[OVERVIEW]
Clodsire, despite its low base stat total, has a niche in Ubers thanks to the large amount of role compression it offers. Along with Ting-Lu and Arceus-Ground, Clodsire is one of the main checks to Miraidon. Compared to them, Clodsire sports both reliable recovery and the ability to run an item. Thanks to Water Absorb, Clodsire is also a decent check to Kyogre, and due to its Poison typing, it can absorb and set Toxic Spikes. However, Clodsire certainly suffers from being a "jack of a trades, master of none"; its low bulk compared to other Miraidon checks leaves it having to use Recover more often than not, which can make it a large momentum drain. This low bulk leaves Clodsire reliant on Terastallization to check certain setup Miraidon and Kyogre sets. It also has a pathetic offensive presence, relying on Toxic alone to dissuade switch-ins. It's critical to use Clodsire for its great role compression to free up the rest of its teammates to gain more momentum.
[SET]
Special Wall (Clodsire) @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Steel / Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Spikes / Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Clodsire uses its decent special bulk to pivot in on Miraidon, Kyogre, or Eternatus and set up entry hazards. Toxic is Clodsire's best option to do any significant damage to switch-ins like Ho-Oh and Ting-Lu, and it allows Clodsire to check Kyogre more reliably. Spikes is Clodsire's most exclusive entry hazard option, but Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes are also valid choices, especially if it is paired with another entry hazard setter like Gliscor. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Clodsire avoid Spikes damage entirely. Leftovers is an option, as it provides Clodsire more longevity against teams whose only entry hazard options are Stealth Rocks or Toxic Spikes. Tera Steel and Fairy let Clodsire take on Miraidon's Dragon-type moves in a pinch while also making Kyogre's Ice Beam do pitiful damage to it. While Tera Fairy's immunity to Dragon can allow Clodsire to take more advantage of Miraidon on the turn it Terastallizes, Steel keeps Clodsire's Poison immunity and gives it a useful Ice resistance.
While Clodsire provides strong role compression, it works much better when given teammates that can help take the edge of off its worse matchups. A Fairy-type like Arceus-Fairy, Zacian-C, or Flutter Mane is highly recommended, as this allows for pivoting opportunities against Miraidon, forcing it to predict between its Dragon- and Electric-type moves. Furthermore, additonal Ground-types such as Arceus-Ground, Gliscor, and Iron Treads are much appreciated for their help against Miraidon. Switch-ins to Necrozma-DM and Gliscor are highly recommended, as both are immune to Toxic and don't care about Earthquake. Arceus-Water, Ho-Oh, and Arceus-Dark are good options against Necrozma-DM, while your own Necrozma-DM or Gliscor can help against opposing Gliscor. Corviknight notably is good against both. All of the aforementioned teammates greatly enjoy Clodsire's ability to pivot into Kyogre.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Poison Jab is an alternative to Toxic that can still inflict poison while being usable under Taunt. Mental Herb allows Clodsire to avoid Taunt, which is often used against it from Miraidon. Ideally, this will let Clodsire set up entry hazards early-game, but it comes at the risk of Clodsire being easily worn down by Spikes damage. Counter is a niche option that may catch physical attackers off guard. Unaware might seem tempting to use against boosting Miraidon, but it also means Draco Meteor remains full power against Clodsire. It also loses Clodsire's valuable matchup against Kyogre.
Checks and Counters
====
**Poison-immune Pokemon**: Clodsire's main way to threaten switch-ins is through Toxic, so Pokemon immune to Toxic can easily take advantage of it. Necrozma-DM and Gliscor are the most prominent examples, but other Pokemon such as Corviknight and Skarmory exist as well. Giratina-O may use Tera Steel on Clodsire to Defog on it with impunity.
**Taunt**: Without a Mental Herb, Clodsire is nearly completely shut down by Taunt. Commonly, Miraidon may use Taunt against Clodsire after it switches-in on Draco Meteor to prevent Recover, though this does put Miraidon at risk of being hit by Earthquake. Other Taunt users such as Arceus-Fairy have little to fear from Clodsire.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Outside of Toxic, Clodsire is heavily reliant on setting entry hazards to do damage long-term, so teams with many Heavy-Duty Boots users are problematic for it.
**Physical Attackers**: While Clodsire's physical bulk is not terrible, it is unable to take on the vast majority of the strong physical attackers in Ubers.
