Competitive Information for Cresselia [Sword/Shield]
Psychic
Abilities:
Note: Pokemon with the Levitate ability are immune to Ground attacks.
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Cresselia? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Cresselia is an awesome Psychic-typed Pokemon. It's pretty standard to see Cresselia show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. Cresselia is weak to Bug, Dark, and Ghost-typed attacks.
Item: Mental Herb / Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
EVs: 252 Hp / 236 Def / 20 SpD
Moveset:
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Ally Switch
- Helping Hand
- Trick Room / Psychic
Physical Wall Cresselia (Popular/Trending)
Cresselia is a legendary Physical Wall for single battles. It's purpose is to take a nice amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. With Levitate, Cresselia is immune to damaging Ground-typed moves (except Thousand Arrows). Levitate also makes Cresselia unaffected by the effects of Spikes, Arena Trap, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Rototiller or terrain effects. Keep in mind that Ingrain, Gravity, Smack down and the Iron ball item will nullify Levitate's effect. With a Mental Herb equipped to it, cures Cresselia of attract, disable, encore, heal block, taunt, torment then the Mental Herb gets consumed. With a Colbur Berry equipped to it, halves damage taken from a supereffective dark-type attack then the Colbur Berry gets consumed.
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ally Switch is a status move (your Cresselia swaps positions with its ally).
◆ Helping Hand is a status move (one adjacent ally's move power is 1.5x this turn).
◆ Trick Room is a status move (goes last. For 5 turns, turn order is reversed).
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10a1e8
Item: Life Orb / Twisted Spoon
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Psycho Cut / Zen Headbutt
- Slash / Body Slam
- Moonlight
- Thunder Wave
Physical Sweeper Cresselia (Levitate)
Cresselia is a legendary Physical Sweeper for single battles. It's designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Cresselia's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Levitate, Cresselia is immune to damaging Ground-typed moves (except Thousand Arrows). Levitate also makes Cresselia unaffected by the effects of Spikes, Arena Trap, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Rototiller or terrain effects. Keep in mind that Ingrain, Gravity, Smack down and the Iron ball item will nullify Levitate's effect. With a Twisted Spoon equipped to it, Cresselia's psychic-type attacks have 1.2x power.
◆ Zen Headbutt is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Slash is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Moonlight is a status move (heals your Cresselia by a weather-dependent amount).
◆ Thunder Wave is a status move (paralyzes the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a1e8
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Psychic / Expanding Force
- Moonblast
- Ice Beam / Aurora Beam
- Energy Ball / Grass Knot
Special Sweeper Cresselia (Levitate)
Cresselia is a legendary Special Sweeper for single battles. It's designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Cresselia's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Cresselia's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Levitate, Cresselia is immune to damaging Ground-typed moves (except Thousand Arrows). Levitate also makes Cresselia unaffected by the effects of Spikes, Arena Trap, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Rototiller or terrain effects. Keep in mind that Ingrain, Gravity, Smack down and the Iron ball item will nullify Levitate's effect.
◆ Expanding Force is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (Cresselia on psychic terrain: 1.5x power, hits foes).
◆ Moonblast is a special 95-base power Fairy-type move (30% chance to lower the target's special attack by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Aurora Beam is a special 65-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
◆ Energy Ball is a special 90-base power Grass-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is12a1e8
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Cresselia? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Life Orb / Twisted Spoon
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Psycho Cut / Zen Headbutt
- Slash / Body Slam
- Moonlight
- Thunder Wave
Doubles Physical Sweeper Cresselia (Levitate)
Cresselia is a legendary Physical Sweeper for double battles. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Cresselia's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Levitate, Cresselia is immune to damaging Ground-typed moves (except Thousand Arrows). Levitate also makes Cresselia unaffected by the effects of Spikes, Arena Trap, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Rototiller or terrain effects. Keep in mind that Ingrain, Gravity, Smack down and the Iron ball item will nullify Levitate's effect. With a Twisted Spoon equipped to it, Cresselia's psychic-type attacks have 1.2x power.
◆ Zen Headbutt is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Slash is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Moonlight is a status move (heals your Cresselia by a weather-dependent amount).
◆ Thunder Wave is a status move (paralyzes the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a1e8
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Moonblast
- Energy Ball / Grass Knot
Doubles Special Sweeper Cresselia (Levitate)
Cresselia is a legendary Special Sweeper for double battles. It's meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Cresselia's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Cresselia's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Levitate, Cresselia is immune to damaging Ground-typed moves (except Thousand Arrows). Levitate also makes Cresselia unaffected by the effects of Spikes, Arena Trap, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Rototiller or terrain effects. Keep in mind that Ingrain, Gravity, Smack down and the Iron ball item will nullify Levitate's effect.
◆ Psyshock is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (damages target based on defense, not special defense).
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Moonblast is a special 95-base power Fairy-type move (30% chance to lower the target's special attack by 1 stage).
◆ Energy Ball is a special 90-base power Grass-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11a1e8
Item: Weakness Policy
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
EVs: 252 Hp / 168 Def / 88 SpD
Moveset:
- Psychic / Expanding Force
- Moonblast
- Ice Beam / Aurora Beam
- Trick Room
Defensive Trick Room Cresselia (Levitate)
Cresselia is a legendary Defensive Trick Room for single battles. Weakness Policy activates if Cresselia is hit by a super effective move. The Weakness Policy is consumed and its Attack and Special Attack are increased by two stages each. With Levitate, Cresselia is immune to damaging Ground-typed moves (except Thousand Arrows). Levitate also makes Cresselia unaffected by the effects of Spikes, Arena Trap, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Rototiller or terrain effects. Keep in mind that Ingrain, Gravity, Smack down and the Iron ball item will nullify Levitate's effect.
◆ Expanding Force is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (Cresselia on psychic terrain: 1.5x power, hits foes).
◆ Moonblast is a special 95-base power Fairy-type move (30% chance to lower the target's special attack by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Aurora Beam is a special 65-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
◆ Trick Room is a status move (goes last. For 5 turns, turn order is reversed).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id12a1e8
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Cresselia learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Cresselia can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Cresselia
- Moves: Sunny day + Solar beam
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Helping Hand, Ally Switch
- Moves that inflict status: Thunder Wave
Moves that boost Cresselia's stats
- Calm Mind
- Note:This Pokemon can also learn Stored Power.
Most notable and possible best moves for Cresselia
- Ally Switch
- Helping Hand
- Ice Beam
- Icy Wind
- Light Screen
- Moonblast
- Moonlight
- Protect
- Psychic
- Reflect
- Rest
- Stored Power
- Trick Room
Common Effort Values for Cresselia in Sword and Shield
- Relaxed Nature ( 252/0/236/0/20/0 )
- Bold Nature ( 252/0/252/0/4/0 )
- Optimize Cresselia's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
Here are various how-to-use and competitive moveset analysis video guides for Cresselia in Sword/Shield. These featured videos will most likely contain additional strategies and combos not listed on our site. Disclaimer: All videos belong to their respective owners along with the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the videos. They belong solely to the author and not to us.
We currently do not have any competitive video guides for Cresselia in Sword/Shield
Want to have your Competitive Pokemon videos sponsored on our site? Contact us!
Some builds on this page have been hidden, click here to display them
Here are the best movesets for Cresselia. Top rated Cresselia Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Cresselia builds Sword/Shield. Cresselia movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Cresselia Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Cresselia in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution