Nothing about Cloyster screams competitive powerhouse, and that's fine. Water/Ice means only weak to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock. An original Gen 1 pick. Needs some investment to avoid getting outsped.
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.
Cloyster that live in seas with harsh tidal currents grow large, sharp spikes on their shells.
When attacked, it launches its spikes in quick volleys. Its innards have never been seen.
Cloyster Weakness
VulnerableCloyster's Water/Ice typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock moves. Cloyster's physical bulk (base 180 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
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.
How to Evolve
Breed with Cloyster to get Shellder eggs easily using 37 partners from the Water3 egg group.
White Herb and Skilllink form the backbone. Cloyster invests max Attack and Speed EVs to play its physical attacker role properly, and Adamant nature pushes Attack higher. Shellsmash handles the heavy lifting on offense. The remaining moves rounds it out.
Best Build
Best Cloyster Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Drill Run
Recommended Teammates
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Cloyster. TMs unlock Normal and Ground coverage and more and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Hydro Pump and Blizzard into something with actual range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
You'll want to breed for Aqua Ring and Bubble Beam on Cloyster. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hydro Pump and Blizzard, they expand what Cloyster can actually threaten in practice.
You'll want to breed for Aqua Ring and Bubble Beam on Cloyster. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hydro Pump and Blizzard, they expand what Cloyster can actually threaten in practice.
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Cloyster. TMs unlock Normal and Bug coverage and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Blizzard and Ice Beam into something with actual range.
low spawn rates across 34 encounter spots for Cloyster. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.
Where To Catch Cloyster in Scarlet & Violet
The path to Cloyster starts with Shellder at Lv. 15-65 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch ShellderEFFORTLESSCasseroya Lake - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSCasseroya Lake - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSCasseroya Lake - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSCasseroya Lake - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSEast Paldean Sea - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSEast Paldean Sea - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSEast Paldean Sea - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSEast Paldean Sea - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area One) - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area One) - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area One) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area One) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area Three) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area Three) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area Two) - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area Two) - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area Two) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSEast Province (Area Two) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSGlaseado MountainScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyCaveEFFORTLESSGlaseado MountainVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyCaveEFFORTLESSNorth Paldean Sea - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSNorth Paldean Sea - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSNorth Province (Area One) - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSNorth Province (Area One) - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSNorth Province (Area One) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSNorth Province (Area One) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSNorth Province (Area Three) - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSNorth Province (Area Three) - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSNorth Province (Area Three) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSNorth Province (Area Three) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Paldean Sea - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSSouth Paldean Sea - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area Five) - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area Five) - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area Five) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area Five) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area Four) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area Four) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area One) - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area One) - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area One) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area One) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area Six) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSSouth Province (Area Six) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSWest Paldean Sea - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSWest Paldean Sea - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyWaterEFFORTLESSWest Province (Area One) - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSWest Province (Area One) - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSWest Province (Area One) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSWest Province (Area One) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSWest Province (Area Two) - BeachVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSWest Province (Area Two) - BeachScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSWest Province (Area Two) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRouteEFFORTLESSWest Province (Area Two) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.15-4036%EarlyRoute
