[Overview]
<p>Cloyster is in a sticky situation in ADV OU, as it faces stiff competition from other Spikes users. Skarmory, while lacking Rapid Spin, resists nearly every physical attacking type, possesses a workable Special Defense stat, has a great movepool, and is immune to Spikes. Forretress has arguably the best defensive typing in the game, Rapid Spin, a decent Special Defense stat, and an excellent movepool. On the other hand, Cloyster has a mediocre defensive typing, giving it a weakness to a plethora of common physical attacks in OU, such as Rock Slide and Focus Punch, and special attacks such as Thunderbolt. Additionally, Cloyster has a terrible Special Defense stat; as a result, Cloyster is forced to run a ton of Special Defense EVs to even hope to take even a resisted Surf. Furthermore, Cloyster has a terrible HP stat which hinders its ability to survive throughout the battle. So, you might now wonder, why does Cloyster deserve a spot on my team? In comparison to all of the other Rapid Spin users in ADV OU, Cloyster possesses the best mixed offensive stats. With access to a powerful STAB Ice Beam and an Explosion coming off of a base 95 Attack stat, Cloyster is sure to deal some damage while supporting your team. Additionally, Cloyster beats all other Rapid Spin users in OU, with the exception of Starmie, due to its good Special Attack stat and excellent Defense stat. Also, Cloyster's lack of Steel typing prevents Magneton from trapping it, giving your team a huge advantage over offensive teams using Magneton to trap and destroy other Spikes users such as Forretress and Skarmory. Finally, Cloyster's offensive typing lets it defeat the threats that Skarmory is forced to Whirlwind away. Despite its flaws, Cloyster certainly deserves to be considered for a spot on more offensive teams in need of Spikes and Rapid Spin support.</p>
[SET]
name: Spikes
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Explosion / Surf
item: Leftovers
nature: Lax
evs: 252 HP / 162 Def / 80 SpA / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Cloyster's most common and viable set. Spikes is what sets Cloyster apart from defensive Water-types such as Swampert, Milotic, and Starmie; Spikes almost always gives you an advantage over your opponent by turning 3HKOs into 2HKOs and making Explosion even deadlier. Rapid Spin is another one of the few advantages Cloyster has over some other bulky Water-types and Skarmory, as it ensures that your team will not be punished for switching. Ice Beam is a strong STAB move that lets Cloyster defeat Salamence immediately rather than phaze it out and deal with it later on in the battle. Additionally, Ice Beam is also useful for hitting Zapdos that might switch into Cloyster; however, Cloyster should not be staying in on Zapdos for fear of Thunderbolt. The last moveslot should be tailored towards your team's needs. Explosion is the preferred move, as it OHKOes nearly anything that doesn't resist it and is useful when you believe Cloyster has served its purpose. However, Surf can be used over Explosion if your team needs a second answer to Tyranitar; Cloyster's Defense stat is large enough to ensure that it can take a +1 Rock Slide and retaliate with a powerful STAB Surf. If Cloyster is not being used as your secondary Tyranitar check, it's best to stick with Explosion. It's also worth noting that with Surf, Cloyster beats Forretress much more easily.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread is fairly simple. Maximum HP is necessary to ensure that Cloyster can survive for as long as possible; 80 Special Attack EVs are needed to 2HKO any Gengar hoping to meet Rapid Spin as opposed to Ice Beam; additionally, 80 Special Attack EVs are needed to pose an offensive threat to Skarmory, and 16 Speed EVs are needed to outspeed minimum Speed Skarmory; finally, 162 Defense EVs ensure that Cloyster can repeatedly take hits from Choice Band Salamence's Hidden Power Flying. Don't worry too much about using a Special Defense stat reducing nature, as Cloyster can't take any special attack due to its pitiful Special Defense and HP stats. However, a more specially defensive Cloyster is useful for giving Cloyster more opportunities to set up Spikes. The spread for the aforementioned Cloyster would be 252 HP / 80 SpA / 170 SpD with a Relaxed nature. With such an EV spread, Cloyster can take Surfs from Milotic and Swampert, set up Spikes, and still be healthy enough to check threats later in the game. As far as move changes, Rest could be used in the fourth moveslot if you're playing Cloyster more defensively.</p>
