According to a Japanese poll, Cloyster is the #1 video game character that looks like genitalia. Go ahead, try to unsee it.
Anyway, I was totally impressed at how this thing 2HK0d Bronzong after a Shell Break with Ice Shard (well, it would have 2HK0d if the user didn't inexplicably use Spike Cannon). That's a resist for pete's sake, and with great defensive stats to boot. Also, i'm willing to bet that Cloyster's physical defense is still pretty high after a -1.
Along with Venomoth, this is the 'old' pokemon that i'm most excited about...the good news about both is that I can raise them in Soul Silver and transfer them over ready to kick ass and take names.
lol I think you mean Icicle Spear. That would be unreal if Cloyster could 2HKO a bulky-ass resist. xD Just for reference, Icicle Spear does
44.4% - 53.3% with a +2 LO Icicle Spear to a 252 HP/252 Def Relaxed Bronzong, which I doubt anyone would ever use. Against a more practical spread like OTR Bronzong's (252 HP/0 Def), it's doing
62.1% - 72.5%, meaning that Bronzong can't switch in at all - in fact, neither can most resists. I was serious when I put in the analysis that it can destroy every physical wall after a Shell Break. Even a 252 HP/252 Def Bold Cresselia is taking
67.6% - 81.1%. Or how about 252 HP/252 Def Bold Suicune, who's taking
37.1% - 44.6%, which is a possible 2HKO after Stealth Rock, and is guaranteed to be 2HKOed by Rock Blast. Shell Break Cloyster is very powerful indeed, and because nothing can really directly switch in after a Shell Break, revenge-killing is needed.
However, regardless, bulky Waters are still a bit of a problem since many of them have HP Electric, and I don't think many of them are OHKOed after Shell Break. Therefore, if they switch in on the Shell Break, you're at a high risk of losing your sweep. Same goes for bulky Steels, though they don't often carry special attacks, so Cloyster can still take a hit from them and 2HKO.
Anyway, I was thinking that Cloyster can still be a great supporter to the team, regardless of his sweeping abilities now. Because it would be insane to switch in a Ghost on Cloyster now since the walling ones get destroyed by Icicle Spear after Shell Break, and the frail ones can't ever switch in on Choicester's Icicle Spear, Cloyster seems like it would have a lot less trouble getting a successful Rapid Spin off now. That, plus Spikes/Toxic Spikes are always useful. The problem of course, is that he's SR weak and people don't tend to like Rapid Spinners who're SR weak, but since he really discourages Ghosts from coming in, he may still be a good one in Gen 5.
And anyway, Infernape have some priority, either Vaccum Wave or Mach Punch. I agree that not too many Lukes carry Vaccum Wave.
Well, after Infernape's Dream World ability (Iron Fist) comes out, it's probably not going to be using Vaccum Wave very much, since Mach Punch will be much more useful due to the higher BP. However, if -1 Cloyster can (just barely) survive Breloom's Technician Mach Punch after a Defense drop, I doubt Infernape's will do much better (for reference, a 52 BP Mach Punch does 69.7% - 83% to -1 Cloyster).