[SET]
Cloyster @ White Herb / Focus Sash
Name: Shell Smash Sweeper (Ice)
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature / Naive Nature
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Ice Shard / Hydro Pump
[SET COMMENTS]
Cloyster is one of Ice's best setup sweepers thanks to its access to Shell Smash in addition to its high Defense stat, which gives it opportunity to set up on the tier's physical attackers like Garchomp, Iron Treads, and Ceruledge. Icicle Spear targets opposing Flying-, Ground- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Tornadus-T, Clodsire, and Dragapult while breaking Focus Sash on Pokemon such as Breloom. Rock Blast benefits from Skill Link and threatens Fire-types like Ceruledge after a boost and other Ice-type Pokemon like Kyurem. Ice Shard is useful for revenge killing faster Choice Scarf Pokemon that are weakened like Spectrier, Meowscarada, and Roaring Moon. Hydro Pump is the alternative in order to not be walled by opposing Steel-types like Gholdengo and Forretress. It is also beneficial for threatening Heatran and Volcarona, both of which are a significant issue to Ice teams, as well as Torkoal and Ninetales, easing the Fire matchup. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows +2 Cloyster to outspeed Choice Scarf users such as Walking Wake and Great Tusk; a Naive nature with the remaining 4 EVs going into Special Attack should be used if opting for Hydro Pump to not reduce its damage. Skill Link is the best ability to run on Cloyster since it guarantees Icicle Spear and Rock Blast hit 5 times. White Herb is Cloyster's preferred item, as it is able to offset the Defense drops of Shell Smash, which makes Cloyster harder to revenge kill. Focus Sash is the alternative to always guarantee one turn of setup from full health, but it is less preferred since Cloyster is harder to OHKO under snow or Aurora Veil.
Cloyster's best partner on Ice is Alolan Ninetales. Alolan Ninetales allows Cloyster to have an easier time to set up thanks to it setting snow, which, combined with Aurora Veil, allows it to set up on Pokemon that can usually threaten it out like offensive Great Tusk and Cinderace. Alolan Ninetales also has Encore support to force uncomfortable switches, thus granting Cloyster an easier entry, as well as handling Unaware Pokemon Quagsire and Dondozo with its STAB Freeze Dry. Cloyster is able to threaten Fire's weather setters Ninetales and Torkoal after a boost, which benefits Alolan Ninetales, as it can come back in to reset the weather for its teammates. Cloyster also appreciates Kyurem as an offensive partner, as Choice Specs sets are able to weaken its defensive checks like Toxapex and Archaludon. Mamoswine is an excellent partner for Cloyster, as not only can it provide entry hazard support in the form of Stealth Rock, but it can also remove items from opposing defensive staples such as Corviknight and Toxapex. Alolan Sandslash can use Rapid Spin to remove entry hazards, making Cloyster much more difficult to KO. Additionally, Alolan Sandslash also gets Knock Off, and can also remove items from defensive staples. Avalugg can also support Cloyster with its Rapid Spin to remove hazards, so Cloyster can come in easier and set up. Avalugg is also able to handle Cloyster's offensive checks like Great Tusk under snow. Froslass is Ice's only viable option for Spikes, which Cloyster appreciates, as defensive Pokemon like Hatterene and Iron Hands aren't able to check it properly after a boost. Additionally, Froslass can hinder opposing threats with Thunder Wave, allowing Cloyster to outspeed Choice Scarfers that are faster than it even with a Shell Smash boost, such as Roaring Moon and Unburden Sneasler.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice
-----------
Ice Beam is an alternative option, useful for hitting Archaludon without massively boosting its defense, Skarmory, and Hippowdon after its Eject Button has been consumed.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/royalreloaded.246753/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/boomp.637295/
Grammar checked by:
Cloyster @ White Herb / Focus Sash
Name: Shell Smash Sweeper (Ice)
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature / Naive Nature
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Ice Shard / Hydro Pump
[SET COMMENTS]
Cloyster is one of Ice's best setup sweepers thanks to its access to Shell Smash in addition to its high Defense stat, which gives it opportunity to set up on the tier's physical attackers like Garchomp, Iron Treads, and Ceruledge. Icicle Spear targets opposing Flying-, Ground- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Tornadus-T, Clodsire, and Dragapult while breaking Focus Sash on Pokemon such as Breloom. Rock Blast benefits from Skill Link and threatens Fire-types like Ceruledge after a boost and other Ice-type Pokemon like Kyurem. Ice Shard is useful for revenge killing faster Choice Scarf Pokemon that are weakened like Spectrier, Meowscarada, and Roaring Moon. Hydro Pump is the alternative in order to not be walled by opposing Steel-types like Gholdengo and Forretress. It is also beneficial for threatening Heatran and Volcarona, both of which are a significant issue to Ice teams, as well as Torkoal and Ninetales, easing the Fire matchup. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows +2 Cloyster to outspeed Choice Scarf users such as Walking Wake and Great Tusk; a Naive nature with the remaining 4 EVs going into Special Attack should be used if opting for Hydro Pump to not reduce its damage. Skill Link is the best ability to run on Cloyster since it guarantees Icicle Spear and Rock Blast hit 5 times. White Herb is Cloyster's preferred item, as it is able to offset the Defense drops of Shell Smash, which makes Cloyster harder to revenge kill. Focus Sash is the alternative to always guarantee one turn of setup from full health, but it is less preferred since Cloyster is harder to OHKO under snow or Aurora Veil.
Cloyster's best partner on Ice is Alolan Ninetales. Alolan Ninetales allows Cloyster to have an easier time to set up thanks to it setting snow, which, combined with Aurora Veil, allows it to set up on Pokemon that can usually threaten it out like offensive Great Tusk and Cinderace. Alolan Ninetales also has Encore support to force uncomfortable switches, thus granting Cloyster an easier entry, as well as handling Unaware Pokemon Quagsire and Dondozo with its STAB Freeze Dry. Cloyster is able to threaten Fire's weather setters Ninetales and Torkoal after a boost, which benefits Alolan Ninetales, as it can come back in to reset the weather for its teammates. Cloyster also appreciates Kyurem as an offensive partner, as Choice Specs sets are able to weaken its defensive checks like Toxapex and Archaludon. Mamoswine is an excellent partner for Cloyster, as not only can it provide entry hazard support in the form of Stealth Rock, but it can also remove items from opposing defensive staples such as Corviknight and Toxapex. Alolan Sandslash can use Rapid Spin to remove entry hazards, making Cloyster much more difficult to KO. Additionally, Alolan Sandslash also gets Knock Off, and can also remove items from defensive staples. Avalugg can also support Cloyster with its Rapid Spin to remove hazards, so Cloyster can come in easier and set up. Avalugg is also able to handle Cloyster's offensive checks like Great Tusk under snow. Froslass is Ice's only viable option for Spikes, which Cloyster appreciates, as defensive Pokemon like Hatterene and Iron Hands aren't able to check it properly after a boost. Additionally, Froslass can hinder opposing threats with Thunder Wave, allowing Cloyster to outspeed Choice Scarfers that are faster than it even with a Shell Smash boost, such as Roaring Moon and Unburden Sneasler.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice
-----------
Ice Beam is an alternative option, useful for hitting Archaludon without massively boosting its defense, Skarmory, and Hippowdon after its Eject Button has been consumed.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/royalreloaded.246753/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/boomp.637295/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