<p>Some of Cloyster's best teammates are physical walls that cover its weaknesses. Swampert covers Cloyster's Rock- and Electric-type weaknesses, allowing the two Water-types to efficiently check a plethora of common threats in OU due to their excellent defensive traits, such as Salamence, Tyranitar, Hidden Power Ice Zapdos, Flygon, Aerodactyl, and Metagross. Another fabulous physically defensive partner for Cloyster is the uncommon Steelix. Although Steelix and Cloyster share a Fighting-type weakness, Steelix is immune to Electric-type moves, is neutral to Grass-type moves, and appreciates Cloyster's Water-type resistance. Additionally, Steelix appreciates the Spikes that Cloyster provides so that it can rack up damage with Roar on a predicted switch. The combination of Steelix and Cloyster can check Salamence, Tyranitar, Gyarados, Raikou, Zapdos, Celebi, Jirachi without Fire Punch, Aerodactyl, Flygon, and Metagross.</p>
<p>Some of Cloyster's other best teammates are special walls that cover its weaknesses. Snorlax is one of the better overall teammates available. Similar to Cloyster, Snorlax has an offensive presence. However, unlike Cloyster, Snorlax has the potential to rip through unprepared teams with its feared Curse set. Additionally, Snorlax has one of the best Special Defense and HP Stats in OU, which allows it to check a plethora of special attackers, set up Curse, and sweep all at the same time. Blissey is in a similar boat with Snorlax, because with Calm Mind, Blissey can sweep through an entire team. Also, Blissey essentially covers all of Cloyster's special attacking weaknesses due to her absurd HP and Special Defense stats. Celebi is another good teammate that can take on many of Cloyster's common switch-ins such as Snorlax and Water-types. Additionally, the combination of Celebi, Swampert, and Cloyster have nearly perfect synergy. The aforementioned defensive core also tends to force a lot of switches, which makes full use of Cloyster's Spikes.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>As mentioned earlier, Cloyster's movepool is incredibly mediocre. Toxic can be used over Explosion or Surf to cripple a switch-in, but many of Cloyster's switch-ins have Rest, including Dusclops and Curse Snorlax, or Natural Cure, such as Starmie. Hidden Power Electric is useful for making Cloyster a better Gyarados check. Other than Toxic and Hidden Power Electric, stick to the given set.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Defeating Cloyster should not be a daunting task. Firstly, Cloyster's Special Defense stat is awful. Next, check to see if your team has any special attackers. If you have a special attacker, then it can probably beat Cloyster. Even bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Swampert will defeat Cloyster if you bombard it with Surf or Hydro Pump. When fighting Cloyster with a bulky Water-type, beware of a random Explosion, as it will defeat you without remorse, with the exception of Suicune. Starmie is one of the better special attackers to check Cloyster with because it can switch into any of Cloyster's moves, bar Explosion, Rapid Spin away Spikes, and defeat Cloyster with Psychic, Thunderbolt, or a couple of Surfs. Remember, when checking Cloyster with a special attacker to beware of Explosion. If for some reason your team lacks a special attack, don't worry too much. Toxic is a great, albeit passive, way to deal with Cloyster. Toxic forces Cloyster to use Explosion earlier, limits the time Cloyster supports its team, and makes it easier for your other physical sweepers to sweep. Despite Cloyster's titanic Defense stat, there are physical attacks that can still break its shell. Dragon Dance Tyranitar, arguably the largest threat in ADV OU, can 2HKO Cloyster with Rock Slide while surviving Ice Beam and an Explosion. Over an extended period of time, Aerodactyl can defeat Cloyster with a series of STAB Rock Slides. Curse Snorlax can take any special attack Cloyster throws at it and can survive an Explosion if it is at +2 Defense. Fighting-types such as Medicham, Heracross, Machamp, Blaziken, and Hariyama can easily defeat Cloyster with Brick Break or Focus Punch. Mixed attackers including Metagross and Tyranitar make for excellent checks, as they resist Explosion, can take an Ice Beam, and can demolish Cloyster with Hidden Power Grass. All in all, any competent team should be able to defeat Cloyster.</p>
