Competitive Information for Cloyster [Black/White]
Water / Ice
Abilities:
This Pokemon is immune to damage from Sandstorm or Hail.
This Pokemon cannot be struck by a critical hit.
This Pokemon's multi-hit attacks always hit the maximum number of times.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Cloyster? These builds are optimized for Black/White Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Black/White metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Meet Cloyster, a top-notch Pokémon ready to dominate with its Water and Ice typing! Cloyster is a common Pokémon to see in the BW metagame. It is weak to Electric, Fighting, Grass, and Rock-typed attacks. Delve into Cloyster's movesets below and strategize for victory!
Item: Focus Sash / White Herb
Ability: Skill Link
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Shell Smash / Explosion
Cloyster makes an a spectacular Physical Sweeper in single battles. This strategy is built to take down the opponent's team with formidable physical power. White Herb will reset Cloyster's negative stat changes once (specifically for when it uses Shell Smash). Focus Sash helps protect Cloyster from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out (usually Shell Smash to boost Cloyster for the following turns). Cloyster's multi-hit attacks will always hit the max times with Skill Link. This boosts the amount of strikes from Icicle Spear and Rock Blast.
◆ Icicle Spear is a physical STAB-boosted 25-base power Ice-type move (hits 2-5 times in one turn).
◆ Rock Blast is a physical 25-base power Rock-type move (hits 2-5 times in one turn).
◆ Shell Smash is a status move (lowers def, spd by 1 stage; raises atk, spa, spe by 2 stages).
◆ Explosion is a physical 250-base power Normal-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Your Cloyster faints).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gaa5b
Item: King's Rock / Life Orb
Ability: Skill Link
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Icicle Spear / Icicle Crash
- Poison Jab / Double-Edge
- Rock Blast
- Razor Shell / Dive
Cloyster is a noteworthy Physical Sweeper to use for single battles. It's primary goal is to crush rivals using overwhelming physical power. King's Rock grants all attacking moves (that do not already have a chance to flinch) a 10% chance of causing each target to flinch. Life Orb boosts the power of Cloyster's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Cloyster's multi-hit attacks will always hit the max times with Skill Link. This boosts the amount of strikes from Icicle Spear and Rock Blast. Plus each hit has a chance to cause a flinch due to the King's Rock. Poison Jab was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Icicle Crash is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Ice-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Rock Blast is a physical 25-base power Rock-type move (hits 2-5 times in one turn).
◆ Razor Shell is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Water-type move (50% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
◆ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gba5b
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Shell Armor
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Ice Beam / Frost Breath
- Surf / Brine
- Signal Beam
- Hyper Beam / Round
Cloyster excels as a marvelous Special Sweeper during single battles. This moveset focuses to take down the opponent's team with brute special power. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Cloyster's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Cloyster's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Shell Armor, Cloyster cannot be struck by a critical hit.
◆ Frost Breath is a special STAB-boosted 40-base power Ice-type move (always results in a critical hit).
◆ Surf is a special STAB-boosted 95-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ Brine is a special STAB-boosted 65-base power Water-type move (power doubles if the target's hp is 50% or less).
◆ Signal Beam is a special 75-base power Bug-type move (10% chance to confuse the target).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Cloyster cannot move next turn).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gca5b
Item: White Herb
Ability: Skill Link
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Razor Shell / Hydro Pump
- Shell Smash
- Rock Blast
- Icicle Spear
In single battles, Cloyster is known as a superior Physical Sweeper. This moveset is tailored to overwhelm foes with brute physical attacks. White Herb will reset Cloyster's negative stat changes once (specifically for when it uses Shell Smash). Cloyster's multi-hit attacks will always hit the max times with Skill Link. This boosts the amount of strikes from Rock Blast and Icicle Spear. Cloyster's main set is one that can sweep most teams with ease; in fact, it's a liability to have a bulky Ground-type when your opponent has a Cloyster. This set is best used on an offensive team, where other sweepers can open up holes in defensive cores for Cloyster to take advantage of. Shell Smash is the crux of this set, doubling Cloyster's Attack, Special Attack, and Speed to threatening levels. Icicle Spear is the perfect move for Cloyster; because of Skill Link, it will always hit five times, effectively making it a 125 Base Power STAB move. Rock Blast offers great coverage with Icicle Spear, hitting Fire-, Water-, and Ice-types for at least neutral damage. In the last slot, either Hydro Pump or Razor Shell is acceptable. Hydro Pump is the preferred option for getting past Skarmory, Scizor, Forretress, and Metagross, since it hits their weaker Special Defense; however, Razor Shell will destroy Tyranitar and Heatran without fail, as they both commonly run specially defensive sets.
