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3 votes
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If you have a good competitive moveset for Carbink, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Carbink Pokedex and learnset for reference.

Carbink sprite

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15 Answers

4 votes

image
Carbink @ Light Clay
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic / Gyro Ball

Utility set; an alternative to Shuckle I guess, considering Shuckle can't learn screens and is weak to Stealth Rock. Carbink also provides a few more resistances than Shuckle does, but has a x4 Steel weakness.

All things considered, Steel is not common in the lower tiers. Mawile is NU, but taking account for the recent changes, it'll probably move up and Carbink will most likely be NU like Shuckle.

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I will say I've tried breeding Carbink with a few other pokemon in the mineral group and only ditto gave a response other than "These pokemon prefer to play with other pokemon than each other."

Also, do you think you could replace Stealth Rock with Trick Room and run him in a TR team?
Oh right I forgot; Carbink is genderless and can't breed with anything other than Ditto. I think that lowers its usability when compared with Shuckle, since Shuckle has Power Split.

And yea sure, Carbink can run a Trick Room support set. I think that'd be a main reason to choose it over Shuckle for support.
Honestly, I don't know about you, but I HATE THIS POKEMON.  It looks like a bunny in a rock...
1 vote

Carbink @ Wise Glasses
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Modest / Timid Nature
- Power Gem
- Moonblast
- Nature Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]

This set is really great for an attacking Carbink. It has enough bulk that it doesn't need to boost anymore. Power Gem and Moonblast are STAB and provide excellent coverage. Nature Power changes the move depending where you are, providing more coverage options. Hidden Power [Fire] gives it coverage against Steel and Grass, two of its weaknesses, and if a Steel attack happens to be an OHKO against Carbink, Sturdy is there so you can get a free super effective Hidden Power.

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By the way, this works really really well for me, so if it doesn't work for you, then don't use it. I'm just trying to help.
Did you use this set in-game?
Both in game and competitive. It worked both ways.
Actually, this set is pretty viable because if you have a Pokémon with Grassy Terrain, it takes care of its Water & Ground weaknesses, so Nature Power is surprisingly useful!
I don't see how this is or could ever be a remotely viable set.  Firstly, Nature Power.  In Generation VI, Nature Power is never Physical, and in competitive environments Nature Power is by default Nature Power, which neither adds more coverage, nor is it seemingly worthwhile to support it with Terrain moves as they themselves are not very useful.  While Carbink is generally Bulky, 50/150/150 Defenses are only slightly better than 100/100/100, and that's easily 2HKO-able with Super Effective moves, not to mention no recovery whatsoever.  It maxes out at 218 Sp. Attack, which is so Pathetic that it's almost if not more vulnerable to setup than the vast majority of defensive Pokemon, the only difference being it wastes more moveslots to potentially hit others Super Effectively.  In this sense it is outclassed in almost every way, even in the lower tiers.
1 vote

Trick Room setter.

Carbink @ Light Clay / Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 HP
Relaxed / Sassy Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Trick Room
- Gyro Ball

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Moonblast is definitely a possible alternative.
Then I'll use moonblast then. Ferrothorn's my gyro baller, and I don't really need two.
Sounds good.
You should include 0 Speed IVs as well, to make Gyro Ball do more, and help ensure you move first in Trick Room.
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD

Maxing HP and semi-maxing each defensive stat will result in greater survivability than maxing both defensive stats.
1 vote

Calm Mind ORAS Carbink

Carbink @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Earth Power / Hidden Power [Fire]
- Power Gem

Calm Mind boosts its already respectable Special Defence and its low Special Attack to good levels.
Moonblast is a great STAB move that can also lower the Special Attack of opposing Pokemon. It hits Dark, Fighting and Dragon types.
Earth Power is one of the new toys Carbink received through the ORAS move tutors. It hits the Steel and Poison types that resist Moonblast whilst also hitting Electric, Fire and Rock types.
Power Gem is another STAB move that hits Fire types harder than Earth Power (due to STAB), Flying, Ice and Bug types.

Hidden Power Fire is an option to hit certain Steel types harder than Earth Power. This Carbink set is meant for lower tiers.

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1 vote

Gen 6:

Carbink @ Light Clay
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Brave Nature
- Gyro Ball
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Stealth Rock

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1 vote

This is my favourite Rock type Pokemon, and I’ll post a moveset for it!
Defensive+Double Screen:

Carbink @ Light Clay
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 156 HP / 252 Def / 100 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock

Explanation:
Light Clay could let the screens hold more turns, and even though opponent use a super hard Steel type attack, it will still be not OHKO.
Clear Body because its extremely high Defense and Special Defense will not take too much damage.
However, be aware for Taunt, it will only let you can use Gyro Ball.

