Nineage
Pugnacious.
Overview
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+ Insanely powerful attacker, hitting 34 Special Attack holding its signature item, DeepSeaTooth
+ Gets the coveted shell smash, allowing it to double that already high Sp. Atk and patch up its low speed in one turn
+ Rattled lets it switch into the common Knock Offs and U-turns of LC and grab a speed boost.
- Shell smash, while a great boosting move, lowers both defenses, leaving clamperl vulnerable to the priority attacks found everywhere in LC
- Mediocre Defenses make it hard to set up
- Is mainly outclassed by Tirtouga as a Shell Smash sweeper due to lack of sturdyjuice and priority, but hits harder than Tirtouga.
Set Name
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name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Substitute
ability: Rattled
item: DeepSeaTooth / Eviolite
evs: 76 HP / 248 SpA / 180 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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Other Options
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Checks and Counters
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**Very bulky pokemon**: Pretty much only Munchlax and Ferroseed can take any hit and OHKO back, but will be severly damaged in the process.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killing Clamperl is the best way to go: Pawniard and Murkrow can take it out with a priority sucker punch but must beware of Substitute. Mienfoo and Meditite can hurt it with fake out, and Timburr and Croagunk with Vaccum Wave and Mach Punch, but need it to be severely weakened to KO.
**Fast scarfers**: Fast scarfers, such as Misdreavus, can outspeed Clamperl even at +2 and KO.
As always, the best way to counter Clamperl is not to let it set up.
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+ Insanely powerful attacker, hitting 34 Special Attack holding its signature item, DeepSeaTooth
+ Gets the coveted shell smash, allowing it to double that already high Sp. Atk and patch up its low speed in one turn
+ Rattled lets it switch into the common Knock Offs and U-turns of LC and grab a speed boost.
- Shell smash, while a great boosting move, lowers both defenses, leaving clamperl vulnerable to the priority attacks found everywhere in LC
- Mediocre Defenses make it hard to set up
- Is mainly outclassed by Tirtouga as a Shell Smash sweeper due to lack of sturdyjuice and priority, but hits harder than Tirtouga.
Set Name
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name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Substitute
ability: Rattled
item: DeepSeaTooth / Eviolite
evs: 76 HP / 248 SpA / 180 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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- Shell Smash is the obvious boosting up, patching up clamperls low speed and boosting its sky-high special attack to the point where it can OHKO most of the tier.
- Surf is Clamperls top STAB option, and should be the go-to spam move.
- Ice Beam provides coverage on things Surf doesnt hit.
- The last slot can be used for Substitute, to avoid revenge kills from Sucker Punchers like Murkrow and Pawniard, and to help Clamperl set up, but Hidden Power Grass allows Clamperl to beat bulky water types that would otherwise wall it, OHKOing the bulkiest of Chinchou and Slowpoke with DeepSeaTooth, and 2HKOing with Eviolite (after rocks)
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- EVs maximize Clamperls special attack and speed for best sweeping potential, with the extra point thrown into HP.
- Timid nature should always be used over modest. Not only does it let Clamperl reack 19 speed after switching into a bug, ghost, or dark type attack, it lets it outspeed many scarf pokemon after boosting.
- DeepSeaTooth allows Clamperl to wreak more havoc, doubling its Special Attack, but Eviolite gives it a much-appreciated defensive boost to help it set up.
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- DeepSeaTooth Clamperl: Can either be used early game as a wallbreaker firing off powerful attacks, since it doesnt need the Shell Smash boost as much, or late game once all priority users have been removed.
- Eviolite Clamperl is best used late-game since it can't hit hard without a shell smash boost, and the bulk Eviolite provides lets it tank a hit when switched in after an ally has fainted.
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- Clamperl needs a team centered around it to have any shot sweeping.
- Priority in LC is common, and a huge threat to the sweeping ability of this mon.
- Hazards allow is to score some KOs it couldnt get otherwise, as well as wearing down some of its bulky switch ins over a match. Dwebble and Onix, who with Berry Juice are almost guranteed rocks and a layer of spikes, are good partners for this reason.
- Pokemon that can provide setup opportunities are also good partners, such as Encore Cottonee and Foongus.
- Wynaut gets honorable mention for being able to trap scarfers who might otherwise ruin Clamperls day.
Other Options
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- Clamperl can go defensive with DeepSeaScale doubling its special defense and scald to cripple physical attackers, but it is usually outclassed by Slowpoke.
Checks and Counters
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**Very bulky pokemon**: Pretty much only Munchlax and Ferroseed can take any hit and OHKO back, but will be severly damaged in the process.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killing Clamperl is the best way to go: Pawniard and Murkrow can take it out with a priority sucker punch but must beware of Substitute. Mienfoo and Meditite can hurt it with fake out, and Timburr and Croagunk with Vaccum Wave and Mach Punch, but need it to be severely weakened to KO.
**Fast scarfers**: Fast scarfers, such as Misdreavus, can outspeed Clamperl even at +2 and KO.
As always, the best way to counter Clamperl is not to let it set up.
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