[OVERVIEW]
Cloyster's niche resides in its ability to be an excellent entry hazard setter on offensive teams, with access to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes as well as one of the few viable Rapid Spin users in Ubers. Cloyster also has access to a solid Ice-type STAB attack in Icicle Spear and a great setup move in Shell Smash, allowing it to pressure common leads and Defog users such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Giratina-O. Cloyster works well as an anti-lead against Pokemon such as Excadrill, Scolipede, Deoxys-A, Arceus-Ground, and non-dual screens Deoxys-S, but it struggles against Smeargle and Mega Sableye, as it's not strong or fast enough to break them. Additionally, Cloyster's lackluster Special Defense stat coupled with a poor HP stat leaves it vulnerable to special attackers and means that it won't last long throughout the battle.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Lead
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Icicle Spear
move 4: Shell Smash
item: Focus Sash
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes is the best option as an entry hazard for Cloyster, as it wears down grounded Pokemon and weakens defensive Pokemon. Toxic Spikes is less consistent, as Mega Gengar is very present on offensive and balanced teams, and Alolan Muk and Steel-types are used on bulkier teams, but it has decent utility against offensive teams that run Mega Lucario or Mega Salamence instead of Gengar. Rapid Spin prevents opposing Pokemon from stacking entry hazards and grants Cloyster good hazard control, which lets teammates switch in safely. Icicle Spear is a very strong STAB attack that can break Focus Sashes and weaken opposing leads such as Excadrill, Deoxys-A, and Primal Groudon. Shell Smash boosts Cloyster's Attack and Speed stats, letting it outspeed the whole unboosted metagame with a Jolly nature and 2HKO most of the common threats with Icicle Spear.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Attack and Speed maximize Cloyster's damage output and offensive presence. Focus Sash ensures Cloyster survives at least one attack. Skill Link guarantees Cloyster five hits with Icicle Spear. A Jolly nature allows Cloyster to outspeed +2 Geomancy Xerneas, Deoxys-S, and Choice Scarf Yveltal after a Shell Smash; however, an Adamant nature can be used to maximize damage output, allowing Cloyster to OHKO Mega Gengar after Spikes damage, OHKO Ho-Oh at +2, and OHKO Swords Dance Arceus, Ferrothorn, and Geomancy Xerneas with a layer of Spikes at +2 most of the time.
Usage Tips
========
Cloyster should be used to stack entry hazards, so use it as a lead depending on the matchup. Use Icicle Spear to beat leads such as Excadrill, Scolipede, and Deoxys-A. Always try to preserve the Focus Sash, as Cloyster won't last long without it. Also, try to remove hazards from your side of the field with Rapid Spin. Set up one layer of Toxic Spikes against offensive teams, as one layer wears down offensive Pokemon faster, but try to set up two layers against balanced teams, since bad poison threatens more defensive Pokemon. Send Cloyster in against leads such as Excadrill, Scolipede, and Deoxys-A, as it can easily beat them. Use Shell Smash as soon as you can or click Icicle Spear on a predicted Taunt, but don't forget to prioritize setting up hazards over dealing damage. Avoid leading with Cloyster against Smeargle, Mega Sableye, and Taunt users such as Deoxys-S and send in your check for them instead; also avoid leading with Cloyster against Arceus-Water.
Team Options
========
Fast Taunt users such as Mega Gengar, Yveltal, Tapu Koko, Mega Aerodactyl, and Mewtwo can prevent support Arceus variants from removing entry hazards with Defog. Toxic Primal Groudon can also cripple support Arceus variants, wear them down, and set up Stealth Rock, whereas Swords Dance + Stealth Rock Primal Groudon and offensive Stealth Rock Primal Groudon can also pressure all the support Arceus variants other than Arceus-Ground. Dialga also works as a Stealth Rock user and check to support Arceus formes. Flying-types such as Mega Salamence and Rayquaza profit from Cloyster's ability to remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin as well as threaten Giratina-O and common Stealth Rock setters. In general, wallbreakers such as Mega Salamence, Xerneas, Mega Lucario, Life Orb Yveltal, and Rayquaza appreciate hazard stacking, as it weakens their common checks and allows them to perform decently. Lunala can back Cloyster up as a spinblocker and appreciates Cloyster's ability to remove hazards. Mega Gengar is also a good spinblocker, and its Hex set appreciates Toxic Spikes on the opponent's side. Arceus-Ghost is also a decent teammate, as it can prevent Rapid Spin and set up on support Arceus variants as well as threaten many balanced and offensive teams. Giratina-O is a good teammate that can block opposing Rapid Spin and take advantage of Toxic Spikes with Hex. Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy can easily deal with Mega Sableye, which can anti-lead Cloyster. Tapu Koko in particular can stop Smeargle and Arceus-Water. Other Taunt users can handle Smeargle even if Nuzzle's paralysis can be annoying.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Cloyster can only viably be a hazard lead, so it doesn't have many other options. Explosion allows Cloyster to deal heavy damage to bulky Water-types and prevent Defog from support Arceus after a Shell Smash, but it is not recommended, as Cloyster needs to drop either Rapid Spin or Icicle Spear. Cloyster can run Mental Herb instead of Focus Sash to not fall down against Taunt users, or Lum Berry to beat Mega Sableye and Smeargle.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Arceus-Water**: Arceus-Water can tank a +2 Icicle Spear without any problem, cripple Cloyster with Toxic, and use Defog to remove entry hazards.
