Pokémon Unite Crustle Build - Best Items and Moves


With the best Pokémon Unite Crustle build, the crustacean with the world on its shoulders can certainly take it on. It might look like the very definition of a sluggish MOBA tank, but Crustle can destroy entire teams on its own, defending goals when needed and stealing Zapdos as well, and the two best build choices below will have you climbing the ranked ladder in no time.

Crustle is a melee defender that uses the Attack stat. Bear that in mind if you switch out any of the items below to suit your personal preference. You can read more about the Pokémon Unite Physical vs Special attack split here.

After you set up your Pokémon Unite Crustle build, think about checking out our other guides. We'll show you what those Pokémon Unite medals mean, and even break down each Pokémon in our extensive Pokémon Unite tier list. We also have explainers on how Held Items and Battle Items work. They're two very different things that you'll need to understand to put the best builds to work

Stats related to each Pokémon Unite Crustle build.
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The Best Pokémon Unite Crustle Build Options

Pokémon Unite Crustle Build - Great Wall of Crustle

Best Items
Best Moves
Potion
Lv. 1: Rock Slide
Rocky Helmet
Lv. 3: Fury Cutter
Energy Amplifier
Lv. 4: Rock Tomb
Buddy Barrier
Lv. 6: X-Scissor

Best for: Defending objectives

It may look the way Crustle was meant to be played, but this particular Pokémon Unite Crustle build requires quick thinking and impeccable aim to pull off. One wrong move and you could achieve the opposite desired effect, blocking your allies in with opponents that can then punish your poor form by shredding them in two while struggle to bring the wall down before the damage is done.

Play well, however, and you can set your attackers up to deal incredible damage. In the late game, Crustle's ultimate can rip whole teams apart with little effort. The more they fight you, the more damage they take.

The idea of this top-lane Pokémon Unite Crustle build is to use the Pokémon's ability to conjure walls to split an opposing team in two, stopping their retreat or limiting their push, allowing for attackers like Cinderace and Venusaur to do their thing.

It can go wrong, though. It requires split-second decision-making and great aim. Mess either up and you risk locking your allies in with a team that can decimate them while you look on in terror.

The best-case scenario for this it to use Rock Tomb to defend the goal. Let opponents get close enough to score, then drop the Rock Team behind them, blocking the attempt and creating the perfect construct to stun them against with X-Scissor.

In the late game, Crustle can rely on its Held Items, Potion, and Unite Move to tank massive amounts of damage, dealing it back on a team that jumps on it before finishing them off with a Rock Tomb/X-Scissor combo. The longer it survives, the more damage it deals.

Pokémon Unite Crustle build portrait.
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Pokémon Unite Crustle Build - Smash, Slam, Score

Best Items
Best Moves
Eject Button
Lv. 1: Rock Slide
Score Shield
Lv. 3: Fury Cutter
Focus Band
Lv. 4: Shell Smash
Razor Claw
Lv. 6: X-Scissor

Best for: Aggressive defense and scoring

If you're looking to score rather than block enemy attempts to do the same, this alternative top-lane Pokémon Unite Crustle build can do just that. It leverages Shell Smash to turn Crustle into a rock-solid scorer. It comes at the expense of its high defenses, but with the right Held Items, its self-inflicted weaknesses can easily be plugged.

Everything about this score-focused Pokémon Unite Crustle build is relatively self-explanatory. Shell Smash enables the bulky Pokémon to trade some of its unbelievably high defenses for almost unrivaled speed, turning the typical tank into a near-perfect striker.

Once it gets there, Score Shield will give Crustle a large shield thanks to its high max HP, making it a tough cookie to crack. In the past, Aeos Cookie was suggested to buff up the shield, but Crustle shouldn't need this. Instead, one of the new Pokémon Unite Held Items, Razor Claw, can be put in its place just ramp up the crab's already stellar damage. Lastly, there's Focus Band to help Crustle stay on the pitch longer, dunking more and more as time goes on.

When Crustle needs to go back to defending or covering for others trying to score, the speed of Shell Smash can be used to quickly reposition so that an enemy is caught between it and a wall. One X-Scissor combo later and they'll be pinned in place, giving allies the time they need to score their own goals.

The progression screen showing when Pokémon Unite Crustle evolves.
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When Does Crusle Evolve in Pokémon Unite?

At the start of a Pokémon Unite match, Crustle will be in its base Dwebble state. It will evolve into Crustle at level 4. This won't take more than a minute or two in either lane.

What Is the Best Pokémon Unite Crustle Counter?

Pokémon
Reason
Alolan Ninetales
So long as it doesn't become a primary target, Ninetales can repeatedly slow or freeze Crustle, limiting its chances to position X-Scissor.
Wigglytuff
Wigglytuff's own mobility can keep Crustle on its toes, chasing it around the map and discouraging it from making any powerful X-Scissor plays.

Crustle can resist the damage of even the strongest Pokémon Unite characters, but that doesn't mean it can't be stopped. Literally. The best way of dealing with Crustle is to simply stop it in its tracks.

What Is the Best Crustle Pair in Pokémon Unite?

Pokémon
Reason
Alolan Ninetales
The heavy CC from Alolan Ninetales sets up Crustle for some wall-slamming action with X-Scissor.
Eldegoss
While not the best, the right moveset can enable Eldegoss to pin groups in place for Crustle to slam with X-Scissor. The heals can also make this tanky Pokémon even harder to defeat.

Whether you're laning with a buddy or popping out of the jungle for a quick gank every now and then, finding your perfect Pokémon pair can make all the difference. It's about attacking in unison with one that fills in for your own weaknesses to allow maximum damage or uptime on the opponent.

How to unlock Crustle in Pokémon Unite.
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How Do I Unlock Crustle in Pokémon Unite?

Crustle can be unlocked in Pokémon Unite by throwing 8,000 Aeos Coins or 480 Aeos Gems at the in-game shopkeeper. That's if you're impatient. If you don't mind working for your unlocks, you can get a free Crustle in Pokémon Unite by completing the Beginner Challenge

Struggling to put your Crustle to good use? You might be more suited to other dive defenders like Snorlax. If you like the high damage potential but can't make the setup happen, try our Cinderace build instead. And if you just want to be a nuisance from a distance, Alolan Ninetales might be the one for you.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Pokémon Unite, Pokémon, OMG Guides, and Only Mobile Gaming pages.