In my mind, I think that there should be a theoretical rating system, based on a variety of factors. Smogon DOES do that with its analyses, but it seems that there is a grey area for other Pokemon. This is what I propose:
i.e.
[Pokemon]
1. Typing, Type-Affecting abilities, Weaknesses and Resistances.
2. Abilities (that do not affect type).
3. Movepool (how varied is it? what's the type coverage? how well will movesets be able to be made out of it?).
4. Base Stats, how they affect its battling prowess, and what natures, IVs and EVs can do to affect this.
5. Possible movesets, making the most out of the Pokemon's movepool.
6. Potential counters it may have, based on the aformentioned five "factor sets."
7. Potential alternates this Pokemon may have, and what this Pokemon does to set itself apart.
8. Final Notes
The way I propose is that each of these 6 or so factor sets are scored out of a set number (let's say 10 for now). These scores will be derived at based on how well the Pokemon performs in each stat. The six totals could then be averaged accordingly. An example:
Cloyster:
1. Typing, and how it affects Cloyster:
4x weak: None
2x weak: Electric, Grass, Fighting, Rock
.5x weak: Water
.25x weak: Ice
Cloyster's typing, sadly, isn't very good. Although Grass type attacks are far and few between comparably, the other three are quite common. Electric is Cloyster's number one threat, due to the sheer amount of special-tye Electric attacks. Fighting and Rock are also dangerous in the forms of Stealth Rock and Cross Chop/Close Combat. It does have a variety of STAB'd Ice attacks it can make use of, as well as a STAB'd Surf, but which make for moderate coverage.
Typing rating: 5/10
2. How Cloyster's abilities affect it:
-Ability: Skill Link
Shell Link, by definition, allows Cloyster to make use of moves that attack 2-5 times to a greater extent, as they now will attack 5 times. Spike Cannon and Ice Shard are notable enhancements that make use of this, however, aside from these moves, its usability is somewhat limited.
-Ability: Shell Armor
Shell Armor prevents Cloyster from receiving critical hits. This may be more beneficial to Cloyster, as it is far less situational. Also, it is a little added protection to a somewhat lackluster HP.
What can be said is that Cloyster does not necessarily receive any negative effects from either ability, it's just down to choosing which one suits which one you prefer, really. The only problem with its abilities is that neither are tremendously beneficial, either.
Abilities Rating: 7/10
3. Cloyster's moveset, and how it affects it:
All STAB'd attacks in
Bold
Physical Offense:
- Tackle
- Icicle Spear
- Clamp
- Ice Shard
- Spike Cannon
- Frustration/Return
- Facade
- Secret Power
- Explosion
- Payback
- Giga Impact
- Avalanche
- Natural Gift
- Poison Jab
- Take Down
- Rapid Spin
For being a primarily defensive PKMN, Cloyster certainly has a variety of offensive moves! Considering he has a 95 base attack, using an offense move or two may not be so bad. Notables include Explosion, Icicle Spear, Avalanche, Ice Shard, Rapid Spin.
Special Offense:
- Aurora Beam
- Whirlpool
- Water Pulse
- Hidden Power
- Ice Beam
- Blizzard
- Hyper Beam
- Brine
- Surf
- Bubblebeam
- Mud-Shot
When looking to do ome STAB'd damage, Cloyster seems to have that covered Special Attack-wise. A Base 85 is decidedly average, and rightfully so, which Cloyster could also make use of. Notables include Surf, Ice Beam, Brine, Whirlpool.
Supporting Moves:
- Toxic Spikes
- Withdraw
- Supersonic
- Protect
- Spikes
- Leer
- Iron Defense
- Toxic
- Hail
- Rain Dance
- Double Team (banned due to Evasion clause)
- Torment
- Rest
- Attract
- Endure
- Captivate
- Sleep Talk
- Swagger
- Substitute
- Barrier
- Screech
Although Cloyster's support movepool seems decently sized, it can only make use of a few of these, to which tanks cannot attest, as the average tank tends to be much more defensively allotted. Notables include Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Rapid Spin, Protect.
From what we see, we can determine a few things. One, Cloyster is a Rapid Spinner, as well as a Spiker. Two, when dealing out STAB'd damage, he can do well to a degree. Three, outside of STAB, his type coverage is severely lacking, notably against Electric and Fighting types. Four, his usuable support moves are somewhat lacking for a wall with his stats.
