Clamperl
Clamperl is a Water-type Pokémon, the Bivalve Pokémon, number 366 (#0366) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 3 and comes from the Hoenn region. It is 0.4 m tall and weighs 52.5 kg.
Clamperl is the Bivalve Pokémon, a Water type that makes a single pearl in its lifetime. Despite its calm look it is a carnivore that snaps its shell shut on prey and will not let go.
How to pronounce Clamperl
Clamperl is pronounced KLAM-purl. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Clamperl said out loud:
In Japanese it is パールル (Pearlulu).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Clamperl is a bivalve with a dark blue shell rimmed in silver; a fully grown shell is scored with nicks and scratches. Inside, a fragile light blue body of six rounded extensions surrounds a pink, pearl-like head. It is 0.4 m tall and weighs 52.5 kg. The Pokédex says it keeps growing until it no longer fits inside its shell, a sure sign that evolution is close.
Behaviour
Clamperl spends its early life shut inside its rock-hard shell. The pearl it makes when it evolves is said to amplify psychic power when held, and one entry calls it infused with a mysterious energy.
Habitat
The Pokédex places Clamperl on the seabed. In Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald it is found underwater on Routes 124 and 126, and Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and Legends: Z-A.
Diet
It is carnivorous: the Ultra Sun Pokédex says it clamps down on prey with both halves of its shell and holds on until the prey stops moving.
Powers
Shell Armor protects it from critical hits, and Rattled is hidden. It knows Clamp, Water Gun, Whirlpool and Iron Defense from the start and learns Shell Smash at level 50. Its best base stat is Defense, at 85.
Name origin
Clamperl may blend 'clamp' or 'clam' with 'pearl'. The Japanese name is Pearlulu (パールル), possibly from 'pearl' and lulu, Arabic for pearls.
Design inspiration
Clamperl seems to be modelled on an oyster or giant clam. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
Clamperl evolves into Huntail if traded while it holds a Deep Sea Tooth, or into Gorebyss with a Deep Sea Scale.
In the games
Clamperl is where the choice between Huntail and Gorebyss begins, a fork that first appeared in Ruby and Sapphire. Outside Hoenn it can be fished up on Route 4 in Black and White and on Route 15 in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
In the anime
Clamperl debuted in 'Clamperl of Wisdom', where a Spoink that lost its own pearl took a blue pearl made by a Clamperl from Isaiah's lab, causing a conflict. In 'The Evolutionary War!', Nancy's and Keith's Clamperl evolve on the A-B-C Islands into a Gorebyss and a Huntail.
Fun facts
- Bulbapedia says Clamperl is the only Pokémon with two different trade-evolution items, and both also boost its stats while it holds them: a Deep Sea Tooth doubles Special Attack and a Deep Sea Scale doubles Special Defense.
- The Ultra Moon Pokédex says its pearls can cost more than 10 times as much as a Shellder's.
- Spoink's Pokédex entries in FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, SoulSilver and Y say the pearl on its head comes from a Clamperl.
Base stats
- HP: 35
- Attack: 64
- Defense: 85
- Sp. Atk: 74
- Sp. Def: 55
- Speed: 32
Clamperl’s base stat total is 345. Its highest stat is Defense.
Type matchups
What is Clamperl weak to?
Clamperl takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Grass (2×) moves.
It resists Fire (½×), Water (½×), Ice (½×), Steel (½×).
Evolution
How does Clamperl evolve?
Clamperl evolves into Huntail (Trade holding Deep Sea Tooth). Clamperl evolves into Gorebyss (Trade holding Deep Sea Scale).
The whole family: Clamperl, Huntail, Gorebyss.
Abilities
- Shell Armor: Protects against critical hits.
- Rattled (hidden ability): Raises Speed one stage upon being hit by a Dark, Ghost, or Bug move.
Moves
Moves Clamperl learns by level up in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clamp | Water | Physical | 35 |
| 1 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 |
| 1 | Whirlpool | Water | Special | 35 |
| 1 | Iron Defense | Steel | Status | — |
| 50 | Shell Smash | Normal | Status | — |
TM moves (21)
Clamperl can learn 21 moves from TMs in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon: Toxic, Hail, Hidden Power, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Protect, Rain Dance, Frustration, Return, Double Team, Facade, Rest, Attract, Round, Scald, Swagger, Sleep Talk, Substitute, Surf, Waterfall, Confide.
Egg moves (11):Aqua Ring, Barrier, Body Slam, Brine, Confuse Ray, Endure, Mud Sport, Muddy Water, Refresh, Supersonic, Water Pulse.
Move tutor moves (4): Icy Wind, Iron Defense, Snore, Water Pulse.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
- Egg groups: Water 1.
- Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
- Catch rate: 255 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Slow Then Very Fast (600,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 1 Defense effort value.
- Base experience yield: 69.
Pokédex entries
Clamperl's pearls are exceedingly precious. They can be more than 10 times as costly as Shellder's pearls. (Ultra Moon)
Despite its appearance, it's carnivorous. It clamps down on its prey with both sides of its shell and doesn't let go until they stop moving. (Ultra Sun)
Clamperl grows while being protected by its rock-hard shell. When its body becomes too large to fit inside the shell, it is sure evidence that this Pokémon is getting close to evolution. (Sapphire, Alpha Sapphire)
Clamperl's sturdy shell is not only good for protection - it is also used for clamping and catching prey. A fully grown Clamperl's shell will be scored with nicks and scratches all over. (Ruby, Omega Ruby)
It is protected by a sturdy shell. Once in a lifetime, it makes a magnificent pearl. (FireRed, LeafGreen, Y)
When it evolves, it makes a mysterious pearl that amplifies psychic powers when it's held. (HeartGold, SoulSilver, X)
Names around the world
| Japanese | パールル |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Pearlulu |
| French | Coquiperl |
| German | Perlu |
| Spanish | Clamperl |
| Italian | Clamperl |
| Korean | 진주몽 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 珍珠贝 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 珍珠貝 |
Trivia
- Shortest Water type in Gen 3: 0.4 m, shared with 2 others.
- Taller than 11% of all Pokémon (0.4 m).
- Heavier than 68% of all Pokémon (52.5 kg).
- Base stat total 345, ranked #714 of 1,025.
- One of 154 Water-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 170 blue Pokémon.
- Number 115 of 135 Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 (Hoenn).
- Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
- Can learn 39 different moves in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon.
- Catch rate 255: about 33.3% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 8 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Clamperl (Pokémon), Serebii: Clamperl (Sword/Shield Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (KLAM-purl): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Water-type Pokémon · Hoenn region guide · Shell Armor ability · Rattled ability · Compare Clamperl · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
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