Pokemon Strategy Guide - [Pokemon Name]

Preferred Moveset

Poison Sting, with its superior energy generation and equal damage and duration, is preferred over Mud Shot. Poison Sting is required for key wins against Azumarill, Dewgong, Dunsparce, Jumpluff, Mandibuzz, and even enemy Clodsire. Mud Shot is a good move, but Poison Sting is simply better, with the extra energy generation being helpful for reaching Clodsire's relatively expensive Charged Attacks.

Clodsire should always run Earthquake. Although it is slow to charge, Clodsire's bulk and fast energy generation with Poison Sting allow it to use Earthquake multiple times per battle. Earthquake is important to defeat enemy Clodsire, which otherwise walls Clodsire without Earthquake. Earthquake is also important in matchups against Drapion, Dunsparce, Ferrothorn, Alolan Sandslash and Toxapex. The choice of the second Charged Attack depends on what role a player would like Clodsire to play on their team. Sludge Bomb allows Clodsire to be a more consistent check against Azumarill and Chesnaught, whereas Stone Edge gives Clodsire the famously unresisted EdgeQuake coverage, allowing it to defeat Mandibuzz and even Dewgong. Megahorn is generally inferior to both Stone Edge and Sludge Bomb, but does allow Clodsire to threaten Greninja and Malamar with knockouts in the 1-1 and 0-0 shield scenarios.

Using Clodsire

Clodsire's fantastic bulk, excellent defensive typing, and widely unresisted move coverage make it a standout player in the Championship Series metagame. These traits allow Clodsire to hard counter many Pokemon, even at a shield disadvantage, including Fairy types such as Clefable and Wigglytuff, Poison types such as Ariados and Toxapex, and Fighting types like Machamp. With Stone Edge, it is an effective answer to Talonflame, whereas Sludge Bomb allows it to consistently check Azumarill. It is a very safe and flexible choice against teams that lack key meta Ground types such as Diggersby, Marowak and Gastrodon. Its bulk allows it to excel in many neutral matchups as well, and this can allow Clodsire to lure threats away from the rest of its teammates.

Beating Clodsire

The best answers to Clodsire include Ground types that resist Poison Sting and can deal super effective damage back, such as Diggersby, Gastrodon, Marowak and Quagsire. Malamar can quickly deplete Clodsire's HP with Psywave, though it needs to watch out for Sludge Bomb variants which can 2HKO Malamar before it has time to finish off Clodsire. Dewgong is an effective check for variants without Stone Edge. Feraligatr and Greninja can punish Clodsire with the hard hitting Hydro Cannon, though they really do not like to take Clodsire's Charged Attacks in return.

Suggested Teammates

Grass types are important teammates for Clodsire as they perform well into the Ground and Water type Pokemon that threaten it. Serperior pairs nicely with Clodsire in this regard. In return, Clodsire can threaten Talonflame, Ariados and Toxapex, which otherwise give Serperior a hard time. Chesnaught and Ferrothorn are also good partners for Clodsire, though they all lose to Malamar, and Ferrothorn in particular struggles against Diggersby carrying Fire Punch. Jumpluff is also an effective Grass type teammate, but is very weak into Dewgong and must watch for Rock type Charged Attacks from Marowak and Quagsire. Thanks to Grass Knot, Cresselia can also fill in as a 'Grass type' teammate, though the combination of Clodsire and Cresselia is awkward into Malamar, Feraligatr and Greninja teams. Azumarill's stellar bulk, strength into Ground types and resistances to Water and Malamar's Charged Attacks also make it an excellent Clodsire partner, with Clodsire protecting Azumarill from Ariados, Toxapex, Ferrothorn and Serperior.