Movepool Rating: 6/10
4. Cloyster's stats, and their affect on his usability:
(All Stats are shown as such: Base, [Max 50(Bad-Good Nature), Max 100(Bad-Good Nature)])
(Max refers to having a 31 IV in that stat, as well as maxed EVs for that stat)
-HP: 50 [157, 304]
-ATK: 95 [132-161, 260-317]
-DEF: 180 [208-255, 413-504]
-Sp. ATK: 85 [123-150, 242-295]
-Sp. DEF: 45 [87-106, 170-207]
-SPD: 70 [109-134, 215-262]
What mainly stands out is its monstrous defense, that could potentially go up to a whopping 504! The problem with that is its terrible HP and Sp. Defense make little use out of this. It can make for a decent wall, but frankly, its HP prevents him from being as good a defensive wall as the likes of Snorlax, Skarmory, etc. It does have some bite though, and can make for a decently done mixed attacking tank.
Stat Rating: 6/10
5. Possible movesets Cloyster could potentially use:
These movesets were concocted by Aeolus, and can be seen in the D/P Analysis Threads.
As stated earlier, Cloyster makes his living by Spiking and Spinning. Based on his movepool, we can determine a suitable moveset or sets.
-"Standard"
Cloyster @ Leftovers
Relaxed/Impish
-Rapid Spin
-Spikes
-Explosion
-Surf/Ice Beam/Avalanche/Icicle Spear
The top two are for the spiking/spinning, and the fourth move is basically what you want to do with Cloyster offensively. Avalanche does double if Cloyster's slower (which he is), Icicle Spear runs off of Skill Link, Surf & Ice Beam are old RBY favorites.
-Spikes Galore
Cloyster @ Leftovers
Relaxed
-Toxic Spikes
-Spikes
-Rapid Spin
-Ice Beam/Surf/Explosion
Addition of Toxic Spikes, and Explosion may or may not be splendid, if you want your only spinner to blow up. Allows Poison to seem through the other team. Risks activating Guts-Banders.
That seems to be all for Cloyster, sadly. Substitute makes little use of his paltry 304 HP, Toxic is an alternate to Toxic Spikes, Ice Shard might trip up Garchomps, Protect might work once in a while, and Hail is better off on a Bulkier Ice type.
Moveset Stats: 5/10
6. Counters, what Cloyster is scared of:
-Dusknoir: Cloyster cannot Rapid Spin away Spikes if Dusknoir is in his way. The only thing that could be done is to chip away at the DUAL high defenses it has, and Toxic (Spikes) away his HP.
-Stealth Rock: Any team with a Stealth Rocker will severely hamper Cloyster's survivability for more than two switch ins.
-SpecsCario: Lucario is one of the few Fighting types able to use Special Fighting attacks. I shouldn't need to tell you anything else.
-Most Electric types, if not ALL: Electric is Cloyster's main weakness, which Cloyster cannot hope to counter. Switch out immediately.
-Strong Fighting Types: Machamp and Hariyama come to mind, Cloyster MAY survive a turn, but Explosion probably won't OHKO to Hariyama if he has full HP.
-Anyone with a strong Fighting, Electric or Grass attack does quick work of it also, sadly.
Counter Rating: 2.5/10
7. How Cloyster compares:
In the RSE days, Cloyster was the only spiker who could switch out of Magneton. These days, Skarmory & Forretress can add Shed Shells to their repertoire to swap out. Froslass, a new Ice type, manages to block RS and Spike all by itself. Unlike Donphan and Foretress, Cloyster is weak to Stealth Rock, which hampers him quite a bit. The only thing Cloyster seems to have going for him is that he can Rapid Spin in Hail.
Individuality Rating: 4/10
8. Final Notes:
Poor Cloyster. Hopefully he gets something in 5th gen to rise back to the top of the Spiking throne, which he held so dear in RBY-RSE.
Overall Score: 5.07/10
Status: Underused
Pokemon could be judged onto this scale:
7.5-10 Average: OU
4.1-7.4 Average: UU
0-4.1 Average: NU
That way, we can get rid of the BL, just for argument's sake. The only problem I see with this is score discrepancy and argument among others. The above was simply an example. Any thoughts?
