im just rewriting it from scratch the current analysis is dumb. thanks ma boys as always
<p>Besides Forretress, Cloyster is the only fully-evolved Pokemon with access to both Spikes and Rapid Spin. Unlike Forretress, though, Cloyster uses its higher Speed and good typing to threaten offensive Pokemon, leaving Cloyster more time to set up Spikes. Cloyster is also one of the rare Spikes users that is heavily favored versus Claydol. If you're going to use Cloyster, simply play smartly and use its typing to your advantage to set up Spikes.</p>
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Surf / Ice Beam
move 4: Explosion / Ice Beam / Rest
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 88 SpA / 148 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is the standard Cloyster set, and it does its job well. Salamence, Metagross, Flygon, Gyarados, and others generally respect Cloyster enough to switch out against it. Spikes and Rapid Spin are the obvious utility moves, as they take advantage of those switches to set up. Surf is generally preferred as a STAB move over Ice Beam to hit Metagross, Tyranitar, and opposing Forretress. Ice Beam has room if you desperately need an answer to Salamence and it can hit Celebi and Zapdos switching in twice as hard, but Surf usually has more purpose over time. The final slot is generally Explosion, as Cloyster can often live an attack and strike back to put a Pokemon down. Ice Beam can be used for the coverage of both STAB attacks, while Rest allows Cloyster to act in a more passive role, effectively walling Skarmory, Claydol, and others throughout the game. When paired with cleric support, Cloyster can be a hard shell to crack (pun unfortunately intended).</p>
<p>Max HP and 148 Special Defense EVs means Cloyster will never be 3HKOed by other bulky Water-types. 88 Special Attack EVs give Cloyster enough power to 2HKO uninvested Tyranitar while still having a good shot at 2HKOing max HP Tyranitar. It also lets Cloyster 3HKO physically defensive Forretress and Skarmory. 4 Speed EVs get the jump on Skarmory, allowing you to Surf on it and then spin the entry hazards away.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Shell Armor is Cloyster's ability, and it combines very well with Rest if you choose to use it. With no fear of critical hits, Cloyster can use Rest and easily stall out bulky Water-types such as Vaporeon or Milotic. If you don't care about hitting Pokemon hard, feel free to move the Special Attack EVs to Special Defense in order to increase bulk. It also increases Cloyster's chance of surviving a surprise Hidden Power Grass from the likes of Salamence and Metagross.</p>
<p>Toxic is a decent option on this set to poison Zapdos and Celebi on the switch and force bulky Water-types out. Several different Hidden Powers can work, including Hidden Power Fire for Forretress and Hidden Power Electric for bulky Water-types, primarily Gyarados.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>There really aren't any other moves Cloyster can make use of, but Cloyster can use a much more physically defensive set in order to better counter threats such as Salamence. Clamp and Explosion could be used to trap something and kill it, but this is gimmicky. Hidden Power and Toxic are available as mentioned before.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Zapdos and Celebi are bulky enough to take anything Cloyster throws at them and threaten it out with their respective STAB attacks. Gengar can come in on attempted Rapid Spins and force Cloyster out with Thunderbolt. Other special attackers such as Raikou and Superachi work as well. Cloyster has to be careful about switching into too many attacks, as its lack of reliable recovery will be a pain for it.</p>
<p>Starmie is one of Cloyster's best counters, as the latter can't do much to Starmie while it removes Cloyster's Spikes. Watch out for Explosion when switching into Cloyster with Starmie, though. Forretress can take a hit and use Rapid Spin, but Cloyster will win one-on-one.</p>
<p>Besides Forretress, Cloyster is the only fully-evolved Pokemon with access to both Spikes and Rapid Spin. Unlike Forretress, though, Cloyster uses its higher Speed and good typing to threaten offensive Pokemon, leaving Cloyster more time to set up Spikes. Cloyster is also one of the rare Spikes users that is heavily favored versus Claydol. If you're going to use Cloyster, simply play smartly and use its typing to your advantage to set up Spikes.</p>
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Surf / Ice Beam
move 4: Explosion / Ice Beam / Rest
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 88 SpA / 148 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is the standard Cloyster set, and it does its job well. Salamence, Metagross, Flygon, Gyarados, and others generally respect Cloyster enough to switch out against it. Spikes and Rapid Spin are the obvious utility moves, as they take advantage of those switches to set up. Surf is generally preferred as a STAB move over Ice Beam to hit Metagross, Tyranitar, and opposing Forretress. Ice Beam has room if you desperately need an answer to Salamence and it can hit Celebi and Zapdos switching in twice as hard, but Surf usually has more purpose over time. The final slot is generally Explosion, as Cloyster can often live an attack and strike back to put a Pokemon down. Ice Beam can be used for the coverage of both STAB attacks, while Rest allows Cloyster to act in a more passive role, effectively walling Skarmory, Claydol, and others throughout the game. When paired with cleric support, Cloyster can be a hard shell to crack (pun unfortunately intended).</p>
<p>Max HP and 148 Special Defense EVs means Cloyster will never be 3HKOed by other bulky Water-types. 88 Special Attack EVs give Cloyster enough power to 2HKO uninvested Tyranitar while still having a good shot at 2HKOing max HP Tyranitar. It also lets Cloyster 3HKO physically defensive Forretress and Skarmory. 4 Speed EVs get the jump on Skarmory, allowing you to Surf on it and then spin the entry hazards away.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Shell Armor is Cloyster's ability, and it combines very well with Rest if you choose to use it. With no fear of critical hits, Cloyster can use Rest and easily stall out bulky Water-types such as Vaporeon or Milotic. If you don't care about hitting Pokemon hard, feel free to move the Special Attack EVs to Special Defense in order to increase bulk. It also increases Cloyster's chance of surviving a surprise Hidden Power Grass from the likes of Salamence and Metagross.</p>
<p>Toxic is a decent option on this set to poison Zapdos and Celebi on the switch and force bulky Water-types out. Several different Hidden Powers can work, including Hidden Power Fire for Forretress and Hidden Power Electric for bulky Water-types, primarily Gyarados.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>There really aren't any other moves Cloyster can make use of, but Cloyster can use a much more physically defensive set in order to better counter threats such as Salamence. Clamp and Explosion could be used to trap something and kill it, but this is gimmicky. Hidden Power and Toxic are available as mentioned before.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Zapdos and Celebi are bulky enough to take anything Cloyster throws at them and threaten it out with their respective STAB attacks. Gengar can come in on attempted Rapid Spins and force Cloyster out with Thunderbolt. Other special attackers such as Raikou and Superachi work as well. Cloyster has to be careful about switching into too many attacks, as its lack of reliable recovery will be a pain for it.</p>
<p>Starmie is one of Cloyster's best counters, as the latter can't do much to Starmie while it removes Cloyster's Spikes. Watch out for Explosion when switching into Cloyster with Starmie, though. Forretress can take a hit and use Rapid Spin, but Cloyster will win one-on-one.</p>
