Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP)

Cresselia Best Moveset and Build

Pokemon BDSP Cresselia Best Build

Cresselia is one of the game's premiere defensive Pokemon. Read on to find out the best build, the best moveset, basic information, stats and recommended partners for Cresselia in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP).

Cresselia - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset Build for Ranked Battle

Cresselia Best Build and Moveset

Calm Mind Cresselia

Pokemon Ability Item Moves
Pokemon BDSP CresseliaCresselia Levitate Sitrus Berry Psychic
Ice Beam
Moonlight
Calm Mind
Nature / EVsBold 252 HP / 28 SpD / 228 Spe
Final Stats227 HP / 154 Def / 95 SpA / 154 SpD / 135 Spe

This set maximizes HP, with ample speed investment to outspeed Pokemon such as Honchkrow and Jolly Breloom, being able to deal ample damage to them before taking a super-effective hit from Honchkrow or being put to sleep by Breloom. With its mediocre Special Attack Stat, Calm Mind is a perfect fit for Cresselia as it allows Cresselia to be an offensive tank after a few boosts.

Despite her Special Attack stat being low, we run Ice Beam so that we can damage Ice-weak Pokemon like Gliscor, Salamence and Garchomp for super-effective damage.

Using Cresselia

Cresselia struggles to contribute to a team's overall offensive power, so it is best suited for more defensively-oriented teams. Dedicated Trick Room teams may also find a spot for Cresselia. It needs plenty of support to be functional in a team, moreso than other Pokemon who can be effective right away. Cresselia hates Pokemon that can wall it. Not having Toxic in BDSP hurts its ability to outlast other walls. Additionally, Cresselia is not the best Pokemon for weather teams besides Sun, as Rain will reduce its recovery from Moonlight and it does not particularly appreciate Sandstorm or Hail's chip damage.

All these negatives aside, Cresselia can potentially work as a win condition. A team that cannot afflict it with status or deal meaningful damage to it will simply fold to Cresselia late-game. Teammates and a gameplan that can get Cresselia in a prime position to win may be best for her, as she may not be the most effective Pokemon on her own.

Understanding Cresselia's strengths and limitations is key to playing her successfully.

Other Viable Moves

Lunar Dance Cresselia faints, but can fully heal a damaged sweeper that could win you the game.
Trick Room Trick Room reverses speed for 5 turns. This is good for letting slow Pokemon like Cresselia move first.
Thunder Wave Thunder Wave can be a great form of Speed Control for Cresselia. Cresselia can assist its teammates with this move by cutting down an opponent's Speed with paralysis.
Reflect
/Light Screen
Cresselia can be a reasonable option for setting up Dual Screens because of its amazing bulk. It can opt for one or the other depending on its EV investment on its defensive stats. Having both might be hard to squeeze into its moveset, unless Cresselia becomes a dedicated Screens setter.

Cresselia Basic Information

Cresselia - Type

Cresselia
Lunar Pokémon
Pokemon - Cresselia
Type 1 Type 2
Psychic Type Pokemon -

Cresselia Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
-

Cresselia Abilities

Name Description
Levitate Gives immunity to Ground type moves.

Cresselia Base Stats

HP
120
Atk
70
Def
120
Sp. Atk
75
Sp. Def
130
Speed
85
Total Base Stats
600

Cresselia Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths Weaknesses
✔︎ Is exceptionally bulky.
✔︎ Only has a few type weaknesses.
✖︎ Poor offensive and speed stats.
✖︎ Performs poorly in most weather.

Cresselia's Massive Bulk

Cresselia's impressive bulk lets it reliably use set up, supportive, and status moves without getting knocked out. It can support its team with these moves. But Cresselia has to be positioned carefully. While it is not easy to knock out, its low Special Attack stat also means she won't reliably be getting knock outs herself.

Cresselia's Supportive Movepool

With access to a plethora of useful moves that it can reliably set up, Cresselia proves to be one of the best supportive tanks in the game. Building Cresselia can be a matter of mixing and matching its support moves to what your team needs.

Counter and Checks

Pokemon who can wall Cresselia, taunt it, or hit it really hard will surely give Cresselia trouble. While it has very few weaknesses, Dark is a powerful offensive type and is something that Cresselia players should watch out for.

Pokemon Description
Pokemon BDSP TyranitarTyranitar Ranking:★★★★★
・Cresselia cannot deal good damage to Tyranitar because it can boost its Special Defense stat in a Sandstorm.
・Can hit Cresselia for super-effective damage with a Dark-type move.
Pokemon BDSP ScizorScizor Ranking:★★★★★
・Can threaten Cresselia with a super-effective Bug-type move.
Pokemon BDSP WeavileWeavile Ranking:★★★★★
・Has access to Taunt which can stop Cresselia from setting up or using support moves.
・Can hit Cresselia with a super-effective Dark-type move.
Pokemon BDSP BlisseyBlissey Ranking:★★★★★
・Cresselia cannot deal any meaningful damage to Blissey thanks to its massive HP and Special Defense.
・Blissey can outpace Cresselia with consistent damage in Seismic Toss.

Best Natures for Cresselia

Best Natures
Bold
(Def↑ Atk↓)
Calm
(Sp. Def↑ Atk↓)
Relaxed
(Def↑ Spe↓)

What are Natures?

Best Partners for Cresselia

Breloom

Pokemon Ability Item Moves
Pokemon BDSP BreloomBreloom Technician Focus Sash Bullet Seed
Mach Punch
Spore
Swords Dance
Nature / EVsJolly 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Final Stats136 HP / 182 Atk / 100 Def / 80 SpD / 134 Spe

Breloom's most standard set is a great partner for Cresselia because it matches up favorably against Cresselia's counters. It can hit Tyranitar, Weavile, and Blissey with super-effective STAB Technician-boosted Mach Punches. Bullet Seed is also great for breaking through Tyranitar.

Scizor

Pokemon Ability Item Moves
Pokemon BDSP ScizorScizor Technician Lum Berry Bullet Punch
X-Scissor
Swords Dance
Roost
Nature / EVsAdamant 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Final Stats177 HP / 200 Atk / 120 Def / 101 SpD / 85 Spe

Scizor is a powerful Physical Attacker that also matches up favorably against Cresselia's counters. It can deal huge damage with X-Scissor and Bullet Punch. This Scizor set also does not mind switching into a status move because it has a Lum Berry.

Wash Rotom

Pokemon Ability Item Moves
Pokemon BDSP Heat RotomHeat Rotom Levitate Choice Scarf Discharge
Overheat
Trick
Volt Switch
Nature / EVsTimid 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Final Stats125 HP / 76 Atk / 127 Def / 157 SpA / 128 SpD / 151 Spe (226 with Choice Scarf)

Wash Rotom can punish Rain setters with a super-effective Thunderbolt even though it is a Fire-type that wouldn't appreciate being in the rain itself. It can also Trick its Choice Scarf unto a Blissey and lock it into a move while you reposition into a Physical Attacker. Overheat can KO an opposing Scizor.

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Pokemon BDSP - Tier List Focus Banner

Tier List and Movesets for Competitive Battle

Strategies for Individual Pokemon

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