Cranidos
Rock-type, Generation 4. Evolves into Rampardos for 50 Candy — no raid or PvP ranking of its own.
Best moveset
- Highest damage
- Zen Headbutt Bulldoze
Bulldoze costs 50 energy for 80 power.
Type effectiveness
Damage Cranidos takes from each attacking type
Base stats
- Stat total
- 456
- Buddy distance
- 5.0 km per candy
- Second charged move
- 75,000 Dust + 75 Candy
- 100% IV at Lv 20
- 1,040 CP
Cranidos moves
2 fast · 3 charged
Fast moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take Down | Normal | 7 | 8 | 1.0s | 7 | 8 |
| Zen Headbutt Best | Psychic | 11 | 9 | 1.0s | 11 | 9 |
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | DPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Power STAB | Rock | 70 | 33 | 3.5s | 20 | 2.12 |
| Bulldoze Best | Ground | 80 | 50 | 3.5s | 22.9 | 1.60 |
| Rock Tomb STAB | Rock | 65 | 50 | 3.0s | 21.7 | 1.30 |
Fast moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | Turns | DPT | EPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take Down | Normal | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2.50 | 4.00 |
| Zen Headbutt | Psychic | 8 | 6 | 2 | 4.00 | 3.00 |
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DPE | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Power | Rock | 60 | 45 | 1.33 | Buff / debuff |
| Bulldoze | Ground | 45 | 45 | 1.00 | Buff / debuff |
| Rock Tomb | Rock | 75 | 50 | 1.50 | Buff / debuff |
Moveset analysis
The highest-damage fast move is Zen Headbutt (11 DPS); Zen Headbutt builds energy fastest (9 EPS).
Evolution
Raids
- Raid tier
- 1-Star
- Shiny
- Can be shiny after the raid
- Raid guide
- Full Cranidos raid guide
Best counters against Cranidos
How to get Cranidos
- Wild
- Spawns in the wild — rarity depends on biome and active events
- Raids
- 1-Star raid boss
- Team GO Rocket
- Shadow Cranidos knows Frustration — swap it with a Charged TM
- Purification
- 5,000 Dust + 5 Candy → Return
- Trading
- Can be traded between trainers
Catch CP
| Source | Level | Min CP | Max CP (100% IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Catch | Lv 1–30 | 43 | 1,573 |
| Wild (Weather Boost) | Lv 1–35 | 43 | 1,703 |
| Raid Catch | Lv 20 | 998 | 1,066 |
| Raid (Weather Boost) | Lv 25 | 1,242 | 1,326 |
| Egg Hatch | Lv 20 | 998 | 1,066 |
| Research Encounter | Lv 15 | 755 | 806 |
| GO Battle League | Lv 20 | 998 | 1,066 |
Is Cranidos good in Pokemon GO?
| Power up | Stardust | Candy | XL Candy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 20 → 40 | 135,000 | 15 | — |
Cranidos has no raid or PvP ranking right now. Keep a high-IV one for the Pokedex and for future move updates or limited-format cups, and spend your Stardust elsewhere.
- Attack is its highest stat (218), so it hits harder than it survives — a glass-cannon raid slot rather than a gym defender.
- A second charged move costs 75,000 Dust and 75 Candy, and with 3 charged moves to pick from it is the single biggest PvP upgrade you can buy.
- Shadow Cranidos deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more: better for raids, riskier in PvP.
- Its moves get a damage boost in Partly Cloudy weather — worth timing raids around.
CP by level
Maximum CP with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at every level
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 1 | 25 |
| Lv 2 | 80 |
| Lv 3 | 135 |
| Lv 4 | 190 |
| Lv 5 | 245 |
| Lv 6 | 300 |
| Lv 7 | 355 |
| Lv 8 | 410 |
| Lv 9 | 465 |
| Lv 10 | 520 |
| Lv 11 | 572 |
| Lv 12 | 624 |
| Lv 13 | 676 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 14 | 728 |
| Lv 15 | 780 |
| Lv 16 | 832 |
| Lv 17 | 884 |
| Lv 18 | 936 |
| Lv 19 | 988 |
| Lv 20 | 1,040 |
| Lv 21 | 1,092 |
| Lv 22 | 1,144 |
| Lv 23 | 1,196 |
| Lv 24 | 1,248 |
| Lv 25 | 1,300 |
| Lv 26 | 1,352 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 27 | 1,404 |
| Lv 28 | 1,456 |
| Lv 29 | 1,508 |
| Lv 30 | 1,560 |
| Lv 31 | 1,586 |
| Lv 32 | 1,612 |
| Lv 33 | 1,638 |
| Lv 34 | 1,664 |
| Lv 35 | 1,690 |
| Lv 36 | 1,716 |
| Lv 37 | 1,742 |
| Lv 38 | 1,768 |
| Lv 39 | 1,794 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 40 | 1,820 |
| Lv 41 | 1,843 |
| Lv 42 | 1,867 |
| Lv 43 | 1,890 |
| Lv 44 | 1,913 |
| Lv 45 | 1,937 |
| Lv 46 | 1,961 |
| Lv 47 | 1,985 |
| Lv 48 | 2,009 |
| Lv 49 | 2,033 |
| Lv 50 | 2,058 |
Pokedex info
- Pokedex number
- #0408
- Height
- 0.90 m
- Weight
- 31.50 kg
- Candy to evolve
- 25
- Family forms
- 4 released forms
- Game ID
- V0408_POKEMON_CRANIDOS
FAQ
What is the best moveset for Cranidos in Pokemon GO?
Cranidos's best moveset is Zen Headbutt (fast) with Bulldoze (charged). Use a Fast TM or Charged TM to reroll onto it.
What are Cranidos's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?
Cranidos takes super effective damage from Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, Water-type moves. It resists Fire, Flying, Normal, Poison, so avoid those types against it.
What is Cranidos's max CP in Pokemon GO?
Cranidos reaches 2,058 CP at level 50 with XL Candy, or 1,820 CP at level 40. Level 50 needs XL Candy, which only unlocks at Trainer Level 31 and comes from catching, hatching, transferring and walking.
What CP is a 100% IV Cranidos?
A perfect 15/15/15 Cranidos shows 1,040 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches) and 1,300 CP at level 25 (weather boosted). Seeing that exact number on the catch screen means it is a hundo — favourite it before you transfer anything.
Is Shadow Cranidos better than regular Cranidos?
Shadow Cranidos deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more. For raids the trade is worth it; for PvP the lost bulk often is not. It arrives knowing Frustration, which should be replaced with a Charged TM during a Team GO Rocket event before you power it up.
How do you get Cranidos in Pokemon GO?
Cranidos spawns in the wild, though how often depends on your biome and the active event. It is currently a 1-Star Raids raid boss. It can be traded between trainers.
Can Cranidos be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Shiny Cranidos depends on whether Niantic has released the form. Check the events page for Community Days and event weekends, which is when shiny rates are boosted.