Crabrawler

Crab pincers, boxing gloves

The English name combines “crab” with “brawler”. The Japanese Makenkani brings together ideas of competitive spirit, fighting and crabs. That combination is reflected directly in its behaviour: it seeks to assert itself, protects its body with its pincers and responds to problems with punches.

The design is based on the coconut crab, a land-dwelling crustacean associated with climbing, and transforms it into a boxer. The reference is not limited to its rounded pincers. Its body position, swollen eye and way of covering its face resemble a pugilist waiting for the right moment to move in. It also fits the Pokédex entry that describes how it mistakes Exeggutor for a palm tree and climbs up it.

An Alolan species with a late return

Crabrawler debuted in the seventh generation and was designed to be found near coastal areas and clusters of Berries in Alola. In Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, it evolved by levelling up on Mount Lanakila, a peculiar condition because it required taking it to a specific area of the map. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon kept the same method.

It was not available in the eighth generation. It returned in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, where its evolution became dependent on an Ice Stone. The change simplifies the process and lets you choose the exact moment of evolution without travelling to Mount Lanakila. Its level-up learnset was also adjusted: in the current games, it learns Incinerate and Payback where different moves stood out in its earlier Alolan adventures.

How to use its Attack without giving away turns

In a normal playthrough, it is best used as a physical attacker rather than expected to take hits for many turns. Rock Smash is useful early on, Brick Break provides a clear jump in power and Close Combat is its offensive ceiling among the moves learned by level. Crabhammer adds unusual Water-type coverage for a Fighting type and can punish opponents that switch in expecting a Fighting-type attack.

Hyper Cutter is the safest ability when the opponent relies on Leer, Intimidate or other effects that reduce Attack. Iron Fist deserves consideration if the set includes Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Drain Punch or Focus Punch. Anger Point is reserved for risky situations: taking a critical hit can trigger a huge boost, but it is not a condition that can be activated reliably.

The fighter that never becomes a champion

Its 82 Attack points are good for an unevolved species, and its 63 Speed lets it move before some defensive opponents. The problem lies in its 47 HP, 57 Defense and 47 Special Defense. It cannot enter the field many times, and its weaknesses to Flying, Psychic and Fairy let several attackers force it out without much effort.

In Little Cup, it has been considered as a physical attacker with Close Combat, Crabhammer, Earthquake and additional coverage. There, it can surprise Pokémon that expect to face a more predictable Fighting type, but it struggles against species such as Mienfoo, Timburr or Mankey, which offer better support tools or more consistency. Against slow teams it can open holes; against offensive teams it needs to come in after a knockout, a forced switch or some form of speed support.

Its evolutionary line also affects how it is used. Evolving it early gives access to Crabominable, with greater raw power and the Ice type, while keeping Crabrawler preserves its small-boxer look and lets you use it in formats where evolution is not allowed. The detached pincer is not a permanent mutilation: it grows back, just as the Berries fall again when it punches trees.