qc: Kreme / Nuked / Eyan
gp: A Cake Wearing A Hat / Fireflame479
[OVERVIEW]
Cloyster's niche lies in its access to Shell Smash, which makes it a very threatening breaker when set up, able to threaten almost every common archetype at +2. Skill Link solidifies this niche, giving Cloyster access to a powerful, spammable physical Ice-type STAB move in Icicle Spear. However, Cloyster needs a lot of team support to be able to function effectively, meaning it faces competition from other setup sweepers like Azumarill and Scizor. It also faces competition from Barbaracle as a Shell Smash sweeper due to Barbaracle's superior typing. Cloyster (avoid possible confusion) suffers from a lackluster defensive typing, giving it common weaknesses to Electric, Grass, and Fighting as well as a weakness to the ever-present Stealth Rock. This makes it very difficult to find setup opportunities. Despite its good Defense, it can be worn down very easily before setting up and can easily be KOed at -1, and its poor Special Defense means that almost every unresisted special attack can OHKO it. It also struggles to break through common defensive Pokemon like Alomomola and Quagsire, which has access to Unaware.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Icicle Spear
move 3: Hydro Pump
move 4: Explosion
item: Normalium Z
ability: Skill Link
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash boosts Cloyster's Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, allowing it to become a threatening wallbreaker. Icicle Spear hits common threats such as Gliscor, Serperior, and Latias super effectively, and the move threatens many Pokemon that don't resist it, such as Blissey and Alolan Muk, when Cloyster is boosted. Hydro Pump hits physically defensive Pokemon such as Scizor and Ice-resistant Pokemon such as Cobalion and Doublade harder than any of Cloyster's other moves. Explosion hits Water-types like Azumarill and Suicune, which resist Cloyster's STAB moves, hard, and it also pressures foes with an extremely powerful attack. It is also useful to eliminate bulkier foes and generate momentum for Cloyster's teammates to come in and sweep late-game; when combined with Normalium Z, it is turned into a strong Breakneck Blitz—while weaker than the base move, it can still dent opposing walls and give Cloyster a chance to sweep itself.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs maximize Cloyster's offensive presence, allowing it to threaten common Pokemon such as Serperior and Latias more effectively. 252 Speed EVs allow Cloyster to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame at +2 as well as Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Infernape. A Naive nature maximizes Cloyster's Speed while not damaging either of its attacking stats. Normalium Z turns Explosion into a 200-Base Power Breakneck Blitz; however, Life Orb can also be used to give all of Cloyster's attacks more power at the cost of wearing Cloyster down very quickly.
Usage Tips
========
Cloyster's role depends on its matchup against the opposing team; it can either break through bulky foes like Suicune to facilitate a sweep or sweep itself, aided by partners, if similar threats are weakened for it. Cloyster can be used to punch holes in opposing teams, weakening or KOing bulky foes such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, Blissey, and Amoonguss. If the opponent has any of these Pokemon, setting up a Shell Smash as soon as possible is preferred towaiting for an opportunity to sweep. Use Icicle Spear liberally when breaking, as it is Cloyster's most reliable and powerful STAB move, hitting much of the tier neutrally or super effectively and pressuring less defensive Pokemon. Saving Explosion or Breakneck Blitz for bulkier Pokemon like Suicune allows Cloyster's teammates to sweep late-game. Explosion can also generate momentum for Cloyster's teammates. Cloyster should avoid taking damage before it sets up if it wants to sweep, so bring it in after a teammate has fainted, on a teammate's slow Volt Switch or U-turn, or on a predicted double switch to avoid unnecessary residual damage. It is best to set up on Pokemon that can't damage Cloyster much, such as Blissey and Hippowdon, or on a forced switch to eliminate the possibility of Cloyster getting KOed before it can break teams. Avoid setting up a Shell Smash if you want to sweep with Cloyster when foes that take little damage from all of Cloyster's attacks, such as Alomomola, have not been weakened or KOed. Breakneck Blitz, while stronger than Icicle Spear, should be used only on foes that resist both of Cloyster's STAB moves, as it can only be used once, and Explosion should only be used as a last resort if sweeping, as it KOes Cloyster.
Team Options
========
Because Cloyster is weak to Stealth Rock and vulnerable to all other entry hazards, Defoggers such as Mega Altaria, Hydreigon, and Gliscor make good partners. Gliscor also provides the team with an Electric immunity. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Gliscor and Cobalion is useful, as it allows Cloyster to secure more KOs, thus breaking the opposing team more easily. Slow U-turn and Volt Switch users, such as Scizor and Rotom-C, bring Cloyster in safely so it avoids damage. Pokemon that can deal with special attackers, such as Mega Aerodactyl to take care of Serperior and Hippowdon to beat Mega Manectric, which can easily outspeed an unboosted Cloyster and KO it,(AC) make good partners for Cloyster. Mega Manectric can also pivot into a set-up Cloyster due to Intimidate, and setting up a second time can be very risky. Hippowdon and Swampert can also take Bullet Punch from Scizor, which threatens a set-up Cloyster due to its lowered Defense. Fighting-type checks, such as Latias and Gliscor, pressure common Fighting-types like Breloom, Infernape, and Lucario, which have access to strong super effective priortiy priority in Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave. Choice Scarf users such as Chandelure and Latias make good partners, as the former provides Memento, giving Cloyster a free turn to set up, while the latter provides Healing Wish, allowing a weakened Cloyster to set up and break again.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Focus Sash suicide lead set can be run with Spikes and Toxic Spikes, but it's very slow, crippled by Taunt, and pressured by other leads. Ice Shard can be run on the main set for priority; however, at +2, Cloyster outspeeds everything that it would hit with Ice Shard to hit with Icicle Spear. This is also rendered ineffective by the fact that Cloyster takes very little damage from common priority moves such as Aqua Jet and Ice Shard. Rapid Spin can also be run, but Cloyster is vulnerable to entry hazards, limiting its effectiveness as a spinner. Liquidation is another option to capitalize on Cloyster's higher Attack stat, but it means that Cloyster lacks a reliable way to deal with some physically defensive Pokemon like Doublade and Mega Aggron. Rock Blast can be run to allow Cloyster to hit Mantine harder.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Offensive Pressure**: Due to Cloyster's poor defensive typing and lackluster Special Defense, it is pressured by many common offensive threats, such as Mega Manectric, Serperior, and Latias, when unboosted. These Pokemon can outright KO Cloyster or force it out, stopping it from setting up and breaking.
**Status**: Burns from Pokemon such as Alomomola halve Cloyster's Attack stat and limit its wallbreaking ability. Poison wears Cloyster down over time, reducing its effectiveness as a wallbreaker. Paralysis halves Cloyster's Speed, meaning it can be outsped and OHKOed by Pokemon that it can usually deal with at +2 such as Serperior.
**Bulky Water-types**: Most bulky Water-types, excluding Swampert and Mantine, can stop Cloyster from attempting to sweep with its STAB moves but are vulnerable to being broken through by Breakneck Blitz or Explosion. Foes such as Alomomola and Suicune take very little damage from Cloyster's STAB moves and can only be removed through Explosion or Breakneck Blitz, which can both be stopped by Protect. Quagsire does not resist any of Cloyster's moves, but Unaware renders Cloyster's Shell Smash boosts useless. Empoleon can also wall Cloyster due to resisting Explosion and Breakneck Blitz, but it can be worn down easily due to a lack of recovery.
**Entry Hazards**: Cloyster's Ice typing leaves it with a weakness to Stealth Rock, limiting the number of times that it can switch in. Toxic Spikes wear Cloyster down with poison damage each turn, limiting its effectiveness as a wallbreaker and making it increasingly more vulnerable to priority. Sticky Web means that Choice Scarf users such as Infernape and Hydreigon outspeed Cloyster at +2 and can KO it.
gp: A Cake Wearing A Hat / Fireflame479
[OVERVIEW]
Cloyster's niche lies in its access to Shell Smash, which makes it a very threatening breaker when set up, able to threaten almost every common archetype at +2. Skill Link solidifies this niche, giving Cloyster access to a powerful, spammable physical Ice-type STAB move in Icicle Spear. However, Cloyster needs a lot of team support to be able to function effectively, meaning it faces competition from other setup sweepers like Azumarill and Scizor. It also faces competition from Barbaracle as a Shell Smash sweeper due to Barbaracle's superior typing. Cloyster (avoid possible confusion) suffers from a lackluster defensive typing, giving it common weaknesses to Electric, Grass, and Fighting as well as a weakness to the ever-present Stealth Rock. This makes it very difficult to find setup opportunities. Despite its good Defense, it can be worn down very easily before setting up and can easily be KOed at -1, and its poor Special Defense means that almost every unresisted special attack can OHKO it. It also struggles to break through common defensive Pokemon like Alomomola and Quagsire, which has access to Unaware.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Icicle Spear
move 3: Hydro Pump
move 4: Explosion
item: Normalium Z
ability: Skill Link
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash boosts Cloyster's Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, allowing it to become a threatening wallbreaker. Icicle Spear hits common threats such as Gliscor, Serperior, and Latias super effectively, and the move threatens many Pokemon that don't resist it, such as Blissey and Alolan Muk, when Cloyster is boosted. Hydro Pump hits physically defensive Pokemon such as Scizor and Ice-resistant Pokemon such as Cobalion and Doublade harder than any of Cloyster's other moves. Explosion hits Water-types like Azumarill and Suicune, which resist Cloyster's STAB moves, hard, and it also pressures foes with an extremely powerful attack. It is also useful to eliminate bulkier foes and generate momentum for Cloyster's teammates to come in and sweep late-game; when combined with Normalium Z, it is turned into a strong Breakneck Blitz—while weaker than the base move, it can still dent opposing walls and give Cloyster a chance to sweep itself.
Set Details
========
252 Attack EVs maximize Cloyster's offensive presence, allowing it to threaten common Pokemon such as Serperior and Latias more effectively. 252 Speed EVs allow Cloyster to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame at +2 as well as Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Infernape. A Naive nature maximizes Cloyster's Speed while not damaging either of its attacking stats. Normalium Z turns Explosion into a 200-Base Power Breakneck Blitz; however, Life Orb can also be used to give all of Cloyster's attacks more power at the cost of wearing Cloyster down very quickly.
Usage Tips
========
Cloyster's role depends on its matchup against the opposing team; it can either break through bulky foes like Suicune to facilitate a sweep or sweep itself, aided by partners, if similar threats are weakened for it. Cloyster can be used to punch holes in opposing teams, weakening or KOing bulky foes such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, Blissey, and Amoonguss. If the opponent has any of these Pokemon, setting up a Shell Smash as soon as possible is preferred towaiting for an opportunity to sweep. Use Icicle Spear liberally when breaking, as it is Cloyster's most reliable and powerful STAB move, hitting much of the tier neutrally or super effectively and pressuring less defensive Pokemon. Saving Explosion or Breakneck Blitz for bulkier Pokemon like Suicune allows Cloyster's teammates to sweep late-game. Explosion can also generate momentum for Cloyster's teammates. Cloyster should avoid taking damage before it sets up if it wants to sweep, so bring it in after a teammate has fainted, on a teammate's slow Volt Switch or U-turn, or on a predicted double switch to avoid unnecessary residual damage. It is best to set up on Pokemon that can't damage Cloyster much, such as Blissey and Hippowdon, or on a forced switch to eliminate the possibility of Cloyster getting KOed before it can break teams. Avoid setting up a Shell Smash if you want to sweep with Cloyster when foes that take little damage from all of Cloyster's attacks, such as Alomomola, have not been weakened or KOed. Breakneck Blitz, while stronger than Icicle Spear, should be used only on foes that resist both of Cloyster's STAB moves, as it can only be used once, and Explosion should only be used as a last resort if sweeping, as it KOes Cloyster.
Team Options
========
Because Cloyster is weak to Stealth Rock and vulnerable to all other entry hazards, Defoggers such as Mega Altaria, Hydreigon, and Gliscor make good partners. Gliscor also provides the team with an Electric immunity. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Gliscor and Cobalion is useful, as it allows Cloyster to secure more KOs, thus breaking the opposing team more easily. Slow U-turn and Volt Switch users, such as Scizor and Rotom-C, bring Cloyster in safely so it avoids damage. Pokemon that can deal with special attackers, such as Mega Aerodactyl to take care of Serperior and Hippowdon to beat Mega Manectric, which can easily outspeed an unboosted Cloyster and KO it,(AC) make good partners for Cloyster. Mega Manectric can also pivot into a set-up Cloyster due to Intimidate, and setting up a second time can be very risky. Hippowdon and Swampert can also take Bullet Punch from Scizor, which threatens a set-up Cloyster due to its lowered Defense. Fighting-type checks, such as Latias and Gliscor, pressure common Fighting-types like Breloom, Infernape, and Lucario, which have access to strong super effective priortiy priority in Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave. Choice Scarf users such as Chandelure and Latias make good partners, as the former provides Memento, giving Cloyster a free turn to set up, while the latter provides Healing Wish, allowing a weakened Cloyster to set up and break again.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Focus Sash suicide lead set can be run with Spikes and Toxic Spikes, but it's very slow, crippled by Taunt, and pressured by other leads. Ice Shard can be run on the main set for priority; however, at +2, Cloyster outspeeds everything that it would hit with Ice Shard to hit with Icicle Spear. This is also rendered ineffective by the fact that Cloyster takes very little damage from common priority moves such as Aqua Jet and Ice Shard. Rapid Spin can also be run, but Cloyster is vulnerable to entry hazards, limiting its effectiveness as a spinner. Liquidation is another option to capitalize on Cloyster's higher Attack stat, but it means that Cloyster lacks a reliable way to deal with some physically defensive Pokemon like Doublade and Mega Aggron. Rock Blast can be run to allow Cloyster to hit Mantine harder.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Offensive Pressure**: Due to Cloyster's poor defensive typing and lackluster Special Defense, it is pressured by many common offensive threats, such as Mega Manectric, Serperior, and Latias, when unboosted. These Pokemon can outright KO Cloyster or force it out, stopping it from setting up and breaking.
**Status**: Burns from Pokemon such as Alomomola halve Cloyster's Attack stat and limit its wallbreaking ability. Poison wears Cloyster down over time, reducing its effectiveness as a wallbreaker. Paralysis halves Cloyster's Speed, meaning it can be outsped and OHKOed by Pokemon that it can usually deal with at +2 such as Serperior.
**Bulky Water-types**: Most bulky Water-types, excluding Swampert and Mantine, can stop Cloyster from attempting to sweep with its STAB moves but are vulnerable to being broken through by Breakneck Blitz or Explosion. Foes such as Alomomola and Suicune take very little damage from Cloyster's STAB moves and can only be removed through Explosion or Breakneck Blitz, which can both be stopped by Protect. Quagsire does not resist any of Cloyster's moves, but Unaware renders Cloyster's Shell Smash boosts useless. Empoleon can also wall Cloyster due to resisting Explosion and Breakneck Blitz, but it can be worn down easily due to a lack of recovery.
**Entry Hazards**: Cloyster's Ice typing leaves it with a weakness to Stealth Rock, limiting the number of times that it can switch in. Toxic Spikes wear Cloyster down with poison damage each turn, limiting its effectiveness as a wallbreaker and making it increasingly more vulnerable to priority. Sticky Web means that Choice Scarf users such as Infernape and Hydreigon outspeed Cloyster at +2 and can KO it.
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