Clefable, The Fairy Pokémon. A timid fairy Pokémon that is rarely seen, it will run and hide the moment it senses people. Their ears are sensitive enough to hear a pin drop from over a mile away, so they're usually found in quiet places..
Overview
When Generation 6 introduced its current Fairy typing, Clefable became an over-centralizing Pokemon in 6v6 formats that dominated XYORAS on that time. After a harsh generation in USUM where Clefable faced stiff competition from the Alola Guardians for a team slot, it is now back to claim its right to the throne in Sword / Shield. While not many things have changed for Clefable, Let's Go Pikachu / Eevee introduced a fantastic upgrade in Teleport. Thanks to Teleport's new effect, Clefable can easily grab momentum by pivoting out of unfavorable matchups against Pokemon like Aegislash and bring in safely a teammate that can handle its common switch-ins. Combine this with Wish and you get a fantastic pivot that can support its team on any way.
Clefable has a great stat distribution, a solid defensive typing in Fairy, two great abilities on Magic Guard and Unaware, an excellent support movepool and fantastic versatility to run plenty of sets. Because of these attributes, it is very easy to fit Clefable on almost any play-style with mayor success and it is easily one of the best Pokemon to use in Sword / Shield.
Positives
Well rounded defensive stats of 95/73/90 grants Clefable decent bulk and combined with its solid Fairy typing, it becomes capable of checking threats such as Kyurem, Hydreigon and Dragapult.
Access to a very good support movepool gives Clefable plenty of options to support itself or its teammates with its most important moves being Teleport, Wish, Stealth Rock, Calm Mind, Knock Off and Thunder Wave.
It’s offensive movepool is impressive featuring a powerful STAB without drawbacks in Moonblast (which has a 30% chance to reduce SpA) while boasting superb coverage options in Fire Blast / Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, Grass Knot, etc.
Magic Guard allows Clefable to avoid indirect damage from status conditions and hazards making it an excellent stall-breaker against defensive teams who rely on this strategy. Unaware makes Clefable one of the most annoying walls to face capable of being a cold stop for sweepers like Hawlucha.
Teleport is a very welcome addition that allows Clefable to regain momentum against its common switch-ins while bringing safely another teammate on a favorable match-up while guaranteeing that its Wish recipient regains health.
Negatives
Because of its average Speed stat, Clefable is almost guarnateed to always take a hit.
Since Teleport is a LGPE exclusive TM, this means that Clefable can't use its best move on Ranked Battle.
Movesets
WISHING HUB
- Wish
- Teleport
- Protect
- Moonblast
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold / Calm Nature
Teleport is the main move on this set as it allows Clefable to regain momentum and switch out from unfavorable match-ups by bringing safely another teammate against Pokemon like Rotom-Heat, Aegislash and Gengar. With Wish, Teleport is guaranteed to bring Clefable's teammate safely thanks to its negative priority allowing it to restore its HP as long as Clefable is able to take the incoming hit and switch out. Protect guarantees the Wish recovery for Clefable itself allowing it to pivot back and forth throughout the match. Finally, Moonblast is the only attacking move Clefable needs to dents Dragon types like Hydreigon and Dragapult.
DYNAMAX:
This Clefable set should never use Dynamax since it prevents it from using Wish and Teleport to support its teammates and it only leaves it with Max Starfall as its only offensive move. Since Clefable is meant to support its teammates with Wish and regain momentum with Teleport, a sweeper can perfectly use the chances gained by Clefable to exploit Dynamax instead.
EV and Item Description:
Max Defense and HP allows Clefable to take unexpected attacks like Max Steelspike from Dragapult and check Pokemon like Tyranitar and Conkeldurr. However, if Kyurem, Kommo-o and Hydreigon are a mayor concern, a Calm nature is perfectly usable as it allows it to check special attackers more efficiently and you can freely switch its Defense EVs to Special Defense to check them better. Magic Guard prevents Clefable from taking passive damage from status ailments and hazards which allows it to continuously pivot and provide support to its teammates.
Partners
Ferrothorn: Ferrothorn provides Spikes and Stealth Rock support which benefits Clefable since it can force the opponent to switch more often and take more passive damage thanks to the momentum regained from Teleport.
Hydreigon: Its great bulk and ability to check on Pokemon like Aegislash and Gengar makes for a fantastic partner who appreciates the Wish support and the chances granted by Teleport to set up Nasty Plot.
Excadrill: A fantastic partner capable of defeating the Steel types that trouble Clefable like Jirachi while it heavily appreciates the Wish support.
