Analysis: http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/claydol
Granted that usually most movesets should be versatile, the first one is just moreso a pain to look at, and could really confuse people in my opinion. Yes, I'm still working on Weezing a bit, but I think that now that Claydol has been toned down to UU, he might require a change-up. What I'd like to suggest is to split the Spinner set into 3 different ones. One Physical, one Special, one Mixed.
10 / 1 / 08 4:56 Eastern Time: Did Spellcheck, started analysis.
13 / 1 / 08 : Fixed Spinner set, added more about Tyranitar, minor spelling errors.
[SET]
name: Rapid Spin
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Reflect / Stealth Rock
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Relaxed
EVs: 236 HP / 96 Def / 176 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Claydol was commonly used in ADV for this reason: Rapid Spin. It was immune to Spikes and had reasonable defenses, and this remains unchanged in D/P. With the addition of two new entry hazards: Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, Claydol still is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes and is also resistant to Stealth Rock. This is usually why Claydol seems appealing on paper, but your opinion could be changed once you notice the amount of Pursuit users and such going against Claydol.</p>
<p>Ice Beam and Earthquake is the best combination for any Claydol set. Ground and Ice hit everything neutral but Bronzong, which you won't see most of the time unless you use Claydol in OU. Even if you think mixing is a bad thing to do, it isn't. Claydol can combat Tyranitar with Earthquake and with the given EVs, you can OHKO Salamence most of the time. Take note though that Salamence can still lose even if Claydol has 0 Special Attack EVs if Salamence steps in on Stealth Rock once. If you aren't fond of using these two together, there are still more options. As long as you focus on using a Ground move, you can mix and match with using either Ice Beam and Earthquake as suggested, Stone Edge and Earthquake, Stone Edge and Earth Power, and Ice Beam and Earth Power.</p>
<p>Allow me to make a quick note that Stone Edge and Earth Power will bring disadvantages to the table sadly, but it's not a overall huge deal if you play it in UU. Rock and Ground hit everything neutral but Bronzong and enemy Claydol, so really the only big thing you should fear is other Claydols. Earth Power may look neat on paper, but it 3HKOs Tyranitar under the Sandstorm, but remember that Tyranitar is OU and Claydol will mostly play UU now.</p>
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rest / Reflect
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Calm Mind is very evil for Claydol, and Ground / Ice is a nasty combination, so in UU this could pose quite a threat. Adding more Speed may not be a bad idea either. Anyways, Calm Mind is something new to Claydol, and this set takes advantage of it. Rest is useful for healing, but Reflect can soften physical hits.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Supporter
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Reflect / Light Screen
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Brave
EVs: 236 HP / 244 Atk / 28 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The Attack EVs are designed to OHKO Blissey, but since Blissey is in OU and Claydol is in UU, you can ditch some of the Attack for elsewhere, or just insert a certain amount to threaten a sweep. The move set is very expendable actually, and could amass from using other moves in the fourth move slot. Grass Knot, Shadow Ball, Rapid Spin, Stealth Rock, Hidden Power, weather-changing... the list is endless. Experiment with this set to satisfy your needs.</p>
[SET]
name: Sleep Talker
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Earthquake / Earth Power
move 4: Ice Beam / Stone Edge
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Relaxed / Impish / Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Claydol lacks a recovery move, and this set attempts to patch that. Sleep Talking is still very useful and in this move set is once again versatile. Ice Beam and Earthquake are probably your best options however, as the ability of staying mixed will stump your opponent on what to switch into him. However, the move set can range from Ice Beam and Earthquake to Ice Beam and Earth Power, Stone Edge and Earthquake, and Stone Edge and Earth Power. If you're not going mixed, then choose Bold or Impish, otherwise stick with Relaxed.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Choice Band and Choice Specs are always an option to Claydol, but one must wonder when they would prove useful. You loose versatility badly and Claydol likes that. Not only that, but there are better contenders for both of them.</p>