**Freeze**: Boosted Kyogre sets can break past Clodsire outright, but they cannot break a Terastalized Clodsire. Still, Kyogre may attempt to get past Clodsire by repeatedly using Ice Beam against it and hoping to freeze it.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/manaphy.50695/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Clodsire, despite its low base stat total, has a niche in Ubers thanks to the large amount of role compression it offers. Along with Ting-Lu and Arceus-Ground, Clodsire is one of the main checks to Miraidon. Compared to them, Clodsire sports both reliable recovery and the ability to run an item. Thanks to Water Absorb, Clodsire is also a decent check to Kyogre, and due to its Poison typing, it can absorb and set Toxic Spikes. However, Clodsire certainly suffers from being a "jack of a trades, master of none"; its low bulk compared to other Miraidon checks leaves it having to use Recover more often than not, which can make it a large momentum drain. This low bulk leaves Clodsire reliant on Terastallization to check certain setup Miraidon and Kyogre sets. It also has a pathetic offensive presence, relying on Toxic alone to dissuade switch-ins. It's critical to use Clodsire for its great role compression to free up the rest of its teammates to gain more momentum.
[SET]
Special Wall (Clodsire) @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Steel / Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Spikes / Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes
- Recover
[SET COMMENTS]
Clodsire uses its decent special bulk to pivot in on Miraidon, Kyogre, or Eternatus and set up entry hazards. Toxic is Clodsire's best option to do any significant damage to switch-ins like Ho-Oh and Ting-Lu, and it allows Clodsire to check Kyogre more reliably. Spikes is Clodsire's most exclusive entry hazard option, but Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes are also valid choices, especially if it is paired with another entry hazard setter like Gliscor. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Clodsire avoid Spikes damage entirely. Leftovers is an option, as it provides Clodsire more longevity against teams whose only entry hazard options are Stealth Rocks or Toxic Spikes. Tera Steel and Fairy let Clodsire take on Miraidon's Dragon-type moves in a pinch while also making Kyogre's Ice Beam do pitiful damage to it. While Tera Fairy's immunity to Dragon can allow Clodsire to take more advantage of Miraidon on the turn it Terastallizes, Steel keeps Clodsire's Poison immunity and gives it a useful Ice resistance.
While Clodsire provides strong role compression, it works much better when given teammates that can help take the edge of off its worse matchups. A Fairy-type like Arceus-Fairy, Zacian-C, or Flutter Mane is highly recommended, as this allows for pivoting opportunities against Miraidon, forcing it to predict between its Dragon- and Electric-type moves. Furthermore, additonal Ground-types such as Arceus-Ground, Gliscor, and Iron Treads are much appreciated for their help against Miraidon. Switch-ins to Necrozma-DM and Gliscor are highly recommended, as both are immune to Toxic and don't care about Earthquake. Arceus-Water, Ho-Oh, and Arceus-Dark are good options against Necrozma-DM, while your own Necrozma-DM or Gliscor can help against opposing Gliscor. Corviknight notably is good against both. All of the aforementioned teammates greatly enjoy Clodsire's ability to pivot into Kyogre.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Poison Jab is an alternative to Toxic that can still inflict poison while being usable under Taunt. Mental Herb allows Clodsire to avoid Taunt, which is often used against it from Miraidon. Ideally, this will let Clodsire set up entry hazards early-game, but it comes at the risk of Clodsire being easily worn down by Spikes damage. Counter is a niche option that may catch physical attackers off guard. Unaware might seem tempting to use against boosting Miraidon, but it also means Draco Meteor remains full power against Clodsire. It also loses Clodsire's valuable matchup against Kyogre.
Checks and Counters
====
**Poison-immune Pokemon**: Clodsire's main way to threaten switch-ins is through Toxic, so Pokemon immune to Toxic can easily take advantage of it. Necrozma-DM and Gliscor are the most prominent examples, but other Pokemon such as Corviknight and Skarmory exist as well. Giratina-O may use Tera Steel on Clodsire to Defog on it with impunity.
**Taunt**: Without a Mental Herb, Clodsire is nearly completely shut down by Taunt. Commonly, Miraidon may use Taunt against Clodsire after it switches-in on Draco Meteor to prevent Recover, though this does put Miraidon at risk of being hit by Earthquake. Other Taunt users such as Arceus-Fairy have little to fear from Clodsire.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Outside of Toxic, Clodsire is heavily reliant on setting entry hazards to do damage long-term, so teams with many Heavy-Duty Boots users are problematic for it.
**Physical Attackers**: While Clodsire's physical bulk is not terrible, it is unable to take on the vast majority of the strong physical attackers in Ubers.
**Freeze**: Boosted Kyogre sets can break past Clodsire outright, but they cannot break a Terastalized Clodsire. Still, Kyogre may attempt to get past Clodsire by repeatedly using Ice Beam against it and hoping to freeze it.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/manaphy.50695/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
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