[OVERVIEW]
Clefable is best employed as an aggressive status spreader, capable of inflicting status on targets that the opponent might otherwise seek to preserve and thus potentially throwing their plans into disarray. It's able to do this thanks to its access to both Thunder Wave and Sing, coupled with STAB Normal attacks and respectable coverage, which are potent enough to threaten many Pokemon that might otherwise be used to limit the spread of status, such as Chansey and Alakazam. Its Speed is also an asset, being just enough to outpace numerous notable threats such as Exeggutor and Chansey. Furthermore, its movepool also holds a diverse array of options that give it the potential to surprise opponents and attempt to fill a wide variety of roles.
Unfortunately, attempting something isn't the same as succeeding, and Clefable fails at many roles it might otherwise fill, as it sports stats that are best described as disappointing. From an offensive standpoint, its attacking power falls well short of most other viable Normal types, while its coverage options are only really a threat if they're hitting a target super effectively. A far greater concern is that its lack of resistances coupled with merely decent defensive stats mean that it doesn't really have a substantial defensive niche. This means that it can be difficult to fit onto a team, and also difficult to find opportunities in the midst of a battle. These flaws are sufficient to ensure that it is a rare sight in RBY matches, and it's generally difficult to make use of, however if you actively seek out openings for it to come in and dish out damage and status it can most definitely be rewarding.
[SET]
name: Status Spreader
move 1: Mega Kick/Body Slam
move 2: Hyper Beam
move 3: Blizzard
move 4: Thunder Wave/Sing
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
The goal of this set is simple- spread status while also attempting to deal as much damage as possible if the opponent leaves in a pokemon already afflicted with status. Mega Kick is generally the preferred option for Clefable's STAB as it maximises Clefable's power and helps to compensate for its average Attack. Body Slam could also be used as more reliable alternative, however the loss in power is significant, and if you're already running Thunder Wave, then Body Slam's paralysis chance becomes a good deal less valuable. Hyper Beam is a powerful tool for finishing off weakened foes, dealing over 50% to Chansey and over 65% to Alakazam. Blizzard gives Clefable valuable coverage, 2HKOing Rhydon and Dragonite, while also dealing reasonable damage to other Ice-weak targets like Exeggutor and Zapdos. The last slot is dedicated to a status option, with Thunder Wave being the more reliable and consistent option, however if you want a sleep user, Sing can also be considered, but it is of course rather unreliable, which isn't ideal for a Pokemon that can sometimes struggle to find openings.
As a general principle, this set functions best when the opponent is attempting to block the spread of status with physically frail pokemon, such as Chansey and Alakazam, as Clefable's physical attacks can put them in an awkward position. As alluded to previously, Clefable is very rarely presented with obvious openings to enter play- generally the user must be vigilant for situations where it holds even a small advantage or where it can enter play with relatively low cost. Once in play, Clefable should generally be played aggressively- maximise the spread of status and deal as much damage as possible, even if it means taking damage or status in the process. Clefable's lack of a defensive niche can make it tough to fit into teams, however if you're opting for a paralysis-heavy strategy and want something that contributes to this while not really adding any weaknesses, then Clefable is worth considering- Thunder Wave obviously contributes to such a strategy, while if Clefable runs Sing, its ability to threaten common sleepblockers is also greatly appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Clefable has a fairly broad movepool, however it can struggle to effectively make use of it. It has access to Thunderbolt, which can be used to deal additional damage to Water types, however Clefable's special attacks are fairly weak if they're not hitting super effectively, meaning it has little use outside of that. It could be used in an all-out mixed attacker set, replacing Clefable's status option, but status is generally more valuable as it provides more support to Clefable's teammates while Clefable's bulk allows it to land status against a broad array of threats. Clefable also learns Reflect and Light Screen, with a Reflect set specifically being an intriguing option, but its bulk prior to setting up Reflect isn't the best, and it faces heavy competition from Snorlax in this role. Otherwise it can also try to use Sing and Thunder Wave on the same set, but doing so means that it either lacks coverage, or will struggle to finish off weakened status absorbers, as it would have to forgo Blizzard or Hyper Beam, as Mega Kick or Body Slam is too valuable to give up. Lastly, it could have some potential as a lead, as it is threatening to many Pokemon common early in the game and is an effective status spreader, however its matchups against some leads are dubious- Jynx can outspeed it and sleep it with Lovely Kiss, while Starmie's decent bulk and Recover mean that it may not be intimidated by Clefable, unless Clefable devotes a moveslot to Thunderbolt.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Gengar**: Gengar is a hard counter to Clefable, being immune to Normal attacks, and being able to easily shrug off Clefable's relatively weak special coverage options. The only caveat is that it loathes paralysis.
