Moves
Stealth Rock is one of the best moves in the game and Carracosta is one of its better setters, finding ample opportunities to set it up and having decent matchups against most spinners and Defoggers. Scald has decent power and has a high chance to burn the foe, severely crippling physical attackers and wearing down otherwise hard counters to Carracosta such as Vileplume and Torterra. Rock Slide hits from Carracosta's higher Attack stat and has solid coverage alongside Scald, and it has higher accuracy and PP than Stone Edge. It also smacks Xatu, which might want to try to bounce back Carracosta's Stealth Rock. Carracosta has a very versatile last slot. Knock Off removes items and cripples switch-ins such as Gurdurr. Toxic statuses switch-ins and helps Carracosta more quickly wear down the foe. Protect gives Carracosta a little extra HP from Leftovers, gains an extra turn for burn damage on the foe, and lets Carracosta scout Choice-locked Pokemon such as Primeape and Mesprit. Aqua Jet picks off weakened foes and Pokemon weak to it, notably allowing Carracosta to hit Double Dance Rhydon, as well as Fire-types before they can KO Carracosta with a Grass-type coverage move, but is generally very weak. Stone Edge can be used over Rock Slide, as it hits harder in general and, in particular, OHKOes Pyroar after one round of Life Orb recoil.
Set Details
The spread and a boosting nature make Carracosta ridiculously physically bulky, and the Special Defense investment ensures Carracosta can avoid an OHKO from Life Orb Pyroar's Hidden Power Grass. Relaxed is chosen as to not weaken Carracosta's attacking options, and Carracosta is exceedingly slow anyways. A spread of 252 HP / 92 Def / 168 SpD lets Carracosta take special attacks significantly better, specifically allowing it to take a Life Orb Pyroar's Hidden Power Grass after Stealth Rock. Solid Rock lets Carracosta take non-STAB physical super effective moves, notably Earthquake coverage, much better.
Usage Tips
Come in on the Normal-, Flying-, and Fire-types, such as Kangaskhan, Archeops, and Choice Specs Pyroar, and various other physical attackers that Carracosta walls throughout the game. Set up Stealth Rock early-game, unless the opponent has Shiftry or any other entry hazard remover that beats Carracosta, against which it's better for Carracosta to cripple them as they switch in with Toxic, Knock Off, or even a Scald burn. If the opponent has a Xatu and they are aware this is defensive Carracosta, go for Rock Slide or Scald if predicting it to switch in to bounce back Stealth Rock. Scald is Carracosta's most spammable move due to its burn chance, and should be used if the opponent is likely to send in a counter such as Vileplume and Gourgeist-XL. Knock Off and Toxic can similarly be used to cripple most common switch-ins. Use Protect when in against Choice-locked Pokemon such as Primeape and Mesprit to see which move they use, and then switch or stay in accordingly. If running Aqua Jet, Carracosta can be used as a revenge killer for Pokemon weak to the move or low on health. Due to its lack of reliable recovery, be careful switching in if Carracosta is needed for another threat, as, for example, the Fire-types it checks can severely weaken if not outright KO it with super effective coverage.
Team Options
A check to Grass-types is a mandatory partner for Carracosta, with Xatu, Scyther, Ice-types, Poison-types, and Fire-types all working well as partners. Garbodor or Roselia also forms an entry hazard-stacking core with Carracosta, with the former being an overall better Grass and Fighting check and the latter being a check to the Water-, Electric-, and Ground-types that trouble Carracosta. Most Grass-types make quick work of the Water-, Electric-, and Ground-types that wall or threaten Carracosta, and in return it takes on Flying- and Fire-types for them. Thanks to its access to Freeze-Dry and great special bulk, Cryogonal also serves as a solid answer to the aforementioned threats to Carracosta. Psychic-, Flying-, Poison-, and Ghost-types can check or counter Fighting-types, which can severely dent if not outright KO Carracosta with their STAB moves. Pokemon such as Klinklang and Electric-types appreciate Carracosta's ability to cripple the likes of Gastrodon and Grass-types with Toxic, Knock Off, and Scald burns in the latter case. Due to Carracosta's somewhat passive nature, it gives common sweepers a lot of setup opportunities, making answers to the likes of Malamar, Gurdurr, and Calm Mind Psychic-types, such as Scyther and Signal Beam Psychic-types, very welcome partners.