**Anti-Leads**: Smeargle outspeeds Cloyster and can put it to sleep and set up its hazards while relying on a Ghost-type to spinblock Cloyster. Mega Sableye can reflect hazards thanks to Magic Bounce, burn Cloyster with Will-O-Wisp, and beat Cloyster easily with Foul Play if Cloyster tries to set up on it. Deoxys-S can be annoying if it packs both Taunt and dual screens, as it can set up screens without being afraid of Icicle Spear. Shuckle can cripple Cloyster with Toxic, is enough bulky to tank two Icicle Spears from unboosted Cloyster, and can use Encore to lock Cloyster into a move to set up its hazards more easily.
**Defog Users**: Defog users other than Giratina-O and Arceus-Ground, which are threatened a lot by Cloyster, can remove hazards with Defog, tank a +2 Icicle Spear, and OHKO Cloyster with Judgment.
**Strong Priority Users**: Bulky Swords Dance Arceus-Normal can set up on Cloyster, tank a +2 Icicle Spear, and KO Cloyster with Extreme Speed. Arceus-Ghost can spinblock Cloyster, set up on it easily, and threaten Cloyster with its STAB move and Extreme Speed.
**Special Attackers**: Due to its low Special Defense stat, Cloyster is 2HKOed by any neutral special attack. Fast special attackers such as Arceus-Dark, Xerneas, and Lunala have an easy time beating Cloyster.
**Steel-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Lucario, Magearna, and Solgaleo resist Cloyster's Icicle Spear and can beat it with their STAB attacks or set up on it.
Cloyster's niche resides in its ability to be an excellent entry hazard setter on offensive teams, with access to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes as well as one of the few viable Rapid Spin users in Ubers. Cloyster also has access to a solid Ice-type STAB attack in Icicle Spear and a great setup move in Shell Smash, allowing it to pressure common leads and Defog users such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Giratina-O. Cloyster works well as an anti-lead against Pokemon such as Excadrill, Scolipede, Deoxys-A, Arceus-Ground, and non-dual screens Deoxys-S, but it struggles against Smeargle and Mega Sableye, as it's not strong or fast enough to break them. Additionally, Cloyster's lackluster Special Defense stat coupled with a poor HP stat leaves it vulnerable to special attackers and means that it won't last long throughout the battle.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Lead
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Icicle Spear
move 4: Shell Smash
item: Focus Sash
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes is the best option as an entry hazard for Cloyster, as it wears down grounded Pokemon and weakens defensive Pokemon. Toxic Spikes is less consistent, as Mega Gengar is very present on offensive and balanced teams, and Alolan Muk and Steel-types are used on bulkier teams, but it has decent utility against offensive teams that run Mega Lucario or Mega Salamence instead of Gengar. Rapid Spin prevents opposing Pokemon from stacking entry hazards and grants Cloyster good hazard control, which lets teammates switch in safely. Icicle Spear is a very strong STAB attack that can break Focus Sashes and weaken opposing leads such as Excadrill, Deoxys-A, and Primal Groudon. Shell Smash boosts Cloyster's Attack and Speed stats, letting it outspeed the whole unboosted metagame with a Jolly nature and 2HKO most of the common threats with Icicle Spear.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Attack and Speed maximize Cloyster's damage output and offensive presence. Focus Sash ensures Cloyster survives at least one attack. Skill Link guarantees Cloyster five hits with Icicle Spear. A Jolly nature allows Cloyster to outspeed +2 Geomancy Xerneas, Deoxys-S, and Choice Scarf Yveltal after a Shell Smash; however, an Adamant nature can be used to maximize damage output, allowing Cloyster to OHKO Mega Gengar after Spikes damage, OHKO Ho-Oh at +2, and OHKO Swords Dance Arceus, Ferrothorn, and Geomancy Xerneas with a layer of Spikes at +2 most of the time.
Usage Tips
========
Cloyster should be used to stack entry hazards, so use it as a lead depending on the matchup. Use Icicle Spear to beat leads such as Excadrill, Scolipede, and Deoxys-A. Always try to preserve the Focus Sash, as Cloyster won't last long without it. Also, try to remove hazards from your side of the field with Rapid Spin. Set up one layer of Toxic Spikes against offensive teams, as one layer wears down offensive Pokemon faster, but try to set up two layers against balanced teams, since bad poison threatens more defensive Pokemon. Send Cloyster in against leads such as Excadrill, Scolipede, and Deoxys-A, as it can easily beat them. Use Shell Smash as soon as you can or click Icicle Spear on a predicted Taunt, but don't forget to prioritize setting up hazards over dealing damage. Avoid leading with Cloyster against Smeargle, Mega Sableye, and Taunt users such as Deoxys-S and send in your check for them instead; also avoid leading with Cloyster against Arceus-Water.
Team Options
========
Fast Taunt users such as Mega Gengar, Yveltal, Tapu Koko, Mega Aerodactyl, and Mewtwo can prevent support Arceus variants from removing entry hazards with Defog. Toxic Primal Groudon can also cripple support Arceus variants, wear them down, and set up Stealth Rock, whereas Swords Dance + Stealth Rock Primal Groudon and offensive Stealth Rock Primal Groudon can also pressure all the support Arceus variants other than Arceus-Ground. Dialga also works as a Stealth Rock user and check to support Arceus formes. Flying-types such as Mega Salamence and Rayquaza profit from Cloyster's ability to remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin as well as threaten Giratina-O and common Stealth Rock setters. In general, wallbreakers such as Mega Salamence, Xerneas, Mega Lucario, Life Orb Yveltal, and Rayquaza appreciate hazard stacking, as it weakens their common checks and allows them to perform decently. Lunala can back Cloyster up as a spinblocker and appreciates Cloyster's ability to remove hazards. Mega Gengar is also a good spinblocker, and its Hex set appreciates Toxic Spikes on the opponent's side. Arceus-Ghost is also a decent teammate, as it can prevent Rapid Spin and set up on support Arceus variants as well as threaten many balanced and offensive teams. Giratina-O is a good teammate that can block opposing Rapid Spin and take advantage of Toxic Spikes with Hex. Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy can easily deal with Mega Sableye, which can anti-lead Cloyster. Tapu Koko in particular can stop Smeargle and Arceus-Water. Other Taunt users can handle Smeargle even if Nuzzle's paralysis can be annoying.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Cloyster can only viably be a hazard lead, so it doesn't have many other options. Explosion allows Cloyster to deal heavy damage to bulky Water-types and prevent Defog from support Arceus after a Shell Smash, but it is not recommended, as Cloyster needs to drop either Rapid Spin or Icicle Spear. Cloyster can run Mental Herb instead of Focus Sash to not fall down against Taunt users, or Lum Berry to beat Mega Sableye and Smeargle.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Arceus-Water**: Arceus-Water can tank a +2 Icicle Spear without any problem, cripple Cloyster with Toxic, and use Defog to remove entry hazards.
**Anti-Leads**: Smeargle outspeeds Cloyster and can put it to sleep and set up its hazards while relying on a Ghost-type to spinblock Cloyster. Mega Sableye can reflect hazards thanks to Magic Bounce, burn Cloyster with Will-O-Wisp, and beat Cloyster easily with Foul Play if Cloyster tries to set up on it. Deoxys-S can be annoying if it packs both Taunt and dual screens, as it can set up screens without being afraid of Icicle Spear. Shuckle can cripple Cloyster with Toxic, is enough bulky to tank two Icicle Spears from unboosted Cloyster, and can use Encore to lock Cloyster into a move to set up its hazards more easily.
**Defog Users**: Defog users other than Giratina-O and Arceus-Ground, which are threatened a lot by Cloyster, can remove hazards with Defog, tank a +2 Icicle Spear, and OHKO Cloyster with Judgment.
**Strong Priority Users**: Bulky Swords Dance Arceus-Normal can set up on Cloyster, tank a +2 Icicle Spear, and KO Cloyster with Extreme Speed. Arceus-Ghost can spinblock Cloyster, set up on it easily, and threaten Cloyster with its STAB move and Extreme Speed.
**Special Attackers**: Due to its low Special Defense stat, Cloyster is 2HKOed by any neutral special attack. Fast special attackers such as Arceus-Dark, Xerneas, and Lunala have an easy time beating Cloyster.
**Steel-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Lucario, Magearna, and Solgaleo resist Cloyster's Icicle Spear and can beat it with their STAB attacks or set up on it.
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