◆ Hydro Pump is a special STAB-boosted 120-base power Water-type move that deals a high amount of damage.
◆ Shell Smash is a status move (lowers def, spd by 1 stage; raises atk, spa, spe by 2 stages).
◆ Rock Blast is a physical 25-base power Rock-type move (hits 2-5 times in one turn).
◆ Icicle Spear is a physical STAB-boosted 25-base power Ice-type move (hits 2-5 times in one turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gda5b
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Skill Link
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 232 Atk / 20 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Razor Shell
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Rapid Spin
Cloyster thrives as a dazzling Physical Sweeper perfect for single battles. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with lethal physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Cloyster from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out (usually Shell Smash to boost Cloyster for the following turns). Cloyster's multi-hit attacks will always hit the max times with Skill Link. Try to Shell Smash first then DESTROY your opponent with Ice and Rocks.
◆ Shell Smash is a status move (lowers def, spd by 1 stage; raises atk, spa, spe by 2 stages).
◆ Icicle Spear is a physical STAB-boosted 25-base power Ice-type move (hits 2-5 times in one turn).
◆ Rapid Spin is a physical 20-base power Normal-type move (frees Cloyster from hazards, binding, leech seed).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gea5b
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Cloyster? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Black/White Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Black/White metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Item: King's Rock / Life Orb
Ability: Skill Link
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Icicle Spear / Icicle Crash
- Poison Jab / Double-Edge
- Rock Blast
- Razor Shell / Dive
Dominating double battles, Cloyster is a renowned Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to overwhelm foes with formidable physical power. King's Rock grants all attacking moves (that do not already have a chance to flinch) a 10% chance of causing each target to flinch. Life Orb boosts the power of Cloyster's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. Cloyster's multi-hit attacks will always hit the max times with Skill Link. This boosts the amount of strikes from Icicle Spear and Rock Blast. Plus each hit has a chance to cause a flinch due to the King's Rock. Poison Jab was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Icicle Crash is a physical STAB-boosted 85-base power Ice-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Rock Blast is a physical 25-base power Rock-type move (hits 2-5 times in one turn).
◆ Razor Shell is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Water-type move (50% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
◆ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/haa5b
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Shell Armor
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Brine
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Signal Beam
- Hyper Beam / Round
Ready for double battles? Cloyster is a terrific Special Sweeper. This build is crafted to crush rivals using forceful special power. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Cloyster's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Cloyster's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Shell Armor, Cloyster cannot be struck by a critical hit.
◆ Brine is a special STAB-boosted 65-base power Water-type move (power doubles if the target's hp is 50% or less).
◆ Icy Wind is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special STAB-boosted 95-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Signal Beam is a special 75-base power Bug-type move (10% chance to confuse the target).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Cloyster cannot move next turn).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hba5b
Movepool
Want to know what moves Cloyster can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Black/White generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Cloyster.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Cloyster can perform in Black/White. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive BW Move and Ability Combos for Cloyster
- Moves: Swagger + Screech
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Ability: Skill link + Item: King's rock
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Ability: Skill Link + Multihit Move: Icicle Spear
- Ability: Skill Link + Multihit Move: Spike Cannon
- Ability: Skill Link + Multihit Move: Rock Blast
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Ice Shard
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Cloyster's stats
- Barrier
- Iron Defense
- Rapid Spin
- Shell Smash
- Withdraw
Most notable and possible best moves for Cloyster
- Explosion
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Spear
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
- Razor Shell
- Rest
- Rock Blast
- Shell Smash
- Substitute
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Cloyster in Black and White
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/4/252/ )
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/4/0/0/252/ )
- Optimize Cloyster's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon Black and White
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.
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Here are the best movesets for Cloyster. Top rated Cloyster Black/White movesets. You can find Cloyster builds Black/White. Cloyster movesets Black/White are listed here. VGC Cloyster Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Cloyster in Black/White along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution