Is Cloyster Good in Black 2 & White 2 Playthrough?
Water Stone on Shellder. Water/Ice with AbilitySkill Link. Shell Smash boosts Attack, Sp. Atk, and Speed in one turn, and AbilitySkill Link Icicle Spear always hits five times. After one Shell Smash, Cloyster can clear Drayden's entire gym and chunks of the E4. One of the strongest setup options in BW2.
Shellder has the type edge here and should clean up Cheren's team.
Shellder has the type edge here and should clean up Roxie's team.
Shellder has the type edge here and should clean up Burgh's team.
Shellder has the type edge here and should clean up Elesa's team.
Shellder resists most of Clay's coverage and hits back hard.
Shellder trades roughly evenly with Skyla's team.
Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Drayden's team.
Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Marlon's team.
Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Shauntal's team.
Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Grimsley's team.
Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Caitlin's team.
Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Marshal's team.
Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Iris's team.
Catch Cloyster on Undella Town (rippling water fishing, Lv 50-70, rare). Shaking/Bubbling spots.
Catch Shellder on Undella Town (Super Rod fishing, Lv 40-60, common).
How to Get Cloyster in Black 2 & White 2
Cloyster starts showing up in endgame routes at high spawn rates across 8 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 B2W2
Shellder is your first catch on the way to Cloyster. You'll find fishing and walking encounters from Lv. 40-70 across 16 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch ShellderRoute 13Lv.40-60Super RodRate 70%AnyUndella TownLv.40-60Super RodRate 40%AnyHumilau CityLv.40-60Super RodRate 30%AnySeaside Cave - 1FLv.40-60Super RodRate 30%Any- Step 2Cloyster ✓Humilau CityLv.50-70Rippling Water FishRate 100%AnyShaking spotRoute 13Lv.50-70Rippling Water FishRate 100%AnyShaking spotUndella TownLv.50-70Rippling Water FishRate 100%AnyShaking spotSeaside Cave - 1FLv.50-70Rippling Water FishRate 5%AnyShaking spotor evolve from Shellder (Step 1)
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass, Fighting, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Ice |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Cloyster Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Cloyster
 Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift | ||
 Flaaffy Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Flaaffy builds →Thunder Shock 2x59-71% Rock Smash 2x12-16% | ||
 Riolu Fighting | C | |
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Magnemite builds →Thunder Shock 2x69-82% | ||
Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift | ||
 Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
 Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Leafeon builds →Razor Leaf 2x38-46% Rock Smash 2x17-22% | ||
 Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Flaaffy Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Flaaffy builds →Thunder Shock 2x54-65% Rock Smash 2x12-15% | ||
 Servine Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Snivy (Aspertia City Gift) | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
 Sunflora Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Sunflora builds →Petal Dance 2x209-247%KO | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Magnezone builds →Thunder Shock 2x86-103%KO | ||
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Leafeon builds →Razor Leaf 2x38-46% Rock Smash 2x19-23% | ||
 Ampharos Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Ampharos builds →Thunder Punch 2x38-46% Rock Smash 2x14-18% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x81-95% Smack Down 2x23-27% | ||
Sunflora Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Sunflora builds →Petal Dance 2x199-235%KO | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Magnezone ElectricSteel | A | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Magnezone builds →Thunder Shock 2x81-95% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x79-93% Rock Slide 2x34-40% | ||
Sunflora Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Sunflora builds →Petal Dance 2x198-234%KO | ||
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Gurdurr builds →Brick Break 2x43-51% Rock Slide 2x28-34% | ||
 Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x80-95% Rock Slide 2x33-40% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x217-255%KO | ||
 Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter | ||
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Ferrothorn builds →Power Whip 2x63-75% Thunder 2x82-97% Rock Smash 2x15-18% Rollout 2x13-15% | ||
Sunflora Grass | C | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x80-94% Rock Slide 2x33-39% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x217-255%KO | ||
Cobalion SteelFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter | ||
 Mienshao Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Mienshao builds →Jump Kick 2x66-78% Rock Slide 2x33-39% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 22 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Terrakion builds →Sacred Sword 2x62-73% Rock Slide 2x52-61% | ||
 Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Nacrene City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Rampardos builds →Head Smash 2x124-147%KO Brick Break 2x42-50% Thunderbolt 2x75-89% | ||
Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Gurdurr builds →Focus Punch 2x85-100%KO Stone Edge 2x38-45% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x78-92% Stone Edge 2x44-51% | ||
Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 22 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Terrakion builds →Close Combat 2x80-95% Stone Edge 2x68-80% | ||
 Sawk Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Sawk builds →Close Combat 2x78-92% Stone Edge 2x44-51% | ||
In Black 2 & White 2, Groudon's Stone Edge hits Cloyster for 61-71%. Genesect deals 63-75% with Explosion.
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Groudon builds →Earthquake30-36% Stone Edge 2x61-71% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureNaive Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Genesect builds →U Turn18-22% Ice Beam15-17% Explosion63-75% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChopleberry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Tyranitar builds →Pursuit11-13% Crunch22-26% Superpower 2x65-76% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin8-10% | ||
Cloyster Evolutions
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
Breeding
Breed with Cloyster to get Shellder eggs easily using 25 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Aqua Ring, Avalanche, Barrier and 9 more.
B2W2 Cloyster Best Moveset
One MoveShell Smash boosts Attack, Sp. Atk, and Speed by two stages each. AbilitySkill Link makes MoveIcicle Spear hit five times at boosted power, and opponents need priority moves or a surviving faster Pokemon to answer it after the setup turn. The moveset ends games after one boost if nothing stops it immediately.
Best Build
Cloyster best EVs are Attack and Speed
Support Moveset
- Icicle Spear
- Shell Smash
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Aqua Ring and Avalanche on Cloyster. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Blizzard and Hydro Pump, they expand what Cloyster can actually threaten in practice.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
It fights by keeping its shell tightly shut for protection and by shooting spikes to repel foes.
Cloyster Black 2 & White 2 Guide
For Black 2 & White 2, we rate Cloyster B-Tier: a solid option in Black 2 & White 2 for the right team. At 525 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Icicle Spear with Focus Sash is the standard set.
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 physical attacker with base 95 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a hazard setter.
In Black 2 & White 2, run Icicle Spear, Shellsmash, Rapid Spin, and Spikes on Cloyster. Icicle Spear is the most common pick at 0% 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
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves