QC Checks: Minority, Hack, Fireburn
GP Checks: Haund
[OVERVIEW]
name: Hazard Lead
move 1: Spikes / Toxic Spikes
move 2: Shell Smash
move 3: Icicle Spear
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Focus Sash
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Other Options
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**Bulky Water-types**: Arceus-Water and Kyogre can tank any move Cloyster uses against them and 2HKO it back, with the former also being able to Defog away its hazards pretty easily.
**Special Attackers**: While Cloyster may have a good Defense stat, its poor HP and Special Defense leave it vulnerable to being 2HKOed by any neutral special attack. Faster special attackers such as Xerneas, Lunala, and Kyogre can therefore get rid of Cloyster easily.
**Steel-types**: While they don't prevent entry hazards from being set up, Steel-types such as Magearna, Solgaleo, and Lucario can tank Icicle Spear quite easily while setting up on Cloyster and KOing it with their respective neutral STAB moves.
GP Checks: Haund
[OVERVIEW]
- Excellent entry hazard setter thanks to its access to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, both of which can be very prominent in the tier due to the majority of the Pokemon being grounded. However, Gengar is now able to remove Toxic Spikes from the field without Mega Evolving, making it easier to deal with the hazard.
- It can use Shell Smash paired with Icicle Spear to pressure and beat opposing entry hazard leads such as Excadrill, Deoxys, and Scolipede.
- It has access to Rapid Spin to get rid of opposing hazards as well. Cloyster also has a niche in being able to weaken Giratina, which is a common spinblocker as well as a Defogger in the tier.
- It has low Special Defense and HP stats, which can leave it vulnerable to any special attackers and generally limit its use to a single turn.
name: Hazard Lead
move 1: Spikes / Toxic Spikes
move 2: Shell Smash
move 3: Icicle Spear
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Focus Sash
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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- Setting up Toxic Spikes or Spikes is Cloyster's main role so that it can provide good support for its teammates by gradually weakening the opposing team.
- Icicle Spear is an amazing 125-Base-Power STAB move Skill Link that can weaken opposing leads and hazard setters such as Groudon, Dialga, Deoxys, Excadrill, and Scolipede.
- Shell Smash increases Cloyster's offensive presence while allowing it to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame at +2 as well as common Choice Scarf users such as Lunala, Landorus-T, and Xerneas.
- Rapid Spin is a staple to prevent opposing Pokemon from setting up their own entry hazards and thus allowing its teammates to switch in more easily.
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- Focus Sash is needed to survive any hit to be able to set up at least a layer of hazards or use Shell Smash.
- Maximum Attack investment is used to increase its offensive presence and maximize damage dealt by Icicle Spear.
- Maximum Speed EVs with a Jolly nature is used to outpace the entire unboosted metagame after a Shell Smash boost.
- An Adamant nature can be used to favor its offensive presence.
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- Use Cloyster as a entry hazard setter. Try to wear down opposing suicide leads such as Deoxys, Excadrill, and Scolipede with Icicle Spear.
- Try to preserve its Focus Sash so that later on it can switch in to tank a hit and Rapid Spin away entry hazards on your side of the field. As Cloyster is very prone to special attacks, it needs its Focus Sash to guarantee a turn of survival.
- Use free turns to set up hazards or use Shell Smash, as at +2 Cloyster can 2HKO opposing Primal Groudon, Dialga, and Xerneas.
- Lead matchups with Cloyster should be played around carefully. Proper prediction should be used to take advantage of free turns to use Shell Smash and deal damage to opposing leads or hazard setters such as Excadrill, Scolipede, and Deoxys with STAB Icicle Spear.
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- Teammates that appreciates entry hazards gone such as Yveltal, Rayquaza, Ho-Oh, and Salamence so they do not need to take Stealth Rock damage make for good partners. Lunala also benefits from Cloyster's Rapid Spin support, as it can preserve its Shadow Shield.
- Hex users such as Gengar and Giratina-O can benefit from Toxic Spikes being present on the opposing side of the field enabling them to power off a powerful 130-Base-Power Hex.
- Ghost-types such as Giratina-O, Arceus-Ghost, and Lunala can act as spinblockers, preventing Rapid Spin from opposing Pokemon that aim to remove Toxic Spikes and Spikes set up by Cloyster.
Other Options
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- Cloyster does not have much free space in its moveslot to fit in other options, as its hazards control set is its best bet and niche in Ubers.
- Explosion could be used to deal some damage to bulky Water-types such as Arceus-Water and Kyogre.
- Ice Shard could also be an option to pick off weakened threats or to revenge kill Mega Salamence and Rayquaza.
- An Adamant nature over a Jolly one can be chosen if you prefer the increased the damage output of Icicle Spear but leaves Cloyster outsped by Deoxys-S, Choice Scarf Genesect, and Xerneas after a Geomancy at +2.
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**Bulky Water-types**: Arceus-Water and Kyogre can tank any move Cloyster uses against them and 2HKO it back, with the former also being able to Defog away its hazards pretty easily.
**Special Attackers**: While Cloyster may have a good Defense stat, its poor HP and Special Defense leave it vulnerable to being 2HKOed by any neutral special attack. Faster special attackers such as Xerneas, Lunala, and Kyogre can therefore get rid of Cloyster easily.
**Steel-types**: While they don't prevent entry hazards from being set up, Steel-types such as Magearna, Solgaleo, and Lucario can tank Icicle Spear quite easily while setting up on Cloyster and KOing it with their respective neutral STAB moves.
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