Gen 1 Cloyster (QC 2/2) (GP 1/1)

[NotVeryCake]

[OVERVIEW]
Cloyster holds a niche in Ubers thanks to its combination of unique traits; it has fantastic physical bulk, letting it tank Snorlax's Self-Destruct, Mew's +2 Earthquake, and Tauros's Hyper Beam with relative comfort. Its Ice typing gives it a powerful STAB Blizzard as well as an immunity to freeze. It also has access to the mighty Explosion, a potent tool in Ubers, and its signature move Clamp can choke down slower foes and provide free switches for its teammates.

However, Cloyster is weighed down by multiple detrimental traits that prevent it from being a true oppressive force in Ubers. Its matchup into unparalyzed Mewtwo is horrendous, only 5HKOing it with Blizzard while being 2HKOed by Psychic and Thunderbolt in return, letting Mewtwo switch in with little risk. It can't reliably switch into the physical attackers it wants to tank hits from, as it becomes much worse if it is paralyzed by Body Slam or Thunder Wave. Cloyster also finds it difficult to heal off the damage it takes, as its only way of healing is Rest, which forces it into complete passivity for two turns. Cloyster also relies on heavy paralysis support to effectively use Clamp and Explosion due to its mediocre Speed and weakness to special moves.

[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Clamp
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Rest

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Blizzard is Cloyster's primary attacking option, OHKOing Rhydon 33.3% of the time, 2HKOing Exeggutor and Zapdos, and 3HKOing Tauros. Clamp can provide free switches for Cloyster's teammates. It can also be used to whittle down slower foes into KO range from another attack, but this is unreliable due to its poor accuracy. Explosion allows Cloyster to take out or do heavy damage to a foe, OHKOing frailer foes such as Alakazam and Chansey 74.4% of the time and doing a hefty chunk to bulkier foes, such as doing 60% minimum to Snorlax and 62.1% minimum to Mewtwo. Explosion also has the benefit of prematurely ending the turn, which can deny recovery on slower foes. Rest increases Cloyster's longevity and clears paralysis, but it is left completely helpless for two turns and cannot regain its Speed until it switches out, allowing Pokemon that threaten it, such as Mewtwo, Starmie, and Zapdos, to switch in and fire off strong attacks or set up.

Cloyster necessitates paralysis support to function, so Thunder Wave Mewtwo and Mew make great partners, as they can spread paralysis across the opposing team, particularly to the opposing Mewtwo and Mew. Chansey is also good at spreading paralysis to support Cloyster, and it is a good switch-in to the special attackers Cloyster is afraid of, such as Mewtwo, Starmie, and Alakazam. Rhydon can make a good teammate, as it walls Zapdos and Jolteon, which both threaten Cloyster immensely; Cloyster also switches into Tauros's Earthquake and Blizzard well to support Rhydon. Rhydon—much like Cloyster—also benefits heavily from spreading paralysis across the opposing team. Cloyster can be paired with other Explosion and Self-Destruct users such as Exeggutor, Snorlax, Explosion Mew, and Self-Destruct Mewtwo to attempt to overwhelm the opponent and trade down Pokemon until a strong sweeper, such as Zapdos or Tauros, can win the game. Cloyster should be kept hidden until the opponent's Mewtwo is paralyzed, as once it is, Cloyster becomes far more offensively threatening. Cloyster should only use Rest if it absolutely needs to, as waking up is incredibly difficult.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hyper Beam can be used in place of Rest, as it allows Cloyster to finish off weakened Chansey and Ice-resistant foes. However, this leaves Cloyster completely unable to switch into physical attackers, as paralysis will permanently ruin it. Ice Beam has double the PP of Blizzard and better accuracy. However, it is significantly weaker than Blizzard, failing nearly every important KO range. Although incredibly niche, Reflect can replace Explosion to make Cloyster better into Mew and Snorlax, with Cloyster taking a paltry 30.6% maximum from Mew's +6 Earthquake and only 37.9% maximum from Snorlax's Self-Destruct. However, lacking Explosion leaves Cloyster much less threatening and much easier to answer, and physical attackers will usually just switch to a Water-type or Mewtwo to answer Cloyster, usually rendering Reflect useless.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Starmie, Slowbro, and Lapras switch into Cloyster with minimal risk and threaten it back with heavy damage or paralysis. However, Slowbro and Starmie have to worry about getting frozen, and all of them take heavy damage from Explosion.

**Mewtwo**: Mewtwo outspeeds and 2HKOes Cloyster with Psychic or Thunderbolt, while it's only 5HKOed in return by Blizzard, though it must be wary of being frozen. Mewtwo becomes much worse at switching into Cloyster if it's paralyzed, as Cloyster can choke it down or pivot to a teammate with Clamp; it can also do heavy damage to it with Explosion while also preventing Recover that turn.

**Paralysis**: Cloyster despises paralysis, as it relies on its Speed and cannot afford to lose turns to full paralysis. Paralysis also makes Cloyster's chance of hitting Clamp a mere 56.25%. Cloyster's only means of removing paralysis is Rest, which is difficult to pull off successfully. This makes switching into Body Slam extremely risky.

**Electric-types**: Zapdos and Jolteon both outspeed and 2HKO Cloyster with Thunderbolt, with Zapdos even having a 23.1% chance to OHKO it. However, the former is 2HKOed by Blizzard and the latter is 3HKOed, so they cannot switch into Cloyster well.

**Chansey**: Chansey can switch into Cloyster with ease, taking a mere 18.9% maximum from Blizzard and threatening it with paralysis and a 4HKO from Seismic Toss. However, Chansey has to be wary freeze as well as Explosion, as it is OHKOed by the move 74.4% of the time. Chansey is also quite passive and cannot do much to threaten Cloyster's team beyond using Thunder Wave. Cloyster can also choose to pivot out with Clamp, which denies Chansey the chance to recover HP or paralyze anything and can result in it slowly getting worn down over time.

**Gengar**: While Gengar cannot switch into Cloyster's Blizzard well, as it is 3HKOed 30.8% of the time, it 2HKOes Cloyster with Thunderbolt and can absorb Cloyster's Explosion.

**Jynx**: Jynx outspeeds Cloyster and 3HKOes it with Psychic, while Cloyster's Blizzard only 6HKOes in return, but Cloyster's Explosion OHKOes Jynx. However, this is often a bad trade for the Cloyster user.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/notverycake.625260/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/

 

[gastlies]

you know the drill

yeahhh cloyster town

[OVERVIEW]
Cloyster holds a niche in Ubers thanks to its combination of unique traits; it has the best fantastic physical bulk in the game, rhydon is physically bulkier statwise letting it tank the likes of Snorlax's Self-Destruct, Mew's +2 Earthquake, and Tauros's Hyper Beam with relative comfort. Its Ice-typing gives it a powerful STAB Blizzard, as well as an immunity to freeze. It also has access to the mighty Explosion, a potent tool in Ubers. To top this all of, its signature move Clamp can allow it to choke down slower foes and provide safe switchins for its teammates.

However, Cloyster is weighed down by multiple detrimental traits that prevent it from being a true oppressive force in Ubers. For starters, it's matchup into unparalyzed Mewtwo is horrendous, only 5HKOing it with Blizzard while being 2HKOed by Psychic and Thunderbolt in return, letting Mewtwo switch in with little risk. Cloyster also can't reliably switch into the physical attackers it wants to tank hits from, as it becomes much worse if it is paralyzed by Body Slam or Thunder Wave. Cloyster also finds it difficult to heal off the damage it takes, as its only way of healing off damage and paralysis is Rest, which forces it into complete passivity for two turns. Mention that Cloyster relies on a heavy amount of paralysis support to use Clamp and Boom most effectively since its speed is mediocre.

[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Clamp
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Rest

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Blizzard is Cloyster's primary attacking option, OHKOing Rhydon 33.3% of the time, OHKOing Sandslash 66.7% of the time, you list a lot of mons and sandslash isn't as relavant as the rest u listed 2HKOing Exeggutor and Zapdos, 3HKOing Tauros and 4HKOing Mew and Snorlax. Clamp allows Cloyster to provide safe switchins for its teammates. It can also be used to whittle down slower opponents into KO range from another attack, however this is unreliable and risky due to its poor accuracy. Explosion allows Cloyster to take out or do heavy damage to a foe when weakened, OHKOing frailer foes such as Alakazam and Chansey 74.4% of the time, and doing a hefty chunk to bulkier foes, such as doing 60% minimum to Snorlax and 62.1% minimum to Mewtwo. Mention how it denies recover if Cloy is faster Rest lets Cloyster increase its longevity and wipe off paralysis, however it is very hard to pull off well, as Cloyster is left completely helpless for two turns, allowing Pokemon that threaten it such as Mewtwo, Starmie, and Zapdos to switch in and fire off strong attacks or set up on Cloyster. Cloy also needs to switch to get its speed back

Cloyster necessitates paralysis support to function, so partners such as Thunder Wave Mewtwo and Mew make great partners, as they can spread paralysis across the opposing team, namely the opposing Mewtwo. Jynx makes a good partner to Cloyster as putting to sleep an opposing Pokemon immediatly is beneficial in allowing paralysis to be spread more easily across the opposing team, which Cloyster appreciates greatly. Rhydon can make a good partner to Cloyster, as it walls Zapdos and Jolteon who both threaten Cloyster immensely. + Cloyster is a good switchin to tauros blizz and they both benefit from paraspam structures (same thing i wrote for don analysis) Cloyster should be kept hidden until the opponent's Mewtwo is paralyzed, as once it is, Cloyster becomes far more offensively threatening. Cloyster should only use Rest if it absoloutly needs to, as waking up and being healthy is incredibly difficult to do.

Would also mention Chansey as a teammate since it can switch into the special attackers that force cloy out + spread para

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hyper Beam can be used in place of Rest as it allows Cloyster to finish off weakened Chansey and Ice-resists. However this leaves Cloyster completely unable to switch into physical attackers, as paralysis will permanently ruin it. Ice Beam can be used in place of Blizzard as it has double the PP and much better accuracy. However, Ice Beam is far, far weaker than Blizzard, failing nearly every important KO range Blizzard gets. Cloyster will also rarely ever use up all 8 Blizzard's due to Rest being hard to pull off. I feel like Cloy running out of blizz is a real possibility tbh, it can come in on a lax rest or double and blizz as the unparalyzed mewtwo comes in to try to freeze it, and this could happen 8 times. Although incredibly niche, Reflect can be used in place of Explosion to make Cloyster better into Mew and Snorlax, with Cloyster taking a paltry 30.6% maximum from Mew's +6 Earthquake and only 37.9% maximum from Snorlax's Self-Destruct. However, not being able to threaten Explosion leaves Cloyster much less threatening and much easier to answer by most foes, and physical attackers will usually just switch to a Water-type or Mewtwo to answer Cloyster, making just attacking usually better and rendering Reflect usually redundant

Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Starmie, Slowbro, and Lapras all switch into Cloyster with minimal risk and threaten it back with heavy damage or paralysis. However, Slowbro and Starmie have to worry about getting frozen, and all of them take heavy damage from Explosion.

**Mewtwo**: Mewtwo outspeeds and 2HKOes Cloyster with Psychic or Thunderbolt, while it's only 5HKOed in return by Blizzard, though it must be wary of being frozen. However, Mewtwo becomes much worse at switching into Cloyster if it's paralyzed, as Cloyster can choke it down or pivot to a teammate with Clamp or do heavy damage to it with Explosion while also preventing Recover that turn. Mewtwo must be wary of being frozen.

**Paralysis**: Cloyster absoloutly despises paralysis, as it relies on its Speed and cannot afford to lose turns to full paralysis. as not only can it not afford to butcher any turns to full paralysis, it also becomes much worse if it can't outspeed anything. (better formatting + i would mention how this absolutely kills clamp acc in particular) Cloyster's only means of wiping off the paralysis is Rest, which is difficult to pull off successfully. This makes switching into attacks such as Body Slam extremely risky.

**Electric-types**: Zapdos and Jolteon both outspeed and 2HKO Cloyster with Thunderbolt, with Zapdos even having a 23.1% chance to OHKO Cloyster. However, they take heavy damage from Blizzard, so they cannot switch into Cloyster.

I think other special attackers such as Zam, Gengar, Chansey and Jynx should also get a mention. Gengar especially bc of the boom immunity

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/notverycake.625260/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:

 

[Sabelette]

QC 1/2 after I take a second look

Spoiler

[OVERVIEW]
Cloyster holds a niche in Ubers thanks to its combination of unique traits; it has fantastic physical bulk, letting it tank the likes of Snorlax's Self-Destruct, Mew's +2 Earthquake, and Tauros's Hyper Beam with relative comfort. Its Ice-typing (RH; Ice typing or Ice-type, not Ice-typing) gives it a powerful STAB Blizzard, as well as an immunity to freeze. It also has access to the mighty Explosion, a potent tool in Ubers. To top this all of, its signature move Clamp can allow it to choke down slower foes and provide safe switchins free switches (GP thing) for its teammates.

However, Cloyster is weighed down by multiple detrimental traits that prevent it from being a true oppressive force in Ubers. For starters, it's its matchup into unparalyzed Mewtwo is horrendous, only 5HKOing it with Blizzard while being 2HKOed by Psychic and Thunderbolt in return, letting Mewtwo switch in with little risk. Cloyster also It can't reliably switch into the physical attackers it wants to tank hits from, as it becomes much worse if it is paralyzed by Body Slam or Thunder Wave. Cloyster also finds it difficult to heal off the damage it takes, as its only way of healing off damage and paralysis is Rest, which forces it into complete passivity for two turns. Cloyster also relies on heavy paralysis support to effectively use Clamp and Explosion due to its mediocre Speed and weaknesses to special moves.

[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Clamp
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Rest

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Blizzard is Cloyster's primary attacking option, OHKOing Rhydon 33.3% of the time, 2HKOing Exeggutor and Zapdos, 3HKOing Tauros, and 4HKOing Mew and Snorlax. (this is a lot of examples, I think you could cut it down and trust the reader to do some calcs) Clamp allows Cloyster to provide safe switchins free switches for its teammates. It can also be used to whittle down slower foes opponents (foe = pokemon, opponent = player) into KO range from another attack, however but this is unreliable due to its poor accuracy. Explosion allows Cloyster to take out or do heavy damage to a foe when weakened, OHKOing frailer foes such as Alakazam and Chansey 74.4% of the time, (RC) and doing a hefty chunk to bulkier foes, such as doing 60% minimum to Snorlax and 62.1% minimum to Mewtwo. Explosion also has the benefit of prematurely ending the turn, which can deny recovery on slower foes. Rest lets Cloyster increase its longevity and wipe off paralysis, however it is very hard to pull off well, as but Cloyster is left completely helpless for two turns and cannot regain its Speed until it switches out, allowing Pokemon that threaten it, (AC) such as Mewtwo, Starmie, and Zapdos, (AC) to switch in and fire off strong attacks or set up on Cloyster. (you said "X allows/lets Cloyster..." for 3 different moves, change the language and structure a bit so it stops being repetitive)

Cloyster necessitates paralysis support to function, so partners such as Thunder Wave Mewtwo and Mew make great partners, as they can spread paralysis across the opposing team, namely particularly to the opposing Mewtwo and Mew. Jynx makes a good partner to Cloyster, (AC) as putting an opposing Pokemon to sleep an opposing Pokemon immediatly is beneficial in allowing paralysis to be spread more easily across the opposing team, which Cloyster appreciates greatly. (I corrected the GP side of this sentence but I don't really think it makes sense here - sleep makes it easier to spread para? not really, you just bring a sleeper because sleep is strong, and there are options like egg or sing chansey that can compress sleep + para into one mon. Speaking of, why no mention of Eggy? they can play off each other pretty well) Rhydon can make a good partner to Cloyster, as it walls Zapdos and Jolteon, (AC) who which both threaten Cloyster immensely. Rhydon—much like Cloyster—also benefits immensely from spreading paralysis across the opposing team. Cloyster also makes switches in well to Tauros's Earthquake and Blizzard. Chansey also makes a good partner to Cloyster, as it can switch into the special attackers such as Mewtwo and Starmie that threaten Cloyster as well as and help spread paralysis across the opposing team. Mewtwo Cloyster should be kept hidden until the opponent's Mewtwo is paralyzed, as once it is, Cloyster becomes far more offensively threatening. Cloyster should only use Rest if it absoloutly absolutely needs to, as waking up and being healthy is incredibly difficult to do. (Again you structured most of this paragraph as "X makes a good partner to Cloyster," change up the structure a bit)

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hyper Beam can be used in place of Rest, (RC) as it allows Cloyster to finish off weakened Chansey and Ice-resists Ice-resistant foes. However, (AC) this leaves Cloyster completely unable to switch into physical attackers, as paralysis will permanently ruin it. Ice Beam can be used in place of Blizzard, (AC) as it has double the PP and much better accuracy. However, Ice Beam is far, far significantly weaker than Blizzard, failing nearly every important KO range. Although incredibly niche, Reflect can be used in place of Explosion to make Cloyster better into Mew and Snorlax, with Cloyster taking a paltry 30.6% maximum from Mew's +6 Earthquake and only 37.9% maximum from Snorlax's Self-Destruct. However, not being able to threaten Explosion leaves Cloyster much less threatening and much easier to answer by most foes, and physical attackers will usually just switch to a Water-type or Mewtwo to answer Cloyster, making just attacking usually better and rendering Reflect usually redundant. (AP)

(Again, "X can be used in place of Y, as it..." please change some of these up and find different structures so it doesn't feel like reading the same sentence over and over)

Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Starmie, Slowbro, and Lapras all switch into Cloyster with minimal risk and threaten it back with heavy damage or paralysis. However, Slowbro and Starmie have to worry about getting frozen, and all of them take heavy damage from Explosion.

**Mewtwo**: Mewtwo outspeeds and 2HKOes Cloyster with Psychic or Thunderbolt, while it's only 5HKOed in return by Blizzard, though it must be wary of being frozen. Mewtwo becomes much worse at switching into Cloyster if it's paralyzed, as Cloyster can choke it down or pivot to a teammate with Clamp; it can also or do heavy damage to it with Explosion while also preventing Recover that turn.

**Paralysis**: Cloyster despises paralysis, as it relies on its Speed and cannot afford to lose turns to full paralysis. Paralysis also makes Cloyster's chance of hitting Clamp a mere 56.25%. Cloyster's only means of wiping off the removing paralysis is Rest, which is difficult to pull off successfully. This makes switching into attacks such as Body Slam extremely risky.

**Electric-types**: Zapdos and Jolteon both outspeed and 2HKO Cloyster with Thunderbolt, with Zapdos even having a 23.1% chance to OHKO Cloyster. However, they take heavy damage from Blizzard, so they cannot switch into Cloyster. (Jolteon can definitely switch into Cloyster if needed even if it doesn't like to)

**Chansey**: Chansey can switch into Cloyster with ease, taking a mere 18.9% maximum from Blizzard and threatening it with paralysis and a 4HKO from Seismic Toss. However, Chansey has to be wary of getting frozen by Blizzard, and Explosion, as it is OHKOed by the move 74.4% of the time. (also, chansey is pretty passive if things are paralyzed + Cloyster can clamp it and pivot out if there's no teammate to switch into twave, this should be mentioned)

**Gengar**: While Gengar cannot switch into Cloyster's Blizzard well, as it is 3HKOed 30.8% of the time, it 2HKOes Cloyster with Thunderbolt and can absorb Cloyster's Explosion.

**Jynx**: Jynx outspeeds Cloyster and 3HKOes it with Psychic while only being 6HKOed in return by Blizzard, but Cloyster's Explosion OHKOes Jynx. However, this is often a bad trade for the Cloyster user. however, Jynx has to be wary of Explosion, as it is OHKOed by the move. (reworded, but I'd argue this is an awful trade for the Cloyster user)

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/notverycake.625260/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:

 

[gastlies]

i am ubers qc now so my amcheck is now a real check, qc 1/2, 2/2 once sabel gives it a second look

 

[Sabelette]

2/2 approved

 

[Sabelette]

GP 1/1 GP Team done

Spoiler

[OVERVIEW]
Cloyster holds a niche in Ubers thanks to its combination of unique traits; it has fantastic physical bulk, letting it tank the likes of Snorlax's Self-Destruct, Mew's +2 Earthquake, and Tauros's Hyper Beam with relative comfort. Its Ice typing gives it a powerful STAB Blizzard, (RC) as well as an immunity to freeze. It also has access to the mighty Explosion, a potent tool in Ubers, (AC) and . To top this all of, its signature move Clamp can allow it to choke down slower foes and provide free switches for its teammates.

However, Cloyster is weighed down by multiple detrimental traits that prevent it from being a true oppressive force in Ubers. For starters, its Its matchup into unparalyzed Mewtwo is horrendous, only 5HKOing it with Blizzard while being 2HKOed by Psychic and Thunderbolt in return, letting Mewtwo switch in with little risk. It can't reliably switch into the physical attackers it wants to tank hits from, as it becomes much worse if it is paralyzed by Body Slam or Thunder Wave. Cloyster also finds it difficult to heal off the damage it takes, as its only way of healing off damage and paralysis is Rest, which forces it into complete passivity for two turns. Cloyster also relies on heavy paralysis support to effectively use Clamp and Explosion due to its mediocre Speed and weakness to special moves.

[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Clamp
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Rest

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Blizzard is Cloyster's primary attacking option, OHKOing Rhydon 33.3% of the time, 2HKOing Exeggutor and Zapdos, and 3HKOing Tauros. Clamp can provide free switches for Cloyster's teammates. It can also be used to whittle down slower foes into KO range from another attack, but this is unreliable due to its poor accuracy. Explosion allows Cloyster to take out or do heavy damage to a foe, OHKOing frailer foes such as Alakazam and Chansey 74.4% of the time and doing a hefty chunk to bulkier foes, such as doing 60% minimum to Snorlax and 62.1% minimum to Mewtwo. Explosion also has the benefit of prematurely ending the turn, which can deny recovery on slower foes. Rest lets Cloyster increase its longevity increases Cloyster's longevity and wipe off clears paralysis, but Cloyster it is left completely helpless for two turns and cannot regain its Speed until it switches out, allowing Pokemon that threaten it, such as Mewtwo, Starmie, and Zapdos, to switch in and fire off strong attacks or set up on Cloyster.

