Claydol (SS) | Hohou's Home | Competitive Movesets

Competitive Pokemon Sword/Shield Movesets and Strategies for Claydol

Base Stats for Claydol

Ground / Psychic

Abilities:

Evolutions / Family:
Baltoy
Claydol

Weakness Chart for Ground/Psychic-type:

Bug

Dark

Dragon

Electric

Fairy

Fighting

Fire

Flying

Ghost

2x

0x

0.5x

2x

Grass

Ground

Ice

Normal

Poison

Psychic

Rock

Steel

Water

2x

0.5x

2x

¼x

½x

2x

4x

Movesets for Singles

What is a good competitive moveset for Claydol? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.

Common team mates for Claydol in Pokemon Sword/Shield:

TogekissVenusaurTorkoalHattereneLiepardGastrodonExcadrillTyranitarArcanineRotom-Heat

Claydol is an astounding Ground and Psychic-typed Pokemon. It's frequent to see Claydol show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. Claydol is weak to Bug, Dark, Ghost, Grass, Ice, and Water-typed attacks.

Species: Claydol
Item: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Drill Run
- Double-Edge / Strength
- Zen Headbutt
- Rock Slide / Rock Tomb

Physical Sweeper Claydol (Levitate)

Claydol is a sensational Physical Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Claydol's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Levitate, Claydol is immune to ground; gravity/ingrain/smack down/iron ball nullify it.

♦ Earthquake is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Drill Run is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Ground-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Strength is a physical 80-base power Normal-type move that deals a mighty amount of damage.
♦ Zen Headbutt is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Rock Tomb is a physical 60-base power Rock-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).

Species: Claydol
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Psychic / Extrasensory
- Earth Power / Scorching Sands
- Ice Beam
- Dazzling Gleam

Special Sweeper Claydol (Levitate)

Claydol is an astounding Special Sweeper. It tries to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Claydol's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Claydol's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Levitate, Claydol is immune to ground; gravity/ingrain/smack down/iron ball nullify it.

♦ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Extrasensory is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Earth Power is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Scorching Sands is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Ground-type move (30% chance to burn the target. thaws target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Dazzling Gleam is a special 80-base power Fairy-type move (no additional effect. hits adjacent foes).

Species: Claydol
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spe)
EVs: 210 Hp / 56 Def / 244 SpA
Moveset:
- Earth Power
- Power Trick
- Psychic
- Ice Beam

Claydol Special Tank (Cosmic Clay)

Claydol is a sensational Special Tank. It's primary goal is to take a hefty amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Claydol last longer regaining it's life every turn. With Levitate, Claydol is immune to ground; gravity/ingrain/smack down/iron ball nullify it.

♦ Earth Power is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Power Trick is a status move (switches Claydol's attack and defense stats).
♦ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).

Species: Claydol
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 52 Def / 176 SpA / 28 SpD
Moveset:
- Earth Power
- Cosmic Power
- Psychic
- Toxic

Claydol Special Tank (Tootsie Pops )

Claydol is a pretty decent Special Tank. It is primarily designed to take a decent amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Claydol last longer regaining it's health points every turn. With Levitate, Claydol is immune to ground; gravity/ingrain/smack down/iron ball nullify it.

♦ Earth Power is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Cosmic Power is a status move (raises your Claydol's defense and special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Toxic is a status move (badly poisons the target; Note: Poison types can't miss with Toxic).

Movesets for Doubles

What is a good doubles moveset for Claydol? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.

Common team mates for Claydol in Pokemon Sword/Shield:

TogekissVenusaurTorkoalHattereneLiepardGastrodonExcadrillTyranitarArcanineRotom-Heat

Species: Claydol
Item: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Drill Run
- Rock Slide / Rock Tomb
- Double-Edge / Strength
- Zen Headbutt

Doubles Physical Sweeper Claydol (Levitate)

Claydol is an awesome Physical Sweeper. It's meant to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Claydol's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Levitate, Claydol is immune to ground; gravity/ingrain/smack down/iron ball nullify it.

♦ Earthquake is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Drill Run is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Ground-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Rock Tomb is a physical 60-base power Rock-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Strength is a physical 80-base power Normal-type move that deals a nice amount of damage.
♦ Zen Headbutt is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).

Species: Claydol
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic / Extrasensory
- Earth Power / Scorching Sands
- Ice Beam

Doubles Special Sweeper Claydol (Levitate)

Claydol is an interesting Special Sweeper. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Claydol's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Claydol's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Levitate, Claydol is immune to ground; gravity/ingrain/smack down/iron ball nullify it.

♦ Dazzling Gleam is a special 80-base power Fairy-type move (no additional effect. hits adjacent foes).
♦ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Extrasensory is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Earth Power is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Scorching Sands is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Ground-type move (30% chance to burn the target. thaws target).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).

Species: Claydol
Item: Weakness Policy
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Docile
EVs: 252 Hp / 188 Def / 68 SpD
Moveset:
- Scorching Sands
- Harden
- Substitute
- Trick Room

Defensive Trick Room Claydol (Levitate)

Claydol is a marvelous Defensive Trick Room. Weakness Policy activates if Claydol is hit by a super effective move. The Weakness Policy is consumed and its Attack and Special Attack are increased by two stages each. With Levitate, Claydol is immune to ground; gravity/ingrain/smack down/iron ball nullify it.

♦ Scorching Sands is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Ground-type move (30% chance to burn the target. thaws target).
♦ Harden is a status move (raises your Claydol's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Substitute is a status move (Claydol takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
♦ Trick Room is a status move (goes last. for 5 turns, turn order is reversed).

Movepool

Wondering what moves can Claydol learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.

Combo List

These are a list of several common move combinations Claydol can perform in Sword/Shield. 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 SS Move and Ability Combos for Claydol

Moves: Sunny Day + Solar Beam
Moves: Mimic + Imprison
Moves: Swagger + Psych Up
Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
Moves: Stored Power + Psych Up
Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Magic Coat, Ally Switch

Optimize Claydol's EVs for Sword/Shield

Competitive Information for Claydol [Sword/Shield]