**art is my own**
Cloyster's unique access to Spikes, Shell Smash, Skill Link, and Icicle Spear allows it to act as a potentially fearsome wallbreaker or sweeper that can bypass Substitute and Sturdy as well as pressuring rival entry hazard setters such as Nidoqueen and Rhyperior while being able to set up hazards itself. Thanks to its enormous Defense and use of Focus Sash, Cloyster is almost guaranteed to set up either Shell Smash or one layer of Spikes. While those attributes sound incredibly appealing in RU's more offensive metagame, keep in mind that Cloyster lacks coverage to hit common Steel-types such as Registeel, Metagross, and Bronzong super effectively. Cloyster's Defense is amazing, but its Special Defense combined with its relatively low unboosted Speed usually leaves it threatened out by Pokemon like Roserade, Raikou, Gardevoir, and Mega Sceptile prior to boosting. Its bad defensive typing also leaves it vulnerable to all entry hazards, especially Stealth Rock, and Fighting-types like Machamp, Toxicroak, and Bewear. It also has to be cautious of Taunt from Pokemon such as Mandibuzz, Houndoom, and Vanilluxe, which stops it from setting up Spikes or boosting with Shell Smash, making it much less dangerous. Cloyster is also shut down by status conditions, cutting its sweep short. Even if Cloyster does set up, it is easily shut down by priority moves such as Bullet Punch from Machamp and Accelerock from Lycanroc-D. Cloyster faces a lot of competition for a spot on a team. As a physically offensive Water-type, it has to compete against Barbaracle and Feraligatr because both of them have a stronger offensive presence before boosting and are better at pressuring Steel-types. As a Spikes setter, Roserade and Golisopod are arguably more appealing because Roserade is faster, applies immediate offensive pressure without having to set up, and has all the tools it needs to pressure entry hazard removers, while Cloyster usually has to resort to Explosion, and Golisopod does not have Cloyster's Fighting weakness, can pressure Steel-types with Liquidation, has priority in Aqua Jet and First Impression, and can pivot with Emergency Exit.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Icicle Spear
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Explosion / Rapid Spin
item: Focus Sash
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash can turn Cloyster into a potentially threatening offensive force, as it boosts Attack and Speed by two stages. Skill Link-boosted Icicle Spear is effectively a 125-Base Power STAB move that can break Raikou's Substitute, Donphan's Sturdy, and Froslass's Focus Sash. Spikes helps Cloyster's teammates sweep thanks to the residual damage it provides. Explosion gives Cloyster a way of dealing with bulky Water-types that wall Icicle Spear such as Mega Blastoise, Milotic, and Golisopod. It also can be used to stop spinners such as Mega Blastoise, Forretress, and Adamant Tsareena from removing the Spikes it sets up. Rapid Spin can be used instead to remove entry hazards from Cloyster's side of the battlefield but makes it much more vulnerable to bulky Water-types.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment is used so Cloyster can be as strong and fast as possible, especially after it boosts with Shell Smash. A Jolly nature allows Cloyster to outpace Guts Machamp and Bewear before it sets up Shell Smash. After it has used Shell Smash, Cloyster can outspeed common Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Shaymin. An Adamant nature can be used instead for extra power after boosting with Shell Smash, but this usually isn't recommended because Cloyster is in a crowded Speed tier when unboosted. Adamant Cloyster also fails to outpace Choice Scarf Shaymin and Flygon. Skill Link guarantees Icicle Spear will hit five times, turning it into an effective tool to break Focus Sash, Sturdy, and Substitute. A Focus Sash allows Cloyster to survive one powerful hit so it can set up Spikes or Shell Smash.
Usage Tips
========
Cloyster can safely set up Shell Smash thanks to its enormous Defense and Focus Sash so it can pressure entry hazard setters and Taunt users like Mandibuzz. It can wallbreak or set up Spikes early on as a lead, but it can also be preserved for later to clean up. Cloyster should be played aggressively and switch directly into opposing hazard setters such as Necrozma, Rhyperior, and Nidoqueen to preserve its Focus Sash as they set up their hazards and use its Focus Sash to either set up Spikes itself or use Shell Smash so it can deal as much damage as possible. If Cloyster has used its Focus Sash and the opponent brings in a Pokemon that resists Icicle Spear such as Milotic, Snorlax, or Mega Blastoise, then it can use Explosion to dent that Pokemon or even KO it. Explosion should also be used against a spinner like Mega Blastoise or Tsareena to stop them from removing the Spikes Cloyster sets up.
