--- title: "Cloyster (#0091): Stats, Weaknesses, Moves & Lore | pokee.si" url: "https://pokee.si/pokemon/cloyster" description: "Cloyster (#0091): Water/Ice-type Bivalve Pokémon from Kanto. Base stat total 525. Stats, matchups, evolutions, moves, every Pokédex entry and lore on pokee.si." last_updated: "2026-10-21" publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)" last_checked: "2026-10-19" --- #0091 · Kanto · Generation 1 # Cloyster Bivalve Pokémon · Water/Ice-type ![Cloyster official artwork](https://pokee.si/img/art/91.webp) Cloyster is a [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water)/[Ice](https://pokee.si/types/ice)-type Pokémon, the Bivalve Pokémon, number 91 (#0091) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the [Kanto](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/kanto) region. It is 1.5 m tall and weighs 132.5 kg. Cloyster is the Bivalve Pokémon, a spiked clam whose shell, the Pokédex says, cannot be shattered even by a bomb. Nobody has ever seen what is inside it. ## How to pronounce Cloyster Cloyster is pronounced **KLOY-ster**. The capital letters show the stressed syllable. Listen to Cloyster said out loud: [Listen](https://pokee.si/audio/names/91.mp3) In Japanese it is パルシェン (Parshen). Hear every other name on the [Pokémon pronunciation guide](https://pokee.si/pronounce). ## Lore ### Biology Cloyster is a black, pearl-faced mollusc sealed inside a light-grey shell wrapped in a jagged blue-violet outer shell covered with horns. It is 1.5 m tall and weighs 132.5 kg. Its spikes are said to be even harder than the shell, and Pokédex text says those on Cloyster from harsh tidal seas grow large and sharp. The Pokédex says nothing can pry its shell open once it slams shut. ### Behaviour Cloyster keeps its shell shut and opens it only to attack. It fires spikes in quick volleys, using the same water-jet system that it swims with by swallowing seawater and ejecting it backwards. The Ultra Moon entry says it sometimes comes ashore to hunt. ### Habitat The Pokédex habitat list puts Cloyster in the sea, and Bulbapedia says it is rarely found in the wild. In Scarlet and Violet it appears in all four Paldean Seas and in 4 and 5 star Tera Raids. It is not available in Legends: Z-A. ### Diet The Ultra Moon Pokédex says Slowpoke tails are its favourite food. ### Powers Its Abilities are Shell Armor and Skill Link, with Overcoat hidden. Cloyster can fire Icicle Spear and Icicle Crash and raise its Attack with Shell Smash, and it sets up Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Its base Defense of 180 is monstrous, though its 50 HP and 45 Special Defense are modest. ### Name origin Cloyster may combine 'clam' and 'oyster' with a play on 'cloister', to shut oneself away. The Japanese name is Parshen (パルシェン), which may blend 'pearl' and 'shell'. ### Design inspiration Ken Sugimori designed Cloyster. Bulbapedia says it appears to be based on a Spondylus, or thorny oyster, with a black pearl for its head. This is a fan reading. ### Evolution notes Cloyster comes from Shellder with a Water Stone, and in the games it learns Icicle Spear on evolving. ### In the games Cloyster's most notable game role is on the Blue Table of Pokémon Pinball, where shooting the ball into it starts Catch'em Mode. It is a Generation I original. ### In the anime Cloyster debuted in 'The Bridge Bike Gang' under Tyra, and Prima's Cloyster beat Ash in 'The Mandarin Island Miss Match'. Goh caught one in 'Battling in the Freezing Raid!'. ### Fun facts - A Moon Pokédex entry says archaeologists digging up ancient hunting tribes' tombs found spears tipped with spikes shed by Cloyster. - Bulbapedia says Cloyster ties with Mega Slowbro for the highest base Defense of any Water Pokémon, perhaps a deliberate echo of the Shellder that forms part of Slowbro. - Bulbapedia sees Cloyster as a counterpart to Starmie: both gain a second type when a Water Stone evolves them, but Cloyster is slow and defensive while Starmie is fast and offensive. - Some early artwork draws the shiny spot on its head as a defined shape, perhaps a gem or pearl. Sources: [Bulbapedia: Cloyster (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cloyster_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) · [Serebii: Cloyster (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/cloyster/) ## Base stats - HP: **50** - Attack: **95** - Defense: **180** - Sp. Atk: **85** - Sp. Def: **45** - Speed: **70** Cloyster’s base stat total is **525**. Its highest stat is Defense. ## Type matchups ### What is Cloyster weak to? Cloyster takes extra damage from [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric) (2×), [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) (2×), [Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) (2×), [Rock](https://pokee.si/types/rock) (2×) moves. It resists [Ice](https://pokee.si/types/ice) (¼×), [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) (½×). ## Evolution ### What does Cloyster evolve from? Cloyster evolves from [Shellder](https://pokee.si/pokemon/shellder) (Water Stone). Cloyster is the final stage of its evolution family. The whole family: [Shellder](https://pokee.si/pokemon/shellder), **Cloyster**. ## Abilities - [Shell Armor](https://pokee.si/abilities/shell-armor): Protects against critical hits. - [Skill Link](https://pokee.si/abilities/skill-link): Extends two-to-five-hit moves and Triple Kick to their full length every time. - [Overcoat](https://pokee.si/abilities/overcoat) (hidden ability): Protects against damage from weather. ## Moves ### Moves Cloyster learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet | Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Evo | [Icicle Spear](https://pokee.si/moves/icicle-spear) | Ice | Physical | 25 | | 1 | [Icicle Crash](https://pokee.si/moves/icicle-crash) | Ice | Physical | 85 | | 1 | [Shell Smash](https://pokee.si/moves/shell-smash) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Ice Shard](https://pokee.si/moves/ice-shard) | Ice | Physical | 40 | | 1 | [Toxic Spikes](https://pokee.si/moves/toxic-spikes) | Poison | Status | — | | 1 | [Iron Defense](https://pokee.si/moves/iron-defense) | Steel | Status | — | | 1 | [Whirlpool](https://pokee.si/moves/whirlpool) | Water | Special | 35 | | 1 | [Spikes](https://pokee.si/moves/spikes) | Ground | Status | — | | 1 | [Protect](https://pokee.si/moves/protect) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Withdraw](https://pokee.si/moves/withdraw) | Water | Status | — | | 1 | [Aurora Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/aurora-beam) | Ice | Special | 65 | | 1 | [Ice Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/ice-beam) | Ice | Special | 90 | | 1 | [Hydro Pump](https://pokee.si/moves/hydro-pump) | Water | Special | 110 | | 1 | [Water Gun](https://pokee.si/moves/water-gun) | Water | Special | 40 | | 1 | [Supersonic](https://pokee.si/moves/supersonic) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Leer](https://pokee.si/moves/leer) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Tackle](https://pokee.si/moves/tackle) | Normal | Physical | 40 | | 5 | [Razor Shell](https://pokee.si/moves/razor-shell) | Water | Physical | 75 | “Evo” means Cloyster learns the move the moment it evolves: [Icicle Spear](https://pokee.si/moves/icicle-spear). ### TM moves (39) Cloyster can learn 39 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: [Take Down](https://pokee.si/moves/take-down), [Scary Face](https://pokee.si/moves/scary-face), [Protect](https://pokee.si/moves/protect), [Water Pulse](https://pokee.si/moves/water-pulse), [Chilling Water](https://pokee.si/moves/chilling-water), [Facade](https://pokee.si/moves/facade), [Swift](https://pokee.si/moves/swift), [Icy Wind](https://pokee.si/moves/icy-wind), [Mud Shot](https://pokee.si/moves/mud-shot), [Avalanche](https://pokee.si/moves/avalanche), [Endure](https://pokee.si/moves/endure), [Rain Dance](https://pokee.si/moves/rain-dance), [Snowscape](https://pokee.si/moves/snowscape), [Smart Strike](https://pokee.si/moves/smart-strike), [Body Slam](https://pokee.si/moves/body-slam), [Sleep Talk](https://pokee.si/moves/sleep-talk), [Light Screen](https://pokee.si/moves/light-screen), [Rock Blast](https://pokee.si/moves/rock-blast), [Waterfall](https://pokee.si/moves/waterfall), [Poison Jab](https://pokee.si/moves/poison-jab), [Rest](https://pokee.si/moves/rest), [Spikes](https://pokee.si/moves/spikes), [Toxic Spikes](https://pokee.si/moves/toxic-spikes), [Substitute](https://pokee.si/moves/substitute), [Iron Defense](https://pokee.si/moves/iron-defense), [Drill Run](https://pokee.si/moves/drill-run), [Liquidation](https://pokee.si/moves/liquidation), [Surf](https://pokee.si/moves/surf), [Ice Spinner](https://pokee.si/moves/ice-spinner), [Helping Hand](https://pokee.si/moves/helping-hand), [Ice Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/ice-beam), [Hydro Pump](https://pokee.si/moves/hydro-pump), [Blizzard](https://pokee.si/moves/blizzard), [Giga Impact](https://pokee.si/moves/giga-impact), [Hyper Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/hyper-beam), [Tera Blast](https://pokee.si/moves/tera-blast), [Icicle Spear](https://pokee.si/moves/icicle-spear), [Weather