Cloyster necessitates paralysis support to function, so Thunder Wave Mewtwo and Mew make great partners, as they can spread paralysis across the opposing team, particularly to the opposing Mewtwo and Mew. Chansey is also good at spreading paralysis to support Cloyster, and it is a good switch-in (AH) to the special attackers Cloyster is afraid of, such as Mewtwo, Starmie, and Alakazam. Rhydon can make a good teammate to Cloyster, as it walls Zapdos and Jolteon, which both threaten Cloyster immensely; Cloyster also switches into Tauros's Earthquake and Blizzard well to support Rhydon. Rhydon—much like Cloyster—also benefits immensely heavily from spreading paralysis across the opposing team. Cloyster also switches in well to Tauros's Earthquake and Blizzard. Cloyster can be paired with other Explosion or and Self-Destruct users such as Exeggutor, Snorlax, Explosion Mew, and Self-Destruct Mewtwo to attempt to overwhelm the opponent and trade down Pokemon until a strong sweeper, such as Zapdos or Tauros, can win the game. Cloyster should be kept hidden until the opponent's Mewtwo is paralyzed, as once it is, Cloyster becomes far more offensively threatening. Cloyster should only use Rest if it absolutely needs to, as waking up is incredibly difficult.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hyper Beam can be used in place of Rest, (AC, oops) as it allows Cloyster to finish off weakened Chansey and Ice-resistant foes. However, this leaves Cloyster completely unable to switch into physical attackers, as paralysis will permanently ruin it. Ice Beam has double the PP of Blizzard and better accuracy. However, it is significantly weaker than Blizzard, failing nearly every important KO range. Although incredibly niche, Reflect can replace Explosion to make Cloyster better into Mew and Snorlax, with Cloyster taking a paltry 30.6% maximum from Mew's +6 Earthquake and only 37.9% maximum from Snorlax's Self-Destruct. However, not being able to threaten lacking Explosion leaves Cloyster much less threatening and much easier to answer, and physical attackers will usually just switch to a Water-type or Mewtwo to answer Cloyster, usually rendering Reflect usually redundant useless. ("redundant" feels like the wrong word for this, lmk if you disagree)

Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Starmie, Slowbro, and Lapras switch into Cloyster with minimal risk and threaten it back with heavy damage or paralysis. However, Slowbro and Starmie have to worry about getting frozen, and all of them take heavy damage from Explosion.

**Mewtwo**: Mewtwo outspeeds and 2HKOes Cloyster with Psychic or Thunderbolt, while it's only 5HKOed in return by Blizzard, though it must be wary of being frozen. Mewtwo becomes much worse at switching into Cloyster if it's paralyzed, as Cloyster can choke it down or pivot to a teammate with Clamp; it can also do heavy damage to it with Explosion while also preventing Recover that turn.

**Paralysis**: Cloyster despises paralysis, as it relies on its Speed and cannot afford to lose turns to full paralysis. Paralysis also makes Cloyster's chance of hitting Clamp a mere 56.25%. Cloyster's only means of removing paralysis is Rest, which is difficult to pull off successfully. This makes switching into attacks such as Body Slam extremely risky.

**Electric-types**: Zapdos and Jolteon both outspeed and 2HKO Cloyster with Thunderbolt, with Zapdos even having a 23.1% chance to OHKO Cloyster it. However, the former is 2HKOed by Blizzard and the latter is 3HKOed, so they cannot switch into Cloyster well.

**Chansey**: Chansey can switch into Cloyster with ease, taking a mere 18.9% maximum from Blizzard and threatening it with paralysis and a 4HKO from Seismic Toss. However, Chansey has to be wary of getting frozen by Blizzard, and freeze as well as Explosion, as it is OHKOed by the move 74.4% of the time. Chansey is also quite passive and cannot (remove space) do much to threaten Cloyster's team beyond using Thunder Wave. is already paralyzed, Cloyster can also choose to pivot out with Clamp, which denies Chansey the chance to recover HP or paralyze anything and can result in it being slowly getting worn down over time.

**Gengar**: While Gengar cannot switch into Cloyster's Blizzard well, as it is 3HKOed 30.8% of the time, it 2HKOes Cloyster with Thunderbolt and can absorb Cloyster's Explosion.

**Jynx**: Jynx outspeeds Cloyster and 3HKOes it with Psychic, (AC) while Cloyster's Blizzard only being 6HKOes in return ed in return by Blizzard, but Cloyster's Explosion OHKOes Jynx. However, this is often a bad trade for the Cloyster user.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/notverycake.625260/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gastlies.540559/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/