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4. Cloyster Analysis

With Shell Break, Cloyster´s role in the game completely shifts from a defensive tank into a huge offensive threat. While loosing a stage in defense and special defense, Cloyster gains a +2 boost in Attack and Speed (Special Attack isn´t too important for this set). Rock Blast and Icicle Spear coupled with Skill Link is what truely makes Cloyster terrifying. Icicle Spear, being STAB, is the equivalent of a 187.5 base power attack with 100% accuracy. Rock Blast comes in second with the equivalence of a 125 base power attack. Rock and Ice also have great type coverage, hitting every Pokemon, except Poliwrath and Empoleon, for super effective damage. Razor Shell is recommended in the last slot in order to hit Pokemon like Tyranitar and Heatran for super effective damage. Ice Shard is a viable option in order to get a hit on Pokemon with priority moves, notably OHKOing Breloom. Explosion is to go out with a bang, and a +2 Explosion will hurt almost anything that isn´t resistant to it.

Additional Comments

After a Shell Break, Cloyster reaches a humongous 634 Attack and 478 Speed with an Adamant Nature. If more speed is necessary to beat Scarfed Starmie and win the speed tie against Scarfed Gengar and Latios, then a Jolly nature can be used instead.

Cloyster has 3 main choices for its item. Life Orb is recommended in order to increase Cloyster´s devastating attack power. White Herb can be used in order to remove the negative defense drops after Shell Break. Focus Sash will guarantee that Cloyster is able to get up a Shell Break.

Damage Calculations by Bologo from Smogon

+2 Adamant LO Icicle Spear (25 BP STAB x 5 hits) vs.:

252/252 Impish Skarmory = 80.8% - 98.8% (OHKO with Rocks)

252/252 Impish Swampert = 89.1% - 106.4%

252/252 Impish Hippowdon = 145.2% - 173.8%

252/252 Relaxed Nattorei = 81% - 95.2%

252/252 Bold Cresselia = 67.6% - 81.1%

252/252 Impish Uxie = 80.5% - 94.6%

252/252 Impish Poliwrath = 46.9% - 54.7%

252/252 Impish Giratina = 119% - 142.9%

252/252 Impish Groudon = 136.1% - 163.4%

252/252 Bold Suicune = 37.1% - 44.6% (possible 2HKO with Rocks)

252/252 Impish Deoxys-D = 80.6% - 95.4%

0/0 Shanderaa = 97.7% - 114.9%

0/0 Kerudio = 78.9% - 92.9%

0/24 Empoleon = 40.6% - 48.7% (incredible considering it 4x resists)

4/0 Kyogre = 74.6% - 87.7%

Quote:

Originally posted by Aruinko

With a naive nature and 212 Speed, Cloyster outspeeds jolly Scarfchomp after Shell Break which is the highest used Scarf-Speed, is suggest.

With this split and item, it gets OHKOs on max SDef Skarm, bulky Swamp, max Def Blissey and others (think these examples are ´nuff said).

It loses the OHKO on Breloom, but gains perfect type coverage and is really only killed through fighting-prios caused by the speed-stat.

Rock Blast is important ´cause it´s Cloyster´s only reliable way to kill bulky waters (2HKO on vappy after Shell Break, but maybe more damage-output with Icicle Spear and Hydro Pump and a kill on Mach Punch Breloom (and Scarfchomp etc.) is better than a 2HKO on something that OHKOs in return).

This set basically is designed to take advantage of the fact that Shell break is essentially Swords Dance, Nasty Plot and Agility all in one move. Water/Ice/Rock has near perfect coverage, and Hydro Pump allows Cloyster to beat walls that it normally would struggle against. With a naive Nature and 216 EVs, Cloyster out speeds Jolly ScarfChomp, which is one of the faster Pokemon that Cloyster would be seeing, after a Shell Break. Hydro Pump with 44 spAtk EVs will OHKO max spDef Skarmory after Shell Break, which is a nice bonus. Icicle Spear is a great STAB move in general and couples well with Rock Blast and Skill Link. Rock blast is used in order to put a dent into Bulky Waters and hopefully into the 2HKO range. Ice Shard can be used instead for priority, which can be nice against some faster scarfed Pokemon, and to OHKO Breloom.

