[OVERVIEW]
* Decent bulk combined with a Fairy typing allows Clefable to check many special attackers, notably Yveltal and Arceus-Dark.
* Unaware allows it to check certain setup sweepers such as Darkrai and Xerneas by ignoring their boosts.
* Access to Heal Bell allows Clefable to function in a support role by relieving teammates of status, making it an ideal choice for stall builds.
* Physical attackers and strong special attackers, such as Choice Specs Xerneas, Kyurem-W, and Mega Salamence can all break through Clefable.
* Poor offenses give it very little offensive presence and leave it walled by Steel- and Fire-types, which can use Clefable as entry hazard fodder.
* Clefable is vulnerable to entry hazards and status, which quickly wear it down. This is especially detrimental for it because it needs to be at basically full health to avoid key 2HKOs upon switching in.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Wish
move 3: Protect
move 4: Heal Bell
item: Leftovers
ability: Unaware
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Moonblast is Clefable's best STAB attack and allows it to check Dark-types.
* Wish gives it a method of recovery and also allows it to restore health for its teammates.
* Protect works in conjunction with Wish to give Clefable reliable recovery and also allows it to scout a foe's moveset while providing extra Leftovers recovery.
* Heal Bell allows Clefable to act as a cleric and heal teammates of status.
* Toxic can be used if the team doesn't need a cleric, and it puts switch-ins that aren't immune to it, notably Fire-types such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh, on a timer.
Set Details
========
* The HP and Special Defense investment with a Calm nature maximizes Clefable's ability to deal with special attackers, notably avoiding the 2HKO from Yveltal and in most cases Xerneas after Stealth Rock. However, watch out for Choice Specs variants, which easily 2HKO Clefable with Moonblast.
* An alternate spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD can be used to deal with Adamant Extreme Killer Arceus better.
* Leftovers provides passive recovery and allows Clefable to avoid key 2HKOs from special attackers such as non-Choice Specs Xerneas.
* Unaware is used over Magic Guard to allow Clefable to check setup sweepers.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Clefable into resisted hits or special attackers that are unable to 2HKO it, such as Xerneas, Yveltal, and support Arceus formes, and start passing Wishes to teammates or healing your team of status.
* Avoid giving Mega Gengar free switches in, as it can easily trap and KO Clefable. This can be done by double switching to a teammate that is able to deal with it.
* If carrying Toxic, use it on a predicted switch into a Fire-type such as Primal Groudon or Ho-Oh, since Clefable usually cannot stay in on such threats to use the move.
* Try to conserve Heal Bell PP, especially in stall versus stall matchups, as having enough PP to repeatedly heal your team of status can determine the outcome of a game.
* Moonblast can be used to chip switch-ins without reliable recovery, such as Primal Groudon.
Team Options
========
* Alolan Muk can trap Mega Gengar, one of the biggest threats to Clefable, and can act as a backup answer to strong special attackers. Defensive Yveltal can also deal with Mega Gengar while checking the physical attackers that threaten Clefable.
* Water-types such as Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water can switch into Fire-types such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh, and they can also deal with some Steel-types.
* Both Giratina formes are able to take on Primal Groudon and provide Defog support while appreciating Clefable's ability to take on Yveltal.
* Zygarde-C appreciates Clefable's ability to take on special attackers as well as its clerical capabilities, and it checks Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, and Steel-types in return.
* Pokemon vulnerable to status, such as Lugia, support Arceus formes, and Mega Slowbro appreciate Clefable's Heal Bell support. They are also able to deal with strong physical attackers in return, while Slowbro is also able to wall Mega Lucario, a major threat to Clefable.
* Mega Sableye can use its ability to deter Pokemon that would otherwise use Clefable as entry hazard fodder from setting entry hazards.
* Skarmory can check physical attackers while providing Spikes support to wear down grounded Steel- and Fire-types that typically switch into Clefable.
* Fire-types, notably Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh, are able to check Mega Gengar and the Steel-types that threaten Clefable.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Flamethrower can be used to nail Steel-type switchins but generally isn't worth the loss in utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar takes little from Moonblast and can proceed to KO Clefable with Sludge Wave while Shadow Tag prevents it from switching out.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh takes nothing from Moonblast, cannot be chipped thanks to Regenerator, and can easily deal massive damage to Clefable with its STAB attacks. However, it needs to watch out for Toxic on the switch.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types, such as Mega Scizor, Solgaleo, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Magearna, don't care about Moonblast and can proceed to KO Clefable with their STAB moves or use it as entry hazard fodder. Mega Lucario, though chunked by Moonblast, can easily OHKO Clefable with Iron Tail.
**Fire-types**: Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh take little from Moonblast, and Primal Groudon can set entry hazards on Clefable.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Mega Salamence and Swords Dance Arceus formes can all heavily dent Clefable with their STAB moves and in almost all cases beat it one-on-one.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can 2HKO Clefable with a rain-boosted Origin Pulse and takes little from Moonblast.
* Decent bulk combined with a Fairy typing allows Clefable to check many special attackers, notably Yveltal and Arceus-Dark.
* Unaware allows it to check certain setup sweepers such as Darkrai and Xerneas by ignoring their boosts.
* Access to Heal Bell allows Clefable to function in a support role by relieving teammates of status, making it an ideal choice for stall builds.
* Physical attackers and strong special attackers, such as Choice Specs Xerneas, Kyurem-W, and Mega Salamence can all break through Clefable.
* Poor offenses give it very little offensive presence and leave it walled by Steel- and Fire-types, which can use Clefable as entry hazard fodder.
* Clefable is vulnerable to entry hazards and status, which quickly wear it down. This is especially detrimental for it because it needs to be at basically full health to avoid key 2HKOs upon switching in.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Wish
move 3: Protect
move 4: Heal Bell
item: Leftovers
ability: Unaware
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Moonblast is Clefable's best STAB attack and allows it to check Dark-types.
* Wish gives it a method of recovery and also allows it to restore health for its teammates.
* Protect works in conjunction with Wish to give Clefable reliable recovery and also allows it to scout a foe's moveset while providing extra Leftovers recovery.
* Heal Bell allows Clefable to act as a cleric and heal teammates of status.
* Toxic can be used if the team doesn't need a cleric, and it puts switch-ins that aren't immune to it, notably Fire-types such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh, on a timer.
Set Details
========
* The HP and Special Defense investment with a Calm nature maximizes Clefable's ability to deal with special attackers, notably avoiding the 2HKO from Yveltal and in most cases Xerneas after Stealth Rock. However, watch out for Choice Specs variants, which easily 2HKO Clefable with Moonblast.
* An alternate spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD can be used to deal with Adamant Extreme Killer Arceus better.
* Leftovers provides passive recovery and allows Clefable to avoid key 2HKOs from special attackers such as non-Choice Specs Xerneas.
* Unaware is used over Magic Guard to allow Clefable to check setup sweepers.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Clefable into resisted hits or special attackers that are unable to 2HKO it, such as Xerneas, Yveltal, and support Arceus formes, and start passing Wishes to teammates or healing your team of status.
* Avoid giving Mega Gengar free switches in, as it can easily trap and KO Clefable. This can be done by double switching to a teammate that is able to deal with it.
* If carrying Toxic, use it on a predicted switch into a Fire-type such as Primal Groudon or Ho-Oh, since Clefable usually cannot stay in on such threats to use the move.
* Try to conserve Heal Bell PP, especially in stall versus stall matchups, as having enough PP to repeatedly heal your team of status can determine the outcome of a game.
* Moonblast can be used to chip switch-ins without reliable recovery, such as Primal Groudon.
Team Options
========
* Alolan Muk can trap Mega Gengar, one of the biggest threats to Clefable, and can act as a backup answer to strong special attackers. Defensive Yveltal can also deal with Mega Gengar while checking the physical attackers that threaten Clefable.
* Water-types such as Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water can switch into Fire-types such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh, and they can also deal with some Steel-types.
* Both Giratina formes are able to take on Primal Groudon and provide Defog support while appreciating Clefable's ability to take on Yveltal.
* Zygarde-C appreciates Clefable's ability to take on special attackers as well as its clerical capabilities, and it checks Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, and Steel-types in return.
* Pokemon vulnerable to status, such as Lugia, support Arceus formes, and Mega Slowbro appreciate Clefable's Heal Bell support. They are also able to deal with strong physical attackers in return, while Slowbro is also able to wall Mega Lucario, a major threat to Clefable.
* Mega Sableye can use its ability to deter Pokemon that would otherwise use Clefable as entry hazard fodder from setting entry hazards.
* Skarmory can check physical attackers while providing Spikes support to wear down grounded Steel- and Fire-types that typically switch into Clefable.
* Fire-types, notably Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh, are able to check Mega Gengar and the Steel-types that threaten Clefable.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Flamethrower can be used to nail Steel-type switchins but generally isn't worth the loss in utility.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar takes little from Moonblast and can proceed to KO Clefable with Sludge Wave while Shadow Tag prevents it from switching out.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh takes nothing from Moonblast, cannot be chipped thanks to Regenerator, and can easily deal massive damage to Clefable with its STAB attacks. However, it needs to watch out for Toxic on the switch.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types, such as Mega Scizor, Solgaleo, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Magearna, don't care about Moonblast and can proceed to KO Clefable with their STAB moves or use it as entry hazard fodder. Mega Lucario, though chunked by Moonblast, can easily OHKO Clefable with Iron Tail.
**Fire-types**: Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh take little from Moonblast, and Primal Groudon can set entry hazards on Clefable.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Mega Salamence and Swords Dance Arceus formes can all heavily dent Clefable with their STAB moves and in almost all cases beat it one-on-one.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can 2HKO Clefable with a rain-boosted Origin Pulse and takes little from Moonblast.
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