http://www.smogon.com/bw/pokemon/cloyster
 
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Icicle Spear
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Spikes / Toxic Spikes
move 4: Surf / Ice Shard
ability: Skill Link
nature: Relaxed/Impish
item: Leftovers
evs: 248 HP / 84 Atk / 176 Def
 
[SET COMMENTS]
 
<p>While Cloyster is normally 
known used as a Shell Smasher, it has a unique niche defensively as well. This set focuses on 
abusing its base 180 Defense and utility moves in a similar way 
to as Forretress, but in exchange for a less useful defensive typing you gain 
a significant amount of significantly more attacking 
utility capability. STAB Icicle Spear takes out threats such as Dragonite, Substitute Gliscor, and Sturdy Level 1 Aron.</p>
 
<p>Icicle Spear remains the biggest selling point of Cloyster as it is with Shell Smash, having STAB 
Icicle Spear and with Skill Link with it makes up for the lack of resistances. Rapid Spin may seem like an ineffective choice when Cloyster is affected by all entry hazards and 2x weak to Stealth Rock, but it often finds opportunities to spin hazards away
 while against a physically attacking Tank
 is setting them, and against offensive teams you can spin against nearly any physical attacker. Spikes or Toxic Spikes should be used 
for softening to soften up the opponents team and 
for a useful move to use 
while when a bulky Ghost-type switches in
(comma) but using both is inadvisable. Cloyster fills its niche more effectively with another attacking move and will certainly not have 
enough the opportunity to set up both hazards. Surf is a good secondary STAB move to broaden coverage against Steel-
types, and Fire-types
, and while hitting Mamoswine 
harder. Ice Shard is also useful to pick up a possible KO
s on Gengar and to revenge 
kill threats such as Dragons and Landorus.</p>
 
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
 
Here are a few calculations to show just how bulky Cloyster is on the physical side.
 
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>+1 Adamant Dragonite Outrage vs. Cloyster 52.8-62.7%</li>
<li>Jolly Terrakion Close Combat- 63.4-75.2%</li>
<li>Jolly Life Orb Terrakion Close Combat- 81.8-97%</li>
<li>Adamant Breloom Focus Punch- 87.1-103%</li>
<li>Ferrothorn Power Whip- 39.6-47.5%</li>
<li>Specially Defensive Tyranitar Superpower- 36.3-42.9%</li>
</ul>
 
<p>The EV spread gives Cloyster a jump point in Defense and allows it to 
gain obtain few notable KOes. Assuming you have Stealth Rock 
damage and hail on the field 
mention something about how to EV Cloyster when not using a Hail team, Icicle Spear will OHKO Gengar, 2HKO standard Gastrodon, and 3HKO standard Ferrothorn. 16 SpD EVs 
can be used to guarantee survival from a guarantees that Cloyster will survive Dragon Pulse from unboosted 4 SpA EVs Latias.</p>
 
<p>On sun teams, Hidden Power Fire is an excellent secondary attacking move; it is the ideal attack against Steel-types such as 
bulky Swords Dance all Scizor are steel types Scizor, Skarmory, and Forretress. Rain gives Surf more power, but Tentacruel and Starmie are usually better choices
 in this case for rain teams. Rock Blast can make further use of Skill Link, hitting pokemon such as Gyarados and Volcarona hard
er. Razor Shell may replace Surf as a secondary STAB move but it doesn’t hit physically bulky Steel-types such as Skarmory and Forretress as hard. Lastly, Clamp or Whirlpool can be used to prevent direct switching which may help keep momentum in your favor. However, the popularity of “Volt-Turn” tactics makes these moves less 
useful viable.</p>
 
<p>To maximize Cloyster's utility, it should be used only on hail, sun or weatherless teams as sand and rain teams are better off using other Rapid Spinners. The main thing to remember when fitting this Cloyster into a team is that a resisted Surf
 is about as much of a threat as threatening to Cloyster as a 
super effective Close Combat; 
in other words, you can’t rely on Cloyster
’s weak special resistances to check special attackers at all. Nidoqueen is an excellent defensive partner who not only covers 3 of Cloyster's weaknesses, but also absorbs Toxic Spikes, 
allowing giving Cloyster more switch in opportunities. Latias and Celebi are also ideal partners for Cloyster, 
covering they cover 3 of its weaknesses, 
sponging sponge special attacks which Cloyster can't take, and 
taking take advantage of 
the Cloyster's Ice-type resist in return.</p>
 
<p>Function-wise, Abomasnow and Ninetails are great partners, 
either giving the former gives Cloyster the advantage of Leftovers recovery in a metagame 
which that lacks Ice-types, 
or allowing while the latter allows HP Fire to be used as a solid secondary attack. A spinblocker is a good teammate to help preserve Cloyster’s hazards. Jellicent is generally the best option because it boasts more resistances than other defensive Ghost-types, which is very important considering Cloyster only resists Water- and Ice-type moves. Lastly, an alternate spinner, Prankster Taunt, or even Magic Coat user 
will can be useful because Deoxys-S has become an incredibly common hazard lead and has no problem killing Cloyster with Psycho Boost 
or Thunderbolt.</p>