move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Soft-Boiled
move 4: Stealth Rock / Seismic Toss / Aromatherapy
item: Black Sludge / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Unaware
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Clefable is an incredible specially defensive wall that can check a wide array of special attackers and setup threats, such as Volcarona and Tornadus-T, due to its nice bulk, ability in Unaware, and reliable recovery options. With Knock Off and Toxic, Clefable can cripple various opposing threats, and it utilizes an amazing defensive typing with only one weakness. Clefable can be used as a dedicated Stealth Rock setter, since it can annoy common Defog users such as Tornadus-T, Mew, and Salamence by statusing them and removing important items such as Heavy-Duty Boots via Knock Off. Seismic Toss is a more consistent damaging option that lets Clefable effectively wear down opposing threats that either resist Knock Off or are immune to Toxic such as Cresselia, Latias, and opposing Clefable. Aromatherapy is another option that enables Clefable to cure itself and its teammates from status, which can be crucial on more defensive teams. Black Sludge provides Clefable with passive recovery, which can enable it to better survive hits from stronger threats such as Fleur Cannon Magearna and Choice Specs Tapu Lele. Heavy-Duty Boots is an alternative item option that enables Clefable to switch in more proficiently without needing to take entry hazard damage.
Clefable appreciates teammates that can handle physically offensive threats such as Landorus-T, Pheromosa, and Lycanroc-D. Thus, partners such as Mew, Slowbro, and Landorus-T all make great choices. Mew and Landorus-T in particular can provide Clefable with entry hazard support, enabling it to wear down targets more quickly in tandem with Knock Off + Toxic. Offensive teammates such as Tornadus-T, Garchomp, and Rillaboom also pair well with Clefable, as Clefable can help wear down their checks and enable them to break through the opposing team more easily. Entry hazard removal is also crucial for Clefable due to its susceptibility to both Stealth Rock and Spikes if it does not run Heavy-Duty Boots. Partners such as Latias, Defog Mew, and Avalugg all pair well with Clefable in this regard.
name: Offensive Setup
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Thunderbolt / Flamethrower
move 3: Soft-Boiled
move 4: Calm Mind
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Offensive Clefable is geared to act as a wincon that can terrorize common defensive cores thanks to its incredible STAB coverage and ability to forego passive damage thanks to Magic Guard, which makes it difficult to stop once it begins to set up. Thunderbolt compliments Moonblast well by targeting threats that resist Fairy like Steel / Flying Mew, Water / Poison Latias, and Fire / Flying Tornadus-T. Flamethrower can be used as a secondary STAB option over Thunderbolt, enabling Clefable to target checks such as Ferrothorn and Steel / Ground Garchomp. Life Orb boosts Clefable's power without the drawback of recoil thanks to its ability. As Calm Mind already boosts Clefable's Special Defense, a Bold nature and investment in HP and Defense enable it to sponge as many physical moves as possible.
Thunderbolt Clefable struggles against specially defensive walls like Ferrothorn, Steel / Ground Kommo-o, and Assault Vest Galarian Slowking. Thus, partners such as Swords Dance Garchomp, Lycanroc-D, and Heracross all make amazing teammates. Flamethrower Clefable struggles with Steel / Ground Pokemon immune to Fire-type attacks such as Coalossal and Heatran; thus, partners that can threaten them out like Landorus, Pheromosa, and Water / Dragon Hydreigon are very valuable additions alongside it. Due to the more offensive nature of this set, backup defensive pivots such as Mew, Blissey, and Buzzwole are much appreciated to keep opposing wallbreakers such as Haxorus and Melmetal in check. Clefable also appreciates entry hazard support from the likes of Ferrothorn, Kommo-o, and Landorus-T to help wear down switch-ins more easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Wish can be used in the last slot on Unaware Clefable in order to heal its teammates . Teleport can also be run on Unaware Clefable to provide pivoting to Clefable's teammates, allowing offensive wallbreakers to come in more safely. Clefable can choose to run an alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe with a Bold nature in order to outspeed threats such as Conkeldurr, Rhyperior and Melmetal; however, this does hamper Clefable's ability to take physical hits somewhat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Threats such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Ground / Flying Mew, and Water / Ground Salamence are immune to Thunderbolt and can all hit Clefable super effectively with their strong physical Ground-type STAB attacks, potentially OHKOing it in the majority of cases. However, none of the aforementioned threats easily switch in into offensive Clefable's Fairy-type STAB.
**Physical Attackers**: Strong physical wallbreakers such as Landorus-T, Lycanroc-D, Urshifu, and Dracovish can all heavily threaten Clefable. Lycanroc-D and Urshifu in particular can usually switch into Unaware Clefable quite safely and threaten to heavily dent it in return, though both struggle to break offensive Clefable.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Although they cannot do that much in return, walls such as opposing Unaware Clefable, Chansey, and Assault Vest Galarian Slowking can take on Magic Guard Clefable's boosted attacks and pivot into powerful breakers that can threaten it in return.
**Poison- and Steel-Types**: Poison- and Steel-types have ample opportunity to switch in via Unaware Clefable's Toxic or offensive Clefable's Moonblast. Those that resist Knock Off such as Steel / Fighting Melmetal, Dark / Poison Toxapex, and Dark / Poison Tornadus-T do particularly well against Unaware Clefable, while Poison / Electric Latias and Steel / Ground Melmetal are able to switch into offensive sets safely.
**Opposing Calm Mind Sweepers**: Calm Mind users such as Electric / Poison Latias, Cresselia, and Magearna can boost alongside Clefable and potentially outdamage it and beat it one-on-one.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Yubellia, 530438]]
- Quality checked by: [[In The Hills, 324242], [a loser, 410702]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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