**Snorlax**: Snorlax's fantastic bulk ensures that Clefable's Mega Kick only manages a 4HKO, while if Clefable doesn't run Mega Kick, successive Blizzards followed by Hyper Beam will fail to 4HKO 70% of the time. Meanwhile, Snorlax can quickly chip down Clefable, and frequently runs Rest and Reflect to ensure it can remain healthy
**Cloyster, Slowbro and Lapras**: All three of these pokemon sport tremendous physical bulk and aren't fazed by Clefable's weak Blizzard. Cloyster and Slowbro also typically use Rest, which enables them to clear any paralysis and chip damage Clefable lands on them. In return, Lapras and Cloyster both deal tremendous damage thanks to STAB Blizzard, while Cloyster is also faster and able to immobilise Clefable with Clamp. Slowbro on the other hand, can in paralyse Clefable and then threaten to sweep with Amnesia. All three Pokemon would rather not deal with Thunderbolt variants though.
**Starmie**: Similar to Slowbro, Starmie sports decent physical bulk and can limit Clefable by paralysing it with Thunder Wave. Starmie isn't as ideal as a check though, as it's an extremely valuable paralysis target, and its physical bulk isn't quite as formidable as the aforementioned Water types.
**Articuno**: Articuno may be a rare sight, but its combination of great physical bulk and extremely powerful STAB means that it is a solid response to Clefable.
**Powerful revenge killers**: Although many pokemon that are typically effective revenge killers risk taking paralysis and a decent chunk of damage if they tangle with a healthy Clefable, once it's taken a reasonably powerful attack then faster pokemon with powerful STABs such as Alakazam and Tauros can feasibly pick it off
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ortheore, 196844]] 5/12/2020
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Clefable is best employed as an aggressive status spreader, capable of inflicting status on targets that the opponent might otherwise seek to preserve and thus potentially throwing their plans into disarray. It's able to do this thanks to its access to both Thunder Wave and Sing, coupled with STAB Normal attacks and respectable coverage, which are potent enough to threaten many Pokemon that might otherwise be used to limit the spread of status, such as Chansey and Alakazam. Its Speed is also an asset, being just enough to outpace numerous notable threats such as Exeggutor and Chansey. Furthermore, its movepool also holds a diverse array of options that give it the potential to surprise opponents and attempt to fill a wide variety of roles.
Unfortunately, attempting something isn't the same as succeeding, and Clefable fails at many roles it might otherwise fill, as it sports stats that are best described as disappointing. From an offensive standpoint, its attacking power falls well short of most other viable Normal types, while its coverage options are only really a threat if they're hitting a target super effectively. A far greater concern is that its lack of resistances coupled with merely decent defensive stats mean that it doesn't really have a substantial defensive niche. This means that it can be difficult to fit onto a team, and also difficult to find opportunities in the midst of a battle. These flaws are sufficient to ensure that it is a rare sight in RBY matches, and it's generally difficult to make use of, however if you actively seek out openings for it to come in and dish out damage and status it can most definitely be rewarding.
[SET]
name: Status Spreader
move 1: Mega Kick/Body Slam
move 2: Hyper Beam
move 3: Blizzard
move 4: Thunder Wave/Sing
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
The goal of this set is simple- spread status while also attempting to deal as much damage as possible if the opponent leaves in a pokemon already afflicted with status. Mega Kick is generally the preferred option for Clefable's STAB as it maximises Clefable's power and helps to compensate for its average Attack. Body Slam could also be used as more reliable alternative, however the loss in power is significant, and if you're already running Thunder Wave, then Body Slam's paralysis chance becomes a good deal less valuable. Hyper Beam is a powerful tool for finishing off weakened foes, dealing over 50% to Chansey and over 65% to Alakazam. Blizzard gives Clefable valuable coverage, 2HKOing Rhydon and Dragonite, while also dealing reasonable damage to other Ice-weak targets like Exeggutor and Zapdos. The last slot is dedicated to a status option, with Thunder Wave being the more reliable and consistent option, however if you want a sleep user, Sing can also be considered, but it is of course rather unreliable, which isn't ideal for a Pokemon that can sometimes struggle to find openings.
