Mixed
Balanced
70Speed · Below Avg

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
Weight132.5 kg
Base XP184
Abilities
Shell ArmorRare
Protects against critical hits.
Skill LinkTop Pick
Extends two-to-five-hit moves and triple kick to their full length every time.
OvercoatHA
Protects against damage from weather.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entries

Cloyster that live in seas with harsh tidal currents grow large, sharp spikes on their shells.

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
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune
None
How to Beat Cloyster (Best Counters)
Chansey
ChanseyThreatens with Seismic Toss, cures status via Natural Cure
Normal
B
Recommended Build
AbilityNatural Cure
ItemEviolite
NatureBold
Moves
  • Seismic Toss
  • Soft Boiled
  • ToxicUtility
  • Stealth Rock
View Chansey builds →

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
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
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 37 partners from the Water3 egg group.

Egg Groups
Water3
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
drapionclawitzergolisopodcursolacrawdauntcorsolaskorupiclaunchercorphisharcheopsomastarkabutops

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

All 20 games
Solid pick
Ability
Skill Link
Item
White Herb
Best Nature for Cloyster

Cloyster best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Sweeper Moveset

  • Shell Smash
  • Icicle SpearSTAB
  • Rock Blast
  • Drill Run

Recommended Teammates

Moves

All 20 games

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

Lv 1
Aurora Beam
6510020Ice
Lv 1
Hydro Pump
C110805Water
Lv 1
Ice Beam
C9010010Ice
Lv 1
Ice Shard+1
A4010030Ice
Lv 1
Icicle Crash
C859010Ice
Lv 1
Iron Defense
C15Steel
Lv 1
Leer
D10030Normal
Lv 1
Protect+4
A10Normal
Lv 1
Shell Smash
S15Normal
Lv 1
Spikes
C20Ground
Lv 1
Supersonic
5520Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D4010035Normal
Lv 1
Toxic Spikes
C20Poison
Lv 1
Water Gun
D4010025Water
Lv 1
Whirlpool
D358515Water
Lv 1
Withdraw
D40Water
Lv 5
Razor Shell
B759510Water

TM Moves

TM
TM46
Avalanche-4
C6010010Ice
TM143
Blizzard
C110705Ice
TM66
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
TM22
Chilling Water
C5010020Water
TM106
Drill Run
A809510Ground
TM47
Endure+4
C10Normal
TM25
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM152
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM130
Helping Hand+5
C20Normal
TM142
Hydro Pump
C110805Water
TM163
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM135
Ice Beam
C9010010Ice
TM124
Ice Spinner
C8010015Ice
TM187
Icicle Spear
S2510030Ice
TM34
Icy Wind
C559515Ice
TM104
Iron Defense
C15Steel
TM75
Light Screen
C30Psychic
TM110
Liquidation
A8510010Water
TM35
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
TM83
Poison Jab
A8010020Poison
TM07
Protect+4
A10Normal
TM50
Rain Dance
C5Water
TM85
Rest
C5Psychic
TM76
Rock Blast
S259010Rock
TM06
Scary Face
C10010Normal
TM70
Sleep Talk
C10Normal
TM53
Smart Strike
C7010Steel
TM52
Snowscape
C10Ice
TM90
Spikes
C20Ground
TM103
Substitute
C10Normal
TM123
Surf
C9010015Water
TM32
Swift
D6020Normal
TM01
Take Down
C908520Normal
TM171
Tera Blast
B8010010Normal
TM91
Toxic Spikes
C20Poison
TM11
Water Pulse
C6010020Water
TM77
Waterfall
A8010015Water
TM193
Weather Ball
D5010010Normal
TM208
Whirlpool
D358515Water

Egg Moves

Cloyster doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Cloyster can't learn any Tutor moves
All 20 games

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.

  1. Shellder
    Step 1Catch Shellder
    Casseroya Lake - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    Casseroya Lake - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    Casseroya Lake - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    Casseroya Lake - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    East Paldean Sea - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    East Paldean Sea - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    East Paldean Sea - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    East Paldean Sea - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    East Province (Area One) - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area One) - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area One) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area One) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area Three) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area Three) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area Two) - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area Two) - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area Two) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    East Province (Area Two) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    Glaseado Mountain
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
    36%Early
    Glaseado Mountain
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Cave
    36%Early
    North Paldean Sea - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    North Paldean Sea - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    North Province (Area One) - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    North Province (Area One) - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    North Province (Area One) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    North Province (Area One) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    North Province (Area Three) - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    North Province (Area Three) - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    North Province (Area Three) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    North Province (Area Three) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Paldean Sea - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    South Paldean Sea - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    South Province (Area Five) - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area Five) - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area Five) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area Five) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area Four) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area Four) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area One) - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area One) - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area One) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area One) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area Six) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    South Province (Area Six) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    West Paldean Sea - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    West Paldean Sea - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Water
    36%Early
    West Province (Area One) - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    West Province (Area One) - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    West Province (Area One) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    West Province (Area One) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    West Province (Area Two) - Beach
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    West Province (Area Two) - Beach
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    West Province (Area Two) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
    West Province (Area Two) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.15-40 Route
    36%Early
  2. Cloyster
    Step 2Cloyster
    Casseroya Lake - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    Casseroya Lake - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    East Paldean Sea - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    East Paldean Sea - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    East Province (Area One) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    East Province (Area One) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    East Province (Area Three) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    East Province (Area Three) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    East Province (Area Two) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    East Province (Area Two) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    Glaseado Mountain
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Cave
    1%Late
    Glaseado Mountain
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Cave
    1%Late
    North Paldean Sea - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    North Paldean Sea - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    North Province (Area One) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    North Province (Area One) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    North Province (Area Three) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    North Province (Area Three) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    South Paldean Sea - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    South Paldean Sea - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    South Province (Area Five) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    South Province (Area Five) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    South Province (Area Four) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    South Province (Area Four) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    South Province (Area One) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    South Province (Area One) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    South Province (Area Six) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    South Province (Area Six) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    West Paldean Sea - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    West Paldean Sea - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Water
    1%Late
    West Province (Area One) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    West Province (Area One) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    West Province (Area Two) - Ocean
    VioletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    West Province (Area Two) - Ocean
    ScarletOverworld Lv.35-65 Route
    1%Late
    or 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.

  • 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.

  • Cloyster has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Grass, and Fighting-type attackers hit hardest.

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.

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