<p>Hidden Power is also an option, ranging from Fighting, Rock, and Electric. Grass Knot and Shadow Ball are also good moves on Claydol and can help with those that attempt to switch in and KO you. Psychic is another STAB move, but it has horrible coverage, and let's face it, it will attract Dark-types.</p>
<p>Light Screen can be used over Reflect in any moveset but the Calm Minder. Claydol also can use Toxic to wear down opponents. Substitute could be useful for blocking status, but good luck blocking some of those hits with a low HP Sub. Psych Up could steal enemy Calm Minders or anything else interesting to Claydol, even something like Swords Dance. Skill Swap is useful in double battles. Claydol can Rock Polish, oddly enough, to raise his Speed. Power Trick is an odd move, but could prove useful, but packing Reflect with it is a must.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Usually most sets should focus on using a 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe spread with a +Defense nature. If you're using Claydol in OU, 252 HP / 114 Def / 144 Spe spread will allow you to outspeed Adamant Tyranitar. Already mentioned that using 176 Special Attack EVs will OHKO Salamence most of the time, but will require more EVs to OHKO Garchomp. 128 Attack EVs 2HKOs Tyranitar most of the time with Earthquake</p>
<p>Calm Mind can play with the 144 Speed EVs.</p>
<p>Trick Room set should have a 0 IV in Speed and a -Speed nature. The EVs here depend on what moves that you choose. If you want to play Explosion in OU to OHKO Blissey, you'll need a Brave nature with 244 Attack EVs. The set could play more offensively or defensively.</p>
<p>Sleep Talk should play with standard spread as shown. Don't be too tempted with any other EVs.</p>
[OPINION]
<p>It might've not been a bad thing that Claydol got bumped down into UU. Quite the contrary, he could be very useful as his move pool is pretty big. The ability to spin effectively is more than enough reason to make him used in UU teams, so make sure that you are well-prepared for Claydol's unpredictability. Now there would be nothing worse than a Pokemon to take a physical hit only brought down by a special hit. Calm Mind might cause some problems too. May though 70 Special Attack isn't the best, STAB Earth Power will tear through many teams that lack a Ground resist. Sleep Talking is actually quite useful as that eliminates the ability of Toxic-stalling on a Claydol. His resistances to Rock, Ground, Fighting, and much more make Claydol even more appealing, and Levitate allows him to become the best Spinner in the game; resisting not only Stealth Rock, but immune to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes.</p>
<p>Still, 70 Attack and Special Attack isn't extremely fearful if you take hits normally. Bulky Waters are probably Claydol's biggest enemy, and one must not forget that. His ability to be usable in OU with Skarmory in tow can still question how long Claydol will stay UU.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Simply stating, Bulky Waters are the best counters to Claydol. Blastoise is perhaps the best one, having good defenses on both sides and hits hard with either his physical or special movepool himself. Mantine can prove decent even if Claydol lacks Stone Edge. In fact, Mantine has an even bigger reason to be called a counter because Mantine can Haze the Calm Mind user! Quagsire has reasonable defenses to come in on Earthquakes and at least shut him down with Waterfall or Surf.</p>
<p>Bulky Ghosts do good against Claydol and can hit him back with STAB. Rotom isn't bulky but could be a real pest since he switches in decently against Earthquake and Earth Power.</p>
<p>Taunt is another big enemy to Claydol. It stops both of his screens, Calm Mind, Trick Room, and Sleep Talking. Anything with Taunt and possibly a Dark move and / or Pursuit will put Claydol in demise.</p>
<p>Ice Beam-less Claydols will have trouble with bulky Grass-types. Meganium and Vileplume are good ones to consider. Stone Edge-less Claydols will have to compete with Lapras and Walrien, and Walrein could spell big trouble as he is x6 resistant to Ice Beam!</p>
<p>Psuedo-Hazing moves like Perish Song and possibly Roar will still do.</p>
<p>In OU, Swampert does this best, and Mixpert has the greatest mention here as it actually hits around Reflect. Gyarados could Dance with little problems and Taunt off his attempts to use Reflect or Light Screen. Bronzong resists most of his moves very well and can take him down usually. Cresselia will laugh at anything Claydol throws at her and fight back with Ice Beam. Tyranitar may not be able to switch in best against Earthquake, but Tyranitar can still put Claydol in stage fright when it comes to Tyranitar's Ice Beam, Dark Pulse, Pursuit, or Crunch.</p>
----------
I will continue to work on this later, but for now I'd like to only suggest it this far. I'm not 100% experienced with UU, but if you'd like to suggest any other changes, please do ithere. I'll run spellcheck later because I have to go for now.
Go for it.
Granted that usually most movesets should be versatile, the first one is just moreso a pain to look at, and could really confuse people in my opinion. Yes, I'm still working on Weezing a bit, but I think that now that Claydol has been toned down to UU, he might require a change-up. What I'd like to suggest is to split the Spinner set into 3 different ones. One Physical, one Special, one Mixed.
10 / 1 / 08 4:56 Eastern Time: Did Spellcheck, started analysis.
13 / 1 / 08 : Fixed Spinner set, added more about Tyranitar, minor spelling errors.
[SET]
name: Rapid Spin
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Reflect / Stealth Rock
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Relaxed
EVs: 236 HP / 96 Def / 176 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Claydol was commonly used in ADV for this reason: Rapid Spin. It was immune to Spikes and had reasonable defenses, and this remains unchanged in D/P. With the addition of two new entry hazards: Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, Claydol still is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes and is also resistant to Stealth Rock. This is usually why Claydol seems appealing on paper, but your opinion could be changed once you notice the amount of Pursuit users and such going against Claydol.</p>
<p>Ice Beam and Earthquake is the best combination for any Claydol set. Ground and Ice hit everything neutral but Bronzong, which you won't see most of the time unless you use Claydol in OU. Even if you think mixing is a bad thing to do, it isn't. Claydol can combat Tyranitar with Earthquake and with the given EVs, you can OHKO Salamence most of the time. Take note though that Salamence can still lose even if Claydol has 0 Special Attack EVs if Salamence steps in on Stealth Rock once. If you aren't fond of using these two together, there are still more options. As long as you focus on using a Ground move, you can mix and match with using either Ice Beam and Earthquake as suggested, Stone Edge and Earthquake, Stone Edge and Earth Power, and Ice Beam and Earth Power.</p>
<p>Allow me to make a quick note that Stone Edge and Earth Power will bring disadvantages to the table sadly, but it's not a overall huge deal if you play it in UU. Rock and Ground hit everything neutral but Bronzong and enemy Claydol, so really the only big thing you should fear is other Claydols. Earth Power may look neat on paper, but it 3HKOs Tyranitar under the Sandstorm, but remember that Tyranitar is OU and Claydol will mostly play UU now.</p>
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rest / Reflect
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Calm Mind is very evil for Claydol, and Ground / Ice is a nasty combination, so in UU this could pose quite a threat. Adding more Speed may not be a bad idea either. Anyways, Calm Mind is something new to Claydol, and this set takes advantage of it. Rest is useful for healing, but Reflect can soften physical hits.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Supporter
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Reflect / Light Screen
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Brave
EVs: 236 HP / 244 Atk / 28 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The Attack EVs are designed to OHKO Blissey, but since Blissey is in OU and Claydol is in UU, you can ditch some of the Attack for elsewhere, or just insert a certain amount to threaten a sweep. The move set is very expendable actually, and could amass from using other moves in the fourth move slot. Grass Knot, Shadow Ball, Rapid Spin, Stealth Rock, Hidden Power, weather-changing... the list is endless. Experiment with this set to satisfy your needs.</p>
[SET]
name: Sleep Talker
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Earthquake / Earth Power
move 4: Ice Beam / Stone Edge
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Relaxed / Impish / Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Claydol lacks a recovery move, and this set attempts to patch that. Sleep Talking is still very useful and in this move set is once again versatile. Ice Beam and Earthquake are probably your best options however, as the ability of staying mixed will stump your opponent on what to switch into him. However, the move set can range from Ice Beam and Earthquake to Ice Beam and Earth Power, Stone Edge and Earthquake, and Stone Edge and Earth Power. If you're not going mixed, then choose Bold or Impish, otherwise stick with Relaxed.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Choice Band and Choice Specs are always an option to Claydol, but one must wonder when they would prove useful. You loose versatility badly and Claydol likes that. Not only that, but there are better contenders for both of them.</p>