Ball](https://pokee.si/moves/weather-ball), [Whirlpool](https://pokee.si/moves/whirlpool). Egg moves (4), which Shellder can hatch knowing:[Aqua Ring](https://pokee.si/moves/aqua-ring), [Bubble Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/bubble-beam), [Life Dew](https://pokee.si/moves/life-dew), [Water Pulse](https://pokee.si/moves/water-pulse). ## Breeding & training - Gender: 50% male, 50% female. - Egg groups: Water 3. - Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560). - Catch rate: 60 out of 255. - Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50. - Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100). - Defeating it gives 2 Defense effort values. - Base experience yield: 184. ## Pokédex entries Once it slams its shell shut, it is impossible to open, even by those with superior strength. *(Gold, HeartGold, Shield)* Its shell is extremely hard. It cannot be shattered, even with a bomb. The shell opens only when it is attacking. *(FireRed, Y, Sword)* For protection, it uses its harder-than-diamond shell. It also shoots spikes from the shell. *(Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)* Slowpoke tails are its favorite food. It has even been known to come up on land to look for Slowpoke from time to time. *(Ultra Moon)* If areas of Cloyster's very hard shell get damaged, those areas swell, gradually growing into large sharp spikes. *(Ultra Sun)* Excavation of the tombs of ancient hunting tribes has turned up many spears tipped with spikes that had fallen off this Pokémon's shell. *(Moon)* ## Names around the world - **Japanese**: パルシェン - **Romaji**: Parshen - **French**: Crustabri - **German**: Austos - **Spanish**: Cloyster - **Italian**: Cloyster - **Korean**: 파르셀 - **Chinese (Simplified)**: 刺甲贝 - **Chinese (Traditional)**: 刺甲貝 ## Trivia - Highest Defense among Water types: 180. - Highest Defense among Gen 1 Pokémon: 180. - Highest Defense among Water types in Gen 1: 180. - Highest Attack among Ice types in Gen 1: 95. - Highest Defense among Ice types in Gen 1: 180. - Taller than 72% of all Pokémon (1.5 m). - Heavier than 88% of all Pokémon (132.5 kg). - Base stat total 525, ranked #189 of 1,025. - Its best stat is Defense, ranked #6 of 1,025. - One of 8 Pokémon that are both Water and Ice. - One of 87 purple Pokémon. - Number 91 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto). - Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon. - Can learn 52 different moves in Scarlet / Violet. - Catch rate 60: about 7.8% per Poké Ball at full health. - Appears in 14 distinct Pokédex entries. ## Sources and fact-checking - Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: [PokéAPI](https://pokeapi.co) open game data. - Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from [Bulbapedia: Cloyster (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cloyster_(Pok%C3%A9mon)), [Serebii: Cloyster (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/cloyster/). - Pronunciation (KLOY-ster): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it. **Last checked:** 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data. ## Explore [Water-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/water) · [Ice-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/ice) · [Water/Ice weaknesses and matchups](https://pokee.si/types/water-ice) · [Kanto region guide](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/kanto) · [Shell Armor ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/shell-armor) · [Skill Link ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/skill-link) · [Overcoat ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/overcoat) · [Compare Cloyster](https://pokee.si/compare?ids=91) · [Full Pokédex](https://pokee.si/pokedex) · [Type chart](https://pokee.si/types) · [All moves](https://pokee.si/moves) ## Browse similar Pokémon [Gen 1 Water-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/water/gen-1) · [Gen 1 Ice-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/ice/gen-1) · [Gen 1 Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/pokedex/gen-1) · [Purple Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/colours/purple) · [Water 3 egg group](https://pokee.si/egg-groups/water-3) · [Pokémon that start with C](https://pokee.si/pokemon-names/c) · [What does the Water Stone evolve?](https://pokee.si/evolution/water-stone) ← [Shellder](https://pokee.si/pokemon/shellder) | [Gastly](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gastly) → --- Source: https://pokee.si/pokemon/cloyster (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. 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