Mixed
Hazard Setter
CTier
70Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Defense leads and Sp. Def gets almost nothing. That's Cloyster's stat line in a nutshell. 3 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Defense EVs.

Base Stats
High
HP50
D
Attack95
B
Defense180
S
Sp. Atk85
C
Sp. Def45
D
Speed70
C
Total525
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging60 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.5 m
4'11"Average
Weight132.5 kg
292.1 lbsHeavy
Base XP184
High Yield
Abilities
Shell ArmorPopular
Protects against critical hits.
Skill LinkPopular
Extends two-to-five-hit moves and triple kick to their full length every time.
OvercoatHANot in game
Protects against damage from weather.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entries

It fights by keeping its shell tightly shut for protection and by shooting spikes to repel foes.

Cloyster Weakness

Cloyster's Water/Ice typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock. Cloyster's physical bulk (base 180 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Cloyster Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass, Fighting, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Water
0.25x (Resist)Ice
Type ChartVulnerable
4Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score-5
Gen IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricGrassFightingRock
½xResist
Water
¼xResist
Ice
0xImmune
None
STAB (6)
FireGroundRockGrassFlyingDragon
How to Beat Cloyster in Diamond & Pearl (Best Counters)

In Diamond & Pearl, Infernape's Close Combat hits Cloyster for 67-79%. Zapdos threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (143-168%).

Infernape
Infernape
FireFighting
A
Recommended Build
AbilityBlaze
ItemExpert Belt
NatureJolly
Moves
  • Close Combat
  • U Turn
  • Grass Knot
  • Fire Blast
Damage vs Cloyster
Close Combat 2x
67-79%
U Turn
13-16%
Fire Blast
67-79%
View Infernape builds →

Diamond & Pearl Evolution

Getting Cloyster requires an evolution item, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Shellder. Breed this form to get Shellder eggs (average hatch time). Defense grew the most through evolution (+80 over Shellder), and Cloyster peaks at 525 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Shellder
#090Shellder
Water Stone
Water Stone
Cloyster
#091Cloyster
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Shellder
Water
Cloyster
WaterIce
HP
30
50+20
ATK
65
95+30
DEF
100
180+80
SP.ATK
45
85+40
SP.DEF
25
45+20
SPE
40
70+30
BST
305B-Tier
525B-Tier+220
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Physical
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Cloyster to get Shellder eggs easily using 21 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Barrier, Bubble Beam, Icicle Spear and 4 more.

Egg Groups
Water3
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
7moves
Breed With (best first)
drapioncrawdauntcorsolaskorupicorphishomastarkabutopsomanytekabutotentacruelstarmiekingler
12 of 21·

Diamond & Pearl Cloyster Best Moveset

This build takes hits and hits back. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, Skilllink supports the gameplan, and max HP and Attack EVs mean Cloyster doesn't crumble to chip damage. Plus Normal coverage backing it up.

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Tank
Ability
Skill Link
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Cloyster
Adamant+ATK

Cloyster best EVs are Attack and HP

EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • ExplosionCoverage
  • Toxic Spikes
  • SpikesHazard

Recommended Teammates

Abomasnow
AbomasnowDecent

Moves

You'll want to breed for Barrier and Bubble Beam on Cloyster. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Blizzard and Ice Beam, they expand what Cloyster can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Aurora Beam
—6510020Ice
Lv 1
Protect+4
C——10Normal
Lv 1
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Lv 1
Toxic Spikes
A——20Poison
Lv 1
Withdraw
———40Water
Lv 28
Spikes
A——20Ground
Lv 40
Spike Cannon
—2010015Normal

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
——10015Normal
TM72
Avalanche-4
C6010010Ice
TM14
Blizzard
C120705Ice
TM55
Brine
C6510010Water
TM78
Captivate
——10020Normal
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM58
Endure+4
———10Normal
TM64
Explosion
A2501005Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM07
Hail
D——10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
C9510010Ice
TM83
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
TM66
Payback
D5010010Dark
TM84
Poison Jab
C8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM43
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
HM03
Surf
B9510015Water
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM41
Torment
——10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
C6010020Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Barrier
———30Psychic
Egg
Bubble Beam
—6510020Water
Egg
Icicle Spear
—2510030Ice
Egg
Mud Shot
—559515Ground
Egg
Rapid Spin
S5010040Normal
Egg
Screech
——8540Normal
Egg
Take Down
—908520Normal

Tutor Moves

Cloyster can't learn any Tutor moves

Reminder Moves

Rem
Rem
Brine
C6510010Water
Rem
Clamp
—358510Water
Rem
Ice Beam
C9510010Ice
Rem
Ice Shard+1
B4010030Ice
Rem
Icicle Spear
—2510030Ice
Rem
Iron Defense
D——15Steel
Rem
Leer
——10030Normal
Rem
Tackle
—3510035Normal
Rem
Whirlpool
D358515Water

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 3
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
———10Normal

How to Get Cloyster in Diamond & Pearl

You're catching Shellder first, not Cloyster. Shellder appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.

How to Obtain Cloyster in Diamond & Pearl

Shellder is your first catch on the way to Cloyster. You'll find fishing encounters from Lv. 20-40 across 6 total spots in the chain.

  1. Shellder
    Step 1Catch Shellder
    Fuego Ironworks
    DiamondSuper Rod Lv.20-40 Power-plant
    RareMid
    Fuego Ironworks
    PearlSuper Rod Lv.20-40 Power-plant
    RareMid
    Route 205 - South
    DiamondSuper Rod Lv.20-40 Route
    RareMid
    Route 205 - South
    PearlSuper Rod Lv.20-40 Route
    RareMid
    Valley Windworks
    PearlSuper Rod Lv.20-40 Power-plant
    RareMid
    Valley Windworks
    DiamondSuper Rod Lv.20-40 Power-plant
    RareMid
  2. Cloyster
    Step 2Cloyster ✓

Cloyster Guide

  • For Diamond & Pearl, we rate Cloyster C-Tier: a niche pick in Diamond & Pearl's meta. At 525 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Rapid Spin with Leftovers is the standard set.

  • In Diamond & Pearl, watch for Raikou (Electric), Venusaur (Grass), and Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Cloyster. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Rock-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Shell Armor protects against critical hits. That's the one you want on Cloyster. Overcoat is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Skill Link works too if your team needs something different.

  • Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Cloyster is a mixed attacker with base 95 Attack and 85 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a hazard setter.

  • In Diamond & Pearl, run Rapid Spin, Explosion, Toxic Spikes, and Spikes on Cloyster. Rapid Spin is the most common pick at 16% usage. This set covers the hazard setter role with a mix of damage and utility.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Cloyster has appeared in 20 games — most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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