And I was surprised there is not a Special Carbink!

Carbink @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Power Gem
- Earth Power
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind

50 Special Attack is ok for it be a sweeper because it could EV train and it also has a lot of special moves, plus it gets Calm Mind which make it more powerful due to its defenses.

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0 votes

While Carbink doesn't evolve, it has surprisingly high defenses and therefore makes a great wall. Here is an example:

enter image description here
Carbink @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 54 SpD
Calm Nature
- Light Screen
- Calm Mind
- Reflect
- Moonblast

Light Screen for higher Special Defense, Reflect for Defense and Calm Mind** for both Special Defense and Special Attack. Moonblast for STAB.

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1: Change the image; too big.
2: Not a great set for a wall. I would suggest fondant's moveset.
Lol
Someone complained about image
0 votes

Carbink @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Def / 252 HP / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Power Gem
- Psychic / Substitute

A set up set for Carbink. Carbink is not that good offensively, but it can take hits very well, even with its 4x weakness to Steel. For this set, make sure to get rid of all Steel types beforehand, then set up to your heart's content. Rock and Fairy isn't the best coverage, but it's all this Pokemon gets. For the last moveslot, you can either set up a virtually indestructible Substitute or go for slightly better coverage to knock out Poison types with Psychic. Overall, this moveset is gimmicky and isn't the best, but maybe, at the bottom of NU, this Pokemon will have a chance to sweep.

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Hidden Power Fire is also a great choice instead of Psychic or Substitute if you can get it. Covers that x4 Steel weakness.   :3
0 votes

Carbink @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 HP
Relaxed Nature
- Gyro Ball
- Reflect
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge

Gyro Ball is to counter other Fairies and Reflect is to give Carbink a crazy Defense boost. Stone Edge is to counter Flying types (mainly Talonflame) and Stealth Rock is to set up entry hazards. I use this set as a lead and is not in any way offensive.

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Lol Assault Vest won't work unless you only use Gyro Ball and Stone Edge.
lmao i completely forgot about that. thanks for poitning that out!
0 votes

Carbink Sprite

Carbink @ Babiri Berry
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpA / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Power Gem
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Calm Mind
- Stealth Rock

Base 50 Special Attack is silly and quite low, but many common OU Pokemon dislike STAB Power Gem regardless (Talonflame, Rotom-W, Charizard). This can be especially impactful if you manage to get your sneaky pebbles set up in advance, or set up with a Calm Mind. Due to Carbink's ridiculous base defenses, it's not uncommon to force a switch. With proper prediction and good timing, Carbink can dent plenty of Pokemon, especially those who don't expect a Hidden Power [Fire].

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0 votes

enter image description here
Carbink @ Expert Belt / Leftovers / Light Clay
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 SpD / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Impish Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Stone Edge
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Light Screen-Improves its already beastly Special Defense, making it some tank
Reflect-Improves its already beastly Defense, making it some tank
Stone Edge-Good, powerful move
Hidden Power [Fire]-Strong move, gives coverage over one of Carbink's x2 weaknesses and its x4 weakness (to Steel)

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1 Light Clay isn´t an ability it´s an item that makes the endurance of Reflect and Light Screen longer
2 Power Gem / Moon blast for Stone edge
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD

Maxing HP and semi-maxing each defensive stat will result in greater survivability than maxing both defensive stats.
0 votes

Carbink @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Moonblast
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic

It can double as a hazard placer and a Toxic staller with a move that has a good chance of putting out a special effect.

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0 votes

Carbink @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Atk
Sassy Nature
- Toxic
- Gyro Ball
- Trick Room
- Substitute

This one is self explanatory. Also, Trick Room does not affect Speed stats, but instead reverses the order Pokemon move, so Gyro Ball is still good to use.

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EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD

Maxing HP and semi-maxing each defensive stat will result in greater survivability than maxing both defensive stats.
0 votes

Gen 7 ZU

Carbink @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

A RestTalk set that should be used once steel, fire, and poison types are taken out or weakened. Moonblast is STAB. Calm Mind boosts your special attack and special defense. Rest is for healing and can get rid of status such as poisoning. Sleep Talk is so you won't be vulnerable while you're asleep.

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0 votes

Gen 8 ZU

Carbink @ Icy Rock
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Magic Coat
- Hail
- Misty Explosion

If you feel like using a hail team in ZU, here is a hail setter set that is done by Carbink. Stealth Rock is to provide a way to cause chip damage on opposing Pokemon. Magic Coat allows you to bounce back hazards trying to be set on your side. Hail is for well, setting up Hail. Misty Explosion, while weaker than Explosion, even combined with STAB, allows you to cause chip damage on ghost types.

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