For Emerald, we rate Cloyster B-Tier: a solid option in Emerald for the right team. At 525 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Spikes with Leftovers is the standard set.

What is Cloyster weak to?

In Emerald, 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.

What is the best ability for Cloyster?

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.

What role does Cloyster play in battle?

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

What are the best moves for Cloyster?

In Emerald, run Spikes, Explosion, Surf, and Rapid Spin on Cloyster. Spikes is the most common pick at 24% usage. Surf provides reliable STAB damage.

Cloyster - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Hazard Setter

BTier

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

Attack95

Defense180

Sp. Atk85

Sp. Def45

Speed70

Total525

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging60 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.5 m

Weight132.5 kg

Base XP184

Abilities

Shell ArmorTop Pick

Protects against critical hits.

Skill Link

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 swims in the sea by swallowing water, then jetting it out toward the rear. The CLOYSTER shoots spikes from its shell using the same system.

Emerald

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
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Grass, Fighting, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Water
0.25x (Resist)	Ice

Type ChartVulnerable

4Weak

2Resist

0Immune

Score-5

Gen III Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Grass Fighting Rock

½xResist

Water

¼xResist

Ice

0xImmune

None

STAB (6)

Fire Ground Rock Grass Flying Dragon

How to Beat Cloyster in Emerald (Best Counters)

In Emerald, Claydol's Explosion hits Cloyster for 44-53%.

BlisseyWears down with Toxic, threatens with Seismic Toss, cures status via Natural Cure Normal	S
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves Soft Boiled Ice Beam Seismic Toss Thunder Wave Damage vs Cloyster Ice Beam 9-11% View Blissey builds →
ClaydolOutspeeds, walls special sets GroundPsychic	A
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves Rapid Spin EarthquakeSTAB Explosion PsychicSTAB Damage vs Cloyster Rapid Spin 9-11% Earthquake 27-32% Explosion 44-53% Psychic 33-39% View Claydol builds →
GyaradosResists Water, drops Attack via Intimidate, threatens with Thunder Wave WaterFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves Earthquake Dragon Dance Hidden Power Flying TauntUtility Damage vs Cloyster Earthquake 27-32% View Gyarados builds →
DonphanThreatens with Rock Slide, sturdy guarantees survival, walls physical sets Ground	C
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves EarthquakeSTAB Rapid Spin Hidden Power Rock Rock Slide Damage vs Cloyster Earthquake 31-36% Rapid Spin 10-12% Rock Slide 2x 31-36% View Donphan builds →
ArticunoWears down with Toxic, outspeeds, walls special sets IceFlying	C
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves Ice Beam Heal Bell RestRecovery RoarUtility Damage vs Cloyster Ice Beam 13-15% View Articuno builds →

Emerald 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

#090Shellder

Water Stone

#091Cloyster

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Shellder

Water

Cloyster

WaterIce

50+20

ATK

95+30

DEF

100

180+80

SP.ATK

85+40

SP.DEF

45+20

SPE

70+30

BST

305B-Tier

525B-Tier+220

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Physical

Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Cloyster to get Shellder eggs easily using 19 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Barrier, Bubble Beam, Icicle Spear and 3 more.

Egg Groups

Water3

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

6moves

Breed With (best first)

Emerald Cloyster Best Moveset

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

Best Build

Highly recommended

Hazard Setter

Ability

Shell Armor

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Cloyster

Timid+SPE

Cloyster best EVs are Sp. Def and Speed

EVs

SpA

SpD

Spe

Hazard Setter Moveset

SpikesHazard
ExplosionCoverage
SurfSTAB
Rapid Spin

Recommended Teammates

TyranitarDecent

GengarDecent

MetagrossDecent

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

Withdraw

———40Water

Lv 33

Spikes

S——20Ground

Lv 41

Spike Cannon

—2010015Normal

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM14

Blizzard

C120705Ice

HM08

Dive

—6010010Water

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM07

Hail

———10Ice

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

A9510010Ice

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

HM03

Surf

S9510015Water

TM41

Torment

D—10015Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

TM03

Water Pulse

—6010020Water

Egg Moves

Egg

Barrier

D——30Psychic

Egg

Bubble Beam

—6510020Water

Egg

Icicle Spear

—2510030Ice

Egg

Rapid Spin

S5010040Normal

Egg

Screech

D—8540Normal

Egg

Take Down

C908520Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Tutor

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Tutor

Explosion

S2501005Normal

Tutor

Icy Wind

—559515Ice

Tutor

Mimic

———10Normal

Tutor

Sleep Talk

D——10Normal

Tutor

Snore

—4010015Normal

Tutor

Substitute

C——10Normal

Tutor

Swagger

——9015Normal

Tutor

Swift

—60—20Normal

Reminder Moves

Rem

Clamp

—358510Water

Rem

Ice Beam

A9510010Ice

Rem

Leer

——10030Normal

Rem

Tackle

—3510035Normal

How to Get Cloyster in Emerald

Cloyster isn't available in the wild in Emerald. Start by transferring Shellder from Red, Yellow, or Gold. The evolution path from Shellder to Cloyster is covered in the steps below.

How to Obtain Cloyster in Emerald

Step 1Obtain Shellder
Also found in:
Red Yellow Gold
Water Stone
Step 2Cloyster ✓

Cloyster Guide

For Emerald, we rate Cloyster B-Tier: a solid option in Emerald for the right team. At 525 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Spikes with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Emerald, 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 special attacker with base 85 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a hazard setter.
In Emerald, run Spikes, Explosion, Surf, and Rapid Spin on Cloyster. Spikes is the most common pick at 24% usage. Surf provides reliable STAB damage.

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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