Gen 5 Cloyster GP 2/2

[Samu77]

[Overview]
Cloyster is a solid pick for hyper offense teams thanks to its strong moves and ability to set up on physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Dragonite, Gliscor, and Garchomp with its great physical bulk. Skill Link lets it use a five-hit Icicle Spear and Rock Blast, which have good neutral coverage and also let Cloyster get past Substitute users such as Dragonite and Garchomp in one turn. Skill Link notably also allows it to KO Focus Sash Alakazam in one turn of attacking, which can be a pain for hyper offense teams. Cloyster can also revenge kill and block revenge kill attempts from Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom with Ice Shard.

However, even after a boost, Cloyster is unable to OHKO bulky Pokemon such as Jellicent, Heatran, and Reuniclus or those resistant to its coverage such as Keldeo and Jirachi. Furthermore, due to Cloyster's awful special bulk, it's unable to stay in on any Pokemon with special attacks, even weak ones such as Politoed and Tentacruel. Its susceptibility to entry hazards, mainly Stealth Rock, can also make setting up difficult and, in conjunction with sand, limits the amount of damage Cloyster can do. Finally, priority users such as Scizor and Dragonite can revenge kill Cloyster after a boost.

[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Icicle Spear
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Ice Gem / Never-Melt Ice
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rock Blast creates good neutral coverage alongside Icicle Spear and allows Cloyster to hit Flying-types super effectively while preserving the Ice Gem. Ice Shard is used to revenge kill boosted Dragon-types such as Salamence and Garchomp, as well as ensuring that Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom can't revenge kill Cloyster.

Set Details
========
A Jolly nature is used to outspeed Adamant Dragonite without a boost and Choice Scarf Keldeo and Jirachi at +2. Ice Gem gives Cloyster the extra power it needs to KO Tyranitar, Reuniclus, Gastrodon, and Ferrothorn at full health (RC) and take out physically defensive Skarmory and Keldeo with a little bit of prior damage. Never-Melt Ice is more consistent; however, you will require more prior damage to achieve the previously mentioned KOs. With an Adamant nature and Never-Melt Ice,(space)Cloyster can OHKO all of the previously mentioned bulky targets after Stealth Rock outside of Reuniclus, Skarmory, and Keldeo. Adamant also makes it easier for Cloyster to break through checks such as Heatran and Jellicent with Rock Blast.

Team Options
======
Cloyster fits on hyper offense, since it appreciates its teammates forcing damage and softening up defensive Pokemon so that it can sweep later (RC) and can do the same for them. (surely?) Starmie can spin entry hazards away while handling Pokemon that normally threaten Cloyster, such as Keldeo and Politoed. Stealth Rock wears down Pokemon that would normally take a hit from Cloyster, and partners like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Terrakion can set it up. Custap Berry Skarmory can prevent the opponent from setting up entry hazards with Taunt while also setting up Spikes, which can help Cloyster break through Pokemon like Gastrodon, Keldeo, and Ferrothorn. Scizor can wear down Water-type checks such as Politoed and Jellicent so that Cloyster can break through them later (RC) and vice versa, while its priority Bullet Punch works well alongside Cloyster against offensive teams to check faster Pokemon like Dragon Dance Dragonite and Salamence. Similarly, Breloom threatens to take out checks such as Ferrothorn, Tentacruel, Reuniclus, Jellicent, and Rotom-W, as well as checking setup sweepers with its priority. Volcarona shares common checks with Cloyster, such as Heatran, Jellicent, and Keldeo, meaning they can help each other break through them so one of them can sweep more easily later.

[Strategy Comments}
Other Options
========
Rock Gem can be used to OHKO Ice-resistant Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Tentacruel and take out most Heatran after Stealth Rock. However, it misses out on some KOs provided by Ice Gem, such as Ferrothorn and Reuniclus. Hydro Pump can be used over Ice Shard to hit Steel-types like Heatran and Scizor harder. However, this allows Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom to revenge kill Cloyster. Focus Sash can be used to take any one hit from Pokemon like Latios and Thundurus-T to KO them. However, sand can KO Cloyster after it survives an attack with Focus Sash, and it will be unable to KO bulky Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Reuniclus, Ferrothorn, and Gastrodon without significant prior damage.

Checks and Counters
========
**Special Attackers**: Without a boost, Cloyster cannot stay in on special attackers like Latios, Alakazam, Thundurus-T, Volcarona, Timid Heatran, Keldeo, and Starmie, which can all KO it before it sets up. Even weaker special attacks like those from Politoed or Tentacruel can heavily damage Cloyster.

**Priority**: Dragonite and Scizor can revenge kill a weakened Scizor with Extreme Speed and Bullet Punch, (AC) respectively.

**Status**: Burn from Pokemon like Jellicent, Rotom-W, and Scald users cuts Cloyster's Attack, (AC) making it unable to sweep and dealing damage each turn. Toxic can similarly reduce its time on the field and can come from Pokemon Cloyster should set up on, like Gliscor. Paralysis cuts Cloyster's Speed and makes it unable to sweep.

**Water-types**: Tentacruel, Milotic, Politoed, Slowbro, Slowking, Rotom-W, Jellicent and Keldeo can all take a hit from Cloyster at +2 and can hit it hard with Scald or cripple it with status. However, they can be pressured by Rock Blast if worn down, especially if Cloyster is running a Rock Gem.

**Steel-types**: Heatran, Jirachi, Bronzong and Magnezone resist both Rock Blast and Icicle Spear and can KO Cloyster in response.

**Bulky Pokemon**: If Cloyser doesn't have Ice Gem, bulky Pokemon such as Gastrodon, Reuniclus, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory can take a hit and either KO or phaze it. However, Never-Melt Ice can still let it break through these threats should they have sustained the necessary prior damage.

**Rain Teams**: Rain teams in general give Cloyster a hard time. Politoed and Tentacruel can take Cloyster's hits even after a boost and hit it back with Scald or cripple it with status, Latios and Thundurus-T outspeed and OHKO it, and Keldeo can survive one boosted attack and can OHKO Cloyster.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Samu77, 525486]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ophion, 433215], [BluBirD252, 347088]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Lumari, 232216]]

 

[Deleted User [433215]]

Cloyster is one of the best sweepers in the metagame due to it's access to Shell Smash.

Don't say "Cloyster is one of the best..." since for one, it's not the best at anything. Also cause you wanna just get to the facts right away so say it's a decent pick for hyper offense teams thanks to its strong moves and great physical bulk that grants it setup opportunities against physical attackers in the metagame.

Thanks to Cloyster's high defense stat, it's able to setup on Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Gliscor and Garchomp and outspeed almost everything in the metagame at +2.

Why are these sentences merged? The Speed and bulk aren't really related. Stress physical attackers like Garchomp, Gliscor, and Tyranitar.

Cloyster's ability Skill Link also lets it use 125-Base Power Icicle Spear and Rock Blast, a type combination that hits most of the metagame for neutral coverage.

Don't mention base power here, it's dex info. Say 5-hit Icicle Spear and Rock Blast, also say "which have good neutral coverage in the metagame" rather than "a type combination that...". Also, mention how it lets Cloyster get around Focus Sash Alakazam, a big headache for many hyper offense threats.

Can also mention how Ice Shard can let it out prioritize some setup moves and reverse revenge kill Pokemon like Mach Punch Breloom and other examples (don't write it into the analysis exactly like that obviously. Make it a bit more professional)

Even after a boost, however, Cloyster is unable to OHKO bulky Pokemon such as Jellicent or those resistant to it's coverage such as Keldeo and Jirachi.

List more than just Jellicent for bulky things not OHKO'd at +2. Also, say "However," before the even after a boost part.

Furthermore due to Cloyster's middling Special Defense and HP Stat, it is unable to setup on virtually any Special Attacker in the tier.

Say middling special bulk, it saves writing space and how this issue makes it sometimes struggle to find setup opportunities, especially against rain teams. Also, change special attacker to Pokemon with special attacks since even Scald or Surf users like Politoed or Tentacruel can chip Cloyster a lot.

Additionally, it's weakness to hazards can also make setting up difficult, and in conjunction with sand can stop it's sweep short.

Say suspeptibility to entry hazards, namely Stealth Rock.

Finally, there are some Pokemon that can revenge kill Cloyster such as very fast Scarfers like Latios or powerful priority users such as Scizor and Choice Band Dnite.

The only common Scarfer that outspeeds is Latios so just make the scarfer thing "Choice Scarf Latios" and say "priority users like Scizor and Dragonite"

Rock Blasts let's you hit Ice-type resists, such as bulky Water-types, Fire-types and potentially Flying-types if you want to preserve your Ice Gem.

Say how Rock Blast (no s on the end) grants good neutral coverage alongside Icicle Spear as well. Besides that, just touch up the grammar here. The point being made is good though, good job mentioning Ice Gem preservation.

Ice Shard is used to revenge kill Boosted Dragon-types such as Dragonite and Garchomp, as well as ensuring that Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom don't interrupt your sweep.

I'd add Salamence to this list. Also, fix Scarf to be Choice Scarf.

A Jolly Nature is used to outspeed Choice Scarf Keldeo and Jirachi at +2,

I'd also mention Adamant Dragonite before a boost, since that can let you threaten it without setup.

however if these aren't a concern then Adamant can be used for more power.

Does the power do anything of note? When Jolly holds such an important role in Cloyster beating some offensive teams, Adamant needs some really good utility.

Ice Gem gives you one strong hit for picking off Pokemon such as a weakened Keldeo, whereas Never-Melt-Ice is stronger overall.

This is so bare for Ice Gem's utility. Mention how it lets Cloyster muscle through Pokemon it otherwise couldn't, like Reuniclus, Tyranitar, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory and Keldeo with a little prior damage. Say how Never-Melt-Ice can also achieve things as well but it requires more prior damage and change "stronger overall" to "is more consistent". Then I'd stress how Ice Gem's burst damage is usually more important due to the nature of the teams Cloyster is fit on not needing it long enough to where Never-Melt-Ice's consistency is that important.

Cloyster's fits mainly on Hyper-Offense due to how it appreciates it's teammates forcing damage and softening up defensive Pokemon so that Cloyster can sweep later.

Say vice versa at the end here since Cloyster can also break through threats for its teammates.

Due to Cloyster's hazard weakness, hazard control helps Cloyster set up. Starmie is the best spinner to pair with Cloyster due to it's ability to handle Heatran and keep up offensive pressure.

Merge these into one sentence. Also add how it can dent Water-types and threaten faster Pokemon like Latios and Keldeo.

Hazards also allow Cloyster to KO Pokemon that would normally take a hit to be KO'd by it, so pairing it with fast Stealth Rockers that keep up offensive pressure such as Garchomp and Terrakion can help.

Get rid of the "to be KO'd by it" it's not needed and makes the sentence jank. Also remove fast from fast Stealth Rockers and change Stealth Rockers to Stealth Rock users. Also mention how these entry hazard setters can wear down Pokemon (give examples) so Cloyster can take them out after it sets up.

Scizor can help lure in checks such as Starmie and Keldeo and chip them so that Cloyster can sweep through them later.

Why is this exclusive to Scizor? Any setup sweeper that outspeeds these and not be KO'd by them can do this. Say how Scizor benefits from Cloyster wearing down Water-types and Heatran so it can sweep late-game while it can also do this for Cloyster. Also something how it can also use priority alongside Cloyster to take out opposing setup sweepers and as such giving a better matchup against other offensive teams

Similarly Breloom can be used in a similar vein to force Pokemon such as Heatran and Jellicent out, potentially weakening them with hazards so that Cloyster can sweep later and can also lure in and chip Jirachi.

Similarly shouldn't be used twice. Say instead how Breloom threatens bulkier threats so they can be worn into range of Cloyster (hazards is kinda obvious with how they work) and as such, remove the Jirachi point. Can also add the thing about another priority user here if you'd like.

Custap Skarmory can Taunt hazard-setters and set it's own hazards so that Cloyster has an easier time breaking through Pokemon such as Jellicent.

Why is this not with the entry hazard setter section? Also, you don't elaborate how tauning entry hazard setters is useful really. And use more examples than just Jellicent.

Volcarona shares common checks with Cloyster such as Jellicent and can help each other break through them so one can have an easier time sweeping later.

Same thing with more examples of mutual checks.

Rock Gem can be used to OHKO Water resists such as Rotom-Wash and Tentacruel, but it will miss out on OHKO's such as Ferrothorn.

