Hi, I'd like to discuss Clamperl's usefulness.

Bologo

Bologo

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Ok, so Clamperl is obviously one of my favourite pokemon to use in competitive battling, and the only reason I'm not using it now is because the Deepsea items have not been implimented on Shoddybattle yet.

With that said, here we go with a classic discussion thread:

Physical Movepool

Body Slam
Clamp

Special Movepool (The one you SHOULD be utilizing the most)

Hidden Power
Ice Beam
Blizzard
Brine
Surf

Support Movepool

Toxic
Protect
Endure
Swagger
Substitute
Confuse Ray

Ok, so it has a terrible movepool. You're probably asking me how this guy has ANY chance in competitive play...well to answer your question, there are items called Deepseatooth and Deepseascale. Deepseatooth doubles Clamperl's special attack to an amazing max 540 special attack while Deepseascale doubles its special defense to a max of 458, although the 458 special defense is smooshed by the 35 base HP.

Ok, so it can't take very many hits, and it only has 32 base speed, but with Deepseatooth has a monstrous 540 special attack...still terrible even with the special right? Wrong...

Don't forget about Trick room support, and also the occasional Encore support!

Here's a good example of a set it can run:

Clamperl @Deepseatooth
EVs: 252 HP/6 DEF/252 SP ATK
Ability: Shell Armor
Quiet Nature (+Sp Atk, -Spd)/Modest Nature (+Sp Atk, -Atk)

~ Surf
~ Ice Beam
~ Hidden Power Electric/Grass
~ Confuse Ray/Substitute

Yeah, normally I would suggest a 0 IV in speed for having it on a Trick Room team, but you can't have a full-powered Hidden Power with a 0 IV in something. This thing can rip through things with 540 special attack though. Hidden Power Grass or Electric is really based on if you have a lot of trouble with Swampert or not. If you aren't using this on a trick room team, then use the Modest nature, and please make sure you have Encore support and that you have Encored a stat-up, because otherwise, this will have like a 1% chance of switching in and living to see another day.

Yeah, that's my two cents.

Note that I didn't make a Deepseascale set, because mainly I have no idea what to put in it. Yeah, so discuss this little thing and give your opinion as to whether it has a chance in competitive play or not. :]
 
I use that on my Wi-Fi Trick Room Double Battle Team. [with Protect instead of Sub]

It destroys everything, seriously. Stuff gets OHKO'd like always, or are left hanging with very few HP. And it's just immensely fun to see people's reaction on that.
 
I'd really want to see this in doubles trick room. Similar to Camerupts in them, but with more base Sp.ATK (though it loses actual base power in moves).

I've wanted to use a tankish one, but it really disapoints me that it can really only use Toxic as a status =/
 
Hm... You knwo the Squirtle team Surgo copied? Use that set there in place of Squirtle. Otheriwse, Pikachu is the better weaklign with double SAtk.... 90 Base Speed is better than 32.
 
Hyra said:
Hm... You knwo the Squirtle team Surgo copied? Use that set there in place of Squirtle. Otheriwse, Pikachu is the better weaklign with double SAtk.... 90 Base Speed is better than 32.
Click to expand...

Not in a trick-room :-)

Although, Marrowak is always ready and waiting with its massive 568 max attack after a bone club and only 45 base speed. Granted, there are several key differences between this an Clamperl, but I figure we might as well talk about other potential Trick-room sweepers.

Rampardos, Marrowak, and now Clamperl is added to this list. Unlike the others, Clamperl is a special-oriented attacker with a massive Sp. Atk stat.
 
Hyra said:
Hm... You knwo the Squirtle team Surgo copied? Use that set there in place of Squirtle. Otheriwse, Pikachu is the better weaklign with double SAtk.... 90 Base Speed is better than 32.
Click to expand...

Pikachu only has 458 special attack though compared to Clamperl's 540, and yeah, in a trick room, it can basically go first every turn. Also, most of the time Pikachu would be running a mixed set, so its attacks won't have the punch that Clamperl's have.
 
Bologo said:
Pikachu only has 458 special attack though compared to Clamperl's 540, and yeah, in a trick room, it can basically go first every turn. Also, most of the time Pikachu would be running a mixed set, so its attacks won't have the punch that Clamperl's have.
Click to expand...

Pikachu gets Nasty Plot.... :P Yes, but Thunderbolt and Grass Knot are good attacks. It can also run Surf if you wish to forgo Nasty Plot and a nature. It also requires less set-up... All you need to do is wait for something to die, or switch in on Cresselia or something.
 
Heh, Clamperl's Base speed is very low. Actually, under the effects of Trick Room, it outspeeds Bronzong. That's kinda nifty. Too bad it's defenses are so poor, and that it only gets Surf/Ice Beam/Hidden Power for coverage.
 
This thing can wreak havoc in a trick room team especially if its a UU one. Standard might not see much use of this, but the lack of Blissey in UU, makes it a great potential there.
 
You can still get 70-power HP Electric with a Speed IV of 2. It's 3 in the case of HP Grass.

With the IV of 2, it ties it with Bronzong.
 
Hyra said:
Hm... You knwo the Squirtle team Surgo copied? Use that set there in place of Squirtle. Otheriwse, Pikachu is the better weaklign with double SAtk.... 90 Base Speed is better than 32.
Click to expand...

It gets doubled attack now, as well.
 
The type coverage isn't that bad, it just really depends on hidden power. I would really go for HP Electric, though, Swampert probably won't like a 509 Sp. Attack STAB Surf, especially when Clamperl outspeeds it in Trick Room.
 
Hyra said:
Hm... You knwo the Squirtle team Surgo copied? Use that set there in place of Squirtle. Otheriwse, Pikachu is the better weaklign with double SAtk.... 90 Base Speed is better than 32.
Click to expand...

That wouldn't work very well. Squirtle usually uses Fake Out on the first turn to let its partner set up Trick Room and to reduce the chance of it dying.
 
Clamperl sucks. Only Trick Room could support it, and it gets OHKO'd by everything under the sun anyway. Pikachu is better in every way.
 
Clamperl doesn't have the Speed of Pikachu and it can't trap like Trapinch, there's a reason it's not really discussed. It's also walled and beat by Blissey, any Cresselia with more than Ice Beam as an attack, and bulky Waters.

However, its uses in a Trick Room interest me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. However, even Trick Room teams only work to a limited extent in your standard 6v6 environment (but in the strange formats official tournaments often like to follow, they do work a little better).
 
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