Claydol
-Credits also goes to MysticClaydol for making the skeleton for this analysis and getting it through QC, before he resigned from it.
[Overview]
<p>Previously, Claydol has been a great support Pokemon and lead, this generation things have changed for it. Claydol faces very strong competition in a support role from many Pokemon in UU, including Mew and Uxie, as Claydol is weak to common types such as Water and Ice, and leads are almost non-exsistent because of the new team preview feature. Even though its typing holds it back, Claydol does have solid defensive stats of 60 / 105 / 120, meaning it can take weaker neutral attacks with ease, and also has a wide support movepool.</p>
<p>Claydol has access to Rapid Spin, unlike other Psychic-types. However, it lacks the offensive stats of Donphan and Hitmontop and the speed of Cryogonal, so one needs to look at what Claydol has over other Rapid Spin users. Claydol, like Cryogonal, has Levitate as its ability, which gives it immunity to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes. It also resists Stealth Rock, unlike Cryogonal, which makes Claydol unique. Don't let Claydol's weaknesses keep you from using it; its defensive capabilities are still great, and it's a unique support Pokemon and Rapid Spin user.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake / Earth Power
move 4: Ice Beam / Toxic
item: Leftovers
nature: Relaxed / Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Thanks to its high defensive stats, Claydol can effectively support its teammates with both Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin. Earthquake is a nice STAB move for Claydol to use, if attacking is needed, providing good and consistent power. Ice Beam is mostly used for coverage, hitting Grass-types harder than Earthquake, as well as hitting Flygon and Flying-types. Earth Power is also an option to hit physically defensive Pokemon, such as Steelix harder. Toxic can be used to give Claydol an easier time against Chansey. You can also use Ice Beam and Toxic at the same time, replacing either Stealth Rock or Rapid Spin.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Psychic or Zen Headbutt can be used in any slot to give Claydol a secondary STAB move, which can help against frailer Fighting-type Pokemon if your team needs it. The choice of nature depends solely on which type of moves you are using. If you go for both Earthquake and Ice Beam, use a Relaxed nature. If you opt for Earth Power instead of Earthquake, go with a Bold nature. An Impish nature can also be chosen if using only physical moves. The EVs listed makes Claydol as physically bulky as possible. However, the EVs can be changed so that Claydol takes on a special defensive approach instead, switching its nature to either Sassy, Calm, or Careful, depending on which moves it uses.</p>
<p>Teammates that can take care of the many types of Pokemon that threaten Claydol are necessary. Fast and hard-hitting Electric-type Pokemon such as Jolteon and Zapdos can take care of Water-types that threaten Claydol, and are also capable of taking care of Grass-types with Hidden Power Ice or Heat Wave. Moltres is also a good choice to take care of Grass- and Ice-type Pokemon, as well as Heracross, as Moltres resist its STAB moves. Moltres also really appreciates the Rapid Spin support that Claydol provides. Grass-types such as Celebi and Sceptile can take care of Quagsire and Gastrodon, Dark-types such as Weavile can take care of Ghost-type Pokemon, and Fighting-types such as Heracross can take care of Dark-type Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Earthquake / Psychic
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Light Clay
nature: Relaxed / Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Taking advantage of its natural bulk, Claydol can provide great screen support with Reflect and Light Screen. Earthquake and Psychic are reliable STAB moves and help against Taunt. The choice depends on what you want Claydol to hit. Earthquake takes care of Steel-type Pokemon, while Psychic takes care of Fighting-type Pokemon. Psychic also hits Crobat and Roserade harder than Ice Beam. Ice Beam is mostly used for coverage, hitting Grass-types harder than Earthquake, while also hitting Flygon and Flying-types, who are immune to Earthquake.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>For even more support, Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, or Toxic can be used over Eartquake, Psychic, or Ice Beam. Explosion can put a big dent into frailer Pokemon if Claydol isn't needed any more. However, it should be noted that Explosion doesn't hit as hard this generation. The EVs in Defense can be moved into Speed to let Claydol outrun slower Pokemon, guaranteeing that it sets up screens. As with the support set, teammates that can remove Pokemon that threaten Claydol are needed. Fast and hard hitting Electric-type Pokemon such as Jolteon and Zapdos can take care of Water-type Pokemon, as well as Grass-type Pokemon if said Electric-types pack Hidden Power Ice or Heat Wave. Moltres can also take care of Grass-type Pokemon, Ice-type Pokemon, and Heracross. Dark-type Pokemon such as Weavile can take care of Ghost-type Pokemon, while Fighting-type Pokemon such as Heracross can take care of Dark-type Pokemon. Grass-type Pokemon that can take care of Quagsire and Gastrodon helps a lot too.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Claydol has a wide pool of support moves, and can use most of them to great success. Trick can be used with Choice Scarf to incapacitate Pokemon such as Chansey and Dusclops. Claydol can also provide its teammates with weather, Trick Room, or Gravity support. Claydol has access to Magic Coat to bounce back status moves. Other attacking options at its disposal include Stone Edge and Rock Slide for Ice-type Pokemon, and Shadow Ball for Ghost-type Pokemon. Boosting moves such as Calm Mind, Cosmic Power, Rock Polish, and Charge Beam can also be used, but Claydol can't really take advantage of the boosts because of its bad offensive stats. Rest is Claydol's only form of recovery.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Heavily offensive Dark-, Ghost-, Bug-, Ice-, Water-, and Grass-types can take down Claydol relatively fast. Houndoom, Mismagius, Rotom-F, and Celebi come to mind, as they can hit hard with their special moves on Claydol's generally uninvested Special Defense. Mismagius and Rotom-F don't take much damage from Ice Beam, and both of them are immune to Claydol's Ground-type moves. Celebi doesn't take much damage from Ice Beam, but needs to be careful nonetheless, especially if at low HP. Houndoom needs to be careful if Claydol packs Earthquake or Earth Power. Heracross can put huge dents in Claydol with its STAB super effective Megahorn, while Kingdra can hit hard from both sides with its Water-type moves.</p>
<p>Heavily defensive Pokemon can also take down Claydol relatively easy, as it can't do much back. Chansey takes little damage from Claydol's moves and stalls it out with Toxic and Wish. RestTalkers such as Suicune, Milotic, and Dusclops don't take much damage from Claydol's moves, and don't care about Toxic at all, wearing down Claydol with their STAB moves. Registeel resists Ice Beam and Claydol's Psychic-type moves, and takes little damage from its Ground-type moves, even though they are super effective.</p>