First of all, Ice resists, not Water resists. Add Heatran after Stealth Rock to the OHKO'd area. Say how it makes Cloyster struggle to KO Pokemon such as (insert examples) rather than "out on OHKO's". You just mentioned what OHKO's it gets so as it's worded right now, it's contradictory.

Hydro Pump can be used over Ice Shard to hit Steel-types harder such as Heatran, but allows Cloyster to be revenge-killed by Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom.

I'd add Scizor since it can eat Rock Blast after rocks most of the time.

however with Stealth Rocks and one layer of Spikes up they all are KO'd by Icicle Spear with an Ice Gem

That's just a flat out lie. Just say how they can be pressured by Rock Blast if they're worn down or if Cloyster is running Rock Gem.

Rotom-Wash and Jellicent can take a hit even with Stealth Rocks and Spikes up.

Funny thing is Rotom-W is actually OHKOable with Rocks down if Ice Gem is held but you put it on a pedestal. Just list these Water-types with the others honestly.

Steel-types: Heatran, Jirachi, Bronzong and Magnezone will resist both Rock Blast and Icicle Spear and KO in response. Scizor and Choice Band Dragonite can revenge kill with Priority moves if Cloyster is weakened.

Heatran does not resist Rock Blast. It actually takes a lot from it. Say how they can all take any boosted hit from Cloyster and threaten to OHKO it with the appropriate coverage. Also, why is Dragonite in the Steel-types section? If you wanna say how Scizor can take it out with Bullet Punch's priority then fine but Dragonite shouldn't be here.

If Cloyser doesn't have Ice Gem, then Pokemon such as Gastrodon, Reuniclus, Ferrothorn and Skarmory can take a hit and either KO or phase it out, although with Never-Melt-Ice it can potentially OHKO Ferrothron and Gastrodon with hazards up.

Add a precursor to this as "Very Bulky Pokemon". Also, remove the "although with Never-Melt-Ice ic can..." and just say. "However, Never-Melt-Ice can still let Cloyster break through these threats should they have sustained a bit of prior damage.".

I also want a "Faster Pokemon" and "Status" section for this area. This set of 3 is way too small, especially for something like Cloyster.

 

[Samu77]

Some questions:

Should I add just a rain section in Counters? Cloyster struggles to deal with rain teams due to the myriad of special attackers and Pokemon that live through it's hits, this information is already somewhat covered so I am unsure as too how necessary it would be

Is skill link breaking through substitute relevant information since it lets you set up on Chomp and go through poison heal breloom su? It's really not that important so I wasn't going to write it but I thought I would ask anyways

I think Lum Berry also pads out the Other options section, almost nobody is realistically going to use Lum Berry

 

[Samu77]

1/2 Approved by Ophion via Discord

 

[BluBirD]

Hey, nicely written analysis.
Some stuff i'd touch on more would be a mention on focus sash cloyster's viability on some teams given it's utility in taking out threats like latios and thundurus-T.
Making a point about the rain matchup is adviced, yeah.
About the Skill Link shout, yeah u should mention it's effect vs popular substitute mons like Garchomp and Dragonite.
Other than that this should be fine.
QC (2/2).

 

[Adeleine]

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[OVERVIEW]
========
Cloyster is a solid pick for hyper offense teams thanks to its strong moves and great physical bulk bulk, which lets it set up on physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Dragonite, Gliscor, and Garchomp. Skill Link lets it use a 5-Hit five-hit Icicle Spear and Rock Blast, which have good neutral coverage and also let Cloyster get past Substitute users such as Dragonite and Garchomp in one turn. Skill Link also allows it to KO Focus Sash Alakazam in one turn of attacking, which is important due to fact Alakazam can be a pain for hyper offense teams. It can also revenge kill and block revenge kill attempts from Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom with Ice Shard.

However, even after a boost, Cloyster is unable to OHKO bulky Pokemon such as Jellicent, Heatran, and Reuniclus or those resistant to its coverage such as Keldeo and Jirachi. Furthermore, due to Cloyster's middling special bulk, it's unable to stay in on any Pokemon with special attacks in the tier, even weak ones such as Politoed and Tentacruel, which makes sometimes Tentacruel. This sometimes makes it hard to set up, especially against rain teams. Its susceptibility to entry hazards, namely Stealth Rock, can also make setting up difficult and, (moved comma) in conjunction with sand, (AC) limit the amount of damage Cloyster can do. Finally, priority users such as Scizor and Dragonite can revenge kill Cloyster after a boost.

