Is Cloyster Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
AbilitySkill Link makes Icicle Spear and Rock Blast hit five times each. Shell Smash (learned at L50) turns Cloyster into a wrecking ball. Handles Cynthia's Garchomp with Ice priority and contributes against Bertha. Underrated Underground pickup.
Shellder resists most of Roark's coverage and hits back hard.
Shellder trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Shellder trades roughly evenly with Maylene's team.
Crasher Wake's typing presses Shellder's defenses.
Fantina's team hits Shellder's weaknesses hard.
Shellder has the type edge here and should clean up Byron's team.
Shellder trades roughly evenly with Candice's team.
Volkner's team hits Shellder's weaknesses hard.
Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.
Cloyster has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.
Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Cloyster trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Catch Shellder on Route 205 (Super Rod fishing, Lv 20-40, uncommon).
You can pick up the Water Stone in Route 213.
How to Get Cloyster in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
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 BDSP
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 ShellderFuego IronworksLv.20-40Super RodRate 5%Route 205 - SouthLv.20-40Super RodRate 5%Valley WindworksLv.20-40Super RodRate 5%Fountainspring CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CavePost-game
Step 2Cloyster ✓
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 |
What is Cloyster Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Cloyster
 Machop Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x79-93% Rock Slide 2x26-33% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Geodude builds →Focus Punch 2x52-62% Stone Edge 2x52-64% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Onix builds →Stone Edge 2x36-43% Rock Smash 2x12-14% | ||
 Budew GrassPoison | D | |
 Shinx Electric | C | |
Machop Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machop builds →Focus Punch 2x80-95% Rock Slide 2x30-36% | ||
 Pachirisu Electric | C | |
 Luxio Electric | D | |
 Electrike Electric | C | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Geodude builds →Focus Punch 2x52-64% Stone Edge 2x57-68% | ||
 Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x86-103%KO Rock Slide 2x29-35% | ||
 Manectric Electric | C | |
 Luxray Electric | C | |
 Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Probopass builds →Power Gem 2x109-129%KO Thunderbolt 2x81-96% Rock Smash 2x13-15% | ||
Pachirisu Electric | C | |
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x86-103%KO Rock Slide 2x29-35% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Sudowoodo builds →Focus Punch 2x57-68% Wood Hammer 2x47-56% Stone Edge 2x57-68% | ||
Manectric Electric | C | |
Luxray Electric | C | |
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Probopass builds →Power Gem 2x109-129%KO Thunderbolt 2x81-96% Rock Smash 2x13-15% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x85-100%KO Rock Slide 2x29-34% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Sudowoodo builds →Focus Punch 2x56-67% Wood Hammer 2x45-54% Stone Edge 2x57-68% | ||
Manectric Electric | C | |
Luxray Electric | C | |
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Probopass builds →Power Gem 2x106-126%KO Thunderbolt 2x80-95% Rock Smash 2x11-13% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x81-96% Rock Slide 2x28-34% | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Pikachu Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Pikachu builds →Focus Punch 2x35-42% Thunderbolt 2x86-102%KO | ||
 Medicham FightingPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Medicham builds →Focus Punch 2x56-66% Energy Ball 2x66-78% Thunder Punch 2x20-24% Rock Slide 2x20-24% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x80-95% Rock Slide 2x28-34% | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Abomasnow builds →Solar Beam 2x180-213%KO Focus Punch 2x50-60% Rock Slide 2x26-32% | ||
Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Pikachu Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Pikachu builds →Focus Punch 2x35-41% Thunderbolt 2x88-104%KO | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x80-95% Rock Slide 2x28-34% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Abomasnow builds →Solar Beam 2x180-213%KO Focus Punch 2x50-60% Rock Slide 2x26-32% | ||
Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
 Raichu Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Raichu builds →Focus Punch 2x49-58% Thunderbolt 2x133-157%KO | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 2x94-111%KO Stone Edge 2x42-49% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x81-96% Rock Slide 2x28-33% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x61-72% Focus Punch 2x50-59% Rock Slide 2x26-31% | ||
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Regieleki's Thunderbolt also KOs at 283-334%.
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Garchomp builds →Earthquake27-32% | ||
 Rillaboom Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityGrassy Surge ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Rillaboom builds →Knock Off28-34% U Turn30-36% | ||
 Regieleki Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTransistor ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Regieleki builds →Volt Switch 2x221-260%KO Thunderbolt 2x283-334%KO Rapid Spin8-10% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Cloyster View Urshifu builds →Close Combat 2x146-172%KO Sucker Punch43-50% U Turn28-34% | ||
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 21 partners from the Water3 egg group. Notable egg moves include Aqua Ring, Bubble Beam, Icicle Spear and 6 more.
BDSP Cloyster Best Moveset
Dropped from A-tier but AbilitySkill Link guaranteeing 5 hits on multi-strike moves combined with MoveShell Smash for +2 Attack, Sp. Atk, and Speed in one turn gives the moveset an explosive setup path it lacked in the original Gen 4. 180 Defense absorbs physical hits during setup. B-tier because 50/45 HP and Sp. Def fold to special attacks.
Best Build
Cloyster best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Ice Shard
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
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
Base Stats
It fights by keeping its shell tightly shut for protection and by shooting spikes to repel foes.
Cloyster Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, we rate Cloyster B-Tier: a solid option in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl for the right team. At 525 BST, the stats are spread pretty evenly. Shellsmash 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 mixed attacker with base 95 Attack and 85 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, run Shellsmash, Icicle Spear, Rock Blast, and Ice Shard on Cloyster. Shellsmash is the most common pick at 0% usage. This set covers the balanced 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