I haven't used Cloyster extensively (read as ever) but I think it's vastly under-explored. I've been running some calcs and I see a ton of potential. So much so that I think D-rank may actually be underselling it. Shell Smash is the fifth biggest mistake in Pokemon history (after Moody, Smeargle, Glare, and Evasion). The only thing I want to change on Skarph's set is adding a single slash:
Cloyster @ Focus Sash / Lum Berry
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Rapid Spin / Spikes / Liquidation
Lum Berry allows Cloyster to extirpate any status-spamming, no-skill-having-ass Smeargle and stupid-ass Light Ball Deoxys-Speed, as well as setting up on lazy-ass Glare Zygarde ("I don't have an ice-resist. Might as well Glare and win 1v1"). This set once killed three of my mons on webs because Smeargle tried to para Cloyster, Lum activated as he Smashed, and I had one priority user in the back. Cloyster has enough phys def to be obnoxious to take down, even at -1:
- 252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Sunsteel Strike vs. -1 0 HP / 4 Def Cloyster: 186-219 (77.1 - 90.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- 252 Atk Life Orb Technician Marshadow Shadow Sneak vs. -1 0 HP / 4 Def Cloyster: 110-133 (45.6 - 55.1%) -- 53.5% chance to 2HKO
- 252+ Atk Life Orb Rayquaza-Mega Extreme Speed vs. -1 0 HP / 4 Def Cloyster: 143-169 (59.3 - 70.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Given that Cloyster is going to thrive in HO versus HO/BP matchups, let's take a look at some of these leads:
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Smeargle
Cloyster goes for Smash/Spear turn 1 versus Smeargle to force the 50-50 Hazard/Taunt and Lum allows Cloyster to beat status 100% of the time (at least until Smeargle gets evasion turn 1 and dodges every attack).
- 252 Atk Cloyster Icicle Spear (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Smeargle: 365-435 (116.2 - 138.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
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Deoxys-Speed
As previously mentioned in other posts, Cloyster Spears/Smashes turn 1 and spams Spin/Spear.
- 252 Atk Cloyster Icicle Spear (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Deoxys-Speed: 180-215 (59.2 - 70.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
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Excadrill
Cloyster wins any form of the turn 1 matchup versus Exca (Tomb/Smash, Rocks/Smash).
- +2 252 Atk Cloyster Icicle Spear (5 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Excadrill: 500-590 (138.5 - 163.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
- 252 Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Rock Tomb vs. -1 0 HP / 4 Def Cloyster: 122-144 (50.6 - 59.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
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Shuckle
Cloyster gets a 50-50 versus Shuckle and at worst forces Shuckle out by continuing to Smash after Encore.
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Mega Rayquaza
Cloyster even beats MRay lead most of the time, barring Band (your opponent shouldn't be risking Ray versus Sash) or Mixed (your opponent is bad):
- 252+ Atk Life Orb Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Cloyster: 212-251 (87.9 - 104.1%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
- 252 Atk Cloyster Icicle Spear (5 hits) vs. -1 0 HP / 0 Def Rayquaza-Mega in Strong Winds: 510-600 (145.2 - 170.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Only HO lead Lum Cloyster loses to is Trick Room and
anti-lead Arc:
- 0 SpA Pixie Plate Arceus-Fairy Judgment vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Cloyster: 282-333 (117 - 138.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Cloyster even beats BP by Smashing on
Scolipede's Sub, then Smashing again on Protect/Pass to Smeargle:
- +4 252 Atk Cloyster Icicle Spear (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Scolipede: 380-455 (117.2 - 140.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO (idk what higher-dimension sets these animals run)
Given this data, and with how good HO is currently with stall being so poor, Cloyster should at least go to
C-rank. UR is outlandish. This assertion should definitely be backed up with multiple replays, but I'm really bad and probably can't use Cloyster right.
Speaking of mons that should go UR to D-rank:
Togedemaru
I believe Toge, while mostly seen as a meme, has actually utility worthy of
D-rank.
Take a look at Toge's movepool sometime. It's totally awesome! U-turn, Volt Switch, Nuzzle-wuzzle, Encore, Toxic, Endeavor, Zing Zap, Wish, Iron Head, Spiky Shield, Gravity(!), Wild Charge, Super Fang... Uber-level mons would kill for that moveset! While Toge should mostly have Sturdy for an ability, Iron Barbs and Lightningrod are awesome too. Toge's typing gives it nice immunities to poison and paralysis, as well as x4 resistances to Steel and Flying. You know what mons run Steel and Flying moves? For this exercise, this is the set I've been using:
Togedemaru @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Toxic
- U-turn
- Nuzzle
- Encore
This set makes for a surprisingly effective lead and pivot, consistently spreading status, annoying opponents, providing momentum, and providing emergency checks for some of the most dangerous sweepers in the tier. The combination of Nuzzle-wuzzle+Encore stops most set-up sweepers in their tracks, and Toge can U-turn out afterwards on top of it. In Toge's worst games, it goes one-for-one with the added bonus of giving momentum. Toge gets to Nuzzle-wuzzle Deoxys-Speed, Smeargle, Mega Sableye, Celesteela, and SpDef DM, as well as poison Zygarde, Proudon, Giratina, and support Arc formes. As everyone knows, status is BIG in AG+Ubers, so this utility is especially good for teammates such as HexGar and Giratina-O. Toge also notably walls balance-god Arc-Poison as burns don't matter (it's a Togedemaru), and it U-turns out. Toge even ended a game once versus SD/Jab/EQ/Recover Arceus-Poison. Now let's look at some calcs:
- +5 252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Sunsteel Strike vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Togedemaru: 261-307 (78.1 - 91.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Emergency check for DM with Air Balloon intact)
- +6 252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Earthquake vs. Air Balloon Togedemaru: 0-0 (0 - 0%) -- aim for the horn next time
- 252 Atk Necrozma-Ultra Light That Burns the Sky vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Togedemaru: 285-336 (85.3 - 100.5%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO (works for physical and special)
- +6 252 SpA Neuroforce Necrozma-Ultra Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Sturdy Togedemaru: 333-333 (99.7 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Wowsers)
- 252 Atk Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Togedemaru: 90-106 (26.9 - 31.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO (Pivots into and gains momentums versus Scarf Ray)
- +1 252+ Atk Life Orb Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Togedemaru: 194-227 (58 - 67.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Emergency check for non V-create Ray)
- +1 252+ Atk Life Orb Stakataka Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Togedemaru: 253-300 (75.7 - 89.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Emergency check for everyone's favorite sweeper from three months ago)
Here's an example team utilizing the previously mentioned HexGar and Giratina-O as teammates (I forgot to mention in the paste that double rocks helps in stall matchups, rocks on Arc-Grass can probably be switched for Perish Song bc fuq Smeargle amirite)
Some replays of Toge putting in work:
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https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7anythinggoes-892060115
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https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7anythinggoes-890851837
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https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7anythinggoes-899838892
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https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7anythinggoes-858672278
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https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7anythinggoes-858664826
Just to enforce that Toge isn't a one-trick pony, here's another set that I believe could be viable.
Togedemaru @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Zing Zap
- U-turn
- Nuzzle
Anybody that has seen one of Joey's latest videos knows what this set does. Resistances to Normal (Espeed), Fairy (Judgement), and Steel (Judgement) make for an excellent pivot that is somewhat difficult to pick off, due to the resistances to common attacks. While Marshadow is the most common check to CM Arc-Steel, Toge can replicate this role.
252 Atk Togedemaru Zing Zap vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Arceus-Steel: 93-109 (20.9 - 24.5%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
With chip damage, Toge only needs three 30%'s in a row to beat one of the hardest mons in which to pivot.
I hope this all is sufficient enough evidence to bring
Toge from the depths of UR to at least
D-rank.