Additional Comments

A Naive Nature is chosen for this set due to Cloyster´s unsalvageable spDef. It should be noted that with only 216 Speed EVs, Cloyster will loose to Scarfed Latios and Starmie, two Pokemon that can come in and OHKO Cloyster.

While this set seems very similar to the offensive Shell Break set, the role that the two play are extreme different. While the Offensive set turns Cloyster into essentially a Glass Cannon, this Cloyster is designed so that it can actually survive against some big name threats, like Breloom´s Mach Punch, and either seriously dent or outright KO them. Shell Break and White Herb are a great combination, and allow Cloyster to obtain a Shell Break while negating the defensive drops. Icicle Spear is recommended if Cloyster is running Skill Link, since it allows Cloyster to have essentially a 187.5 Base Power Attack. If Cloyster is running Shell Armor, then Icicle Spear is a perfectly viable alternate, due to more reliability. Rock Blast is listed second due to its very good type coverage with Icicle Spear. Ice Shard is recommended in the last slot. While it seems unusual to use Ice Shard on a speed boosting Pokemon, Cloyster will lose to a lot of Scarfed Pokemon due to zero Speed investment. Ice Shard allows you to nail Pokemon like Scarfed Garchomp, Latios and Sazandora, and do some major damage to them. Razor Shell is listed second in order to hit Steel Pokemon for neutral damage. Explosion is to go out with a bang, and will put a nice dent into Pokemon that aren´t resistant to it.

Additional Comments

The first EV spread is to maximize Cloysters pitiful spDef in something somewhat respectable. With a Careful Nature and Max SpDef, Cloyster can actually survive Infernape´s Vacuum Wave with a respectable amount of health left and OHKO with Rock Blast. The other option is to completely maximize Cloyster´s Def to make Cloyster an insane physical tank, taking only 24-27% from Breloom´s Mach Punch.

Despite the added ability to become an awesome offensive threat, Cloyster can still decently pull off its original role as a Spiker/Spinner. Spikes is the best choice of entry hazard, as it reliably dents all grounded Pokemon. With Cloyster´s incredible bulk, its usually able to pull off at least one layer of Spikes if not two. Rapid Spin is listed second in order to remove entry hazards from your own side of the field. The third move slot is a toss up for an attacking move. Surf is listed first due to its reliability and nice type coverage. Icicle Spear is a viable alternate, and can still do a ton of damage when coupled with Skill Link. Rock Blast can be used so that Bulky Waters, mainly Jellicent, don´t completely wall you. The last move slot is a choice between more entry hazards or to go out with a bang. Toxic Spikes are listed first in order to increase the number of hazards on the opponent´s side of the field. Explosion is always an option on Cloyster, as it will do a serious chunk to your opponent if they aren´t resistant to it while giving you a free switch in.

Additional Comments

The EV spread allows Cloyster to survive neutral special hits with a respectable amount of damage left. The nature is dependent on Cloyster´s attacking move. Bold should be used with Surf while Impish with Rock Blast and Icicle Spear. Shell Armor is recommended so that Cloyster doesn´t fall on the off-chance of a critical hit, but Skill Link is viable with Icicle Spear or Rock Bast.

While outclassed by Pokemon like Omastar, Cloyster can run a special Shell Break set with a respectable special move pool and a decent 85 base spAtk. Shell Break is the key to this set, as it is essentially a Nasty Plot and Rock Polish all in one move. Surf is recommended in the second move slot due to its reliability, but Hydro Pump can be used in order to significantly increase Cloyster´s damage output. Ice Beam and HP Electric provide the beautiful Bolt/Beam coverage, which is the main reason to use this set.

Additional Comments

After Shell Break, with a Modest nature, Cloyster reaches a nice 590 spAtk and 448 speed. Timid can be used in order to increase Cloyster´s speed, though Cloyster will lose quite a bit of power in the process.

Life Orb is recommended in order to increase Cloyster´s damage output. White Herb is a viable alternate in order to allow Cloyster to survive a hit. Focus Sash guarantees that you will live at least one hit.