[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Icicle Spear
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Ice Gem / Never-Melt Ice (removed second hyphen)
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / (added slash) 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rock Blast creates good neutral coverage alongside Icicle Spear and allows you to hit Flying-types for super-effective damage hits Flying-types super effectively while preserving the Ice Gem. Ice Shard is used to revenge kill boosted Dragon-types such as Salamence and Garchomp, (AC) as well as ensuring that Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom can't revenge kill you. Cloyster.

Set Details
========
A Jolly nature is used to outspeed Adamant Dragonite without a boost and Choice Scarf Keldeo and Jirachi at +2. Ice Gem gives Cloyster the extra power it needs to KO Tyranitar, Reuniclus, Gastrodon, and Ferrothorn at full health, and physcially physically defensive Skarmory and Keldeo with a little bit of prior damage. Never-Melt Ice (removed second hyphen) is more consistent; (comma -> semicolon) however, you will require more prior damage in order to achieve the previously mentioned KOes. With an Adamant nature and Never-Melt-Ice you Never-Melt Ice, Cloyster can OHKO all of the previously mentioned bulky targets after Stealth Rock outside of Reuniclus, Skarmory, and Keldeo. Adamant also makes it easier for Cloyster to break through checks such as Heatran and Jellicent with Rock Blast.

Team Options
======
Cloyster fits on hyper offense, (AC) since it appreciates its teammates forcing damage and softening up defensive Pokemon so that it can sweep later, (AC) and vice versa. (removed hyphen) Starmie can Rapid Spin spin entry hazards away while handling Pokemon that normally threaten Cloyster, such as Keldeo and Politoed. Stealth Rock from setters like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Terrakion wears down Pokemon that would normally take a hit from Cloyster, so Stealth Rock setters like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Terrakion can make for good partners. Custap Berry Skarmory can prevent the opponent from setting up entry hazards with Taunt while also setting up Spikes, which can help Cloyster break through Pokemon like Gastrodon, Keldeo, and Ferrothorn. Scizor can wear down Water-type checks such as Politoed and Jellcient so that Cloyster can break through them later and vice-versa later, and vice versa, while its priority Bullet Punch works well alongside Cloyster against offensive teams to check faster Pokemon like Dragon Dance Dragonite and Salamence. Similarly, Breloom threatens to take out checks such as Ferrothorn, Tentacruel, Reuniclus, Jellicent, (AC) and Rotom-W, (AC) so that Cloyster can break through them later as well as having priority to check setup sweepers. Volcarona shares common checks with Cloyster, such as Heatran, Jellicent, and Keldeo, (AC) and they can help each other break through them so one of them can have an easier time sweeping can sweep more easily later.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Rock Gem can be used to OHKO Ice-resistant Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Tentacruel and OHKO most Heatran after Stealth Rocks. However, it misses out on some KOes provided by Ice Gem, such as Ferrothorn and Reuniclus. Hydro Pump can be used over Ice Shard to hit Steel-types like Heatran and Scizor harder. However, this allows Cloyster to be revenge killed by Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom to revenge kill Cloyster. Focus Sash can be used to take any one hit from full health from Pokemon like Latios and Thundurus-T to KO them. However, sand can KO Cloyster after it lives survives an attack with Focus Sash, and it will be unable to KO bulky Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Reuniclus, Ferrothorn, (AC) and Gastrodon without significant prior damage.

Checks and Counters
========
Faster **Special Attackers**: Without a boost, (moved comma) Cloyster cannot stay in on special attackers like Latios, Alakazam, Thundurus-T, Volcarona, Timid Heatran, Keldeo, (AC) and Starmie, which can all KO it before it sets up. Dragonite and Scizor can also pick it off with their priorty moves in Extreme Speed and Bullet Punch, respectively. Even weaker special attacks like those from Politoed or Tentacruel can heavily damage Cloyster.

