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Cloyster - Best Moveset & Build

Cloyster - Best Moveset & Build | Pokemon Sword Shield

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Find out how to breed Cloyster in Pokemon Sword and Shield! Learn about the best competitive Cloyster movesets, best builds, best nature, counters and the breeding process!!!

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Cloyster Best Moveset & Build

Cloyster
Total Base Stats525
Type water Icon Ice Icon

Standard Shell Smash Build

Best NatureBest Item
Adamant (Atk.↑ / Sp. Atk↓)Focus Sash
Best Ability
Skill Link

Multi-hitting moves always hit the maximum number of times.
Best Moveset
Shell Smash / Rock Blast / Icicle Spear / Liquidation
▼Check Move Info Here
Best EV Spread
Attack 252, Speed 252, HP 4

Devastating Shell Smash User

When a Cloyster uses Shell Smash, its defensive stats will be drastically lowered, so there's no need for additional investment there - place all your EVs in Speed & Attack. The remainder should go in HP.

Skill Link Deals Massive Damage

The ability Skill Link allows moves like Icicle Spear and Rock Blast to hit the maximum 5 times every time. This means that Icicle Spear has an effective power of 125 (before STAB!). Multi-attack moves are particularly strong against Substitute and Mimikyu's Disguise.

Use a Focus Sash or Lum Berry

The two main options for Cloyster are the Focus Sash, to prevent being one shot, and the Lum Berry, which causes it cure a status condition. This can be useful for clearing Paralysis or a Burn.

Consider King's Rock vs Tanks

If you're seeing a lot of tanks in the meta, a King's Rock might be a good alternative item. Since flinch chance is calculated on every individual hit, you'll effectively have a 40% chance of causing a flinch using Icicle Spear or Rock Blast. If you get one flinch, you should be able to finish them off the next turn (assuming Shell Smash buffs).

Watch Out For Sandstorm If Using Focus Sash

Sandstorm will deal damage at the end of the turn, potentially finishing off your Cloyster that just survived thanks to a Focus Sash. Be careful when facing Pokemon that might Dynamax and use Max Rockfall.

Use A Different Nature For Hydro Pump

When dealing with physical tanks, Hydro Pump is a good ability to have due to its high damage output. If you run Hydro Pump, make sure to change your nature to one that doesn't lower Sp. Atk!

Other NaturesNaughty (Atk↑ / Sp.Def↓)
Naive (Speed↑ / Sp.Def↓)

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Cloyster - Best Moves

Standard Shell Smash Build

Recommended Moves

Move/TypeReason
Icicle Spear
Ice Icon
Hits 2-5 times (always 5 with Skill Link). Must have.
Rock Blast
Rock Icon
Hits 2-5 times (always 5 with Skill Link). Good coverage move.
Liquidation
water Icon
Strong STAB water move. useful to have vs Rock types.
Shell Smash
status icon
Lowers Defense and Sp.Def by 1 stage, but increases Atk, Sp.Atk, and Speed by 2 stages. A must on all builds.

Other Viable Moves

Move/TypeReason
Hydro Pump
water Icon
Alternative to Liquidation, useful vs. physical tanks that stack defense.

Cloyster - Best Items to Hold

ItemTraits
Focus SashSurvive with 1 HP if a move would otherwise one-hit you. Useful since Shell Smash drops your defenses.
Lum BerryCures a status condition. Useful for preventing a burn or paralysis to keep your sweep going.
Check Out Battle Item Locations Here!

Cloyster - Base Nature And EVs

Cloyster - Recommended Natures

NatureTraits
AdamantAtk↑ / Sp.Atk↓
Focus on increasing your speed so that you can knock off your opponent's items first.
JollySpeed↑ / Sp.Atk↓
Focuses on dealing more damage and being a greater threat.
NaughtyAtk↑ / Sp.Def↓
For variants running Hydro Pump.
NaiveSpeed↑ / Sp.Def↓
For variants running Hydro Pump.

Which Nature Would You Recommend?

Recommended Base Point (EV) Allocation

Physical Attacker Cloyster

StatBase Point
Attack252 points (max)
Speed252 points (max)
HP4 points

Cloyster doesn't need EVs in Defenses, since they'll be dropped by Shell Smash anyway. Focus on Attack, Speed, and HP.

Cloyster Counters

Recommended Pokemon To Counter Cloyster

PokemonExplanation
Wash Rotom IconWash Rotom Pros
- Electric moves are super effective
- Resists Water and Ice moves
Cons
- Can't switch easily if Cloyster has Shell Smashed already
Ferrothorn IconFerrothorn Pros
- High defensive stats
- Can boost defenses with Curse
- Power whip can one shot
Cons
- Loses to King's Rock builds
Tyranitar IconTyranitar Pros
- Rock moves are super effective
- Can summon a Sandstorm and deal with Focus Sash
Cons
- Weak to Water moves
Excadrill IconExcadrill Pros
- Rock moves are super effective
- Can summon a Sandstorm and deal with Focus Sash
Cons
- Weak to Water moves
CorviknightCorviknightPros
- Can survive with Iron Defense
- Max Steelspike can do damage and boost defense at the same time
Cons
- Can't outsustain Hydro Pump

How To Play Against Cloyster

Use Rock Moves

Cloyster's rock weakness is one of the best ways to take it out. Dynamaxing and using Max Rockfall will summon a Sandstorm and take it out if its using a Focus Sash. Just be careful for Liquidation and Hydro Pump.

Burn or Paralyze It

Using Thunder Wave or Will-o-Wisp is a good way to shut down Cloyster. However, some variants run a Lum Berry, which will cure a status condition, so be careful.

Use A Priority Move

Cloyster becomes very frail after Shell Smash, so priorit moves are effective at finishing it off (especially if is hanging on at 1 life due to a Focus Sash).

Cloyster - Competitive Breeding Process

Breeding Process Flow Chart

1Catch a Shellder in East Lake Axewell (in the grass or fishing)
2Hatch Eggs until you get a High IV Shellder
3Breed that Shellder until you get one with an Adamant Nature and the Skill Link ability.
4Put 252 EVs in Attack and Speed
5Max out its Dynamax Level
6Teach it Shell Smash, Icicle Spear, Rock Blast, and Liquidation
7Equip a Focus Sash
>> Check Out Our Breeding Guide For More Info!

Competitive Breeding Related Articles

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