As a general principle, this set functions best when the opponent is attempting to block the spread of status with physically frail pokemon, such as Chansey and Alakazam, as Clefable's physical attacks can put them in an awkward position. As alluded to previously, Clefable is very rarely presented with obvious openings to enter play- generally the user must be vigilant for situations where it holds even a small advantage or where it can enter play with relatively low cost. Once in play, Clefable should generally be played aggressively- maximise the spread of status and deal as much damage as possible, even if it means taking damage or status in the process. Clefable's lack of a defensive niche can make it tough to fit into teams, however if you're opting for a paralysis-heavy strategy and want something that contributes to this while not really adding any weaknesses, then Clefable is worth considering- Thunder Wave obviously contributes to such a strategy, while if Clefable runs Sing, its ability to threaten common sleepblockers is also greatly appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Clefable has a fairly broad movepool, however it can struggle to effectively make use of it. It has access to Thunderbolt, which can be used to deal additional damage to Water types, however Clefable's special attacks are fairly weak if they're not hitting super effectively, meaning it has little use outside of that. It could be used in an all-out mixed attacker set, replacing Clefable's status option, but status is generally more valuable as it provides more support to Clefable's teammates while Clefable's bulk allows it to land status against a broad array of threats. Clefable also learns Reflect and Light Screen, with a Reflect set specifically being an intriguing option, but its bulk prior to setting up Reflect isn't the best, and it faces heavy competition from Snorlax in this role. Otherwise it can also try to use Sing and Thunder Wave on the same set, but doing so means that it either lacks coverage, or will struggle to finish off weakened status absorbers, as it would have to forgo Blizzard or Hyper Beam, as Mega Kick or Body Slam is too valuable to give up. Lastly, it could have some potential as a lead, as it is threatening to many Pokemon common early in the game and is an effective status spreader, however its matchups against some leads are dubious- Jynx can outspeed it and sleep it with Lovely Kiss, while Starmie's decent bulk and Recover mean that it may not be intimidated by Clefable, unless Clefable devotes a moveslot to Thunderbolt.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Gengar**: Gengar is a hard counter to Clefable, being immune to Normal attacks, and being able to easily shrug off Clefable's relatively weak special coverage options. The only caveat is that it loathes paralysis.
**Snorlax**: Snorlax's fantastic bulk ensures that Clefable's Mega Kick only manages a 4HKO, while if Clefable doesn't run Mega Kick, successive Blizzards followed by Hyper Beam will fail to 4HKO 70% of the time. Meanwhile, Snorlax can quickly chip down Clefable, and frequently runs Rest and Reflect to ensure it can remain healthy
**Cloyster, Slowbro and Lapras**: All three of these pokemon sport tremendous physical bulk and aren't fazed by Clefable's weak Blizzard. Cloyster and Slowbro also typically use Rest, which enables them to clear any paralysis and chip damage Clefable lands on them. In return, Lapras and Cloyster both deal tremendous damage thanks to STAB Blizzard, while Cloyster is also faster and able to immobilise Clefable with Clamp. Slowbro on the other hand, can in paralyse Clefable and then threaten to sweep with Amnesia. All three Pokemon would rather not deal with Thunderbolt variants though.
**Starmie**: Similar to Slowbro, Starmie sports decent physical bulk and can limit Clefable by paralysing it with Thunder Wave. Starmie isn't as ideal as a check though, as it's an extremely valuable paralysis target, and its physical bulk isn't quite as formidable as the aforementioned Water types.
**Articuno**: Articuno may be a rare sight, but its combination of great physical bulk and extremely powerful STAB means that it is a solid response to Clefable.
**Powerful revenge killers**: Although many pokemon that are typically effective revenge killers risk taking paralysis and a decent chunk of damage if they tangle with a healthy Clefable, once it's taken a reasonably powerful attack then faster pokemon with powerful STABs such as Alakazam and Tauros can feasibly pick it off
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ortheore, 196844]] 5/12/2020
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Last edited:
