Carbink
Attack
Defense
Stamina
Fast
Best Movesets
Analysis
See that Defense stat? See that Attack stat? Yeah, Carbink is not great in PvE. It could be a good defender, but its moveset is extremely easy to deal with, and a single Metagross will make very, very quick work of it.
Offense
- Rock Throw and Rock Slide is the moveset of choice here.... but it's still a pretty weak choice overall.
- Power Gem is the lesser option.
- Tackle and Moonblast fall short.
Defense
- Stick with Rock Throw and Rock Slide, though Power Gem has nearly identical performance, sitting as just a bit easier to dodge.
- Moonblast is good, but it's unlikely to ever be used in many cases.
- Tackle falls behind.
Rock Throw deals excellent DPT and benefits from STAB; it allows Carbink to plow through various enemies without having to throw a Charged Attack. Tackle, however, possesses greater energy gains, which can be helpful for combating Fighting-type threats because Carbink can reach Moonblast more quickly.
Rock Slide is Carbink's cheapest Charged Attack. Moonblast uses Carbink's other STAB to provide it with coverage; it is also Carbink's strongest attack in terms of DPE. Power Gem is inferior to Rock Slide.
Carbink is one of the sturdiest Pokemon in the game and plays very similarly to Bastiodon. Through typing, bulk, and Fast Attack pressure alone, it can dominate certain matchups simply by tap tap tapping its way through. Amongst its key targets include Sableye and Flying-type Pokemon such as Noctowl and Altaria. Carbink's main difference from Bastiodon is that its double weakness is far less abusable. Additionally, its neutrality to Fighting and access to Moonblast allows it to threaten Fighting-type Pokemon such as Medicham and Scrafty. However, Carbink lacks the resistances and neutralities provided by Bastiodon's Steel typing, which can leave it vulnerable to threats such as Venusaur, Nidoqueen, and Toxapex.