<p>Hidden Power is also an option, ranging from Fighting, Rock, and Electric. Grass Knot and Shadow Ball are also good moves on Claydol and can help with those that attempt to switch in and KO you. Psychic is another STAB move, but it has horrible coverage, and let's face it, it will attract Dark-types.</p>
<p>Light Screen can be used over Reflect in any moveset but the Calm Minder. Claydol also can use Toxic to wear down opponents. Substitute could be useful for blocking status, but good luck blocking some of those hits with a low HP Sub. Psych Up could steal enemy Calm Minders or anything else interesting to Claydol, even something like Swords Dance. Skill Swap is useful in double battles. Claydol can Rock Polish, oddly enough, to raise his Speed. Power Trick is an odd move, but could prove useful, but packing Reflect with it is a must.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Usually most sets should focus on using a 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe spread with a +Defense nature. If you're using Claydol in OU, 252 HP / 114 Def / 144 Spe spread will allow you to outspeed Adamant Tyranitar. Already mentioned that using 176 Special Attack EVs will OHKO Salamence most of the time, but will require more EVs to OHKO Garchomp. 128 Attack EVs 2HKOs Tyranitar most of the time with Earthquake</p>
<p>Calm Mind can play with the 144 Speed EVs.</p>
<p>Trick Room set should have a 0 IV in Speed and a -Speed nature. The EVs here depend on what moves that you choose. If you want to play Explosion in OU to OHKO Blissey, you'll need a Brave nature with 244 Attack EVs. The set could play more offensively or defensively.</p>
<p>Sleep Talk should play with standard spread as shown. Don't be too tempted with any other EVs.</p>
[OPINION]
<p>It might've not been a bad thing that Claydol got bumped down into UU. Quite the contrary, he could be very useful as his move pool is pretty big. The ability to spin effectively is more than enough reason to make him used in UU teams, so make sure that you are well-prepared for Claydol's unpredictability. Now there would be nothing worse than a Pokemon to take a physical hit only brought down by a special hit. Calm Mind might cause some problems too. May though 70 Special Attack isn't the best, STAB Earth Power will tear through many teams that lack a Ground resist. Sleep Talking is actually quite useful as that eliminates the ability of Toxic-stalling on a Claydol. His resistances to Rock, Ground, Fighting, and much more make Claydol even more appealing, and Levitate allows him to become the best Spinner in the game; resisting not only Stealth Rock, but immune to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes.</p>
<p>Still, 70 Attack and Special Attack isn't extremely fearful if you take hits normally. Bulky Waters are probably Claydol's biggest enemy, and one must not forget that. His ability to be usable in OU with Skarmory in tow can still question how long Claydol will stay UU.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Simply stating, Bulky Waters are the best counters to Claydol. Blastoise is perhaps the best one, having good defenses on both sides and hits hard with either his physical or special movepool himself. Mantine can prove decent even if Claydol lacks Stone Edge. In fact, Mantine has an even bigger reason to be called a counter because Mantine can Haze the Calm Mind user! Quagsire has reasonable defenses to come in on Earthquakes and at least shut him down with Waterfall or Surf.</p>
<p>Bulky Ghosts do good against Claydol and can hit him back with STAB. Rotom isn't bulky but could be a real pest since he switches in decently against Earthquake and Earth Power.</p>
<p>Taunt is another big enemy to Claydol. It stops both of his screens, Calm Mind, Trick Room, and Sleep Talking. Anything with Taunt and possibly a Dark move and / or Pursuit will put Claydol in demise.</p>
<p>Ice Beam-less Claydols will have trouble with bulky Grass-types. Meganium and Vileplume are good ones to consider. Stone Edge-less Claydols will have to compete with Lapras and Walrien, and Walrein could spell big trouble as he is x6 resistant to Ice Beam!</p>
<p>Psuedo-Hazing moves like Perish Song and possibly Roar will still do.</p>
<p>In OU, Swampert does this best, and Mixpert has the greatest mention here as it actually hits around Reflect. Gyarados could Dance with little problems and Taunt off his attempts to use Reflect or Light Screen. Bronzong resists most of his moves very well and can take him down usually. Cresselia will laugh at anything Claydol throws at her and fight back with Ice Beam. Tyranitar may not be able to switch in best against Earthquake, but Tyranitar can still put Claydol in stage fright when it comes to Tyranitar's Ice Beam, Dark Pulse, Pursuit, or Crunch.</p>
----------
I will continue to work on this later, but for now I'd like to only suggest it this far. I'm not 100% experienced with UU, but if you'd like to suggest any other changes, please do ithere. I'll run spellcheck later because I have to go for now.
Go for it.
