Cresselia Best Moveset and 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 Best Build and Moveset

Calm Mind Cresselia

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Cresselia	Levitate	Sitrus Berry	・Psychic ・Ice Beam ・Moonlight ・Calm Mind
Nature / EVs	Bold 252 HP / 28 SpD / 228 Spe
Final Stats	227 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

Cresselia Basic Information

Cresselia - Type

Cresselia Lunar Pokémon
Type 1	Type 2
	-

Cresselia Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

Cresselia Abilities

Cresselia Base Stats

Cresselia Strengths and Weaknesses

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
Tyranitar	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.
Scizor	Ranking：★★★★★ ・Can threaten Cresselia with a super-effective Bug-type move.
Weavile	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.
Blissey	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

What are Natures?

Best Partners for Cresselia

Breloom

Pokemon	Ability	Item	Moves
Breloom	Technician	Focus Sash	・Bullet Seed ・Mach Punch ・Spore ・Swords Dance
Nature / EVs	Jolly 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Final Stats	136 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
Scizor	Technician	Lum Berry	・Bullet Punch ・X-Scissor ・Swords Dance ・Roost
Nature / EVs	Adamant 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Final Stats	177 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
Heat Rotom	Levitate	Choice Scarf	・Discharge ・Overheat ・Trick ・Volt Switch
Nature / EVs	Timid 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Final Stats	125 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

Tier List and Movesets for Competitive Battle

Strategies for Individual Pokemon

Competitive Pokemon Builds
Gyarados	Breloom	Gliscor
Scizor	Suicune	Latios
Garchomp	Gengar	Azumarill
Hippowdon	Mamoswine	Latias
Heatran	Blaziken	Wash Rotom
Metagross	Tyranitar	Dragonite
Togekiss	Cloyster	Salamence
Cresselia