Overview
	With a mediocre 95 attack stat and sub-par 70 speed, Cloyster seems only able to utilize its fantastic defense and movepool to pull off a utility set. However, having access to Shell Smash allows it to boost to 634 attack and 478 speed in a single turn. It also has access to a powerful offensive ability in Skill Link, making it able to break sashes and substitutes. On the other side, it also can use Rapid Spin, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes to stack hazards and remove your own, letting it fill the slot of either Spinner or Sweeper. Although Cloyster is a multi-faceted threat, it can be taken out by many common OU staples. Any priority users, especially Infernape, can revenge KO a Cloyster whose sash has been used, and it can be easily walled by physical walls who don’t mind taking 5 Rock Blasts or Icicle Spears, such as Skarmory or Registeel.

	Smashing!
		Cloyster @ Focus Sash
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Spear/Rock Blast/Razor Shell
- Icicle Spear/Rock Blast/Razor Shell

	Moves
		Shell Smash is the key move in this set, as with a focus sash, it allows it to set up and survive all but multi-hit attacks. Ice Shard allows Cloyster to use priority against other opponents who will try the same to counter a Cloyster with a broken sash, as well as being a STAB attack that can outspeed faster threats, such as scarf Gengar. The final two slots should be occupied by Cloyster’s main damage dealing moves. It can use Skill Link to chain 5 of Icicle Spear/Rock Blast, which, boosted by a Shell Smash, deal significant damage. However, if your team lacks Water STAB, Razor Shell can be used over either Icicle Spear or Rock Blast to fit that niche, as well as having surprise factor.



Utility
		Cloyster @ Focus Sash
Ability: Skill Link/Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes/Spikes
- Icicle Spear/Rock Blast/Razor Shell
- Ice Shard


	Moves
With entry hazards being functional, Rapid Spin is a necessity for most teams. Cloyster is able to run this move without the expected ground or steel typing, and can also set up hazards, particularly Toxic Spikes that most other spinners cannot. Spikes can be used instead, if your team doesn’t benefit from Toxic Spikes support. The other slots are occupied by Ice Shard, which allows you to get priority and revenge KO Pokemon on the switch in, and Icicle Spear, Rock Blast, or Razor Shell allow Cloyster to still deal damage on top of being Spin support. Skill Link can be used to deal more damage, or Overcoat to avoid Spore or Stun Spore.

Team Options

	Gliscor
Gliscor is immune to or resits ¾ of Cloyster’s weaknesses, and since most Rock moves are physical, defensive Gliscor can easily absorb them. Many of the more prominent Fighting types are also weak to Ground, such as Blaziken, Lucario. and Infernape. However, although powerful special Grass attacks can push through Gliscor’s mediocre special defense stat, the main user of such attacks, Serperior, who lacks priority, can be beaten by Cloyster.

	Dragonite/Salamence
If Grass is a concern, both Dragonite and Salamence are 4x resistant to it, and can switch in safely, as well as to Fighting. They also take neutral damage to Electric, and provided they can take the hit, are able to set up Dragon Dance most of the time. Both of these Pokemon, however, are weak to Rock, meaning they cannot always switch in to a Cloyster counter.


Checks and Counters

	Priority Users
Priority users who can trigger Cloyster’s sash and finish it off after a Shell Smash are able to counter Cloyster completely, so long as they come into a weakened Cloyster or are able to trigger the sash in a single turn.

	Breloom
As well as being able to use Mach Punch, Breloom can stop Cloyster cold using Spore on a predicted Shell Smash, or Bullet Seed, a move that breaks Sash and 1HKOs. If brought in after a Smash as well, it can still Mach Punch.

	Steel Type Walls
Physically defensive Steel walls, such as Skarmory, Registeel, or even Forretress, can switch in to Cloyster’s attacks, and KO it, phase it, or set up against it.