<p>Cloyster is in a sticky situation in ADV OU, as it faces stiff competition from other Spikes users. Skarmory, while lacking Rapid Spin, resists nearly every physical attacking type, possesses a workable Special Defense stat, has a great movepool, and is immune to Spikes. Forretress has arguably the best defensive typing in the game, Rapid Spin, a decent Special Defense stat, and an excellent movepool. On the other hand, Cloyster has a mediocre defensive typing, giving it a weakness to a plethora of common physical attacks in OU, such as Rock Slide and Focus Punch, and special attacks such as Thunderbolt. Additionally, Cloyster has a terrible Special Defense stat; as a result, Cloyster is forced to run a ton of Special Defense EVs to even hope to take even a resisted Surf. Furthermore, Cloyster has a terrible HP stat which hinders its ability to survive throughout the battle. So, you might now wonder, why does Cloyster deserve a spot on my team? In comparison to all of the other Rapid Spin users in ADV OU, Cloyster possesses the best mixed offensive stats. With access to a powerful STAB Ice Beam and an Explosion coming off of a base 95 Attack stat, Cloyster is sure to deal some damage while supporting your team. Additionally, Cloyster beats all other Rapid Spin users in OU, with the exception of Starmie, due to its good Special Attack stat and excellent Defense stat. Also, Cloyster's lack of Steel typing prevents Magneton from trapping it, giving your team a huge advantage over offensive teams using Magneton to trap and destroy other Spikes users such as Forretress and Skarmory. Finally, Cloyster's offensive typing lets it defeat the threats that Skarmory is forced to Whirlwind away. Despite its flaws, Cloyster certainly deserves to be considered for a spot on more offensive teams in need of Spikes and Rapid Spin support.</p>
[SET]
name: Spikes
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Explosion / Surf
item: Leftovers
nature: Lax
evs: 252 HP / 162 Def / 80 SpA / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Cloyster's most common and viable set. Spikes is what sets Cloyster apart from defensive Water-types such as Swampert, Milotic, and Starmie; Spikes almost always gives you an advantage over your opponent by turning 3HKOs into 2HKOs and making Explosion even deadlier. Rapid Spin is another one of the few advantages Cloyster has over some other bulky Water-types and Skarmory, as it ensures that your team will not be punished for switching. Ice Beam is a strong STAB move that lets Cloyster defeat Salamence immediately rather than phaze it out and deal with it later on in the battle. Additionally, Ice Beam is also useful for hitting Zapdos that might switch into Cloyster; however, Cloyster should not be staying in on Zapdos for fear of Thunderbolt. The last moveslot should be tailored towards your team's needs. Explosion is the preferred move, as it OHKOes nearly anything that doesn't resist it and is useful when you believe Cloyster has served its purpose. However, Surf can be used over Explosion if your team needs a second answer to Tyranitar; Cloyster's Defense stat is large enough to ensure that it can take a +1 Rock Slide and retaliate with a powerful STAB Surf. If Cloyster is not being used as your secondary Tyranitar check, it's best to stick with Explosion. It's also worth noting that with Surf, Cloyster beats Forretress much more easily.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread is fairly simple. Maximum HP is necessary to ensure that Cloyster can survive for as long as possible; 80 Special Attack EVs are needed to 2HKO any Gengar hoping to meet Rapid Spin as opposed to Ice Beam; additionally, 80 Special Attack EVs are needed to pose an offensive threat to Skarmory, and 16 Speed EVs are needed to outspeed minimum Speed Skarmory; finally, 162 Defense EVs ensure that Cloyster can repeatedly take hits from Choice Band Salamence's Hidden Power Flying. Don't worry too much about using a Special Defense stat reducing nature, as Cloyster can't take any special attack due to its pitiful Special Defense and HP stats. However, a more specially defensive Cloyster is useful for giving Cloyster more opportunities to set up Spikes. The spread for the aforementioned Cloyster would be 252 HP / 80 SpA / 170 SpD with a Relaxed nature. With such an EV spread, Cloyster can take Surfs from Milotic and Swampert, set up Spikes, and still be healthy enough to check threats later in the game. As far as move changes, Rest could be used in the fourth moveslot if you're playing Cloyster more defensively.</p>