Team Options
========
Cloyster's ability to pressure entry hazard setters is appreciated by Pokemon that are vulnerable to Stealth Rock such as Arcanine, Noivern, and Salazzle. These Pokemon also help Cloyster beat Steel-type Pokemon that it cannot break. Necrozma, Gardevoir, and Slowbro can also be good partners, as they have better matchups against the common Machamp and other Fighting-type leads so Cloyster can set up Spikes later. Pokemon like Mandibuzz and Espeon can help deter entry hazards with Taunt and Magic Bounce to make it easier for Cloyster to sweep late-game. Mandibuzz can also use Taunt to stop Defoggers like Mantine and Florges from removing hazards. Mismagius and Alolan Marowak can spinblock for Cloyster, as it's important to keep Cloyster's Spikes up. These two also pressure common Steel-types such as Registeel, Metagross, and Bronzong. Stealth Rock setters like Necrozma, Rhyperior, and Nidoqueen can stack hazards with Cloyster. If Cloyster is running Rapid Spin, then partners like Ninetales, Salazzle, and Yanmega appreciate Cloyster's ability to remove hazards itself. If Cloyster is used early-game to set up Spikes, late-game setup sweepers and wallbreakers such as Zygarde-10%, Arcanine, Raikou, Metagross, and Feraligatr will appreciate the Spikes support to help them net important KOs.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An all-out offensive set with Shell Smash / Icicle Spear / Hydro Pump / Explosion and Normalium Z makes Cloyster even more threatening late-game, especially when its checks and counters are softened or KOed. However, this set has some competition with Barbaracle; while Cloyster is better at luring Water-types, has a Ground neutrality, and can set up against physically offensive Pokemon, Barbaracle is the overall better option because of its more immediate offensive pressure and ability to deal super effective damage to Steel-types. Cloyster can also set up Toxic Spikes, since it can pressure Defoggers like Mandibuzz and Florges and beat Pokemon that can absorb them such as Nidoqueen and Drapion, but it is useless against Steel-types such as Metagross and Bronzong. Ice Shard is a good option to pressure Roserade, Timid Nidoqueen, and Virizion, but Cloyster can set up to beat these Pokemon anyway. Skill Link Rock Blast is an interesting option that can deal with Pokemon that resist Icicle Spear such as Arcanine, Ninetales, and Snorlax, but Explosion already does a considerable amount of damage to these Pokemon. Cloyster can also utilize Choice Scarf to provide role compression of a Spikes setter with speed control, as well as netting a surprise KO with Explosion against Pokemon like Raikou and Ninetales. However, it fails to outspeed other Choice Scarf Pokemon like Shaymin, and it is noticeably weaker without a boost from Shell Smash.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Cloyster has issues breaking Steel-types such as Metagross, Registeel, and Bronzong because it only runs Icicle Spear and Explosion.
**Grass-types**: Pokemon like Mega Sceptile, Roserade, Shaymin, and Virizion can apply immediate pressure against Cloyster and force it out of the battle. However, none of them want to come in when it sets up Shell Smash or uses Icicle Spear or even the rare Ice Shard.
**Fighting-types**: Cloyster's Ice typing leaves it vulnerable to Pokemon such as Machamp, Toxicroak, and Bewear before it can boost with Shell Smash. After it has boosted, these Pokemon need to be wary about switching directly into it.
**Bulky Water-type Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Milotic, Slowbro, and Mega Blastoise can easily take on Cloyster's Icicle Spear. However, none of them want to come in on Explosion, as it can severely dent or even OHKO them after a Shell Smash boost.
**Special Attackers**: Pokemon such as Raikou, Gardevoir, and Necrozma target Cloyster's weaker Special Defense stat to potentially knock it out, especially if Cloyster goes for Spikes instead of Shell Smash against them.
**Priority Moves**: After Cloyster has activated Focus Sash, it becomes vulnerable to priority moves such as Zygarde-10%'s Extreme Speed, Machamp's Bullet Punch, and Lycanroc-D's Accelerock.
**Status Conditions**: Toxic can stop Cloyster from setting up entry hazards or wallbreaking and breaks its Focus Sash, severely limiting what it can do. Cloyster getting burned or paralyzed makes it lose a lot of offensive presence.
**Taunt** Because Cloyster is not very fast, it is very vulnerable to being shut down by Taunt users such as Vanilluxe, Houndoom, and Noivern. These Pokemon also easily beat Cloyster with their powerful special moves, especially if its Focus Sash has been broken prior. However, none of these Pokemon want to directly switch into any of Cloyster's moves, especially if it has boosted with Shell Smash.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[JustoonSmitts, 239732]]
- Quality checked by: [[roman, 396169], [CryoGyro, 331519], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
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