Mandibuzz: With U-turn it can easily swing momentum at any time while making an annoying defensive core with Clefable since both Pokemon can check almost any Dragapult set while it appreciates Clefable's ability to deal with Kyurem.
Galarian Darmanitan: Its ability to pressure Kyurem and Dragapult offensively while swinging momentum with U-turn makes for a perfect partner for Clefable. Clefable also does a huge favor by checking Conkeldurr.
Corviknight: Its typing makes it the most consistent check for Excadrill and it heavily appreciates the Wish support and it can also pivot back and forth thanks to U-turn. Iron Defense and Bulk Up sets also appreciate the opportunities given with Teleport.
Kommo-o: It's Fighting type and great defensive stats makes for a solid Excadrill check, who threatens Clefable, while being able to set-up Stealth Rock. It heavily appreciates the Wish support due to its lack of reliable recovery.
Dracovish: Teleport allows Clefable to bring this abomination of nature unscathed and destroy anything that is not immune to Water attacks.
Toxapex: Don't. Torture is illegal.
Aegislash: Thanks to its great bulk, resistance to Steel and its ability to nerf a physical attacker with King's Shield, it is an excellent partner for Clefable who also benefits from Wish support.
UNAWARE OF SWEEPING POTENTIAL
- Moonlight
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower
Item Attached: Kee Berry
Ability: Unaware
EVs and Nature:
244 HP / 244 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
With a Kee Berry and Dynamax, this Clefable set can take advantage of its durability and attempt a sweep while reverse checking Dynamax sweepers who often rely on items like Weakness Policy to boost themselves. Moonlight provides the only way of recovery when using Unaware and it is the most consistent option to heal itself despite being ineffective when Sand or Sun are up. Calm Mind is the crux of this set as it allows Clefable to increase both its Special Attack and Special Defense making it almost impossible to kill Clefable with special coverage. Once the Defense boost is activated via Kee Berry, this Clefable set becomes very difficult to take down. Moonblast is the main STAB Clefable should use in order to hit most neutral targets for consistent damage and once Dynamaxed, it becomes Max Starfall which protects Clefable from status ailments. Finally, Flamethrower is used as coverage to hit Ferrothorn and Corviknight. .
DYNAMAX:
This Clefable should use Dynamax once checks like Aegislash are significantly weakened or down. You'll want to only set up once Clefable gains its Kee Berry boost and set up before attempting a sweep. Max Starfall is very important since with Unaware, it provides protection against all status ailments by setting up Misty Terrain. While Max Flare doesn't provides any defensive boost, it does power ups Flamethrower which allows Clefable to hit Corviknight even harder and prevent it from stopping its sweep.
EV and Item Description:
244 Defense and HP EVs allows Clefable to take on physical attackers like Dragapult, Snorlax, Tyranitar, Hawlucha and Conkeldurr on the most efficient way possible while 20 Spe EVs are just necessary so that Clefable outspeeds min Speed Tyranitar and Aegislash. If outspeeding Sylveon before being hit by a Specs Hyper Voice is important, Clefable can aim for 44 Spe EVs to outspeed Sylveon and Umbreon assuming they invest nothing in Speed.
Partners
Ferrothorn: Ferrothorn provides Spikes and Stealth Rock support which benefits Clefable since it breaks Focus Sash and the additional damage can help making its sweep easier.
Dracozolt: Since both share a common check on Excadrill, this Clefable set excells on removing it once its Kee Berry is activated which gives Dracozolt a better chance on sweeping.
Rotom-Heat: Its ability to hinder physical attackers with Will-o-Wisp makes it an excellent partner for Clefable who's also able to check Steel types like Durant.
Excadrill: A fantastic partner capable of defeating the Steel types that trouble Clefable like Aegislash and revenge kill foes like Togekiss.
Galarian Darmanitan: Its ability to pressure Dragapult offensively while swinging momentum with U-turn makes for a perfect partner for Clefable. Clefable also does a huge favor by checking Conkeldurr.
Corviknight: The best and most consistent check for Excadrill, Corviknight helps a lot Clefable since it can set up on these Pokemon and deal with Excadrill or Ferrothorn with Body Press.
Dragapult: It is an unexpected user of Will-o-Wisp who can also aid Clefable on achieving a sweep while being able to swing momentum on its favor with U-turn.
