reach Acerola, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Cranidos in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Cranidos is a gift in this game. Pick it up at Route 8 — no wild encounters or spawn rates to deal with. The details below cover exactly when it becomes available.
How to Obtain Cranidos in USUM
Step 1Cranidos ✓Route 8 - Fossil Restoration CenterLv.15Gift from NPCRevive 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 |
What is Cranidos Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Cranidos
 Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
 Machop Fighting | C | |
 Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x102-121%KO Bubble 2x29-35% | ||
 Mankey Fighting | C | |
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Slowbro builds →Water Gun 2x73-87% Brick Break 2x65-77% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
 Vaporeon Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Vaporeon builds →Water Pulse 2x112-132%KO | ||
Machop Fighting | C | |
Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x97-115%KO Bubble Beam 2x41-50% | ||
 Grovyle Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Grovyle builds →Mega Drain 2x116-137%KO Brick Break 2x54-65% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
Vaporeon Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Vaporeon builds →Water Pulse 2x121-143%KO | ||
Machop Fighting | C | |
Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Crabrawler builds →Brick Break 2x105-124%KO Bubble Beam 2x44-54% | ||
Grovyle Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Grovyle builds →Mega Drain 2x125-148%KO Brick Break 2x59-70% | ||
 Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Passimian builds →Brick Break 2x136-160%KO Energy Ball 2x58-68% | ||
 Gallade PsychicFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Gallade builds →Brick Break 2x140-164%KO Leaf Blade 2x108-129%KO | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | A | |
 Mudbray Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Mudbray builds →High Horsepower 2x147-173%KO Double Kick 2x32-38% | ||
Grovyle Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Grovyle builds →Energy Ball 2x147-173%KO Brick Break 2x55-66% | ||
 Bewear NormalFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodHauoli City Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Bewear builds →Brick Break 2x139-164%KO Bulldoze 2x74-88% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Passimian builds →Brick Break 2x136-161%KO Bulldoze 2x73-86% Energy Ball 2x61-71% | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Hariyama builds →Brick Break 2x136-161%KO Bulldoze 2x73-86% Brine 2x44-52% | ||
Gallade PsychicFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Gallade builds →Brick Break 2x139-164%KO Leaf Blade 2x111-131%KO Bulldoze 2x74-88% | ||
 Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Poliwrath builds →Brick Break 2x112-132%KO Bubble Beam 2x94-111%KO Bulldoze 2x61-71% | ||
 Aegislash SteelGhost | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Aegislash builds →Iron Head 2x77-91% Sacred Sword 2x58-69% | ||
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Pangoro builds →Hammer Arm 2x192-226%KO Bulldoze 2x77-92% Bullet Punch 2x53-63% | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x229-271%KO Bulldoze 2x56-67% | ||
Bewear NormalFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodHauoli City Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Bewear builds →Brick Break 2x147-174%KO Bulldoze 2x77-92% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Passimian builds →Brick Break 2x142-168%KO Bulldoze 2x76-90% Energy Ball 2x60-71% | ||
Passimian Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Passimian builds →Close Combat 2x218-257%KO Bulldoze 2x74-87% Energy Ball 2x56-67% | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Torterra builds →Wood Hammer 2x202-238%KO Earthquake 2x167-198%KO | ||
 Ivysaur GrassPoison | C | |
Aegislash SteelGhost | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Aegislash builds →Iron Head 2x75-88% Sacred Sword 2x56-67% | ||
Bewear NormalFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodHauoli City Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Bewear builds →Hammer Arm 2x188-221%KO Bulldoze 2x76-90% | ||
 Solgaleo PsychicSteel | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Solgaleo builds →Solar Beam 2x272-320%KO Sunsteel Strike 2x205-241%KO Wake-Up Slap 2x96-114%KO Bulldoze 2x82-97% | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
 Sceptile Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Sceptile builds →Solar Beam 2x386-455%KO Focus Blast 2x156-183%KO Bulldoze 2x56-65% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Venusaur builds →Solar Beam 2x368-433%KO Bulldoze 2x54-64% | ||
 Chesnaught GrassFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Chesnaught builds →Solar Beam 2x290-341%KO Hammer Arm 2x167-196%KO Bulldoze 2x67-80% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
 Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodUltra Space Wilds Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Cobalion builds →Close Combat 2x175-206%KO Iron Head 2x118-138%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Solgaleo PsychicSteel | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Solgaleo builds →Solar Beam 2x283-333%KO Sunsteel Strike 2x208-246%KO Earthquake 2x139-164%KO Wake-Up Slap 2x98-115%KO | ||
Sceptile Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Sceptile builds →Solar Beam 2x396-466%KO Focus Blast 2x159-188%KO Earthquake 2x93-110%KO | ||
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Mareanie's Scald hits Cranidos for 53-63%.
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemEviolite NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Mareanie builds →Scald 2x53-63% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityOvercoat ItemEviolite NatureBold Moves View Vullaby builds →
| ||
D | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySpeed Boost ItemFocus Sash NatureModest Moves View Torchic builds →
| ||
D | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySnow Warning ItemIcyrock NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Amaura builds →Discharge37-43% | ||
D | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemEviolite NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Cranidos View Larvesta builds →Flare Blitz28-33% U Turn33-39% Wild Charge42-50% | ||
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
USUM Cranidos Best Moveset
125 Attack with AbilityMold Breaker ignoring opposing abilities and AbilitySheer Force boosting eligible moves as a hidden ability. The moveset at pre-evolution bulk crumbles to everything. Rampardos one evolution away adds 165 Attack but the same defensive frailty.
Best Build
Cranidos best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Fire Punch
- Rock Polish
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
Base Stats
A primeval Pokémon, it possesses a hard and sturdy skull, lacking any intelligence within.
Its hard skull is its distinguishing feature. It snapped trees by headbutting them, and then it fed on their ripe berries.
Cranidos Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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.
Restore from a fossil at the Fossil Restoration Center on Route 8. Cranidos is revived at level 5. Give it Rare Candies or experience-share if you want it ready for the late-game.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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 Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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