So Noisy
sehna padega thoda
[OVERVIEW]
* Cloyster is one of the primary suicide leads in the tier thanks to its access to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes and Rapid Spin, making it suitable for certain offensive builds.
* It also has a decent matchup against other dedicated leads such as Deoxys-S and Excadrill due to Skill Link-boosted Icicle Spear being a 125-Base Power move breaking their Focus Sash.
* Cloyster tends to struggle against certain entry hazard control Pokemon such as Arceus-Water, which does not care about its Ice-type STAB Icicle Spear and can proceed to Defog away the hazards, and Mega Sableye, which can bounce back hazards, burn Cloyster with Will-O-Wisp and block its Rapid Spin. Also, Taunt users such as Mega Gengar and Yveltal prevent Cloyster from getting up hazards, although both of them have to be wary of Icicle Spear.
* Cloyster has low special bulk, making it really weak to special attacks and attackers and thus a one-time use Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Entry 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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* Spikes and Toxic Spikes help wear down the opponent's team, helping teammates to sweep. Toxic Spikes is less consistent, as it does not affect Steel-types such as Magearna, Ferrothorn, and Necrozma-DM. It also gets absorbed by Poison-types such as Mega Gengar and Toxapex but tends to be better against other offensive teams.
* Shell Smash allows Cloyster to not be passive, boosting its Attack and Speed to let it outspeed the entire unboosted metagame with a Jolly nature and do heavy damage to Pokemon that do not resist STAB Icicle Spear.
* STAB Icicle Spear paired with Skill Link always results in five hits, thus breaking Focus Sash and helping to weaken the opponent's team as much as possible.
* Rapid Spin gives entry hazard control to the team, allowing teammates to be brought in safely.
Set Details
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* Maximum investment in Speed and Attack is used for maximum offensive presence. With a Jolly nature, +2 Cloyster outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame and notable Pokemon like +1 Adamant Mega Salamence, Deoxys-S, +2 standard Geomancy Xerneas, Choice Scarf Xerneas, and +2 standard Rock Polish Primal Groudon.
* An Adamant nature can also be used, as Cloyster will have a high chance to OHKO standard offensive Ho-Oh and Giratina and a higher damage output against Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Celesteela. Even though standard Geomancy Xerneas outspeeds Adamant Cloyster, +2 Icicle Spear OHKOes it after a layer of Spikes. Adamant Cloyster also OHKOes Mega Gengar with an unboosted Icicle Spear after a layer of Spikes.
Usage Tips
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* Since Cloyster is a dedicated lead, getting up entry hazards should be the main priority.
* Try to preserve Focus Sash, as it can come in clutch later.
* Use Shell Smash and Icicle Spear to pressure opposing hazard setters to prevent them from getting hazards up, to do as much damage as possible before going down, and to punish a predicted use of Defog or switch to a bulkier Pokemon.
* Although weakening the opponent's team is great, spinning away hazards is more important.
* Lead against Pokemon such as Deoxys-S and Excadrill, since Cloyster can beat them with Icicle Spear and spin their hazards away.
* Avoid leading with Cloyster versus bad matchups such as against Mega Sableye, Smeargle, and support Arceus formes, especially Arceus-Water and Arceus-Dark, as some sets use Will-O-Wisp.
* Getting only one layer of Toxic Spikes is more helpful versus offensive teams, since the games are quite fast paced and the constant 12% damage is preferred rather than the increasing damage over time with two layers, but against balance builds, two layers are better, as being badly poisoned is more threatening to defensive Pokemon.
Team Options
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* Cloyster is a dedicated entry hazard lead; hence, it only fits on hyper offensive builds.
* Taunt users such as Mega Gengar, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Yveltal make excellent teammates for Cloyster, as they prevent the hazards from getting removed. They also help against Smeargle, although they can be crippled by Nuzzle.
* Spinblockers such as Marshadow, Mega Gengar, Lunala, and Arceus-Ghost make great teammates for a similar reason. Lunala especially appreciates Cloyster's Rapid Spin support because of its Shadow Shield. Mega Gengar appreciates Toxic Spikes, since it can then run Hex more effectively.
* Stealth Rock users such as Arceus-Fairy and Primal Groudon are helpful to Cloyster. Primal Groudon is especially useful, as it can pressure Pokemon Cloyster has trouble with such as support Arceus formes and Necrozma-DM.
* Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy make decent teammates, as they can anti-lead against Mega Sableye and pressure Defoggers like Mega Salamence and Giratina. Arceus-Fairy is a great partner because it can also get Stealth Rock up. Xerneas appreciates the Spikes support, as it helps wear Pokemon like Necrozma-DM and Primal Groudon down.
* Pokemon weak to hazards such as Mega Salamence, Yveltal, and Rayquaza appreciate Cloyster removing hazards for them.
* Since Cloyster is decent at getting hazards up, strong wallbreakers and late-game cleaners such as Rock Polish Primal Groudon, Dragon Dance Mega Salamence, Double Dance Necrozma-DM, Dragon Dance Zygarde, Geomancy Xerneas, Marshadow, and Calm Mind Arceus-Flying are used alongside it, as they all appreciate their checks getting worn down.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
* Explosion can be used over Rapid Spin for maintaining momentum and preventing Defog. It also prevents Cloyster from being setup bait for Necrozma-DM.
* Ice Shard can also be used as an emergency check to Mega Salamence and Rayquaza, but Cloyster does not have a moveslot for it.
* Spikes and Toxic Spikes can be run on the same set by forgoing Rapid Spin, but this is not advised, as Cloyster is usually the only form of hazard control for its team.
* Lum Berry can be used over Focus Sash to help Cloyster deal with Mega Sableye and Smeargle.
Checks and Counters
========
**Arceus-Water**: Arceus-Water is a hard stop to Cloyster, as it does not mind taking even boosted Icicle Spears, always beats Cloyster with Toxic or the rare Will-O-Wisp, and can use Defog to get rid of Cloyster's entry hazards.
**Support Arceus Formes**: All support Arceus formes except Arceus-Ground act as Cloyster checks. They threaten Cloyster with Judgment and Toxic, can Defog away its hazards, and can take a +2 Icicle Spear if needed. Arceus-Dark can also burn Cloyster with Will-O-Wisp, rendering it useless.
**Anti-Leads**: Smeargle's higher Speed allows it to use Spore before Cloyster can move and proceed to set up its own hazards. Shuckle's natural bulk means that it can take two Icicle Spears, can Encore Cloyster into a move, and get its own hazards up. Mega Sableye does not care about Cloyster, as it can bounce back the hazards, take a boosted Icicle Spear, and burn Cloyster with Will-O-Wisp. It can also use Foul Play if Cloyster decides to set up on it. Both Choice Band Tyranitar and Dragon Dance Mega Tyranitar can OHKO Cloyster with the combination of Stone Edge and Sand Stream. Even though Mega Kangaskhan is very rare, it deserves a mention, as it can stop Cloyster from doing anything with the combination of Fake Out and Seismic Toss.
**Special Attackers**: Cloyster has terrible special bulk and gets 2HKOed by basically any neutral special move.
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon such as defensive Primal Kyogre and Toxapex take minimal damage even from a boosted Icicle Spear and can beat Cloyster.
**Steel-types**: Steel types such as Necrozma-DM, Mega Lucario, and Magearna resist Icicle Spear and can proceed to set up on Cloyster or beat it.
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