Moves
STAB Moonblast allows Carbink to deal super effective damage to Drampa. Moonblast also ensures that Carbink isn't Taunt bait or setup fodder for Sableye. Alternatively, Rock Slide is Carbink's most reliable Rock-type move and hits Flying-, Fire-, Bug-, and Ice-types harder than Moonblast. For example, it 2HKOes the Fire-types that Carbink beats like Simisear without any Attack investment. Furthermore, Rock Slide prevents Oricorio-G from setting up on Carbink with Substitute and Calm Mind and breaks Jynx's Substitute reliably, which Moonblast is unable to do, while also preventing Articuno from PP stalling with Substitute. Toxic allows Carbink to cripple switch-ins such as Lanturn, Lurantis, and the plethora of offensive Pokemon that can take advantage of it. Rest is Carbink's only recovery option and allows Carbink to reliably check foes such as Drampa throughout the match. Protect can be used over Rest for an extra turn of Leftovers recovery, scouting against Choice-locked Pokemon, and reducing the damage of incoming Z-Moves. Additionally, using Protect in tandem with Toxic enables Carbink to stall out its foes.
Set Details
Maximum HP and Special Defense investment with a Calm or Careful nature ensures that Carbink can take on special wallbreakers such as Simisear and Drampa. A Careful nature should be used with Rock Slide to maximize its damage. Leftovers maximizes longevity by granting Carbink passive recovery and pairs well with Protect if running it. Clear Body enables Carbink to block Parting Shot and avoid stat drops from moves such as Drampa's Focus Blast. Sturdy also has usefulness in almost guaranteeing Carbink Stealth Rock by surviving a strong hit, but few attacks are capable of OHKOing Carbink to begin with.
Usage Tips
Carbink should set up Stealth Rock and blanket check powerful special attackers throughout the match, using Toxic against setup sweepers in order to cut their sweep short. If Stealth Rock has already been set, Carbink can use the switches it forces by virtue of its typing and defenses to whittle down its foes with Toxic or its STAB moves. Carbink should mostly be used to counter special attackers such as Drampa and Musharna, but Carbink can also check physical attackers such as Kangaskhan and Dodrio because of its high Defense and resistances. Carbink should be wary of Taunt users, as it's slow, and Taunt prevents it from using Toxic and Stealth Rock. Lastly, when Carbink is low on health make sure to use Rest so it can consistently check special attackers like Drampa and Simisear. Carbink should use Protect to scout Choice-locked Pokemon like Jellicent and wear down checks in tandem with Toxic.
Team Options
Carbink almost exclusively fits on stall teams due to its ability to check many of the tier's prominent special wallbreakers; thus, pairing Carbink with bulky Pokemon such as Bronzor, Sableye, Altaria, and Tangela is ideal, as they all appreciate a bulky special wall that can check Drampa. Additionally, clerics such as Audino and Lanturn can help remove any status conditions such as sleep on Carbink with Heal Bell. Carbink is susceptible to entry hazards, so Defoggers like Skuntank and Altaria are recommended. Skuntank, in particular, is great at absorbing Toxic Spikes, which can be a hinderance for stall teams. Lastly, Ground- and Steel-type checks such as Gastrodon make for good teammates because Carbink has no way to threaten the former other than with Toxic and is often helpless against the latter.