**Priority**: Dragonite and Scizor can pick Cloyster off with Extreme Speed and Bullet Punch, respectively. Scizor can also take any listed attack at +2. (feel free to otherwise modify)

**Status**: Burn from Pokemon like Jellicent and Rotom-W, (AC) as well as Scald users, (AC) cuts Cloyster's Attack, making it unable to sweep, and deals damage to it each turn while sweep and dealing damage each turn. Toxic can similarly reduce its time on the field and be inflicted by Pokemon it can come from Pokemon Cloyster should set up on, like Gliscor. Parlaysis cuts Cloyster's Speed and makes it unable to sweep.

**Water-types**: Tentacruel, Milotic, Politoed, Slowbro, Slowking, Rotom-Wash, Jellicent, (AC) and Keldeo can all take a hit from Cloyster at +2 and can hit it hard with Scald or cripple it with status. (added period) However, they can be pressured by Rock Blast if worn down, especially if Cloyster is running a Rock Gem.

**Steel-types**: Heatran, Jirachi, Bronzong, (AC) and Magnezone resist both Rock Blast and Icicle Spear and can KO Cloyster in response. Scizor can take a +2 Rock Blast and has priority to outspeed Cloyster so it can't even move before being taken out. (moved to Priority)

**Bulky Pokemon**: If Cloyser doesn't have Ice Gem, bulky Pokemon such as Gastrodon, Reuniclus, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory can take a hit and either KO or phase Cloyster out. phaze it. However, Never-Melt Ice (removed second hyphen) can still let it break through these threats should they have sustained the necessary prior damage.

**Rain Teams**: Rain teams in general give Cloyster a hard time due to Politoed and Tentacruel being able to time. Politoed and Tentacruel can take its hits even after a boost and hit it back with Scald or statusing it, Latios and Thundurus-T outspeeding and OHKOing it, and Keldeo also OHKOing it and even being able to OHKOes and it can survive at least one boosted attack.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Samu77, 525486]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ophion, 433215], [BluBirD252, 347088]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]

1/1

 

[Samu77]

Grammar corrections have been implemented

1/2

 

[Lumari]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 2/2 use https://spo.ink/gpvideo to implement plz

check

[Overview]
========
Cloyster is a solid pick for hyper offense teams thanks to its strong moves and great physical bulk, whick lets it ability to set up on physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Dragonite, Gliscor, and Garchomp with its great physical bulk. Skill Link lets it use a five-hit Icicle Spear and Rock Blast, which have good neutral coverage and also let Cloyster get past Substitute users such as Dragonite and Garchomp in one turn. Skill Link notably also allows it to KO Focus Sash Alakazam in one turn of attacking, which can be a pain for hyper offense teams. It Cloyster can also revenge kill and block revenge kill attempts from Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom with Ice Shard.

However, even after a boost, Cloyster is unable to OHKO bulky Pokemon such as Jellicent, Heatran, and Reuniclus or those resistant to its coverage such as Keldeo and Jirachi. Furthermore, due to Cloyster's middling awful special bulk, it's unable to stay in on any Pokemon with special attacks in the tier, even weak ones such as Politoed and Tentacruel. Its susceptibility to entry hazards, namely mainly Stealth Rock, can also make setting up difficult and, in conjunction with sand, limits the amount of damage Cloyster can do. Finally, priority users such as Scizor and Dragonite can revenge kill Cloyster after a boost.

[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Icicle Spear
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Ice Gem / Never-Melt Ice
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk 4 / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rock Blast creates good neutral coverage alongside Icicle Spear and allows you Cloyster to hit Flying-types super effectively while preserving the Ice Gem. Ice Shard is used to revenge kill boosted Dragon-types such as Salamence and Garchomp, as well as ensuring that Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom can't revenge kill Cloyster.

Set Details
========
A Jolly nature is used to outspeed Adamant Dragonite without a boost and Choice Scarf Keldeo and Jirachi at +2. Ice Gem gives Cloyster the extra power it needs to KO Tyranitar, Reuniclus, Gastrodon, and Ferrothorn at full health (RC) and take out physically defensive Skarmory and Keldeo with a little bit of prior damage. Never-Melt Ice is more consistent; however, you will require more prior damage to achieve the previously mentioned KOs. With an Adamant nature and Never-Melt Ice,(space)Cloyster can OHKO all of the previously mentioned bulky targets after Stealth Rock outside of Reuniclus, Skarmory, and Keldeo. Adamant also makes it easier for Cloyster to break through checks such as Heatran and Jellicent with Rock Blast.