<p>Some of Cloyster's best teammates are physical walls that cover its weaknesses. Swampert covers Cloyster's Rock- and Electric-type weaknesses, allowing the two Water-types to efficiently check a plethora of common threats in OU due to their excellent defensive traits, such as Salamence, Tyranitar, Hidden Power Ice Zapdos, Flygon, Aerodactyl, and Metagross. Another fabulous physically defensive partner for Cloyster is the uncommon Steelix. Although Steelix and Cloyster share a Fighting-type weakness, Steelix is immune to Electric-type moves, is neutral to Grass-type moves, and appreciates Cloyster's Water-type resistance. Additionally, Steelix appreciates the Spikes that Cloyster provides so that it can rack up damage with Roar on a predicted switch. The combination of Steelix and Cloyster can check Salamence, Tyranitar, Gyarados, Raikou, Zapdos, Celebi, Jirachi without Fire Punch, Aerodactyl, Flygon, and Metagross.</p>
<p>Some of Cloyster's other best teammates are special walls that cover its weaknesses. Snorlax is one of the better overall teammates available. Similar to Cloyster, Snorlax has an offensive presence. However, unlike Cloyster, Snorlax has the potential to rip through unprepared teams with its feared Curse set. Additionally, Snorlax has one of the best Special Defense and HP Stats in OU, which allows it to check a plethora of special attackers, set up Curse, and sweep all at the same time. Blissey is in a similar boat with Snorlax, because with Calm Mind, Blissey can sweep through an entire team. Also, Blissey essentially covers all of Cloyster's special attacking weaknesses due to her absurd HP and Special Defense stats. Celebi is another good teammate that can take on many of Cloyster's common switch-ins such as Snorlax and Water-types. Additionally, the combination of Celebi, Swampert, and Cloyster have nearly perfect synergy. The aforementioned defensive core also tends to force a lot of switches, which makes full use of Cloyster's Spikes.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>As mentioned earlier, Cloyster's movepool is incredibly mediocre. Toxic can be used over Explosion or Surf to cripple a switch-in, but many of Cloyster's switch-ins have Rest, including Dusclops and Curse Snorlax, or Natural Cure, such as Starmie. Hidden Power Electric is useful for making Cloyster a better Gyarados check. Other than Toxic and Hidden Power Electric, stick to the given set.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Defeating Cloyster should not be a daunting task. Firstly, Cloyster's Special Defense stat is awful. Next, check to see if your team has any special attackers. If you have a special attacker, then it can probably beat Cloyster. Even bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Swampert will defeat Cloyster if you bombard it with Surf or Hydro Pump. When fighting Cloyster with a bulky Water-type, beware of a random Explosion, as it will defeat you without remorse, with the exception of Suicune. Starmie is one of the better special attackers to check Cloyster with because it can switch into any of Cloyster's moves, bar Explosion, Rapid Spin away Spikes, and defeat Cloyster with Psychic, Thunderbolt, or a couple of Surfs. Remember, when checking Cloyster with a special attacker to beware of Explosion. If for some reason your team lacks a special attack, don't worry too much. Toxic is a great, albeit passive, way to deal with Cloyster. Toxic forces Cloyster to use Explosion earlier, limits the time Cloyster supports its team, and makes it easier for your other physical sweepers to sweep. Despite Cloyster's titanic Defense stat, there are physical attacks that can still break its shell. Dragon Dance Tyranitar, arguably the largest threat in ADV OU, can 2HKO Cloyster with Rock Slide while surviving Ice Beam and an Explosion. Over an extended period of time, Aerodactyl can defeat Cloyster with a series of STAB Rock Slides. Curse Snorlax can take any special attack Cloyster throws at it and can survive an Explosion if it is at +2 Defense. Fighting-types such as Medicham, Heracross, Machamp, Blaziken, and Hariyama can easily defeat Cloyster with Brick Break or Focus Punch. Mixed attackers including Metagross and Tyranitar make for excellent checks, as they resist Explosion, can take an Ice Beam, and can demolish Cloyster with Hidden Power Grass. All in all, any competent team should be able to defeat Cloyster.</p>