From one gen 5 Dark type to another. Back in Black/White I was seriously debating between putting Zoroark and Krookodile on my team, and though I ultimately choose the shape-shifting fox, I still maintained a healthy respect for this cruel caiman given how much it is capable of just sliding onto most teams thanks to great offensive and defensive typing, two excellent abilities, a wide offensive movepool, and just overall cool design:
While maybe not the first choice that comes to mind, it's important to not underestimate this desert croc when it pops up on the opposing side's field.
Caiman like a Wrecking Ball
Ability: Moxie
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Jolly (+Speed) (-Sp. Attack)
EVs: (HP 4) (Attack 252) (Speed 252)
Moves:
Bulk Up/Hone Claws
Earthquake
Crunch/Power Trip
Stone Edge/Close Combat/Fire Fang
Set Details:
A stat boost set that plays into its Moxie ability. Boost your offenses and defenses with Bulk Up (Though Hone Claws is an option if you are worried about Stone Edge's accuracy), Earthquake becomes your main STAB with Crunch rounding out strong secondary coverage. Power Trip is worth a mention however because of its ability to boost in power every time you get a stat boost, and after a single Bulk Up and Moxie boost you tie in base power with Crunch with further potential to raise base power to 100, 120, 140, etc with each successive knock out which in tangent with the actual stat attack boost from Moxie can snowball out of control pretty quickly. Stone Edge offers excellent neutral coverage, great power, and a means to take down Togekiss, Mandibuzz, and to a lesser extent Ribombee, but Close Combat is your best bet against other Dark types and if you opt to Dynamax Krookodile it synergizes well with this Moxie set boosting its attack even faster, and Fire Fang gives a nasty surprise to the likes of Scizor, Ferrothron, and Escavalier, not to mention coverage against Heracross, Whimsicott, and Shiinotic. EVs and nature are put into attack and most notably speed since Krookodile sits at a weird speed tier with base 92 speed, and Life Orb grants the extra power it needs to steam roll teams once you get Krookodile into gear.
Intimidate->Accelerate->Eliminate
Ability: Intimidate
Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly (+Speed) (-Sp. Attack)
EVs: (HP 4) (Attack 252) (Speed 252)
Moves:
Earthquake
Crunch
Close Combat
Stone Edge/Fire Fang/Thunder Fang
Set Details:
Since Krookodile is lacking just the right amount of speed, a Choice Scarf remedies the problem. Since this set is more reliant on freely switching rather than standing your ground and accruing stat boosts, Intimidate is the prefer ability allowing you to compromise your opponent's physical offense every time you enter the battlefield. Earthquake and Crunch are still your main STAB options with Close Combat rounding out with excellent power and coverage against most threats. The last slot is a toss up depending on what you fear more. Worried about Togekiss and Mandibuzz? Go with Stone Edge. Want to KO the Bug/Steels and Ferrothorn? Fire Fang is your man. Do you REALLY hate Gyarados and Pelipper? Thunder Fang is a niche option I suppose.
Other Options:
Aqua Tail: Another coverage move option that specifically targets Ground types and the few Fire types that Earthquake has problems with (But Stone Edge already handles those threats).
Iron Tail: Something to surprise the Fairy types, but that 75% accuracy is iffy unless you are running Hone Claws.
Scale Shot: An alternative means to boosting Krookodile's speed on the Moxie set. The power is inconsistent though, so as a general coverage move it lacks reliability and the defense drop can be compromising at times.