Step 2Cloyster ✓HARDCasseroya Lake - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDCasseroya Lake - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDEast Paldean Sea - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDEast Paldean Sea - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDEast Province (Area One) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDEast Province (Area One) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDEast Province (Area Three) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDEast Province (Area Three) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDEast Province (Area Two) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDEast Province (Area Two) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDGlaseado MountainVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateCaveHARDGlaseado MountainScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateCaveHARDNorth Paldean Sea - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDNorth Paldean Sea - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDNorth Province (Area One) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDNorth Province (Area One) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDNorth Province (Area Three) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDNorth Province (Area Three) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDSouth Paldean Sea - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDSouth Paldean Sea - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDSouth Province (Area Five) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDSouth Province (Area Five) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDSouth Province (Area Four) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDSouth Province (Area Four) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDSouth Province (Area One) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDSouth Province (Area One) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDSouth Province (Area Six) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDSouth Province (Area Six) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDWest Paldean Sea - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDWest Paldean Sea - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateWaterHARDWest Province (Area One) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDWest Province (Area One) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDWest Province (Area Two) - OceanVioletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteHARDWest Province (Area Two) - OceanScarletOverworldLv.35-651%LateRouteor evolve from Shellder (Step 1)
Cloyster doesn't appear wild. Catch Shellder instead, it shows up at moderate rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Cloyster. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Cloyster in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The path to Cloyster starts with Shellder at Lv. 20-63 via walking and fishing encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch ShellderEXTREMEFuego IronworksBrilliant DiamondSuper RodLv.20-405%MidPower-plantEXTREMEFuego IronworksShining PearlSuper RodLv.20-405%MidPower-plantEXTREMERoute 205 - SouthShining PearlSuper RodLv.20-405%MidRouteEXTREMERoute 205 - SouthBrilliant DiamondSuper RodLv.20-405%MidRouteEXTREMEValley WindworksShining PearlSuper RodLv.20-405%MidPower-plantEXTREMEValley WindworksBrilliant DiamondSuper RodLv.20-405%MidPower-plantFountainspring CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameFountainspring CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Cloyster ✓
Cloyster starts showing up in mid-game fishing spots at moderate rates across 6 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Cloyster in Sword & Shield
Shellder is your first catch on the way to Cloyster. You'll find surfing and fishing encounters from Lv. 8-43 across 34 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch ShellderMODERATEEast Lake AxewellShieldSuper RodLv.8-1220%EarlyCaveMODERATEEast Lake AxewellSwordSuper RodLv.8-1220%EarlyCaveEASYGiant's SeatShieldSuper RodLv.30-3560%MidWaterEASYGiant's SeatSwordSuper RodLv.30-3560%MidWaterEASYCourageous CavernShieldSuper RodLv.16-2140%MidCaveEASYCourageous CavernSwordSuper RodLv.16-2140%MidCaveEASYLoop LagoonSwordSuper RodLv.19-2440%MidEASYLoop LagoonShieldSuper RodLv.19-2440%MidEASYEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4345%LateCaveRainingEASYEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4345%LateCaveRainingEASYEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4330%LateCaveSandstormEASYEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4330%LateCaveSandstormEASYWest Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.38-4025%LateCaveSnowingEASYWest Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.38-4025%LateCaveSnowingMODERATEEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4320%LateCaveSnowingMODERATEEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4320%LateCaveSnowingMODERATEEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4315%LateCaveOvercastMODERATEEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4315%LateCaveNormal WeatherMODERATEEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4315%LateCaveOvercastMODERATEEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4315%LateCaveNormal WeatherCHALLENGINGEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4310%LateCaveIntense SunCHALLENGINGEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4310%LateCaveThunderstormCHALLENGINGEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4310%LateCaveIntense SunCHALLENGINGEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4310%LateCaveThunderstormHARDEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-435%LateCaveSnowstormHARDEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-435%LateCaveHeavy FogHARDEast Lake AxewellSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-435%LateCaveSnowstormHARDEast Lake AxewellShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-435%LateCaveHeavy Fog
Step 2Cloyster ✓CHALLENGINGCourageous CavernShieldSuper RodLv.16-2110%MidCaveCHALLENGINGCourageous CavernSwordSuper RodLv.16-2110%MidCaveCHALLENGINGLoop LagoonSwordSuper RodLv.19-2410%MidCHALLENGINGLoop LagoonShieldSuper RodLv.19-2410%MidEXTREMEGiant's SeatShieldSuper RodLv.30-355%MidWaterEXTREMEGiant's SeatSwordSuper RodLv.30-355%MidWateror evolve from Shellder (Step 1)
Cloyster tops out at low spawn rates across 4 locations in late-game water routes. The encounters below are sorted by rate so you can see exactly what you're working with.
Where To Catch Cloyster in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
To get Cloyster, start by catching Shellder through surfing encounters at Lv. 39-44. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch ShellderEASYSeafoam Islands - Area 2Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.39-4430%LateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - Area 2Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.39-4430%LateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - Area 3Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.39-4430%LateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - Area 3Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.39-4430%LateWater
Step 2Cloyster ✓LEGENDARYSeafoam Islands - Area 2Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.39-441%LateWaterLEGENDARYSeafoam Islands - Area 2Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.39-441%LateWaterLEGENDARYSeafoam Islands - Area 3Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.39-441%LateWaterLEGENDARYSeafoam Islands - Area 3Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.39-441%LateWateror evolve from Shellder (Step 1)
We rate Cloyster B-Tier — a solid choice for the right team. At 525 BST, the stats are spread pretty evenly. Base 180 Defense stands out.
Shellder evolves into Cloyster using a Water Stone. Cloyster is the fully evolved form. At 525 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
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 — base 95 Attack and 85 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Cloyster appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
One of the original 151, Cloyster has appeared in 20 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A