[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Icicle Spear
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Hydro Pump
item: King's Rock / White Herb
ability: Skill Link
nature: Naive / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Shell Smash, Cloyster can be a terrifying sweeper and wallbreaker for unprepared teams. Shell Smash is used to boost Cloyster's Attack and Speed, allowing it to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame. Icicle Spear is the STAB attack of choice that also has the added benefit of bypassing Mimikyu's Disguise. Rock Blast is another 125-Base Power attack that offers decent coverage against Water-types such as Rotom-W and Tentacruel while also being Cloyster's best option against Escavalier. Hydro Pump is Cloyster's best option against Fire-types such as Chandelure and Incineroar, should you opt to use Pin Missile, and it allows Cloyster to hit Steel-types such as Doublade and Cobalion. Pin Missile can be considered over Rock Blast however, as it's Cloyster's best option against Slowbro and Bronzong, two of its premier checks. Ice Shard can be used to pick off weakened threats such as Noivern, Flygon, and Roserade, but the lack of coverage leaves Cloyster walled by Cobalion and Bronzong. Naive and Jolly are the natures of choice, as the extra Speed allows Cloyster to get the jump on Choice Scarf Keldeo. If Ice Shard is used over Hydro Pump, a Jolly nature is preferred. King's Rock is the preferred item of choice, as both Icicle Spear and Rock Blast in conjunction with Skill Link have a 41% flinch rate, allowing Cloyster to potentially muscle through checks and counters, such as Keldeo and Slowbro. White Herb, however, does help prevent Cloyster from being revenge killed as easily by Pokemon like Lycanroc-D.
Cloyster is best suited for offense teams that can support it in the form of dual screens or entry hazards in order to pull off a sweep. Grimmsnarl is the best dual screens user in the metagame, which allows Cloyster to more safely set up with Shell Smash. Behind dual screens, Cloyster avoids the OHKO from Terrakion's Close Combat and Zarude's Power Whip. Offensive Spikes users such as Froslass and Roserade are great at getting up multiple layers of entry hazards, wearing down the opposing team, with the latter also providing Sleep Powder support, creating more setup opportunities for Cloyster. Cobalion is always OHKOed after two layers of Spikes by a +2 Hydro Pump, while three layers guarantee Doublade is always OHKOed by a +2 Hydro Pump. Krookodile and Cobalion are premier Stealth Rock users, both of which can also soften Pokemon that check Cloyster. Cobalion in particular can chip Doublade with Volt Switch, while Chople Berry variants can check Lycanroc-D. Pokemon that can match up well against Water-types such as Celebi and Rotom-C make for excellent partners. In addition to weakening shared checks such as Cobalion and Escavalier, Celebi can provide wallbreaking capabilities and check Keldeo reliably. Rotom-C is also capable of wallbreaking with Nasty Plot, making it easier for Cloyster to sweep. Noivern and Starmie can pressure physical walls such as Slowbro and Cobalion; Noivern also provides useful utility in Taunt, while Starmie can clear entry hazards. Setup sweepers such as Mimikyu, Lycanroc-D, and Terrakion share similar checks with Cloyster such as Slowbro and Cobalion, meaning they can wallbreak for Cloyster and vice versa, allowing the other to sweep. Doublade as a partner appreciates Rotom-W being weakened and can check Lycanroc-D.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ShootingStarmie, 105816]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Icicle Spear
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Hydro Pump
item: King's Rock / White Herb
ability: Skill Link
nature: Naive / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Shell Smash, Cloyster can be a terrifying sweeper and wallbreaker for unprepared teams. Shell Smash is used to boost Cloyster's Attack and Speed, allowing it to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame. Icicle Spear is the STAB attack of choice that also has the added benefit of bypassing Mimikyu's Disguise. Rock Blast is another 125-Base Power attack that offers decent coverage against Water-types such as Rotom-W and Tentacruel while also being Cloyster's best option against Escavalier. Hydro Pump is Cloyster's best option against Fire-types such as Chandelure and Incineroar, should you opt to use Pin Missile, and it allows Cloyster to hit Steel-types such as Doublade and Cobalion. Pin Missile can be considered over Rock Blast however, as it's Cloyster's best option against Slowbro and Bronzong, two of its premier checks. Ice Shard can be used to pick off weakened threats such as Noivern, Flygon, and Roserade, but the lack of coverage leaves Cloyster walled by Cobalion and Bronzong. Naive and Jolly are the natures of choice, as the extra Speed allows Cloyster to get the jump on Choice Scarf Keldeo. If Ice Shard is used over Hydro Pump, a Jolly nature is preferred. King's Rock is the preferred item of choice, as both Icicle Spear and Rock Blast in conjunction with Skill Link have a 41% flinch rate, allowing Cloyster to potentially muscle through checks and counters, such as Keldeo and Slowbro. White Herb, however, does help prevent Cloyster from being revenge killed as easily by Pokemon like Lycanroc-D.
Cloyster is best suited for offense teams that can support it in the form of dual screens or entry hazards in order to pull off a sweep. Grimmsnarl is the best dual screens user in the metagame, which allows Cloyster to more safely set up with Shell Smash. Behind dual screens, Cloyster avoids the OHKO from Terrakion's Close Combat and Zarude's Power Whip. Offensive Spikes users such as Froslass and Roserade are great at getting up multiple layers of entry hazards, wearing down the opposing team, with the latter also providing Sleep Powder support, creating more setup opportunities for Cloyster. Cobalion is always OHKOed after two layers of Spikes by a +2 Hydro Pump, while three layers guarantee Doublade is always OHKOed by a +2 Hydro Pump. Krookodile and Cobalion are premier Stealth Rock users, both of which can also soften Pokemon that check Cloyster. Cobalion in particular can chip Doublade with Volt Switch, while Chople Berry variants can check Lycanroc-D. Pokemon that can match up well against Water-types such as Celebi and Rotom-C make for excellent partners. In addition to weakening shared checks such as Cobalion and Escavalier, Celebi can provide wallbreaking capabilities and check Keldeo reliably. Rotom-C is also capable of wallbreaking with Nasty Plot, making it easier for Cloyster to sweep. Noivern and Starmie can pressure physical walls such as Slowbro and Cobalion; Noivern also provides useful utility in Taunt, while Starmie can clear entry hazards. Setup sweepers such as Mimikyu, Lycanroc-D, and Terrakion share similar checks with Cloyster such as Slowbro and Cobalion, meaning they can wallbreak for Cloyster and vice versa, allowing the other to sweep. Doublade as a partner appreciates Rotom-W being weakened and can check Lycanroc-D.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ShootingStarmie, 105816]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
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