Team Options
======
Cloyster fits on hyper offense, since it appreciates its teammates forcing damage and softening up defensive Pokemon so that it can sweep later (RC) and vice versa can do the same for them. (surely?) Starmie can spin entry hazards away while handling Pokemon that normally threaten Cloyster, such as Keldeo and Politoed. Stealth Rock wears down Pokemon that would normally take a hit from Cloyster, so Stealth Rock setters and partners like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Terrakion can make for good partners set it up. Custap Berry Skarmory can prevent the opponent from setting up entry hazards with Taunt while also setting up Spikes, which can help Cloyster break through Pokemon like Gastrodon, Keldeo, and Ferrothorn. Scizor can wear down Water-type checks such as Politoed and Jellcient Jellicent so that Cloyster can break through them later (RC) and vice versa, while its priority Bullet Punch works well alongside Cloyster against offensive teams to check faster Pokemon like Dragon Dance Dragonite and Salamence. Similarly, Breloom threatens to take out checks such as Ferrothorn, Tentacruel, Reuniclus, Jellicent, and Rotom-W, as well as having priority to check checking setup sweepers with its priority. Volcarona shares common checks with Cloyster, such as Heatran, Jellicent, and Keldeo, (AC) and meaning (RC) they can help each other break through them so one of them can sweep more easily later.

[Strategy Comments}
Other Options
========
Rock Gem can be used to OHKO Ice-resistant Pokemon such as Rotom-W and Tentacruel and OHKO take out most Heatran after Stealth Rock. However, it misses out on some KOs provided by Ice Gem, such as Ferrothorn and Reuniclus. Hydro Pump can be used over Ice Shard to hit Steel-types like Heatran and Scizor harder. However, this allows Choice Scarf Latios and Mach Punch Breloom can to revenge kill Cloyster. Focus Sash can be used to take any one hit from Pokemon like Latios and Thundurus-T to KO them. However, sand can KO Cloyster after it survives an attack with Focus Sash, and it will be unable to KO bulky Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Reuniclus, Ferrothorn, and Gastrodon without significant prior damage.

Checks and Counters
========
**Special Attackers**: Without a boost, Cloyster cannot stay in on special attackers like Latios, Alakazam, Thundurus-T, Volcarona, Timid Heatran, Keldeo, and Starmie, which can all KO it before it sets up. Even weaker special attacks like those from Politoed or Tentacruel can heavily damage Cloyster.

**Priority**: Dragonite and Scizor can revenge kill a weakened Scizor with Extreme Speed and Bullet Punch, (AC) respectively.

**Status**: Burn from Pokemon like Jellicent, (AC) and Rotom-W, as well as and Scald users cuts Cloyster's Attack, (AC) making it unable to sweep and dealing damage each turn. Toxic can similarly reduce its time on the field and can come from Pokemon Cloyster should set up on, like Gliscor . Parlaysis Paralysis cuts Cloyster's Speed and makes it unable to sweep.

**Water-types**: Tentacruel, Milotic, Politoed, Slowbro, Slowking, Rotom-W, Jellicent and Keldeo can all take a hit from Cloyster at +2 and can hit it hard with Scald or cripple it with status. However, they can be pressured by Rock Blast if worn down, especially if Cloyster is running a Rock Gem.

**Steel-types**: Heatran, Jirachi, Bronzong and Magnezone resist both Rock Blast and Icicle Spear and can KO Cloyster in response.

**Bulky Pokemon**: If Cloyser doesn't have Ice Gem, bulky Pokemon such as Gastrodon, Reuniclus, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory can take a hit and either KO or phase phaze it. However, Never-Melt Ice can still let it break through these threats should they have sustained the necessary prior damage.

**Rain Teams**: Rain teams in general give Cloyster a hard time. Politoed and Tentacruel can take Cloyster's hits even after a boost and hit it back with Scald or cripple it with status, Latios and Thundurus-T outspeed and OHKO it, and Keldeo can survive one boosted attack and can OHKO Cloyster.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Samu77, 525486]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ophion, 433215], [BluBirD252, 347088]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [name, id]