MAGIC ORB
- Calm Mind
- Softboiled / Moonlight
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower / Thunderbolt
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest / Bold Nature
Due to Clefable's great bulk, reliable recovery and invulnerability to passive damage through Magic Guard, this makes Clefable a great potential win condition capable of overwhelming teams on an unexpected way. Calm Mind increases Clefable's Special Attack and Special Defense to respectable levels allowing to overwhelm Pokemon like Corviknight after some boosts. Moonblast is once again Clefable's most reliable STAB and what it needs to deal respectable damage against neutral targets. Flamethrower rounds up Moonblast's coverage by toasting Ferrothorn, Aegislash and Corviknight. Thunderbolt is a decent option that hits Toxapex harder than any of its other moves while still retaining coverage on Corviknight but at the expense of being walled by Excadrill.
DYNAMAX:
Clefable can take advantage of the extra bulk gained from Dynamax specially if she is using offensive EVs. While Clefable doesn't gains any notable boosts from its Max moves, the only significant one for this set is Max Flare setting up the Sun to power up Flamethrower.
EV and Item Description:
Max HP and Special Attack grants a balance of bulk and power which is what Clefable needs in order to sweep. If you're using this for Ranked Battles at Lv.50, use a spread of 244 HP / 68 Def / 132 SpA / 4 SpD / 60 Spe instead with a Modest nature. This spread allows Clefable to always survive Excadrill's Iron Head from full HP while OHKOing back with Flamethrower at +1 and lets it outspeed Umbreon and Corviknight.
Partners
Ferrothorn: Stealth Rock and Spikes aids Clefable on obtaining more OHKOs specially when boosted.
Excadrill: It appreciates Clefable's ability to wall-break thanks to its more offensive nature and ability to lure and destroy Corviknight who would otherwise be an annoyance for Excadrill.
Gyarados: If Clefable chooses to run Thunderbolt, it can easily remove Toxapex from the equation which allows Gyarados have a better chance on sweeping with Dragon Dance.
Galarian Darmanitan: Its ability to pressure and revenge kill Dragapult is more appreciated since this Clefable aims to be a bulky sweeper rather than checking it.
Corviknight: Its typing makes it the most consistent check for Excadrill and it can swing momentum on its favor with U-turn.
Rotom-Wash: Overall a great check for any non Mold Breaker Excadrill and it also provides support with Will-o-Wisp while being able to regain momentum with Volt Switch.
Other Options
Trick and Flame Orb can be used in order to hinder some of Clefable's common switch-ins like Corviknight, Aegislash and Ferrothorn with a burn while taking away their items crippling them on the process.
Wish + Protect can also be used on a Unaware Clefable in case you are afraid of set-up sweepers like Mimikyu or Hawlucha, however, it is inferior to sets with Teleport since Teleport guarantees that the wish recipient gets the recovery due to its negative priority scouting which overall makes it a better support set.
Knock Off and Stealth Rock are also good options to consider since Clefable forces plenty of switches and it scares most Taunt users like Grimmsnarl.
Thunder Wave is a good option to hinder switch-ins while putting Pokemon like Cinderace and Terrakion on their knees.
Countering Clefable
Teleport sets don't really have direct counters due to the fact that they are able to easily scout their switch-ins which makes it harder to deal with it. The best way to deal with this set is by aggressive pivoting and double switching to prevent it from getting too many chance of passing a Wish or regain momentum.
Steel types like Aegislash and Excadrill do an excellent job on being able to check Clefable and threaten to heavily damage it with their Steel attacks. While Excadrill has to be wary of Flamethrower, Iron Head will easily nail most Clefable sets for the 2HKO and thanks to its higher Speed and ability to flinch, it makes it quite threatening. On the other hand, Aegislash will demolish it either with Specs Steel Beam or a Banded Iron Head.
Toxtricity deserves a mention since it can pretty much take anything on the common Clefable sets and it packs a punch with Specs Sludge Wave. The only thing it must be wary of, are Moonblast's SpA drops. Poison types like Gengar and Venusaur do a decent job on checking Clefable. Venusaur deserves a mention since it can hinder it heavily with Sleep which is the worst status ailment Clefable can get against.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Evolve Clefairy
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Evolve Clefairy
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Evolve Clefairy
Colosseum/XD:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Clefairy
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Clefairy
Black/White:
Giant Chasm
Black 2/White 2:
Giant Chasm
X/Y:
Evolve Clefairy
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Evolve Clefairy
Sun/Moon:
Evolve Clefairy
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Evolve Clefairy
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Mt. Moon
Sword/Shield:
Motostoke Riverbank
Max Raid Battles: Bridge Field, Hammerlocke Hills, Lake of Outrage, Rolling Fields
Animé Appearences
