Cloyster Solo Raid Counters

Yes, that’s right, Cloyster. Although Cloyster is just a Level 2 raid, it has proven itself to be more challenging than the other Level 2 raids, which can usually be easily soloed by low leveled players and low leveled Pokémon. Cloyster, however, is almost the same difficulty as a Level 3 boss, so we are here to help you solo it!

Cloyster has a raid boss CP of 14038, so it has a decently high CP compared to the other Level 2 raid bosses, and its excellent typing of Water and Ice alongside a high DEF of 256 makes it a formidable foe. Cloyster raid catch CP is as follows:

• 1383 – 1455 CP (perfect IV, no weather Boost)
• 1729 – 1819 CP (perfect IV, Rainy or Snow)

Quick Facts at a Glance:

• Harder than normal for only a Level 2 raid boss
• Level is not everything, the types of your Pokémon are the most important, but to safely solo this raid you should be at least close to level 30 as a minimum
• Best Pokémon to use are Fighting, Grass, Rock and Electric types
• Overall difficulty: Medium to hard to do alone

Solo Cloyster Counters

#	Pokemon	Fast Move	Charge Move	Time to win	Deaths
1.	Lucario	Counter	Aura Sphere	81.3s	3
2.	Terrakion	Smack Down	Rock Slide	92.7s	3
3.	Electivire	Thunder Shock	Wild Charge	88.7s	3
4.	Machamp	Counter	Dynamic Punch	92.5s	3
5.	Magnezone	Spark	Wild Charge	98.1s	2
6.	Rampardos	Smack Down	Rock Slide	84.1s	4
7.	Raikou	Thunder Shock	Wild Charge	95.7s	3
8.	Luxray	Spark	Wild Charge	96.2s	4
9.	Hariyama	Counter	Dynamic Punch	98.5s	3
10.	Tyranitar	Smack Down	Stone Edge	101.6s	3
11.	Blaziken	Counter	Focus Blast	99.7s	3
12.	Zapdos	Thunder Shock	Thunderbolt	94.8s	4
13.	Tangrowth	Vine Whip	Solar Beam	98.4s	4
14.	Mewtwo	Confusion	Thunderbolt	105.0s	3
15.	Roserade	Razor Leaf	Grass Knot	94.7s	5
16.	Heracross	Counter	Close Combat	104.2s	4
17.	Alola Golem	Rock Throw	Wild Charge	105.2s	4
18.	Emboar	Low Kick	Focus Blast	108.7s	3
19.	Toxicroak	Counter	Dynamic Punch	102.0s	4
20.	Deoxys	Charge Beam	Thunderbolt	92.7s	5
21.	Sceptile	Fury Cutter	Frenzy Plant	96.8s	5
22.	Omastar	Rock Throw	Rock Slide	114.8s	3
23.	Jolteon	Thunder Shock	Discharge	106.6s	4
24.	Breloom	Counter	Grass Knot	92.6s	6
25.	Arcanine	Thunder Fang	Wild Charge	113.7s	3
26.	Porygon-Z	Lock On	Solar Beam	107.3s	4
27.	Venusaur	Vine Whip	Frenzy Plant	103.6s	5
28.	Rhyperior	Smack Down	Stone Edge	107.3s	4
29.	Zebstrika	Spark	Wild Charge	105.7s	5
30.	Gallade	Low Kick	Leaf Blade	113.1s	4

Counters Explained

Electivire

The evolution of Electabuzz, Electivire currently holds the highest Electric type DPS in game with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge, the same moveset that Raikou boasts. Although it has a slightly higher ATK, it is glassier than the great legendary beast.

Raikou

Arguably the best Electric type in game, in terms of overall performance (Total Damage Output). It has an excellent STAB-boosted moveset and great stats; it’s not legendary for nothing!

Magnezone

Machamp

One of the best Fighting types in the game with an ATK of 234, but glassy defenses, it can deal a lot of damage before going down. Machamp is obtainable as a Level 3 raid boss, and also by evolving a Machop into a Machoke and finally into a Machamp.

Roserade

The best Grass type in the game, at least in terms of DPS. Since you’re raiding against the clock, Roserade’s ATK stat of 243 will come in handy. With access to one of the best Grass-type movesets in Pokémon GO, it’s a great pick.

Hariyama

With a great Stamina and an ATK of 209, Hariyama is a decent choice with its double STAB Fighting move set. Pretty easy to obtain, evolved from a Makuhita with 50 candies.

Luxray

A less common Electric type, the third stage evolution of Shinx, and with an ATK of 232, it is a pretty good option for your team. With dual Electric STAB it should be doing some good damage before it goes down.

Zapdos

Up until Raikou came, Zapdos was the best Electric type in Pokémon GO. Thunderbolt is a good move, but Wild Charge is better. Thus, Zapdos falls back to this position. Still, it’s one of the best counters to use against Cloyster.

Mewtwo

Another decent option, Mewtwo is a good choice because of its incredible ATK stat and access to the Electric move, Thunderbolt. Psycho Cut is better than Confusion because it has a higher EPS (Energy per Second of charging up your Charged move) which is the one that really matters. It will take neutral damage from all of Cloyster’s possible moves.

Rampardos

Although Rampardos is vulnerable to Cloyster’s Hydro Pump, it is an otherwise excellent choice to use against this boss. It has an insanely high DPS with its dual Rock set and high attack, and although it’s a glass cannon, it will deal a lot of damage before fainting.

Cloyster Move Set Difficulty

Cloyster has mostly Ice type moves in its arsenal, so we don’t recommend using Grass types against it:

• Frost Breath (Ice, fast)
• Ice Shard (Ice, fast)
• Hydro Pump (Water, charged, 1 bar)
• Avalanche (Ice, charged, 2 bars)
• Aurora Beam (Ice, charged, 2 bars)

The easiest move set Cloyster can have is Frost Breath and Hydro Pump, a mixed Ice and Water move set. With Hydro Pump giving our Rock types a run for their money, Frost Breath and Aurora Beam is the easiest dual Ice type move set. The hardest move set to go up against is Ice Shard and Avalanche, a dual Ice set with the most power out of all the possible movesets.

Below is a visual representation of the move set difficulty from easiest to hardest based on their damage output totals added together, STAB calculated, not weather boosted, and charge moves based off of a single energy cycle (there is a definite pattern):

Weather Influence on Battle

It would be easiest to attempt this raid under a few different types of weather, but would be most difficult under Snow weather.

Additional Notes

Note that if you are alone and below Level 30 soloing this raid might be difficult for you, but it is not only your level trainer that matters, but the levels and power of the Pokémon you are using to raid. It might take a little bit of candy and stardust to get your Pokémon up to par to take on a powerful raid boss, such as Cloyster, by yourself. We recommend using Electric and Fighting types against Cloyster, as its Water and Ice moves will destroy potential Rock and Grass counters, respectively.

Weather is important! You can either keep the playing grounds even, harm, or help yourself, so keep an eye on your in-game weather conditions.

The moves that Cloyster has also plays an impact on your success in the raid, and it is usually hard to tell what moves it has until you have already used up your raid pass and seen what counters the game has set for you.

Otherwise, this is a decently challenging raid boss for most players, but, as always, with the right assembly of counters and favorable weather it is doable! It has been soloed many times before, so good luck!